SINA CORPORATION 2007 SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Section 1.
INTRODUCTION
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1 | |||
Section 2.
DEFINITIONS
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1 | |||
(a) “Affiliate”
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1 | |||
(b) “Annual Pool”
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1 | |||
(c) “Applicable
Laws”
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1 | |||
(d) “Award”
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1 | |||
(e) “Award
Agreement”
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(f) “Board”
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(g) “Cashless
Exercise”
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1 | |||
(h) “Cause”
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1 | |||
(i) “Change in
Control”
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(j) “Code”
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(k) “Committee”
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2 | |||
(l) “Company”
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(m) “Consultant”
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2 | |||
(n) “Director”
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(o) “Disability”
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2 | |||
(p) “Employee”
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2 | |||
(q) “Exchange Act”
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2 | |||
(r) “Exercise Price”
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2 | |||
(s) “Fair Market
Value”
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2 | |||
(t) “Fiscal Year”
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(u) “Grant Date”
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3 | |||
(v) “Incentive Share
Option”
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3 | |||
(w) “Non-Employee
Director”
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3 | |||
(x) “Nonstatutory Share
Option”
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3 | |||
(y) “Option”
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3 | |||
(z) “Optionee”
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(aa) “Ordinary Shares”
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3 | |||
(bb) “Parent”
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3 | |||
(cc) “Participant”
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3 | |||
(dd) “Performance
Goals”
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3 | |||
(ee) “Performance Period”
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3 | |||
(ff) “Plan”
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3 | |||
(gg) “Re-Price”
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3 | |||
(hh) “Restricted Share
Unit”
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3 | |||
(ii) “Restricted Share
Unit Agreement”
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3 | |||
(jj) “SAR Agreement”
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3 | |||
(kk) “SEC”
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3 | |||
(ll) “Section 16
Persons”
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4 | |||
(mm) “Securities
Act”
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4 | |||
(nn) “Service”
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4 | |||
(oo) “Share”
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4 |
i
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(pp) “Share Appreciation
Right”
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4 | |||
(qq) “Share Grant”
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4 | |||
(rr) “Share Grant
Agreement”
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4 | |||
(ss) “Share Option
Agreement”
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4 | |||
(tt) “Subsidiary”
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4 | |||
(uu) “10-Percent
Shareholder”
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4 | |||
Section 3.
ADMINISTRATION
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4 | |||
(a) Committee Composition
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4 | |||
(b) Authority of the Committee
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4 | |||
(c) Indemnification
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5 | |||
Section 4.
GENERAL
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5 | |||
(a) General Eligibility
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5 | |||
(b) Incentive Share Options
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5 | |||
(c) Restrictions on Shares
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5 | |||
(d) Beneficiaries
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5 | |||
(e) No Rights as a Shareholder
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6 | |||
(f) Termination of Service
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6 | |||
Section 5.
SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN AND SHARE LIMITS
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6 | |||
(a) Basic Limitation
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6 | |||
(b) Limits on Awards
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6 | |||
(c) Limits on Incentive Stock
Options
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6 | |||
(d) Share Count
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6 | |||
(e) Dividend Equivalents
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7 | |||
Section 6.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
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7 | |||
(a) Share Option Agreement
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7 | |||
(b) Number of Shares
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7 | |||
(c) Exercise Price
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7 | |||
(d) Exercisability and Term
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7 | |||
(e) Method of Exercise
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7 | |||
(f) Payment for Option Shares
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7 | |||
(g) Modifications or
Assumption of Options; No Re-Pricing
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7 | |||
(h) Assignment or Transfer of
Options
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8 | |||
Section 7.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS
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8 | |||
(a) SAR Agreement
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8 | |||
(b) Number of Shares
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8 | |||
(c) Exercise Price
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8 | |||
(d) Exercisability and Term
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8 | |||
(e) Exercise of SARs
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8 | |||
(f) Modification or
Assumption of SARs; No Re-Pricing
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8 | |||
(g) Assignment or Transfer of
SARs
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8 | |||
Section 8.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR SHARE GRANTS
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9 | |||
(a) Time, Amount and Form of
Awards
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9 | |||
(b) Share Grant Agreement
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9 | |||
(c) Payment for Share Grants
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9 |
ii
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(d) Vesting Conditions
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9 | |||
(e) Assignment or Transfer of
Share Grants
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9 | |||
(f) Voting and Dividend Rights
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9 | |||
(g) Modification or
Assumption of Share Grants
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9 | |||
Section 9.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
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9 | |||
(a) Restricted Share Unit
Agreement
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9 | |||
(b) Number of Shares
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9 | |||
(c) Payment for Restricted
Share Units
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9 | |||
(d) Vesting Conditions
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10 | |||
(e) Form and Time of
Settlement of Restricted Share Units
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10 | |||
(f) Voting and Dividend Rights
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10 | |||
(g) Creditors’ Rights
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10 | |||
(h) Modification or
Assumption of Restricted Share Units
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10 | |||
(i) Assignment or Transfer of
Restricted Share Units
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10 | |||
Section 10.
PROTECTION AGAINST DILUTION
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10 | |||
(a) Adjustments
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10 | |||
(b) Participant Rights
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11 | |||
(c) Fractional Shares
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11 | |||
Section 11.
EFFECT OF A CHANGE IN CONTROL
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11 | |||
(a) Change in Control
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11 | |||
(b) Acceleration
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11 | |||
(c) Dissolution
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11 | |||
Section 12.
LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS
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11 | |||
(a) Participant Rights
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11 | |||
(b) Shareholders’ Rights
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11 | |||
(c) Regulatory Requirements
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11 | |||
Section 13.
WITHHOLDING TAXES
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12 | |||
(a) General
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12 | |||
(b) Share Withholding
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12 | |||
Section 14.
DURATION AND AMENDMENTS
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12 | |||
(a) Term of the Plan
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12 | |||
(b) Right to Amend or
Terminate the Plan
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12 |
iii
Section 1. INTRODUCTION.
On May 11, 2007 the Board adopted this 2007 Share
Incentive Plan which shall become effective upon its approval by
the Company’s shareholders (the “Effective Date”).
The purpose of this Plan is to promote the long-term success of
the Company and the creation of shareholder value by offering
Participants the opportunity to share in such long-term success
by acquiring a proprietary interest in the Company.
The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for
discretionary long-term incentive Awards in the form of Options
(which may be Incentive Share Options or Nonstatutory Share
Options), Share Appreciation Rights, Share Grants and Restricted
Share Units.
The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
California law (except its
choice-of-law
provisions). Capitalized terms shall have the meaning provided
in Section 2 unless otherwise provided in this Plan or any
related Award Agreement.
Section 2. DEFINITIONS.
(a) “Affiliate” means any entity other
than a Subsidiary, if the Company
and/or one
or more Subsidiaries own not less than 50% of such entity.
(b) “Annual Pool” has the meaning set
forth in Section 5(b).
(c) “Applicable Laws” means all applicable
laws, rules, regulations and requirements relating to the
administration of share plans, including, but not limited to,
all applicable Cayman laws, the laws of the People’s
Republic of China, U.S. federal and state laws, the rules
and regulations of any stock exchange or quotation system on
which the Ordinary Shares are listed or quoted, and the
applicable laws, rules, regulations or requirements of any
foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be,
granted under the Plan or where Participants reside or provide
services, as such laws, rules, regulations and requirements
shall be in place from time to time.
(d) “Award” means an Option, SAR, Share
Grant or Restricted Share Unit.
(e) “Award Agreement” means any Share
Option Agreement, SAR Agreement, Share Grant Agreement or
Restricted Share Unit Agreement.
(f) “Board” means the Board of Directors
of the Company, as constituted from time to time.
(g) “Cashless Exercise” means, to the
extent that a Share Option Agreement so provides and as
permitted by Applicable Laws, a program approved by the
Committee in which payment of the aggregate Exercise Price
and/or
satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding obligations may
be made all or in part by delivery (on a form prescribed by the
Committee) of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker to
sell Shares subject to an Option and to deliver all or part of
the sale proceeds to the Company.
(h) “Cause” means, except as may otherwise
be provided in a Participant’s employment agreement, Award
Agreement, or other written agreement,
(i) Participant’s willful failure to perform his or
her duties and responsibilities to the Company or material
violation of a written Company policy;
(ii) Participant’s commission of any act of fraud,
embezzlement, dishonesty or any other willful misconduct that
has caused or is reasonably expected to result in material
injury to the Company; (iii) unauthorized use or disclosure
by Participant of any proprietary information or trade secrets
of the Company or any other party to whom the Participant owes
an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his or her
relationship with the Company; or (iv) Participant’s
willful breach of any of his or her obligations under any
written agreement or covenant with the Company. The
determination as to whether a Participant is being terminated
for Cause shall be made in good faith by the Committee and shall
be conclusive and binding on the Participant. The foregoing
definition does not in any way limit the Company’s ability
to terminate a Participant’s Service at any time as
provided in Section 12(a), and the term “Company”
will be interpreted to include any Subsidiary, Parent,
Affiliate, or any successor thereto, if appropriate.
1
(i) “Change in Control” means the
consummation of any of the following transactions:
(i) The sale of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets;
(ii) The merger of the Company with or into another
corporation in which securities possessing more than 50% of the
total combined voting power of the Company are transferred to a
person or persons different from the persons holding those
securities immediately prior to such transaction; or
(iii) The acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any
person or related group of persons (other than the Company or a
person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by,
or is under common control with, the Company) of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3
of the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company representing
more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the
Company’s then outstanding securities. For purposes of this
paragraph, the term “person” shall not include:
(1) a trustee of other fiduciary holding securities under
an employee benefit plan of the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate; or (2) corporation or other entity owned
directly or indirectly by the shareholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the
Ordinary Shares.
A transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if its
sole purpose is to change the place of the Company’s
incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned
in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held
the Company’s securities immediately before such
transactions.
(j) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and interpretations
promulgated thereunder.
(k) “Committee” means a committee
described in Section 3.
(l) “Company” means SINA Corporation, a
Cayman Islands corporation.
(m) “Consultant” means an individual who
provides bona fide services to the Company, a Parent, a
Subsidiary or an Affiliate, other than as an Employee, Director
or Non-Employee Director.
(n) “Director” means a member of the Board
who is also an Employee.
(o) “Disability” means that the
Participant is classified as disabled under the long-term
disability policy of the Company or, if no such policy applies,
the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful
activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or
mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or
which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous
period of not less than 12 months.
(p) “Employee” means any individual who is
an employee of the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate.
(q) “Exchange Act” means the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(r) “Exercise Price” means, in the case of
an Option, the amount for which a Share may be purchased upon
exercise of such Option, as specified in the applicable Share
Option Agreement. “Exercise Price,” in the case of a
SAR, means an amount, as specified in the applicable SAR
Agreement, which is subtracted from the Fair Market Value in
determining the amount payable upon exercise of such SAR.
(s) “Fair Market Value” means the market
price of a Share as determined in good faith by the Committee.
Such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all
persons. The Fair Market Value shall be determined by the
following:
(i) if the Shares are admitted to trading on any
established national stock exchange or market system, including
without limitation NASDAQ, on the date in question, then the
Fair Market Value shall be equal to the closing sales price for
such Shares as quoted on such national exchange or system on
such date; or
(ii) if the Shares are admitted to quotation on NASDAQ or
are regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but
selling prices are not reported on the date in question, then
the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the mean between the bid
and asked prices of the Shares reported for such date.
2
In each case, the applicable price shall be the price reported
in such source as the Committee deems reliable; provided,
however, that if there is no such reported price for the Shares
for the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be
equal to the price reported on the last preceding date for which
such price exists. If neither (i) or (ii) are
applicable, then the Fair Market Value shall be determined by
the Committee in good faith on such basis as it deems
appropriate.
(t) “Fiscal Year” means the Company’s
fiscal year.
(u) “Grant Date” means the grant effective
date of an Award.
(v) “Incentive Share Option” or
“ISO” means an incentive stock option described in
Code Section 422.
(w) “Non-Employee Director” means a member
of the Board who is not an Employee.
(x) “Nonstatutory Share Option” or
“NSO” means a share option that is not an ISO.
(y) “Option” means an ISO or NSO granted
under the Plan entitling the Optionee to purchase Shares.
(z) “Optionee” means an individual, estate
or other entity that holds an Option.
(aa) “Ordinary Shares” means the
Company’s ordinary shares.
(bb) “Parent” means any corporation (other
than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending
with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the
Company owns share possessing 50% or more of the total combined
voting power of all classes of shares in one of the other
corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the
status of a Parent on a date after the adoption of the Plan
shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date.
(cc) “Participant” means an Employee,
Director, Non-Employee Director or Consultant who has been
selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan or
any individual, estate or other entity that holds an Award.
(dd) “Performance Goals” means one or more
objective measurable performance goals established by the
Committee with respect to a Performance Period based upon one or
more factors, including: (i) operating income;
(ii) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization; (iii) earnings; (iv) cash flow;
(v) market share; (vi) sales or revenue;
(vii) expenses; (viii) cost of goods sold;
(ix) profit/loss or profit margin; (x) working
capital; (xi) return on equity or assets;
(xii) earnings per share; (xiii) economic value added;
(xiv) price/earnings ratio; (xv) debt or
debt-to-equity;
(xvi) accounts receivable; (xvii) writeoffs;
(xviii) cash; (xix) assets; (xx) liquidity;
(xxi) operations; (xxii) intellectual property (e.g.,
patents); (xxiii) product development;
(xxiv) regulatory activity; (xxv) manufacturing,
production or inventory; (xxvi) mergers and acquisitions or
divestitures;
and/or
(xxvii) financings, each with respect to the Company
and/or one
or more of its Parent, Subsidiaries, Affiliates or operating
units.
(ee) “Performance Period” means any period
not exceeding 60 months as determined by the Committee, in
its sole discretion. The Committee may establish different
Performance Periods for different Participants, and the
Committee may establish concurrent or overlapping Performance
Periods.
(ff) “Plan” means this SINA Corporation
2007 Share Incentive Plan as it may be amended from time to
time.
(gg) “Re-Price” means that the Company has
lowered or reduced the Exercise Price of outstanding Options
and/or
outstanding SARs for any Participant(s) whether through
amendment, cancellation or replacement grants, or any other
means.
(hh) “Restricted Share Unit” means a
bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one Share
awarded under the Plan.
(ii) “Restricted Share Unit Agreement”
means the agreement described in Section 9 evidencing a
Restricted Share Unit.
(jj) “SAR Agreement” means the agreement
described in Section 7 evidencing a Share Appreciation
Right.
(kk) “SEC” means the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
3
(ll) “Section 16 Persons” means those
officers, directors or other persons who are subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(mm) “Securities Act” means the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
(nn) “Service” means service as an
Employee, Director, Non-Employee Director or Consultant. A
Participant’s Service does not terminate if he or she is an
Employee and goes on a bona fide leave of absence that was
approved by the Company in writing and the terms of the leave
provide for continued service crediting, or when continued
service crediting is required by Applicable Laws. However, for
purposes of determining whether an Option is entitled to
continuing ISO status, an Employee’s Service will be
treated as terminating 90 days after such Employee went on
leave, unless such Employee’s right to return to active
work is guaranteed by law or by a contract. Service terminates
in any event when the approved leave ends, unless such Employee
immediately returns to active work. Further, unless otherwise
determined by the Committee, a Participant’s Service will
not terminate merely because of a change in the capacity in
which the Participant provides service to the Company, a Parent,
Subsidiary or Affiliate, or a transfer between entities (the
Company or any Parent, Subsidiary, or Affiliate); provided that
there is no interruption or other termination of Service.
(oo) “Share” means one share of Ordinary
Shares.
(pp) “Share Appreciation Right” or
“SAR” means a share appreciation right awarded
under the Plan.
(qq) “Share Grant” means Shares awarded
under the Plan.
(rr) “Share Grant Agreement” means the
agreement described in Section 8 evidencing a Share Grant.
(ss) “Share Option Agreement” means the
agreement described in Section 6 evidencing an Option.
(tt) “Subsidiary” means any corporation
(other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations
beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other
than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns shares
possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all
classes of shares in one of the other corporations in such
chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Subsidiary on
a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a
Subsidiary commencing as of such date.
(uu) “10-Percent Shareholder” means an
individual who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting
power of all classes of outstanding shares of the Company, its
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. In determining share
ownership, the attribution rules of Code Section 424(d)
shall be applied.
Section 3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Committee Composition. The Board or a
Committee appointed by the Board shall administer the Plan. The
Committee shall generally have membership composition which
enables Awards to Section 16 Persons to qualify as exempt
from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
However, the Board may also appoint one or more separate
Committees, each composed of one or more directors of the
Company who need not qualify under
Rule 16b-3,
that may administer the Plan with respect to Participants who
are not Section 16 Persons, respectively, may grant Awards
under the Plan to such Participants and may determine all terms
of such Awards. Members of any such Committee shall serve for
such period of time as the Board may determine and shall be
subject to removal by the Board at any time. The Board may also
at any time terminate the functions of the Committee and
reassume all powers and authority previously delegated to the
Committee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall administer the
Plan with respect to all Awards granted to Non-Employee
Directors.
The Board and any Committee appointed to administer the plan is
referred to herein as the “Committee”.
(b) Authority of the Committee. Subject
to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full
authority, in its sole discretion, to take any actions it deems
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Such
actions shall include:
(i) selecting Participants who are to receive Awards under
the Plan;
(ii) determining the Fair Market Value;
4
(iii) determining the type, number, Grant Date, vesting
requirements and other features and conditions of such Awards;
(iv) approving the forms of agreements to be used under the
Plan;
(v) amending any outstanding Awards;
(vi) accelerating the vesting, or extending the
post-termination exercise term, of Awards at any time and under
such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate;
(vii) interpreting the Plan and any Award Agreement;
(viii) correcting any defect, supplying any omission or
reconciling any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement;
(ix) adopting such rules or guidelines as it deems
appropriate to implement the Plan;
(x) authorizing any person to execute on behalf of the
Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award
previously authorized by the Committee;
(xi) making all other decisions relating to the operation
of the Plan; and
(xii) adopting such plans or subplans as may be deemed
necessary or appropriate to comply with the laws of certain
countries, allow for tax-preferred treatment of the Awards or
otherwise provide for the participation by Participants who
reside in such countries.
The Committee’s determinations under the Plan shall be
final and binding on all persons.
(c) Indemnification. To the maximum
extent permitted by Applicable Laws, each member of the
Committee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company
against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability, or expense
that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in
connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or
proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or
she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to
act under the Plan or any Award Agreement, and (ii) from
any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof,
with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in
satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit, or
proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the
Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend
the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on
his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification
shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to
which such persons may be entitled to by contract, as a matter
of law, or otherwise, or under any power that the Company may
have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
Section 4. GENERAL.
(a) General Eligibility. Only Employees,
Directors, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants shall be
eligible to participate in the Plan.
(b) Incentive Share Options. Only
Participants who are Employees of the Company, a Parent or a
Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs. In addition,
a Participant who is a 10-Percent Shareholder shall not be
eligible for the grant of an ISO unless the requirements set
forth in Code Section 422(c)(5) are satisfied.
(c) Restrictions on Shares. Any Shares
issued pursuant to an Award shall be subject to such rights of
repurchase, rights of first refusal and other transfer
restrictions as the Committee may determine, in its sole
discretion. Such restrictions shall apply in addition to any
restrictions that may apply to holders of Shares generally and
shall also comply to the extent necessary with Applicable Laws.
In no event shall the Company be required to issue fractional
Shares under this Plan.
(d) Beneficiaries. Unless stated
otherwise in an Award Agreement and then only to the extent
permitted by and enforceable under Applicable Laws, a
Participant may designate one or more beneficiaries with respect
to an Award by timely filing the prescribed form with the
Company or the Company’s designee. A beneficiary
designation may be changed by filing the prescribed form with
the Company (or the Company’s designee) at any time before
the Participant’s death. If no beneficiary was designated
or if no designated beneficiary survives the
5
Participant, then after a Participant’s death any vested
Award(s) shall be transferred or distributed to the
Participant’s estate or to such other person as the Company
may designate.
(e) No Rights as a Shareholder. A
Participant, or a transferee of a Participant, shall have no
rights as a shareholder with respect to any Ordinary Shares
covered by an Award until such person has satisfied all of the
terms and conditions to receive such Ordinary Shares, has
satisfied any applicable withholding or tax obligations relating
to the Award and the Shares have been issued (as evidenced by an
appropriate entry on the books of the Company or a duly
authorized transfer agent of the Company).
(f) Termination of Service. Unless the
applicable Award Agreement or, with respect to a Participant who
resides in the U.S., the applicable employment agreement
provides otherwise, the following rules shall govern the
vesting, exercisability and term of outstanding Awards held by a
Participant in the event of termination of such
Participant’s Service (in all cases subject to the maximum
term of the Option
and/or SAR
as applicable): (i) upon termination of Service for any
reason, the unvested portions of any outstanding Restricted
Share Units or Share Grants shall be immediately forfeited
without consideration; (ii) if Service is terminated for
Cause, then all unexercised Options
and/or SARs,
unvested portions of Restricted Share Units and unvested
portions of Share Grants shall terminate and be forfeited
immediately without consideration; (iii) if Service is
terminated for any reason other than for Cause, death or
Disability, then the vested portion of the Participant’s
then-outstanding Options
and/or SARs
may be exercised by such Participant or his or her personal
representative within ninety (90) days after the date of
such termination and the unvested portions of any such Awards
shall be forfeited without consideration at the end of such
period; or (iv) if Service is terminated due to death or
Disability, the vested portion of the Participant’s
then-outstanding Options
and/or SARs
may be exercised within six (6) months after the date of
such termination and the unvested portions of any such Awards
shall be forfeited without consideration at the end of such
period.
Section 5. SHARES SUBJECT
TO PLAN AND SHARE LIMITS.
(a) Basic Limitation. The shares issuable
under the Plan shall be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired
Shares. The aggregate number of Shares reserved for Awards under
the Plan is 5,000,000 Shares, subject to adjustment
pursuant to Section 10.
(b) Limits on Awards. The aggregate
maximum number of Shares that may be granted in connection with
all Awards during any Fiscal Year shall not exceed three percent
(3%) of the total number of the Company’s outstanding
Shares as of the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal
Year (“Annual Pool”), plus any Shares remaining
available pursuant to the Annual Pool for the immediately
preceding Fiscal Year, subject to adjustment pursuant to
Section 10.
(c) Limits on Incentive Stock
Options. The aggregate maximum number of Shares
that may be issued in connection with ISOs shall be
5,000,000 Shares, subject to adjustment pursuant to
Section 10.
(d) Share Count. Shares issued as Share
Grants or pursuant to Restricted Share Units will count against
the Shares available for issuance under the Plan, and against
the Shares available for grant during any Fiscal Year, as one
point seven five (1.75) Shares for every one (1) Share
issued in connection with the Award. Shares issued as Options or
Share Appreciation Rights will count against the Shares
available for issuance under the Plan, and against the Shares
available for grant during any Fiscal Year, as one
(1) Share for every one (1) Share subject thereto. The
total number of Shares subject to Share Appreciation Rights that
are settled in Shares shall be counted in full against the
number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan,
regardless of the number of Shares actually issued upon
settlement of the Share Appreciation Rights. If Awards are
settled in cash, the Shares that would have been delivered had
there been no cash settlement shall not be counted against the
Shares available for issuance under the Plan. If Awards are
forfeited or are terminated for any reason before vesting or
being exercised, then the Shares underlying such Awards shall
again become available for Awards under the Plan; provided that,
any one (1) Share issued as a Share Grant or pursuant to
Restricted Share Units that is forfeited or terminated shall be
credited as one point seven five (1.75) Shares when determining
the number of Shares that shall again become available for
Awards under the Plan. For purposes of clarity, no Shares
surrendered pursuant to Section 6(f)(i) and no Shares
withheld pursuant to Section 13(b) shall again become
available for Awards under the Plan.
6
(e) Dividend Equivalents. Any dividend
equivalents distributed under the Plan shall reduce the number
of Shares available for Awards.
Section 6. TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
(a) Share Option Agreement. Each Option
granted under the Plan shall be evidenced and governed
exclusively by a Share Option Agreement between the Optionee and
the Company. Such Option shall be subject to all applicable
terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other
terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan and
that the Committee deems appropriate for inclusion in a Share
Option Agreement. The provisions of the various Share Option
Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
The Share Option Agreement shall specify whether the Option is
an ISO or an NSO.
(b) Number of Shares. Each Share Option
Agreement shall specify the number of Shares that are subject to
the Option, which number is subject to adjustment in accordance
with Section 10.
(c) Exercise Price. Each Share Option
Agreement shall specify the Option’s Exercise Price which
shall be established by the Committee and is subject to
adjustment in accordance with Section 10. The Exercise
Price of an Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair
Market Value (110% for an ISO granted to a 10-Percent
Shareholder) on the Grant Date.
(d) Exercisability and Term. Each Share
Option Agreement shall specify the date when all or any
installment of the Option is to become exercisable and may
include performance conditions or Performance Goals. The Share
Option Agreement shall also specify the maximum term of the
Option; provided that the maximum term of an Option shall in no
event exceed seven (7) years from the Grant Date. A Share
Option Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting in the
event of the Participant’s death, Disability or other
events. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or the
Share Option Agreement, no Option can be exercised after the
expiration date provided in the applicable Share Option
Agreement.
(e) Method of Exercise. An Option may be
exercised, in whole or in part, by giving written notice of
exercise to the Company (or, subject to Applicable Laws and if
the Company permits, by electronic or voice methods) of the
number of Shares to be purchased. Such notice shall be
accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate Exercise Price,
plus any required withholdings (unless satisfactory arrangements
have been made to satisfy such withholdings). The Company
reserves the right to delay issuance of the Shares if such
payments are not satisfactory.
(f) Payment for Option Shares. The
Exercise Price of an Option shall be paid in cash at the time of
exercise, except as follows and if so provided for in the
applicable Share Option Agreement:
(i) Surrender of Share. Payment of all or
a part of the Exercise Price may be made with Shares which have
already been owned by the Optionee; provided that the Committee
may, in its sole discretion, require that Shares tendered for
payment be previously held by the Optionee for a minimum
duration (e.g., to avoid financial accounting charges to the
Company’s earnings).
(ii) Cashless Exercise. Payment of all or
a part of the Exercise Price may be made through Cashless
Exercise.
(iii) Other Forms of Payment. Payment may
be made in any other form that is consistent with Applicable
Laws, regulations and rules and approved by the Committee.
In the case of an ISO granted under the Plan, except to the
extent permitted by Applicable Laws, payment shall be made only
pursuant to the express provisions of the applicable Share
Option Agreement. In the case of an NSO granted under the Plan,
the Committee may, in its discretion at any time, accept payment
in any form(s) described in this Section 6(f).
(g) Modifications or Assumption of Options; No
Re-Pricing. Within the limitations of the Plan,
the Committee may modify, extend or assume outstanding options
or may accept the cancellation of outstanding options (whether
granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the
grant of new Options for the same or a different number of
Shares and at the same or a different Exercise Price.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence or anything to the
contrary, no modification of an Option shall, without the
consent of the Optionee, impair his or her
7
rights or obligations under such Option and, unless there is
approval by the Company shareholders, the Committee may not
Re-Price outstanding Options.
(h) Assignment or Transfer of
Options. Except as otherwise provided in the
applicable Share Option Agreement and then only to the extent
such transfer is otherwise permitted by Applicable Laws and is
not a transfer for value (unless such transfer for value is
approved in advance by the Company’s shareholders), no
Option or interest therein shall be transferred, assigned,
pledged or hypothecated by the Optionee during his or her
lifetime, whether by operation of law or otherwise, or be made
subject to execution, attachment or similar process, other than
by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and an Option
may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only or by
the guardian or legal representative of the Optionee.
Section 7. TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
(a) SAR Agreement. Each SAR granted under
the Plan shall be evidenced by a SAR Agreement between the
Participant and the Company. Such SAR shall be subject to all
applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other
terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. A SAR Agreement
may provide for a maximum limit on the amount of any payout
notwithstanding the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of
the SAR. The provisions of the various SAR Agreements entered
into under the Plan need not be identical. SARs may be granted
in consideration of a reduction in the Participant’s
compensation.
(b) Number of Shares. Each SAR Agreement
shall specify the number of Shares to which the SAR pertains,
which number is subject to adjustment in accordance with
Section 10.
(c) Exercise Price. Each SAR Agreement
shall specify the Exercise Price, which is subject to adjustment
in accordance with Section 10. A SAR Agreement may specify
an Exercise Price that varies in accordance with a predetermined
formula while the SAR is outstanding. The Exercise Price of a
SAR shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the
Grant Date.
(d) Exercisability and Term. Each SAR
Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of
the SAR is to become exercisable and may include performance
conditions or Performance Goals. The SAR Agreement shall also
specify the maximum term of the SAR which shall not exceed seven
(7) years from the Grant Date. A SAR Agreement may provide
for accelerated exercisability in the event of the
Participant’s death, Disability or other events. SARs may
be awarded in combination with Options or Share Grants, and such
an Award shall provide that the SARs will not be exercisable
unless the related Options or Share Grants are forfeited. A SAR
may be included in an ISO only at the time of grant but may be
included in an NSO at the time of grant or at any subsequent
time, but not later than six (6) months before the
expiration of such NSO. Notwithstanding any other provision of
the Plan or the SAR Agreement, no SAR can be exercised after the
expiration date provided in the applicable SAR Agreement.
(e) Exercise of SARs. Upon exercise of a
SAR, the Participant (or any person having the right to exercise
the SAR after Participant’s death) shall receive from the
Company (i) Shares, (ii) cash or (iii) any
combination of Shares and cash, as the Committee shall determine
at the time of grant of the SAR, in its sole discretion. The
amount of cash
and/or the
Fair Market Value of Shares received upon exercise of SARs
shall, in the aggregate, be equal to the amount by which the
Fair Market Value (on the date of surrender) of the Shares
subject to the SARs exceeds the Exercise Price of the Shares.
(f) Modification or Assumption of SARs; No
Re-Pricing. Within the limitations of the Plan,
the Committee may modify, extend or assume outstanding SARs or
may accept the cancellation of outstanding share appreciation
rights (including share appreciation rights granted by another
issuer) in return for the grant of new SARs for the same or a
different number of Shares and at the same or a different
Exercise Price. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence or
anything to the contrary, no modification of a SAR shall,
without the consent of the Participant, impair his or her rights
or obligations under such SAR and, unless there is approval by
the Company shareholders, the Committee may not Re-Price
outstanding SARs.
(g) Assignment or Transfer of
SARs. Except as otherwise provided in the
applicable SAR Agreement and then only to the extent such
transfer is otherwise permitted by Applicable Laws and is not a
transfer for value (unless such transfer for value is approved
in advance by the Company’s shareholders), no SAR or
interest therein shall be transferred, assigned, pledged or
hypothecated by the Participant during his or her lifetime,
whether by operation of
8
law or otherwise, or be made subject to execution, attachment or
similar process, other than by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution and a SAR may be exercised during the lifetime
of the Participant only or by the guardian or legal
representative of the Participant.
Section 8. TERMS
AND CONDITIONS FOR SHARE GRANTS.
(a) Time, Amount and Form of
Awards. Awards under this Section 8 may be
granted in the form of a Share Grant. A Share Grant may be
awarded in combination with NSOs, and such an Award may provide
that the Share Grant will be forfeited in the event that the
related NSOs are exercised.
(b) Share Grant Agreement. Each Share
Grant awarded under the Plan shall be evidenced and governed
exclusively by a Share Grant Agreement between the Participant
and the Company. Each Share Grant shall be subject to all
applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject
to any other terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with
the Plan that the Committee deems appropriate for inclusion in
the applicable Share Grant Agreement. The provisions of the
Share Grant Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be
identical.
(c) Payment for Share Grants. Share
Grants may be issued with or without cash consideration under
the Plan.
(d) Vesting Conditions. The Committee
shall determine the vesting schedule of each Share Grant.
Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon
satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Share Grant
Agreement which may include performance conditions or
Performance Goals. A Share Grant Agreement may provide for
accelerated vesting in the event of the Participant’s
death, Disability, or other events.
(e) Assignment or Transfer of Share
Grants. Except as otherwise provided in the
applicable Share Grant Agreement and then only to the extent
such transfer is otherwise permitted by Applicable Laws, no
unvested Share Grant or interest therein shall be transferred,
assigned, pledged or hypothecated by the Participant during his
or her lifetime, whether by operation of law or otherwise, or be
made subject to execution, attachment or similar process, other
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
(f) Voting and Dividend Rights. The
holder of a Share Xxxxx awarded under the Plan shall have the
same voting, dividend and other rights as the Company’s
other shareholders. A Share Grant Agreement may require that the
holder of such Share Grant invest any cash dividends received in
additional Shares subject to the Share Grant. Such additional
Shares and any Shares received as a dividend pursuant to the
Share Grant shall be subject to the same conditions and
restrictions as the Share Grant with respect to which the
dividends were paid. Such additional Shares subject to the Share
Grant shall not reduce the number of Shares available for
issuance under Section 5.
(g) Modification or Assumption of Share
Grants. Within the limitations of the Plan, the
Committee may modify or assume outstanding Share Grants or may
accept the cancellation of outstanding share grants (including
share granted by another issuer) in return for the grant of new
Share Grants for the same or a different number of Shares.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence or anything to the
contrary, no modification of a Share Grant shall, without the
consent of the Participant, impair his or her rights or
obligations under such Share Grant.
Section 9. TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS.
(a) Restricted Share Unit Agreement. Each
Restricted Share Unit granted under the Plan shall be evidenced
by a Restricted Share Unit Agreement between the Participant and
the Company. Such Restricted Share Units shall be subject to all
applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other
terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of
the various Restricted Share Unit Agreements entered into under
the Plan need not be identical. Restricted Share Units may be
granted in consideration of a reduction in the
Participant’s other compensation.
(b) Number of Shares. Each Restricted
Share Unit Agreement shall specify the number of Shares to which
the Restricted Share Unit pertains, which number is subject to
adjustment in accordance with Section 10.
(c) Payment for Restricted Share
Units. To the extent that an Award is granted in
the form of Restricted Share Units, no cash consideration shall
be required of the Award recipients.
9
(d) Vesting Conditions. The Committee
shall determine the vesting schedule of each Restricted Share
Unit. Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon
satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Restricted Share
Unit Agreement which may include performance conditions or
Performance Goals. A Restricted Share Unit Agreement may provide
for accelerated vesting in the event of the Participant’s
death, Disability, or other events.
(e) Form and Time of Settlement of Restricted Share
Units. Settlement of vested Restricted Share
Units may be made in the form of (i) cash, (ii) Shares
or (iii) any combination of both, as determined by the
Committee at the time of the grant of the Restricted Share
Units, in its sole discretion. Vested Restricted Share Units may
be settled in a lump sum or in installments. The distribution
may occur or commence when the vesting conditions applicable to
the Restricted Share Units have been satisfied or have lapsed,
or it may be deferred, in accordance with Applicable Laws, to
any later date. The amount of a deferred distribution may be
increased by an interest factor or by dividend equivalents.
(f) Voting and Dividend Rights. The
holders of Restricted Share Units shall have no voting rights.
Prior to settlement or forfeiture, any Restricted Share Unit
awarded under the Plan may, at the Committee’s discretion,
carry with it a right to dividend equivalents. Such right
entitles the holder to be credited with an amount equal to all
cash dividends paid on one Share while the Restricted Share Unit
is outstanding. Dividend equivalents may be converted into
additional Restricted Share Units. Settlement of dividend
equivalents may be made in the form of cash, in the form of
Shares, or in a combination of both. Prior to distribution, any
dividend equivalents which are not paid shall be subject to the
same conditions and restrictions as the Restricted Share Units
to which they attach.
(g) Creditors’ Rights. A holder of
Restricted Share Units shall have no rights other than those of
a general creditor of the Company. Restricted Share Units
represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company,
subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Restricted
Share Unit Agreement.
(h) Modification or Assumption of Restricted Share
Units. Within the limitations of the Plan, the
Committee may modify or assume outstanding Restricted Share
Units or may accept the cancellation of outstanding restricted
share units (including restricted share units granted by another
issuer) in return for the grant of new Restricted Share Units
for the same or a different number of Shares. Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence or anything to the contrary, no
modification of a Restricted Share Unit shall, without the
consent of the Participant, impair his or her rights or
obligations under such Restricted Share Unit.
(i) Assignment or Transfer of Restricted Share
Units. Except as otherwise provided in the
applicable Restricted Share Unit Agreement and then only to the
extent such transfer is otherwise permitted by Applicable Laws
and is not a transfer for value (unless such transfer for value
is approved in advance by the Company’s shareholders), no
Restricted Share Unit or interest therein shall be transferred,
assigned, pledged or hypothecated by the Participant during his
or her lifetime, whether by operation of law or otherwise, or be
made subject to execution, attachment or similar process, other
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
Section 10. PROTECTION
AGAINST DILUTION.
(a) Adjustments. In the event of a
subdivision of the outstanding Shares, a declaration of a
dividend payable in Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable
in a form other than Shares in an amount that has a material
effect on the price of Shares, a combination or consolidation of
the outstanding Shares (by reclassification or otherwise) into a
lesser number of Shares, a recapitalization, a spin-off or a
similar occurrence, the Committee shall make appropriate
adjustments in one or more of:
(i) the number of Shares and the kind of shares or
securities available for future Awards under Section 5(a);
(ii) the limits on all Awards per Fiscal Year specified in
Section 5(b);
(iii) the limits on ISOs specified in Section 5(c);
(iv) the number of Shares and the kind of shares or
securities covered by each outstanding Award; or
(v) the Exercise Price under each outstanding Option or SAR.
10
(b) Participant Rights. Except as
provided in this Section 10, a Participant shall have no
rights by reason of any issue by the Company of shares of any
class or securities convertible into shares of any class, any
subdivision or consolidation of shares of any class, the payment
of any share dividend or any other increase or decrease in the
number of shares of any class. If by reason of an adjustment
pursuant to this Section 10 a Participant’s Award
covers additional or different shares or securities, then such
additional or different shares and the Award in respect thereof
shall be subject to all of the terms, conditions and
restrictions which were applicable to the Award and the Shares
subject to the Award prior to such adjustment.
(c) Fractional Shares. Any adjustment of
Shares pursuant to this Section 10 shall be rounded down to
the nearest whole number of Shares. Under no circumstances shall
the Company be required to authorize or issue fractional shares
and no consideration shall be provided as a result of any
fractional shares not being issued or authorized.
Section 11. EFFECT
OF A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) Change in Control. In the event that
the Company is a party to a Change in Control, outstanding
Awards shall be subject to the applicable agreement of merger or
reorganization. Such agreement may provide, without limitation,
for the assumption of outstanding Awards by the surviving
corporation or its parent, for their continuation by the Company
(if the Company is a surviving corporation), for accelerated
vesting or for their cancellation with or without consideration,
in all cases without the consent of the Participant.
(b) Acceleration. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Committee may determine, at the time of grant of
an Award or thereafter, that such Award shall become vested and
exercisable, in full or in part, in the event that the Company
is a party to a Change in Control.
(c) Dissolution. To the extent not
previously exercised or settled, Options, SARs and Restricted
Share Units shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution
or liquidation of the Company.
Section 12. LIMITATIONS
ON RIGHTS.
(a) Participant Rights. A
Participant’s rights, if any, in respect of or in
connection with any Award is derived solely from the
discretionary decision of the Company to permit the individual
to participate in the Plan and to benefit from a discretionary
Award. By accepting an Award under the Plan, a Participant
expressly acknowledges that there is no obligation on the part
of the Company to continue the Plan
and/or grant
any additional Awards. Any Award granted hereunder is not
intended to be compensation of a continuing or recurring nature,
or part of a Participant’s normal or expected compensation,
and in no way represents any portion of a Participant’s
salary, compensation, or other remuneration for purposes of
pension benefits, severance, redundancy, resignation or any
other purpose.
Neither the Plan nor any Award granted under the Plan shall be
deemed to give any individual a right to remain an employee,
consultant or director of the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or
an Affiliate. The Company and its Parent, Subsidiaries and
Affiliates reserve the right to terminate the Service of any
person at any time, and for any reason, subject to Applicable
Laws, and any applicable written employment agreement (if any),
and such terminated person shall be deemed irrevocably to have
waived any claim to damages or specific performance for breach
of contract or dismissal, compensation for loss of office, tort
or otherwise with respect to the Plan or any outstanding Award
that is forfeited
and/or is
terminated by its terms or to any future Award.
(b) Shareholders’ Rights. Except as
provided in Section 9(f), a Participant shall have no
dividend rights, voting rights or other rights as a shareholder
with respect to any Shares covered by his or her Award prior to
the issuance of such Shares (as evidenced by an appropriate
entry on the books of the Company or a duly authorized transfer
agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for cash
dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to
the date when such Shares are issued, except as expressly
provided in Sections 9(f) and 10.
(c) Regulatory Requirements. Any other
provision of the Plan notwithstanding, the obligation of the
Company to issue Shares or other securities under the Plan shall
be subject to all Applicable Laws and such approval by any
regulatory body as may be required. The Company reserves the
right to restrict, in whole or in part, the delivery of Shares
or other securities pursuant to any Award prior to the
satisfaction of all legal requirements
11
relating to the issuance of such Shares or other securities, to
their registration, qualification or listing or to an exemption
from registration, qualification or listing.
Section 13. WITHHOLDING
TAXES.
(a) General. A Participant shall make
arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the satisfaction of
any withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with
his or her Award. The Company shall have the right to deduct
from any amount payable under the Plan, including delivery of
Shares to be made pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan,
all federal, state, city, local or foreign taxes of any kind
required by law to be withheld with respect to such payment and
the Company may take any such actions as may be necessary in the
opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the
payment of such taxes. The Company shall not be required to
issue any Shares or make any cash payment under the Plan until
such obligations are satisfied.
(b) Share Withholding. The Committee may
permit a Participant to satisfy all or part of his or her
withholding or income tax obligations by Cashless Exercise, by
having the Company withhold all or a portion of any Shares that
otherwise would be issued to him or her or by surrendering all
or a portion of any Shares that he or she previously acquired;
provided that Shares withheld or previously owned Shares that
are tendered shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy
the Company’s tax withholding obligations at the minimum
statutory withholding rates, including, but not limited to,
U.S. federal and state income taxes, payroll taxes and
foreign taxes, if applicable, unless the previously owned Shares
have been held for the minimum duration necessary to avoid
financial accounting charges under applicable accounting
guidance or as otherwise permitted by the Committee in its sole
and absolute discretion. Any payment of taxes by assigning
Shares to the Company may be subject to restrictions, including,
but not limited to, any restrictions required by rules of the
SEC. If any Shares are used to satisfy withholding taxes, such
Shares shall be valued based on the Fair Market Value thereof on
the date when the withholding for taxes is required to be made.
Section 14. DURATION
AND AMENDMENTS.
(a) Term of the Plan. The Plan shall
terminate on May 11, 2012 and may be terminated on any
earlier date pursuant to this Section 14.
(b) Right to Amend or Terminate the
Plan. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan
at any time and for any reason. Any such termination of the
Plan, or any amendment thereof, shall not impair any Award
previously granted under the Plan. No Awards shall be granted
under the Plan after the Plan’s termination. An amendment
of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the
Company’s shareholders only to the extent such approval is
required by Applicable Laws, regulations or rules.
12