Exhibit
4.3
HILL
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
2006
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
Section
1.
Purpose
The
purpose of the Hill International, Inc. 2006 Employee Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan") is to enable Hill International, Inc. (the "Company") to attract,
retain, motivate and provide additional incentive to certain directors,
officers, employees, consultants and advisors, whose contributions are essential
to the growth and success of the Company, by enabling them to participate in
the
long-term growth of the Company through stock ownership.
Section
2.
Definitions
As
used
in the Plan:
"Code"
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Board"
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Cause"
means the termination of a Participant's employment, consulting or advisory
relationship with the Company or the termination of a Participant's membership
on the Board because of the occurrence of any of the following
events:
(i)
the
Participant materially breaches any of his obligations as an employee or
director of the Company;
(ii)
the
Participant conducts his duties with respect to the Company in a manner that
is
improper or negligent; or
(iii)
the
Participant fails to perform his obligations faithfully as provided in any
employment agreement executed between the Company and the Participant, engages
in habitual drunkenness, drug abuse, or commits a felony, fraud or willful
misconduct which has resulted, or is likely to result, in material damage to
the
Company, or as the Board in its sole discretion may determine.
"Committee"
means the Compensation Committee of the Board (or any successor committee of
the
Board) or such other committee that is responsible for making recommendations
to
the Board (or for exercising authority delegated to it by the Board pursuant
to
Section 3 of the Plan, if any) with respect to the grant and terms of Options
under the Plan; provided, however, that (i) with respect to Options to any
employees who are officers of the Company or members of the Board for purposes
of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, Committee means all of the members of the
Compensation Committee who are "non-employee directors" within the meaning
of
Rule 16b-3 adopted under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule,
(ii)
with
respect to Options to any employees who are officers of the Company or members
of the Board for purposes of Section 16 and who are intended to satisfy the
requirements for "performance based compensation" within the meaning of Section
162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and any
successors thereto, Committee means all of the members of the Compensation
Committee who are "outside directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m)
of
the Code, and (iii) with respect to all Options, the Committee shall be
comprised of "independent" directors.
"Company"
means Hill International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any present or
future parent or subsidiary corporations (as defined in Section 424 of the
Code)
or any successor to such corporations.
"Common
Stock" or "Stock" means the common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the
Company.
"Disability"
means permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the
Code.
"Exchange
Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Fair
Market Value", with respect to Common Stock, shall be determined as
follows:
(i)
If
the
Common Stock is at the time listed on any stock exchange or the Nasdaq National
Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the
closing selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question on
the
stock exchange or the Nasdaq Market determined by the Board to be the primary
market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially reported on such
exchange or market. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock
on
the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling
price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
(ii)
If
the
Common Stock is at the time traded on the Over-The-Counter Bulletin Board
("OTCBB"), then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per
share of Common Stock on the date in question, as such price is quoted on the
OTCBB or any successor system. If there is no closing selling price for the
Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the
closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation
exists.
(iii)
If
the
Common Stock is not listed or traded on any stock exchange or Nasdaq System
or
the OTCBB, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board in good faith
and in the manner established by the Board from time to time using a reasonable
valuation method.
(iv)
"Incentive
Stock Option" means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock awarded to
a
Participant under the Plan which is designated as such or is otherwise intended
to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor
provision.
(v)
"Non-Employee
Director" means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the
Company.
"Non-Qualified
Stock Option" means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to
a
Participant under the Plan which is designated as such or is otherwise not
intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
"Option"
means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
"Participant"
means an eligible person selected by the Board to receive an Option under the
Plan.
"Plan"
means the Hill International, Inc. 2006 Employee Stock Option Plan.
"Retirement"
means termination of employment in accordance with the retirement provisions
of
any retirement plan maintained by the Company.
Section
3.
Administration
(a)
The
Plan
shall be administered by the Board. Among other things, the Board shall have
authority, subject to the terms of the Plan including, without limitation,
the
provisions governing participation in the Plan, to grant Options, to determine
the individuals to whom and the time or times at which Options may be granted
and to determine the terms and conditions of any Option granted hereunder.
Subject to paragraph (d) of this Section 3, the Board may solicit the
recommendations of the Committee with respect to any of the foregoing, but
shall
not be bound to follow any such recommendations.
(b)
(b)
Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Board shall have authority to adopt,
alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing
the operation of the Plan as it shall from time to time consider advisable,
to
interpret the provisions of the Plan and any Option and to decide all disputes
arising in connection with the Plan. The Board's decision and interpretations
shall be final and binding. Any action of the Board with respect to the
administration of the Plan shall be taken pursuant to a majority vote or by
the
unanimous written consent of its members.
(c)
The
Board
may employ such legal counsel, consultants and agents as it may deem desirable
for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion received from
any such counsel or consultant and any computation received from any such
consultant or agent. The Board shall keep minutes of its actions under the
Plan.
(d)
The
Board
shall have the authority to delegate all or any portion of the authority granted
to it (consistent with applicable law) under this Section 3 or elsewhere under
the Plan to the Committee. If such authority is so delegated by Board, the
Committee shall have such rights and authority to make determinations and
administer the Plan as are specified in the delegation of authority. To the
extent that the Board delegates its authority as provided by this Section 3(d),
all references in the Plan to the Board's authority to grant Options and make
determinations with respect thereto shall be deemed to include the
Committee.
Section
4.
Eligibility
All
officers, employees, consultants and advisors of the Company who are from time
to time responsible for the management, growth and protection of the business
of
the Company, and all directors of the Company, shall be eligible to participate
in the Plan. The Participants under the Plan shall be selected from time to
time
by the Board, in its sole discretion, from among those eligible, and the Board
shall determine in its sole discretion the numbers of shares to be covered
by
the Option or Options granted to each Participant. Options intended to qualify
as Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only to key employees while actually
employed by the Company. Non-Employee Directors, consultants and advisors shall
not be entitled to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Plan.
Section
5.
Shares
of Stock Available for Options
(a)
Options
may be granted under the Plan for up to 1,140,000 shares of Common Stock. If
any
Option in respect of shares of Common Stock expires or is terminated before
exercise or is forfeited for any reason, without a payment in the form of Common
Stock being granted to the Participant, the shares of Common Stock subject
to
such Option, to the extent of such expiration, termination or forfeiture, shall
again be available for grant under the Plan. Shares of Common Stock issued
under
the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized and unissued shares,
shares purchased in the open market or otherwise, treasury shares, or any
combination thereof, as the Board may from time to time determine.
(b)
In
the
event that the Board determines, in its sole discretion, that any stock
dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, creation of a class of equity securities,
recapitalization, reclassification, reorganization, merger, consolidation,
stock
split, spin-off, combination, exchange of shares, warrants or rights offering
to
purchase Common Stock at a price substantially below Fair Market Value, or
other
similar transaction affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment is required
in order to preserve the benefits or potential benefits intended to be granted
under the Plan to Participants, the Board shall have the right to adjust
equitably any or all of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock in respect
of
which Options may be granted under the Plan to Participants, (ii) the number
and
kind of shares subject to outstanding Options held by Participants, and (iii)
the exercise price with respect to any Options held by Participants, and if
considered appropriate, the Board may make provision for a cash payment with
respect to any outstanding Options held by a Participant, provided that the
number of shares subject to any Option shall always be a whole
number.
Section
6.
Incentive
Stock Options
(a)
Subject
to Federal statutes then applicable and the provisions of the Plan, the Board
may grant Incentive Stock Options and determine the number of shares to be
covered by each such Option, the option price therefor, the term of such Option,
the vesting schedule of such Option, and the other conditions and limitations
applicable to the exercise of the Option. The terms and conditions of Incentive
Stock Options shall be subject to and shall comply with Section 422 of the
Code,
or any successor provision, and any regulations thereunder. Anything in the
Plan
to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to Incentive
Stock
Options shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion
or
authority granted to the Board under the Plan be so exercised, so as to
disqualify, without the consent of the Participant, any Incentive Stock Option
granted under the Plan pursuant to Section 422 of the Code. The foregoing
notwithstanding, any Option that fails to be an ISO shall remain outstanding
according to its terms and shall be treated by the Company as a Non-Qualified
Stock Option.
(b)
The
option price per share of Common Stock purchasable under an Incentive Stock
Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock
on the date of grant. If the Participant owns or is deemed to own (by reason
of
the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the Code) more than
10%
of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any
subsidiary or parent corporation of the Company and an Incentive Stock Option
is
granted to such Participant, the option price shall be not less than 110% of
Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.
(c)
No
Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after
the
date such option is granted. If a Participant owns or is deemed to own (by
reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10%
of
the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any
subsidiary or parent corporation of the Company and an Incentive Stock Option
is
granted to such Participant, such Option shall not be exercisable after the
expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant.
(d)
Unless
otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant, in the event a
Participant's employment terminates by reason of Retirement or Disability,
any
Incentive Stock Option granted to such Participant which is then outstanding
may
be exercised at any time prior to the expiration of the term of such Incentive
Stock Option or within three (3) months in the case of Retirement and twelve
(12) months in case of Disability (or such shorter period as the Board shall
determine at the time of grant) following the Participant's termination of
employment, whichever period is shorter.
(e)
Unless
otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant, in the event a
Participant's employment is terminated by reason of death, any Incentive Stock
Option granted to such Participant which is then outstanding may be exercised
by
the Participant's legal representative at any time prior to the expiration
date
of the term of the Incentive Stock Option or within twelve (12) months (or
such
shorter period as the Board shall determine at the time of grant) following
the
Participant's termination of employment, whichever period is
shorter.
(f)
Unless
otherwise determined by the Board at or after the time of grant, in the event
a
Participant's employment shall terminate for Cause, any Incentive Stock Option
granted to such Participant which is then outstanding shall be canceled and
shall terminate.
(g)
Unless
otherwise determined by the Board at or after the time of grant, in the event
the a Participant's employment shall terminate for any reason other than death,
Disability, Retirement or Cause, any Incentive Stock Option granted to such
Participant which is then outstanding may be exercised at any time prior to
the
expiration of the term of such option or within three (3) months (or such
shorter period as the Board shall determine at the time of grant) following
Participant's termination of employment, whichever period is
shorter.
(h)
The
aggregate Fair Market Value of Common Shares first becoming subject to exercise
as an Incentive Stock Option by a Participant during any given calendar year
shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars
($100,000.00).
Such
aggregate Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the date such Option
is
granted.
Section
7.
Non-Qualified
Stock Options
(a)
Subject
to the provisions of the Plan, the Board may grant Non-Qualified Stock Options
and determine the number of shares to be covered by each such Option, the option
price therefor, the term of such Option, the vesting schedule and the other
conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Non-Qualified
Stock
Options.
(b)
The
option price per share of Common Stock purchasable under a Non-Qualified Stock
Option shall be the price determined by the Board, which may be less than,
equal
to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of
grant.
(c)
No
Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after
the date such option is granted.
(d)
Unless
otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant, in the event a
Participant's employment by the Company or membership on the Board terminates
by
reason of Retirement or Disability, any Non-Qualified Stock Option granted
to
such Participant which is then outstanding may be exercised at any time prior
to
the expiration of the term of such Non-Qualified Stock Option or within three
(3) months in the case of Retirement and twelve (12) months in case of
Disability (or such shorter period as the Board shall determine at the time
of
grant) following the Participant's termination of employment, whichever period
is shorter.
(e)
Unless
otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant, in the event a
Participant's employment by the Company or membership on the Board is terminated
by reason of death, any Non-Qualified Stock Option granted to such Participant
which is then outstanding may be exercised by the Participant's legal
representative at any time prior to the expiration date of the term of the
Non-Qualified Stock Option or within twelve (12) months (or such shorter period
as the Board shall determine at the time of grant) following the Participant's
termination of employment, whichever period is shorter.
(f)
Unless
otherwise determined by the Board at or after the time of grant, in the event
a
Participant's employment by the Company or membership on the Board shall
terminate for Cause, any Non-Qualified Stock Option granted to such Participant
which is then outstanding shall be canceled and shall terminate.
(g)
Unless
otherwise determined by the Board at or after the time of grant, in the event
a
Participant's employment by the Company or membership on the Board shall
terminate for any reason other than death, Disability, Retirement or Cause,
any
Non-Qualified Stock Option granted to such Participant which is then outstanding
may be exercised at any time prior to the expiration of the term of such Option
or within three (3) months (or such shorter period as the Board shall determine
at the time of grant) following Participant's termination, whichever period
is
shorter.
Section
8.
General
Provisions Applicable to Options
(a)
Each
Option under the Plan shall be evidenced by a writing delivered to the
Participant specifying the terms and conditions thereof and containing such
other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan
as
the Board considers necessary or advisable to achieve the purposes of the Plan
or comply with applicable tax and regulatory laws and accounting
principles.
(b)
Each
Option may be granted alone, in addition to or in relation to any other Option.
The terms of each Option need not be identical, and the Board need not treat
Participants uniformly. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan or a particular
Option, any determination with respect to an Option may be made by the Board
at
the time of grant or at any time thereafter.
(c)
The
Board
shall determine whether Options are settled in whole or in part in cash, Common
Stock, other securities of the Company, or other property, and may, in its
discretion, permit "cashless exercises" pursuant to such procedures as may
be
established by the Board.
(d)
No
shares
shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full
of the option price therefor is received by the Company. Such payment may be
made in whole or in part in cash or by certified or bank check or, to the extent
permitted by the Board at or after the grant of the Option, by delivery of
shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at their Fair Market
Value on the date of delivery, or such other lawful consideration as the Board
may in its sole discretion determine.
(e)
No
Option
shall be transferable by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws
of descent and distribution, and all Options shall be exercisable during the
Participant's lifetime only by the Participant or the Participant's duly
appointed guardian or personal representative.
(f)
The
Board
may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any
Option.
(g)
The
Participant shall pay to the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the
Board for payment of, any taxes required by law to be withheld in respect of
Options under the Plan no later than the date of the event creating the tax
liability. In the Board's sole discretion, a Participant may elect to have
such
tax obligations paid, in whole or in part, in shares of Common Stock, including
shares retained from the Option creating the tax obligation. For withholding
tax
purposes, the value of the shares of Common Stock shall be the Fair Market
Value
on the date the withholding obligation is incurred. The Company may, to the
extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of
any
kind otherwise due to the Participant.
(h)
For
purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a termination
of
employment of a Participant:
(i)
a
transfer to the employment of the Company from a subsidiary or from the Company
to a subsidiary, or from one subsidiary to another, or
(ii)
an
approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other
purpose approved by the Company, if the Participant's right to reemployment
is
guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant
to
which the leave of absence was granted or if the Board otherwise so provides
in
writing.
For
purposes of the Plan, employees of a subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed
to have terminated their employment on the date on which such subsidiary ceases
to be a subsidiary of the Company.
(i)
The
Board
may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Option held by a Participant,
including substituting therefor another Option of the same or a different type,
changing the date of exercise or realization, and converting an Incentive Stock
Option to a Non-Qualified Stock Option, provided that the Participant's consent
to each action shall be required unless the Board determines that the action,
taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely
affect the Participant.
Section
9.
Miscellaneous
(a)
No
person
shall have any claim or right to be granted an Option, and the grant of an
Option shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued
employment. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss
a
Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly
provided in the applicable Option.
(b)
Nothing
contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company from adopting other or
additional compensation arrangements for its employees.
(c)
Subject
to the provisions of the applicable Option, no Participant shall have any rights
as a shareholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed
under the Plan until he or she becomes the holder thereof.
(d)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary expressed in this Plan, any provisions hereof that
vary
from or conflict with any applicable Federal or State securities laws (including
any regulations promulgated thereunder) shall be deemed to be modified to
conform to and comply with such laws.
(e)
No
member
of the Board shall be liable for any action or determination taken or granted
in
good faith with respect to this Plan nor shall any member of the Board be liable
for any agreement issued pursuant to this Plan or any grants under it. Each
member of the Board shall be indemnified by the Company against any losses
incurred in such administration of the Plan, unless his action constitutes
willful misconduct.
(f)
The
Plan
shall be effective as of the date that the shareholders of the Company approve
the Plan.
(g)
The
Board
may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time,
provided that no amendment shall be granted without shareholder approval if
such
approval is necessary to comply with any applicable tax laws or regulatory
requirement.
(h)
Options
may not be granted under the Plan after June 27, 2016, but then-outstanding
Options may exercised in accordance with their terms after such
date.
(i)
To
the
extent that State laws shall not have been preempted by any laws of the United
States, the Plan shall be construed, regulated, interpreted and administered
according to the other laws of the State of Delaware.
(j)
Options
may be granted to employees of the Company who are foreign nationals or employed
outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different
from
those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Board, be necessary
or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy.
The
Board may also impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Options in order
to minimize the Company's obligation with respect to tax equalization for
employees on assignments outside their home country.