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EXHIBIT 10.1
SMALL CAP STRATEGIES, INC.
2008 STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of the "Plan" (as defined
herein) are to
attract and retain the best available personnel for positions
of
substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to
Employees
and Consultants and to promote the success of the Company's
business
through the issuance of options, stock purchase rights, other
stock-based
awards, and other benefits. Options granted under the Plan may
be Incentive
Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options. Stock purchase
rights may also
be granted under the Plan
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall
apply:
a. "Administrator" means the Board or any of its Committees
appointed
pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan to administer the Plan.
b. "Award" means any award or benefit granted to any participant
under
the Plan, including, without limitation, the grant of Options,
Stock
Purchase Rights, and other Stock-based awards and other
benefits.
c. "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
d. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
e. "Committee" means a Committee appointed by the Board of
Directors in
accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
f. "Common Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company.
g. "Company" means Small Cap Strategies, Inc.
h. "Consultant" means any person, including an advisor, who is
not an
Employee but is engaged by the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary to
render services and is compensated for such services, and any
director
of the Company whether compensated for such services or not
provided
that if and in the event the Company registers any class of any
equity
security pursuant to the Exchange Act, the term Consultant
shall
thereafter not include directors who are not compensated for
their
services or are paid only a director's fee by the Company.
i. "Disability" means, with respect to an Optionee, that the
Optionee has
any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which
can be
expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be
expected to
last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12)
months, and
which renders the Optionee unable to engage in any substantial
gainful
activity. An Optionee shall not be considered to have a
Disability
unless Optionee furnishes proof of the existence thereof in such
form
and manner, and at such time, as the Administrator may require,
and
the Administrator determines in its discretion that the Optionee
has
such a medically determinable physical or mental impairment.
j. "Employee" means any person who is determined by the
Administrator to
be a common law employee of the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary of
the Company. With respect to any entity for which the Company or
any
Parent of Subsidiary of the Company is a single owner and which
is
disregarded as an entity separate from its owner pursuant to
Treasury
Regulations Section 301.7701-3, any person who determined by
the
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Administrator to be a common law employee of that entity shall
be
treated as an Employee.
k. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
l. "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of
Common Stock
determined as follows:
i. If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange
or a national market system including without limitation the
National Market System of the National Association of
Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation ("NASDAQ") System, its
Fair
Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock
on
the date of determination (or the closing bid, if no sales
were
reported, as quoted on such exchange or system for the last
market trading day prior to the time of determination) as
reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as
the
Administrator deems reliable;
ii. If the Common Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ System (but not
on
the National Market System thereof) or regularly quoted by a
recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not
reported,
its Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the high bid
and
low asked prices for the Common Stock on the date of
determination or;
iii. In the absence of an established market for the Common
Stock, the
Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith
by
the Administrator.
m. "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option which is treated as
an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Code.
An Option shall only be treated as an Incentive Stock Option
pursuant
to the Plan if it is originally designated as an Incentive
Stock
Option in the Option Agreement. An Option originally designated
in an
Option Agreement as an Incentive Stock Option may nonetheless
be
treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option if the Option at any time
after
grant fails to meet to requirements for incentive stock
option
treatment under Section 422 of the Code.
n. "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option which is not an
Incentive
Stock Option. An Option which is designated as a Nonstatutory
Stock
Option in the Option Agreement pursuant to which the Option
was
granted shall in all events be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock
Option.
Furthermore, an Option originally designated as an Incentive
Stock
Option may subsequently become a Nonstatutory Stock Option upon
the
Option subsequently failing to meet the requirements for
incentive
stock option under Section 422 of the Code.
o. "Officer" means a person who is an officer of the Company
within the
meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
p. "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the
Plan.
q. "Option Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 18
hereof.
r. "Optioned Stock" means the Common Stock subject to an Option
or a
Stock Purchase Right.
s. "Optionee" means an Employee or Consultant who receives an
Option or
Stock Purchase Right, other Stock-based award, or other
benefit.
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t. "Parent" means a "parent corporation," whether now or
hereafter
existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
u. "Plan" means this 2008 Stock Option Plan, as amended from
time to time
in accordance with the terms hereof. When referenced in
another
document, the name "Small Cap Strategies, Inc. 2008 Stock Option
Plan"
refers to this Plan.
v. "Restricted Stock" has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)
hereof.
w. "Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement" has the meaning set
forth in
Section 11(a) hereof.
x. "Share" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance
with Section 12 below.
y. "Stock Purchase Right" means the right to purchase Common
Stock
pursuant to Section 11 below.
z. "Stock Purchase Right Agreement" has the meaning set forth in
Section
18 hereof.
aa. "Subsidiary" means a "subsidiary corporation," whether now
or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the
Code.
bb. "Ten Percent Shareholder" means a person who, at the time an
Option is
granted, owns, or is deemed within the meaning of Section
422(b)(6) of
the Code to own, stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of
the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company (or
of its Subsidiary or parent (within the meaning of Section
424(e) of
the Code)).
3. Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to adjustment pursuant to
Section 12 of
the Plan, and effective as of November 15, 2008, the maximum
aggregate
number of shares which may be issued pursuant to the Plan is
3,000,000
shares of Common Stock. Such number of shares of Common Stock
may be issued
under this Plan pursuant to Incentive Stock Options,
Nonstatutory Stock
Options, Stock Purchase Rights, other Stock-based awards, other
benefits,
or any combination thereof, so long as the aggregate number of
shares so
issued does not exceed such maximum aggregate number of shares,
as
adjusted. The shares may be authorized, but unissued or
reacquired Common
Stock. If an Option should expire or become unexercisable for
any reason
without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares
which were
subject thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been
terminated, become
available for future grant under the Plan.
4. Administration of the Plan.
a. Procedure. The Plan shall be administered by a
"Compensation
Committee" whose members are appointed by the Board. The
Compensation
Committee shall be comprised of not less than two (2) members of
the
Board whose role, in addition to any other roles such
Compensation
Committee is required or empowered to administer on behalf of
the
Board, shall be to administer the Plan, subject to such terms
and
conditions as the Board may prescribe. Once appointed, the
Compensation Committee shall continue to serve until
otherwise
directed by the Board. From time to time, the Board may increase
the
size of the Compensation Committee and appoint additional
members
thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint
new
members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies, however
caused, and
remove all members of the Compensation Committee and,
thereafter,
directly administer the Plan. In the event that the Board is
the
administrator of the Plan in lieu of a Compensation Committee,
the
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term "Compensation Committee" as used herein shall be deemed to
mean
the Board.
i. Members of the Board or Compensation Committee who are
either eligible for Options or have been granted Options may
vote on any matters affecting the administration of the Plan
or the grant of Options pursuant to the Plan, except that no
such member shall act upon the granting of an Option to
himself or herself, but any such member may be counted in
determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of the
Board or the Compensation Committee during which action is
taken with respect to the granting of an Option to him or
her.
ii. The Compensation Committee shall meet at such times and
places and upon such notice as it may determine. A majority
of the Compensation Committee shall constitute a quorum. Any
acts by the Compensation Committee may be taken at any
meeting at which a quorum is present and shall be by
majority vote of those members entitled to vote.
Additionally, any acts reduced to writing or approved in
writing by all of the members of the Compensation Committee
shall be valid acts of the Compensation Committee.
iii. Multiple Administrative Bodies. If permitted by Rule
16b-3,
the Plan may be administered by different bodies with
respect to directors, non-director officers and Employees
who are neither directors nor officers.
iv. Administration With Respect to Consultants and Other
Employees. With respect to grants of Options, Stock Purchase
Rights, other Stock-based awards, or other benefits, to
Employees or Consultants who are neither directors nor
officers of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by
(A) the Board or (B) a committee designated by the Board,
which committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to
satisfy the legal requirements relating to the
administration of incentive stock option plans, if any, of
Nevada corporate and securities laws, of the Code, and of
any applicable stock exchange (the "Applicable Laws"). Once
appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its
designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.
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, and
remove all members of the Committee and thereafter directly
administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by the
Applicable Laws.
v. Administration With Respect to Directors Who Are Not
Employees. With respect to grants of Options, Stock Purchase
Rights, other Stock-based awards, or other benefits to
directors who are not Employees, the Plan shall be
administered by (A) the Board or (B) a committee designated
by the Board; provided that any policy of the Company
concerning grants of Options, Stock Purchase Rights, other
Stock-based awards, or other benefits to non-Employee
directors as director compensation shall be approved by a
majority of the members of the Board who are either
Employees of the Company or non-Employee directors who have
waived their right to receive such compensation.
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b. Rule 16b-3 Requirements. Unless the Board is acting as
the
Compensation Committee or the Board specifically determines
otherwise,
the members of the Compensation Committee shall be both
"non-employee
directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, and "outside
directors"
within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Board
shall take
all action necessary to cause the Plan to be administered in
accordance with the then effective provisions of Rule 16b-3,
provided
that any amendment to the Plan required for compliance with
such
provisions shall be made in accordance with Section 10 of the
Plan.
c. Powers of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation
Committee shall
have all the powers vested in it by the terms of the Plan, such
powers
to include authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to
grant
Options under the Plan, prescribe agreements evidencing such
Options
and establish programs for granting Options. The
Compensation
Committee shall have full power and authority to take all
other
actions necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of the
Plan,
including, but not limited to, the authority to do the
following, n
its discretion:
i. to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock,
in
accordance with Section 2(k) of the Plan;
ii. to select the Consultants and Employees to whom Options,
Stock
Purchase Rights, other Stock-based awards, or other benefits
may
from time to time be granted hereunder;
iii. to determine whether and to what extent Options and
Stock
Purchase Rights or any combination thereof are granted
hereunder;
iv. to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be
covered
by each such award granted hereunder;
v. to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan,
including
without limitation, Stock Purchase Right Agreements,
Restricted
Stock Purchase Agreements and Option Agreements, which forms
need
not be the same for any Optionee;
vi. to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with
the
terms of the Plan, of any Option, Stock Purchase Right,
other
Stock-based awards, or other benefits granted hereunder,
including without limitation establishing vesting schedules
for
the exercise of Options which are based upon the passage of
time
performing services for the Company, meeting specified
performance criteria or any other standards as may be
determined
appropriate by the Administrator;
vii. to determine whether and under what circumstances an Option
may
be settled in cash instead of Common Stock;
viii. to reduce the exercise price of any Option to the then
current
Fair Market Value if the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock
covered by such Option shall have declined since the date
the
Option was granted;
ix. to determine the terms and restrictions applicable to
Stock
Purchase Rights and the Restricted Stock purchased by
exercising
such Stock Purchase Rights; and
x. to interpret the Plan, establish, amend and rescind any rules
and
regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the terms and
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provision of any agreements entered into pursuant to the
Plan,
and to make all other determinations that may be necessary
or
advisable for the administration of the Plan.
d. Effect of Administrator's Decision. Whether explicitly
provided
elsewhere in this Plan with respect to any matter, all
decisions,
determinations and interpretations of the Administrator provided
in
this Plan shall be made in the Administrator's sole and
absolute
discretion, and shall be final and binding on all Optionees and
any
other holders of any Options, Stock Purchase Rights, other
Stock-based
awards, or other benefits.
e. Limited Liability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no
member
of the Compensation Committee shall be liable for any action
taken or
decision made in good faith relating to the Plan or any
Option
thereunder.
f. Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the
members
of the Compensation Committee shall be indemnified by the
Corporation
in respect of all their activities under the Plan.
g. Effect of Compensation Committee's Decision. All actions
taken and
decisions and determinations made by the Compensation Committee
on all
matters relating to the Plan pursuant to the powers vested in
it
hereunder shall be in the Compensation Committee's sole and
absolute
discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on all
parties
concerned, including the Corporation, its stockholders, any
participants in the Plan and any other employee of the
Corporation,
and their respective successors in interest.
5. Eligibility.
a. Nonstatutory Stock Options and Stock Purchase Rights may be
granted to
such Employees and Consultants as may be selected by the
Administrator. Incentive Stock Options may be granted to
such
Employees as may be selected by the Administrator and may in no
event
be granted to someone who, on the date of grant, is not an
Employee.
An Employee or Consultant who has been granted an Option or
Stock
Purchase Right may, if otherwise eligible, be granted
additional
Options, Stock Purchase Rights, other Stock-based awards, or
other
benefits.
b. Each Option shall be designated in the Option Agreement as
either an
Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
Notwithstanding
such designations, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market
Value
(determined as of the date of grant of the Option) of the shares
of
Option Stock with respect to which Options initially designated
as
Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by
any
Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the
Company or
any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options
shall
be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.
c. For purposes of Section 5(b), Incentive Stock Options shall
be taken
into account in the order in which they were granted, and the
Fair
Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time
the
Option with respect to such Shares is granted.
d. The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with
respect to
continuation of employment or consulting relationship with
the
Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with his or her right
or
the Company's right to terminate his or her employment or
consulting
relationship at any time, with or without cause.
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e. Non-Uniform Determinations. The Administrator's
determinations under
the Plan (including without limitation determinations of the
persons
to receive awards, the form, amount and timing of such awards,
the
terms and provisions of such awards and the agreements
evidencing
same) need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively
among
persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, awards under
the
Plan, whether or not such persons are similarly situated.
f. Newly Eligible Employees. The Administrator shall be entitled
to make
such rules, regulations, determinations and awards as it
deems
appropriate in respect of any Employee who becomes eligible
to
participate in the Plan or any portion thereof after the
commencement
of an award or incentive period.
g. Leaves of Absence. The Administrator shall be entitled to
make such
rules, regulations and determinations as it deems appropriate
under
the Plan in respect of any leave of absence taken by the
recipient of
any award. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the
Administrator shall be entitled to determine (i) whether or not
any
such leave of absence shall constitute a termination of
employment
within the meaning of the Plan and (ii) the impact, if any, of
any
such leave of absence on awards under the Plan theretofore made
to any
recipient who takes such leave of absence.
6. Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the
earlier to occur of
its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by the
shareholders
of the Company as described in Section 19 of the Plan. It shall
continue in
effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated
under Section
15 of the Plan.
7. Term of Option. The term of each Option shall be the term
stated in the
Option Agreement; provided, however, that the term shall be no
more than
ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. Howeve
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