QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 26, 2003

Registration No. 333-                



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
The Securities Act of 1933


WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  68-0070656
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

2320 Marinship Way, Suite 300, Sausalito, California 94965
(Address of principal executive offices)

WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
1996 STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN
(Full title of the Plan)

Charles F. Willis IV
Chief Executive Officer
WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
2320 Marinship Way, Suite 300, Sausalito, California 94965
(Name and address of agent for service)

(415) 331-5281
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of
Securities to be Registered

  Amount to
be Registered(1)

  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
per Share(2)

  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(2)

  Amount of
Registration Fee


1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
  500,000   $5.70   $2,850,000   $230.57

(1)
This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of Common Stock which become issuable under the Willis Lease Finance Corporation 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the Registrant's receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of Registrant's Common Stock.

(2)
Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the average of the high and low selling prices per share of Registrant's Common Stock on the five days immediately preceding September 26, 2003 as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.





PART II
Information Required in the Registration Statement

Item 3.     Incorporation of Documents by Reference

        Willis Lease Finance Corporation (the "Registrant") hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

    (a)
    The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, filed with the Commission on August 1, 2003;

    (b)
    The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2003 filed with the Commission on August 1, 2003;

    (c)
    The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2003 filed with the Commission on August 11, 2003;

    (d)
    The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 00-28774 on Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on September 5, 1996, in which there is described the terms, rights and provisions applicable to the Registrant's outstanding Common Stock; and

    (e)
    The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on October 4, 1999, in which there is described certain rights granted to stockholders as set forth in a Rights Agreement attached as an exhibit thereto.

        All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained in any subsequently filed document which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4.     Description of Securities

        Not applicable.

Item 5.     Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

        Not applicable.

Item 6.     Indemnification of Directors and Officers

        Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") and Article VII of the Registrant's Bylaws (the "Bylaws"), provide for the indemnification of directors, officers, employees and agents under certain circumstances. The Bylaws grant the Registrant the power to indemnify its directors, officers, and agents under certain circumstances to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL against certain expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding arising by reason of his or her position as a director, officer, employee or agent.

II-1



        Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any agent of the corporation against any liabilities asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity. The Registrant has procured a directors' and officers' liability insurance policy insuring the Registrant's directors and officers against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by them in their capacities as such, and insuring the Registrant under certain circumstances, in the event that indemnification payments are made by the Registrant to such directors and officers.

        The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers. These agreements are in some respects broader than the specific indemnification rights provided under the DGCL and the Registrant's Bylaws. The indemnification agreements are not intended to deny or otherwise limit third-party or derivative suits against the Registrant or its directors or officers, but if a director or officer were entitled to indemnity or contribution under the indemnification agreement, the financial burden of a third-party suit would be borne by the Registrant, and the Registrant would not benefit from derivative recoveries against the director or officer. Such recoveries would accrue to the benefit of the Registrant, but would be offset by the Registrant's obligations to the director or officer under the indemnification agreement.

Item 7.     Exemption from Registration Claimed

        Not applicable.

Item 8.     Exhibits

Exhibit Number
  Exhibit
4   Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders. Reference is made to Registrant's Registration Statement No. 00-28774 on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on September 5, 1996 which is incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(d) above and Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on October 4, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(e) above.

5.1

 

Opinion and Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

23.1

 

Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Auditors.

23.2

 

Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

24

 

Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages to this Registration Statement).

99.1

 

Willis Lease Finance Corporation 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (Amended and Restated as of March 1, 2003).

Item 9.     Undertakings

            A.    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act"), (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement, and (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement; provided , however, that clauses (1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement;

II-2


    (2) that for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the Registrant's 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan.

            B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

            C.    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions summarized in Item 6 above or otherwise, the Registrant has been informed that, in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

II-3



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Sausalito, State of California, on this 26th day of September, 2003.

    WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION

 

 

By:

/s/  
MONICA J. BURKE       
Monica J. Burke
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)


POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

        That the undersigned officers and directors of Willis Lease Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Charles F. Willis, IV, Donald A. Nunemaker and Monica J. Burke, and each of them, the lawful attorneys and agents, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, and any one of them, determine may be necessary or advisable or required to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules or regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with this Registration Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing power and authority, the powers granted include the power and authority to sign the names of the undersigned officers and directors in the capacities indicated below to this Registration Statement, to any and all amendments, both pre-effective and post-effective, and supplements to this Registration Statement, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in conjunction with this Registration Statement or amendments or supplements thereof, and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be signed in several counterparts.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.

II-4



        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signatures
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/   CHARLES F. WILLIS, IV       
Charles F. Willis, IV
  President, Director, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)   September 26, 2003

/s/  
MONICA J. BURKE       
Monica J. Burke

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

September 26, 2003

/s/  
WILLIAM M. LEROY       
William M. LeRoy

 

Director

 

September 26, 2003


Gerard Laviec

 

Director

 

September     , 2003

/s/  
GLENN L. HICKERSON       
Glenn L. Hickerson

 

Director

 

September 26, 2003

/s/  
W. WILLIAM COON       
W. William Coon

 

Director

 

September 26, 2003

II-5



EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number
  Exhibit
4   Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders. Reference is made to Registrant's Registration Statement No. 00-28774 on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on September 5, 1996 which is incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(d) above and Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on October 4, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(e) above.

5.1

 

Opinion and Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

23.1

 

Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Auditors.

23.2

 

Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

24

 

Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages to this Registration Statement).

99.1

 

Willis Lease Finance Corporation 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (Amended and Restated as of March 1, 2003).



QuickLinks

PART II Information Required in the Registration Statement
SIGNATURES
POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS
EXHIBIT INDEX

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


EXHIBIT 5.1


OPINION AND CONSENT OF GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP

[LETTERHEAD OF GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER]

September 26, 2003

(415) 393-8300   C 97785-00002
(415) 986-5309
   

Willis Lease Finance Corporation
2320 Marinship Way, Suite 300
Sausalito, California 94965

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We refer to the registration statement on Form S-8 ("Registration Statement"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), to be filed by Willis Lease Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with respect to the proposed offering by the Company of up to an additional 500,000 shares (the "Shares") of the common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), subject to issuance by the Company upon exercise of options granted under the Company's 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (the "Plan").

        We have examined the originals or certified copies of such corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and/or public officials and such other documents and have made such other factual and legal investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary as the basis for the opinions set forth below. In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies.

        Based on our examination mentioned above, subject to the assumptions stated above and relying on the statements of fact contained in the documents that we have examined, we are of the opinion that (i) the issuance by the Company of the Shares has been duly authorized and (ii) when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Shares will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (except as to shares issued pursuant to certain deferred payment arrangements, which will be fully paid and nonassessable when such deferred payments are made in full).

        We are admitted to practice in the State of California, and are not admitted to practice in the State of Delaware. However, for the limited purposes of our opinion set forth above, we are generally familiar with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL") as presently in effect and have made such inquiries as we consider necessary to render this opinion with respect to a Delaware corporation. This opinion letter is limited to the laws of the State of California and, to the limited extent set forth above, the DGCL, as such laws presently exist and to the facts as they presently exist. We express no opinion with respect to the effect or applicability of the laws of any other jurisdiction. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion letter should the laws of such jurisdictions be changed after the date hereof by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.


        We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the General Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Very truly yours,

 

 

/s/  
GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP     
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP



QuickLinks

OPINION AND CONSENT OF GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP [LETTERHEAD OF GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER]

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


EXHIBIT 23.1


Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Auditors

        We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement on Form S-8 of Willis Lease Finance Corporation of our reports dated February 11, 2003, except for Note 15, which is as of July 25, 2003, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Willis Lease Finance Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity and comprehensive income and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002 and the related financial statement schedule, which reports appear in the December 31, 2002, annual report on Form 10-K/A of Willis Lease Finance Corporation. Our report indicates that the Company restated their consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2000, and certain balance sheet amounts at December 31, 2001 and 2002.

San Francisco, California
September 23, 2003




QuickLinks

Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Auditors

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


Exhibit 99.1


WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
1996 STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN
(Amended and restated as of March 1, 2003)

ARTICLE ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS

I. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

        This 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan is intended to promote the interests of Willis Lease Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation, by providing eligible persons with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest, or otherwise increase their proprietary interest, in the Corporation as an incentive for them to remain in the service of the Corporation.

        Capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms attached.

II.    STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN

        A.    The Plan shall be divided into five separate equity programs:

        B.    The provisions of Articles One and Seven shall apply to all equity programs under the Plan and shall govern the interests of all persons under the Plan.

III.  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

        A.    The Primary Committee shall have sole and exclusive authority to administer the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to Section 16 Insiders. However, any discretionary option grants or stock issuances for members of the Primary Committee shall be made by a disinterested majority of the Board.

        B.    Administration of the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to all other persons eligible to participate in those programs may, at the Board's discretion, be vested in the Primary Committee or a Secondary Committee, or the Board may retain the power to administer those programs with respect to all such persons. The members of the Secondary Committee may be Board members who are Employees eligible to receive discretionary option grants or direct stock issuances under the Plan or any other stock option, stock appreciation, stock bonus or other stock plan of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).



        C.    Members of the Primary Committee or any Secondary Committee shall serve for such period of time as the Board may determine and may be removed by the Board at any time. The Board may also at any time terminate the functions of any Secondary Committee and reassume all powers and authority previously delegated to such committee.

        D.    Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of its administrative functions under the Plan, have full power and authority (subject to the provisions of the Plan) to establish such rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate for proper administration of the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs and to make such determinations under, and issue such interpretations of, the provisions of such programs and any outstanding options or stock issuances thereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable. Decisions of the Plan Administrator within the scope of its administrative functions under the Plan shall be final and binding on all parties who have an interest in the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs under its jurisdiction or any option or stock issuance thereunder.

        E.    The Primary Committee shall have the sole and exclusive authority to determine which Section 16 Insiders and other highly compensated employees shall be eligible for participation in the Salary Investment Option Grant Program for one or more calendar years. However, all option grants under the Salary Investment Option Grant Program shall be made in accordance with the express terms of that program, and the Primary Committee shall not exercise any discretionary functions with respect to the option grants made under that program.

        F.     Service on the Primary Committee or the Secondary Committee shall constitute service as a Board member, and members of each such committee shall accordingly be entitled to full indemnification and reimbursement as Board members for their service on such committee. No member of the Primary Committee or the Secondary Committee shall be liable for any act or omission made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any option grants or stock issuances under the Plan.

        G.    Administration of the Automatic Option Grant and Director Fee Option Grant Programs shall be self-executing in accordance with the terms of those programs, and no Plan Administrator shall exercise any discretionary functions with respect to any option grants or stock issuances made under those programs.

IV.    ELIGIBILITY

        A.    The persons eligible to participate in the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs are as follows:

        B.    Only Employees who are Section 16 Insiders or other highly compensated individuals shall be eligible to participate in the Salary Investment Option Grant Program.

        C.    Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of its administrative jurisdiction under the Plan, have full authority to determine, (i) with respect to the option grants under the Discretionary Option Grant Program, which eligible persons are to receive option grants, the time or times when such option grants are to be made, the number of shares to be covered by each such grant, the status of the granted option as either an Incentive Option or a Non-Statutory Option, the time or times when each option is to become exercisable, the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the option shares and the maximum term for which the option is to remain outstanding and (ii) with respect to stock issuances under the Stock Issuance Program, which eligible persons are to receive stock issuances, the time or times when such issuances are to be made, the number of shares to be issued to each



Participant, the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the issued shares and the consideration for such shares.

        D.    The Plan Administrator shall have the absolute discretion either to grant options in accordance with the Discretionary Option Grant Program or to effect stock issuances in accordance with the Stock Issuance Program.

        E.    The individuals who shall be eligible to participate in the Automatic Option Grant Program shall be limited to (i) those individuals serving as non-employee Board members on the Underwriting Date, (ii) those individuals who first become non-employee Board members after the Underwriting Date, whether through appointment by the Board or election by the Corporation's stockholders, and (iii) those individuals who continue to serve as non-employee Board members at one or more Annual Stockholders Meetings held after the Underwriting Date. A non-employee Board member who has previously been in the employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) shall not be eligible to receive an option grant under the Automatic Option Grant Program at the time he or she first becomes a non-employee Board member, but shall be eligible to receive periodic option grants under the Automatic Option Grant Program while he or she continues to serve as a non-employee Board member.

        F.     All non-employee Board members shall be eligible to participate in the Director Fee Option Grant Program.

V.     STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

        A.    The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Corporation on the open market. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan shall not exceed 3,025,000 shares. Such authorized share reserve is comprised of (i) 525,000 shares initially reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) an additional increase of 500,000 shares authorized by the Board on February 24, 1998, and approved by the stockholders at the 1998 Annual Meeting, (iii) a further increase of 500,000 shares authorized by the Board on April 4, 2000 and April 24, 2000 and approved at the 2000 Annual Meeting, (iv) a further increase of 1,000,000 shares authorized by the Board on March 30, 2001, and approved at the 2001 Annual Meeting, and (v) an additional increase of 500,000 shares authorized by the Board on March 1, 2003, subject to stockholder approval at the 2003 Annual Meeting.

        B.    No one person participating in the Plan may receive options, separately exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock issuances for more than 250,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate per calendar year, beginning with the 1996 calendar year and for more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate per calendar year, beginning with the 2001 calendar year.

        C.    Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options shall be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent those options expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise in full. Unvested shares issued under the Plan and subsequently cancelled or repurchased by the Corporation, at the original issue price paid per share, pursuant to the Corporation's repurchase rights under the Plan shall be added back to the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan and shall accordingly be available for reissuance through one or more subsequent option grants or direct stock issuances under the Plan. However, should the exercise price of an option under the Plan be paid with shares of Common Stock or should shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Plan be withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with the exercise of an option or the vesting of a stock issuance under the Plan, then the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the option is exercised or which vest under the stock issuance, and not by the net number of shares of Common Stock issued to the holder of such option or stock issuance.

        D.    If any change is made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding



Common Stock as a class without the Corporation's receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under the Plan, (ii) the number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be granted stock options, separately exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock issuances under this Plan per calendar year, (iii) the number and/or class of securities for which grants are subsequently to be made under the Automatic Option Grant Program to new and continuing non-employee Board members, (iv) the number and /or class of securities and the exercise price per share in effect under each outstanding option under the Plan. Such adjustments to the outstanding options are to be effected in a manner which shall preclude the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under such options. The adjustments determined by the Plan Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive.


ARTICLE TWO
DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM

I.     OPTION TERMS

        Each option shall be evidenced by one or more documents in the form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided , however, that each such document shall comply with the terms specified below. Each document evidencing an Incentive Option shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the Plan applicable to such options.

        A.     Exercise Price.

Except to the extent such sale and remittance procedure is utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on the Exercise Date.

        B.     Exercise and Term of Options. Each option shall be exercisable at such time or times, during such period and for such number of shares as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the documents evidencing the option. However, no option shall have a term in excess of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.



        C.     Effect of Termination of Service.

        D.     Stockholder Rights. The holder of an option shall have no stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the option until such person shall have exercised the option, paid the exercise price and become a holder of record of the purchased shares.

        E.     Repurchase Rights. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion to grant options which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common Stock. Should the Optionee cease Service while holding such unvested shares, the Corporation shall have the right to repurchase, at the exercise price paid per share, any or all of those unvested shares. The terms upon which such repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the document evidencing such repurchase right.

        F.      Limited Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the Optionee, Incentive Options shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall not be assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution following the Optionee's death. However, a Non-Statutory Option may, in connection with the Optionee's estate plan, be assigned in whole or in part during the Optionee's lifetime to one or more members of the Optionee's immediate family or to a trust established exclusively for one or more such family members. The assigned portion may only be



exercised by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to the assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for the option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.

II.    INCENTIVE OPTIONS

        The terms specified below shall be applicable to all Incentive Options. Except as modified by the provisions of this Section II, all the provisions of Articles One, Two and Five shall be applicable to Incentive Options. Options which are specifically designated as Non-Statutory Options when issued under the Plan shall not be subject to the terms of this Section II.

        A.     Eligibility. Incentive Options may only be granted to Employees.

        B.     Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) for which one or more options granted to any Employee under the Plan (or any other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) may for the first time become exercisable as Incentive Options during any one calendar year shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). To the extent the Employee holds two (2) or more such options which become exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year, the foregoing limitation on the exercisability of such options as Incentive Options shall be applied on the basis of the order in which such options are granted.

        C.     10% Stockholder. If any Employee to whom an Incentive Option is granted is a 10% Stockholder, then the exercise price per share shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date, and the option term shall not exceed five (5) years measured from the option grant date.

III.  CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL

        A.    In the event of any Corporate Transaction, each outstanding option shall automatically accelerate so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable with respect to the total number of shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. However, an outstanding option shall not so accelerate if and to the extent: (i) such option is, in connection with the Corporate Transaction, either to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or to be replaced with a comparable option to purchase shares of the capital stock of the successor corporation (or parent thereof), (ii) such option is to be replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the spread existing on the unvested option shares at the time of the Corporate Transaction and provides for subsequent payout in accordance with the same vesting schedule applicable to such option or (iii) the acceleration of such option is subject to other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time of the option grant. The determination of option comparability under clause (i) above shall be made by the Plan Administrator, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

        B.    All outstanding repurchase rights shall also terminate automatically, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest in full, in the event of any Corporate Transaction, except to the extent: (i) those repurchase rights are to be assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) in connection with such Corporate Transaction or (ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time the repurchase right is issued.

        C.    Immediately following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, all outstanding options shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof).

        D.    Each option which is assumed in connection with a Corporate Transaction shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Corporate Transaction, to apply to the number and class



of securities which would have been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Corporate Transaction had the option been exercised immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction. Appropriate adjustments to reflect such Corporate Transaction shall also be made to (i) the exercise price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the aggregate exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities available for issuance over the remaining term of the Plan and (iii) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be granted stock options, separately exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock issuances under the Plan per calendar year.

        E.    The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority to grant options under the Discretionary Option Grant Program which will automatically accelerate in the event the Optionee's Service subsequently terminates by reason of an Involuntary Termination within twelve (12) months following the effective date of any Corporate Transaction in which those options are assumed or replaced and do not otherwise accelerate. Any options so accelerated shall remain exercisable for fully-vested shares until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the option term or (ii) the expiration of the one (1)-year period measured from the effective date of the Involuntary Termination. In addition, the Plan Administrator may provide that one or more of the Corporation's outstanding repurchase rights with respect to shares held by the Optionee at the time of such Involuntary Termination shall immediately terminate, and the shares subject to those terminated repurchase rights shall accordingly vest in full.

        F.     The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion, exercisable either at the time the option is granted or at any time while the option remains outstanding, to (i)  provide for the automatic acceleration of one or more outstanding options (and the automatic termination of one or more outstanding repurchase rights with the immediate vesting of the shares of Common Stock subject to those rights) upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or (ii) condition any such option acceleration (and the termination of any outstanding repurchase rights) upon the subsequent Involuntary Termination of the Optionee's Service within a specified period following the effective date of such Change in Control. Any options accelerated in connection with a Change in Control shall remain fully exercisable until the expiration or sooner termination of the option term.

        G.    The portion of any Incentive Option accelerated in connection with a Corporate Transaction or Change in Control shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Option only to the extent the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar limitation is not exceeded. To the extent such dollar limitation is exceeded, the accelerated portion of such option shall be exercisable as a Non-Statutory Option under the Federal tax laws.

        H.    The outstanding options shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

IV.    CANCELLATION AND REGRANT OF OPTIONS

        The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to effect, at any time and from time to time, with the consent of the affected option holders, the cancellation of any or all outstanding options under the Discretionary Option Grant Program and to grant in substitution new options covering the same or different number of shares of Common Stock but with an exercise price per share based on the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the new grant date.

V.     STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

        A.    The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority to grant to selected Optionees tandem stock appreciation rights and/or limited stock appreciation rights.

        B.    The following terms shall govern the grant and exercise of tandem stock appreciation rights:


        C.    The following terms shall govern the grant and exercise of limited stock appreciation rights:


ARTICLE THREE
SALARY INVESTMENT OPTION GRANT PROGRAM

I.     OPTION GRANTS

        The Primary Committee shall have the sole and exclusive authority to determine the calendar year or years (if any) for which the Salary Investment Option Grant Program is to be in effect and to select the Section 16 Insiders and other highly compensated Employees eligible to participate in the Salary Investment Option Grant Program for those calendar year or years. Each selected individual who elects to participate in the Salary Investment Option Grant Program must, prior to the start of each calendar year of participation, file with the Plan Administrator (or its designate) an irrevocable authorization directing the Corporation to reduce his or her base salary for that calendar year by an amount not less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) nor more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) (or the appropriate amount with respect to elections made by newly eligible individuals during a calendar year). The Primary Committee shall have complete discretion to determine whether to approve the filed authorization in whole or in part. To the extent the Primary Committee approves the



authorization, the individual who filed that authorization shall automatically be granted an option under the Salary Investment Grant Program on the first trading day in January of the calendar year for which the salary reduction is to be in effect, or, if the Program is first implemented during a calendar year, the option shall be granted on the first trading day of the month following the month in which the Program is implemented.

II.    OPTION TERMS

        Each option shall be a Non-Statutory Option evidenced by one or more documents in the form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided , however, that each such document shall comply with the terms specified below.

        A.     Exercise Price.

        B.     Number of Option Shares. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to the option shall be determined pursuant to the following formula (rounded down to the nearest whole number):

        X is the number of option shares,

        A is the dollar amount of the approved reduction in the Optionee's base salary for the calendar year, and

        B is the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date.

        C.     Exercise and Term of Options. The option shall become exercisable in a series of twelve (12) successive equal monthly installments upon the Optionee's completion of each calendar month of Service in the calendar year for which the salary reduction is in effect. Each option shall have a maximum term of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.

        D.     Effect of Termination of Service. Should the Optionee cease Service for any reason while holding one or more options under this Article Three, then each such option shall remain exercisable, for any or all of the shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of such cessation of Service, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date of such cessation of Service. Should the Optionee die while holding one or more options under this Article Three, then each such option may be exercised, for any or all of the shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of the Optionee's cessation of Service (less any shares subsequently purchased by Optionee prior to death), by the personal representative of the Optionee's estate or by the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee's will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. Such right of exercise shall lapse, and the option shall terminate, upon the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the three (3)-year period measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Service. However, the option shall, immediately upon the Optionee's cessation of Service for any reason, terminate and cease to remain outstanding with respect to any and all shares of Common Stock for which the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable.



III.  CORPORATE TRANSACTION/ CHANGE IN CONTROL/ HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

        A.    In the event of any Corporate Transaction while the Optionee remains in Service, each outstanding option held by such Optionee under this Salary Investment Option Grant Program, to the extent not already vested, shall automatically accelerate so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable for all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Each such outstanding option shall terminate immediately following the Corporate Transaction, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) in such Corporate Transaction. Any option so assumed and shall remain exercisable for the fully-vested shares until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Service.

        B.    In the event of a Change in Control while the Optionee remains in Service, each outstanding option held by such Optionee under this Salary Investment Option Grant Program shall automatically accelerate so that each such option shall immediately become fully exercisable with respect to the total number of shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. The option shall remain so exercisable until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term, (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Service or (iii) the surrender of the option in connection with a Hostile Take-Over.

        C.    Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee shall have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation each outstanding option granted him or her under the Salary Investment Option Grant Program. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a cash distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Take-Over Price of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to the surrendered option (whether or not the Optionee is otherwise at the time vested in those shares) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. Such cash distribution shall be paid within five (5) days following the surrender of the option to the Corporation. The Primary Committee shall, at the time the option with such limited stock appreciation right is granted under the Salary Investment Option Grant Program, pre-approve any subsequent exercise of that right in accordance with the terms of this Paragraph C. Accordingly, no further approval of the Primary Committee or the Board shall be required at the time of the actual option surrender and cash distribution.

        D.    The grant of options under the Salary Investment Option Grant Program shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

IV.    REMAINING TERMS

        The remaining terms of each option granted under the Salary Investment Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for option grants made under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.


ARTICLE FOUR
STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM

I.     STOCK ISSUANCE TERMS

        Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program through direct and immediate issuances without any intervening option grants. Each such stock issuance shall be evidenced by a Stock Issuance Agreement which complies with the terms specified below.

        A.     Purchase Price.



        B.     Vesting Provisions.


II.    CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL

        A.    All of the Corporation's outstanding repurchase/cancellation rights under the Stock Issuance Program shall terminate automatically, and all the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest in full, in the event of any Corporate Transaction, except to the extent (i) those repurchase/cancellation rights are to be assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) in connection with such Corporate Transaction or (ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed in the Stock Issuance Agreement.

        B.    The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority, exercisable either at the time the unvested shares are issued or any time while the Corporation's repurchase/cancellation rights remain outstanding under the Stock Issuance Program, to provide that those rights shall automatically terminate in whole or in part, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest, in the event the Participant's Service should subsequently terminate by reason of an Involuntary Termination within twelve (12) months following the effective date of any Corporate Transaction in which those repurchase/cancellation rights are assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof).

        C.    The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion, exercisable either at the time the unvested shares are issued or at any time while the Corporation's repurchase rights remain outstanding, to (i) provide for the automatic termination of one or more outstanding repurchase/cancellation rights and the immediate vesting of the shares of Common Stock subject to those rights upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or (ii) condition any such accelerated vesting upon the subsequent Involuntary Termination of the Participant's Service within a specified period following the effective date of such Change in Control.

III.  SHARE ESCROW/LEGENDS

        Unvested shares may, in the Plan Administrator's discretion, be held in escrow by the Corporation until the Participant's interest in such shares vests or may be issued directly to the Participant with restrictive legends on the certificates evidencing those unvested shares.


ARTICLE FIVE
AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM

I.     OPTION TERMS

        A.     Grant Dates. Option grants shall be made on the dates specified below:


Stockholder approval of this 1999 Restatement at the 1999 Annual Meeting shall constitute pre-approval of each option granted under this Article Five on or after the date of that Annual Meeting and the subsequent exercise of that option in accordance with the provisions of this Article Five.

        B.     Exercise Price.

        C.     Option Term. Each option shall have a term of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.

        D.     Exercise and Vesting of Options. Each option shall be immediately exercisable for any or all of the option shares. However, any shares purchased under the option shall be subject to repurchase by the Corporation, at the exercise price paid per share, upon the Optionee's cessation of Board service prior to vesting in those shares. Each initial 5,000-share grant shall vest, and the Corporation's repurchase right shall lapse, in a series of four (4) successive equal annual installments over the Optionee's period of continued service as a Board member, with the first such installment to vest upon the Optionee's completion of one (1) year of Board service measured from the option grant date. Each annual $20,000 value grant shall vest, and the Corporation's repurchase right shall lapse, upon the Optionee's completion of one (1) year of Board service measured from the option grant date.

        E.     Termination of Board Service. The following provisions shall govern the exercise of any options held by the Optionee at the time the Optionee ceases to serve as a Board member:


II.    CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

        A.    In the event of any Corporate Transaction, the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to each outstanding option but not otherwise vested shall automatically vest in full so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and may be exercised for all or any portion of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Immediately following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, each automatic option grant shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof).

        B.    In connection with any Change in Control, the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to each outstanding option but not otherwise vested shall automatically vest in full so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control, become fully exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and may be exercised for all or any portion of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Each such option shall remain exercisable for such fully-vested option shares until the expiration or sooner termination of the option term or the surrender of the option in connection with a Hostile Take-Over.

        C.    Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee shall have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation each automatic option held by him or her. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a cash distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Take-Over Price of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to the surrendered option (whether or not the Optionee is otherwise at the time vested in those shares) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. Such cash distribution shall be paid within five (5) days following the surrender of the option to the Corporation. Stockholder approval of this 1999 Restatement at the 1999 Annual Meeting shall constitute pre-approval of each option granted with such a surrender provision on or after the date of that Annual Meeting and the subsequent surrender of that option in accordance with the provisions of this Section II.C. No additional approval of the Plan Administrator or the Board shall be required at the time of the actual option surrender and cash distribution.

        D.    Each option which is assumed in connection with a Corporate Transaction shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Corporate Transaction, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Corporate Transaction had the option been exercised immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction. Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the exercise price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the aggregate exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same.

        E.    The grant of options under the Automatic Option Grant Program shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

III.  REMAINING TERMS

        The remaining terms of each option granted under the Automatic Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for option grants made under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.


ARTICLE SIX
DIRECTOR FEE OPTION GRANT PROGRAM

I.     OPTION GRANTS

        Each non-employee Board member may elect to apply all or any portion of the annual retainer and attendance fees otherwise payable in cash for his or her service on the Board to the acquisition of special option grants under this Director Fee Option Grant Program. Such election must be filed with



the Corporation's Chief Financial Officer prior to first day of the calendar year for which the annual retainer fee and attendance fees which are the subject of that election are otherwise payable, or, with respect to newly eligible non-employee Board members, prior to the first day of the fiscal quarter beginning after they became eligible. Each non-employee Board member who files such a timely election shall automatically be granted an option under this Director Fee Option Grant Program at the end of each fiscal quarter in the calendar year for which the annual retainer and attendance fees which are the subject of that election would otherwise be payable in cash.

II.    OPTION TERMS

        Each option shall be a Non-Statutory Option governed by the terms and conditions specified below.

        A.     Exercise Price.

        B.     Number of Option Shares. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to the option shall be determined pursuant to the following formula (rounded down to the nearest whole number):

        X is the number of option shares,

        A is the portion of the annual retainer fee plus the portion of any attendance fees earned during the quarter subject to the non-employee Board member's election, and

        B is the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date.

        C.     Exercise and Term of Options. The option shall be fully vested at the time of grant. Each option shall have a maximum term of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.

        D.     Termination of Board Service. Should the Optionee cease Board service for any reason (other than death or Permanent Disability) while holding one or more options under this Director Fee Option Grant Program, then each such option shall remain exercisable, for any or all of the shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of such cessation of Board service, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date of such cessation of Board service.

        E.     Death or Permanent Disability. Should the Optionee's service as a Board member cease by reason of death or Permanent Disability, then each option held by such Optionee under this Director Fee Option Grant Program may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested shares until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date of such cessation of Board service.

Should the Optionee die after cessation of Board service but while holding one or more options under this Director Fee Option Grant Program, then each such option may be exercised, for any or all of the shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of the Optionee's cessation of Board service (less any shares subsequently purchased by Optionee prior to death), by the personal representative of the Optionee's estate or by the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee's will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. Such right of exercise shall lapse, and the option shall terminate, upon the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the three (3)-year period measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Board service.


III.  CORPORATE TRANSACTION/ CHANGE IN CONTROL/ HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

        A.    In the event of any Corporate Transaction while the Optionee remains a Board member, each outstanding option held by such Optionee under this Director Fee Option Grant Program, to the extent the option is not already vested, shall automatically accelerate so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction, become exercisable for all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Each such outstanding option shall terminate immediately following the Corporate Transaction, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) in such Corporate Transaction. Any option so assumed and shall remain exercisable for the fully-vested shares until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Board service.

        B.    In the event of a Change in Control while the Optionee remains in Service, each outstanding option held by such Optionee under this Director Fee Option Grant Program shall remain exercisable until the earlier or (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Service.

        C.    Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee shall have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation each outstanding option granted him or her under the Director Fee Option Grant Program. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a cash distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Take-Over Price of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to each surrendered option over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. Such cash distribution shall be paid within five (5) days following the surrender of the option to the Corporation. No approval or consent of the Board or any Plan Administrator shall be required in connection with such option surrender and cash distribution.

        D.    The grant of options under the Director Fee Option Grant Program shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

IV.    REMAINING TERMS

        The remaining terms of each option granted under this Director Fee Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for option grants made under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.


ARTICLE SEVEN
MISCELLANEOUS

I.     FINANCING

        The Plan Administrator may permit any Optionee or Participant to pay the option exercise price under the Discretionary Option Grant Program or the purchase price of shares issued under the Stock Issuance Program by delivering a full-recourse, interest bearing promissory note payable in one or more installments. The terms of any such promissory note (including the interest rate and the terms of repayment) shall be established by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. In no event may the maximum credit available to the Optionee or Participant exceed the sum of (i) the aggregate option exercise price or purchase price payable for the purchased shares plus (ii) any Federal, state and local income and employment tax liability incurred by the Optionee or the Participant in connection with the option exercise or share purchase.



II.    TAX WITHHOLDING

        The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of options or the issuance or vesting of such shares under the Plan shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable Federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding requirements.

III.  EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN

        A.    The Plan became effective with respect to the Discretionary Option Grant and the Stock Issuance Programs immediately upon the Plan Effective Date. The Automatic Option Grant Program became effective on the Underwriting Date. The Director Fee Option Grant Program shall become effective upon shareholder approval of the proposal to incorporate the program into the Plan at the 1999 Annual Meeting.

        B.    The Plan was amended and restated by the Board on February 24, 1998 (the "1998 Restatement") to effect the following changes: (i) increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance over the term of the Plan from 525,000 shares to 1,025,000 shares, (ii) render the non-employee Board members who are serving as Plan Administrator eligible to receive option grants and direct stock issuances under the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs in effect under the Plan, (iii) remove certain restrictions on the eligibility of non-employee Board members to serve as Plan Administrator, and (iv) effect a series of additional changes to the provisions of the Plan (including the stockholder approval requirements, the transferability of Non-Statutory Options and the elimination of the six (6)-month holding requirement as a condition to the exercise of stock appreciation rights) in order to take advantage of the amendments to Rule 16b-3 of the 1934 Act which exempts certain officer and director transactions under the Plan from the short-swing liability provisions of the federal securities laws. The 1998 Restatement was approved by the stockholders at the 1998 Annual Meeting. All option grants and direct stock issuances made prior to the 1998 Restatement shall remain outstanding in accordance with the terms and conditions of the respective instruments evidencing those options or issuances, and nothing in the 1998 Restatement shall be deemed to modify or in any way affect those outstanding options or issuances. The Plan was again amended and restated by the Board on April 6, 1999 (the "1999 Restatement") to (i) incorporate the Salary Investment Option Grant and Director Fee Option Grant Programs and (ii) change the calculation of the number of shares of common stock for which continuing non-employee Board members are to be automatically granted stock options at each Annual Stockholder's Meeting, beginning with the 1999 Annual Meeting, from a fixed 1,000 shares per non-employee Board member to a grant worth $20,000 based upon a Black-Scholes option valuation, with the number of shares subject to each such automatic grant not to exceed 5,000 shares. The 1999 Restatement was approved by the stockholders at the 1999 Annual Meeting. The Plan was again amended and restated by the Board on April 4, 2000 and on April 24, 2000 (the "2000 Restatement") to increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance over the term of the Plan from 1,025,000 shares to 1,525,000 shares and to increase the limit on the annual Automatic Grants to non-employee directors to 10,000. The 2000 Restatement was approved by the stockholders at the 2000 Annual Meeting. The Plan was again amended and restated by the Board on March 30, 2001 (the "2001 Restatement") to increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance over the term of the Plan from 1,525,000 shares to 2,525,000 shares and to increase the maximum number of shares one person participating in the Plan may receive as options, separately exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock issuances to 500,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate per calendar year, beginning with the 2001 calendar year. The 2001 Restatement was approved by the stockholders at the 2001 Annual Meeting. The Plan was again amended and restated by the Board on March 1, 2003 (the "2003 Restatement") to increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance over the term of the Plan from 2,525,000 shares to 3,025,000 shares subject to the approval of the stockholders at the 2003 Annual Meeting. The Plan Administrator may make option grants and direct stock issuances under the Plan at any time before the date fixed herein for the termination of the Plan.



        C.    The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest of (i) June 19, 2006, (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have been issued as fully-vested shares or (iii) the termination of all outstanding options in connection with a Corporate Transaction. Upon such plan termination, all outstanding option grants and unvested stock issuances shall thereafter continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the documents evidencing such grants or issuances.

IV.    AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

        A.    The Board shall have complete and exclusive power and authority to amend or modify the Plan in any or all respects. However, no such amendment or modification shall adversely affect the rights and obligations with respect to stock options or unvested stock issuances at the time outstanding under the Plan unless the Optionee or the Participant consents to such amendment or modification. In addition, certain amendments may require stockholder approval pursuant to applicable laws or regulations.

        B.    Options to purchase shares of Common Stock may be granted under the Discretionary Option Grant Program and shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program that are in each instance in excess of the number of shares then available for issuance under the Plan, provided any excess shares actually issued under those programs shall be held in escrow until there is obtained stockholder approval of an amendment sufficiently increasing the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan. If such stockholder approval is not obtained within twelve (12) months after the date the first such excess issuances are made, then (i) any unexercised options granted on the basis of such excess shares shall terminate and cease to be outstanding and (ii) the Corporation shall promptly refund to the Optionees and the Participants the exercise or purchase price paid for any excess shares issued under the Plan and held in escrow, together with interest (at the applicable Short Term Federal Rate) for the period the shares were held in escrow, and such shares shall thereupon be automatically cancelled and cease to be outstanding.

V.     USE OF PROCEEDS

        Any cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.

VI.   REGULATORY APPROVALS

        A.    The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any stock option under the Plan and the issuance of any shares of Common Stock (i) upon the exercise of any granted option or (ii) under the Stock Issuance Program shall be subject to the Corporation's procurement of all approvals and permits required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, the stock options granted under it and the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to it.

        B.    No shares of Common Stock or other assets shall be issued or delivered under the Plan unless and until there shall have been compliance with all applicable requirements of Federal and state securities laws, including the filing and effectiveness of the Form S-8 registration statement for the shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements of any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if applicable) on which Common Stock is then listed for trading.

VII. NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS

        Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee or the Participant any right to continue in Service 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 such person) or of the Optionee or the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate such person's Service at any time for any reason, with or without cause.



The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:

        A.     Automatic Option Grant Program shall mean the automatic option grant program in effect under the Plan.

        B.     Board shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.

        C.     Change in Control shall mean a change in ownership or control of the Corporation effected through either of the following transactions:

        D.     Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

        E.     Common Stock shall mean the Corporation's common stock.

        F.      Corporate Transaction shall mean either of the following stockholder-approved transactions to which the Corporation is a party:

        G.     Corporation shall mean Willis Lease Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of Willis Lease Finance Corporation which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan.

        H.     Discretionary Option Grant Program shall mean the discretionary option grant program in effect under the Plan.

        I.      Director Fee Option Grant Program shall mean the special stock option grant program in effect for non-employee Board members under Article Six of the Plan.

        J.      Domestic Relations Order shall mean any judgment, decree or order (including approval of a property settlement agreement) which provides or otherwise conveys, pursuant to applicable State domestic relations laws (including community property laws), marital property rights to any spouse or former spouse of the Optionee.

        K.     Eligible Director shall mean a non-employee Board member eligible to participate in the Automatic Option Grant Program in accordance with the eligibility provisions of Article One.

        L.     Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance.



        M.    Exercise Date shall mean the date on which the Corporation shall have received written notice of the option exercise.

        N.     Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

        O.     Hostile Take-Over shall mean a change in ownership of the Corporation effected through the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation's outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Corporation's stockholders which the Board does not recommend such stockholders to accept.

        P.      Incentive Option shall mean an option which satisfies the requirements of Code Section 422.

        Q.     Involuntary Termination shall mean the termination of the Service of any individual which occurs by reason of:

        R.     Misconduct shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by the Optionee or Participant, any unauthorized use or disclosure by such person of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by such person adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a material manner. The foregoing definition shall not be deemed to be inclusive of all the acts or omissions which the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) may consider as grounds for


the dismissal or discharge of any Optionee, Participant or other person in the Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

        S.      Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

        T.      Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.

        U.     Optionee shall mean any person to whom an option is granted under the Discretionary Option Grant, Salary Investment Option Grant, Automatic Option Grant or Director Fee Option Grant Program.

        V.      Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

        W.     Participant shall mean any person who is issued shares of Common Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.

        X.     Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled shall mean the inability of the Optionee or the Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more. However, solely for purposes of the Automatic Option Grant Program, Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled shall mean the inability of the non-employee Board member to perform his or her usual duties as a Board member by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more.

        Y.     Plan shall mean the Corporation's 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan, as set forth in this document.

        Z.     Plan Administrator shall mean the particular entity, whether the Primary Committee, the Board or the Secondary Committee, which is authorized to administer the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to one or more classes of eligible persons, to the extent such entity is carrying out its administrative functions under those programs with respect to the persons under its jurisdiction.

        AA.   Plan Effective Date shall mean June 21, 1996, the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board.

        AB.   Primary Committee shall mean the committee of two (2) or more non-employee Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to Section 16 Insiders.

        AC.   Qualified Domestic Relations Order shall mean a Domestic Relations Order which substantially complies with the requirements of Code Section 414(p). The Plan Administrator shall have the sole discretion to determine whether a Domestic Relations Order is a Qualified Domestic Relations Order.

        AD.   Salary Investment Option Grant Program shall mean the salary investment option grant program in effect under the Plan.

        AE.   Secondary Committee shall mean a committee of two (2) or more Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to eligible persons other than Section 16 Insiders.

        AF.    Section 16 Insider shall mean an officer or director of the Corporation subject to the short-swing profit liabilities of Section 16 of the 1934 Act.



        AG.   Service shall mean the performance of services for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) by a person in the capacity of an Employee, a non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent advisor, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in the documents evidencing the option grant or stock issuance.

        AH.   Stock Exchange shall mean either the American Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange.

        AI.    Stock Issuance Agreement shall mean the agreement entered into by the Corporation and the Participant at the time of issuance of shares of Common Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.

        AJ.    Stock Issuance Program shall mean the stock issuance program in effect under the Plan.

        AK.   Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

        AL.   Take-Over Price shall mean the greater of (i) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date the option is surrendered to the Corporation in connection with a Hostile Take-Over or (ii) the highest reported price per share of Common Stock paid by the tender offeror in effecting such Hostile Take-Over. However, if the surrendered option is an Incentive Option, the Take-Over Price shall not exceed the clause (i) price per share.

        AM.   Taxes shall mean the Federal, state and local income and employment tax liabilities incurred by the holder of Non-Statutory Options or unvested shares of Common Stock in connection with the exercise of those options or the vesting of those shares.

        AN.   10% Stockholder shall mean the owner of stock (as determined under Code Section 424(d)) possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

        AO.   Underwriting Agreement shall mean the agreement between the Corporation and the underwriter or underwriters who managed the initial public offering of the Common Stock.

        AP.    Underwriting Date shall mean September 18, 1996, the date on which the Underwriting Agreement was executed and priced in connection with the initial public offering of the Common Stock.




QuickLinks

WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION 1996 STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN (Amended and restated as of March 1, 2003)
ARTICLE ONE GENERAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE TWO DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
ARTICLE THREE SALARY INVESTMENT OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
ARTICLE FOUR STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM
ARTICLE FIVE AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
ARTICLE SIX DIRECTOR FEE OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
ARTICLE SEVEN MISCELLANEOUS