UNITED COMMUNICATIONS HUB, INC. 2003 STOCK PLANEquity Incentive Plan Agreement |
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UNITED COMMUNICATIONS HUB, INC.
2003 STOCK PLAN
1. Purpose and Eligibility.
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(a) This Amended and Restated Stock Plan (the "Plan") adopted as
of April 25, 2003 (the "Effective Date") is intended to advance the interests of
United Communications Hub, Inc. (the "Company"), and its Related Corporations as
defined below, and as now existing or later constituted, by enhancing the
ability of the Company and its Related Corporations to attract and retain
qualified employees, consultants, officers and directors by creating incentives
and rewards for their contributions to the success of the Company. This Plan
will provide:
(i) officers and other employees of the Company and its Related
Corporations opportunities to purchase common stock ("Common Stock") of the
Company pursuant to Options granted hereunder which qualify as incentive stock
options ("ISOs") under Section 422(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code");
(ii) directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company and
its Related Corporations opportunities to purchase Common Stock of the Company
pursuant to options granted hereunder which do not qualify as ISOs
("Non-Qualified Options");
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(iii) directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company
and its Related Corporations issuances and awards of Common Stock of the Company
("Awards");
(iv) directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company and
its Related Corporations opportunities to make direct purchases of Common Stock
in the Company ("Purchases"); and
(v) non-employee directors of the Company and its Related Corporations
with the opportunities to purchase Common Stock in the Company pursuant to
options granted hereunder ("Non-Discretionary Options").
(b) ISOs, Non-Discretionary Options and Non-Qualified Options are
referred to hereafter as "Options." Options, Awards and authorizations to make
Purchases are referred to hereafter collectively as "Stock Rights." For
purposes of the Plan, the term "Related Corporations" shall mean a corporation
which is a subsidiary corporation with respect to the Company within the meaning
of Section 425(f) of the Code.
(c) This Plan is intended to comply in all respects with Rule
16b-3 and its successor rules ("Rule 16b-3") as promulgated under Section 16(b)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") for
participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. To the extent
any provision of the Plan or action by the Board or Committee fails to
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so comply, it shall be deemed null and void to the extent permitted by law and
deemed advisable by Board or Committee. Provided, however, such exercise of
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discretion shall not interfere with the contract rights of any participant. In
the event that any interpretation or construction of the Plan is required, it
shall be interpreted and construed in order to ensure, to the maximum extent
permissible by law, that such participant does not violate the short-swing
profit provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and that any exemption
available under Rule 16b-3 is available.
2. Administration of the Plan.
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(a) The Plan may be administered by the entire board of directors
of the Company (the "Board") or by a committee as defined below (the
"Committee"). Such Committee will be comprised solely of two or more
Non-Employee Directors as that term is defined by Rule 16b-3(b)(3) promulgated
under the Exchange Act, or the Company shall otherwise act in accordance with
the permissible interpretations of Rule 16b-3.
(1) If a Committee is created by the Board to administer the
Plan, the Committee shall continue to serve until otherwise directed by the
Board. A majority of the members of any such Committee shall constitute a
quorum, and all determinations of the Committee shall be made by the majority of
its members present at a meeting. Any determination of the Committee under the
Plan may be made without notice or meeting of the Committee by a writing signed
by all of the Committee members.
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(2) Subject to ratification of the grant of each Option,
Award, or Purchase, by the Board (but only if so required by applicable state
law), and subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have the
authority to (i) determine the employees of the Company and its Related
Corporations, from among the class of employees eligible under Section 3 to
receive ISOs, to whom ISOs may be granted; and to determine, from among the
class of individuals and entities eligible under Section 3 to receive
Non-Qualified Options, Awards and authorizations to make Purchases, to whom
Non-Qualified Options, Awards and authorizations to make Purchases may be
granted; (ii) determine the time or times at which Stock Rights may be granted;
(iii) determine the exercise price of shares subject to each Option and the
purchase price of shares subject to each Purchase which price shall not be less
than the fair market value defined by Section 7; (iv) determine whether each
Option granted shall be an ISO or a Non-Qualified Option; (v) except for
Non-Discretionary Options, determine (subject to Section 6) the time or times
when each Option shall become exercisable, the duration of the exercise period
and when each Option or Stock Right shall vest; (vi) determine whether
restrictions such as repurchase Options are to be imposed on shares subject to
Options, Awards and Purchases and the nature of such restrictions, if any; and
(vii) interpret the Plan and promulgate and rescind rules and regulations
relating to it. The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any
provisions of the Plan or of any Stock Right granted under it shall be final,
binding and conclusive unless otherwise determined by the Board. The Committee
may from time to time adopt such rules and regulations for carrying out the Plan
as it may deem best.
(3) No members of the Committee or the Board shall be liable
for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or
any Stock Right granted
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under it. No member of the Committee or the Board shall be liable for any act
or omission of any other member of the Committee or the Board or for any act or
omission on his own part, including but not limited to the exercise of any power
and discretion given to him under the Plan, except those resulting from his own
gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The Committee may select one of its members as its chairman
and shall hold meetings at such time and places as it may determine. All
references in the Plan to the Committee shall mean the Board if no Committee has
been appointed. From time to time the Board may increase the size of the
Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or
without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies
however caused or remove all members of the Committee and thereafter directly
administer the Plan.
(c) Stock Rights may be granted to members of the Board, whether
such grants are in their capacity as directors, officers or consultants. All
grants of Stock Rights to members of the Board shall in all other respects be
made in accordance with the provisions of the Plan applicable to other eligible
persons. Members of the Board who are either (i) eligible for Stock Rights
pursuant to the Plan or (ii) have been granted Stock Rights may vote on any
matters affecting the administration of the Plan or the grant of any Stock
Rights pursuant to the Plan.
(d) In addition to such other rights of indemnification as he may
have as a member of the Board, and with respect to administration of the Plan
and the granting of Stock Rights under it, each member of the Board and of the
Committee shall be entitled without further act on his part to indemnification
from the Company for all expenses (including, but only to the
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extent permissible and advisable under applicable law, advances of litigation
expenses, the amount of judgment and the amount of approved settlements made
with a view to the curtailment of costs of litigation) reasonably incurred by
him in connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding,
including any appeal thereof, with respect to the administration of the Plan or
the granting of Stock Rights under it in which he may be involved by reason of
his being or having been a member of the Board or the Committee, whether or not
he continues to be such member of the Board or the Committee at the time of the
incurring of such expenses; provided, however, that such indemnity shall not
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include any expenses incurred by such member of the Board or the Committee (i)
in respect of matters as to which he shall be finally adjudged in such action,
suit or proceeding to have been guilty of or liable for gross negligence or
willful misconduct in the performance of his duties as a member of the Board or
the Committee; (ii) in respect of any matter in which any settlement is
effected to an amount in excess of the amount approved by the Company on the
advice of its legal counsel; or (iii) arising from any action in which person
asserts a claim against the Company whether such claim is termed a complaint,
counterclaim, cross-claim, third party complaint or otherwise and provided
further that no right of indemnification under the provisions set forth herein
shall be available to any such member of the Board or the Committee unless
within 10 days after institution of any such action, suit or proceeding he shall
have offered the Company in writing the opportunity to handle and defend such
action, suit or proceeding at its own expense. The foregoing right of
indemnification shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors or
administrators of each such member of the Board or the Committee and shall be in
addition to all other rights to which such member of the Board or the Committee
would be entitled to as a matter of law, contract or otherwise. Provided,
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however, the exception in Section 2(d)(iii) shall not apply to an action for
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indemnification under circumstances where the Company has failed to provide
indemnification to the Board or Committee member which indemnification is
required
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by the Plan.
(e) In addition, provided such action is otherwise consistent with the
Plan, is exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (by virtue of Rule 16b-3
or otherwise), and is made pursuant to Sections 122(15) and 157 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, or similar or successor provisions, the Board may, by a
resolution adopted by the Board, authorize one or more officers of the Company
to do one or both of the following: (i) designate officers and employees of the
Company or of any of its subsidiaries to be recipients of Stock Rights created
by the Company and (ii) determine the number of Stock Rights to be received by
such officers and employees; provided, however, that the resolution so
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authorizing such officer or officers shall specify the total number of Stock
Rights such officer or officers may so grant. The Board may not authorize such
officer to designate himself or herself as a recipient of any such Stock Rights.
All decisions made by such officer or officers, as the case may be, pursuant to
the authority granted to him or her hereby, shall be final and binding on all
persons, including the Company and the persons receiving Stock Rights by virtue
of the Plan. The officer or officers so authorized shall be indemnified as
provided for herein (to the extent permissible under applicable law) as if such
officer or officers were acting as a member or members, as the case may be, of
the Committee as provided herein the Plan.
3. Eligible Employees and Others.
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(a) ISOs may be granted to any employee of the Company or any
employee of a Related Corporation. Those officers and directors of the Company
who are not employees may not be granted ISOs under the Plan. Subject to
compliance with Rule 16b-3 and other applicable
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securities laws, Non-Qualified Options, Awards and authorizations to make
Purchases may be granted to any director (whether or not an employee), officer,
employee or consultant of the Company or any Related Corporation. The Committee
may take into consideration a recipient's individual circumstances in
determining whether to grant an ISO, a Non-Qualified Option or an authorization
to make a Purchase. Granting of any Stock Right to any individual or entity
shall neither entitle that individual or entity to, nor disqualify him from
participation in any other grant of Stock Rights.
(b) All directors of the Company who are not employees or 10%
stockholders of the Company or Related Corporations shall automatically receive
grants of ______ restricted shares of the Company's Common Stock and ______
Non-Qualified Options (i) upon election or appointment to the Board if not a
member of the Board as of the Effective Date; and (ii) after all Common Stock
grants and Non-Qualified Options previously granted pursuant to this Section
have vested if vesting occurs during the term of office of such directors.
The exercise price of the Options shall be fair market value as defined by
Section 7. The stock grants and Options shall vest in six equal increments of
______ shares of Common Stock and ______ Options per director on each June 30
and December 31, provided that the director is still serving as a director of
the Company on the applicable vesting date. To the extent that any shares of
Common Stock do not vest, the shares shall be forfeited. To the extent that any
Options which have not been exercised do not vest, the Options shall lapse.
[LARRY: THIS CAN BE DELETED IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO GIVE AUTOMATIC GRANTS TO YOUR
DIRECTORS OR WE CAN PROVIDE EFFECTIVE ONLY UPON MERGER WITH 12(G) COMPANY]
(c) The Options shall be exercisable for a period of 10 years from
the date of
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grant, except where a shorter period is required by the Code for certain ISOs or
where the Board or Committee selects a shorter period at the time of any
discretionary grant.
(d) The "formula" grant contained in Section 3(b) above shall not
be amended more than once every six months, other than to comport with changes
in the Code or in ERISA.
4. Common Stock. The Common Stock subject to Stock Rights shall be
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authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001, or shares of
Common Stock reacquired by the Company in any manner, including purchase,
forfeiture or otherwise. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which
may be issued pursuant to the Plan is 3,500,000 shares of Common Stock issuable
in connection with Option exercises, Awards or Purchases, and are subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 14. If any Stock Rights granted under the
Plan shall expire or terminate for any reason without having been exercised in
full or shall cease for any reason to be exercisable in whole or in part, or if
the Company shall reacquire any unvested shares issued pursuant to Awards or
Purchases, the unpurchased shares subject to such Stock Rights and any unvested
shares so reacquired by the Company shall again be available for grants of Stock
Rights under the Plan.
5. Granting of Stock Rights.
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(a) Stock Rights may be granted under the Plan at any time on and
after the Effective Date provided, however, no ISO shall be granted more than 10
years after the Effective Date. The date of grant of a Stock Right under the
Plan will be the date specified by the Committee
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at the time it grants the Stock Right; provided, however, that such date shall
not be prior to the date on which the Committee acts to approve the grant. The
Committee shall have the right, with the consent of the optionee, to convert an
ISO granted under the Plan to a Non-Qualified Option pursuant to Section 17.
(b) The Committee shall grant Stock Rights to participants that
it, in its sole discretion, selects. Stock Rights shall be granted on such
terms as the Committee shall determine except that ISOs shall be granted on
terms that comply with the Code and regulations thereunder.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee
may impose conditions and restrictions on any grant of Stock Rights including
forfeiture of vested Options and the cancellation of Common Stock acquired in
connection with any Stock Right.
6. Sale of Shares. Any shares of the Company's Common Stock acquired
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pursuant to Stock Rights granted hereunder shall not be sold by any officer, as
defined in this Plan, or director until at least six months elapse from the date
of acquisition of such Stock Rights. Nothing in this Section 6 shall be deemed
to reduce the holding period set forth under the applicable securities laws.






