EX-10.1 3 v106778_ex10-1.htm Unassociated Document

 




 

INNOVATIVE CARD TECHNOLOGIES, INC.



2007 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN,

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1: BACKGROUND, PURPOSE AND DURATION
1.1 Background and Effective Date
1.2 Purpose of the Plan
1.3 Duration of the Plan
1.4 Termination of Old Plans
SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS
2.1 1934 Act
2.2 Affiliate
2.3 Affiliated SAR
2.4 Applicable Laws
2.5 Award
2.6 Award Agreement
2.7 Board or Board of Directors
2.8 Change in Control
2.9 Code
2.10 Committee
2.11 Company
2.12 Consultant
2.13 Director
2.14 Disability
2.15 Employee
2.16 ERISA
2.17 Fair Market Value
2.18 Freestanding SAR
2.19 Incentive Stock Option
2.20 Nonqualified Stock Option
2.21 Option
2.22 Option Price
2.23 Participant
2.24 Performance Share
2.25 Performance Unit
2.26 Period of Restriction
2.27 Plan
2.29 Retirement
2.30 Rule 16b-3
2.31 Section 16 Person
2.32 Shares
2.33 Stock Appreciation Right or SAR
2.34 Subsidiary
2.35 Tandem SAR
2.36 Termination of Employment
SECTION 3 ADMINISTRATION
3.1 The Committee
3.2 Authority of the Committee
3.3 Decisions Binding
 
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SECTION 4 SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
4.1 Shares Available
4.1.1 Maximum Shares Available Under Plan
4.1.2 General Award Limitation
4.1.3 Adjustments
4.2 Number of Shares
4.2 Lapsed Awards
SECTION 5 STOCK OPTIONS
5.1 Grant of Options
5.2 Award Agreement
5.3 Option Price
5.3.1 Nonqualified Stock Options
5.3.2 Incentive Stock Options
5.3.3 Substitute Options
5.4 Expiration of Options
5.4.1 Expiration Dates
5.4.2 Committee Discretion
5.5 Exercise of Options
5.6 Payment
5.7 Restrictions on Share Transferability
5.8 Certain Additional Provisions for Incentive Stock Options
5.8.1 Exercisability
5.8.2 Termination of Employment
5.8.3 Company and Subsidiaries
5.8.4 Expiration
5.9 Nontransferability
SECTION 6 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
6.1 Grant of SARs
6.2 Exercise of Tandem SARs
6.2.1 ISOs
6.3 Exercise of Affiliated SARs
6.4 Exercise of Freestanding SARs
6.5 SAR Agreement
6.6 Expiration of SARs
6.7 Payment of SAR Amount
6.8 Nontransferability of SARs
Section 7 RESTRICTED STOCK
7.1 Grant of Restricted Stock
7.2 Restricted Stock Agreement
7.3 Transferability
7.4 Other Restrictions
7.5 Removal of Restrictions
7.6 Voting Rights
7.7 Dividends and Other Distributions
7.8 Return of Restricted Stock to Company
7.9 Repurchase Option
SECTION 8 PERFORMANCE UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARES
8.1 Grant of Performance Units/Shares
8.2 Value of Performance Units/Shares
8.3 Earning of Performance Units/Shares
8.4 Form and Timing of Performance Units/Shares
8.5 Cancellation of Performance Units/Shares
8.6 Nontransferability
 
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SECTION 9 BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
SECTION 10 DEFERRALS
SECTION 11 RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES AND CONSULTANTS
11.1 No Effect on Employment or Service
11.2 Participation
SECTION 12 AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION, OR TERMINATION
SECTION 13 TAX WITHHOLDING
13.1 Withholding Requirements
13.2 Shares Withholding
SECTION 14 INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 15 ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, DISSOLUTION, MERGER OR ASSET SALE
15.1 Adjustments
15.2 Change in Control
SECTION 16 CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES
16.1 Legal Compliance
16.2 Investment Representations
SECTION 17 INABILITY TO OBTAIN AUTHORITY
SECTION 18 RESERVATION OF SHARES
SECTION 19 LEGAL CONSTRUCTION
19.1 Gender and Number
19.2 Severability
19.3 Requirements of Law
19.4 Securities Law Compliance
19.5 Governing Law
19.6 Captions
 
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INNOVATIVE CARD TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

2007 Equity Incentive Plan,

 
Innovative Card Technologies, Inc. hereby adopts the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, effective as of September 24, 2007 as follows:
 
SECTION 1  
BACKGROUND, PURPOSE AND DURATION
 
1.1  Background and Effective Date. The Plan provides for the granting of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights (or SARs), Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units and Performance Shares. The Plan is adopted and effective as of September 24, 2007, subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months. The Company will seek stockholder approval in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws. Awards may be granted prior to the receipt of stockholder approval, but such grants shall be null and void if such approval is not in fact received within twelve (12) months. 
 
1.2  Purpose of the Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success, and enhance the value, of the Company by aligning the interests of Participants with those of the Company’s shareholders, and by providing Participants with an incentive for outstanding performance. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of outstanding individuals, upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the success of the Company largely is dependent.
 
1.3  Duration of the Plan. The Plan shall commence on the date specified in Section 1.1 and subject to SECTION 12 (concerning the Board’s right to amend or terminate the Plan), shall remain in effect thereafter. However, without further stockholder approval, no Incentive Stock Option may be granted under the Plan on or after September 24, 2017.
 
1.4  Termination of the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. The Company’s existing 2004 Stock Incentive Plan shall terminate as to new grants effective upon stockholder approval of this Plan, and no further grants of awards shall be made under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan after the date of such approval. The termination of the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan will not affect the rights of holders of options previously granted and outstanding under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.
 
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 Exchange 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.
 
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2.2  Affiliate means any corporation or any other entity (including, but not limited to, partnerships and joint ventures) controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company.
 
2.3  Affiliated SAR means an SAR that is granted in connection with a related Option, and which automatically will be deemed to be exercised at the same time that the related Option is exercised.
 
2.4  Applicable Laws means the requirements relating to the administration of equity plans under U. S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.
 
2.5  Award means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units, or Performance Shares.
 
2.6  Award Agreement means the written agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan.
 
2.7  Board” or “Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
2.8  Change in Control is defined in Section 15.2.
 
2.9  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 under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
 
2.10  Committee means the committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan pursuant to Section 3.1.
 
2.11  Company means Innovative Card Technologies Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.
 
2.12  Consultant means an individual who provides significant services to the Company and/or an Affiliate, including a Director who is not an Employee.
 
2.13  Director means any individual who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
2.14  Disability means a permanent and total disability within the meaning of Code Section 22(e)(3).
 
2.15  Employee means an 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.
 
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2.16  ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Reference to a specific section of ERISA shall include such section, any valid regulation promulgated thereunder, and any comparable provision of any future legislation amending, supplementing or superseding such section.
 
2.17  Fair Market Value means as of any date, the value of a Share determined as follows:
 
(a)  If the Shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq Global Select Market or The Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such Share (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of, or, if such day is not a market trading day, the last market trading day prior to, the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable;
 
(b)  If the Shares are regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of the Share shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Shares on the day of, or, if such day is not a market trading day, the last market trading day prior to, the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable; or
 
(c)  In the absence of an established market for the Shares, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee.
 
2.18  Freestanding SAR means a SAR that is granted independently of any Option.
 
2.19  Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO means an option to purchase Shares, which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
 
2.20  Nonqualified Stock Option means an option to purchase Shares which is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
 
2.21  Option means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.
 
2.22  Option Price means the price at which a Share may be purchased pursuant to an Option.
 
2.23  Participant means an Employee, Consultant or Director who has an outstanding Award.
 
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2.24  Performance Measures shall mean the criteria and objectives, established by the Committee, which shall be satisfied or met (i) as a condition to the grant or exercisability of all or a portion of an Option or SAR or (ii) during the applicable Period of Restriction or Performance Period as a condition to the vesting of the holder’s interest, in the case of a Restricted Stock Award, of the Shares subject to such Award, or, in the case of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Share Award or Performance Unit Award, to the holder’s receipt of the Shares subject to such Award or of payment with respect to such Award. To the extent necessary for an Award to be qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, such criteria and objectives shall include one or more of the following corporate-wide or subsidiary, division, operating unit or individual measures, stated in either absolute terms or relative terms, such as rates of growth or improvement: the attainment by a Share of a specified Fair Market Value for a specified period of time, earnings per share, return to stockholders (including dividends), return on assets, return on equity, earnings of the Company before or after taxes and/or interest, revenues, market share, cash flow or cost reduction goals, interest expense after taxes, return on investment, return on investment capital, economic value created, operating margin, net income before or after taxes, pretax earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization, pretax operating earnings after interest expense and before incentives, and/or extraordinary or special items, operating earnings, net cash provided by operations, and strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified market penetration, geographic business expansion goals, cost targets, customer satisfaction, reductions in errors and omissions, reductions in lost business, management of employment practices and employee benefits, supervision of litigation and information technology, quality and quality audit scores, productivity, efficiency, and goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures, or any combination of the foregoing. In the sole discretion of the Committee, but subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may amend or adjust the Performance Measures or other terms and conditions of an outstanding Award in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or its financial statements or changes in Applicable Laws or accounting principles.
 
2.25  Performance Period shall mean any period designated by the Committee during which (i) the Performance Measures applicable to an Award shall be measured and (ii) the conditions to vesting applicable to an Award shall remain in effect.
 
2.26  Performance Share means an Award granted to an Employee pursuant to SECTION 8 having an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.
 
2.27  Performance Unit means an Award granted to an Employee pursuant to SECTION 8 having an initial value (other than the Fair Market Value of a Share) that is established by the Committee at the time of grant.
 
2.28  Period of Restriction means the period during which conditions to vesting applicable to an Award shall remain in effect.
 
2.29  Plan means the Innovative Card Technologies, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as set forth in this instrument and as hereafter amended from time to time.
 
2.30  Restricted Stock shall mean Shares which are subject to a Period of Restriction and which may, in addition thereto, be subject to the attainment of specified Performance Measures within a specified Performance Period.
 
2.31  Restricted Stock Unit shall mean a right to receive one Share or, in lieu thereof, the Fair Market Value of such Share in cash, which shall be contingent upon the expiration of a specified Period of Restriction and which may, in addition thereto, be contingent upon the attainment of specified Performance Measures within a specified Performance Period.
 
2.32  Retirement means, in the case of an Employee, a Termination of Employment by reason of the Employee’s retirement at or after age 62.
 
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2.33  Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act, and any future regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such regulation.
 
2.34  Section 16 Person means a person who, with respect to the Shares, is subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act.
 
2.35  Shares means the shares of common stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company.
 
2.36  Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR means an Award, granted alone or in connection with a related Option, that pursuant to the terms of SECTION 7 is designated as an SAR.
 
2.37  Subsidiary means any “subsidiary corporation” (other than the Company) as defined in Code Section 424(f).
 
2.38  Tandem SAR means an SAR that is granted in connection with a related Option, the exercise of which shall require forfeiture of the right to purchase an equal number of Shares under the related Option (and when a Share is purchased under the Option, the SAR shall be canceled to the same extent).
 
2.39  Termination of Employment means a cessation of the employee-employer or director or other service arrangement relationship between an Employee, Consultant or Director 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 or re-engagement by the Company or an Affiliate.
 
SECTION 3
ADMINISTRATION
 
3.1  The Committee. The Plan shall be administered by a committee of the Board that meets the requirements of this Section 3.1 (hereinafter referred to as “the Committee”). The Committee shall consist of not less than two (2) Directors. The members of the Committee shall be appointed from time to time by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the Board of Directors. The Committee shall be comprised solely of Directors who are “outside directors” under Section 162(m) of the Code, “non-employee directors” under Rule 16b-3 and “independent directors” under the requirements of any national securities exchange or system upon which the Shares are then listed and/or traded. 
 
3.2  Authority of the Committee. 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 (a) to determine which Employees, Consultants and Directors shall be granted Awards, (b) to prescribe the terms and conditions of such Awards, (c) to interpret the Plan and the Awards, (d) to adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith, and (e) to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules.
 
The Committee, in its sole discretion and on such terms and conditions as it may provide, may delegate all or any 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 not delegate its authority and powers with respect to Section 16 Persons or with respect to Awards which are intended to constitute “qualified performance-based compensation”, within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
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3.3  Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, and shall be given the maximum deference permitted by law.
 
SECTION 4
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
 
4.1  Shares Available. 
 
4.1.1  Maximum Shares Available Under Plan. The aggregate number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan may not exceed four million (4,000,000) Shares. Such shares may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.
 
4.1.2  General Award Limitation. No Participant may receive Awards under the Plan which are intended to constitute “qualified performance-based compensation”, within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, for more than 1,000,000 Shares in the aggregate in any single calendar year.
 
4.1.3   Adjustments. All Share numbers in this Section 4.1 are subject to adjustment as provided in SECTION 15.
 
4.2  Number of Shares. The following rules will apply for purposes of the determination of the number of Shares available for grant under the Plan:
 
(a)  While an Award is outstanding, it shall be counted against the authorized pool of Shares, regardless of its vested status.
 
(b)  The grant of an Option or Restricted Stock shall reduce the Shares available for grant under the Plan by the number of Shares subject to such Award.
 
(c)  The grant of a Tandem SAR shall reduce the number of Shares available for grant by the number of Shares subject to the related Option (i.e., there is no double counting of Options and their related Tandem SARs); provided, however, that, upon the exercise of such Tandem SAR, the authorized Share pool shall be credited with the appropriate number of Shares representing the number of shares reserved for such Tandem SAR less the number of Shares actually delivered upon exercise thereof or the number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the cash payment made upon such exercise.
 
(d)  The grant of an Affiliated SAR shall reduce the number of Shares available for grant by the number of Shares subject to the SAR, in addition to the number of Shares subject to the related Option; provided, however, that, upon the exercise of such Affiliated SAR, the authorized Share pool shall be credited with the appropriate number of Shares representing the number of shares reserved for such Affiliated SAR less the number of Shares actually delivered upon exercise thereof or the number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the cash payment made upon such exercise.
 
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(e)  The grant of a Freestanding SAR shall reduce the number of Shares available for grant by the number of Freestanding SARs granted; provided, however, that, upon the exercise of such Freestanding SAR, the authorized Share pool shall be credited with the appropriate number of Shares representing the number of shares reserved for such Freestanding SAR less the number of Shares actually delivered upon exercise thereof or the number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the cash payment made upon such exercise.
 
(f)  The Committee shall in each case determine the appropriate number of Shares to deduct from the authorized pool in connection with the grant of Performance Units and/or Performance Shares.
 
(g)  To the extent that an Award is settled in cash rather than in Shares, the authorized Share pool shall be credited with the appropriate number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the cash settlement of the Award.
 
4.3  Lapsed Awards. If an Award is cancelled, terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason (with the exception of the termination of a Tandem SAR upon exercise of the related Option, or the termination of a related Option upon exercise of the corresponding Tandem SAR), any Shares subject to such Award again shall be available to be the subject of an Award. 
 
SECTION 5
STOCK OPTIONS
 
5.1  Grant of Options. Options may be granted to Employees, Consultants and Directors at any time and from time to time, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the number of Shares subject to Options granted to each Participant. The Committee may grant ISOs, NQSOs, or a combination thereof.
 
5.2  Award Agreement. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the expiration date of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, any conditions to exercise of the Option, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine. The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or a NQSO.
 
5.3  Option Price. Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.3, the Option Price for each Option shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. 
 
5.3.1  Nonqualified Stock Options. In the case of a Nonqualified Stock Option, the Option Price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date that the Option is granted. 
 
5.3.2  Incentive Stock Options. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Option Price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date that the Option is granted; provided, however, that if at the time that the Option is granted, the Employee (together with persons whose stock ownership is attributed to the Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Option Price shall be not less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date that the Option is granted. 
 
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5.3.3  Substitute Options. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 5.3.1 and 5.3.2, in the event that the Company or an Affiliate consummates a transaction described in Section 424(a) of the Code (e.g., the acquisition of property or stock from an unrelated corporation), persons who become Employees, Consultants or Directors on account of such transaction may be granted Options in substitution for options granted by their former employer. If such substitute Options are granted, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine that such substitute Options shall have an exercise price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the Option is granted.
 
5.4  Expiration of Options. Unless the applicable stock option agreement provides otherwise, each Option shall terminate upon the first to occur of the events listed in Section 5.4.1, subject to Section 5.4.2. 
 
5.4.1  Expiration Dates. 
 
(a)  The date for termination of the Option set forth in the Award Agreement;
 
(b)  The expiration of ten years from the date the Option was granted, or
 
(c)  The expiration of three months from the date of the Participant’s Termination of Employment for a reason other than the Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement, or
 
(d)  The expiration of twelve months from the date of the Participant’s Termination of Employment by reason of Disability, or
 
(e)  The expiration of twelve months from the date of the Participant’s death, if such death occurs while the Participant is in the employ or service of the Company or an Affiliate.
 
5.4.2  Committee Discretion. The Committee shall provide, in the terms of each individual Option, when such Option expires and becomes unexercisable. After the Option is granted, the Committee, in its sole discretion may, subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, extend the maximum term of such Option. The foregoing discretionary authority is subject to the limitations and restrictions on Incentive Stock Options set forth in Section 5.8.
 
5.5  Exercise of Options. Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such times, and subject to such restrictions and conditions, as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. After an Option is granted, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the exercisability of the Option.
 
5.6  Payment. The Committee shall determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Committee shall determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of grant. Such consideration may consist entirely of:
 
(a)  cash;
 
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(b)  check;
 
(c)  promissory note;
 
(d)  other Shares which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised;
 
(e)  consideration received by the Company from a licensed broker under a cashless exercise program implemented by the Company to facilitate “same day” exercises and sales of Options;
 
(f)  a reduction in the amount of any Company liability to the Participant, including any liability attributable to the Participant's participation in any Company-sponsored deferred compensation program or arrangement;
 
(g)  any combination of the foregoing methods of payment; or
 
(h)  such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by applicable laws.
 
5.7  Restrictions on Share Transferability. The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option, as it may deem advisable, including, but not limited to, restrictions related to Federal securities laws, the requirements of any national securities exchange or system upon which such Shares are then listed and/or traded, and/or any blue sky or state securities laws.
 
5.8  Certain Additional Provisions for Incentive Stock Options. 
 
5.8.1  Exercisability. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Employee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not exceed $100,000.
 
5.8.2  Termination of Employment. No Incentive Stock Option may be exercised more than three months after the Participant’s termination of employment for any reason other than Disability or death, unless (a) the Participant dies during such three-month period, and (b) the Award Agreement and/or the Committee permits later exercise. No Incentive Stock Option may be exercised more than one year after the Participant’s termination of employment on account of Disability, unless (a) the Participant dies during such one-year period, and (b) the Award Agreement and/or the Committee permit later exercise.
 
5.8.3  Company and Subsidiaries Only. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to persons who are Employees of the Company and/or a Subsidiary at the time of grant.
 
5.8.4  Expiration. No Incentive Stock Option may be exercised after the expiration of 10 years from the date such Option was granted; provided, however, that if the Option is granted to an Employee who, together with persons whose stock ownership is attributed to the Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Option may not be exercised after the expiration of 5 years from the date that it was granted.
 
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5.9  Non-transferability of Options. No Option granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided under SECTION 9. All Options granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant.
 
SECTION 6
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
 
6.1  Grant of SARs. An SAR may be granted to an Employee, Consultant or Director at any time and from time to time as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. The Committee may grant Affiliated SARs, Freestanding SARs, Tandem SARs, or any combination thereof. The Committee shall have complete discretion to determine the number of SARs granted to any Participant, and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, the terms and conditions pertaining to such SARs. However, the grant price of a Freestanding SAR shall be at least equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. The grant price of Tandem or Affiliated SARs shall equal the Option Price of the related Option.
 
6.2  Exercise of Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or part of the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option. A Tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the Shares for which its related Option is then exercisable.
 
6.2.1  ISOs. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan, with respect to a Tandem SAR granted in connection with an ISO: (i) the Tandem SAR shall expire no later than the expiration of the underlying ISO; (ii) the value of the payout with respect to the Tandem SAR shall be for no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the difference between the Option Price of the underlying ISO and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the underlying ISO at the time the Tandem SAR is exercised; and (iii) the Tandem SAR shall be exercisable only when the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the ISO exceeds the Option Price of the ISO.
 
6.3  Exercise of Affiliated SARs. An Affiliated SAR shall be deemed to be exercised upon the exercise of the related Option. The deemed exercise of an Affiliated SAR shall not necessitate a reduction in the number of Shares subject to the related Option.
 
6.4  Exercise of Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable on such terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine.
 
6.5  SAR Agreement. Each SAR shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the grant price, the term of the SAR, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine.
 
6.6  Expiration of SARs. An SAR granted under the Plan shall expire upon the date determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 5.4 (pertaining to Options) also shall apply to SARs.
 
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6.7  Payment of SAR Amount. Upon exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:
 
(a)  The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the grant price; times
 
(b)  The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.
 
At the discretion of the Committee, the payment upon SAR exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.
 
6.8  Nontransferability of SARs. No SAR granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as permitted under SECTION 9. An SAR granted to a Participant shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by such Participant.
 
SECTION 7
RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
 
7.1  Grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Employees, Consultants or Directors in such amounts as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine.
 
7.2  Award Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares subject to the Award, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Shares subject to a Restricted Stock Award shall be held by the Company as escrow agent until the restrictions on such Shares have lapsed.
 
7.3  Transferability. Except as provided in this SECTION 7, Shares subject to an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction. All rights with respect to the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be available during his or her lifetime only to such Participant.
 
7.4  Other Restrictions. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on any Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, restrictions based upon the attainment of specific Performance Measures, and/or restrictions under applicable Federal or state securities laws; and may legend the certificates representing Restricted Stock to give appropriate notice of such restrictions. For example, the Committee may determine that some or all certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock shall bear the following legend: 
 
“The sale or other transfer of the shares of stock represented by this certificate, whether voluntary, involuntary, or by operation of law, is subject to certain restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Innovative Card Technologies Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, and in a Restricted Stock Agreement. A copy of the Plan and such Restricted Stock Agreement may be obtained from the Secretary of Innovative Card Technologies, Inc.”
 
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7.5  Removal of Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this SECTION 7, Shares covered by each Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award made under the Plan shall be delivered to the Participant as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction. The Committee, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions shall lapse, and/or remove any restrictions. After the restrictions have lapsed, the Participant shall be entitled to have any legend or legends under Section 7.4 removed from his or her Share certificate, and the Shares shall be freely transferable by the Participant. 
 
7.6  Voting Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Participants holding Shares subject to a Restricted Stock Award granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Committee determines otherwise.
 
7.7  Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock shall be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares shall be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid. Participants holding Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall be entitled to receive dividend equivalents with respect to dividends and other distributions paid with respect to Shares only to the extent provided in the applicable Award Agreement.
 
7.8  Return of Restricted Stock to Company. Subject to the applicable Award Agreement and Section 7.5, upon the earlier of (a) the Participant’s Termination of Employment, or (b) the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed shall revert to the Company and, subject to Section 4.3, again shall become available for grant under the Plan.
 
7.9  Repurchase Option. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement pursuant to which a Participant purchases Restricted Shares shall grant the Company a repurchase option exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of the Participant's service with the Company for any reason (including death or Disability). The purchase price for Shares repurchased pursuant to the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall be the original price paid by the Participant and may be paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the Participant to the Company. The repurchase option shall lapse at a rate determined by the Committee.
 
SECTION 8
PERFORMANCE UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARES
 
8.1  Grant of Performance Units/Shares. Performance Units and Performance Shares may be granted to Employees, Consultants or Directors at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Units and Performance Shares granted to each Participant.
 
8.2  Value of Performance Units/Shares. Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. The Committee shall set Performance Measures in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or value of Performance Units/Shares that will be paid out to the Participants and the Performance Period during which the Performance Measures must be met.
 
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8.3  Earning of Performance Units/Shares. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/Shares shall be entitled to receive a payout of the number of Performance Units/Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding Performance Measures have been achieved. After the grant of a Performance Unit/Share, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may reduce the amount payable with respect to such Performance Unit/Share.
 
8.4  Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Shares. Payment of earned Performance Units/Shares shall be made as soon as practicable after the expiration of the applicable Performance Period. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Shares in the form of cash, in Shares (which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period) or in a combination thereof.
 
8.5  Cancellation of Performance Units/Shares. Subject to the applicable Award Agreement, upon the earlier of (a) the Participant’s Termination of Employment, or (b) the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all remaining Performance Units/Shares shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company, and subject to Section 4.3, the Shares subject thereto shall again be available for grant under the Plan.
 
8.6  Non-transferability. Performance Units/Shares may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as permitted under SECTION 9. A Participant’s rights under the Plan shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative.
 
SECTION 9
BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
 
If permitted by the Committee, a Participant may name a beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom any unpaid vested Award shall be paid in event of the Participant’s death. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant and shall be effective only if given in a form and manner acceptable to the Committee. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate and, subject to the terms of the Plan, any unexercised vested Award may be exercised by the Committee or executor of the Participant’s estate.
 
SECTION 10
DEFERRALS
 
The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit a Participant to defer receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant under an Award. Any such deferral elections shall be subject to such rules and procedures as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
 
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SECTION 11
RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES AND CONSULTANTS
 
11.1  No Effect on Employment or Service. 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.
 
11.2  Participation. No Employee, Consultant or Director 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.
 
SECTION 12
AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION, OR TERMINATION
 
The Board, in its sole discretion, may alter, amend or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason. However, as required by Applicable Laws, no alteration or amendment shall be effective without further stockholder approval. Neither the amendment, suspension, nor termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the Participant, alter or impair any rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted. No Award may be granted during any period of suspension nor after termination of the Plan.
 
SECTION 13
TAX WITHHOLDING
 
13.1  Withholding Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award, the Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy Federal, state, and local taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award.
 
13.2  Shares Withholding. The Committee, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy the minimum statutory tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part, by delivering to the Company Shares having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld. The value of the Shares to be delivered will be based on their Fair Market Value on the date of delivery.
 
SECTION 14
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 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, notion, 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 Agreement and against and 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 settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such 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, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
 
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SECTION 15
ADJUSTMENTS, CHANGE IN CONTROL
 
15.1  Adjustments. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, liquidation, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any distribution to holders of Shares other than a regular cash dividend, the number and class of securities available under this Plan, the number and class of securities subject to each outstanding Option and the purchase price per security, the terms of each outstanding SAR, the maximum number of securities with respect to which Awards which are intended to constitute “qualified performance-based compensation”, within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, may be granted during any calendar year to any Participant, the terms of each outstanding Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Share Award and Performance Share Unit Award, including the number and class of securities subject thereto, shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, such adjustments to be made in the case of outstanding Options and SARs without an increase in the aggregate purchase price or base price. The decision of the Committee regarding any such adjustment shall be final, binding and conclusive. If any such adjustment would result in a fractional security being (a) available under this Plan, such fractional security shall be disregarded, or (b) subject to an Award under this Plan, the Company shall pay the holder of such Award, in connection with the first vesting, exercise or settlement of such Award, in whole or in part, occurring after such adjustment, an amount in cash determined by multiplying (i) the fraction of such security (rounded to the nearest hundredth) by (ii) the excess, if any, of (A) the Fair Market Value on the vesting, exercise or settlement date over (B) the exercise or base price, if any, of such Award.
 
15.2  Change in Control. Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan or any Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control (as defined below), the Committee (as constituted prior to such Change in Control) may, in its discretion, provide that any one or more of the following shall occur: (i) all outstanding Options and SARs shall immediately become exercisable in full; (ii) all outstanding Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall immediately vest; (iii) the Performance Period applicable to any outstanding Award shall lapse; (iv) the Performance Measures applicable to any outstanding Award shall be deemed to be satisfied at the target level or at any other level as determined by the Committee (as constituted prior to such Change in Control); (v) the shares of stock of the corporation resulting from such Change in Control, or a parent corporation thereof, be substituted for some or all of the Shares subject to an outstanding Award, with an appropriate and equitable adjustment to such Award as shall be determined by the Committee in accordance with Section 15.1; (vi) require outstanding Awards, in whole or in part, to be surrendered to the Company by the holder, and to be immediately cancelled by the Company, and to provide for the holder to receive (A) a cash payment in an amount equal to (i) in the case of an Option or an SAR, the number of Shares then subject to the portion of such Option or SAR surrendered multiplied by the excess, if any, of the highest per share price offered to holders of Shares in any transaction whereby the Change in Control takes place, over the purchase price or base price per share of Shares subject to such Option or SAR, (ii) in the case of a Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit award, the number of Shares then subject to the portion of such Award surrendered multiplied by the highest per share price offered to holders of Shares in any transaction whereby the Change in Control takes place, and (iii) in the case of a Performance Unit award, the number of Performance Units then subject to the portion of such award surrendered; (B) shares of capital stock of the corporation resulting from such Change in Control, or a parent corporation thereof, having a fair market value not less than the amount determined under clause (A) above; or (C) a combination of the payment of cash pursuant to clause (A) above and the issuance of shares pursuant to clause (B) above. 
 
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For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change of Control” means the happening of any of the following events:
 
(a)  When any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or a Company employee benefit plan, including any trustee of such plan acting as trustee) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; or
 
(b)  The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all the Company’s assets; or
 
(c)  The dissolution or liquidation of the Company; or
 
(d)  A change in the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” shall mean directors who either (A) are directors of the Company as of the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors of the Company with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but shall not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Company).
 
SECTION 16
CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES
 
16.1  Legal Compliance. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of Shares shall comply with Applicable Laws and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
 
16.2  Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.
 
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SECTION 17
INABILITY TO OBTAIN AUTHORITY
 
The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
 
SECTION 18
RESERVATION OF SHARES
 
The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
 
SECTION 19
LEGAL CONSTRUCTION
 
19.1  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.
 
19.2  Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, such 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.
 
19.3  Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all Applicable Laws.
 
19.4  Securities Law Compliance. With respect to Section 16 Persons, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3. To the extent any provision of the Plan, Award Agreement or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee.
 
19.5  Governing Law. The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
 
19.6  Captions. Captions are provided herein for convenience only, and shall not serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Plan.
 
 
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