SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION
Information Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Information Statement
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Confidential, for use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14c-5(d)(2))
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Definitive Information Statement
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NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box)
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x
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No fee required
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11
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(1)
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount
on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5)
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Total fee paid:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which
the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
Schedule and the date of its filing.
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(1)
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Amount Previously Paid:
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(2)
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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Filing Party:
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Date Filed:
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS, INC.
820 GESSNER, SUITE 1340
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77024
Dear Stockholders:
We are writing to advise you that Natural Gas Systems, Inc. has adopted
the Natural Gas Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Plan (the Plan). This Plan was
approved on August 3, 2004 by our Board of Directors. In addition, our
management and certain stockholders, who hold a majority in interest of our
issued and outstanding voting stock, approved the Plan by written consent in
lieu of a special meeting of our stockholders as of August 3, 2004 in
accordance with the relevant sections of the Nevada Revised Statutes.
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY, AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A
PROXY.
No action is required by you. The accompanying information statement is
furnished only to inform our stockholders of the action described above before
it takes place in accordance with Rule 14c-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. This information statement is first mailed to you on or about August 9,
2004.
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For the Board of Directors of
Natural Gas Systems, Inc.
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By:
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/s/ Laird Q. Cagan
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Laird Q. Cagan, Chairman of the Board
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August 9, 2004
NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS, INC.
INFORMATION STATEMENT REGARDING
ACTION TAKEN BY WRITTEN CONSENT OF
MAJORITY STOCKHOLDERS
IN LIEU OF A SPECIAL MEETING
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY,
AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY.
GENERAL
This information statement is being furnished to the stockholders of
Natural Gas Systems, Inc. to provide you with information and a description of
an action taken by our Board of Directors and by the written consent of the
holders of a majority in interest of our issued and outstanding voting stock.
On August 3, 2004, our Board of Directors unanimously approved the
adoption of the Natural Gas Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Plan (the Plan), subject
to authorization by consent of a majority in interest of our stockholders.
The full text of the Plan is attached to this information statement as
Exhibit A.
As of August 3, 2004 in accordance with the relevant sections of the
Nevada Revised Statutes, stockholders who collectively own approximately 63% in
interest of our voting stock, approved the Plan by written consent in lieu of a
special meeting of our stockholders. No additional stockholder vote is
necessary to approve the Plan. Neither your vote nor your proxy will be
solicited.
The elimination of the need for a meeting of stockholders to approve this
action is made possible by Section 78.320 of the Nevada Revised Statutes which
provides that the written consent of the holders of outstanding shares of
voting capital stock, having not less than the minimum number of votes which
would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all
shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, may be substituted for
such a meeting. In order to eliminate the costs involved in holding a special
meeting of our stockholders, our Board of Directors voted to utilize the
written consent of the holders of a majority in interest of our voting
securities.
This information statement is first being mailed on or about August 9,
2004 to stockholders of record as of August 3, 2004. This information
statement is being delivered only to inform you of the corporate action
described herein before it takes effect in accordance with Rule 14c-2 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
The entire cost of furnishing this information statement will be borne by
us. We will request brokerage houses, nominees, custodians, fiduciaries and
other like parties to forward this information statement to the beneficial
owners of our voting securities held of record by them, and we will reimburse
such persons for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in forwarding such material.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth the number of shares of our common stock
beneficially owned by (i) those persons or groups known by us to beneficially
own more than 5% of our common stock, (ii) each of our executive officers and
directors, and (iii) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
The information is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Except as indicated below, the
shareholders listed possess sole voting and investment power with respect to
their shares. Our common stock is the only class of our voting securities.
Each share of common stock has one vote per share.
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Amount and Nature
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of Beneficial
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
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Ownership
1
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Percent of Class
1
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Robert Herlin
(2)(3)
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1,062,500
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4.60
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%
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Laird Q.
Cagan
(4)
(5)
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7,630,000
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32.75
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John Pimentel
(4)
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450,000
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1.94
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Sterling McDonald
(2)(6)
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46,875
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*
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E.J. DiPaolo
(2)
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Gene Stoever
(2)
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Eric A. McAfee, P2 Capital LLC and McAfee
Capital LLC
(4)
(7)
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5,975,000
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25.65
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%
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All executive officers and directors as a group
(six persons)
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9,158,125
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39.26
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%
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*
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less than 1%
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(1)
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Based on 23,146,256 shares outstanding on August 4, 2004.
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(2)
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Address: c/o Natural Gas Systems, Inc. 820 Gessner, Suite 1340, Houston,
Texas 77024
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(3)
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Includes 62,500 shares issuable upon options exercisable within 60 days
of the date hereof and excludes 187,500 options not exercisable within 60
days of the date hereof.
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(4)
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Address: c/o Cagan McAfee, 10600 N. De Anza Blvd., Suite 250, Cupertino,
California 95014
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(5)
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Includes (x) 1,000,000 shares held in trust by Mr. Cagans two daughters
and (y) immediately exercisable warrants to acquire 150,000 shares of
common stock held by Cagan McAfee Capital Partners, LLC.
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(6)
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Includes 46,875 shares issuable upon options exercisable within 60 days
of the date hereof and excludes 203,125 options not exercisable within 60
days of the date hereof
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(7)
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Includes (i) 1,000,000 shares directly held by Eric McAfee, (ii)
2,000,000 shares held by P2 Capital LLC, an entity owned 50% by Marguerite
McAfee (Mr. McAfees spouse) and 25% by each of Mr. and Mrs. McAfees
minor children (over which shares Mrs. McAfee holds sole dispositive and
voting power), (iii) 2,700,000 shares held by McAfee Capital, LLC, an
entity owned 50% by each of Mr. and Mrs. McAfee (over which shares Mr. and
Mrs. McAfee share voting and dispositive power) and (iv) 125,000 shares
owned by Berg McAfee Companies, LLC (out of total of 250,000 shares owned
by Berg McAfee Companies, LLC), an entity in which Mr. McAfee owns a 50%
interest and shares voting and dispositive power. Also includes
immediately exercisable warrants to acquire 150,000 shares of common stock
held by Cagan McAfee Capital Partners, LLC. Mr. McAfee disclaims
beneficial ownership over all of the shares held by P2 Capital LLC and 50%
of the shares held by
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2
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Berg McAfee. McAfee Capital LLC disclaims beneficial ownership over all
of the shares held by P2 Capital LLC.
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COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Executive Compensation
The following table sets forth the compensation for services in all
capacities to the Company for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, for the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the Named Executive). No other
executive officer of the Company earned total annual salary and bonus in excess
of $100,000:
Summary Compensation Table
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Long-Term
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Annual
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Compensation
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Compensation
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Award
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Shares of
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Common Stock
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Name and Principal Position
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Salary
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Underlying Options
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Robert Herlin
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$
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141,187
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250,000
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President and
Chief Executive Officer
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Director Compensation. The Company intends to compensate Members of the
Board of Directors who are not officers of the Company. The amount and nature
of such compensation has not yet been determined.
Stock Options. The following tables set forth certain information with
respect to stock options granted under the Companys 2003 Stock Plan, to the
Named Executive during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, stock option
exercises during that year, and the value of unexercised stock options at that
years end. To date, no options have been granted under the Companys 2004
Stock Plan.
OPTION GRANT TABLE
Option Grants during the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2004
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Individual Grants
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Number of
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Shares of
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% of Total
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Common Stock
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Options
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Underlying
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Granted to
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Exercise
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Options
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Employees in
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Price
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Expiration
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Name
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Granted (1)
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Fiscal Year
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($/Sh) (2)
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Date (3)
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Robert Herlin
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250,000
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50
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%
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$
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0.001
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9/23/2013
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(1)
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(1)
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The options were granted for a term of 10 years, subject to earlier
termination in certain events related to termination of employment.
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OPTION EXERCISES AND YEAR-END VALUE TABLE
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
and Year-End Option Values
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Number of Shares of
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Common Stock Underlying
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Value of Unexercised
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Unexercised Options at
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In-the-money Options At
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Shares
Acquired on
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Value
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Year-End
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Year-End ($)(1)
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Name
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Exercise
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Realized ($)
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Exercisable
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Unexercisable
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Exercisable
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Unexercisable
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Robert Herlin
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- 0 -
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- 0 -
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46,875
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/
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203,125
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107,766
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466,984
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(1)
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Market value of underlying securities at year-end ($2.30), minus the
exercise price of in-the-money options.
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APPROVAL OF THE ADOPTION OF THE NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS, INC. 2004 STOCK PLAN
On August 3, 2004, our Board of Directors adopted the Natural Gas Systems,
Inc. 2004 Stock Plan (the Plan). To date, no shares have been issued under
the Plan.
The Board of Directors believes that the Plan will enhance the ability of
the Company to continue to reward and provide incentives to its employees,
directors and consultants, as well as to attract and retain new employees,
directors and consultants with outstanding qualifications.
The principal features of the Plan are summarized below. This summary is
qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the Plan, a copy of which is
attached hereto as Appendix A.
Types of Awards. Awards under the Plan may be in the form of options
(Options) to purchase shares of common stock of the Company, including
options intended to qualify as incentive stock options (Incentive Stock
Options) within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the Code), and options which do not qualify as Incentive
Stock Options (Nonstatutory Stock Options), direct awards and sales of
restricted shares of common stock (Restricted Stock) and stock appreciation
rights (SARs).
Administration. The Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors
of the Company or by a committee of non-employee directors appointed by the
Board of Directors (either, the Administrator). The Administrator will have
full and final authority and discretion to grant awards under the Plan, except
that in no event will an Administrator member participate in any determination
relating to any award held by or to be granted to such Administrator member.
The Administrator will have the full right and authority to interpret the
provisions of the Plan.
Available Shares. The maximum number of shares of common stock that may
be issued under the Plan may not exceed 4,000,000, subject to adjustment upon
certain changes in the Companys capitalization as described below. New awards
may be granted under the Plan with respect to shares of common stock covered by
any unexercised portion of any Option that terminates, expires or is canceled,
and any shares of restricted stock that are forfeited or repurchased in
accordance with the terms of the award. Because the Administrator makes
discretionary grants under the Plan, the amount and dollar value of future
grants are not determinable at this time.
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Individual Award Limit. Subject to adjustment upon certain changes in the
Companys capitalization as described below, the maximum number of shares of
common stock with respect to which options or other awards may be granted under
the Plan to any eligible person during any 12-month period is 500,000 shares.
Eligibility. Awards under the Plan may be made to such current and future
employees, directors of the Company or of a subsidiary of the Company, and
consultants to the Company, all as the Administrator may select. There are
currently two employees eligible to participate in the Plan.
Stock Options. Each grant of Options under the Plan to eligible persons
will be evidenced by a stock option agreement and will be subject to the terms
and provisions of the Plan and such other terms and conditions not inconsistent
with the Plan that the Administrator shall, in its discretion, deem
appropriate. Each Option will be designated by the Administrator as either an
Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Administrator will
determine the exercise price per share of common stock covered by an Option.
The exercise price per share of an Incentive Stock Option may not be less than
the fair market value per share on the date of grant, except that in the case
the optionee is a 10% or greater beneficial owner of the common stock of the
Company, the exercise price per share may not be less than 110% of the fair
market value per share on the date of grant. The exercise price per share of a
Nonstatutory Stock Option may not be less than 85% of the fair market value per
share on the date of grant. The term of each Option may not exceed 10 years.
Options will not be assignable or transferable, except that an option
agreement may allow a Nonstatutory Stock Option to be transferable by the
optionee by gift to an immediate family member or by gift to an inter vivos or
testamentary trust in which members of the optionees immediate family have a
beneficial interest of more than 50% and which provides that such Nonstatutory
Stock Option is to be transferred to the beneficiaries upon the optionees
death.
If the Company acquires all or substantially all of the outstanding
capital stock of another corporation or in the event of any reorganization or
other transaction qualifying under Section 424 of the Code, the Administrator
may substitute Options under the Plan for options of the acquired company,
subject to certain limitations.
Limitations of Annual Awards. The aggregate fair market value of shares
of common stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable
for the first time by any optionee during any calendar year under the Plan and
all other plans maintained by the Company, its parent or subsidiaries, may not
exceed $100,000.
Awards or Sales of Restricted Stock. The Administrator may grant awards
or sales of Restricted Stock in amounts and upon the terms and conditions as it
may determine are consistent with the provisions of the Plan. Each grant of an
award or sale of Restricted Stock will be pursuant to a written award or
subject to a stock purchase agreement. Rights to acquire Restricted Stock
under the Plan are nontransferable and will automatically expire if not
exercised by the purchaser (the Purchaser) within 30 days of their grant.
The Administrator will determine the purchase price per share of Restricted
Stock, and if such Restricted Stock is newly issued, the purchase price per
share may not be less than the par value of such shares. The Administrator
will determine the special forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase, rights
of first refusal and other transfer restrictions to which each Restricted Stock
award or sale is subject. The Administrator may provide in the stock purchase
agreement that the Restricted Stock award or sale will be subject to
accelerated vesting upon the Purchasers death, disability, retirement or other
events.
Stock Appreciation Rights. The Administrator may grant SARs under the
Plan pursuant to a written agreement between the Company and the SAR recipient.
Each SAR will allow the holder to receive payment in an amount equal to the
appreciation, if any, in the fair market value of a share of common stock from
the date of the grant to the date of its payment. The Company will pay the
appreciation amount in cash, in shares of common stock, or partly in shares of
common stock and partly in cash, as determined by the Administrator. The
Administrator will determine when an SAR may be exercised. If an SAR is
granted in connection with an
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Option, the SAR will only be exercisable to the extent and upon the same
conditions that the related Option could be exercised. In addition, the
exercise of the SAR will terminate the related Option, and upon exercise of the
Option, the related portion of the SAR will terminate. The Administrator may
withdraw any SAR granted under the Plan at any time and may impose any
conditions upon the exercise of an SAR or adopt rules and regulations from time
to time affecting the rights of SAR recipients. Upon the exercise of an SAR
for shares of common stock, the number of shares reserved for issuance under
the Plan will be reduced by the number of shares issued. Cash payments made
upon exercise of SARs will not reduce the number of shares of common stock
reserved for issuance under the Plan.
Payment for Shares. Generally, the entire purchase price or option
purchase price for shares of common stock issued under the Plan must be paid in
cash or cash equivalents at the time such shares of common stock are purchased.
Where an option agreement so provides, the purchase price may be paid in whole
or in part (i) by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, shares of
common stock that are already owned by the optionee; (ii) if the common stock
is publicly traded, by delivery of an irrevocable direction to a securities
broker approved by the Company to sell shares of common stock and to deliver
all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company in payment of all or part of
the option purchase price; or (iii) if the common stock is publicly traded, by
the delivery of an irrevocable direction to pledge shares of common stock to a
securities broker or lender approved by the Company, as security for a loan,
and to deliver all or part of the loan proceeds to the Company in payment of
all or part of the option purchase price. The Administrator may also award
shares of common stock under the Plan in consideration of services rendered to
the Company or a parent or subsidiary of the Company prior to the award. In
addition, to the extent that an option agreement or stock purchase agreement so
provides, all or a portion of the option purchase price or stock purchase price
may be paid with a full-recourse promissory note upon terms determined by the
Administrator, except that the par value of newly issued shares of common stock
must be paid in cash or cash equivalents. The shares of common stock being
purchased must be pledged as security for payment of the principal and interest
on the note. The interest rate may not be less than the minimum rate, if any,
required to avoid the imputation of additional interest under the Code.
Cessation of Employment or Service. Options and SARs are exercisable
while the recipient is an employee, director or consultant of the Company, and
generally, except in the case of death, disability or retirement of the
optionee or SAR recipient, will remain exercisable for 90 days after
termination of such employment or other service to the Company (or such other
period of time as the Administrator determines). If the Administrator
determines that an optionee or SAR recipient is terminated for cause, the
Option or SAR may terminate immediately. Upon the death of an optionee or SAR
recipient, the Option or SAR will remain exercisable by the executor or
administrator of the optionee or SAR recipients estate for 12 months (or such
other period of time as the Administrator determines). Upon an optionees or
SAR recipients cessation of service to the Company due to a disability or upon
retirement, the Option or SAR will remain exercisable for 12 months (or such
other period of time as the Administrator determines).
Term of the Plan. The Administrator may make awards under the Plan until
August 3, 2014.
Adjustments upon Change in Capitalization. The number of shares of common
stock available for award grants under the Plan will be adjusted
proportionately for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of
common stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, such as
a stock dividend, stock split or reverse stock split. If the Company merges
with another corporation, the Company is the survivor and under the terms of
such merger the shares of common stock outstanding immediately prior to the
merger remain outstanding and unchanged, the existing Options and SARs shall
remain in effect. If the Company sells all or substantially all of its assets
or merges (other than a merger of the type described in the immediately
preceding sentence) or is consolidated with another corporation, all vested
portions of unexpired Options and SARs will become and remain exercisable for
the 20 days ending five days prior to the effective date of such sale, merger
or consolidation (or such longer period as the Administrator may determine).
Upon the effective date of such sale, merger or consolidation, the Plan and
each Option and SAR will terminate. The Administrator may determine, in it
sole discretion, that in the alternative, the surviving or acquiring
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corporation may substitute Options or SARs with respect to its shares of
common stock for existing Options and SARs. At the discretion of the
Administrator, an Option or SAR exercised in contemplation of the consummation
of the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, a merger
(where the Company is not the surviving corporation) or consolidation of the
Company with another corporation, may be conditioned upon the effectiveness of
such sale, merger or consolidation. The foregoing provisions are all subject
to any required action by the Companys stockholders. Any other dissolution or
liquidation shall cause each Option and SAR to terminate.
Change in Control. Upon any change in control of the Company, including a
pending or threatened takeover bid, tender offer or exchange offer for 20% or
more of the outstanding common stock of the Company or any other class of stock
or securities of the Company, the Administrator may accelerate the exercise
date of any outstanding Option or SAR, or make any Option or SAR fully vested
and exercisable, pay cash to any or all of the holders of Options or SARs in
exchange for cancellation of their outstanding Options or SARs, or make any
other adjustments to the Plan and outstanding Options or SARs and substitute
new Options or SARs for outstanding Options or SARs.
Amendment of the Plan. The Board may from time to time, with respect to
any shares of common stock not subject to Options, suspend or discontinue the
Plan or revise or amend it in any respect whatsoever, except that, without the
approval of the Companys stockholders, the Board may not amend the Plan to
materially increase the benefits to participants under the Plan, increase the
number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the Plan, change the
designation of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the
Plan or amend the section of the Plan regarding amendments to the Plan to
defeat its purpose.
Federal Income Tax Consequences. The following is a brief summary of
certain of the Federal income tax consequences of certain transactions under
the Plan based on Federal income tax laws in effect on July 1, 2004. This
summary is not intended to be exhaustive and does not describe state of local
tax consequences.
(a)
Stock Options
. No income will be realized by an optionee on the grant
of an Option, and the Company will not be entitled to a deduction at such time.
An optionee will recognize no income for purposes of the regular income
tax upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option. However, the excess of the
fair market value on the exercise date of the shares so acquired over the
exercise price (the spread) will be added to the optionees tax base for
purposes of the alternative minimum tax unless the optionee makes a
disqualifying disposition in the year of exercise. A disqualifying
disposition is a sale or other disposition of the shares before the expiration
of a period of two years from the date of the option grant and one year from
the date of exercise. It will result in the recognition of ordinary income by
the optionee equal to the lesser of the spread on the date of exercise or the
gain realized on the sale. If an optionee does not make a disqualifying
disposition of the shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive
Stock Option, the gain or loss on a subsequent sale of the shares will be
long-term capital gain or loss.
The Company will not in general be entitled to a tax deduction in
connection with an Incentive Stock Option. In the case of a disqualifying
disposition, however, it will in general be entitled to a deduction in the
amount of the ordinary income recognized by the optionee.
Upon the exercise of a NonStatutory Stock Option, the spread will be
recognized as ordinary income by the optionee. The Company generally will be
entitled to a deduction equal to the spread.
(b)
SARs
. No income will be realized by a participant upon the grant of
an SAR, and the Company will not be entitled to a deduction at such time. Upon
the exercise of an SAR, ordinary income will be recognized by the holder equal
to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise
7
over the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant. The
Company generally will be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount
recognized by the holder.
(c)
Restricted Stock
. Unless a timely Section 83(b) election is made, as
described in the following paragraph, a recipient will not recognize taxable
income upon the grant or purchase of Restricted Stock because such stock will
be nontransferable and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture
(collectively, Forfeiture) and any dividends received on the shares while
subject to Forfeiture will be treated as compensation income rather than as
dividend income. Whenever any of such stock is no longer subject to
Forfeiture, the recipient will recognize ordinary income, subject to payroll
tax withholding, equal to the excess of the then fair market value of the
shares which have thus become unrestricted over their purchase price, if any.
The income recognized will increase the adjusted basis of such stock and the
holding period for purposes of long capital gain or loss.
A recipient may make an irrevocable election within 30 days after the
grant or purchase of Restricted Stock, pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code,
to recognize ordinary income, subject to withholding of payroll tax, on the
basis of the fair market value of the Restricted Stock at the time of its
receipt without regard to any diminution in value because of Forfeiture. The
adjusted basis of such stock would be increased by the income recognized and
the recipients holding period for the shares would commence immediately.
Dividends on the shares will not be treated as compensation, but as ordinary
dividend income. No income (other than dividends) would thereafter arise with
respect to the shares until they are sold. The gain or loss on sale would be
long or short-term capital gain or loss depending on the holding period of the
shares.
In general, the Company will be entitled to a deduction at the same time,
and in an amount equal to, the ordinary income recognized by a recipient with
respect to shares of Restricted Stock.
Vote Required. On August 3, 2004, the Companys Chairman, Laird Q. Cagan,
and his affiliated entities, the Companys President, Robert Herlin, John
Pimentel, a director of the Company, and Eric McAfee and his affiliated
entities, the holders in the aggregate of approximately 63% of our outstanding
voting shares, acted by written consent in lieu of a special meeting of
stockholders and voted to approve the Plan. No additional stockholder vote is
necessary to approve the Plan.
No Appraisal Rights. No appraisal rights are available under the Nevada
Revised Statutes or under our Certificate of Incorporation as a result of the
adoption of the Plan.
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NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Laird Q. Cagan
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Laird Q. Cagan
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Chairman of the Board
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8
EXHIBIT A
NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS, INC.
2004 STOCK PLAN
The Plan is intended to provide incentives to key Employees, Directors and
Consultants of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, to encourage them to
acquire a proprietary interest in the Corporation and remain in the service of
the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, and to attract new Employees, Directors
and Consultants with outstanding qualifications. The Plan provides both for
the direct award or sale of Shares and for the grant of options to purchase
Shares, as well as for the grant of SARs.
Unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, the
capitalized terms used herein shall have the following meanings:
(a) Acquisition Price shall mean the price per Share of Common Stock,
determined by the Administrator, at which a Share may be acquired under the
Plan (other than upon exercise of an Option).
(b) Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(c) Administrator shall mean the Board or the Committee, whichever shall
be administering the Plan from time to time in the discretion of the Board, as
described in Section 4 of the Plan.
(d) Board shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(e) Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(f) Committee shall mean the committee appointed by the Board in
accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
(g) Common Stock shall mean the $.001 par value Common Stock of the
Corporation and any class of shares into which such Common Stock hereafter may
be converted or reclassified.
(h) Consultant shall mean a person who performs bona fide services for
the Corporation, a Parent or a Subsidiary as a consultant or advisor, excluding
Employees and outside Directors.
(i) Corporation shall mean NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS, INC., a Nevada
corporation.
(j) Director shall mean a member of the Board of the Corporation or a
member of the board of directors of a Subsidiary.
(k) Disability shall mean a medically determinable physical or mental
impairment which has made an individual incapable of engaging in any
substantial gainful activity. A condition shall be considered a Disability
only if (i) it can be expected to result in death or has lasted or it can be
expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months,
and (ii) the Administrator, based upon medical evidence, has expressly
determined that Disability exists.
(l) Employee shall mean an individual who is employed (within the
meaning of Section 3401 of the Code and the regulations thereunder) by the
Corporation or a Subsidiary.
(m) Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(n) Exercise Price shall mean the price per Share of Common Stock,
determined by the Administrator, at which an Option may be exercised.
(o) Fair Market Value shall mean the value of one (1) Share of Common
Stock, determined as follows:
(i) If the Shares are traded on an exchange or over-the-counter on the
National Market System (the NMS) of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ), (A) if listed on an
exchange, the closing price as reported for composite transactions on the
business day immediately prior to the date of valuation or, if no sale occurred
on that date, then the mean between the closing bid and asked prices on such
exchange on such date, and (B) if traded on the NMS, the last sales price on
the business day immediately prior to the date of valuation or, if no sale
occurred on such date, then the mean between the highest bid and the lowest
asked prices as of the close of business on the business day immediately prior
to the date of valuation, as reported in the NASDAQ system;
(ii) If the Shares are not traded on an exchange or the NMS but are
otherwise traded over-the-counter, the mean between the highest bid and lowest
asked prices quoted in the NASDAQ system as of the close of business on the
business day immediately prior to the date of valuation or, if on such day such
security is not quoted in the NASDAQ system, the mean between the
representative bid and asked prices on such date in the domestic
over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc., or
any similar successor organization; and
(iii) If neither clause (i) nor (ii) above applies, the fair market value
as determined by the Administrator in good faith. Such determination shall be
conclusive and binding on all persons.
(p) Immediate Family shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild,
parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law,
son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law and shall include
adoptive relationships.
(q) Incentive Stock Option shall mean an option described in Section
422(b) of the Code.
2
(r) Nonstatutory Stock Option shall mean an option not described in
Section 422(b) of the Code.
(s) Option shall mean any stock option granted pursuant to the Plan. An
Option shall be granted on the date the Administrator takes the necessary
action to approve the grant. However, if the minutes or appropriate
resolutions of the Administrator provide that an Option is to be granted as of
a date in the future, the date of grant shall be that future date.
(t) Option Agreement shall mean a written stock option agreement
evidencing a particular Option between an Optionee and the Corporation.
(u) Optionee shall mean a Participant who has received an Option.
(v) Option Purchase Price shall mean the Exercise Price multiplied by
the number of Shares with respect to which an Option is exercised.
(w) Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an
unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, if each of the
corporations other than the Corporation owns stock possessing 50% or more of
the total combined voting power of all classes of stock 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.
(x) Participant shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 5(a)
hereof.
(y) Plan shall mean this NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS, INC. 2004 Stock Plan, as
it may be amended from time to time.
(z) Purchaser shall mean a person to whom the Board has offered the
right to acquire Shares under the Plan (other than upon exercise of an Option).
(aa) Retirement shall mean (i) with respect to an Employee, the
voluntary cessation of employment upon either (x) the attainment of age
sixty-five (65) and the completion of not less than ten (10) years of service
with the Corporation or a Subsidiary or (y) the completion of not less than
twenty (20) years of service with the Corporation or a Subsidiary and (ii) with
respect to a Director, the voluntary election not to stand for re-election as
Director upon the attainment of age sixty-five (65) and the completion of not
less than five (5) years of service as a Director.
(bb) SAR shall mean any stock appreciation right granted pursuant to the
Plan. An SAR shall be granted on the date the Administrator takes the
necessary action to approve the grant. However, if the minutes or appropriate
resolutions of the Administrator provide that an SAR is to be granted as of a
date in the future, the date of grant shall be that future date.
(cc) SAR Recipient shall mean a Participant who has been granted an SAR.
3
(dd) Share shall mean one share of Common Stock, adjusted in accordance
with Section 14 of the Plan (if applicable).
(ee) Share Acquisition Price shall mean the Acquisition Price multiplied
by the number of Shares which are acquired pursuant to a Stock Purchase
Agreement.
(ff) Stock Purchase Agreement shall mean a written agreement between the
Corporation and a Purchaser who acquires Shares under the Plan.
(gg) Subsidiary shall mean any subsidiary corporation of the Corporation
as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
The Plan was adopted by the Board effective August 3, 2004, subject to the
approval of the Corporations stockholders pursuant to Section 20 hereof.
The Plan shall be administered, in the discretion of the Board from time
to time, by the Board or by a Committee which shall be appointed by the Board.
The Board may from time to time remove members from, or add members to, the
Committee. Vacancies on the Committee, however caused, shall be filed by the
Board. The Committee shall be composed of disinterested Directors, i.e.,
Directors who have not, during the one year prior to service as an
administrator of the Plan, been granted or awarded equity securities pursuant
to the Plan or any other plan of the Corporation or any of its affiliates,
other than a plan which would not negate such directors status as
disinterested pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
There shall be at least two Directors serving on the Committee at any time.
The Board shall appoint one of the members of the Committee as Chairman. The
Administrator shall hold meetings at such times and places as it may determine.
Acts of a majority of the Administrator at which a quorum is present, or acts
reduced to or approved in writing by the unanimous consent of the members of
the Administrator, shall be the valid acts of the Administrator.
The Administrator shall from time to time at its discretion select the
Employees, Consultants and Directors who are to be granted Options, direct
awards or sales of Shares and SARs, determine the number of Shares to be
subject to Options and to be issued to Purchasers and the other rights to be
granted to each Optionee, Purchaser and SAR Recipient, and, with respect to
Options, designate such Options as Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory
Stock Options, except that no Incentive Stock Option may be granted to a
non-Employee director or Consultant. A Committee or Board member shall in no
event participate in any determination relating to Options, SARs or any other
rights held by or to be granted to such Committee or Board member. The
interpretation and construction by the Administrator of any provision of the
Plan or of any Option, SAR, or other right, Option Agreement or Stock Purchase
Agreement shall be final. No member of the Administrator shall be liable for
any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any
Option, SAR, or other right granted hereunder.
4
Optionees, Purchasers and SAR Recipients shall be such persons
(collectively, Participants; individually a Participant) as the
Administrator may select from among the following classes of persons, subject
to the terms and conditions of Section 5(b) below:
(i) Employees (who may be officers, whether or not they are Directors);
(ii) Directors; and
(iii) Consultants.
Notwithstanding provisions of the first paragraph of this Section 5(a),
the Administrator may at any time or from time to time designate one or more
Directors as being ineligible for selection as Participants in the Plan for any
period or periods of time.
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(b)
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Ten-Percent Stockholders
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A Participant who owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined
voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Corporation, its Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries shall not be eligible to receive an Incentive Stock
Option unless (i) the Exercise Price of the Shares subject to such Incentive
Stock Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market
Value of such Shares on the date of grant and (ii) such Incentive Stock Option
by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the
date of grant.
For purposes of Section 5(b) above, in determining stock ownership, a
Participant shall be considered as owning the stock owned, directly or
indirectly, by or for his or her brothers and sisters, spouse, ancestors and
lineal descendants. Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a
corporation, partnership, estate or trust shall be considered as being owned
proportionately by or for its shareholders, partners or beneficiaries. Stock
with respect to which such Participant holds an Option shall not be counted.
For purposes of Section 5(b) above, outstanding stock shall include all
stock actually issued and outstanding immediately after the grant of the Option
to the Optionee. Outstanding stock shall not include shares authorized for
issuance under outstanding Options held by the Optionee or by any other person.
The stock issued to Purchasers or subject to Options granted under the
Plan shall be shares of the Corporations authorized but unissued or reacquired
Common Stock. The
5
aggregate number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan shall not
exceed 4,000,000 Shares. The number of Shares subject to Options or other
rights outstanding at any time shall not exceed the number of Shares remaining
available for issuance under the Plan. In the event that any outstanding
Option or other right for any reason expires or is terminated, the Shares
allocable to the unexercised portion of such Option or other right may again be
made subject to an Option or other right. No eligible person shall be granted
Options or other rights during any 12-month period covering more than 500,000
Shares. The limitations established by this Section 6 shall be subject to
adjustment in the manner provided in Section 14 hereof upon the occurrence of
an event specified in that Section.
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7.
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
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Each grant of an Option under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Option
Agreement in such form as the Administrator shall from time to time determine.
Such Option shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan
and may be subject to any other terms and conditions which are not inconsistent
with the Plan and which the Administrator deems appropriate for inclusion in an
Option Agreement. The provisions of the various Option Agreements entered into
under the Plan need not be identical.
Each Option shall state whether it is an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonstatutory Stock Option.
Each Option shall state the number of Shares to which it pertains and
shall provide for the adjustment thereof in accordance with the provisions of
Section 14 hereof.
Each Option shall state the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price in the
case of any Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than the Fair Market Value
on the date of grant and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to
an Optionee described in Section 5(b) hereof, shall not be less than one
hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant. The
Exercise Price in the case of any Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be less
than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.
Subject to the preceding two sentences, the Exercise Price under an Option
shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.
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(e)
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Term and Non-Transferability of Options
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Each Option shall state the time or times when all or part thereof becomes
exercisable. No Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10)
years from the date it was granted, and in the case of Incentive Stock Options
a shorter term may be required by Section 5(b). Subject to the preceding
sentence, the Administrator in its sole discretion shall determine when
6
an Option is to expire. During the lifetime of the Optionee, the Option
shall be exercisable only by the Optionee or the Optionees guardian or legal
representative and shall not be assignable or transferable, except as provided
in the next sentence. If the applicable Option Agreement so provides, a
Nonstatutory Stock Option shall also be transferable by the Optionee by (i) a
gift to a member of the Optionees Immediate Family or (ii) a gift to an
inter
vivos
or testamentary trust in which members of the Optionees Immediate Family
have a beneficial interest of more than 50% and which provides that such
Nonstatutory Stock Option is to be transferred to the beneficiaries upon the
Optionees death. In the event of the Optionees death, the Option shall not
be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
Any other attempted alienation, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, attachment,
execution or similar process, whether voluntary or involuntary, with respect to
all or any part of any Option or right thereunder, shall be null and void and,
at the Corporations option shall cause all of the Optionees rights under the
Option to terminate.
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(f)
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No Rights as a Stockholder
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No one shall have rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares
covered by an Option until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate for
such Shares. No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or
extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property), distributions or
other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such stock
certificate is issued, except as expressly provided in Section 14 hereof.
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(g)
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Modification, Extension and Renewal of Options
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Within the limitations of the Plan, the Administrator may modify an
Option, accelerate the rate at which an Option may be exercised (including,
without limitation, permitting an Option to be exercised in full without regard
to the installment or vesting provisions of the applicable Option Agreement or
whether the Option is at the time exercisable, to the extent it has not
previously been exercised), extend or renew outstanding Options or accept the
cancellation of outstanding Options (to the extent not previously exercised)
for the granting of new Options in substitution therefor. The foregoing
notwithstanding, no modification of an Option shall, without the consent of the
Optionee, alter or impair any rights or obligations under any Option previously
granted.
Until the later of the second anniversary of the grant of any Incentive
Stock Option and the first anniversary of the issuance of any stock (incentive
stock) pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, the stock
transfer records of the Corporation (whether maintained by it or by a transfer
agent of the Common Stock) shall reflect that any certificates issued or to be
issued representing incentive stock in connection with such exercise must be
registered in the name of the beneficial holder (and not in any street name)
until transferred to a third party, and that the transfer agent shall notify
the Corporation in a case of any requested transfer of such incentive stock
during that period. In addition, the certificate or certificates registered in
the name of the beneficial holder representing the incentive stock issued upon
such exercise will bear the following legend during such period:
7
Solely to assist the issuer of the shares represented by
this certificate, until the later of the second anniversary
of the date of grant of the Option under which this
certificate was originally issued or one year from the date
of original issuance of the shares represented by this
certificate, the Transfer Agent will notify the issuer of
the shares represented hereby of any requested transfer by
the original registered holder.
As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Optionee shall make such
arrangements as the Administrator may require for the satisfaction of any
federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in
connection with such exercise. The Optionee shall also make such arrangements
as the Administrator may require for the satisfaction of any federal, state,
local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with
the disposition of Shares acquired by exercising an Option.
An Option Agreement authorized under the Plan may contain such other
provisions not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan (including, without
limitation, restrictions upon the exercise of the Option) as the Administrator
shall deem advisable.
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(k)
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Substitution of Options
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Notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions or limits under the Plan, in
the event the Corporation acquires (whether by purchase, merger or otherwise)
all or substantially all of the outstanding capital stock or assets of another
corporation or in the event of any reorganization or other transaction
qualifying under Section 424 of the Code the Administrator may, in accordance
with the provisions of that Section, substitute Options under the Plan for
options of the acquired company provided (i) the excess of the aggregate fair
market value of the shares subject to an option immediately after the
substitution over the aggregate option price of such shares is not more than
the similar excess immediately before such substitution and (ii) the new option
does not give persons additional benefits, including any extension of the
exercise period.
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8.
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AWARDS OR SALES
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(a)
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Stock Purchase Agreement
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Each award or sale of Shares under the Plan (other than upon exercise of
an Option) shall be evidenced by a Stock Purchase Agreement in such form as the
Administrator shall from time to time determine. Such award or sale shall be
subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject
to any other terms and conditions which are not inconsistent with the Plan and
which the Administrator deems appropriate for inclusion in a Stock Purchase
Agreement. The provisions of the various Stock Purchase Agreements entered
into under the Plan need not be identical.
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(b)
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Duration of Offers and Nontransferability of Rights
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Any right to acquire Shares under the Plan (other than an Option) shall
automatically expire if not exercised by the Purchaser within 30 days after the
grant of such right was communicated to the Purchaser by the Corporation. Such
right shall not be transferable and shall be exercisable only by the Purchaser
to whom such right was granted.
The Purchase Price of Shares to be offered under the Plan, if newly
issued, shall not be less than the par value of such Shares. Subject to the
preceding sentence, the Administrator shall determine the Purchase Price in its
sole discretion. The Purchase Price shall be payable in a form described in
Section 10.
As a condition to the purchase of Shares, the Purchaser shall make such
arrangements as the Administrator may require for the satisfaction of any
federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in
connection with such purchase.
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(e)
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Restrictions on Transfer of Shares
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Any Shares awarded or sold under the Plan shall be subject to such special
forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal and other
transfer restrictions as the Administrator may determine. Such restrictions
shall be set forth in the applicable Stock Purchase Agreement and shall apply
in addition to any restrictions that may apply to holders of Shares generally.
A Stock Purchase Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting in the event of
the Purchasers death, disability or retirement or other events.
A Stock Purchase Agreement authorized under the Plan may contain such
other provisions not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan as the
Administrator shall deem advisable.
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9.
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STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
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SARs may be granted under the Plan by the Administrator, subject to such
rules, terms, and conditions as the Administrator prescribes. Each SAR shall
be evidenced by a written agreement between the Corporation and the SAR
Recipient in such form as the Administrator shall from time to time determine.
Such SAR shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan
and may be subject to any other terms and conditions which are not inconsistent
with the Plan and which the Administrator deems appropriate for inclusion in an
SAR agreement. The provisions of the various SAR agreements entered into under
the Plan need not be identical.
9
(i) Each SAR shall entitle the holder, upon exercise, to receive from the
Corporation in exchange therefor an amount equal to the value of the excess of
the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of one Share over its Fair Market
Value on the date of grant (or, in the case of an SAR granted in connection
with an Option, the excess of the Fair Market Value of one Share over the
Option price per share under the Option to which the SAR relates), multiplied
by the number of Shares covered by the SAR or the Option, or portion thereof,
that is surrendered. No SAR shall be exercisable at a time that the amount
determined under this subparagraph is negative. Payment by the Corporation
upon exercise of an SAR may be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair
Market Value, in cash, or partly in shares of Common Stock and partly in cash,
all as determined by the Administrator.
(ii) An SAR shall be exercisable only at the time or times established by
the Administrator. If an SAR is granted in connection with an Option, the
following rules shall apply: (1) the SAR shall be exercisable only to the
extent and on the same conditions that the related Option could be exercised;
(2) upon exercise of the SAR, the Option or portion thereof to which the SAR
relates terminates; and (3) upon exercise of the Option, the related SAR or
portion thereof terminates.
(iii) The Administrator may withdraw any SAR granted under the Plan at any
time and may impose any conditions upon the exercise of an SAR or adopt rules
and regulations from time to time affecting the rights of SAR Recipients. Such
rules and regulations may govern the right to exercise SARs granted prior to
adoption or amendment of such rules and regulations as well as SARs granted
thereafter.
(iv) For purposes of this Section 9, Fair Market Value shall be determined
as of the date the SAR is exercised.
(v) Upon the exercise of an SAR for shares of Common Stock, the number of
shares reserved for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the number of
shares issued. Cash payments made upon the exercise of SARs shall not reduce
the number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan.
As a condition to the exercise of an SAR, the SAR Recipient shall make
such arrangements as the Administrator may require for the satisfaction of any
federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in
connection with such exercise.
(a) General Rule. The entire Share Acquisition Price or Option Purchase
Price of Shares issued under the Plan shall be payable in cash or cash
equivalents at the time when such Shares are purchased, except as otherwise
provided in this Section 10.
(b) Surrender of Stock. To the extent that an Option Agreement so
provides, all or any part of the Option Purchase Price may be paid by
surrendering, or attesting to the
10
ownership of, Shares that are already owned by the Optionee. Such Shares
shall be surrendered to the Corporation in good form for transfer and shall be
valued at their Fair Market Value on the date when the Option is exercised.
(c) Services Rendered. At the discretion of the Administrator, Shares may
be awarded under the Plan in consideration of services rendered prior to the
award to the Corporation, a Parent or a Subsidiary.
(d) Promissory Note. To the extent that an Option Agreement or Stock
Purchase Agreement so provides, all or a portion of the Option Purchase Price
or Share Acquisition Price (as the case may be) of Shares issued under the Plan
may be paid with a full-recourse promissory note. However, the par value of
the Shares, if newly issued, shall be paid in cash or cash equivalents. The
Shares shall be pledged as security for payment of the principal amount of the
promissory note and interest thereon. The interest rate payable under the
terms of the promissory note shall not be less than the minimum rate (if any)
required to avoid the imputation of additional interest under the Code.
Subject to the foregoing, the Administrator (in its sole discretion) shall
specify the term, interest rate, amortization requirements (if any) and other
provisions of such note.
(e) Exercise/Sale. To the extent that an Option Agreement so provides,
and if Common Stock is publicly traded, payment of the Option Purchase Price
with respect to an Option may be made all or in part by the delivery (on a form
prescribed by the Corporation) of an irrevocable direction to a securities
broker approved by the Corporation to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of
the sales proceeds to the Corporation in payment of all or part of the Option
Purchase Price and any withholding taxes.
(f) Exercise/Pledge. To the extent that an Option Agreement so provides,
and if Common Stock is publicly traded, payment of the Option Purchase Price
with respect to an Option may be made all or in part by the delivery (on a form
prescribed by the Corporation) of an irrevocable direction to pledge Shares to
a securities broker or lender approved by the Corporation, as security for a
loan, and to deliver all or part of the loan proceeds to the Corporation in
payment of all or part of the Option Purchase Price and any withholding taxes.
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11.
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CESSATION OF EMPLOYMENT
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(a)
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Cessation for Any Reason (other than Death, Disability or Retirement)
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If an Optionee or SAR Recipient ceases to be an Employee or to serve as a
Director or Consultant of the Corporation for any reason other than his or her
death, or, with respect to an Employee or Director, his or her Disability or
Retirement, such Optionee or SAR Recipient shall have the right, subject to the
restrictions referred to elsewhere in the Plan, to exercise his Option or SAR,
as applicable, at any time within ninety (90) days after cessation of
employment or the date he ceases serving as a Director or Consultant (or such
other date as determined by the Administrator), provided that the foregoing
shall not extend any Option or SAR beyond its term, but, except as otherwise
provided in the applicable Option Agreement or SAR agreement, only to the
extent that, at the date of cessation of employment or serving as a Director or
Consultant, the Optionees or SAR Recipients right to exercise such Option or
SAR, as applicable, had accrued
11
pursuant to the terms of the applicable Option Agreement or SAR agreement
and had not previously been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each
Option or SAR shall cease to be exercisable on the date of such cessation if
such cessation arises by reason of the Optionees or SAR Recipients
misconduct. An Optionee or SAR Recipient shall be considered to have been
terminated for misconduct if (i) he resigns or is discharged or otherwise
terminated on account of conviction of a felony or any crime of moral
turpitude, misappropriation of the assets of the Corporation or any
Subsidiaries or any Affiliate, continued or repeated insobriety or illegal drug
use, continued or repeated absence from service during the usual working hours
of the Optionees or SAR Recipients position for reasons other than Disability
or sickness, or refusal to carry out a reasonable direction of the Board or of
the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or of any other person
designated by such Chief Executive Officer or (ii) he is discharged for cause
as defined in any employment agreement to which he is a party.
For purposes of this Section 11(a), the employment relationship shall be
treated as continuing intact while the Optionee or SAR Recipient is on military
leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence (to be determined in the
sole discretion of the Administrator). The foregoing notwithstanding, in the
case of an Incentive Stock Option, employment shall not be deemed to continue
beyond the thirtieth (30th) day after the Optionee ceased active employment,
unless the Optionees reemployment rights are guaranteed by statute or by
contract.
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(b)
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Death of Optionee or SAR Recipient
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If an Optionee or SAR Recipient dies while a Participant, or after ceasing
to be a Participant but during the period in which he or she could have
exercised his Option or SAR, and has not fully exercised his Option or SAR,
then his Option or SAR may be exercised in full, subject to the restrictions
referred to elsewhere in the Plan, at any time within twelve (12) months after
the Optionees or SAR Recipients death (or such other date as determined by
the Administrator) (provided that the foregoing shall not extend any Option or
SAR beyond its term), by the executor or administrator of his estate or by any
person or persons who have acquired the Option or SAR directly from the
Optionee or SAR Recipient by bequest or inheritance, but, except as otherwise
provided in the applicable Option Agreement or SAR agreement, only to the
extent that, at the date of death, the Optionees or SAR Recipients right to
exercise such Option or SAR had accrued and had not been forfeited pursuant to
the terms of the applicable Option Agreement or SAR agreement and had not
previously been exercised.
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(c)
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Disability of Optionee or SAR Recipient
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If an Optionee or SAR Recipient ceases to be an Employee or Director by
reason of Disability, such Optionee shall have the right, subject to the
restrictions referred to elsewhere in the Plan, to exercise his Option or SAR
at any time within twelve (12) months after such cessation of employment (or
such other date as determined by the Administrator) (provided that the
foregoing shall not extend any Option or SAR beyond its term), but, except as
provided in the applicable Option Agreement or SAR agreement, only to the
extent that, at the date of such cessation of employment or service as a
Director, the Optionees or SAR Recipients right to exercise such Option or
SAR had accrued pursuant to the terms of the applicable Option Agreement or SAR
agreement and had not previously been exercised.
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(d)
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Retirement of Optionee or SAR Recipient
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If an Optionee or SAR Recipient ceases to be an Employee or Director by
reason of Retirement (and not on account of misconduct as determined in Section
11(a)), such Optionee or SAR Recipient shall have the right, subject to the
restrictions referred to elsewhere in the Plan, to exercise his Option or SAR
at any time within twelve (12) months after cessation of employment (or such
other date as determined by the Administrator) (provided that the foregoing
shall not extend any Option or SAR beyond its term), but only to the extent
that, at the date of cessation of employment or service as a Director, the
Optionees or SAR Recipients right to exercise such Option or SAR had accrued
pursuant to the terms of the applicable Option Agreement or SAR agreement and
had not previously been exercised.
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12.
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LIMITATION OF ANNUAL AWARDS
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The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date an Option is
granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during any calendar year under
the Plan and all other plans maintained by the Corporation, its Parent or its
Subsidiaries, shall not exceed $100,000.
Subject to the limitations in Section 6, Options, SARs and other awards or
sales of Shares may be granted pursuant to the Plan until the date ten years
after the effective date referred to in Section 3.
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14.
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EFFECT OF CERTAIN EVENTS
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(a)
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Stock Splits and Dividends
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Subject to any required action by stockholders, the number of Shares
covered by the Plan as provided in Section 6 hereof, and the number of Shares
covered by each outstanding Option and SAR and the exercise prices thereof
shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of
issued Shares resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of Shares or the
payment of a stock dividend (but only if paid in Common Stock) or any other
increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of
consideration by the Corporation.
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(b)
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Merger, Sale of Assets, Liquidation
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Subject to any required action by stockholders, if the Corporation shall
merge with another corporation and the Corporation is the surviving corporation
in such merger and under the terms of such merger the shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the merger remain outstanding and unchanged,
each outstanding Option and SAR shall continue to apply to the Shares subject
thereto and shall also pertain and apply to any additional securities and other
property, if any, to which a holder of the number of Shares subject to the
Option or SAR would have been entitled as a result of the merger. If the
Corporation sells all, or substantially all, of its assets or the Corporation
merges (other than a merger of the type described in the immediately preceding
sentence) or consolidates with another corporation, this
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Plan and each Option and SAR shall terminate, but only after each Optionee
and SAR Recipient (or the successor in interest) has been given the right to
exercise the vested portion of any unexpired Option or SAR in full or in part.
This right shall be exercisable for the period of twenty (20) days ending five
(5) days before the effective date of the sale, merger, or consolidation (or
such longer period as the Administrator may specify), provided that the
foregoing shall not extend any Option or SAR beyond its term. Alternatively,
in its sole and absolute discretion, the surviving or acquiring corporation (or
the parent company of the surviving or acquiring corporation) may tender to any
Optionee or SAR Recipient (or successor in interest) a substitute option or
options or stock appreciation right to purchase shares of, or with respect to
the shares of, the surviving or acquiring corporation (or the parent
corporation of the surviving or acquiring corporation). The substitute option
or stock appreciation right shall contain all terms and provisions required
substantially to preserve the rights and benefits of all Options and SARs then
held by the Optionee or SAR Recipient (or successor in interest) receiving the
substitute option or stock appreciation right. Any other dissolution or
liquidation of the Corporation shall cause each Option or SAR to terminate.
At the discretion of the Administrator, an Option or SAR exercised in
contemplation of the consummation of the sale of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Corporation or a merger (other than a merger of the type
described in the first sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph) or
consolidation of the Corporation with another corporation, may be conditioned
upon such sale, merger or consolidation becoming effective.
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(c)
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Adjustment Determination
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To the extent that the foregoing adjustments relate to securities of the
Corporation, such adjustments shall be made by the Administrator, whose
determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
Except as expressly provided in this Section 14, an Optionee or SAR
Recipient shall have no rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of
shares of stock of any class, the payment of any stock dividend or any other
increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or by reason
of any dissolution, liquidation, merger or consolidation or spin-off of assets
or stock of another corporation, and any issue by the Corporation of shares of
stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any
class, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with
respect to, the number or exercise price of Shares subject to an Option or SAR.
The grant of an Option or SAR pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way
the right or power of the Corporation to make adjustments, reclassifications,
reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure, to merge or
consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its
business or assets.
In the event of a pending or threatened takeover bid, tender offer or
exchange offer for twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding Common Stock
or any other class of stock or securities of the Corporation (other than a
tender offer or exchange offer made by the
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Corporation or any Subsidiary), whether or not deemed a tender offer under
applicable Federal or state law, or in the event that any person makes any
filing under Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act with respect to the
Corporation, other than a filing on Form 13G or Form 13D, the Administrator may
in its sole discretion, without obtaining stockholder approval, take one or
more of the following actions to the extent not inconsistent with other
provisions of the Plan:
(a) Accelerate the exercise dates of any outstanding Option or SAR, or
make the Option or SAR fully vested and exercisable;
(b) Pay cash to any or all holders of Options or SARs in exchange for the
cancellation of their outstanding Options or SARs; or
(c) Make any other adjustments or amendments to the Plan and outstanding
Options or SARs and substitute new Options or SARs for outstanding Options or
SARs.
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15.
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SECURITIES LAW REQUIREMENTS
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No Shares shall be issued under the Plan unless and until the Corporation
has determined that:
(i) it and the Optionee or Purchaser have taken all actions required to
register the offer and sale of the Shares under the Act, or to perfect an
exemption from the registration requirements thereof;
(ii) any applicable listing requirement of any stock exchange on which the
Common Stock is listed has been satisfied; and
(iii) any other applicable provision of state or Federal law has been
satisfied.
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(b)
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Restrictions on Transfer; Representations of Optionee and Purchaser;
Legends
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Regardless of whether the offering and sale of Shares under the Plan has
been registered under the Act or has been registered or qualified under the
securities laws of any state, the Corporation may impose restrictions upon the
sale, pledge or other transfer of such Shares (including the placement of
appropriate legends on stock certificates) if, in the judgment of the
Corporation and its counsel, such restrictions are necessary or desirable in
order to achieve compliance with the provisions of the Act, the securities laws
of any state or any other law. In the event that the sale of Shares under the
Plan is not registered under the Act but an exemption is available which
requires an investment representation or other representation, each Optionee
and Purchaser shall be required to represent that such Shares are being
acquired for investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution
thereof, and to make such other representations as are deemed necessary or
appropriate by the Corporation and its counsel. Stock certificates evidencing
Shares acquired under the Plan pursuant to an unregistered transaction shall
bear the
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following restrictive legend and such other restrictive legends as are
required or deemed advisable under the provisions of any applicable law:
THE SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAS NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE ACT).
ANY TRANSFER OR PLEDGE OF SUCH SECURITIES WILL BE INVALID
UNLESS A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT IS IN EFFECT
AS TO SUCH TRANSFER OR IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE
ISSUER SUCH REGISTRATION IS UNNECESSARY IN ORDER FOR SUCH
TRANSFER OR PLEDGE TO COMPLY WITH THE ACT.
Any determination by the Corporation and its counsel in connection with
any of the matters set forth in this Section 15 shall be conclusive and binding
on all persons.
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(c)
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Registration or Qualification of Securities.
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The Corporation may, but shall not be obligated to, register or qualify
the sale of Shares under the Act or any other applicable law. The Corporation
shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the
sale of Shares under the Plan to comply with any law.
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(d)
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Exchange of Certificates
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If, in the opinion of the Corporation and its counsel, any legend placed
on a stock certificate representing Shares sold under the Plan is no longer
required, the holder of such certificate shall be entitled to exchange such
certificate for a certificate representing the same number of Shares but
without such legend.
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16.
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AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
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The Board may from time to time, with respect to any Shares at the time
not subject to Options, suspend or discontinue the Plan or revise or amend it
in any respect whatsoever except that, without the approval of the
Corporations stockholders, no such revision or amendment shall:
(a) Materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the
Plan;
(b) Increase the number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan;
(c) Change the designation in Section 5 hereof with respect to the classes
of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options; or
(d) Amend this Section 16 to defeat its purpose.
If the Common Stock is registered under the Exchange Act, the Plan shall
be amended by the Board from time to time to the extent necessary or advisable,
in the judgment of the Board
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after having consulted with Corporations counsel, to enable Participants
who are officers or Directors of the Corporation and who are generally subject
to the duties established by Section 16(a) or 16(b) of the Exchange Act
(Section 16 Requirements) with respect to purchases and sales of equity
securities of the Corporation, to obtain the benefits of such exclusions or
exemptions from the Section 16 Requirements as may be established by the
Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time by rule, regulation,
administrative order or interpretation (whether such interpretation is made by
such Commission or staff) with respect to (i) the receipt of Options, (ii) the
exercise, modification, extension, cancellation, exchange, termination or
expiration of Options, (iii) the purchase of Common Stock upon the exercise of
Options or otherwise pursuant to the Plan, and (iv) the sale of Common Stock
received upon the exercise of Options or otherwise pursuant to the Plan.
Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, such amendments may be
made without approval of the Corporations stockholders unless and to the
extent that, in the judgment of the Board after consulting with the
Corporations counsel, stockholder approval of such an amendment is a
prerequisite to effectuating a desired exclusion or exemption from the Section
16 Requirements.
The proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of Common Stock
pursuant to the Plan will be used for general corporate purposes.
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19.
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NO RETENTION OF RIGHTS
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Nothing in the Plan or in any Option, SAR or other right granted under the
Plan shall confer upon the Optionee, SAR Recipient or Purchaser any right to
continue in service with the Corporation for any period of specific duration or
interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation
(or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining the Optionee, SAR Recipient
or Purchaser) or of the Optionee, SAR Recipient or Purchaser, which rights are
hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate his service with the
Corporation at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.
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20.
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APPROVAL OF STOCKHOLDERS
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The Plan shall be subject to approval by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the shares represented and voting at a duly held meeting at which a
quorum is present or by an action by written consent no later than August 3,
2005. Prior to such approval, Options and SARs may be granted but shall not be
exercisable.
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To record the adoption of the Plan by the Board on August 3, 2004 the
Corporation has caused an authorized officer to affix the Corporate name
hereto.
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NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS, INC.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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