<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 24, 2000
REGISTRATION NO. 333-_____
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
_______________
STAC SOFTWARE, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
_______________
Delaware 95-3825313
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification Number)
_______________
12636 High Bluff Drive
San Diego, CA 92130
(Address of principal executive offices)
_______________
2000 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full title of the plans)
_______________
John T. Ticer, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
STAC SOFTWARE, INC.
12636 High Bluff Drive
San Diego, California 92130
(Name and address of agent for service)
_______________
(858) 794-4300
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Thomas A. Coll, Esq.
COOLEY GODWARD LLP
4365 Executive Drive, Suite 1100
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 550-6000
_______________
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<CAPTION>
=================================================================================================================
PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF SECURITIES AMOUNT TO OFFERING PRICE AGGREGATE REGISTRATION
TO BE REGISTERED BE REGISTERED PER SHARE(1) OFFERING PRICE(1) FEE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, $.001 par value 250,000 shares $5.2031 $1,300,775 $343.40
=================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h)(1). The price per
share and the aggregate offering price are calculated on the basis of
the average of the high and low sales prices of Registrant's Common
Stock on April 17, 2000 as reported on the Nasdaq National Market for
shares issuable under the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.
<PAGE>
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by Stac Software, Inc. (the "Company") pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") are hereby incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement except as superseded or modified
herein:
1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
September 30, 1999.
2. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
December 31, 1999.
3. Form 8-A and any amendments to such Form 8-A filed under the
Exchange Act.
4. All documents subsequently filed by the Company, pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in the registration statement and to be apart
thereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration
Statement.
ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify its
directors and may indemnify its officers, employees, and other agents to the
fullest extent permitted by law. The Company believes that indemnification under
its Bylaws covers at least negligence and gross negligence by indemnified
parties, and may require the Company to advance litigation expenses in the case
of stockholder derivative actions or other actions, against an undertaking by
the indemnified party to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that
the indemnified party is not entitled to indemnification.
In addition, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that
to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the Company's directors will
not be liable for monetary damages for breach of the directors' fiduciary duty
of care to the Company and its stockholders. This provision in the Certificate
of Incorporation does not eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate
circumstances equitable remedies such as an injunction or other forms of
<PAGE>
non-monetary relief would remain available under Delaware law. Each director
will continue to be subject to liability for breach of the director's duty of
loyalty to the Company, for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving
intentional misconduct or knowing violations of law, for acts or omissions that
the director believes to be contrary to the best interests of the Company or its
stockholders, for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit, for acts or omissions involving a reckless disregard for the
director's duty to the Company or its stockholders when the director was aware
or should have been aware of a risk of serious injury to the Company or its
stockholders, for acts or omissions that constitute an unexcused pattern of
inattention that amounts to an abdication of the director's duty to the Company
or its stockholders, for improper transactions between the director and the
Company, and for improper distributions to stockholders and loans to directors
and officers. This provision also does not affect a director's responsibilities
under any other laws, such as the federal securities laws or state or federal
environmental laws.
The Company has entered into indemnity agreements with certain officers
and directors which provide, among other things, that the Company will indemnify
such officer or director, under the circumstances and to the extent provided for
therein, for expenses, damages, judgments, fines and settlements he may be
required to pay in actions or proceedings which he is or may be made a party by
reason of his position as a director, officer or other agent of the Company, and
otherwise to the full extent permitted under Delaware law and the Company's
Bylaws.
The Company maintains insurance policies covering officers and directors
under which the insurers agree to pay, subject to certain exclusions, including
certain violations of securities laws, for any claim made against the directors
and officers of the Company for a wrongful act that they may become legally
obligated to pay or for which the Company is required to indemnify the officers
or directors. The Company believes that its Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaw provisions, indemnification agreements and such insurance policies are
necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.
ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
- ------ -----------------------
5.1 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants.
23.2 Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to
this Registration Statement.
24.1 Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page.
99.1 Registrant's 2000 Equity Incentive Option Plan.
<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 the Registration Statement;
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), 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;
(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; and
(4) 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 Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each
filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of
the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the 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 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 Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, 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 and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
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 San Diego, State of California, on the 24th day
of April, 2000.
STAC SOFTWARE, INC.
By: /s/ John T. Ticer, Jr.
------------------------
John T. Ticer, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer and President
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints John T. Ticer and Clifford L. Flowers,
and each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in
his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statement
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done
in connection therewith, 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 substitutes or
substitute, 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 below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURES TITLE DATE
---------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ John T. Ticer, Jr. Chief Executive Officer, President April 24, 2000
- ------------------------------- and Director (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE
(John T. Ticer, Jr.) OFFICER)
/s/ Clifford L. Flowers Vice President of Finance, April 24, 2000
- ------------------------------- and Chief Financial Officer (PRINCIPAL
(Clifford L. Flowers) FINANCIAL OFFICER)
/s/ Gary W. Clow Chairman of the Board of Directors April 24, 2000
- -------------------------------
(Gary W. Clow)
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES TITLE DATE
---------- ----- ----
/s/ Robert W. Johnson Director April 24, 2000
- ------------------------------
(Robert W. Johnson)
/s/ Antonio Perez Director April 24, 2000
- ------------------------------
(Antonio Perez)
/s/ Peter D. Schleider Director April 24, 2000
- ------------------------------
(Peter D. Schleider)
/s/ Corey M. Smith Director April 24, 2000
- ------------------------------
(Corey M. Smith)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
- ------ -----------------------
5.1 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants.
23.2 Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to
this Registration Statement.
24.1 Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page.
99.1 Registrant's 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.
EXHIBIT 5.1
Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP
April 24, 2000
Stac Software, Inc.
12636 High Bluff Drive
San Diego, CA 92130
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have requested our opinion with respect to certain matters in connection
with the filing by Stac Software, Inc. of a Registration Statement on Form S-8
(the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
covering the offering of up to 250,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock,
$.001 par value (the "Plan Shares") under the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (the
"Plan").
In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the
Registration Statement, the Plan, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws, and the originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of such
records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in our
judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion
expressed below. We have assumed the genuineness and authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all
documents submitted to us as copies thereof and the due execution and delivery
of all documents where due execution and delivery are a prerequisite to the
effectiveness thereof.
On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion
that the Plan Shares, when sold and issued in accordance with the Registration
Statement and the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
Very truly yours,
Cooley Godward LLP
/s/ Thomas A. Coll
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of Stac Software, Inc. of our report dated October 25,
1999 relating to the financial statements which appear in the annual report on
Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1999.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Diego, California
April 20, 2000
EXHIBIT 23.2
Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this
Registration Statement.
EXHIBIT 24.1
Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page.
EXHIBIT 99.1
Registrant's 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.
STAC SOFTWARE, INC.
2000 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
ADOPTED MARCH 23, 2000
TERMINATION DATE: MARCH 22, 2010
1. PURPOSES.
(a) ELIGIBLE STOCK AWARD RECIPIENTS. The persons eligible to receive
Stock Awards are the Employees, Directors and Consultants of the Company and its
Affiliates.
(b) AVAILABLE STOCK AWARDS. The purpose of the Plan is to provide a
means by which eligible recipients of Stock Awards may be given an opportunity
to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of
the following Stock Awards: (i) Nonstatutory Stock Options, (ii) stock bonuses
and (iii) rights to acquire restricted stock.
(c) GENERAL PURPOSE. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain
the services of the group of persons eligible to receive Stock Awards, to secure
and retain the services of new members of this group and to provide incentives
for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its
Affiliates.
2. DEFINITIONS.
(a) "AFFILIATE" means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation
of the Company, whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in
Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.
(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 of one or more members of the Board
appointed by the Board in accordance with subsection 3(c).
(e) "COMMON STOCK" means the common stock of the Company.
(f) "COMPANY" means Stac Software, Inc. a California corporation.
(g) "CONSULTANT" means any person, including an advisor, (i) engaged by
the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and who is
compensated for such services or (ii) who is a member of the Board of Directors
of an Affiliate. However, the term "Consultant" shall not include either
Directors who are not compensated by the Company for their services as Directors
or Directors who are merely paid a director's fee by the Company for their
services as Directors.
1
<PAGE>
(h) "CONTINUOUS SERVICE" means that the Participant's service with the
Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not
interrupted or terminated. The Participant's Continuous Service shall not be
deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which
the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee,
Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant
renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of
the Participant's Continuous Service. For example, a change in status from an
Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or a Director will not
constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. The Board or the chief
executive officer of the Company, in that party's sole discretion, may determine
whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of any
leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military leave or
any other personal leave.
(i) "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
(j) "DISABILITY" means the permanent and total disability of a person
within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(k) "EMPLOYEE" means any person employed by the Company or an
Affiliate. Mere service as a Director or payment of a director's fee by the
Company or an Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute "employment" by
the Company or an Affiliate.
(l) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(m) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the value of the Common
Stock determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or traded on the Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market,
the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the closing sales
price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted
on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume
of trading in the Common Stock) on the last market trading day prior to the day
of determination, as reported in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or such other source as
the Board deems reliable.
(ii) In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock, the
Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Board.
(n) "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a Director who either (i) is not a
current Employee or Officer of the Company or its parent or a subsidiary, does
not receive compensation (directly or indirectly) from the Company or its parent
or a subsidiary for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other
than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be
required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the
Securities Act ("Regulation S-K")), does not possess an interest in any other
transaction as to which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of
Regulation S-K and is not engaged in a business relationship as to which
disclosure would be required under Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is
otherwise considered a "non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3.
2
<PAGE>
(o) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended to qualify
as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and
the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(p) "OFFICER" means a person who possesses the authority of an
"officer" as that term is used in Rule 4460(i)(1)(A) of the Rules of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. For purposes of the Plan, a
person in the position of "Vice President" or higher shall be classified as an
"Officer" unless the Board or Committee expressly finds that such person does
not possess the authority of an "officer" as that term is used in Rule
4460(i)(1)(A) of the Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc.
(q) "OPTION" means a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the
Plan.
(r) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the Company
and an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option
grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan.
(s) "OPTIONHOLDER" means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant
to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding
Option.
(t) "PARTICIPANT" means a person to whom a Stock Award is granted
pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an
outstanding Stock Award.
(u) "PLAN" means this Stac Software, Inc. 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.
(v) "RULE 16B-3" means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or
any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.
(w) "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(x) "STOCK AWARD" means any right granted under the Plan, including an
Option, a stock bonus and a right to acquire restricted stock.
(y) "STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the
Company and a holder of a Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an
individual Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the
terms and conditions of the Plan.
3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) ADMINISTRATION BY BOARD. The Board shall administer the Plan unless
and until the Board delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in
subsection 3(c).
(b) POWERS OF BOARD. The Board shall have the power, subject to, and
within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:
(i) To determine from time to time which of the persons
eligible under the Plan shall be granted Stock Awards; when and how each Stock
Award shall be granted; what type or combination of types of Stock Award shall
be granted; the provisions of each Stock Award granted (which need not be
identical), including the time or times when a person shall be permitted to
receive Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Award; and the number of shares of
Common Stock with respect to which a Stock Award shall be granted to each such
person.
3
<PAGE>
(ii) To construe and interpret the Plan and Stock Awards
granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for
its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any
defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Award Agreement,
in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the
Plan fully effective.
(iii) To amend the Plan or a Stock Award as provided in
Section 12.
(iv) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such
acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of
the Company which are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan.
(c) DELEGATION TO COMMITTEE.
(i) GENERAL. The Board may delegate administration of the Plan
to a Committee or Committees of one (1) or more members of the Board, and the
term "Committee" shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has
been delegated. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee
shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers
theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power to delegate to a
subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to
exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the
Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to
time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in
the Board the administration of the Plan.
(ii) COMMITTEE COMPOSITION WHEN COMMON STOCK IS PUBLICLY
TRADED. At such time as the Common Stock is publicly traded, in the discretion
of the Board, a Committee may consist solely of two or more Non-Employee
Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3. Within the scope of such authority,
the Board or the Committee may delegate to a committee of one or more members of
the Board who are not Non-Employee Directors the authority to grant Stock Awards
to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(d) EFFECT OF BOARD'S DECISION. All determinations, interpretations and
constructions made by the Board in good faith shall not be subject to review by
any person and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.
4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
(a) SHARE RESERVE. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 relating to
adjustments upon changes in Common Stock, the Common Stock that may be issued
pursuant to Stock Awards shall not exceed in the aggregate two hundred fifty
thousand (250,000) shares of Common Stock.
4
<PAGE>
(b) REVERSION OF SHARES TO THE SHARE RESERVE. If any Stock Award shall
for any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without
having been exercised in full, the shares of Common Stock not acquired under
such Stock Award shall revert to and again become available for issuance under
the Plan.
(c) SOURCE OF SHARES. The shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan
may be unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise.
5. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIFIC STOCK AWARDS. Stock Awards may be granted
to Employees, Directors and Consultants.
(b) RESTRICTIONS ON ELIGIBILITY. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
aggregate number of shares issued pursuant to Stock Awards granted to Officers
and Directors cannot exceed forty percent (40%) of the number of shares reserved
for issuance under the Plan as determined at the time of each such issuance to
an Officer or Director, except that there shall be excluded from this
calculation shares issued to Officers not previously employed by the Company
pursuant to Stock Awards granted as an inducement essential to such individuals
entering into employment contracts with the Company.
(c) CONSULTANTS.
(i) A Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of a
Stock Award if, at the time of grant, a Form S-8 Registration Statement under
the Securities Act ("Form S-8") is not available to register either the offer or
the sale of the Company's securities to such Consultant because of the nature of
the services that the Consultant is providing to the Company, or because the
Consultant is not a natural person, or as otherwise provided by the rules
governing the use of Form S-8, unless the Company determines both (i) that such
grant (A) shall be registered in another manner under the Securities Act (E.G.,
on a Form S-3 Registration Statement) or (B) does not require registration under
the Securities Act in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities
Act, if applicable, and (ii) that such grant complies with the securities laws
of all other relevant jurisdictions.
(ii) Form S-8 generally is available to consultants and
advisors only if (i) they are natural persons; (ii) they provide bona fide
services to the issuer, its parents, its majority-owned subsidiaries or
majority-owned subsidiaries of the issuer's parent; and (iii) the services are
not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising
transaction, and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for
the issuer's securities.
6. OPTION PROVISIONS.
Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The provisions of separate
Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the
substance of each of the following provisions:
5
<PAGE>
(a) TERM. The term of an Option shall be the term determined by the
Board, either at the time of grant of the Option or as the Option may be amended
thereafter.
(b) EXERCISE PRICE OF A NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION. The exercise price
of each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than fifty percent (50%) of
the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the date the
Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Nonstatutory Stock Option
may be granted with an exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding
sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for
another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the
Code.
(c) CONSIDERATION. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant
to an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and
regulations, either (i) in cash at the time the Option is exercised or (ii) at
the discretion of the Board at the time of the grant of the Option (or
subsequently in the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option) (1) by delivery to the
Company of other Common Stock, (2) according to a deferred payment or other
similar arrangement with the Optionholder or (3) in any other form of legal
consideration that may be acceptable to the Board. Unless otherwise specifically
provided in the Option, the purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to
an Option that is paid by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock
acquired, directly or indirectly from the Company, shall be paid only by shares
of the Common Stock of the Company that have been held for more than six (6)
months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to
earnings for financial accounting purposes). At any time that the Company is
incorporated in Delaware, payment of the Common Stock's "par value," as defined
in the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall not be made by deferred payment.
In the case of any deferred payment arrangement, interest shall be
compounded at least annually and shall be charged at the minimum rate of
interest necessary to avoid the treatment as interest, under any applicable
provisions of the Code, of any amounts other than amounts stated to be interest
under the deferred payment arrangement.
(d) TRANSFERABILITY OF A NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION. A Nonstatutory
Stock Option shall be transferable to the extent provided in the Option
Agreement. If the Nonstatutory Stock Option does not provide for
transferability, then the Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be transferable
except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be
exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written
notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third
party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be
entitled to exercise the Option.
(e) VESTING GENERALLY. The total number of shares of Common Stock
subject to an Option may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in
periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Option may be
subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be
exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Board may
deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. The
provisions of this subsection 6(e) are subject to any Option provisions
governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option may
be exercised.
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(f) TERMINATION OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE. In the event an Optionholder's
Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder's death or
Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that
the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of
termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i)
the date three (3) months following the termination of the Optionholder's
Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option
Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the
Option Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his
or her Option within the time specified in the Option Agreement, the Option
shall terminate.
(g) EXTENSION OF TERMINATION DATE. An Optionholder's Option Agreement
may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of
the Optionholder's Continuous Service (other than upon the Optionholder's death
or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of
shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the
Securities Act, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the
expiration of the term of the Option set forth in subsection 6(a) or (ii) the
expiration of a period of three (3) months after the termination of the
Optionholder's Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option would
not be in violation of such registration requirements.
(h) DISABILITY OF OPTIONHOLDER. In the event that an Optionholder's
Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder's Disability, the
Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder
was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination), but only
within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12)
months following such termination (or such longer or shorter period specified in
the Option Agreement) or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set
forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not
exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate.
(i) DEATH OF OPTIONHOLDER. In the event (i) an Optionholder's
Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder's death or (ii)
the Optionholder dies within the period (if any) specified in the Option
Agreement after the termination of the Optionholder's Continuous Service for a
reason other than death, then the Option may be exercised (to the extent the
Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of death) by
the Optionholder's estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the
Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the
Option upon the Optionholder's death pursuant to subsection 6(d), but only
within the period ending on the earlier of (1) the date twelve (12) months
following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period specified in the
Option Agreement) or (2) the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth
in the Option Agreement. If, after death, the Option is not exercised within the
time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.
(j) EARLY EXERCISE. The Option may, but need not, include a provision
whereby the Optionholder may elect at any time before the Optionholder's
Continuous Service terminates to exercise the Option as to any part or all of
the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option prior to the full vesting of
the Option. Any unvested shares of Common Stock so purchased may be subject to a
repurchase option in favor of the Company or to any other restriction the Board
determines to be appropriate.
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7. PROVISIONS OF STOCK AWARDS OTHER THAN OPTIONS.
(a) STOCK BONUS AWARDS. Each stock bonus agreement shall be in such
form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem
appropriate. The terms and conditions of stock bonus agreements may change from
time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate stock bonus agreements
need not be identical, but each stock bonus agreement shall include (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise)
the substance of each of the following provisions:
(i) CONSIDERATION. A stock bonus may be awarded in
consideration for past services actually rendered to the Company or an Affiliate
for its benefit.
(ii) VESTING. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the stock
bonus agreement may, but need not, be subject to a share repurchase option in
favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by
the Board.
(iii) TERMINATION OF PARTICIPANT'S CONTINUOUS SERVICE. In the
event a Participant's Continuous Service terminates, the Company may reacquire
any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant which have not
vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the stock bonus
agreement.
(iv) TRANSFERABILITY. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock
under the stock bonus agreement shall be transferable by the Participant only
upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the stock bonus agreement, as
the Board shall determine in its discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded
under the stock bonus agreement remains subject to the terms of the stock bonus
agreement.
(b) RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS. Each restricted stock purchase agreement
shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board
shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of the restricted stock
purchase agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions
of separate restricted stock purchase agreements need not be identical, but each
restricted stock purchase agreement shall include (through incorporation of
provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of
each of the following provisions:
(i) PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price under each restricted
stock purchase agreement shall be such amount as the Board shall determine and
designate in such restricted stock purchase agreement. The purchase price shall
not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Common Stock's Fair Market
Value on the date such award is made or at the time the purchase is consummated.
(ii) CONSIDERATION. The purchase price of Common Stock
acquired pursuant to the restricted stock purchase agreement shall be paid
either: (i) in cash at the time of purchase; (ii) at the discretion of the
Board, according to a deferred payment or other similar arrangement with the
Participant; or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be
acceptable to the Board in its discretion; provided, however, that at any time
that the Company is incorporated in Delaware, then payment of the Common Stock's
"par value," as defined in the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall not be
made by deferred payment.
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(iii) VESTING. Shares of Common Stock acquired under the
restricted stock purchase agreement may, but need not, be subject to a share
repurchase option in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule
to be determined by the Board.
(iv) TERMINATION OF PARTICIPANT'S CONTINUOUS SERVICE. In the
event a Participant's Continuous Service terminates, the Company may repurchase
or otherwise reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the
Participant which have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms
of the restricted stock purchase agreement.
(v) TRANSFERABILITY. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock
under the restricted stock purchase agreement shall be transferable by the
Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the
restricted stock purchase agreement, as the Board shall determine in its
discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the restricted stock purchase
agreement remains subject to the terms of the restricted stock purchase
agreement.
8. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
(a) AVAILABILITY OF SHARES. During the terms of the Stock Awards, the
Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock
required to satisfy such Stock Awards.
(b) SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE. The Company shall seek to obtain from
each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such
authority as may be required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares
of Common Stock upon exercise of the Stock Awards; provided, however, that this
undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act
the Plan, any Stock Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any
such Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain
from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for
the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock
under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to
issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until
such authority is obtained.
9. USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.
Proceeds from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall
constitute general funds of the Company.
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) ACCELERATION OF EXERCISABILITY AND VESTING. The Board shall have
the power to accelerate the time at which a Stock Award may first be exercised
or the time during which a Stock Award or any part thereof will vest in
accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Stock Award
stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it
will vest.
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(b) SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS. No Participant shall be deemed to be the holder
of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of
Common Stock subject to such Stock Award unless and until such Participant has
satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Stock Award pursuant to its
terms.
(c) NO EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER SERVICE RIGHTS. Nothing in the Plan or any
instrument executed or Stock Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon
any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in
the capacity in effect at the time the Stock Award was granted or shall affect
the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) the employment of an
Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, (ii) the service of a
Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultant's agreement with the Company
or an Affiliate or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the Bylaws of the
Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of
the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may
be.
(d) INVESTMENT ASSURANCES. The Company may require a Participant, as a
condition of exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Stock Award, (i) to
give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participant's
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a
purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is
knowledgeable and experienced in financial and business matters and that he or
she is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser
representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Stock Award; and (ii) to
give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant
is acquiring Common Stock subject to the Stock Award for the Participant's own
account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing
the Common Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant
to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (1) the issuance of the shares of
Common Stock upon the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock
Award has been registered under a then currently effective registration
statement under the Securities Act or (2) as to any particular requirement, a
determination is made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not
be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The
Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock
certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or
appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but
not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the Common Stock.
(e) WITHHOLDING OBLIGATIONS. To the extent provided by the terms of a
Stock Award Agreement, the Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local
tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of Common
Stock under a Stock Award by any of the following means (in addition to the
Company's right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the
Company) or by a combination of such means: (i) tendering a cash payment; (ii)
authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of
Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise
or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award, provided, however, that no
shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the minimum amount of
tax required to be withheld by law; or (iii) delivering to the Company owned and
unencumbered shares of Common Stock.
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11. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.
(a) CAPITALIZATION ADJUSTMENTS. If any change is made in the Common
Stock subject to the Plan, or subject to any Stock Award, without the receipt of
consideration by the Company (through merger, consolidation, reorganization,
recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other
than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of
shares, change in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the
receipt of consideration by the Company), the Plan will be appropriately
adjusted in the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan
pursuant to subsection 4(a), and the outstanding Stock Awards will be
appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and number of securities and price per
share of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards. The Board shall
make such adjustments, and its determination shall be final, binding and
conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall
not be treated as a transaction "without receipt of consideration" by the
Company.)
(b) DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION. In the event of a dissolution or
liquidation of the Company, then all outstanding Stock Awards shall terminate
immediately prior to such event.
(c) ASSET SALE, MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR REVERSE MERGER. In the event
of (i) a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company, (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is
not the surviving corporation or (iii) a reverse merger in which the Company is
the surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property,
whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise (individually, a "Corporate
Transaction"), then any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation shall
assume any Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or shall substitute similar
stock awards (including an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the
shareholders in the Corporate Transaction for those outstanding under the Plan).
In the event any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation refuses to
assume such Stock Awards or to substitute similar stock awards for those
outstanding under the Plan, then with respect to Stock Awards held by
Participants whose Continuous Service has not terminated, the vesting of such
Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time during which such Stock Awards may be
exercised) shall be accelerated in full, and the Stock Awards shall terminate if
not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the Corporate Transaction. With
respect to any other Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan, such Stock Awards
shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable) prior to the Corporate
Transaction.
12. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND STOCK AWARDS.
(a) AMENDMENT OF PLAN. The Board at any time, and from time to time,
may amend the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 11 relating to
adjustments upon changes in Common Stock, no amendment shall be effective unless
approved by the shareholders of the Company to the extent shareholder approval
is necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, Rule 16b-3
or any Nasdaq or securities exchange listing requirements.
(b) SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. The Board may, in its sole discretion, but is
not obligated to, submit the Plan or any amendment to the Plan for shareholder
approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to
satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations
thereunder regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation from the
limit on corporate deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive
officers.
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(c) CONTEMPLATED AMENDMENTS. It is expressly contemplated that the
Board may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable
to provide eligible Employees with the maximum benefits provided or to be
provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder and/or to bring the Plan and/or Options granted under it into
compliance therewith.
(d) NO IMPAIRMENT OF RIGHTS. Rights under any Stock Award granted
before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan
unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (ii) the
Participant consents in writing.
(e) AMENDMENT OF STOCK AWARDS. The Board at any time, and from time to
time, may amend the terms of any one or more Stock Awards; provided, however,
that the rights under any Stock Award shall not be impaired by any such
amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and
(ii) the Participant consents in writing.
13. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.
(a) PLAN TERM. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time.
Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on the day before the tenth
(10th) anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. No Stock Awards
may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is
terminated.
(b) NO IMPAIRMENT OF RIGHTS. Suspension or termination of the Plan
shall not impair rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the
Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the Participant.
14. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.
The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board.
15. CHOICE OF LAW.
The law of the State of California shall govern all questions
concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without
regard to such state's conflict of laws rules.
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