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EXHIBIT 4.5
SONOMA SYSTEMS
1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. PURPOSES OF THE PLAN. The purposes of this Stock Option Plan are to
attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility, to provide additional incentive to the Employees and Consultants
of the Company and to promote the success of the Company's business.
Options granted hereunder may be either Incentive Stock Options
or Nonstatutory Stock Options, at the discretion of the Board and as reflected
in the terms of the written option agreement.
2. DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) "Administrator" shall mean the Board or any of its Committees
appointed pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.
(b) "Applicable Laws" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4(a) below.
(c) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
(e) "Committee" shall mean the Committee appointed by the Board
of Directors in accordance with Section 4(a) of the Plan, if one is appointed.
(f) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company.
(g) "Company" shall mean Sonoma Systems, a California
corporation.
(h) "Consultant" shall mean any person who is engaged by the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary to render consulting services and is
compensated for such consulting services, and any director of the Company
whether compensated for such services or not.
(i) "Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant" shall mean
the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an Employee or
Consultant. Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant shall not be
considered interrupted in the case of sick leave, military leave, or any other
leave of absence approved by the Administrator; provided that such leave is for
a period of not more than 90 days or reemployment upon the expiration of such
leave is guaranteed by contract or statute. For purposes of this Plan, a change
in status from an Employee to a Consultant or from a Consultant to an Employee
will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Status as an Employee or
Consultant.
(j) "Employee" shall mean any person, including officers,
directors and Named Executives, employed by the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary of the Company.
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The payment of a director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient to
constitute "employment" by the Company.
(k) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
(l) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of
Common Stock determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on a national stock
exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the
average of the closing sales prices for such stock as quoted on such exchange or
market for the last five trading days before the date of determination (if for a
given day no sales were reported, the closing bid on that day shall be used), as
such prices are reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the
Administrator deems reliable;
(ii) If the Common Stock is quoted on the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System (but not on
the Nasdaq National Market) or regularly quoted by a recognized securities
dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the
average of the mean between the bid and asked prices for the Common Stock for
the last five days before the date of determination; or
(iii) In the absence of an established market for the
Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by
the Administrator.
(m) "Incentive Stock Option" shall mean an Option intended to
qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Code.
(n) "Named Executive" shall mean any individual who, on the last
day of the Company's fiscal year, is the chief executive officer of the Company
(or is acting in such capacity) or among the four highest compensated officers
of the Company (other than the Chief Executive Officer). Such officer status
shall be determined pursuant to the executive compensation disclosure rules
under the Exchange Act.
(o) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" shall mean an Option not intended
to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(p) "Option" shall mean a stock option granted pursuant to the
Plan.
(q) "Optioned Stock" shall mean the Common Stock subject to an
Option.
(r) "Optionee" shall mean an Employee or Consultant who receives
an Option.
(s) "Parent" shall mean a "parent corporation", whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(t) "Plan" shall mean this 1999 Stock Option Plan.
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(u) "Share" shall mean a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted
in accordance with Section 11 of the Plan.
(v) "Subsidiary" shall mean a "subsidiary corporation", whether
now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
3. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of Section 12 of
the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be optioned and sold
under the Plan is 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock. The Shares may be
authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
If an Option should expire or become unexercisable for any reason
without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were subject
thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available for
future grant under the Plan. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan,
shares issued under the Plan and later repurchased by the Company shall not
become available for future grant or sale under the Plan.
4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.
(a) COMPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATOR.
(i) MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES. If permitted by Rule
16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor rule thereto, as in
effect at the time that discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan
("Rule 16b-3"), and by the legal requirements relating to the administration of
incentive stock option plans, if any, of applicable securities laws and the Code
(collectively, the "Applicable Laws"), the Plan may (but need not) be
administered by different administrative bodies with respect to directors,
officers who are not directors and Employees who are neither directors nor
officers.
(ii) ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO DIRECTORS AND
OFFICERS. With respect to grants of Options to Employees or Consultants who are
also officers or directors of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A)
the Board, if the Board may make grants under the Plan in compliance with Rule
16b-3 and Section 162(m) of the Code as it applies so as to qualify grants of
Options to Named Executives as performance-based compensation, or (B) a
Committee designated by the Board to make grants under the Plan, which Committee
shall be constituted in such a manner as to permit grants made under the Plan to
comply with Rule 16b-3, to qualify grants of Options to Named Executives as
performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code and otherwise so
as to satisfy the Applicable Laws.
(iii) ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO OTHER PERSONS. With
respect to grants of Options to Employees or Consultants who are neither
directors nor officers of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the
Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be
constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws.
(iv) GENERAL. Once a Committee has been appointed pursuant
to subsection (ii) or (iii) of this Section 4(a), such Committee shall continue
to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. From
time to time the Board may increase the size of any Committee and appoint
additional members thereof, remove members
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(with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill
vacancies (however caused) and remove all members of a Committee and thereafter
directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws
and, in the case of a Committee appointed under subsection (ii), to the extent
permitted by Rule 16b-3, and to the extent required under Section 162(m) of the
Code to qualify grants of Options to Named Executives as performance-based
compensation.
(b) POWERS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. Subject to the provisions of the
Plan and in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by the Board
to such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its
discretion:
(i) to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock, in accordance with Section 2(l) of the Plan;
(ii) to select the Employees and Consultants to whom
Options may from time to time be granted hereunder;
(iii) to determine whether and to what extent Options are
granted hereunder;
(iv) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to
be covered by each such award granted hereunder;
(v) to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;
(vi) to determine the terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with applicable laws and regulations and the terms of the Plan, of
any award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, the share price and
any restriction or limitation regarding any Option and/or the shares of Common
Stock relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator
shall determine, in its sole discretion);
(vii) to determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances Common Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an award
under this Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the
participant (including providing for and determining the amount, if any, of any
deemed earnings on any deferred amount during any deferral period); and
(viii) to reduce the exercise price of any Option to the
then current Fair Market Value if the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock
covered by such Option shall have declined since the date the Option was
granted;
(c) Effect of Administrator's Decision. All decisions,
determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and
binding on all Optionees and any other holders of any Options.
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5. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Nonstatutory Stock Options may be granted only to Employees
and Consultants. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. An
Employee or Consultant who has been granted an Option may, if he or she is
otherwise eligible, be granted an additional Option or Options.
(b) Each Option shall be designated in the written option
agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
However, notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate
Fair Market Value of Stock Options that are exercisable for the first time by an
Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent
or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as
Nonstatutory Stock Options.
(c) For purposes of Section 5(b), Incentive Stock Options shall
be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair
Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time the Option with
respect to such Shares is granted.
(d) The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with
respect to continuation of employment or consulting relationship with the
Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with his or her right or the
Company's right to terminate his or her employment or consulting relationship at
any time, with or without cause.
6. TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to
occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the shareholders of the
Company as described in Section 17 of the Plan. It shall continue in effect for
a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 13 of the Plan.
7. TERM OF OPTION. The term of each Option shall be the term stated in
the Option Agreement; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option, the term shall be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant
thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement.
However, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Optionee who, at
the time the Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent
(10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent
or Subsidiary, the term of the Option shall be five (5) years from the date of
grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement.
8. OPTION EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION.
(a) The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued
pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the
Administrator, but shall be subject to the following:
(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option
(A) granted to an Employee who, at the time of the
grant of such Incentive Stock Option, owns stock representing more than ten
percent (10%) of the voting
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power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the
per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per
Share on the date of grant.
(B) granted to any Employee, the per Share exercise
price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date
of grant.
(ii) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option
(A) granted to a person who, at the time of the
grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary,
the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value
per Share on the date of the grant.
(B) granted to a person who, at the time of grant
of such Option, is a Named Executive of the Company, the per share Exercise
Price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant;
(C) granted to any person other than a Named
Executive, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 85% of the Fair
Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(iii) In the case of an Option granted on or after the
effective date of registration of any class of equity security of the Company
pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act and prior to six months after the
termination of such registration, the per Share exercise price shall be no less
than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(b) The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon
exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined by
the Administrator (and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall be
determined at the time of grant) and may consist entirely of (1) cash, (2)
check, (3) promissory note, (4) other Shares which (x) in the case of Shares
acquired upon exercise of an Option either have been owned by the Optionee for
more than six months on the date of surrender or were not acquired, directly or
indirectly, from the Company, and (y) have a Fair Market Value on the date of
surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said
Option shall be exercised, (5) delivery of a properly executed exercise notice
together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the
Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price,
(6) delivery of an irrevocable subscription agreement for the Shares which
irrevocably obligates the option holder to take and pay for the Shares not more
than twelve months after the date of delivery of the subscription agreement, (7)
any combination of the foregoing methods of payment, or (8) such other
consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent
permitted under Applicable Laws. In making its determination as to the type of
consideration to accept, the Administrator shall consider if acceptance of such
consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the Company.
9. EXERCISE OF OPTION.
(a) PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE; RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. Any Option
granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions
as determined by the
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Administrator, including performance criteria with respect to the Company and/or
the Optionee, and as shall be permissible under the terms of the Plan; provided,
however, that such Option shall become exercisable at the rate of at least
twenty percent (20%) per year over five (5) years from the date the Option is
granted. In the event that any of the Shares issued upon exercise of an Option
should be subject to a right of repurchase in the Company's favor, such
repurchase right shall lapse at the rate of at least twenty percent (20%) per
year over five (5) years from the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding
the above, in the case of an option granted to an officer, director or
consultant of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the option
may be fully exercisable, or the repurchase right may lapse in its entirety, at
any time or during any period established by the Administrator.
An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written
notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the
terms of the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full
payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been
received by the Company. Full payment may, as authorized by the Administrator,
consist of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 8(b)
of the Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the
books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of
the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive
dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the
Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company shall
issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly upon exercise of
the Option. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which
the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as
provided in Section 11 of the Plan.
Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a
decrease in the number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for
purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as
to which the Option is exercised.
(b) TERMINATION OF STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT. In the
event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or
Consultant, such Optionee may, but only within three (3) months (or such other
period of time, not exceeding three (3) months in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option or six (6) months in the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, as is
determined by the Administrator, with such determination in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option being made at the time of grant of the Option) after the
date of such termination (but in no event later than the date of expiration of
the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise his or
her Option to the extent that he or she was entitled to exercise it at the date
of such termination. To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to
exercise the Option at the date of such termination, or if the Optionee does not
exercise such Option (which the Optionee was entitled to exercise) within the
time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.
(c) DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE.
(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(b) above,
in the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or
Consultant as a result of
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his or her total and permanent disability (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Code), Optionee may, but only within twelve (12) months from the
date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration date of the
term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise the Option
to the extent otherwise entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination.
To the extent that Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date
of termination, or if Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so
entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.
(ii) In the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous
Status as an Employee or Consultant as a result of a disability which does not
fall within the meaning of total and permanent disability (as set forth in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), Optionee may, but only within six (6) months from
the date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration date of
the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise the
Option to the extent otherwise entitled to exercise it at the date of such
termination. However, to the extent that such Optionee fails to exercise an
Option which is an Incentive Stock Option ("ISO") (within the meaning of Section
422 of the Code) within three (3) months of the date of such termination, the
Option will not qualify for ISO treatment under the Code. To the extent that
Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or
if Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within six
months (6) from the date of termination, the Option shall terminate.
(d) DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death of an Optionee:
(i) during the term of the Option who is at the time of
his or her death an Employee or Consultant of the Company and who shall have
been in Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant since the date of grant
of the Option, the Option may be exercised, at any time within six (6) months
(or such other period of time, not exceeding six months, as is determined by the
Administrator, with such determination in the case of an Incentive Stock Option
being made at the time of grant of the Option) following the date of death (but
in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set
forth in the Option Agreement), by the Optionee's estate or by a person who
acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to
the extent of the right to exercise that would have accrued had the Optionee
continued living and remained in Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant
twelve (12) months (or such other period of time not exceeding twelve (12)
months as is determined in the case of an Incentive Stock Option at the time of
grant of the Option) after the date of death, subject to the limitation set
forth in Section 5(b); or
(ii) within three (3) months (or such other period of time
not exceeding three (3) months as is determined by the Administrator, with such
determination in the case of an Incentive Stock Option being made at the time of
grant of the Option) after the termination of Continuous Status as an Employee
or Consultant, the Option may be exercised, at any time within six (6) months
following the date of death (but in no event later than the date of expiration
of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), by the
Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option
by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that
had accrued at the date of termination.
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(e) RULE 16b-3. Options granted to persons subject to Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act must comply with Rule 16b-3 and shall contain such
additional conditions or restrictions as may be required thereunder to qualify
for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to
Plan transactions.
(f) EXTENSION OF EXERCISE PERIOD. The Administrator shall have
full power and authority to extend the period of time for which an option is to
remain exercisable following termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as
an Employee or Consultant from the periods set forth in Sections 9(b), 9(c) and
9(d) above or in the Option Agreement to such greater time as the Board shall
deem appropriate, provided, that in no event shall such option be exercisable
later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the
Option Agreement.
10. NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. The Option may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution. The designation of a beneficiary
by an Optionee does not constitute a transfer. An Option may be exercised,
during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee or a transferee
permitted by this Section 10.
11. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION OR MERGER. Subject to any
required action by the shareholders of the Company, the number of shares of
Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option, and the number of shares of
Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to
which no Options have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan
upon cancellation or expiration of an Option, and the price per share of Common
Stock covered by each such outstanding Option, shall be proportionately adjusted
for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock
resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination
or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in
the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of
consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any
convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected
without receipt of consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the
Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and
conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of
shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of
any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with
respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option.
In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company,
the Board shall notify the Optionee at least fifteen (15) days prior to such
proposed action. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, the Option
will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action. In
the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets
or a merger of the Company with or into another corporation where the successor
corporation issues its securities to the Company's shareholders, each
outstanding Option shall be assumed or an equivalent option or right shall be
substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such
successor corporation, unless the successor corporation does not agree to assume
the Option or to substitute an equivalent option, in which case such Option
shall terminate upon the consummation of the merger or sale of assets.
<PAGE> 10
12. TIME OF GRANTING OPTIONS. The date of grant of an Option shall, for
all purposes, be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination
granting such Option or such other date as is determined by the Administrator.
Notice of the determination shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to
whom an Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such
grant.
13. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.
(a) AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. The Board may amend or terminate
the Plan from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem advisable;
provided that, the following revisions or amendments shall require approval of
the shareholders of the Company in the manner described in Section 17 of the
Plan:
(i) any increase in the number of Shares subject to the
Plan, other than in connection with an adjustment under Section 11 of the Plan;
or
(ii) any change in the designation of the class of persons
eligible to be granted Options.
(b) SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. If any amendment requiring shareholder
approval under Section 13(a) of the Plan is made subsequent to the first
registration of any class of equity securities by the Company under Section 12
of the Exchange Act, such shareholder approval shall be solicited as described
in Section 17 of the Plan.
(c) EFFECT OF AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. Any such amendment or
termination of the Plan shall not affect Options already granted and such
Options shall remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been
amended or terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and
the Board, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the
Company.
14. CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Shares shall not be issued
pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the
issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all
relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may
then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the
Company with respect to such compliance.
As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may
require the person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time
of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of
the aforementioned relevant provisions of law.
15. RESERVATION OF SHARES. The Company, during the term of this Plan,
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
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The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any
regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's
counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder,
shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or
sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been
obtained.
16. OPTION AGREEMENT. Options shall be evidenced by written option
agreements in such form as the Board shall approve.
17. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL.
(a) Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to approval by the
shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date
the Plan is adopted.
(b) If and in the event that the Company registers any class of
equity securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, any required
approval of the shareholders of the Company obtained after such registration
shall be solicited substantially in accordance with Section 14(a) of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(c) If any required approval by the shareholders of the Plan
itself or of any amendment thereto is solicited at any time otherwise than in
the manner described in Section 17(b) hereof, then the Company shall, at or
prior to the first annual meeting of shareholders held subsequent to the later
of (1) the first registration of any class of equity securities of the Company
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act or (2) the granting of an Option hereunder
to an officer or director after such registration, do the following:
(i) furnish in writing to the holders entitled to vote for
the Plan or amendment substantially the same information which would be required
(if proxies to be voted with respect to approval or disapproval of the Plan or
amendment were then being solicited) by the rules and regulations in effect
under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act at the time such information is
furnished; and
(ii) file with, or mail for filing to, the Securities and
Exchange Commission four copies of the written information referred to in
subsection (i) hereof not later than the date on which such information is first
sent or given to shareholders.
(d) The Company's failure to comply with subsection (c) above
shall not affect the validity of any options properly granted under the Plan;
provided, however, that any Optionee subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act
shall comply with any limitations imposed by the Exchange Act with respect to
the exercise of the Option and transfer or other disposition of the Optioned
Stock.
18. INFORMATION TO OPTIONEES. The Company shall provide to each
Optionee, during the period for which such Optionee has one or more Options
outstanding, copies of all annual reports which are provided to all shareholders
of the Company. The Company shall not be required to provide such information if
the issuance of Options under the Plan is limited to key employees whose duties
in connection with the Company assure their access to equivalent information.
