Exhibit
10.1
FIRST
MID-ILLINOIS BANCSHARES, INC.
2007
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
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TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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PURPOSE
OF THE PLAN
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1
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2.
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DEFINITIONS
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1
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3.
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ADMINISTRATION
OF THE PLAN
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2
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4.
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SHARES
SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
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3
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5.
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STOCK
OPTIONS
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3
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6.
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STOCK
AWARDS
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4
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7.
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STOCK
APPRECIATION RIGHTS
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4
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8.
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STOCK
UNITS
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5
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9.
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CHANGE
IN CONTROL
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5
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10.
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AWARD
AGREEMENTS
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6
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11.
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NONTRANSFERABILITY
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6
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12.
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WITHHOLDING
OF TAX
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6
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13.
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STOCK
CERTIFICATES
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6
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14.
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RIGHT
OF FIRST REFUSAL
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7
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15.
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DELIVERY
AND REGISTRATION OF STOCK
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7
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16.
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AMENDMENT
OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN OR AWARD AGREEMENTS
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7
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17.
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TERM
OF PLAN
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8
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18.
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SERVICE
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8
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19.
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GOVERNING
LAW
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8
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FIRST
MID-ILLINOIS BANCSHARES, INC.
2007
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
First
Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby adopts the First
Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) as of
February 27, 2007, subject to approval by Company stockholders at the Company’s
annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 23, 2007. The Plan is intended
to provide a means whereby directors, employees, consultants and advisors of
the
Company and its Subsidiaries may sustain a sense of proprietorship and personal
involvement in the continued development and financial success of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, thereby advancing the interests of the Company and its
stockholders. Accordingly, directors and selected employees, consultants and
advisors may be provided the opportunity to acquire shares of Common Stock
of
the Company or otherwise participate in the financial success of the Company,
on
the terms and conditions established herein.
The
following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
(a)
“
Award
”
shall
mean any award granted under the Plan, including Stock Options, Stock Awards,
Stock Appreciation Rights and Stock Units.
(b)
“
Board
”
shall
mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c)
“
Change
in Control
”
shall
mean:
(i)
the
consummation of the acquisition by any person (as such term is defined in
Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) of beneficial ownership (within
the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of
the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company
other than through the receipt of Shares pursuant to the Plan or the First
Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment Plan;
(ii)
the
individuals who, as of the date hereof, are members of the Board cease for
any
reason to constitute a majority of the Board, unless the election, or nomination
for election by the stockholders of the Company, of any new director was
approved by a vote of a majority of the board, and such new director shall,
for
purposes of this Agreement, be considered as a member of the Board;
or
(iii)
approval
by stockholders of the Company of: (A) a merger or consolidation if the
stockholders, immediately before such merger or consolidation, do not, as a
result of such merger or consolidation, own, directly or indirectly, more than
50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
of
the entity resulting from such merger or consolidation in substantially the
same
proportion as their ownership of the combined voting power of the voting
securities of the Company outstanding immediately before such merger or
consolidation; or (B) a complete liquidation or dissolution or an agreement
for
the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
the
Company.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because
50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities
of
the Company are acquired by a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities
under one or more employee benefit plans maintained for employees of the entity,
or by any corporation which, immediately prior to such acquisition, is owner
directly or indirectly by the stockholders in the same proportion as their
ownership of stock immediately prior to such acquisition.
(d)
“
Code
”
shall
mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and any amendments thereto.
(e)
“
Committee
”
shall
mean the committee appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 3
hereof.
(f)
“
Company
”
shall
mean First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(g)
“
Exchange
Act
”
shall
mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any amendments
thereto.
(h)
“
Fair
Market Value
”
shall
mean the closing sales price of a Share on a given date, or as otherwise
determined by the Committee in its discretion.
(i)
“
Incentive
Stock Option
”
or
“
ISO
”
shall
mean a stock option awarded under Section 5 of the Plan that satisfies the
requirements of Code Section 422 or any successor provision.
(j)
“
Nonqualified
Stock Option
”
or
“
NSO
”
shall
mean a stock option awarded under Section 5 of the Plan that is not an Incentive
Stock Option.
(k)
“
Participant
”
shall
mean any director or employee of, or consultant or advisor to, the Company
or a
Subsidiary who is selected to participate in the Plan.
(l)
“
Securities
Act
”
shall
mean the Securities Act of 1933, and any amendments thereto.
(m)
“
Share
”
shall
mean a share of common stock of the Company.
(n)
“
Stock
Appreciation Right
”
or
“
SAR
”
shall
mean a right awarded under Section 7 of the Plan to receive the appreciation
in
the Fair Market Value of a stated number of Shares.
(o)
“
Stock
Award
”
shall
mean a grant of Shares awarded under Section 6 of the Plan.
(p)
“
Stock
Option
”
shall
mean an Incentive Stock Option or Nonqualified Stock Option granted under the
Plan.
(q)
“
Stock
Unit
”
shall
mean a right to receive Shares awarded under Section 8 of the Plan.
(r)
“
Subsidiary
”
shall
mean an entity of which the Company is the direct or indirect beneficial owner
of not less than 50% of all issued and outstanding equity interest of such
entity.
3.
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Administration
of the Plan
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(a)
The
Committee
.
The
Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Board of Directors
of
the Company which shall be comprised of two or more directors who are “outside
directors” (within the meaning of Code Section 162(m)) and “non-employee
directors” (within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act). The
Committee shall have sole authority to:
(i)
select
the directors, employees, consultants and advisors to whom the Awards shall
be
granted under the Plan;
(ii)
establish
the timing, amount and conditions of each such Award and other limitations,
restrictions, terms and conditions applicable to each such Award;
(iii)
prescribe
any legend to be affixed to certificates representing such Awards;
(iv)
interpret
the Plan; and
(v)
adopt
such rules, regulations, forms and agreements, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, as it may deem advisable to carry out the
Plan.
All
decisions made by the Committee in administering the Plan shall be final. No
member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or
determination made hereunder in good faith.
(b)
Performance
Goals
.
The
Committee may, in its discretion, provide that any Award granted under the
Plan
shall be subject to the attainment of performance goals, including those that
qualify the Award as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code
Section 162(m). Performance goals may be based on one or more business criteria,
including but not limited to: earnings or earnings per share; return on equity;
common stock price; return on investment; return on assets; net income; expense
management; credit quality; revenue growth; or operating leverage. Performance
goals may be absolute in their terms or measured against or in relationship
to
the performance of other companies or indices selected by the Committee. In
addition, performance goals may be adjusted for any events or occurrences
(including acquisition expenses, extraordinary charges, losses from discontinued
operations, restatements and accounting charges and restructuring expenses),
as
may be determined by the Committee. Performance goals may be particular to
one
or more lines of business or Subsidiaries or may be based on the performance
of
the Company and its Subsidiaries as a whole. With respect to each performance
period established by the Committee, the Committee shall establish such
performance goals relating to one or more of the business criteria described
above, and shall establish targets for Participants for achievement of
performance goals. The performance goals and performance targets established
by
the Committee may be identical for all Participants for a given performance
period or, at the discretion of the Committee, may differ among Participants.
Following the completion of each performance period, the Committee shall
determine the extent to which performance goals for that performance period
have
been achieved and shall authorize Awards, as applicable, to the Participant
for
whom the targets were established.
4.
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Shares
Subject to the Plan
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(a)
Total
Number of Shares
.
The
total number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan shall be 200,000
Shares. Any Shares that remain unissued at the termination of the Plan shall
cease to be subject to the Plan, but until termination of the Plan, the Company
shall at all times make available sufficient Shares to meet the requirements
of
the Plan.
(b)
Reuse
of Shares
.
The
number of Shares delivered by a Participant or withheld by the Company on behalf
of any such Participant as full or partial payment of an Award, including the
exercise price of a Stock Option or any required withholding taxes, shall once
again be available for issuance pursuant to subsequent Awards, and shall not
count towards the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan.
Any Shares subject to an Award may thereafter be available for issuance pursuant
to subsequent Awards, and shall not count towards the aggregate number of Shares
that may be issued under the Plan, if there is a lapse, forfeiture, expiration,
termination or cancellation of any such prior Award for any reason, or if Shares
are issued under such Award and thereafter are reacquired by the Company
pursuant to rights reserved by the Company upon issuance thereof.
(c)
Shares
Under Awards
.
The
maximum number of Shares as to which an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary
may receive Stock Options in any calendar year is 50,000. The maximum number
of
Shares that may be used for Awards other than Stock Options that are intended
to
qualify as “performance based” in accordance with Code Section 162(m) that may
be granted to any employee of the Company or a Subsidiary in any calendar year
is 50,000, or, in the event the Award is settled in cash, an amount equal to
the
Fair Market Value of such number of Shares on the date on which the Award is
settled. The maximum number of Shares that may be subject to Incentive Stock
Options is 200,000.
(d)
Adjustment
.
Awards
under the Plan shall be adjusted to reflect a change in the outstanding Shares
of the Company by reason of a recapitalization, reclassification,
reorganization, stock split, reverse stock split, combination or exchange of
shares, stock dividend or similar transaction. The adjustment shall be made
in
an equitable manner which shall cause the intended benefits under the Awards
to
remain unchanged as a result of the applicable transaction.
(a)
Grants
of Stock Options
.
The
Committee may grant Stock Options that constitute Incentive Stock Options to
employees and Nonqualified Stock Options to all Participants. Unless otherwise
expressly provided at the time of grant, Stock Options granted under the Plan
shall be NSOs.
(b)
Terms
and Conditions of Stock Options
.
Each
Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be subject to the terms and conditions
established by the Committee, including the type of Stock Option granted, the
number of Shares subject to the Stock Option, the exercise price, the vesting
schedule, the terms for payment of the exercise price and any withholding taxes,
and the expiration date.
(c)
Additional
Terms and Conditions Applicable to All Stock Options
.
Each
Stock Option shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
(i)
Exercise
Price
.
The
exercise price of each Stock Option shall not be less than the Fair Market
Value
of a Share on the date the Stock Option is granted.
(ii)
Vesting
.
Except
as provided below in (d), each Stock Option that has not terminated earlier
shall expire on the date 10 years after the date of grant.
(iii)
Method
of Exercise
.
A Stock
Option may be exercised only by giving written notice to the Company specifying
the number of Shares to be purchased.
The
Stock
Option exercise price may be paid in any one or a combination of (A) cash
(including personal check), (B) in cash received from a broker-dealer to whom
the Participant has submitted an exercise notice together with irrevocable
instructions to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sales proceeds
from the sale of the Shares subject to the Stock Option to pay the exercise
price, (C) by directing the Company to withhold a number of Shares otherwise
issuable in connection with the Stock Option having a Fair Market Value equal
to
the exercise price, or (D) by delivering (either directly or through
attestation) previously acquired Shares that are acceptable to the Committee
and
that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the
Stock Option exercise price.
(d)
Additional
Terms and Conditions Applicable to Incentive Stock Options
.
Each
Incentive Stock Option shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
(i)
ISO
Exercise Price
.
The
exercise price of an ISO granted to an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary
who, at the time such ISO is granted, owns stock of the Company possessing
more
than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of Shares (or its
parent or subsidiaries as defined in Code Section 422(b)(6)) (hereinafter
referred to as a “10% Stockholder”) shall not be less than 110% of the Fair
Market Value of a Share on the date the ISO is granted.
(ii)
Term
of ISO
.
No ISO
granted to a 10% Stockholder may be exercised more than five years after the
date of grant.
(iii)
Annual
Exercise Limit
.
The
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the ISO is granted) of
Shares which first become exercisable during any calendar year shall not exceed
$100,000. In the event that this limit is exceeded, so much of the ISO that
does
not exceed the limit shall be an ISO and the remainder shall be a NSO, but
in
all other respects the original terms and conditions of the Stock Option shall
remain in full force and effect.
(a)
Grants
.
The
Committee may grant Shares under the Plan to any Participant.
(b)
Terms
and Conditions of Grant
.
Each
Stock Award shall be subject to the terms and conditions as established by
the
Committee, including the number of Shares granted, and any restrictions,
including without limitation, prohibitions against transfer, substantial risks
of forfeiture or attainment of performance objectives.
(c)
Stockholder
Rights
.
Subject
to the foregoing, and except as otherwise provided by the Committee, the
Participant receiving a Stock Award shall have all other rights of a stockholder
including, but not limited to, the right to receive dividends and the right
to
vote such Shares; provided that the Committee shall have the discretion to
accumulate and hold such dividends and pay them to the Participant only upon
the
lapse of the restrictions to which the Award is subject.
7.
|
Stock
Appreciation Rights
|
(a)
Grants
.
The
Committee may grant SARs under the Plan to any Participant.
(b)
Terms
and Conditions of Grant
.
(i)
Each
SAR
granted under the Plan shall be subject to the terms and conditions established
by the Committee, including the number of Shares subject to the SAR, the
exercise price, the vesting schedule, and the expiration date.
(ii)
An
SAR
may be granted independently of a Stock Option, or in tandem with or with
reference to a related Stock Option granted prior to or at the same time as
the
grant of the SAR, in which event the Participant may elect to exercise the
Stock
Option or the SAR, but not both, as to the same Shares subject to the Stock
Option and the SAR. The tandem SAR shall be exercisable only at such time as
the
Stock Option to which it relates is exercisable and shall be subject to the
restrictions and conditions and other terms applicable to such Stock Option.
Upon the exercise of a tandem SAR, the unexercised Stock Option, or the portion
thereof to which the exercised portion of the tandem SAR is related, shall
expire. The exercise of any Stock Option shall cause the expiration of the
tandem SAR related to such Stock Option, or portion thereof, that is
exercised.
(c)
Additional
Terms and Conditions Applicable to All SARs
.
Each
SAR shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(i)
Exercise
Price
.
The
exercise price of each SAR shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of
a
Share on the date the SAR is granted.
(ii)
Vesting
.
Each
SAR that has not terminated earlier shall expire on the date 10 years after
the
date of grant.
(d)
Payment
on Exercise
.
An SAR
may be exercised only by giving written notice to the Company specifying the
number of Shares to be purchased. Upon exercise of an SAR, the Participant
shall
be paid the excess of the then Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of
such
exercise over the exercise price of the SAR multiplied by the number of Shares
with respect to which the SAR is being exercised. Such amount shall be paid
in
cash or in Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to such amount.
(a)
Grants
.
The
Committee may grant Stock Units to any Participant. Each Stock Unit shall
entitle the Participant to receive, on the date or occurrence of an event
determined by the Committee, one Share or cash equal to the Fair Market Value
of
a Share on the date of such event, as determined by the Committee at the time
of
grant.
(b)
Terms
and Conditions of Grant
.
Stock
Units, and the Shares received pursuant to the Stock Units, shall be subject
to
such terms and conditions established by the Committee, including the number
of
Stock Units granted, and any restrictions, including without limitation,
prohibitions against transfer, substantial risks of forfeiture or attainment
of
performance objectives.
(c)
Stock
Unit Holder Rights
.
Unless
otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant shall have no rights of
a
stockholder, including voting or dividend or other distribution rights, with
respect to any Stock Units prior to the date they are settled in Shares. The
Committee may provide that, until the Stock Units are settled in Shares or
cash,
the Participant shall receive, on each dividend or distribution payment date
applicable to the Shares, an amount equal to the dividends or distributions
that
the Participant would have received had the Stock Units held by the Participant
as of the related record date been actual Shares; provided that the Committee
shall have the discretion to accumulate and hold such dividends or distributions
and pay them to the Participant only upon the lapse of the restrictions to
which
the Award is subject.
In
the
event of a Change in Control, all outstanding Awards shall become immediately
and fully exercisable, all restrictions applicable to Awards shall lapse, and
any performance goals applicable to any Awards shall be deemed satisfied at
the
target or higher levels as determined by the Committee. Upon such Change in
Control, the Committee has sole discretion to: (i) provide for the purchase
of
any outstanding Stock Option, and the mandatory exercise of any outstanding
SAR,
for an amount of cash equal to the difference between the exercise price of
the
Stock Option or SAR and the then Fair Market Value of the Shares covered
thereby, multiplied by the number of Shares subject to the Stock Option or
SAR,
(ii) make such adjustment to any such Award then outstanding as the Committee
deems appropriate to reflect such Change in Control, or (iii) cause any such
Award then outstanding to be assumed by the acquiring or surviving corporation
after such Change in Control.
Each
Award under the Plan shall
be evidenced by a written Award Agreement specifying the terms and conditions
of
the Award. In the sole discretion of the Committee, the Award Agreement may
condition the grant of an Award upon the Participant’s entering into one or more
of the following agreements with the Company: (a) an agreement not to compete
with, or solicit the customers or employees of, the Company and its Subsidiaries
which shall become effective as of the date of the grant of the Award and remain
in effect for a specified period of time following termination of the
Participant’s employment with the Company; (b) an agreement to cancel any
employment agreement, fringe benefit or compensation arrangement in effect
between the Company and the Participant; and (c) an agreement to retain the
confidentiality of certain information. Such Award Agreement or other agreement
may contain such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine,
including provisions for the Participant’s forfeiture of an Award in the event
of the Participant’s noncompliance with the provisions of such Award Agreement
or other agreement. If the Participant shall fail to enter into any such
agreement at the request of the Committee and within any period specified by
the
Committee, then the Award granted or to be granted to such Participant shall
be
forfeited and cancelled.
Awards
granted under the Plan, and any rights and privileges pertaining thereto,
may
not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any manner, or be
subject to execution, attachment or similar process, by operation of law
or
otherwise, other than: (a) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution;
(b) pursuant to the terms of a qualified domestic relations order to which
the
Participant is a party that meets the requirements of any relevant provisions
of
the Code; or (c) as permitted by the Committee with respect to a NSO
transferable by the Participant during his or her lifetime. In each case,
the
transfer shall be for no value, and the other terms and conditions applicable
to
the transferability of the Award shall be established by the
Committee.
In
connection with any Award, and as a condition to the issuance or delivery of
any
Shares or cash amount to the Participant in connection therewith, the Committee
may require the Participant to pay the Company an amount equal to the minimum
amount of the tax the Company or any Subsidiary may be required to withhold
to
obtain a deduction for federal, state or local income tax purposes as a result
of such Award or to comply with applicable law. The Committee in its sole
discretion may make available one or more of the following alternatives for
the
payment of such taxes: (a) in cash; (b) in cash received from a broker-dealer
to
whom the Participant has submitted notice together with irrevocable instructions
to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sales proceeds from the sale
of
the Shares subject to the Award to pay the withholding taxes; (c) by directing
the Company to withhold such number of Shares otherwise issuable in connection
with the Award having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount
of tax required to be withheld; or (d) by delivering (either directly or through
attestation) previously acquired Shares that are acceptable to the Committee
that have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be
withheld. The Committee shall have the sole discretion to establish the terms
and conditions applicable to any alternative made available for payment of
the
required withholding taxes.
Once
a
Participant becomes entitled to receive Shares in connection with an Award
under
the Plan, the Company shall either (a) issue, in the name of the Participant,
stock certificates representing the total number of Shares granted or sold
to
the Participant, as soon as may be reasonably practicable after such grant
or
sale, which shall be held by the Secretary of the Company until such time as
the
Shares are forfeited, resold to the Company, or the restrictions lapse, or
(b)
in lieu of issuing stock certificates, reflect the issuance of Shares to a
Participant on a non-certificated basis, with the ownership of such Shares
by
the Participant evidenced solely by book entry in the records of the Company’s
transfer agent. Each stock certificate issued, or each book-entry made, in
respect of any Award subject to any restriction or forfeiture shall bear or
be
subject to the following legend:
The
Shares represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including
forfeiture and restrictions on transfer) contained in the First Mid-Illinois
Bancshares, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan and any related Award Agreement
between the Company and the individual receiving the Shares. Release from
such
terms and conditions shall be obtained only in accordance with the provisions
of
the Plan and Award Agreement, a copy of each of which is on file in the office
of the Secretary of the Company.
14.
|
Right
of First Refusal
|
(a)
Purchase
by Company
.
If a
holder of Shares acquired under the Plan wishes to sell such Shares, such holder
shall first offer such Shares to the Company for purchase, and the Company
shall
have 10 business days to exercise its right to purchase such Shares. The
purchase price shall be as negotiated by the Company and the holder, or if
applicable, the price offered to the holder pursuant to a bona fide third party
written offer (such offer to include the number of Shares to be sold, the name
and address of the person(s) offering to purchase the Shares and the purchase
price and terms of payment of such sale). The Committee in its discretion may
pay the holder in a lump sum or, if the lump sum exceeds $225,000, in
substantially equal annual or more frequent installments over a period not
exceeding five years. If the purchase price is paid in installments, the unpaid
balance shall earn interest at a rate that is substantially equal to the rate
at
which the Company could borrow the amount due and shall be secured by a pledge
of the Shares purchased or such other adequate security as agreed to by the
Company and the holder. If the Company does not exercise its right to purchase
such Shares (including by reason of the parties’ inability to agree on a
purchase price), the holder may sell such Shares to any purchaser; provided
that
if the holder does not sell such Shares within 10 business days after the
Company’s right to repurchase expires, such Shares shall again become subject to
the Company’s right to repurchase as described in this Section 14, and the
holder may not offer to sell such Shares to the Company until six months from
the expiration of such 10-business day period. For purposes of this Section,
a
holder shall include any person who acquires Shares issued under the Plan from
any other person and for any reason; including, but not limited to, by gift,
death or sale. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any purchase of Shares pursuant
to
this Section 14 shall be subject to any restrictions set forth in the Company’s
insider trading policy or applicable law, regulation or rule of any stock
exchange on which the Shares are listed, and any such restrictions shall toll
the 10-business day periods described herein. Each Share issued under the Plan
shall bear or be subject to the legend provided under Section 13.
(b)
Change
in Control
.
Notwithstanding Section 14(a) above, following a Change in Control of the
Company, (i) the Company’s repurchase right described therein shall not apply,
and any Shares acquired under the Plan, whether before, on, or after the Change
in Control shall be freely transferable by the holder thereof; and (ii) any
amount of the purchase price remaining to be paid by the Company in connection
with any prior purchase of Shares pursuant to Section 14(a) above shall be
paid
to the holder in an immediate lump sum.
15.
|
Delivery
and Registration of Stock
|
The
Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares under the Plan prior to
(a)
the admission of such Shares to listing on any stock exchange on which Shares
may then be listed, (b) the completion of registration or other qualification
of
such Shares under any state or federal law, rule or regulation, as the Committee
shall determine to be necessary or advisable and (c) the determination by the
Committee that the issuance of such Shares does not violate any applicable
law,
or regulation or rule of any stock exchange. Any provision of the Plan which
is
inconsistent with said law, regulation or rule should to the extent of such
inconsistence, be inoperative and shall not affect the validity of the remaining
provisions of the Plan. Any such postponement of Share delivery shall not extend
the term of an Award and the Company shall have no obligation or liability
to a
Participant, the Participant’s successor or any other person with respect to any
Shares as to which the Award shall lapse because of such
postponement
16.
|
Amendment
or Termination of the Plan or Award Agreements
|
(a)
Plan
.
The
Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan, or a portion thereof, at any
time, but no amendment shall be made without approval of stockholders of the
Company if such approval is required by applicable law, regulation or rule
of
any stock exchange on which the Shares are listed. No amendment, suspension
or
termination of the Plan shall materially impair the rights of any Participant,
without his or her consent, with respect to any outstanding Awards.
(b)
Award
Agreements
.
The
Committee shall have the authority to amend any Award Agreement at any time;
provided however, that no such amendment shall adversely affect the right of
any
Participant under any outstanding Award Agreement in any material way without
the written consent of the Participant, unless such amendment is required by
applicable law, regulation or rule of any stock exchange on which the Shares
are
listed.
The
Plan
shall be effective upon the date of its adoption by the Board; provided that
the
Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company within 12 months after
the
date of adoption. Unless sooner terminated under the provisions of Section
15,
Awards shall not be granted under the Plan after the expiration of 10 years
from
the effective date of the Plan; provided that outstanding Awards granted prior
to such time shall continue to be subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan in effect prior to such date.
A
Participant shall be considered to be in the service of the Company or a
Subsidiary as long as he or she remains a director, employee, consultant or
advisor of the Company or such Subsidiary. Nothing herein shall confer on any
Participant that right to continued service with the Company or a Subsidiary
or
affect the right of the Company or such Subsidiary to terminate such
service.
All
questions pertaining to the validity, construction and administration of the
Plan and all Awards granted under the Plan shall be determined in conformity
with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law
provisions of any state, and, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, Section
422 of the Code and regulations issued thereunder.