AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 14, 1999
REGISTRATION NO. 333 - _______________
================================================================================
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
TELESCAN, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
Delaware 061489574
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
5959 Corporate Drive, Suite 2000 77036
Houston, Texas (ZIP CODE)
ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
INVESTools, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan
INVESTools, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan
(FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)
Alex Wyche
General Counsel
Telescan, Inc.
5959 Corporate Drive, Suite 2000
Houston, Texas 77036
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
(281) 588-9700
(TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
============================================================================================
PROPOSED
AMOUNT MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM
TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE OFFERING PRICE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF
TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED PER SHARE(1) OFFERING PRICE(1) REGISTRATION FEE
- ---------------- ---------- ------------ ----------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
COMMON STOCK, PAR
VALUE $.01 PER SHARE
("COMMON STOCK") 219,735 $1.45 $318,615.75 $88.58
============================================================================================
(1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant
to Rule 457 (h), based on an aggregate of 219,735 shares granted at a
weighted average exercise price of $1.45.
============================================================================================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
The following documents filed by Telescan, Inc. (the "Company" or
"Telescan") with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
(File No. 0-17508)
are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:
(i) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1998;
(ii) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1999;
(iii) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 22, 1999;
(v) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 11, 1999; and
(v) The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated June 15, 1998.
All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof
from the date of the filing of such documents.
ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides
generally and in pertinent part that a Delaware corporation may indemnify its
directors and officers against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,
fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by them
in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative action,
suit or proceeding except actions by or in the right of the corporation if, in
connection with
II-1
<PAGE>
the matters in issue, they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and
in connection with any criminal action or proceeding if, in connection with the
matters in issue, they had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was
unlawful. Section 145 further provides that in connection with the defense or
settlement of any action or suit by or in the right of the corporation, a
Delaware corporation may indemnify its directors and officers against expenses
(including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by them if, in
connection with the matters in issue, they acted in good faith and in a manner
they reasonably believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, except that no indemnification may be made with respect to any
claim, issue, or matter as to which such person has been adjudged liable to the
corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or
other court in which such action or suit is brought approves such
indemnification.
Section 145 further permits a Delaware corporation to grant its directors
and officers additional rights of indemnification through bylaw provisions and
otherwise, and to purchase indemnity insurance on behalf of its directors and
officers. In addition, Article V of the Registrant's By-Laws "Indemnification of
Directors, Officers, Employees and Other Agents" provides as follows:
SECTION 1.DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this Article V, "agent" means
any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or other agent of
the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or
was a director, officer, employee or agent of a foreign or domestic
corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the corporation or of
another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation;
"proceeding" means any threatened, pending or completed action or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administration or investigative;
and "expenses" includes, without limitation, attorneys' fees and any
expenses of establishing a right to indemnification under Section 4 of
Section 5(c) of this Article V.
SECTION 2. ACTIONS BY THIRD PARTIES. The corporation shall indemnify any
person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to
any proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the
corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent
of the corporation, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and
other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such
proceedings to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of
Delaware as they may exist from time to time.
SECTION 3. ACTION BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION. The corporation
shall indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be
made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action by or in
the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by
reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the
corporation, against expenses actually and reasonably
II-2
<PAGE>
incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of
such action to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of
Delaware as they may exist from time to time.
SECTION 4. ADVANCE OF EXPENSES. Expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding shall be advanced by the corporation prior to the final
disposition of such proceeding upon receipt of a request therefor and an
undertaking by or on behalf of the agent to repay such amount unless it
shall be determined ultimately that the agent is not entitled to be
indemnified as authorized in this Article V.
SECTION 5. CONTRACTUAL NATURE. The provisions of this Article V shall be
deemed to be a contract between the corporation and each director and
officer who serves in such capacity at any time while this Article is in
effect, and any repeal or modification thereof shall not affect any
rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts
then or theretofore existing or any action, suit or proceeding
theretofore existing or any action, suit or proceeding theretofore or
thereafter brought based in whole or in part upon any such state of
facts.
SECTION 6. INSURANCE. Upon and in the event of a determination by the
board of directors to purchase such insurance, the corporation shall
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any agent of the
corporation against any liability asserted against or incurred by the
agent in such capacity or arising out of the agent's status as such
whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the
agent against such liability under the provisions of this Article V. All
amounts received by an agent under any such policy of insurance shall be
applied against, but shall not limit, the amounts to which the agent is
entitled pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Article V.
SECTION 7. ERISA. To assure indemnification under this provision of all
such persons who are or were "fiduciaries" of an employee benefit plan
governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time ("ERISA"), the provisions of this Article V
shall, except as limited by Section 410 of ERISA, be interpreted as
follows: an "other enterprise" shall be deemed to include an employee
benefit plan; the corporation shall be deemed to have requested a person
to serve as an employee of an employee benefit plan where the
performance by such person of his duties to the corporation also imposes
duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or
participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on a
person with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to ERISA shall
be deemed "fines"; and action taken or omitted by a person with respect
to an employee benefit plan in the performance of such person's duties
for a purpose reasonably believed by such person to be in compliance
with ERISA and the terms
II-3
<PAGE>
of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed
to the best
interests of the corporation.
ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT EXHIBIT
NO.
------- -------
4.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant. (Incorporated
by reference to the Company's Form S-1 dated September 14, 1993
(Registration No. 33-52182)).
4.2 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of the Registrant. (Incorporated by reference to the Company's
Form S-1 dated September 14, 1993 (Registration No. 33- 52182)).
4.3 By-laws of the Registrant. (Incorporated by reference to the
Company's Form S-1 dated September 14, 1993 (Registration No.
33-52182)).
*5.1 Opinion of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
*23.1 Consent of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP (Contained in Exhibit 5.1).
*23.2 Consent of Hein + Associates, LLP
*24.1 Powers of Attorney (Included on Page II-6).
*99.1 INVESTools, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan.
*99.2 INVESTools, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan.
- -----------------------------------
* Filed herewith
II-4
<PAGE>
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this
Registration Statement;
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA
FIDE offering thereof; and
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
II-5
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on this 14th day of June,
1999.
TELESCAN, INC.
By: /s/ DAVID L. BROWN
David L. Brown
Chief Executive Officer
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints David L. Brown and Roger C. Wadsworth and each of
them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign, execute and file this Registration Statement under
the Securities Act and any and all amendments (including, without limitation,
post-effective amendments and any amendment or amendments or additional
registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act
increasing the amount of securities for which registration is being sought) to
this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and all other statements, notices or other documents necessary or advisable to
comply with the applicable state securities laws, and to file the same, together
with other documents in connection therewith, with the appropriate state
securities authorities, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact
and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on June 14, 1999.
SIGNATURE TITLE
--------- -----
/s/ DAVID L. BROWN Director, Chairman and Chief
David L. Brown Executive Officer
/s/ RICHARD K. CARLIN Director, Vice Chairman and Chief
Richard K. Carlin Technology Officer
II-6
<PAGE>
/s/ RONALD WARREN President and Chief Financial Officer
Ronald Warren
/s/ ROGER C. WADSWORTH Director and Senior Vice President
Roger C. Wadsworth
____________________________ Director
Christopher A. Glowacki
/s/ RONALD W. HART, PH.D. Director
Ronald W. Hart, Ph.D.
/s/ BURT H. KEENAN Director
Burt H. Keenan
/s/ RUSSELL I. PILLAR Director
Russell I. Pillar
/s/ ROY T. RIMMER, JR. Director
Roy T. Rimmer, Jr.
/s/ WILLIAM D. SAVOY Director
William D. Savoy
/s/ STEPHEN C. WOOD
Stephen C. Wood Director
II-7
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT EXHIBIT
NO.
------- -------
4.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant. (Incorporated
by reference to the Company's Form S-1 dated September 14, 1993
(Registration No. 33-52182)).
4.2 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of the Registrant. (Incorporated by reference to the Company's
Form S-1 dated September 14, 1993 (Registration No. 33- 52182)).
4.3 By-laws of the Registrant. (Incorporated by reference to the
Company's Form S-1 dated September 14, 1993 (Registration No.
33-52182)).
*5.1 Opinion of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
*23.1 Consent of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP (Contained in Exhibit 5.1).
*23.2 Consent of Hein + Associates, LLP
*24.1 Powers of Attorney (Included on Page II-6).
*99.1 INVESTools, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan.
*99.2 INVESTools, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan.
- -----------------------------------
* Filed herewith
II-8
EXHIBIT 5.1
[LETTERHEAD OF LOCKE LIDDELL & SAPP LLP]
June 14, 1999
Telescan, Inc.
5959 Corporate Drive, Suite 2000
Houston, Texas 77036
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Telescan, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), in connection with the registration, pursuant to a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of
the offering of up to 219,735 shares of the Company's common stock, par value
$.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), which may be issued under the Investools,
Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan and the Investools, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan
(collectively, the "Plans").
In such capacity, we have examined the corporate documents of the Company,
including its Restated Certificate of Incorporation and its Bylaws, each as
amended, and resolutions adopted by its board of directors and committees
thereof. We have also examined the Registration Statement, together with the
exhibits thereto, and such other documents which we have deemed necessary for
the purposes of the expressing the opinion contained herein. We have relied on
representations made by and certificates of the officers of the Company and
public officials with respect to certain facts material to our opinion. We have
made no independent investigation regarding such representations and
certificates.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the shares of Common
Stock, when issued pursuant to the provisions of the Plans, will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
EXHIBIT 23.2
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S CONSENT
The Board of Directors
Telescan, Inc.:
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement filed on Form S-8, and the accompanying Prospectus, of our report
dated February 5, 1999, appearing on page F-1 of Telescan, Inc.'s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1998.
/s/ Hein + Associates LLP
Hein + Associates LLP
Houston, Texas
June 14, 1999
EXHIBIT 99.1
INVESTools, INC.
1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN. The purposes of this Plan are to attract and
retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility,
to provide additional incentive to Employees and Consultants of the Company and
its Subsidiaries and to promote the success of the Company's business. Options
granted under the Plan may be incentive stock options (as defined under Section
422 of the Code) or non-statutory stock options, as determined by the
Administrator at the time of grant of an option and subject to the applicable
provisions of Section 422 of the Code, as amended, and the regulations
promulgated thereunder. Stock purchase rights may also be granted under the
Plan.
2. DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) "ADMINISTRATOR" means the Board or any of its Committees
appointed pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.
(b) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(d) "COMMITTEE" means a Committee appointed by the Board of
Directors in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
(e) "COMMON STOCK" means the Common Stock, no par value, of the
Company.
(f) "COMPANY" means INVESTools, Inc., a California corporation.
(g) "CONSULTANT" means any person who is engaged by the Company or
any Parent or Subsidiary to render consulting or advisory services and is
compensated for such services, and any director of the Company whether
compensated for such services or not; provided, however, that if and in the
event the Company registers any class of any equity security pursuant to the
Exchange Act, the term Consultant shall thereafter not include directors who are
not compensated for their services or are paid only a director's fee by the
Company.
(h) "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT" means that the
employment or consulting relationship with the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary is not interrupted or terminated. Continuous Status as a Employee or
Consultant shall not be considered interrupted in the case of: (i) any leave of
absence approved by the Company, including sick leave, military leave, or any
other personal leave; provided, however, that for purposes of Incentive Stock
Options, no such leave may exceed ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon the
expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract (including certain Company
policies) or statute; provided, further, that on the ninety-first (91st) day of
any such leave (where reemployment is not guaranteed
<PAGE>
by contract or statute) the Optionee's Incentive Stock Option Plan shall cease
to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes
as a Nonstatutory Stock Option; or (ii) transfers between locations of the
Company or between the Company, its Parent, its Subsidiaries or its successor.
(i) "EMPLOYEE" means any person, including officers and directors,
employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. The payment
of a director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient to constitute
"employment" by the Company.
(j) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(k) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the value of Common
Stock determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq
National Market of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Automated Quotation ("NASDAQ") System, its Fair Market Value shall be closing
sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported, as
quoted on such exchange or system for the last market trading day prior to the
time of determination) as reported in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or such other
source as the Administrator deems reliable;
(ii) If the Common Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ System (but
not on the Nasdaq National Market thereof) or regularly quoted by a recognized
securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value
shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock
on the last market trading day prior to the day 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.
(l) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to qualify as
an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(m) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended to
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(n) "OFFICER" means a person who is an officer of the Company within
the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
(o) "OPTION" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(p) "OPTIONED STOCK" means the Common Stock subject to an Option or
a Stock Purchase Right.
(q) "OPTIONEE" means an Employee or Consultant who receives an
Option or Stock Purchase Right.
(r) "PARENT" means a "parent corporation," whether now or hereafter
existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
<PAGE>
(s) "PLAN" means this 1994 Stock Option Plan.
(t) "RESTRICTED STOCK" means shares of Common Stock acquired
pursuant to a grant of a Stock Purchase Right under Section 11 below.
(u) "SHARE" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance with Section 12 below.
(v) "STOCK PURCHASE RIGHT" means the right to purchase Common Stock
pursuant to Section 11 below.
(w) "SUBSIDIARY" means 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 480,000 shares of Common Stock. The shares may be authorized,
but unissued, or acquired Common Stock.
If an Option or Stock Purchase Right 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.
4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.
(a) INITIAL PLAN PROCEDURE. Prior to the date, if any, upon which
the Company becomes subject to the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered
by the Board or a committee appointed by the Board.
(b) PLAN PROCEDURE AFTER THE DATE, IF ANY, UPON WHICH THE COMPANY
BECOMES SUBJECT TO THE EXCHANGE ACT.
(i) ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO DIRECTORS AND Officers.
With respect to grants of Options or Stock Purchase Rights to Employees who are
also officers or directors of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A)
the Board if the Board may administer the Plan in compliance with Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto ("Rule 16b-3") with
respect to a plan intended to qualify thereunder as a discretionary plan, or (B)
a committee designed by the Board to administer the Plan, which committee shall
be constituted in such a manner as to permit the Plan to comply with Rule 16b-3
with respect to a plan intended to qualify thereunder as a discretionary plan.
Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designed capacity
until otherwise directed by the Board. From time to time the Board may increase
the size of the committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members
(with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill
vacancies, however caused, and remove all members of the Committee and
thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by Rule
16b-3 with respect to a plan intended to qualify thereunder as a discretionary
plan.
<PAGE>
(ii) MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES. If permitted by Rule
16b-3, the Plan may be administered by different bodies with respect to
directors, non-director officers and Employees who are neither directors nor
officers.
(iii) ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO CONSULTANTS AND OTHER
EMPLOYEES. With respect to grants of Options or Stock Purchase Rights 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 designed by
the Board, which committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy
the legal requirements relating to the administration of incentive stock option
plans, if any, of California's corporate and securities laws, of the Code, and
of any applicable stock exchange (the "Applicable Laws"). Once appointed, such
Committee shall continue to serve in its designed capacity until otherwise
directed by the Board. From time to time the Board may increase the size of the
Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or
without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies,
however caused, and remove all members of the Committee and thereafter directly
administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws.
(c) 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, and subject to the approval of any relevant authorities,
including the approval, if required, of any stock exchange upon which the Common
Stock is listed, 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(k) of the Plan;
(ii) to select the Consultants and Employees to whom Options
and Stock Purchase Rights may from time to time be granted hereunder;
(iii) to determine whether and to what extent Options and
Stock Purchase Rights or any combination thereof 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 of any award
granted hereunder;
(vii) to determine whether and under what circumstances an
Option may be settled in cash under subsection 9(f) instead of Common Stock;
(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;
(ix) to determine the terms and restrictions applicable to
Stock Purchase Rights and the Restricted Stock purchased by exercising such
Stock Purchase Rights; and
<PAGE>
(x) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and awards
granted pursuant to the Plan.
(d) 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 or Stock Purchase
Rights.
5. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Nonstatutory Stock Options and Stock Purchase Rights may be
granted to Employees and Consultants. Incentive Stock Options may be granted
only to Employees. An Employee or Consultant who has been granted an Option or
Stock Purchase Right may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Options
or Stock Purchase Rights.
(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:
(i) of Shares subject to an Optionee's Incentive Stock Options
granted by the Company, any Parent or Subsidiary, which
(ii) become exercisable for the first time 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. For purposes of this 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.
(c) The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with
respect to continuation of employment 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 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 of Directors or its approval by the shareholders of
the Company, as described in Section 18 of the Plan. It shall continue in effect
for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 14 of the
Plan.
7. TERM OF OPTION. The term of each Option shall be the term stated in the
Option Agreement; provided, however, that the term shall be no more than ten
(10) years from the date of grant thereof. 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.
<PAGE>
8. OPTION EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION.
(a) The per share excise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant
to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the Board, 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 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 other than an Employee
described in the preceding paragraph, 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 100% of the Fair Market Value per
Share on the date of the grant.
(B) granted to any person, the per Share exercise price
shall be no less than 85% 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, have been owned by the Optionee for more
than six months on the date of surrender, 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 such other documentation as the Administrator and
the broker, if applicable, shall require to effect an exercise of the Option and
delivery to the Company of the sale or loan proceeds required to pay the
exercise price, or (6) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. In
making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept, the Board
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 Board, including performance criteria with respect to the
Company and/or the Optionee, and as shall be permissible under the terms of the
Plan.
<PAGE>
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 Board, 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 12 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 EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTING RELATIONSHIP. In the
event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or
Consultant with the Company (but not in the event of an Optionee's change of
status from Employee to Consultant (in which case an Employee's Incentive Stock
Option shall automatically convert to a Nonstatutory Stock Option on the
ninety-first (91st) day following such change of status) or from Consultant to
Employee), such Optionee may, but only within such period of time as is
determined by the Administrator, of at least thirty (30) days, with such
determination in the case of an Incentive Stock Option not exceeding three (3)
months after 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 his or her Option to the extent that Optionee was 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 such termination, or if
Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within the time
specified herein, the Option shall terminate.
(c) DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. In the event of termination of an
Optionee's consulting relationship or Continuous Status as a Employee as a
result of his or disability, Optionee may, but only within six (6) months from
the date of such termination (and 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 tot exercise it at the date of such
termination; provided, however, that if such disability is not a "disability" as
such term is defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the code, in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option such Incentive Stock Option shall automatically convert
to a Nonstatutory Stock Option on the day three months and one day following
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, and the Shares covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.
<PAGE>
(d) DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death of an Optionee, the
Option may be exercised at any time within twelve (12) months following the date
of the death (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such
Option as set forth in the Notice of Grant), 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 that the Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option at
the date of death. If, at the time of death, the Optionee was not entitled to
exercise his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unexercisable
portion of the Option shall immediately revert to the Plan. If, after death, the
Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by
bequest or inheritance does not exercise the Option within the time specified
herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option shall
revert to the Plan.
(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) BUYOUT PROVISIONS. The Administrator may at any time offer to
buy out for a payment in cash or Shares, an Option previously granted, based on
such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate
to the Optionee at the time that such offer is made.
10. NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS AND STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS. Options and
Stock Purchase Rights 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 and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the
Optionee, only by the Optionee.
11. STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS.
(a) RIGHTS TO PURCHASE. Stock Purchase Rights may be issued either
alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other rewards granted under the Plan
and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan. After the Administrator determines
that it will offer Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan, it shall advise the
offeree in writing of the terms, conditions and restrictions related to the
offer, including the number of Shares that such person shall be entitled to
purchase, the price to be paid, and the time within which such person must
accept such offer, which shall in no event exceed thirty (30) days from the date
upon which the Administrator made the determination to grant the Stock Purchase
Right. The offer shall be accepted by execution of a Restricted Stock purchase
agreement in the form determined by the Administrator. Shares purchased pursuant
to the grant of a Stock Purchase Right shall be referred to herein as
"Restricted Stock."
(b) REPURCHASE OPTION. Unless the Administrator determines
otherwise, the Restricted Stock Purchase agreement shall grant the Company a
repurchase option exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of
the purchaser's employment with the Company for any reason (including death or
disability). The purchase price for Shares repurchased pursuant to the
Restricted Stock purchase agreement shall be the original price paid by the
purchaser and may be paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the purchaser
to the Company. The repurchase option shall lapse at such rate as the
Administrator may determine, but at a minimum rate of 20% per year.
<PAGE>
(c) OTHER PROVISIONS. The Restricted Stock purchase agreement shall
contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the
Plan as may be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. In
addition, the provisions of Restricted Stock purchase agreements need not be the
same with respect to each purchaser.
(d) RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. Once the Stock Purchase Right is
exercised, the purchaser shall have the rights equivalent to those of a
shareholder, and shall be a shareholder when his or her purchase is entered upon
the records of the duly authorized transfer agent of the Company. No adjustment
will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to
the date the Stock Purchase Right is exercised, except as provided in Section 12
of the Plan.
12. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION OR MERGER.
(a) CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. Subject to any required action by the
shareholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by
each outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right, and the number of shares of
Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to
which no Options or Stock Purchase Rights have yet been granted or which have
been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option or Stock
Purchase Right, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each
such outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right, 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 i 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 board,
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 or Stock
Purchase Right.
(b) DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION. 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 or Stock Purchase Right will terminate
immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.
(c) MERGER. In the event of a merger of the Company with or into
another corporation, each outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right 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. If, in such
event, the Option or Stock Purchase Right is not assumed or substituted, the
Option or Stock Purchase Right shall terminate as of the date of the closing of
the merger. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Option or Stock Purchase
Right shall be considered assumed if, following the merger, the option or right
confers the right to purchase, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the
Option or Stock Purchase Right immediately prior to the merger, the
consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in
the merger by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date
of the transaction (and if holders
<PAGE>
were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the
holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if
such consideration received in the merger was not solely common stock of the
successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of
the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the
exercise of the Option or stock Purchase Right, for each Share of Optioned Stock
subject to the Option or Stock Purchase Right, to be solely common stock of the
successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share
consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the merger.
13. TIME OF GRANTING OPTIONS AND STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS. The date of grant
of an Option of Stock Purchase Right shall, for all purposes, be the date on
which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Option or Stock
Purchase Right, or such other date as is determined by the Board. Notice of the
determination shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to whom an Option or
Stock Purchase Right is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of
such grant.
14. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.
(a) AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. The Board may at any time amend,
alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, suspension
or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the rights of any Optionee
under any grant theretofore made, without his or her consent. In addition, to
the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange
Act or with Section 422 of the Code (or any other applicable law or regulation,
including the requirements of the NASD or an established stock exchange), the
Company shall obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner
and to such a degree as required.
(b) EFFECT OF AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. Any such amendment or
termination of the Plan shall not affect Options or Stock Purchase Rights
already granted, and such Options and Stock Purchase Rights 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.
15. CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Shares shall not be issued
pursuant to the exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right unless the
exercise of such Option or Stock Purchase Right 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 or Stock Purchase Right,
the Company may require the person exercising such Option or Stock Purchase
right 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.
<PAGE>
16. 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.
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.
17. AGREEMENTS. Options and Stock Purchase Rights shall be evidenced by
written agreements in such form as the Board shall approve from time to time.
18. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. 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. Such shareholder approval shall be obtained
in the degree and manner required under applicable state and federal law and the
rules of any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed.
19. INFORMATION TO OPTIONEES AND PURCHASERS. The Company shall provide to
each Optionee and to each individual who acquires Shares pursuant to the Plan,
not less frequently than annually during the period such Optionee or purchaser
has one or more Options or Stock Purchase Rights outstanding, and, in the case
of an individual who acquired Shares pursuant to the Plan, during the period
such individual owns such Shares, copies of annual financial statements. The
Company shall not be required to provide such statements to key employees whose
duties in connection with the Company assure their access to equivalent
information.
EXHIBIT 99.2
INVESTOOLS, INC.
1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN.
1.1 ESTABLISHMENt. This INVESTools, Inc. 199 Stock Option Plan (the
"PLAN") is hereby established effective as of January 13, 1999.
1.2 PURPOSE. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of
the Participating Company Group and its shareholders by providing an incentive
to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the Participating
Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and
profitability of the Participating Company Group.
1.3 TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall continue in effect until the
earlier of its termination by the Board or the date on which all of the shares
of Stock available for issuance under the Plan have been issued and all
restrictions on such shares under the terms of the Plan and the agreements
evidencing Options granted under the Plan have lapsed. However, all Options
shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the earlier of the date
the Plan is adopted by the Board or the date the Plan is duly approved by the
shareholders of the Company.
2. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.
2.1 DEFINITIONS. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall
have their respective meanings set forth below:
(a) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company. If
one or more Committees have been appointed by the Board to administer the Plan,
"BOARD" also means such Committee(s).
(b) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.
(c) "COMMITTEE" means the Compensation Committee or other
committee of the Board duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such
powers as shall be specified by the Board. Unless the powers of the Committee
have been specifically limited, the Committee shall have all of the powers of
the Board granted herein, including, without limitation, the power to amend or
terminate the Plan at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan and any
applicable limitations imposed by law.
(d) "COMPANY" means INVESTools, Inc., a California
corporation, or any successor corporation thereto.
<PAGE>
(e) "CONSULTANT" means any person, including an advisor,
engaged by a Participating Company to render services other than as an Employee
or a Director.
(f) "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board or of the board of
directors of any other Participating Company.
(g) "DISABILITY" means the inability of the Optionee, in the
opinion of a qualified physician acceptable to the Company, to perform the major
duties of the Optionee's position with the Participating Company Group because
of the sickness or injury of the Optionee.
(h) "EMPLOYEE" means any person treated as an employee
(including an officer or a Director who is also treated as an employee) in the
records of a Participating Company and, with respect to any Incentive Stock
Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section 422 of
the Code; provided, however, that neither service as a Director nor payment of a
director's fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for purposes of the
Plan.
(i) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
(j) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the value of a
share of Stock or other property as determined by the Board, in its discretion,
or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is expressly
allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:
(i) If, on such date, the Stock is listed on a national
or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value of a
share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock (or the mean of
the closing bid and asked prices of a share of Stock if the Stock is so quoted
instead) as quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, The Nasdaq SmallCap Market or
such other national or regional securities exchange or market system
constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in THE WALL STREET
JOURNAL or such other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date
does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange
or market system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established
shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded prior to the relevant
date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Board, in its
discretion.
(ii) If, on such date, there is no public market for the
Stock, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the
Board in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction
which, by its terms, will never lapse.
(k) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to be
(as set forth in the Option Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive stock
option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
(l) "INSIDER" means an officer or a Director of the Company or
any other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act.
<PAGE>
(m) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended
to be (as set forth in the Option Agreement) or which does not qualify as an
Incentive Stock Option.
(n) "OPTION" means a right to purchase Stock (subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 4.2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of
the Plan. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory
Stock Option.
(o) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement, including
any related form of stock option grant agreement, between the Company and an
Optionee setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Option
granted to the Optionee and any shares acquired upon the exercise thereof.
(p) "OPTIONEE" means a person who has been granted one or more
Options.
(q) "PARENT CORPORATION" means any present or future "parent
corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(r) "PARTICIPATING COMPANY" means the Company or any Parent
Corporation or Subsidiary Corporation.
(s) "PARTICIPATING COMPANY GROUP" means, at any point in time,
all corporations collectively which are then Participating Companies.
(t) "RULE 16B-3" means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as
amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.
(u) "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
(v) "SERVICE" means an Optionee's employment or service with
the Participating Company Group, whether in the capacity of an Employee, a
Director or a Consultant. The Optionee's Service shall not be deemed to have
terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Optionee
renders Service to the Participating Company Group or a change in the
Participating Company for which the Optionee renders such Service, provided that
there is no interruption or termination of the Optionee's Service. Furthermore,
an Optionee's Service with the Participating Company Group shall not be deemed
to have terminated if the Optionee takes any military leave, sick leave, or
other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company; provided, however,
that if any such leave exceeds ninety (90) days, on the ninety-first (91st) day
of such leave the Optionee's Service shall be deemed to have terminated unless
the Optionee's right to return to Service with the Participating Company Group
is guaranteed by statute or contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless
otherwise designated by the Company or required by law, a leave of absence shall
not be treated as Service for purposes of determining vesting under the
Optionee's Option Agreement. The Optionee's Service shall be deemed to have
terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the corporation
for which the Optionee performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company.
Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine
whether the Optionee's Service has terminated and the effective date of such
termination.
<PAGE>
(w) "STOCK" means the Series C preferred stock of the Company,
as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.2.
(x) "SUBSIDIARY CORPORATION" means any present or future
"subsidiary corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the
Code.
(y) "TEN PERCENT OWNER OPTIONEE" means an Optionee who, at the
time an Option is granted to the Optionee, owns stock possessing more than ten
percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a
Participating Company within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.
2.2 CONSTRUCTION. Captions and titles contained herein are for
convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any
provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the
singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use
of the term "or" is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
3. ADMINISTRATION.
3.1 ADMINISTRATION BY THE BOARD. The Plan shall be administered by
the Board. All questions of interpretation of the Plan or of any Option shall be
determined by the Board, and such determinations shall be final and binding upon
all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Option.
3.2 AUTHORITY OF OFFICERS. Any officer of a Participating Company
shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any
matter, right, obligation, determination or election which is the responsibility
of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the officer has
apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination
or election.
3.3 ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO INSIDERS. With respect to
participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity
security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange
Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if any,
of Rule 16b-3.
3.4 POWERS OF THE BOARD. In addition to any other powers set forth
in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have the
full and final power and authority, in its discretion:
(a) to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at
which, Options shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock to be subject
to each Option;
(b) to designate Options as Incentive Stock Options or
Nonstatutory Stock Options;
(c) to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or
other property;
<PAGE>
(d) to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions
applicable to each Option (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired
upon the exercise thereof, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise price
of the Option, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased upon the exercise
of the Option, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding
obligation arising in connection with the Option or such shares, including by
the withholding or delivery of shares of stock, (iv) the timing, terms and
conditions of the exercisability of the Option or the vesting of any shares
acquired upon the exercise thereof, (v) the time of the expiration of the
Option, (vi) the effect of the Optionee's termination of Service with the
Participating Company Group on any of the foregoing, and (vii) all other terms,
conditions and restrictions applicable to the Option or such shares not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;
(e) to approve one or more forms of Option Agreement;
(f) to amend, modify, extend, cancel, renew, reprice or
otherwise adjust the exercise price of, or grant a new Option in substitution
for, any Option or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any
Option or any shares acquired upon the exercise thereof;
(g) to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the
exercisability of any Option or the vesting of any shares acquired upon the
exercise thereof, including with respect to the period following an Optionee's
termination of Service with the Participating Company Group;
(h) to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and
policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt supplements to, or alternative
versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Board deems
necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of, or to accommodate the tax
policy or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose citizens may be granted
Options; and
(i) to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile
any inconsistency in the Plan or any Option Agreement and to make all other
determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any
Option as the Board may deem advisable to the extent consistent with the Plan
and applicable law.
4. SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN.
4.1 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUABLE. Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that
may be issued under the Plan shall be five hundred thousand (500,000) and shall
consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Stock or any
combination thereof. If an outstanding Option for any reason expires or is
terminated or canceled or if shares of Stock are acquired upon the exercise of
an Option subject to a Company repurchase option and are repurchased by the
Company at the Optionee's exercise price, the shares of Stock allocable to the
unexercised portion of such Option or such repurchased shares of Stock shall
again be available for issuance under the Plan.
4.2 ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE. In the event of
any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization,
combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the
Company, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number and class of shares
subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Options and in the exercise price per
share of any outstanding Options. If a majority of the shares which are of the
same class as the
<PAGE>
shares that are subject to outstanding Options are exchanged for, converted
into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event,
as defined in Section 8.1) shares of another corporation (the "NEW SHARES"), the
Board may unilaterally amend the outstanding Options to provide that such
Options are exercisable for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the
number of shares subject to, and the exercise price per share of, the
outstanding Options shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as
determined by the Board, in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall
be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and in no event may the exercise
price of any Option be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any,
of the stock subject to the Option. The adjustments determined by the Board
pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be final, binding and conclusive.
5. ELIGIBILITY AND OPTION LIMITATIONS.
5.1 PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR OPTIONS. Options may be granted only to
Employees, Consultants, and Directors. For purposes of the foregoing sentence,
"Employees," "Consultants" and "Directors" shall include prospective Employees,
prospective Consultants and prospective Directors to whom Options are granted in
connection with written offers of an employment or other service relationships
with the Participating Company Group. Eligible persons may be granted more than
one (1) Option.
5.2 OPTION GRANT RESTRICTIONS. Any person who is not an Employee on
the effective date of the grant of an Option to such person may be granted only
a Nonstatutory Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option granted to a prospective
Employee upon the condition that such person become an Employee shall be deemed
granted effective on the date such person commences Service with a Participating
Company, with an exercise price determined as of such date in accordance with
Section 6.1.
5.3 FAIR MARKET VALUE LIMITATION. To the extent that options
designated as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all stock option plans of
the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by an
Optionee for the first time during any calendar year for stock having a Fair
Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portions
of such options which exceed such amount shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock
Options. For purposes of this Section 5.3, options designated as Incentive Stock
Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and
the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the option
with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a
different limitation from that set forth in this Section 5.3, such different
limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date and with
respect to such Options as required or permitted by such amendment to the Code.
If an Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a
Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this
Section 5.3, the Optionee may designate which portion of such Option the
Optionee is exercising. In the absence of such designation, the Optionee shall
be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option
first. Separate certificates representing each such portion shall be issued upon
the exercise of the Option.
<PAGE>
6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
Options shall be evidenced by Option Agreements specifying the
number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Board shall from
time to time establish. No Option or purported Option shall be a valid and
binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Option
Agreement. Option Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan
by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
6.1 EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price for each Option shall be
established in the discretion of the Board; provided, however, that (a) the
exercise price per share for an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than
the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the
Option, (b) the exercise price per share for a Nonstatutory Stock Option shall
be not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of a share
of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option, and (c) no Option granted
to a Ten Percent Owner Optionee shall have an exercise price per share less than
one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on
the effective date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an
Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be
granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth
above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for
another option in a manner qualifying under the provisions of Section 424(a) of
the Code.
6.2 EXERCISE PERIOD. Options shall be exercisable at such time or
times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions,
performance criteria, and restrictions as shall be determined by the Board and
set forth in the Option Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however,
that (a) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years
after the effective date of grant of such Option, (b) no Incentive Stock Option
granted to a Ten Percent Owner Optionee shall be exercisable after the
expiration of five (5) years after the effective date of grant of such Option,
and (c) no Option granted to a prospective Employee, prospective Consultant or
prospective Director may become exercisable prior to the date on which such
person commences Service with a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing,
unless otherwise specified by the Board in the grant of an Option, any Option
granted hereunder shall have a term of ten (10) years from the effective date of
grant of the Option.
6.3 PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE.
(a) FORMS OF CONSIDERATION AUTHORIZED. Except as otherwise
provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock
being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by check or
cash equivalent, (ii) by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership,
of shares of Stock owned by the Optionee having a Fair Market Value (as
determined by the Company without regard to any restrictions on transferability
applicable to such stock by reason of federal or state securities laws or
agreements with an underwriter for the Company) not less than the exercise
price, (iii) by the assignment of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to
some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option
(including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the
provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System) (a "CASHLESS EXERCISE"), (iv) by the
Optionee's promissory note in a form approved by the Company,
<PAGE>
(v) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Board from time to
time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (vi) by any combination
thereof. The Board may at any time or from time to time, by adoption of or by
amendment to the standard forms of Option Agreement described in Section 7, or
by other means, grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of
consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise
restrict one or more forms of consideration.
(b) LIMITATIONS ON FORMS OF CONSIDERATION.
(i) TENDER OF STOCK. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an
Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the
ownership, of shares of Stock to the extent such tender or attestation would
constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement
restricting the redemption of the Company's stock. Unless otherwise provided by
the Board, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or
attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either have
been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months or were not acquired,
directly or indirectly, from the Company.
(ii) CASHLESS EXERCISE. The Company reserves, at any and
all times, the right, in the Company's sole and absolute discretion, to
establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the
exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise.
(iii) PAYMENT BY PROMISSORY NOTE. No promissory note
shall be permitted if the exercise of an Option using a promissory note would be
a violation of any law. Any permitted promissory note shall be on such terms as
the Board shall determine at the time the Option is granted. The Board shall
have the authority to permit or require the Optionee to secure any promissory
note used to exercise an Option with the shares of Stock acquired upon the
exercise of the Option or with other collateral acceptable to the Company.
Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if the Company at any time is subject to
the regulations promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System or any other governmental entity affecting the extension of credit in
connection with the Company's securities, any promissory note shall comply with
such applicable regulations, and the Optionee shall pay the unpaid principal and
accrued interest, if any, to the extent necessary to comply with such applicable
regulations.
(c) TAX WITHHOLDING. The Company shall have the right, but not
the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable upon the exercise of
an Option, or to accept from the Optionee the tender of, a number of whole
shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal
to all or any part of the federal, state, local and foreign taxes, if any,
required by law to be withheld by the Participating Company Group with respect
to such Option or the shares acquired upon the exercise thereof. Alternatively
or in addition, in its discretion, the Company shall have the right to require
the Optionee, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, including
by means of a Cashless Exercise, to make adequate provision for any such tax
withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group arising in connection
with the Option or the shares acquired upon the exercise thereof. The Company
shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock or to release shares of
Stock from an escrow established pursuant to the Option Agreement until the
Participating Company Group's tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by
the Optionee.
<PAGE>
6.4 REPURCHASE RIGHTS. Shares issued under the Plan may be subject
to a right of first refusal, one or more repurchase options, or other conditions
and restrictions as determined by the Board in its discretion at the time the
Option is granted. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any
repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to
one or more persons as may be selected by the Company. Upon request by the
Company, each Optionee shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer
restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall
promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of
Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate
legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.
6.5 EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE.
(a) OPTION EXERCISABILITY. Subject to earlier termination of
the Option as otherwise provided herein, an Option shall be exercisable after an
Optionee's termination of Service as follows:
(i) DISABILITY. If the Optionee's Service with the
Participating Company Group is terminated because of the Disability of the
Optionee, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable on the date on
which the Optionee's Service terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee (or
the Optionee's guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the
expiration of six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time as
determined by the Board, in its discretion) after the date on which the
Optionee's Service terminated, but in any event no later than the date of
expiration of the Option's term as set forth in the Option Agreement evidencing
such Option (the "OPTION EXPIRATION DATE").
(ii) DEATH. If the Optionee's Service with the
Participating Company Group is terminated because of the death of the Optionee,
the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable on the date on which the
Optionee's Service terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee's legal
representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by
reason of the Optionee's death at any time prior to the expiration of six (6)
months (or such longer or shorter period of time as determined by the Board, in
its discretion) after the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, but
in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. The Optionee's Service
shall be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Optionee dies
within thirty (30) days (or such longer or shorter period of time as determined
by the Board, in its discretion) after the Optionee's termination of Service.
(iii) OTHER TERMINATION OF SERVICE. If the Optionee's
Service with the Participating Company Group terminates for any reason, except
Disability or death, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable by
the Optionee on the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, may be
exercised by the Optionee within thirty (30) days (or such longer or shorter
period of time as determined by the Board, in its discretion) after the date on
which the Optionee's Service terminated, but in any event no later than the
Option Expiration Date.
(b) EXTENSION IF EXERCISE PREVENTED BY LAW. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the exercise of an Option within the applicable time periods
set forth in Section 6.6(a) is prevented by the provisions of Section 11 below,
the Option shall remain exercisable until thirty
<PAGE>
(30) days (or such longer period of time as determined by the Board, in its
discretion) after the date the Optionee is notified by the Company that the
Option is exercisable, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration
Date.
(c) EXTENSION IF OPTIONEE SUBJECT TO SECTION 16(b).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a sale within the applicable time periods set
forth in Section 6.6(a) of shares acquired upon the exercise of the Option would
subject the Optionee to suit under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Option
shall remain exercisable until the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth (10th) day
following the date on which a sale of such shares by the Optionee would no
longer be subject to such suit, (ii) the one hundred and ninetieth (190th) day
after the Optionee's termination of Service, or (iii) the Option Expiration
Date.
7. STANDARD FORMS OF OPTION AGREEMENT.
7.1 GENERAL. Unless otherwise provided by the Board at the time the
Option is granted, an Option shall comply with and be subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in the standard form of Option Agreement adopted by the
Board concurrently with its adoption of the Plan and as amended from time to
time.
7.2 AUTHORITY TO VARY TERMS. The Board shall have the authority from
time to time to vary the terms of any of the standard forms of Option Agreement
described in this Section 7 either in connection with the grant or amendment of
an individual Option or in connection with the authorization of a new standard
form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of any such new,
revised or amended standard form or forms of Option Agreement are not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.
8. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
8.1 DEFINITIONS.
(a) An "OWNERSHIP CHANGE EVENT" shall be deemed to have
occurred if any of the following occurs with respect to the Company: (i) the
direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related
transactions by the shareholders of the Company of more than fifty percent (50%)
of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the
Company is a party; (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (iv) a liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
(b) A "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean an Ownership Change Event
or a series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, a "TRANSACTION")
wherein the shareholders of the Company immediately before the Transaction do
not retain immediately after the Transaction, in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company's voting stock
immediately before the Transaction, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of
more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
outstanding voting stock of the Company or the corporation or corporations to
which the assets of the Company were transferred (the "TRANSFEREE
CORPORATION(S)"), as the case may be. For purposes of the preceding sentence,
indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest
resulting from ownership of the voting stock of one or more corporations which,
as a result of the Transaction, own the
<PAGE>
Company or the Transferee Corporation(s), as the case may be, either directly or
through one or more subsidiary corporations. The Board shall have the right to
determine whether multiple sales or exchanges of the voting stock of the Company
or multiple Ownership Change Events are related, and its determination shall be
final, binding and conclusive.
8.2 EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL ON OPTIONS. In the event of a Change
in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or
parent corporation thereof, as the case may be (the "ACQUIRING CORPORATION"),
may either assume the Company's rights and obligations under outstanding Options
or substitute for outstanding Options substantially equivalent options for the
Acquiring Corporation's stock. For purposes of this Section 8.2, an Option shall
be deemed assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Option confers the
right to purchase in accordance with its terms and conditions, for each share of
Stock subject to the Option immediately prior to the Change in Control, the
consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or property) to which a
holder of a share of Stock on the effective date of the Change in Control was
entitled. Any Options which are neither assumed or substituted for by the
Acquiring Corporation in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised as
of the date of the Change in Control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding
effective as of the date of the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, shares acquired upon exercise of an Option prior to the Change in
Control and any consideration received pursuant to the Change in Control with
respect to such shares shall continue to be subject to all applicable provisions
of the Option Agreement evidencing such Option except as otherwise provided in
such Option Agreement. Furthermore, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
corporation the stock of which is subject to the outstanding Options immediately
prior to an Ownership Change Event described in Section 8.1(a)(i) constituting a
Change in Control is the surviving or continuing corporation and immediately
after such Ownership Change Event less than fifty percent (50%) of the total
combined voting power of its voting stock is held by another corporation or by
other corporations that are members of an affiliated group within the meaning of
Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to the provisions of Section 1504(b)
of the Code, the outstanding Options shall not terminate unless the Board
otherwise provides in its discretion.
9. PROVISION OF INFORMATION.
At least annually, copies of the Company's balance sheet and income
statement for the just completed fiscal year shall be made available to each
Optionee and purchaser of shares of Stock upon the exercise of an Option. The
Company shall not be required to provide such information to key employees whose
duties in connection with the Company assure them access to equivalent
information.
10. NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.
During the lifetime of the Optionee, an Option shall be exercisable
only by the Optionee or the Optionee's guardian or legal representative. No
Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Optionee, except by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution.
<PAGE>
11. COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW.
The grant of Options and the issuance of shares of Stock upon
exercise of Options shall be subject to compliance with all applicable
requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities.
Options may not be exercised if the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise
would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state or foreign
securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements of any stock
exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition,
no Option may be exercised unless (a) a registration statement under the
Securities Act shall at the time of exercise of the Option be in effect with
respect to the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option or (b) in the opinion
of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option
may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act. The inability of the Company to
obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any,
deemed by the Company's legal 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. As a condition to the exercise of any
Option, the Company may require the Optionee to satisfy any qualifications that
may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law
or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as
may be requested by the Company.
12. INDEMNIFICATION.
In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have
as members of the Board or officers or employees of the Participating Company
Group, members of the Board and any officers or employees of the Participating
Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board or the Company is delegated
shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including
attorneys' fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the
defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal
therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action
taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right
granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof
(provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by
the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action,
suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be
adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross
negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however,
that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or
proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity
at its own expense to handle and defend the same.
13. TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN.
The Board may terminate or amend the Plan at any time. However,
subject to changes in applicable law, regulations or rules that would permit
otherwise, without the approval of the Company's shareholders, there shall be
(a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be
issued under the Plan (except by operation of the provisions of Section 4.2),
(b) no change in the class of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock
Options, and (c) no other amendment of the Plan that would require approval of
the Company's shareholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule. In any
event, no termination or amendment of the Plan
<PAGE>
may adversely affect any then outstanding Option or any unexercised portion
thereof, without the consent of the Optionee, unless such termination or
amendment is required to enable an Option designated as an Incentive Stock
Option to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option or is necessary to comply with
any applicable law, regulation or rule.
14. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL.
The Plan or any increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of
Stock issuable thereunder as provided in Section 4.1 (the "AUTHORIZED SHARES")
shall be approved by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months
of the date of adoption thereof by the Board. Options granted prior to
shareholder approval of the Plan or in excess of the Authorized Shares
previously approved by the shareholders shall become exercisable no earlier than
the date of shareholder approval of the Plan or such increase in the Authorized
Shares, as the case may be.
