Registration No. 33-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ECOTYRE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 11-3234026
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
895 Waverly Avenue, Holtsville, New York 11742
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
ECOTYRE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 1995 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full Title of the Plan)
Vito F. Alongi, President
EcoTyre Technologies, Inc.
895 Waverly Avenue
Holtsville, New York 11742
(Name and address of agent for service)
(516) 289-4545
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
copy to:
David H. Lieberman, Esq.
Blau, Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C.
100 Jericho Quadrangle
Jericho, New York 11753
(516) 822-4820
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Title of Each Proposed Minimum Proposed Maximum
Class of Securities Amount to be Offering Price Per Aggregate Offering Amount of
To be Registered Registered Security (1) Price (1) Registration Fee
-------------------- ------------ ------------------ ------------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, 350,000 shs.(2) $5.25 $1,837,500 $634
par value $.001
per share
_________
<FN>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee,
based upon the last reported closing price of the Company's Common Stock on the
NASDAQ SmallCap Market on June 17, 1996.
(2) The Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of
additional shares of Common Stock which may become issuable pursuant to
anti-dilution and adjustment provisions of the Plan.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
---------------------------------------
The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration
Statement the documents listed in (a) through (c) below:
(a) The Registrant's latest annual report filed pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or either
(I) the latest prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act of 1933 that contains audited financial statements
for the Registrant's latest fiscal year for which such statements
have been filed or (II) the Registrant's effective registration
statement on Form 10 filed under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 containing audited financial statements for the Registrant's
latest fiscal year;
(b) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 since the end of the fiscal year
covered by the Registrant document referred to in (a) above;
(c) The description of the class of securities to be offered which is
contained in a registration statement filed under Section 12 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including any amendment or
report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered have been sold or which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which deregisters all such securities then remaining unsold,
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement
and to be a part hereof from the date of 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.
-----------------------------------------
Under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws
of Registrant, each person who is or was a director or officer of Registrant
shall be indemnified by Registrant as of right to the full extent permitted or
authorized by the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
Under such law, to the extent that such person is successful on the
merits of defense of a suit or proceeding brought against him by reason of the
fact that he is a director or officer of Registrant, he shall be indemnified
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) reasonably incurred in connection
with such action.
If unsuccessful in defense of a third-party civil suit or a criminal
suit is settled, such a person shall be indemnified under such law against both
(1) expenses (including attorneys' fees) and (2) judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of Registrant, and with
respect to any criminal action, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct
was unlawful.
If unsuccessful in defense of a suit brought by or in the right of
Registrant, or if such suit is settled, such a person shall be indemnified under
such law only against expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in the
defense or settlement of such suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of
Registrant except that if such a person is adjudicated to be liable in such suit
for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to Registrant, he
cannot be made whole even for expenses unless the court determines that he is
fairly and reasonably entitled to be indemnified for such expenses.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
------------------------------------
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
--------
4 1995 Long Term Incentive Plan.
5 Opinion and consent of Blau, Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C.
23.1 Consent of Blau, Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C. - included in
their opinion filed as Exhibit 5.
23.2 Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP.
24 Powers of Attorney.
Item 9. Undertakings.
------------
(a) 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:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the Registration Statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
Statement or any material change to such information in the
Registration Statement; provided, however, that paragraphs
(a)(l)(i) and (a)(l)(ii) do not apply if the information required
to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs
is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant
to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement.
(2) That, for the purposes 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.
(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.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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 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 the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
<PAGE>
(c) 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 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 policy as expressed in the Act and will be
governed by final adjudication of such issue.
<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
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 Holtsville, New York on the 19th day of June, 1996.
ECOTYRE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ Vito F. Alongi
------------------------------
Vito F. Alongi
President, Treasurer
(Principal Executive, Financial
and Accounting Officer)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed on June 19, 1996 by the
following persons in the capacities indicated. Each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Vito F. Alongi and Robert E. Munyer, and
each of them acting individually, with full power of substitution, our true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents to do any and all acts and things in our
name and on our behalf in our capacities indicated below which they or either of
them may deem necessary or advisable to enable EcoTyre Technologies, Inc. to
comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations
and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with
this Registration Statement including specifically, but not limited to, power
and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities stated
below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto,
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 in
such connection, as fully to all intents and purposes as we might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue thereof.
Signature Title
--------- -----
/s/ Marc de Logeres Co-Chairman of the Board
- ---------------------------
Marc de Logeres
/s/ Maxwell G. Parsons Co-Chairman of the Board
- ---------------------------
Maxwell G. Parsons
/s/ Vito F. Alongi President, Treasurer and Director
- --------------------------- (Principal Executive, Financial and
Vito F. Alongi Accounting Officer)
/s/ Robert E. Munyer, Jr. Vice President, Secretary and Director
- ---------------------------
Robert E. Munyer, Jr.
/s/ John W. King Director
- ---------------------------
John W. King
/s/ Theresa Mari Director
- ---------------------------
Theresa Mari
/s/ Arthur Rosenberg Director
- ---------------------------
Arthur Rosenberg
<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
ECOTYRE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Form S-8 Registration Statement
E X H I B I T I N D E X
Page No. in Sequential
Exhibit Numbering of all Pages,
Number Exhibit Description including Exhibit Pages
- -------- -------------------- ------------------------
4 1995 Long Term Incentive Plan
5 Opinion and Consent of Counsel
23.1 Consent of Counsel See Exhibit 5
23.2 Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP
24 Powers of Attorney See signature page
ECOTYRE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
1995 Long-Term Incentive Plan
1. PURPOSE.
The purpose of the 1995 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is to
advance the interests of EcoTyre Technologies, Inc. a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and its shareholders by providing incentives to certain key
employees of the Company and its affiliates and to certain other key individuals
who perform services for these entities, including those who contribute
significantly to the strategic and long-term performance objectives and growth
of the Company and its affiliates.
2. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) The Plan shall be determined solely by the Long-Term Incentive Plan
Administrative Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors (the
"Board") of the Company, as such Committee is from time to time constituted, or
any successor committee the Board may designate to administer the Plan; provided
that if at any time Rule 16b-3 or any successor rule ("Rule 16b-3") under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), so permits
without adversely affecting the ability of the Plan to comply with the
conditions for exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act (or any successor
provision) provided by Rule 16b-3, the Committee may delegate the administration
of the Plan in whole or in part, on such terms and conditions, and to such
person or persons as it may determine in its discretion, as it relates to
persons not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act (or any successor
provision). The membership of the Committee or such successor committee shall be
constituted so as to comply at all times with the applicable requirements of
Rule 16b-3. No member of the Committee shall be eligible or have been eligible
within one year prior to his appointment to receive awards under the Plan
("Awards") or to receive awards under any other plan, program or arrangement of
the Company or any of its affiliates if such eligibility would cause such member
to cease to be a "disinterested person" under Rule 16b-3; provided that if at
any time Rule 16b-3 so permits without adversely affecting the ability of the
Plan to comply with the conditions for exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange
Act (or any successor provision) provided by Rule 16b-3, one or more members of
the Committee may cease to be "disinterested persons."
(b) The Committee has all the powers vested in it by the terms of the
Plan set forth herein, such powers to include exclusive authority (except as may
be delegated as permitted herein) to select the key employees and other key
individuals to be granted Awards under the Plan, to determine the type, size and
terms of the Award to be made to each individual selected, to modify the terms
<PAGE>
of any Award that has been granted, to determine the time when awards will be
granted, to establish performance objectives, to make any adjustments necessary
or desirable as a result of the granting of Awards to eligible individuals
located outside the United States and to prescribe the form of the instruments
embodying Awards made under the Plan. The Committee is authorized to interpret
the Plan and the Awards granted under the Plan, to establish, amend and rescind
any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and to make any other
determination, which it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of
the Plan. The Committee (or its delegate as permitted herein) may correct any
defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in
any Award in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or
desirable to carry it into effect. any decision of the Committee (or its
delegate as permitted herein) in the interpretation and administration of the
Plan, as described herein, shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion and
shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned. The Committee
may act only by a majority of its members in office, except that the members
thereof may authorize any one or more of their members or any officer of the
Company to execute and deliver documents or to take any other ministerial action
on behalf of the Committee with respect to Awards made or to be made to Plan
participants. No member of the Committee and no officer of the Company shall be
liable for anything done or omitted to be done by him, by any other member of
the Committee or by any officer of the Company in connection with the
performance of duties under the Plan, except for his own willful misconduct or
as expressly provided by statute. Determinations to be made by the Committee
under the Plan may be made by its delegates.
3. PARTICIPATION.
(a) Affiliates. If an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of the
Company wishes to participate in the Plan and its participation shall have been
approved by the Board upon the recommendation of the Committee, the board of
directors or other governing body of the Affiliate shall adopt a resolution in
form and substance satisfactory to the Committee authorizing participation by
the Affiliate in the Plan with respect to its key employees or other key
individuals performing services for it. As used herein, the term "Affiliate"
means any entity in which the Company has a substantial direct or indirect
equity interest or which has a substantial direct or indirect equity interest in
the Company, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.
An Affiliate participating in the Plan may cease to be a
participating company at any time by action of the Board or by action of the
board of directors or other governing body of such Affiliate, which latter
action shall be effective not earlier than the date of delivery to the Secretary
of the Company of a certified copy of a resolution of the Affiliate's board of
directors or other governing body taking such action. If the participation in
the Plan of an Affiliate shall terminate, such termination shall not relieve it
of any obligations theretofore incurred by it, except as may be approved by the
Committee in its discretion.
(b) Participants. Consistent with the purposes of the Plan, the
Committee shall have exclusive power (except as may be delegated as permitted
herein) to select the key employees and other key individuals performing
services for the Company, including consultants or independent contractors and
others who perform services for the Company and its Affiliates who may
<PAGE>
participate in the Plan and be granted Awards under the Plan. Eligible
individuals may be selected individually or by groups or categories, as
determined by the Committee in its discretion. No director of the Company,
unless he is an employee or consultant of the Company or is an officer, director
or consultant of an Affiliate, shall be eligible to receive an Award under the
Plan. In no event may a corporation be eligible to receive an Award of incentive
stock options under the Plan.
4. AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN.
(a) Types of Awards. Awards under the Plan may include, but need
not be limited to, one or more of the following types, either alone or in any
combination thereof: (i) "Stock Options," (ii) "Stock Appreciation Rights,"
(iii) "Restricted Stock," (iv) "Performance Grants" and (v) any other type of
Award deemed by the Committee in its discretion to be consistent with the
purposes of the Plan (including but not limited to, Awards of or options or
similar rights granted with respect to unbundled stock units or components
thereof, and Awards to be made to participants who are foreign nationals or are
employed or performing services outside the United States). Stock Options, which
include "Non-Qualified Stock Options" and "Incentive Stock Options" or
combinations thereof, are rights to purchase common shares of the Company and
stock of any other class into which such shares may thereafter be changed (the
"Common Shares"). Non-Qualified Stock Options and Incentive Stock Options are
subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions specified in Paragraph 5.
Stock Appreciation Rights are rights to receive (without payment to the Company)
cash, Common Shares, other Company securities (which may include, but need not
be limited to, unbundled stock units or components thereof, debentures,
preferred stock, warrants, securities convertible into Common Shares or other
property, and other types of securities including, but not limited to, those of
the Company or an Affiliate, or any combination thereof ("Other Company
Securities") or property, or other forms of payment, or any combination thereof,
as determined by the Committee, based on the increase in the value of the number
of Common Shares specified in the Stock Appreciation Right. Stock Appreciation
Rights are subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions specified in
Paragraph 6. Shares of Restricted Stock are Common Shares which are issued
subject to certain restrictions pursuant to Paragraph 7. Performance Grants are
contingent awards subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions described in
Paragraph 8, pursuant to which the participant may become entitled to receive
cash, Common Shares, Other Company Securities or property, or other forms of
payment, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.
(b) Maximum Number of Shares that May Be Issued. There may be
issued under the Plan (as Restricted Stock, in payment of Performance Grants,
pursuant to the exercise of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, or in
payment of or pursuant to the exercise of such other Awards as the Committee, in
its discretion, may determine) an aggregate of not more than 350,000 Common
Shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph 15. Common Shares issued
pursuant to the Plan may be either authorized but unissued shares, treasury
shares, reacquired shares, or any combination thereof. If any Common Shares
<PAGE>
issued as Restricted Stock or otherwise subject to repurchase or forfeiture
rights are reacquired by the Company pursuant to such rights, or if any Award is
cancelled, terminates or expires unexercised, any Common Shares that would
otherwise have been issuable pursuant thereto will be available for issuance
under new Awards.
(C) Rights with Respect to
Common Shares and Other Securities.
(i) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its
discretion, a participant to whom an Award of Restricted Stock has been
made (and any person succeeding to such a participant's rights pursuant
to the Plan) shall have, after issuance of a certificate or copy thereof
for the number of Common Shares awarded and prior to the expiration of
the Restricted Period or the earlier repurchase of such Common Shares as
herein provided, ownership of such Common Shares, including the right to
vote the same and to receive dividends or other distributions made or
paid with respect to such Common Shares (provided that such Common
Shares, and any new, additional or different shares, or Other Company
Securities or property, or other forms of consideration which the
participant may be entitled to receive with respect to such Common
Shares as a result of a stock split, stock dividend or any other change
in the corporate or capital structure of the Company, shall be subject
to the restrictions hereinafter described as determined by the Committee
in its discretion), subject, however, to the options, restrictions and
limitations imposed thereon pursuant to the Plan. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its
discretion, a participant with whom an Award agreement is made to issue
Common Shares in the future shall have no rights as a shareholder with
respect to Common Shares related to such agreement until issuance of a
certificate to him.
(ii) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its
discretion, a participant to whom a grant of Stock Options, Stock
Appreciation Rights, Performance Grants or any other Award is made (and
any person succeeding to such a participant's rights pursuant to the
Plan) shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Common
Shares or as a holder with respect to other securities, if any, issuable
pursuant to any such Award until the date of the issuance of a stock
certificate to him for such Common Shares or other instrument of
ownership, if any. Except as provided in Paragraph 15, no adjustment
shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights (whether
ordinary or extraordinary, and whether in cash, securities, other
property or other forms of consideration, or any combination thereof)
for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate or
other instrument of ownership, if any, is issued.
5. STOCK OPTIONS.
The Committee may grant Stock Options either alone, or in
conjunction with Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Grants or other Awards,
either at the time of grant or by amendment thereafter, provided that an
Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to an eligible employee of the
<PAGE>
Company or its parent or subsidiary corporation. Each Stock Option (referred to
herein as an "Option") granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an
instrument in such form as the Committee shall prescribe from time to time in
accordance with the Plan and shall comply with the following terms and
conditions, and with such other terms and conditions, including, but not limited
to, restrictions upon the Option or the Common Shares issuable upon exercise
thereof, as the Committee, in its discretion, shall establish:
(a) The option price may be less than, equal to, or greater than,
the fair market value of the Common Shares subject to such Option at the time
the Option is granted, as determined by the Committee, but in no event will such
option price be less than 85% of the fair market value of the underlying Common
Shares at the time the Option is granted; provided, however, that in the case of
an Incentive Stock Option granted to such an employee, the option price shall
not be less than the fair market value of the Common Shares subject to such
Option at the time the Option is granted, or if granted to such an employee who
owns stock representing more than ten percent of the voting power of all classes
of stock of the Company or of its parent or subsidiary (a "Ten Percent
Employee"), such option price shall be not less than 110% of such fair market
value at the time the Option is granted; provided, further that in no event will
such option price be less than the par value of such Common Shares.
(b) The Committee shall determine the number of Common Shares to be
subject to each option. The number of Common Shares subject to an outstanding
Option may be reduced on a share-for-share or other appropriate basis, as
determined by the Committee, to the extent that Common Shares under such Option
are used to calculate the cash, Common Shares, Other Company Securities or
property, or other forms of payment, or any combination thereof, received
pursuant to exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right attached to such Option, or
to the extent that any other Award granted in conjunction with such Option is
paid.
(c) The Option may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged,
hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, except by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, and shall be exercisable during the grantee's lifetime only by
him. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, the Option shall not be
exercisable for at least six months after the date of grant, unless the grantee
ceases employment or performance of services before the expiration of such
six-month period by reason of his disability as defined in Paragraph 12 or his
death.
(d) The Option shall not be exercisable:
(i) in the case of any Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten
Percent Employee, after the expiration of five years from the date it is
granted, and, in the case of any other Option, after the expiration of
ten years from the date it is granted. Any Option may be exercised
during such period only at such time or times and in such installments
as the Committee may establish;
<PAGE>
(ii) unless payment in full is made for the shares being
acquired thereunder at the time of exercise, such payment shall be made
in such form (including, but not limited to, cash, Common Shares, or the
surrender of another outstanding Award under the Plan, or any
combination thereof) as the Committee may determine in its discretion;
and
(iii) unless the person exercising the Option has been, at all
times during the period beginning with the date of the grant of the
Option and ending on the date of such exercise, employed by or otherwise
performing services for the Company or an Affiliate, or a corporation,
or a parent or subsidiary of a corporation, substituting or assuming the
Option in a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statutory provisions thereto
(the "Code"), is applicable, except that:
(A) in the case of any Non-Qualified Stock Option, if such
person shall cease to be employed by or otherwise performing
services for the Company or an Affiliate solely by reason of a
period of related Employment as defined in Paragraph 14, he may,
during such period of Related Employment, exercise the
Non-Qualified Stock Option as if he continued such employment or
performance of service; or
(B) if such person shall cease such employment or
performance of services by reason of his disability as defined
in Paragraph 12 or early, normal or deferred retirement under an
approved retirement program of the Company or an Affiliate (or
such other plan or arrangement as may be approved by the
Committee, in its discretion, for this purpose) while holding
an option which has not expired and has not been fully exercised,
such person, at any time within three months (or such other
period determined by the Committee) after the date he ceased such
employment or performance of services (but in no event after the
Option has expired), may exercise the Option with respect to any
shares as to which he could have exercised the Option on
the date he ceased such employment or performance of services,
or with respect to such greater number of shares as determined by
the Committee; or
(C) if such person shall cease such employment or
performance of services for reasons other than Related Employment,
disability, early, normal or deferred retirement or death (as
provided elsewhere) while holding an Option which has not expired
and has not been fully exercised, such person may exercise the
Option at any time within three months (or such other period
determined by the Committee) after the date he ceased such
employment or performance of services (but in no event after the
Option has expired), but only to the extent such Option is
exercisable on the date of such termination, or with respect to
such greater number of shares as determined by the Committee; or
<PAGE>
(D) if any person to whom an Option has been granted shall
die holding an Option which has not expired and has not been fully
exercised, his executors, administrators, heirs or distributees, as
the case may be, may, at any time within one year (or such other
period determined by the Committee) after the date of death (but in
no event after the Option has expired), exercise the Option with
respect to any shares as to which the decedent could have exercised
the Option at the time of his death, or with respect to such
greater number of shares as determined by the Committee.
(E) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the amount
of aggregate fair market value of Common Shares (determined at
the time of grant of the Option pursuant to subparagraph 5(a) of
the Plan) with respect to which incentive stock options are
exercisable for the first time by an employee during any calendar
year (under all such plans of his employer corporation any
calendar year (under all such plans of his employer corporation
and its parent and its parent and subsidiary corporations) shall
not exceed $100,000.
(F)It is the intent of the Company that Non-Qualified Stock
Options granted under the Plan not be classified as Incentive
Stock Options, that the Incentive Stock Options granted under
the Plan be consistent with and contain or be deemed to contain
all provisions required under Section 422(b) and other appropriate
provisions of the Code and any implementing regulations (and any
successor provisions thereof), and that any ambiguities in
construction shall be interpreted in order to effectuate such
intent. The Agreements providing Non-Qualified Stock Options
shall provide that such Options are not "incentive stock options"
for the purposes of Section 422(b) of the Code.
6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights either alone, or
in conjunction with Stock Options, Performance Grants or other Awards, either at
the time of grant or by amendment thereafter. Each Award of Stock Appreciation
Rights granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an instrument in such form
as the Committee shall prescribe from time to time in accordance with the Plan
and shall comply with the following terms and conditions, and with such other
terms and conditions, including, but not limited to, restrictions upon the Award
of Stock Appreciation Rights or the Common Shares issuable upon exercise
thereof, as the Committee in its discretion shall establish:
(a) The Committee shall determine the number of Common Shares to
be subject to each Award of Stock Appreciation Rights. The number of Common
Shares subject to an outstanding Award of Stock Appreciation Rights may
be reduced on a share-for-share or other appropriate basis, as determined by
the Committee, to the extent that Common Shares under such Award of Stock
Appreciation Rights are used to calculate the cash, Common Shares, Other
Company Securities or property, or other forms of payment, or any combination
<PAGE>
thereof, received pursuant to exercise of an Option attached to such Award of
Stock Appreciation Rights, or to the extent that any other Award granted in
conjunction with such Award of Stock Appreciation Rights is paid.
(b) The Award of Stock Appreciation Rights may not be sold,
assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, except by
will or the laws of the descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable
during the grantee's lifetime only by him. Unless the Committee determines
otherwise, the Award of Stock Appreciation Rights shall not be exercisable for
at least six months after the date of grant, unless the grantee ceases
employment or performance of services before the expiration of such six-month
period by reason of his disability as defined in Paragraph 12 or his death.
(c) The Award of Stock Appreciation Rights shall not be exercisable
(i) in the case of any Award of Stock Appreciation Rights that
are attached to an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Employee,
after the expiration of five years from the date it is granted, and, in the case
of any other award of Stock Appreciation Rights, after the expiration of ten
years from the date it is granted. Any Award of Stock Appreciation Rights may be
exercised during such period only at such time or times and in such installments
as the Committee may establish;
(ii) unless the Option or other Award to which the Award of
Stock Appreciation Rights is attached is at the time exercisable; and
(iii) unless the person exercising the Award of Stock
Appreciation Rights has been, at all times during the period beginning with the
date of the grant thereof and ending on the date of such exercise, employed by
or otherwise performing services for the Company or an Affiliate, except that
(A) in the case of any Award of Stock Appreciation Rights
(other than those attached to an Incentive Stock Option), if such
person shall cease to be employed by or otherwise performing
services for the Company or an Affiliate solely by reason of a
period of Related Employment as defined in Paragraph 14, he may,
during such period of Related Employment, exercise the Award of
Stock Appreciation Rights as if he continued such employment or
performance of services; or
(B) if such person shall cease such employment or
performance of services by reason of his disability as defined in
Paragraph 12 or early, normal or deferred retirement under an
approved retirement program of the Company or an Affiliate (or such
other plan or arrangement as may be approved by the Committee, in
its discretion, for this purpose) while holding an Award of Stock
Appreciation Rights which has not expired and has not been fully
<PAGE>
exercised, such person may, at any time within three years (or such
other period determined by the Committee) after the date he ceased
such employment or performance of services (but in no event after
the Award of Stock Appreciation Rights has expired), exercise the
Award of Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to any shares as to
which he could have exercised the Award of Stock Appreciation
Rights on the date he ceased such employment or performance of
services, or with respect to such greater number of shares as
determined by the Committee; or
(C) if such person shall cease such employment or
performance of services for reasons other than Related Employment,
disability, early, normal or deferred retirement or death (as
provided elsewhere) while holding an Award of Stock Appreciation
Rights which has not expired and has not been fully exercised, such
person may exercise the Award of Stock Appreciation Rights at any
time during the period, if any, which the Committee approves (but
in no event after the Award of Stock Appreciation Rights expires)
following the date he ceased such employment or performance of
services with respect to any shares as to which he could have
exercised the Award of Stock Appreciation Rights on the date he
ceased such employment or performance of services or as otherwise
permitted in the Committee's discretion; or
(D) if any person to whom an Award of Stock Appreciation
Rights has been granted shall die holding an Award of Stock
Appreciation Rights which has not expired and has not been fully
exercised, his executors, administrators, heirs or distributees, as
the case may be, may, at any time within one year (or such other
period determined by the Committee) after the date of death (but in
no event after the Award of Stock Appreciation Rights has expired),
exercise the Award of Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to any
shares as to which the decedent could have exercised the Award of
Stock Appreciation Rights at the time of his death, or with respect
to such greater number of shares as determined by the Committee.
(d) An Award of Stock Appreciation Rights shall entitle the holder (or
any person entitled to act under the provisions of subparagraph 6(c)(iii)(D)
hereof) to exercise such Award or to surrender unexercised the option (or other
Award) to which the Stock Appreciation Rights is attached (or any portion of
such Option or other Award) to the Company and to receive from the Company in
exchange therefor, without payment to the Company, that number of Common Shares
having an aggregate value equal to the excess of the fair market value of one
share, at the time of such exercise, over the exercise price (or Option Price,
as the case may be) per share, times the number of shares subject to the Award
or the Option (or other Award), or portion thereof, which is so exercised or
<PAGE>
surrendered, as the case may be. The Committee shall be entitled in its
discretion to elect to settle the obligation arising out of the exercise of a
Stock Appreciation Right by the payment of cash or Other Company Securities or
property, or other forms of payment, or any combination thereof, as determined
by the Committee, equal to the aggregate value of the Common Shares it would
otherwise be obligated to deliver. Any such election by the Committee shall be
made as soon as practicable after the receipt by the Committee of written notice
of the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right. The value of a Common Share,
Other Company Securities or property, or other forms of payment determined by
the Committee for this purpose shall be the fair market value thereof on the
last business day next preceding the date of the election to exercise the Stock
Appreciation Right, unless the Committee, in its discretion, determines
otherwise.
(e) A Stock Appreciation Right may provide that it shall be deemed to
have been exercised at the close of business on the business day preceding the
expiration date of the Stock Appreciation Right or of the related Option (or
other Award), or such other date as specified by the Committee, if at such time
such Stock Appreciation Right has a positive value. Such deemed exercise shall
be settled or paid in the same manner as a regular exercise thereof as provided
in subparagraph 6(d) hereof.
(f) No fractional shares may be delivered under this Paragraph 6, but in
lieu thereof a cash or other adjustment shall be made as determined by the
Committee in its discretion.
7. RESTRICTED STOCK.
Each Award of Restricted Stock under the Plan shall be evidenced by an
instrument in such form as the Committee shall prescribe from time to time in
accordance with the Plan and shall comply with the following terms and
conditions, and with such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its
discretion, shall establish:
(a) The Committee shall determine the number of Common Shares to be
issued to a participant pursuant to the Award, and the extent, if any, to which
they shall be issued in exchange for cash, other consideration, or both.
(b) Common Shares issued to a participant in accordance with the
Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise
disposed of, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or as
otherwise determined by the Committee, for such period as the Committee shall
determine, from the date on which the Award is granted (the "Restricted
Period"). The Company will have the option, at the Committee's discretion, to
repurchase the shares subject to the Award at such price as the Committee shall
have fixed or to provide for forfeiture to the Company of the shares subject to
the Award, which option or forfeiture may be exercisable (i) if the
participant's continuous employment or performance of services for the Company
and its Affiliates shall terminate for any reason, except solely by reason of a
period of Related Employment as defined in Paragraph 14, or except as otherwise
provided in subparagraph 7(c), prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period,
(ii) if, on or prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period or the earlier
lapse of such forfeiture option, the participant has not paid to the Company an
amount equal to any federal, state, local or foreign income or other taxes which
the Company determines is required to be withheld in respect of such shares, or
(iii) under such other circumstances as determined by the Committee in its
<PAGE>
discretion. Such repurchase option or forfeiture shall be exercisable on such
terms, in such manner and during such period as shall be determined by the
Committee when the Award is made or as amended thereafter, except as otherwise
determined in the Committee's discretion. Each certificate for Common Shares
issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall bear an appropriate legend
referring to the foregoing repurchase option or forfeiture and other
restrictions and to the fact that the shares are partly paid, shall be deposited
by the award holder with the Company, together with a stock power endorsed in
blank, or shall be evidenced in such other manner permitted by applicable law as
determined by the Committee in its discretion. Any attempt to dispose of any
such Common Shares in contravention of the foregoing repurchase and forfeiture
options and other restrictions shall be null and void and without effect. If
Common Shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall be repurchased
or forfeited pursuant to the repurchase option described above, the participant,
or in the event of his death, his personal representative, shall forthwith
deliver to the Secretary of the Company the certificates for the Common Shares
awarded to the participant, accompanied by such instrument of transfer, if any,
as may reasonably be required by the Secretary of the Company.
(c) If a participant who has been in continuous employment or
performance of services for the Company or an Affiliate since the date on which
a Restricted Stock Award was granted to him shall, while in such employment or
performance of services, die, or terminate such employment or performance of
services by reason of disability as defined in Paragraph 12 or by reason of
early normal or deferred retirement under an approved retirement program of the
Company or an Affiliate (or such other plan or arrangement as may be approved by
the Committee in its discretion, for this purpose) and any of such events shall
occur after the date on which the Award was granted to him and prior to the end
of the Restricted Period of such Award, the Committee may determine to cancel
the repurchase option or forfeiture (and any and all other restrictions) on any
or all of the Common Shares subject to such Award; and the repurchase option or
forfeiture shall become exercisable at such time as to the remaining shares, if
any.
8. PERFORMANCE GRANTS.
The Award of a Performance Grant ("Performance Grant") to a
participant will entitle him to receive a specified amount determined by the
Committee (the "Actual Value"), if the terms and conditions specified herein and
in the Award are satisfied. Each Award of a Performance Grant shall be subject
to the following terms and conditions, and to such other terms and conditions,
including but not limited to, restrictions upon any cash, Common Shares, Other
Company Securities or property, or other forms of payment, or any combination
thereof, issued in respect of the Performance Grant, as the Committee, in its
discretion, shall establish, and shall be embodied in an instrument in such form
and substance as is determined by the Committee.
(a) The Committee shall determine the value or range of values of a
Performance Grant to be awarded to each participant selected for an award and
whether or not such a Performance Grant is granted in conjunction with an Award
of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock or other Award, or any
<PAGE>
combination thereof, under the Plan (which may include, but need not be limited
to, deferred Awards) concurrently or subsequently granted to the participant
(the "Associated Award"). As determined by the Committee, the maximum value of
each Performance Grant (the "Maximum Value") shall be: (i) an amount fixed by
the Committee at the time the award is made or amended thereafter, (ii) an
amount which varies from time to time based in whole or in part on the then
current value of a Common Share, Other Company Securities or property, or other
securities or property, or any combination thereof, or (iii) an amount that is
determinable from criteria specified by the Committee. Performance Grants may be
issued in different classes or series having different names, terms and
conditions. In the case of a Performance Grant awarded in conjunction with an
Associated Award, the Performance Grant may be reduced on an appropriate basis
to the extent that the Associated Award has been exercised, paid to or otherwise
received by the participant, as determined by the Committee.
(b) The award period ("Award Period") in respect of any Performance
Grant shall be a period determined by the Committee. At the time each Award is
made, the Committee shall establish performance objectives to be attained within
the Award Period as the means of determining the Actual Value of such a
Performance Grant. The performance objectives shall be based on such measure or
measures of performance, which may include, but need not be limited to, the
performance of the participant, the Company, one or more of its subsidiaries or
one or more of their divisions or units, or any combination of the foregoing, as
the Committee shall determine, and may be applied on an absolute basis or be
relative to industry or other indices, or any combination thereof. The Actual
Value of a Performance Grant shall be equal to its Maximum Value only if the
performance objectives are attained in full, but the Committee shall specify the
manner in which the Actual Value of Performance Grants shall be determined if
the performance objectives are met in part. Such performance measures, the
Actual Value or the Maximum Value, or any combination thereof, may be adjusted
in any manner by the Committee in its discretion at any time and from time to
time during or as soon as practicable after the Award Period, if it determines
that such performance measures, the Actual Value or the Maximum Value, or any
combination thereof, are not appropriate under the circumstances.
(c) The rights of a participant in Performance Grants awarded to
him shall be provisional and may be cancelled or paid in whole or in part, all
as determined by the Committee, if the participant's continuous employment or
performance of services for the Company and its Affiliates shall terminate for
any reason prior to the end of the Award Period, except solely by reason of a
period of Related Employment as defined in Paragraph 14.
(d) The Committee shall determine whether the conditions of
subparagraph 8(b) or 8(c) hereof have been met and, if so, shall ascertain the
Actual Value of the Performance Grants. If the Performance Grants have no Actual
Value, the Award and such Performance Grants shall be deemed to have been
cancelled and the Associated Award, if any, may be cancelled or permitted to
continue in effect in accordance with its terms. If the Performance Grants have
any Actual Value and:
<PAGE>
(i) were not awarded in conjunction with an Associated Award, the
Committee shall cause an amount equal to the actual Value of the Performance
Grants earned by the participant to be paid to him or his beneficiary as
provided below; or
(ii) were awarded in conjunction with an Associated Award, the Committee
shall determine, in accordance with criteria specified by the Committee (A) to
cancel the Performance Grants, in which event no amount in respect thereof shall
be paid to the participant or his beneficiary, and the Associated Award may be
permitted to continue in effect in accordance with its terms, (B) to pay the
Actual Value of the Performance Grants to the participant or his beneficiary as
provided below, in which event the Associated Award may be cancelled or (C) to
pay to the participant or his beneficiary as provided below, the Actual Value of
only a portion of the Performance Grants, in which a complimentary portion of
the Associated Award may be permitted to continue in effect in accordance with
its terms or be cancelled, as determined by the Committee.
Such determination by the Committee shall be made as promptly as
practicable following the end of the Award Period or upon the earlier
termination of employment or performance of services, or at such other time or
times as the Committee shall determine, and shall be made pursuant to criteria
specified by the Committee.
Payment of any amount in respect of the Performance Grants which the
Committee determines to pay as provided above shall be made by the Company as
promptly as practicable after the end of the Award Period or at such other time
or times as the Committee shall determine, and may be made in cash, Common
Shares, Other Company Securities or property, or other forms of payment, or any
combination thereof or in such other manner, as determined by the Committee in
its discretion. Notwithstanding anything in this Paragraph 8 to the contrary,
the Committee may, in its discretion, determine and pay out the Actual Value of
the Performance Grants at any time during the Award Period.
9. DEFERRAL OF COMPENSATION.
The Committee shall determine whether or not an Award shall be
made in conjunction with deferral of the participant's salary, bonus or other
compensation, or any combination thereof, and whether or not such deferred
amounts may be
(i) forfeited to the Company or to other participants, or any
combination thereof, under certain circumstances (which may include, but
need not be limited to, certain types of termination of employment or
performance of services for the Company and its Affiliates),
(ii) subject to increase or decrease in value based upon the
attainment of or failure to attain, respectively, certain performance
measures and/or
<PAGE>
(iii) credited with income equivalents (which may include, but need
not be limited to, interest, dividends or other rates of return) until
the date or dates of payment of the Award, if any.
10. DEFERRED PAYMENT OF AWARDS.
The Committee may specify that the payment of all or any portion
of cash, Common Shares, Other Company Securities or property, or any other form
of payment, or any combination thereof, under an Award shall be deferred until a
later date. Deferrals shall be for such periods or until the occurrence of such
events, and upon such terms, as the Committee shall determine in its discretion.
Deferred payments of Awards may be made by undertaking to make payment in the
future based upon the performance of certain investment equivalents (which may
include, but need not be limited to, government securities, Common Shares, other
securities, property or consideration, or any combination thereof), together
with such additional amounts of income equivalents (which may be compounded and
may include, but need not be limited to, interest, dividends or other rates of
return, or any combination thereof) as may accrue thereon until the date or
dates of payment, such investment equivalents and such additional amounts of
income equivalents to be determined by the Committee in its discretion.
11. AMENDMENT OR SUBSTITUTION OF AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN.
The terms of any outstanding Award under the Plan may be amended
from time to time by the Committee in its discretion in any manner that it deems
appropriate (including, but not limited to, acceleration of the date of exercise
of any Award and/or payments thereunder, or reduction of the Option Price of an
Option or exercise price of an Award of Stock Appreciation Rights); provided,
that no such amendment shall adversely affect in a material manner any right of
a participant under the Award without his written consent, unless the Committee
determines in its discretion that there have occurred or are about to occur
significant changes in the participant's position, duties or responsibilities,
or significant changes in economic, legislative, regulatory, tax, accounting or
cost/benefit conditions which are determined by the Committee in its discretion
to have or to be expected to have a substantial effect on the performance of the
Company, or any subsidiary, affiliate, division or department thereof, on the
Plan or an any Award under the Plan. The Committee may, in its discretion,
permit holders of Awards to surrender outstanding Awards as a condition
precedent to the grant of new Awards under the Plan.
12. DISABILITY.
For the purposes of this Plan, a participant shall be deemed to
have terminated his employment or performance of services for the Company and
its Affiliates by reason of disability if the Committee shall determine that the
<PAGE>
physical or mental condition of the participant by reason of which such
employment or performance of services terminated was such at that time as would
entitle him to payment of monthly disability benefits under any disability plan
of the Company or an Affiliate in which he is a participant. If the participant
is not eligible for benefits under any disability plan of the Company or an
Affiliate, he shall be deemed to have terminated such employment or performance
of services by reason of disability if the Committee shall determine that he is
permanently and totally disabled within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the
Code.
13. TERMINATION OF A PARTICIPANT.
For all purposes under the Plan, the Committee shall determine
whether a participant has terminated employment by or the performance of
services for the Company or an Affiliate, provided that transfers between the
Company and an Affiliate or between Affiliates, and approved leaves of absence
shall not be deemed such a termination.
14. RELATED EMPLOYMENT.
For the purposes of this Plan, Related Employment shall mean the
employment or performance of services by an individual for an employer that is
neither the Company nor an Affiliate, provided that (i) such employment or
performance of services is undertaken by the individual at the request of the
Company or an Affiliate, (ii) immediately prior to undertaking such employment
or performance of services, the individual was employed by or performing
services for the Company or an Affiliate or was engaged in Related Employment as
herein defined, and (iii) such employment or performance of services is in the
best interests of the Company and is recognized by the Committee, in its
discretion, as Related Employment for purposes of this Paragraph 14. The death
or disability of an individual during a period of Related Employment as herein
defined shall be treated, for purposes of this Plan, as if the death or onset of
disability had occurred while the individual was employed by or performing
services for the Company or an Affiliate.
15. DILUTION AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS.
In the event of any change in the outstanding Common Shares of the
Company by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, split-up, split-off,
spin-off, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, rights offering, share
offering, reorganization, combination or exchange of shares, a sale by the
Company of all or part of its assets, any distribution to shareholders other
than a normal cash dividend, or other extraordinary or unusual event, if the
Committee shall determine, in its discretion, that such change equitably
requires an adjustment in the terms of any Award or the number of Common Shares
available for Awards, such adjustment may be made by the Committee and shall be
final, conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan.
<PAGE>
16. DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY BY PARTICIPANT.
A participant may name a beneficiary to receive any payment to
which he may be entitled in respect of any Award under the Plan in the event of
his death, on a written form to be provided by and filed with the Committee, and
in a manner determined by the Committee in its discretion. The Committee
reserves the right to review and approve beneficiary designations. A participant
may change his beneficiary from time to time in the same manner, unless such
participant has made an irrevocable designation. Any designation of beneficiary
under the Plan (to the extent it is valid and enforceable under applicable law)
shall be controlling over any other disposition, testamentary or otherwise, as
determined by the Committee in its discretion. If no designated beneficiary
survives the participant and is living on the date on which any amount becomes
payable to such participant's beneficiary, such payment will be made to the
legal representatives of the participant's estate, and the term "beneficiary" as
used in the Plan shall be deemed to include such person or persons. If there is
any question as to the legal right of any beneficiary to receive a distribution
under the Plan, the Committee in its discretion may determine that the amount in
question be paid to the legal representatives of the estate of the participant,
in which event the Company, the Board and the Committee and the members thereof
will have no further liability to anyone with respect to such amount.
17. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) Upon any Change in Control:
(i) each Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right that is
outstanding on the date of such Change in Control shall be exercisable
in full immediately;
(ii) all restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock shall
lapse immediately, and the Company's right to repurchase or forfeit any
Restricted Stock outstanding on the date of such Change in Control shall
thereupon terminate and the certificates representing such Restricted
Stock and the related stock powers shall be promptly delivered to the
participants entitled thereto; and
(iii) All Award Periods for the purposes of determining the
amounts of Awards of Performance Grants shall end as of the end of the
calendar quarter immediately preceding the date of such Change in
Control, and the amount of the Award payable shall be the portion of the
maximum possible Award allocable to the portion of the Award Period that
had elapsed and the results achieved during such portion of the Award
Period.
(b) For this purpose, a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur
when and only when any of the following events first occurs:
<PAGE>
(i) any person who is not currently such becomes the
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
then outstanding voting securities; or
(ii) three or more directors, whose election or nomination
for election is not approved by a majority of the Incumbent Board (as
hereinafter defined), are elected within any single 24-month period to
serve on the Board of Directors; or
(iii) members of the Incumbent Board cease to constitute a
majority of the Board of Directors without the approval of the remaining
members of the Incumbent Board; or
(iv) any merger (other than a merger where the Company is the
survivor and there is no accompanying Change in Control under
subparagraphs (i), (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (b)), consolidation,
liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or the sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed
to occur pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (b) solely because 25%
or more of the combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities is
acquired by one or more employee benefit plans maintained by the Company or by
any other employer, the majority interest in which is held, directly or
indirectly, by the Company. For purposes of this Section 17, the terms "person"
and "beneficial owner" shall have the meaning set forth in Sections 3(a) and
13(d) of the Exchange Act, and in the regulations promulgated thereunder, as in
effect on August 31, 1993; and the term "Incumbent Board" shall mean (A) the
members of the Board of Directors of the Company on August 31, 1993, to the
extent that they continue to serve as members of the Board of Directors, and (B)
any individual who becomes a member of the Board of Directors after August 31,
1993, if his election or nomination for election as a director was approved by a
vote of at least three-quarters of the then Incumbent Board.
18. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
(a) No employee or other person shall have any claim or right to be
granted an Award under the Plan. Determinations made by the Committee under the
Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among eligible individuals
under the Plan, whether or not such eligible individuals are similarly situated.
Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any
employee or other person any right to continue to be employed by or perform
services for the Company or any Affiliate, and the right to terminate the
employment of or performance of services by any participant at any time and for
any reason is specifically reserved.
(b) No participant or other person shall have any right with
respect to the Plan, the Common Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan or
<PAGE>
in any Award, contingent or otherwise, until written evidence of the Award shall
have been delivered to the recipient and all the terms, conditions and
provisions of the Plan and the Award applicable to such recipient (and each
person claiming under or through him) have been met.
(c) Except as may be approved by the Committee where such approval
shall not adversely affect compliance of the Plan with Rule 16b-3 under the
Exchange Act, a participant's rights and interest under the Plan may not be
assigned or transferred, hypothecated or encumbered in whole or in part either
directly or by operation of law or otherwise (except in the event of a
participant's death) including, but not by way of limitation, execution, levy,
garnishment, attachment, pledge, bankruptcy or in any other manner; provided,
however, that any Option or similar right (including, but not limited to, a
Stock Appreciation Right) offered pursuant to the Plan shall not be transferable
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and shall be
exercisable during the participant's lifetime only by him.
(d) No Common Shares, Other Company Securities or property, other
securities or property, or other forms of payment shall be issued hereunder with
respect to any Award unless counsel for the Company shall be satisfied that such
issuance will be in compliance with applicable federal, state, local and foreign
legal, securities exchange and other applicable requirements.
(e) It is the intent of the Company that the Plan comply in all
respects with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, that any ambiguities or
inconsistencies in construction of the Plan be interpreted to give effect to
such intention and that if any provision of the Plan is found not to be in
compliance with Rule 16b-3, such provision shall be deemed null and void to the
extent required to permit the Plan to comply with Rule 16b-3.
(f) The Company and its Affiliates shall have the right to deduct
from any payment made under the Plan, any federal, state, local or foreign
income or other taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such
payment. It shall be a condition to the obligation of the Company to issue
Common Shares, Other Company Securities or property, other securities or
property, or other forms of payment, or any combination thereof, upon exercise,
settlement or payment of any Award under the Plan, that the participant (or any
beneficiary or person entitled to act) pay to the Company, upon its demand, such
amount as may be requested by the Company for the purpose of satisfying any
liability to withhold federal, state, local or foreign income or other taxes. If
the amount requested is not paid, the Company may refuse to issue Common Shares,
Other Company Securities or property, other securities or property, or other
forms of payment, or any combination thereof. Notwithstanding anything in the
Plan to the contrary, the Committee may, in its discretion, permit an eligible
participant (or any beneficiary or person entitled to act) to elect to pay a
portion or all of the amount requested by the Company for such taxes with
respect to such Award, at such time and in such manner as the Committee shall
deem to be appropriate including, but not limited to, by authorizing the Company
to withhold, or agreeing to surrender to the Company on or about the date such
tax liability is determinable, Common Shares, Other Company Securities or
property, other securities or property, or other forms of payment, or any
combination thereof, owned by such person or a portion of such forms of payment
<PAGE>
that would otherwise be distributed, or have been distributed, as the case may
be, pursuant to such Award to such person, having a fair market value equal to
the amount of such taxes.
(g) The expenses of the Plan shall be borne by the Company.
However, if an Award is made to an individual employed by or performing services
for an Affiliate:
(i) if such Award results in payment of cash to the
participant, such Affiliate shall pay to the Company an amount equal to
such cash payment unless the Committee shall otherwise determine in its
discretion;
(ii) if the Award results in the issuance by the Company to
the participant of Common Shares, Other Company Securities or property,
other securities or property, or other forms of payment, or any
combination thereof, such Affiliate shall, unless the Committee shall
otherwise determine in its discretion, pay to the Company an amount
equal to the fair market value thereof, as determined by the Committee,
on the date such Common Shares, other Company Securities or property,
other securities or property, or other forms of payment, or any
combination thereof, are issued (or in the case of the issuance of
Restricted Stock or of Common Shares, Other Company Securities or
property, or other securities or property, or other forms of payment
subject to transfer and forfeiture conditions, equal to the fair market
value thereof on the date on which they are no longer subject to
applicable restrictions), minus the amount, if any, received by the
Company in respect of the purchase of such Common Shares, Other Company
Securities or property, other securities or property or other forms of
payment, or any combination thereof, all as the Committee shall
determine in its discretion; and
(iii) the foregoing obligations of any such Affiliate entity
shall survive and remain in effect and binding on such entity even if
its status as an Affiliate of the Company should subsequently cease,
except as otherwise agreed by the Company and the entity.
(h) The Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required
to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of
assets to assure the payment of any Award under the Plan, and rights to the
payment of Awards shall be no greater than the rights of the Company's general
creditors.
(i) By accepting any Award or other benefit under the Plan, each
participant and each person claiming under or through him shall be conclusively
deemed to have indicated his acceptance and ratification of, and consent to, any
action taken by the Company, the Board or the Committee or its delegates.
(j) Fair market value in relation to Common Shares, Other Company
Securities or property, other securities or property or other forms of payment
<PAGE>
of Awards under the Plan or any combination thereof, as of any specific time
shall mean such value as determined by the Committee in accordance with
applicable law.
(k) The masculine pronoun includes the feminine and the singular
includes the plural wherever appropriate.
(l) The appropriate officers of the Company shall cause to be filed
any reports, returns or other information regarding Awards hereunder or any
Common Shares issued pursuant hereto as may be required by Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act (or any successor provision) or any other applicable
statute, rule or regulation.
(m) The validity, construction, interpretation, administration and
effect of the Plan, and of its rules and regulations, and rights relating to the
Plan and to Awards granted under the Plan, shall be governed by the substantive
laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the State of Delaware.
19. PLAN AMENDMENT OR SUSPENSION.
The Plan may be amended or suspended in whole or in part at any
time and from time to time by the Board, but no amendment shall be effective
unless and until the same is approved by shareholders of the Company where the
failure to obtain such approval would adversely affect the compliance of the
Plan with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and with other applicable law. No
amendment of the Plan shall adversely affect in a material manner any right of
any participant with respect to any Award theretofore granted without such
participant's written consent, except as permitted under Paragraph 11.
20. PLAN TERMINATION.
This Plan shall terminate upon the earlier of the following dates
or events to occur:
(a) upon the adoption of a resolution of the Board terminating
the Plan; or
(b) ten years from the date the Plan is initially approved and
adopted by the shareholders of the Company in accordance with Paragraph 21
hereof; provided, however, that the Board may, prior to the expiration of such
ten-year period, extend the term of the Plan for an additional period of up to
five years for the grant of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options. No
termination of the Plan shall materially alter or impair any of the rights or
obligations of any person, without his consent, under any Award theretofore
granted under the Plan except that subsequent to termination of the Plan, the
Committee may make amendments permitted under Paragraph 11.
<PAGE>
21. SHAREHOLDER ADOPTION.
The Plan shall be submitted to the shareholders of the Company
for their approval and adoption at a meeting to be held on or before May 31,
1995, or at any adjournment thereof. The Plan shall not be effective and no
Award shall be made hereunder unless and until the Plan has been so approved and
adopted. The shareholders shall be deemed to have approved and adopted the Plan
only if it is approved and adopted at a meeting of the shareholders duly held by
vote taken in the manner required by the laws of the State of Delaware and the
applicable Federal securities laws.
June 19, 1996
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: EcoTyre Technologies, Inc.,
Registration Statement on Form S-8
Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the filing by EcoTyre Technologies, Inc.(the
"Corporation") of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, covering the registration of 350,000 shares of the Corporation's
Common Stock, $.001 par value per share, in connection with the Corporation's
1995 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan").
As counsel for the Corporation, we have examined its corporate records,
including its Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, By-Laws, its corporate
minutes, the form of its Common Stock certificate, the Plan, related documents
under the Plan and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or relevant
under the circumstances.
Based upon our examination, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Corporation is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware.
2. There have been reserved for issuance by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation 350,000 shares of its Common Stock, $.001 par value per share. The
shares of the Corporation's Common Stock, when issued pursuant to the Plan, will
be validly authorized, legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
We hereby consent to be named in the Registration Statement and in the
Prospectus which constitutes a part thereof as counsel of the Corporation, and
we hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Registration
Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/Blau,Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C.
BLAU, KRAMER, WACTLAR &
LIEBERMAN, P.C.
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
EcoTyre Technologies, Inc.
Holtsville, New York
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated April 28,
1995 (except for Note 3 for which the date is May 24, 1995 and Note 14 for which
the date is June 23, 1995), relating to the financial statements of EcoTyre
Technologies, Inc. appearing in the Company's effective registration statement
on Form SB-2 filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our report
contains an emphasis paragraph regarding the ability of the Company to continue
as a going concern.
We also consent to the reference to us under the caption "Experts" in the
Prospectus.
/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP
BDO Seidman, LLP
Mitchel Field, New York
June 17, 1996
