UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

December 6, 2005


 

Copart, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

California

 

0-23255

 

94-2867490

(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

4665 Business Center Drive
Fairfield, California 94534
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

(707) 639-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 




Section 1 — Registrant’s Business and Operations

Item 1.01.  Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On December 6, 2005, at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Copart, Inc. (the “Company”), the Company’s shareholders approved the Executive Bonus Plan (the “Bonus Plan”).  The Bonus Plan, among other things, authorizes the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) to establish for each participant designated by the Committee a target award and performance goal or goals that must be achieved before an award will be paid to the participant.  The participant’s target award is generally expressed as a percentage of his or her base salary at the end of the fiscal year, but may be designated as a dollar amount or some other fashion as the Committee may determine. The performance goals require the achievement of objectives for one or more of: earnings per share, operating cash flow, operating income, profit after tax, profit before tax, return on assets, return on equity, return on sales, revenue, and total shareholder return.  Each of these performance measures is defined in the Bonus Plan.  For purposes of fiscal 2006, the Committee determined that the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s President were the only Bonus Plan participants eligible to receive a bonus based on a performance target measured by revenue.

After the performance period ends, the Committee certifies in writing the extent to which the pre-established performance goals actually were achieved or exceeded. The actual award that is payable to a participant is determined using a formula that increases or decreases the participant’s target award based on the level of actual performance attained. However, the Bonus Plan limits actual awards to a maximum of $2,000,000 per person in any performance period, even if the formula otherwise indicates a larger award and the Committee retains the discretion to reduce the amount of an award dictated by the formula.

The Bonus Plan is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.13.

Cash Bonuses under the Bonus Plan

On July 19, 2006, the Committee approved the following payments of cash bonuses under the Bonus Plan for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006, to the following executive officers of the Company, which bonus payments are less than the awards dictated by the formula under Section 3.6 of the Bonus Plan (consistent with the authority granted to the Committee under the Bonus Plan as described above):

 

Name of Officer

 

Cash Bonus Amount

Willis J. Johnson

 

$1,050,000

A. Jayson Adair

 

$800,000

Additional Cash Bonuses

On July 19, 2006, the Committee also approved the following payments of cash bonuses for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006, to the following executive officers of the Company:

 

Name of Officer

 

Cash Bonus Amount

James E. Meeks

 

$450,000

David L. Bauer

 

$250,000

Vincent W. Mitz

 

$250,000

 

2




Section 9 — Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)           Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.13

 

Executive Bonus Plan

 

 

3




 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Copart, Inc.

 

 

By:

/s/ WILLIAM E. FRANKLIN

 

William E. Franklin
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

 

Date:  August 1, 2006

 

4




 

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.13

 

Executive Bonus Plan

 

 

5



Exhibit 10.13

COPART, INC.

EXECUTIVE BONUS PLAN

(Effective October 28, 2005)




 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

SECTION 1 BACKGROUND, PURPOSE AND DURATION

 

1

 

1.1

 

Effective Date

 

1

 

1.2

 

Purpose of the Plan

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS

 

1

 

2.1

 

“1934 Act”

 

1

 

2.2

 

“Actual Award”

 

1

 

2.3

 

“Affiliate”

 

1

 

2.4

 

“Base Salary”

 

1

 

2.5

 

“Board”

 

1

 

2.6

 

“Code”

 

2

 

2.7

 

“Committee”

 

2

 

2.8

 

“Company”

 

2

 

2.9

 

“Determination Date”

 

2

 

2.10

 

“Disability”

 

2

 

2.11

 

“Earnings Per Share”

 

2

 

2.12

 

“Employee”

 

2

 

2.13

 

“Fair Market Value”

 

2

 

2.14

 

“Fiscal Year”

 

2

 

2.15

 

“Maximum Award”

 

2

 

2.16

 

“Operating Cash Flow”

 

2

 

2.17

 

“Operating Income”

 

2

 

2.18

 

“Participant”

 

3

 

2.19

 

“Payout Formula”

 

3

 

2.20

 

“Performance Period”

 

3

 

2.21

 

“Performance Goals”

 

3

 

2.22

 

“Plan”

 

3

 

2.23

 

“Profit After-Tax”

 

3

 

2.24

 

“Profit Before-Tax”

 

3

 

2.25

 

“Retirement”

 

3

 

2.26

 

“Return on Assets”

 

3

 

2.27

 

“Return on Equity”

 

3

 

2.28

 

“Return on Sales”

 

4

 

2.29

 

“Revenue”

 

4

 

2.30

 

“Shares”

 

4

 

2.31

 

“Target Award”

 

4

 

2.32

 

“Termination of Employment”

 

4

 

 

ii




 

2.33

 

“Total Shareholder Return”

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3 SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS AND DETERMINATION OF AWARDS

 

4

 

3.1

 

Selection of Participants

 

4

 

3.2

 

Determination of Performance Goals

 

4

 

3.3

 

Determination of Target Awards

 

4

 

3.4

 

Determination of Payout Formula or Formulae

 

4

 

3.5

 

Date for Determinations

 

5

 

3.6

 

Determination of Actual Awards

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4 PAYMENT OF AWARDS

 

5

 

4.1

 

Right to Receive Payment

 

5

 

4.2

 

Timing of Payment

 

5

 

4.3

 

Form of Payment

 

5

 

4.4

 

Payment in the Event of Death

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5 ADMINISTRATION

 

6

 

5.1

 

Committee is the Administrator

 

6

 

5.2

 

Committee Authority

 

6

 

5.3

 

Decisions Binding

 

6

 

5.4

 

Delegation by the Committee

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6 GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

6

 

6.1

 

Tax Withholding

 

6

 

6.2

 

No Effect on Employment

 

6

 

6.3

 

Participation

 

7

 

6.4

 

Indemnification

 

7

 

6.5

 

Successors

 

7

 

6.6

 

Beneficiary Designations

 

7

 

6.7

 

Nontransferability of Awards

 

7

 

6.8

 

Deferrals

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7 AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND DURATION

 

8

 

7.1

 

Amendment, Suspension or Termination

 

8

 

7.2

 

Duration of the Plan

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8 LEGAL CONSTRUCTION

 

8

 

8.1

 

Gender and Number

 

8

 

8.2

 

Severability

 

8

 

8.3

 

Requirements of Law

 

8

 

8.4

 

Governing Law

 

8

 

8.5

 

Captions

 

8

 

 

iii




 

COPART, INC.

EXECUTIVE BONUS PLAN

SECTION 1
BACKGROUND, PURPOSE AND DURATION

1.1  Effective Date .  The Plan is effective as of October 28, 2005, subject to ratification by an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares that are present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company.

1.2  Purpose of the Plan .  The Plan is intended to increase shareholder value and the success of the Company by motivating key executives (1) to perform to the best of their abilities, and (2) to achieve the Company’s objectives. The Plan’s goals are to be achieved by providing such executives with incentive awards based on the achievement of goals relating to the performance of the Company. The Plan is intended to permit the grant of awards that qualify as performance-based compensation under section 162(m) of the Code.

SECTION 2
DEFINITIONS

The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:

2.1  “ 1934 Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the 1934 Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

2.2  “ Actual Award ”means as to any Performance Period, the actual award (if any) payable to a Participant for the Performance Period. Each Actual Award is determined by the Payout Formula for the Performance Period, subject to the Committee’s authority under Section 3.6 to eliminate or reduce the award otherwise determined by the Payout Formula.

2.3  “ Affiliate ”means any corporation or other entity (including, but not limited to, partnerships and joint ventures) controlled by the Company.

2.4  “ Base Salary ”means as to any Performance Period, the Participant’s annualized salary rate on the last day of the Performance Period. Such Base Salary shall be before both (a) deductions for taxes or benefits, and (b) deferrals of compensation pursuant to Company-sponsored plans.

2.5  “ Board ”means the Board of Directors of the Company.




 

2.6  “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated thereunder, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

2.7  “ Committee ”means the committee appointed by the Board (pursuant to Section 5.1) to administer the Plan.

2.8  “ Company ”means Copart, Inc., a California corporation, or any successor thereto.

2.9  “ Determination Date ”means the latest possible date that will not jeopardize a Target Award or Actual Award’s qualification as performance-based compensation under section 162(m) of the Code.

2.10  “ Disability ”means a permanent and total disability determined in accordance with uniform and nondiscriminatory standards adopted by the Committee from time to time.

2.11  “ Earnings Per Share ”means as to any Performance Period, the Company’s or a business unit’s Profit After-Tax, divided by a weighted average number of common shares outstanding and dilutive common equivalent shares deemed outstanding, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

2.12  “ Employee ”means any employee of the Company or of an Affiliate, whether such employee is so employed at the time the Plan is adopted or becomes so employed subsequent to the adoption of the Plan.

2.13  “ Fair Market Value ”means the closing per share selling price for Shares, as quoted on the Nasdaq National Market for the date in question.

2.14  “ Fiscal Year ”means the fiscal year of the Company.

2.15  “ Maximum Award ”means as to any Participant for any Performance Period, $2,000,000.

2.16  “ Operating Cash Flow ”means as to any Performance Period, the Company’s or a business unit’s sum of Profit After-Tax plus depreciation and amortization less capital expenditures plus changes in working capital comprised of accounts receivable, inventories, other current assets, trade accounts payable, accrued expenses, advance payments from customers and long-term accrued expenses, determined in accordance with generally acceptable accounting principles.

2.17  “ Operating Income ”means as to any Performance Period, the Company’s or a business unit’s income from operations but excluding any unusual items, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

2




 

2.18  “ Participant ”means as to any Performance Period, an Employee who has been selected by the Committee for participation in the Plan for that Performance Period.

2.19  “ Payout Formula ”means as to any Performance Period, the formula or payout matrix established by the Committee pursuant to Section 3.4 in order to determine the Actual Awards (if any) to be paid to Participants. The formula or matrix may differ from Participant to Participant.

2.20  “ Performance Period ”means any Fiscal Year or such other period longer than a Fiscal Year but not in excess of three Fiscal Years, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

2.21  “ Performance Goals ”means the goal(s) (or combined goal(s)) determined by the Committee (in its discretion) to be applicable to a Participant for a Target Award for a Performance Period. As determined by the Committee, the Performance Goals for any Target Award applicable to a Participant may provide for a targeted level or levels of achievement using one or more of the following measures: (a) Earnings per Share, (b) Operating Cash Flow, (c) Operating Income, (d) Profit After-Tax, (e) Profit Before-Tax, (f) Return on Assets, (g) Return on Equity, (h) Return on Sales, (i)  Revenue, and (j) Total Shareholder Return. The Performance Goals may differ from Participant to Participant and from award to award. Prior to the Determination Date, the Committee shall determine whether any significant element(s) shall be included in or excluded from the calculation of any Performance Goal with respect to any Participants.

2.22  “ Plan ”means the Copart, Inc. Executive Bonus Plan, as set forth in this instrument and as hereafter amended from time to time.

2.23  “ Profit After-Tax ”means as to any Performance Period, the Company’s or a business unit’s income after taxes, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

2.24  “ Profit Before-Tax ”means as to any Performance Period, the Company’s or a business unit’s income before taxes, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

2.25  “ Retirement ”means, with respect to any Participant, a Termination of Employment after attaining at least age 65.

2.26  “ Return on Assets ”means as to any Performance Period, the percentage equal to the Company’s or a business unit’s Operating Income before incentive compensation, divided by average net Company or business unit, as applicable, assets, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

2.27  “ Return on Equity ”means as to any Performance Period, the percentage equal to the Company’s Profit After-Tax divided by average stockholder’s equity, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

3




 

2.28  “ Return on Sales ”means as to any Performance Period, the percentage equal to the Company’s or a business unit’s Operating Income before incentive compensation, divided by the Company’s or the business unit’s, as applicable, Revenue, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

2.29  “ Revenue ”means as to any Performance Period, the Company’s or business unit’s net sales, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

2.30  “ Shares ”means shares of the Company’s common stock.

2.31  “ Target Award ”means the target award payable under the Plan to a Participant for the Performance Period, expressed as a percentage of his or her Base Salary, as determined by the Committee in accordance with Section 3.3.

2.32  “ Termination of Employment ”means a cessation of the employee-employer relationship between an Employee and the Company or an Affiliate for any reason, including, but not by way of limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, Disability, Retirement, or the disaffiliation of an Affiliate, but excluding any such termination where there is a simultaneous reemployment by the Company or an Affiliate.

2.33  “ Total Shareholder Return ”means as to any Performance Period, the total return (change in share price plus reinvestment of any dividends) of a Share.

SECTION 3
SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS AND DETERMINATION OF AWARDS

3.1    Selection of Participants .  The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall select the Employees of the Company who shall be Participants for any Performance Period. Participation in the Plan is in the sole discretion of the Committee, and on a Performance Period by Performance Period basis. Accordingly, an Employee who is a Participant for a given Performance Period in no way is guaranteed or assured of being selected for participation in any subsequent Performance Period.

3.2    Determination of Performance Goals .  The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall establish the Performance Goals for each Participant for the Performance Period. Such Performance Goals shall be set forth in writing.

3.3    Determination of Target Awards .  The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall establish a Target Award for each Participant. Each Participant’s Target Award shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and each Target Award shall be set forth in writing.

3.4    Determination of Payout Formula or Formulae .  On or prior to the Determination Date, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall establish a Payout Formula or Formulae for purposes of determining the Actual Award (if any) payable to each Participant. Each Payout Formula shall (a) be in writing, (b) be based on a comparison of actual performance to the Performance Goals,

4




 

(c) provide for the payment of a Participant’s Target Award if the Performance Goals for the Performance Period are achieved, and (d) provide for an Actual Award greater than or less than the Participant’s Target Award, depending upon the extent to which actual performance exceeds or falls below the Performance Goals. Notwithstanding the preceding, in no event shall a Participant’s Actual Award for any Performance Period exceed his or her Maximum Award.

3.5    Date for Determinations .  The Committee shall make all determinations under Section 3.1 through 3.4 on or before the Determination Date.

3.6    Determination of Actual Awards .  After the end of each Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing the extent to which the Performance Goals applicable to each Participant for the Performance Period were achieved or exceeded. The Actual Award for each Participant shall be determined by applying the Payout Formula to the level of actual performance that has been certified by the Committee. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may (a) eliminate or reduce the Actual Award payable to any Participant below that which otherwise would be payable under the Payout Formula, and (b) determine what Actual Award, if any, will be paid in the event of a Termination of Employment prior to the end of the Performance Period.

SECTION 4
PAYMENT OF AWARDS

4.1    Right to Receive Payment .  Each Actual Award that may become payable under the Plan shall be paid solely from the general assets of the Company. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to create a trust or to establish or evidence any Participant’s claim of any right to payment of an Actual Award other than as an unsecured general creditor with respect to any payment to which he or she may be entitled.

4.2    Timing of Payment .  Payment of each Actual Award shall be made as soon as administratively practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the end of the Performance Period during which the Award was earned.

4.3    Form of Payment .  Each Actual Award normally shall be paid in cash (or its equivalent) in a single lump sum. However, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may declare any Actual Award, in whole or in part, payable in restricted Shares. The number of Shares of restricted stock granted shall be determined by dividing the cash amount foregone by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date that the cash payment otherwise would have been made. Any such restricted stock shall be subject to the vesting schedule (not to exceed two calendar years) as may be determined by the Committee, provided that accelerated vesting automatically shall occur upon death, Retirement or involuntary Termination of Employment without cause. No more than 100,000 restricted Shares may be issued under Plan.

4.4    Payment in the Event of Death .  If a Participant dies prior to the payment of an Actual Award earned by him or her prior to death for a prior Performance Period, the Award shall be paid to his or her estate.

5




 

SECTION 5
ADMINISTRATION

5.1    Committee is the Administrator .  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall consist of not less than two (2) members of the Board. The members of the Committee shall be appointed from time to time by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Board. Each member of the Committee shall qualify as an “outside director” under section 162(m) of the Code. If it is later determined that one or more members of the Committee do not so qualify, actions taken by the Committee prior to such determination shall be valid despite such failure to qualify.

5.2    Committee Authority .  It shall be the duty of the Committee to administer the Plan in accordance with the Plan’s provisions. The Committee shall have all powers and discretion necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and to control its operation, including, but not limited to, the power to (a) determine which Employees shall be granted awards, (b) prescribe the terms and conditions of awards, (c) interpret the Plan and the awards, (d) adopt such procedures and subplans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Employees who are foreign nationals or employed outside of the United States, (e) adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith, and (f) interpret, amend or revoke any such rules.

5.3    Decisions Binding .  All determinations and decisions made by the Committee, the Board, and any delegate of the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, and shall be given the maximum deference permitted by law.

5.4    Delegation by the Committee .  The Committee, in its sole discretion and on such terms and conditions as it may provide, may delegate all or part of its authority and powers under the Plan to one or more directors and/or officers of the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may delegate its authority and powers only with respect to awards that are not intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under section 162(m) of the Code.

SECTION 6
GENERAL PROVISIONS

6.1    Tax Withholding .  The Company shall withhold all applicable taxes from any Actual Award, including any federal, state and local taxes (including, but not limited to, the Participant’s FICA and SDI obligations).

6.2    No Effect on Employment .  Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate any Participant’s employment or service at any time, with or without cause. For purposes of the Plan, transfer of employment of a Participant between the Company and any one of its Affiliates (or between Affiliates) shall not be deemed a Termination of Employment. Employment with the Company and its Affiliates is on an at-will basis only. The Company expressly reserves the right, which may be exercised at any time and without regard to when during a Performance Period such exercise occurs, to terminate any individual’s employment

6




 

with or without cause, and to treat him or her without regard to the effect which such treatment might have upon him or her as a Participant.

6.3    Participation .  No Employee shall have the right to be selected to receive an award under this Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future award.

6.4    Indemnification .  Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (a) any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan or any award, and (b) from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, by contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or under any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

6.5    Successors .  All obligations of the Company under the Plan, with respect to awards granted hereunder, shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company.

6.6    Beneficiary Designations .  If permitted by the Committee, a Participant under the Plan may name a beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom any vested but unpaid award shall be paid in the event of the Participant’s death. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the Participant and shall be effective only if given in a form and manner acceptable to the Committee. In the absence of any such designation, any vested benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.

6.7    Nontransferability of Awards .  No award granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will, by the laws of descent and distribution, or to the limited extent provided in Section 6.6. All rights with respect to an award granted to a Participant shall be available during his or her lifetime only to the Participant.

6.8    Deferrals .  The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit a Participant to defer receipt of the payment of cash that would otherwise be delivered to a Participant under the Plan. Any such deferral elections shall be subject to such rules and procedures as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

7




 

SECTION 7
AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND DURATION

7.1    Amendment, Suspension or Termination .  The Board, in its sole discretion, may amend or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall not, without the consent of the Participant, alter or impair any rights or obligations under any Target Award theretofore granted to such Participant. No award may be granted during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan.

7.2    Duration of the Plan .  The Plan shall commence on the date specified herein, and subject to Section 7.1 (regarding the Board’s right to amend or terminate the Plan), shall remain in effect thereafter.

SECTION 8
LEGAL CONSTRUCTION

8.1    Gender and Number .  Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

8.2    Severability .  In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

8.3    Requirements of Law .  The granting of awards under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

8.4    Governing Law .  The Plan and all awards shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of California, but without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

8.5    Captions .  Captions are provided herein for convenience only, and shall not serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Plan.

8