Shares Subject to the Plan Subject to the provisions of Section 13 of the Plan, the maximum number of Shares that the Company may issue for all Awards is 1,453,334 Shares, provided that the Company shall not make additional awards under the Commonwealth Energy Corporation 1999 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and assumed by Commerce Energy Group, Inc. For all Awards, the Shares issued pursuant to the Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares, or Shares that the Company has reacquired or otherwise holds in treasury. Shares that are subject to an Award that for any reason expires, is forfeited, is cancelled, or becomes unexercisable, and Shares that are for any other reason not paid or delivered under the Plan shall again, except to the extent prohibited by Applicable Law, be available for subsequent Awards under the Plan. In addition, the Committee may make future Awards with respect to Shares that the Company retains from otherwise delivering pursuant to an Award either (i) as payment of the exercise price of an Award, or (ii) in order to satisfy the withholding or employment taxes due upon the grant, exercise, vesting or distribution of an Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 13 below, the number of Shares that are available for ISO Awards shall be determined, to the extent required under applicable tax laws, by reducing the number of Shares designated in the preceding paragraph by the number of Shares granted pursuant to Awards (whether or not Shares are issued pursuant to such Awards), provided that any Shares that are either issued or purchased under the Plan and forfeited back to the Plan, or surrendered in payment of the Exercise Price for an Award shall be available for issuance pursuant to future ISO Awards.
Stock Subject to the Plan A. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Corporation on the open market. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock initially reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan shall not exceed [ ] shares. Such authorized share reserve is comprised of (i) the number of shares which remain available for issuance, as of the Stockholder Approval Date, under the Predecessor Plan as last approved by the Corporation's stockholders, comprised of the shares subject to the outstanding options to be incorporated into the Plan as of the Stockholder Approval Date and the additional shares which would otherwise be available for future grant under the Predecessor Plan (estimated to be 395,800 shares in the aggregate as of March 1, 1998), plus (ii) an additional increase of [ ] shares authorized by the Board on [ ], 1998, subject to approval by the Corporation's stockholders at the 1998 Annual Meeting.
B. No one person participating in the Plan may receive options, separately exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock issuances for more than [250,000] shares of Common Stock in the aggregate per calendar year, beginning with the 1998 calendar year.
C. Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options (including options incorporated into this Plan from the Predecessor Plan) shall be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent those options expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise in full. Unvested shares issued under the Plan and subsequently cancelled or repurchased by the Corporation, at the original issue price paid per share, pursuant to the Corporation's repurchase rights under the Plan shall be added back to the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan and shall accordingly be available for reissuance through one or more subsequent option grants or direct stock issuances under the Plan. However, should the exercise price of an option under the Plan be paid with shares of Common Stock or should shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Plan be withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with the exercise of an option or the vesting of a stock issuance under the Plan, then the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the option is exercised or which vest under the stock issuance, and not by the net number of shares of Common Stock issued to the holder of such option or stock issuance.
D. If any change is made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation's receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under the Plan, (ii) the number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be granted stock options, separately exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock issuances under this Plan per calendar year, (iii) the number and/or class of securities for which grants are subsequently to be made under the Automatic Option Grant Program to new and continuing non-employee Board members, (iv) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise price per share in effect under each outstanding option under the Plan and (v) the number and/or class of securities and price per share in effect under each outstanding option incorporated into this Plan from the Predecessor Plan. Such adjustments to the outstanding options are to be effected in a manner which shall preclude the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under such options. The adjustments determined by the Plan Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Agreement Subject to the Plan This Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Plan and shall be interpreted in accordance therewith. The Holder hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.
Stock Subject to Plan The Option and the Option Shares granted and issued pursuant to this Agreement have been granted and issued under, and are subject to the terms of, the Plan. The terms of the Plan are incorporated by reference in this Agreement in their entirety, and the Optionee, by execution of this Agreement, acknowledges having received a copy of the Plan. The provisions of this Agreement will be interpreted as to be consistent with the Plan, and any ambiguities in this Agreement will be interpreted by reference to the Plan. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan will prevail.
RSUs Subject to Plan By entering into this Agreement, the Participant agrees and acknowledges that the Participant has received and read a copy of the Plan. All RSUs are subject to the Plan. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained herein and a term or provision of the Plan, the applicable terms and provisions of the Plan will govern and prevail.
Preservation of Purchase Rights Upon Merger, Consolidation, etc In case of any consolidation of the Company with or merger of the Company into another corporation or in case of any sale, transfer or lease to another corporation of all or substantially all of the property of the Company, the Company or such successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, shall execute with the Warrantholders an agreement that the Warrantholders shall have the right thereafter upon payment of the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such action to purchase upon exercise of this Warrant the kind and amount of shares and other securities and property which such holder would have owned or have been entitled to receive after the happening of such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or lease had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to such action; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no adjustment in respect of cash dividends, interest or other income on or from such shares or other securities and property shall be made during the term of this Warrant or upon the exercise of this Warrant. Such agreement shall provide for adjustments, which shall be as nearly equivalent as practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Section 5. The provisions of this Section 5 shall apply similarly to successive consolidations, mergers, sales, transfers or leases.
Effect of Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of the Common Stock (a) In the case of:
(i) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination),
(ii) any consolidation, merger, combination or similar transaction involving the Company,
(iii) any sale, lease or other transfer to a third party of the consolidated assets of the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries substantially as an entirety or
(iv) any statutory share exchange, in each case, as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) (any such event, a “Share Exchange Event”), then, at and after the effective time of such Share Exchange Event, the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be changed into a right to convert such principal amount of Notes into the kind and amount of shares of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such Share Exchange Event would have owned or been entitled to receive (the “Reference Property,” with each “unit of Reference Property” meaning the kind and amount of Reference Property that a holder of one share of Common Stock is entitled to receive) upon such Share Exchange Event and, prior to or at the effective time of such Share Exchange Event, the Company or the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, shall execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture permitted under Section 10.01(g) providing for such change in the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Notes; provided, however, that at and after the effective time of the Share Exchange Event (A) the Company shall continue to have the right to determine the form of consideration to be paid or delivered, as the case may be, upon conversion of Notes in accordance with Section 14.02 and (B) (I) any amount payable in cash upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with Section 14.02 shall continue to be payable in cash, (II) any shares of Common Stock that the Company would have been required to deliver upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with Section 14.02 shall instead be deliverable in the amount and type of Reference Property that a holder of that number of shares of Common Stock would have been entitled to receive in such Share Exchange Event and (III) the Daily VWAP shall be calculated based on the value of a unit of Reference Property. If the Share Exchange Event causes the Common Stock to be converted into, or exchanged for, the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), then (i) the Reference Property into which the Notes will be convertible shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration actually received by the holders of Common Stock, and (ii) the unit of Reference Property for purposes of the immediately preceding paragraph shall refer to the consideration referred to in clause (i) attributable to one share of Common Stock. If the holders of the Common Stock receive only cash in such Share Exchange Event, then for all conversions for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs after the effective date of such Share Exchange Event (A) the consideration due upon conversion of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be solely cash in an amount equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Conversion Date (as may be increased by any Additional Shares pursuant to Section 14.03), multiplied by the price paid per share of Common Stock in such Share Exchange Event and (B) the Company shall satisfy the Conversion Obligation by paying cash to converting Holders on the second Business Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date. The Company shall notify in writing Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) of such weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made. Such supplemental indenture described in the second immediately preceding paragraph shall provide for anti-dilution and other adjustments that shall be as nearly equivalent as is possible to the adjustments provided for in this Article 14. If, in the case of any Share Exchange Event, the Reference Property includes shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) of a Person other than the successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, in such Share Exchange Event, then such supplemental indenture shall also be executed by such other Person and shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the Holders of the Notes as the Board of Directors shall reasonably consider necessary by reason of the foregoing, including the provisions providing for the purchase rights set forth in Article 15.
(b) When the Company executes a supplemental indenture pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 14.07, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate briefly stating the reasons therefor, the kind or amount of cash, securities or property or asset that will comprise a unit of Reference Property after any such Share Exchange Event, any adjustment to be made with respect thereto and that all conditions precedent have been complied with, and shall promptly deliver notice thereof to all Holders. The Company shall cause notice of the execution of such supplemental indenture to be delivered to each Holder within 20 days after execution thereof. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of such supplemental indenture.
(c) The Company shall not become a party to any Share Exchange Event unless its terms are consistent with this Section 14.07. None of the foregoing provisions shall affect the right of a holder of Notes to convert its Notes into cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, as set forth in Section 14.01 and Section 14.02 prior to the effective date of such Share Exchange Event.
(d) The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive Share Exchange Events.
Subject to the Plan The Option evidenced by this Agreement and the exercise thereof are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which is incorporated by reference and made a part hereof, but the terms of the Plan shall not be considered an enlargement of any rights or benefits under this Agreement. In addition, the Option is subject to any rules and regulations promulgated by the Committee.
Effect of Change of Control Notwithstanding the other provisions of Paragraph 9.3, in the event that: (i) the Company terminates the Executive’s employment without Cause in anticipation of, or pursuant to a notice of termination delivered to the Executive within 24 months after, a Change in Control; (ii) the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason pursuant to a notice of termination delivered to the Company in anticipation of, or within 24 months after, a Change in Control; or (iii) the Company fails to renew this Agreement in anticipation of, or within 24 months after, a Change of Control, the Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise, except the Executive shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Obligations and the following benefits:
(a) the Company shall pay to the Executive, within 30 days following the Executive’s Separation from Service (as defined below), a lump-sum cash amount equal to: (i) two times the sum of (A) his Salary then in effect and (B) 75% of his then current Salary; plus (ii) a bonus for the then current fiscal year equal to 75% of his Salary (irrespective of whether performance objectives have been achieved); plus (iii) if such notice is given within the first 12 months after the date first set forth above, then, the Salary the Executive should have been paid from the date of termination through the end of such 12 month period, provided, however, that in the event of a termination for Good Reason pursuant to Clause Paragraph 15.1(h)(ii), the annual salary used for computation under this Paragraph 9.4(a) shall be the one in effect prior to the reduction referred to in Paragraph 15.1(h)(ii); and
(b) during the portion, if any, of the 24-month period (unless otherwise limited by COBRA or similar state law) commencing on the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service (as defined below) that the Executive is eligible to elect and elects to continue coverage for himself and his eligible dependents under the Company’s or an affiliate’s group heath plan pursuant to COBRA or similar state law, the Company shall reimburse the Executive on a monthly basis for the difference between the amount the Executive pays to effect and continue such coverage and the employee contribution amount that active senior executive employees of the Company pay for the same or similar coverage. For purposes of this Agreement, a Change of Control shall not be considered to be anticipated unless (a) the sale of the Company is being actively marketed, (b) a letter of intent outlining provisional sale terms and conditions are being negotiated and/or have been offered and/or exchanged, (c) nondisclosure/confidentiality agreements have been proposed to allow further due diligence for a prospective buyer(s) of the Company and/or its assets, and/or (d) a contract for the sale/purchase of the Company and/or its assets is being/has been negotiated or has been executed.
Subject to Plan The Stock Option and its exercise are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, and the terms of the Plan shall control to the extent not otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement. The capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Plan shall have the same meanings assigned to them in the Plan. The Stock Option is subject to any rules promulgated pursuant to the Plan by the Board or the Committee and communicated to the Participant in writing.
