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EXHIBIT 99.1
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NEWSEDGE CORPORATION
2000 NON-OFFICER AND NON-DIRECTOR STOCK PLAN
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1. Purpose. The purpose of the NewsEdge Corporation 2000 Non-Officer
and Non-Director Stock Plan, as amended (the "Plan") is to encourage key
employees who are not officers or directors of NewsEdge Corporation (the
"Company") and of any present or future parent or subsidiary of the Company
(collectively, "Related Corporations") and other individuals who are not
officers or directors of the Company who render services to the Company or a
Related Corporation, by providing opportunities to participate in the ownership
of the Company and its future growth through (a) the grant of options which
qualify as "incentive stock options" ("ISOs") under Section 422(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); (b) the grant of options
which do not qualify as ISOs ("Non-Qualified Options"); (c) awards of stock in
the Company ("Awards"); and (d) opportunities to make direct purchases of stock
in the Company ("Purchases"). Both ISOs and Non-Qualified Options are referred
to hereafter individually as an "Option" and collectively as "Options."
Options, Awards and authorizations to make Purchases are referred to hereafter
collectively as "Stock Rights." As used herein, the terms "parent" and
"subsidiary" mean "parent corporation" and "subsidiary corporation,"
respectively, as those terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code.
2. Administration of the Plan.
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A. BOARD OR COMMITTEE ADMINISTRATION. The Plan shall be
administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or by a
committee appointed by the Board (the "Committee"); provided that the Plan
shall be administered: (i) to the extent required by applicable regulations
under Section 162(m) of the Code, by two or more "outside directors" (as
defined in applicable regulations thereunder) and (ii) to the extent required
by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any
successor provision ("Rule 16b-3"), by a disinterested administrator or
administrators within the meaning of Rule 16b-3. Hereinafter, all references
in this Plan to the "Committee" shall mean the Board if no Committee has been
appointed. Subject to ratification of the grant or authorization of each
Stock Right by the Board (if so required by applicable state law), and
subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to
(i) determine to whom (from among the class of employees eligible under
paragraph 3 to receive ISOs) ISOs shall be granted, and to whom (from among
the class of individuals and entities eligible under paragraph 3 to receive
Non-Qualified Options and Awards and to make Purchases) Non-Qualified
Options, Awards and authorizations to make Purchases may be granted; (ii)
determine the time or times at which Options or Awards shall be granted or
Purchases made; (iii) determine the purchase price of shares subject to each
Option or Purchase, which prices shall not be less than the minimum price
specified in paragraph 6; (iv) determine whether each Option granted shall be
an ISO or a
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Non-Qualified Option; (v) determine (subject to paragraph 7) the time or
times when each Option shall become exercisable and the duration of the
exercise period; (vi) extend the period during which outstanding Options may
be exercised; (vii) determine whether restrictions such as repurchase options
are to be imposed on shares subject to Options, Awards and Purchases and the
nature of such restrictions, if any, and (viii) interpret the Plan and
prescribe and rescind rules and regulations relating to it. If the Committee
determines to issue a Non-Qualified Option, it shall take whatever actions it
deems necessary, under Section 422 of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder, to ensure that such Option is not treated as an ISO.
The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provisions of the
Plan or of any Stock Right granted under it shall be final unless otherwise
determined by the Board. The Committee may from time to time adopt such rules
and regulations for carrying out the Plan as it may deem advisable. No member
of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination
made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Stock Right granted under
it.
B. Committee Actions. The Committee may select one of its members
as its chairman, and shall hold meetings at such time and places as it may
determine. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and acts of
a majority of the members of the Committee at a meeting at which a quorum is
present, or acts reduced to or approved in writing by all the members of the
Committee (if consistent with applicable state law), shall be the valid acts
of the Committee. 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, or remove all members of the Committee and
thereafter directly administer the Plan.
3. Eligible Employees and Others. ISOs may be granted only to
employees of the Company or any Related Corporation. Non-Qualified Options,
Awards and authorizations to make Purchases may be granted to any eligible
employee or consultant of the Company or any Related Corporation. The Committee
may take into consideration a recipient's individual circumstances in
determining whether to grant a Stock Right. The granting of any Stock Right to
any individual or entity shall neither entitle that individual or entity to, nor
disqualify such individual or entity from, participation in any other grant of
Stock Rights.
4. Stock. The stock subject to Stock Rights shall be authorized but
unissued shares of Common Stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share (the
"Common Stock"), or shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company in any
manner. The aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant to the Plan
is 962,400, subject to adjustment as provided in paragraph 13. If any Stock
Right granted under the Plan shall expire or terminate for any reason without
having been exercised in full or shall cease for any reason to be exercisable in
whole or in part or shall be repurchased by the Company, the shares of Common
Stock subject to such Stock Right shall again be available for grants of Stock
Rights under the Plan.
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No employee of the Company or any Related Corporation may be granted
Options to acquire, in the aggregate, more than 673,680 of shares of Common
Stock under the Plan. If any Option granted under the Plan shall expire or
terminate for any reason without having been exercised in full or shall cease
for any reason to be exercisable in whole or in part or shall be repurchased by
the Company, the shares subject to such Option shall be included in the
determination of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock deemed to have
been granted to such employee under the Plan.
5. Granting of Stock Rights. Stock Rights may be granted under the
Plan at any time on or after March 22, 2000 and prior to March 22, 2010. The
date of grant of a Stock Right under the Plan will be the date specified by the
Committee at the time it grants the Stock Right; provided, however, that such
date shall not be prior to the date on which the Committee acts to approve the
grant. Stock Rights granted under the Plan are intended to qualify as
performance-based compensation to the extent required under Treasury Regulation
Section 1.162-27.
6. Minimum Option Price; ISO Limitations.
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A. Price for Non-Qualified Options, Awards ans Purchases. The
exercise price per share specified in the agreement relating to each Non-
Qualified Option granted, and the purchase price per share of stock granted
in any Award or authorized as a Purchase, under the Plan shall in no event be
less than the minimum legal consideration required therefor under the laws of
any jurisdiction in which the Company or its successors in interest may be
organized. Non-Qualified Options granted under the Plan, with an exercise
price less than the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the date
of grant, are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under
Section 162(m) of the Code and any applicable regulations thereunder. Any
such Non-Qualified Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable only
upon the attainment of a pre-established, objective performance goal
established by the Committee. If the Committee grants Non-Qualified Options
with an exercise price less than the fair market value per share of Common
Stock on the date of grant, such grant will be submitted for, and will be
contingent upon shareholder approval.
B. Price for ISOs. The exercise price per share specified in the
agreement relating to each ISO granted under the Plan shall not be less than
the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the date of such grant.
In the case of an ISO to be granted to an employee owning stock possessing
more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes
of stock of the Company or any Related Corporation, the price per share
specified in the agreement relating to such ISO shall not be less than one
hundred ten percent (110%) of the fair market value per share of Common Stock
on the date of grant. For purposes of determining stock ownership under this
paragraph, the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply.
C. $100,000 Annual Limitation on ISO Vesting. Each eligible
employee may be granted Options treated as ISOs only to the extent that, in
the aggregate under this Plan
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and all incentive stock option plans of the Company and any Related
Corporation, ISOs do not become exercisable for the first time by such
employee during any calendar year with respect to stock having a fair market
value (determined at the time the ISOs were granted) in excess of $100,000.
The Company intends to designate any Options granted in excess of such
limitation as Non-Qualified Options.
D. Determination of Fair Market Value. If, at the time an Option
is granted under the Plan, the Company's Common Stock is publicly traded,
"fair market value" shall be determined as of the date of grant or, if the
prices or quotes discussed in this sentence are unavailable for such date,
the last business day for which such prices or quotes are available prior to
the date of grant and shall mean (i) the average (on that date) of the high
and low prices of the Common Stock on the principal national securities
exchange on which the Common Stock is traded, if the Common Stock is then
traded on a national securities exchange; or (ii) the last reported sale
price (on that date) of the Common Stock on The Nasdaq National Market, if
the Common Stock is not then traded on a national securities exchange; or
(iii) the closing bid price (or average of bid prices) last quoted (on that
date) by an established quotation service for over-the-counter securities, if
the Common Stock is not reported on the Nasdaq National Market. If the
Common Stock is not publicly traded at the time an Option is granted under
the Plan, "fair market value" shall mean the fair value of the Common Stock
as determined by the Committee after taking into consideration all factors
which it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, recent sale and
offer prices of the Common Stock in private transactions negotiated at arm's
length.
7. Option Duration. Subject to earlier termination as provided in
paragraphs 9 and 10 or in the agreement relating to such Option, each Option
shall expire on the date specified by the Committee, but not more than (i) ten
years from the date of grant in the case of Options generally and (ii) five
years from the date of grant in the case of ISOs granted to an employee owning
stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power
of all classes of stock of the Company or any Related Corporation, as determined
under paragraph 6(B). Subject to earlier termination as provided in paragraphs
9 and 10, the term of each ISO shall be the term set forth in the original
instrument granting such ISO, except with respect to any part of such ISO that
is converted into a Non-Qualified Option pursuant to paragraph 16.
8. Exercise of Option. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 9
through 12, each Option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable as follows:
A. Vesting. The Option shall either be fully exercisable on the
date of grant or shall become exercisable thereafter in such installments as
the Committee may specify.
B. Full Vesting of Installments. Once an installment becomes
exercisable it shall remain exercisable until expiration or termination of
the Option, unless otherwise specified by the Committee.
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C. Partial Exercise. Each Option or installment may be exercised
at any time or from time to time, in whole or in part, for up to the total
number of shares with respect to which it is then exercisable.
D. Acceleration of Vesting. The Committee shall have the right to
accelerate the date that any installment of any Option becomes exercisable;
provided that the Committee shall not, without the consent of an optionee,
accelerate the permitted exercise date of any installment of any Option
granted to any employee as an ISO (and not previously converted into a Non-
Qualified Option pursuant to paragraph 16) if such acceleration would violate
the annual vesting limitation contained in Section 422(d) of the Code, as
described in paragraph 6(C).
9. Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise specified in the
agreement relating to such ISO, if an ISO optionee ceases to be employed by the
Company and all Related Corporations other than by reason of death or disability
as defined in paragraph 10, no further installments of his or her ISOs shall
become exercisable, and his or her ISOs shall terminate on the earlier of (a)
ninety (90) days after the date of termination of his or her employment, or (b)
their specified expiration dates, except to the extent that such ISOs (or
unexercised installments thereof) have been converted into Non-Qualified Options
pursuant to paragraph 16. For purposes of this paragraph 9, employment shall be
considered as continuing uninterrupted during any bona fide leave of absence
(such as those attributable to illness, military obligations or governmental
service) provided that the period of such leave does not exceed 90 days or, if
longer, any period during which such optionee's right to reemployment is
guaranteed by statute. A bona fide leave of absence with the written approval
of the Committee shall not be considered an interruption of employment under
this paragraph 9, provided that such written approval contractually obligates
the Company or any Related Corporation to continue the employment of the
optionee after the approved period of absence. ISOs granted under the Plan
shall not be affected by any change of employment within or among the Company
and Related Corporations, so long as the optionee continues to be an employee of
the Company or any Related Corporation. Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to
give any grantee of any Stock Right the right to be retained in employment or
other service by the Company or any Related Corporation for any period of time.
10. Death; Disability.
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A. Death. If an ISO optionee ceases to be employed by the Company
and all Related Corporations by reason of his or her death, any ISO owned by
such optionee may be exercised, to the extent otherwise exercisable on the
date of death, by the estate, personal representative or beneficiary who has
acquired the ISO by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, until
the earlier of (i) the specified expiration date of the ISO or (ii) 180 days
from the date of the optionee's death.
B. Disability. If an ISO optionee ceases to be employed by the
Company and all Related Corporations by reason of his or her disability, such
optionee shall have the right to exercise any ISO held by him or her on the
date of termination of employment, for the
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number of shares for which he or she could have exercised it on that date,
until the earlier of (i) the specified expiration date of the ISO or (ii) 180
days from the date of the termination of the optionee's employment. For the
purposes of the Plan, the term "disability" shall mean "permanent and total
disability" as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code or any successor
statute.
11. Assignability. No Stock Right shall be assignable or
transferable by the grantee except by will, by the laws of descent and
distribution or, in the case of Non-Qualified Options only, pursuant to a valid
domestic relations order. Except as set forth in the previous sentence, during
the lifetime of a grantee each Stock Right shall be exercisable only by such
grantee.
12. Terms and Conditions of Options. Options shall be evidenced by
instruments (which need not be identical) in such forms as the Committee may
from time to time approve. Such instruments shall conform to the terms and
conditions set forth in paragraphs 6 through 11 hereof and may contain such
other provisions as the Committee deems advisable which are not inconsistent
with the Plan, including restrictions applicable to shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of Options. The Committee may specify that any Non-
Qualified Option shall be subject to the restrictions set forth herein with
respect to ISOs, or to such other termination and cancellation provisions as the
Committee may determine. The Committee may from time to time confer authority
and responsibility on one or more of its own members and/or one or more officers
of the Company to execute and deliver such instruments. The proper officers of
the Company are authorized and directed to take any and all action necessary or
advisable from time to time to carry out the terms of such instruments.
13. Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of any of the following events,
an optionee's rights with respect to Options granted to such optionee hereunder
shall be adjusted as hereinafter provided, unless otherwise specifically
provided in the written agreement between the optionee and the Company relating
to such Option:
A. Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the shares of Common
Stock shall be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of
shares or if the Company shall issue any shares of Common Stock as a stock
dividend on its outstanding Common Stock, the number of shares of Common
Stock deliverable upon the exercise of Options shall be appropriately
increased or decreased proportionately, and appropriate adjustments shall be
made in the purchase price per share to reflect such subdivision, combination
or stock dividend.
B. Consolidations or Mergers. If the Company is to be consolidated
with or acquired by another entity in a merger, sale of all or substantially
all of the Company's assets or otherwise (an "Acquisition"), the Committee or
the board of directors of any entity assuming the obligations of the Company
hereunder (the "Successor Board"), shall, as to outstanding Options, either
(i) make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Options by
substituting on an equitable basis for the shares then subject to such
Options either (a) the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding
shares of Common Stock in connection with the Acquisition, (b) shares of
stock of the surviving
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corporation or (c) such other securities as the Successor Board deems
appropriate, the fair market value of which shall not materially exceed the
fair market value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Options
immediately preceding the Acquisition; or (ii) upon written notice to the
optionees, provide that all Options must be exercised, to the extent then
exercisable, within a specified number of days of the date of such notice, at
the end of which period the Options shall terminate; or (iii) terminate all
Options in exchange for a cash payment equal to the excess of the fair market
value of the shares subject to such Options (to the extent then exercisable)
over the exercise price thereof.
C. Recapitalization or Reorganization. In the event of a
recapitalization or reorganization of the Company (other than a transaction
described in subparagraph B above) pursuant to which securities of the
Company or of another corporation are issued with respect to the outstanding
shares of Common Stock, an optionee upon exercising an Option shall be
entitled to receive for the purchase price paid upon such exercise the
securities he or she would have received if he or she had exercised such
Option prior to such recapitalization or reorganization.
D. Modification of ISOs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
adjustments made pursuant to subparagraphs A, B or C with respect to ISOs
shall be made only after the Committee, after consulting with counsel for the
Company, determines whether such adjustments would constitute a
"modification" of such ISOs (as that term is defined in Section 424 of the
Code) or would cause any adverse tax consequences for the holders of such
ISOs. If the Committee determines that such adjustments made with respect to
ISOs would constitute a modification of such ISOs or would cause adverse tax
consequences to the holders, it may refrain from making such adjustments.
E. Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, each Option will terminate
immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action or at such
other time and subject to such other conditions as shall be determined by the
Committee.
F. Issuances of Securities. 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 subject to Options. No adjustments shall be made for
dividends paid in cash or in property other than securities of the Company.
G. Fractional Shares. No fractional shares shall be issued under
the Plan and the optionee shall receive from the Company cash in lieu of such
fractional shares.
H. Adjustments. Upon the happening of any of the events described
in subparagraphs A, B or C above, the class and aggregate number of shares
set forth in paragraph 4 hereof that are subject to Stock Rights which
previously have been or subsequently may be granted under the Plan shall also
be appropriately adjusted to reflect the events described in such
subparagraphs. The Committee or the Successor Board shall
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determine the specific adjustments to be made under this paragraph 13 and,
subject to paragraph 2, its determination shall be conclusive.
14. Means of Exercising Options. An Option (or any part or
installment thereof) shall be exercised by giving written notice to the Company
at its principal office address, or to such transfer agent as the Company shall
designate. Such notice shall identify the Option being exercised and specify
the number of shares as to which such Option is being exercised, accompanied by
full payment of the purchase price therefor either (a) in United States dollars
in cash or by check, (b) at the discretion of the Committee, through delivery of
shares of Common Stock having a fair market value equal as of the date of the
exercise to the cash exercise price of the Option, (c) at the discretion of the
Committee, by delivery of the grantee's personal recourse note bearing interest
payable not less than annually at no less than 100% of the lowest applicable
Federal rate, as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code, (d) at the discretion
of the Committee and consistent with applicable law, through the delivery of an
assignment to the Company of a sufficient amount of the proceeds from the sale
of the Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the Option and an authorization to
the broker or selling agent to pay that amount to the Company, which sale shall
be at the participant's direction at the time of exercise, or (e) at the
discretion of the Committee, by any combination of (a), (b), (c) and (d) above.
If the Committee exercises its discretion to permit payment of the exercise
price of an ISO by means of the methods set forth in clauses (b), (c), (d) or
(e) of the preceding sentence, such discretion shall be exercised in writing at
the time of the grant of the ISO in question. The holder of an Option shall not
have the rights of a shareholder with respect to the shares covered by such
Option until the date of issuance of a stock certificate to such holder for such
shares. Except as expressly provided above in paragraph 13 with respect to
changes in capitalization and stock dividends, no adjustment shall be made for
dividends or similar rights for which the record date is before the date such
stock certificate is issued.
15. Term and Amendment of Plan. This Plan was adopted by the Board
on March 22, 2000, subject, with respect to the validation of ISOs granted under
the Plan, to approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company at the next
Meeting of Stockholders or, in lieu thereof, by written consent. If the
approval of stockholders is not obtained prior to March 22, 2001, any grants of
ISOs under the Plan made prior to that date will be rescinded. The Plan shall
expire at the end of the day on March 22, 2010 (except as to Options outstanding
on that date). Subject to the provisions of paragraph 5 above, Options may be
granted under the Plan prior to the date of stockholder approval of the Plan.
The Board may terminate or amend the Plan in any respect at any time, except
that, without the approval of the stockholders obtained within 12 months before
or after the Board adopts a resolution authorizing any of the following actions:
(a) the total number of shares that may be issued under the Plan may not be
increased (except by adjustment pursuant to paragraph 13); (b) the benefits
accruing to participants under the Plan may not be materially increased; (c) the
requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan may not be
materially modified; (d) the provisions of paragraph 3 regarding eligibility for
grants of ISOs may not be modified; (e) the provisions of paragraph 6(B)
regarding the exercise price at which shares may be offered pursuant to ISOs may
not be modified (except by adjustment pursuant to paragraph 13); (f) the
expiration date of the Plan may not be extended; and (g) the Board may not take
any action which would cause the Plan to
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fail to comply with Rule 16b-3. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph
15, in no event may action of the Board or stockholders alter or impair the
rights of a grantee, without such grantee's consent, under any Option previously
granted to such grantee.
16. Conversion of ISOs into Non-Qualified Options. The Committee, at
the written request or with the written consent of any optionee, may in its
discretion take such actions as may be necessary to convert such optionee's ISOs
(or any installments or portions of installments thereof) that have not been
exercised on the date of conversion into Non-Qualified Options at any time prior
to the expiration of such ISOs, regardless of whether the optionee is an
employee of the Company or a Related Corporation at the time of such conversion.
Such actions may include, but shall not be limited to, extending the exercise
period or reducing the exercise price of the appropriate installments of such
ISOs. At the time of such conversion, the Committee (with the consent of the
optionee) may impose such conditions on the exercise of the resulting Non-
Qualified Options as the Committee in its discretion may determine, provided
that such conditions shall not be inconsistent with this Plan. Nothing in the
Plan shall be deemed to give any optionee the right to have such optionee's ISOs
converted into Non-Qualified Options, and no such conversion shall occur until
and unless the Committee takes appropriate action.
17. Application of Funds. The proceeds received by the Company from
the sale of shares pursuant to Options granted and Purchases authorized under
the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.
18. Notice to Company of Disqualifying Disposition. By accepting an
ISO granted under the Plan, each optionee agrees to notify the Company in
writing immediately after such optionee makes a Disqualifying Disposition (as
described in Sections 421, 422 and 424 of the Code and regulations thereunder)
of any stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of ISOs granted under the Plan.
A Disqualifying Disposition is generally any disposition occurring on or before
the later of (a) the date two years following the date the ISO was granted or
(b) the date one year following the date the ISO was exercised.
19. Withholding of Additional Income Taxes. Upon the exercise of a
Non-Qualified Option, the grant of an Award, the making of a purchase of Common
Stock for less than its fair market value, the making of a Disqualifying
Disposition (as defined in paragraph 18), the vesting or transfer of restricted
stock or securities acquired on the exercise of an Option hereunder, or the
making of a distribution or other payment with respect to such stock or
securities, the Company may withhold taxes in respect of amounts that constitute
compensation includible in gross income. The Committee in its discretion may
condition (i) the exercise of an Option, (ii) the grant of an Award, (iii) the
making of a Purchase of Common Stock for less than its fair market value, or
(iv) the vesting or transferability of restricted stock or securities acquired
by exercising an Option, on the grantee's making satisfactory arrangement for
such withholding. Such arrangement may include payment by the grantee in cash
or by check of the amount of the withholding taxes or, at the discretion of the
Committee, by the grantee's delivery of previously held shares of Common Stock
or the
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withholding from the shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon
exercise of a Option shares having an aggregate fair market value equal to the
amount of such withholding taxes.
20. Governmental Regulation. The Company's obligation to sell and
deliver shares of the Common Stock under this Plan is subject to the approval of
any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization,
issuance or sale of such shares.
Government regulations may impose reporting or other obligations on
the Company with respect to the Plan. For example, the Company may be required
to send tax information statements to employees and former employees that
exercise ISOs under the Plan, and the Company may be required to file tax
information returns reporting the income received by grantees of Options in
connection with the Plan.
21. Governing Law. The validity and construction of the Plan and the
instruments evidencing Options shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.
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