EX-4.4 2 a66716ex4-4.txt EXHIBIT 4.4 1 EXHIBIT 4.4 SONOMA SYSTEMS 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN 1. PURPOSES OF THE PLAN. The purposes of this Stock Option Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to the Employees and Consultants of the Company and to promote the success of the Company's business. Options granted hereunder may be either Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options, at the discretion of the Board and as reflected in the terms of the written option agreement. 2. DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply: (a) "Administrator" shall mean the Board or any of its Committees appointed pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan. (b) "Applicable Laws" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) below. (c) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. (d) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. (e) "Committee" shall mean the Committee appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 4(a) of the Plan, if one is appointed. (f) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company. (g) "Company" shall mean Sonoma Systems, a California corporation. (h) "Consultant" shall mean any person who is engaged by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary to render consulting services and is compensated for such consulting services, and any director of the Company whether compensated for such services or not; provided that the term Consultant shall not include directors who are not compensated for their services or are paid only a director's fee by the Company. (i) "Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant" shall mean the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an Employee or Consultant. Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant shall not be considered interrupted in the case of sick leave, military leave, or any other leave of absence approved by the Administrator; provided that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days or reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute. (j) "Employee" shall mean any person, including officers, directors and Named Executives, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. The payment of a director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company. 2 (k) "Exchange Act" shall mean 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 a national stock exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the average of the closing sales prices for such stock as quoted on such exchange or market for the last five trading days before the date of determination (if for a given day no sales were reported, the closing bid on that day shall be used), as such prices are reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; (ii) If the Common Stock is quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System (but not on the Nasdaq National Market) or regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the average of the mean between the bid and asked prices for the Common Stock for the last five days before 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" shall mean an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. (n) "Named Executive" shall mean any individual who, on the last day of the Company's fiscal year, is the chief executive officer of the Company (or is acting in such capacity) or among the four highest compensated officers of the Company (other than the Chief Executive Officer). Such officer status shall be determined pursuant to the executive compensation disclosure rules under the Exchange Act. (o) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" shall mean an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. (p) "Option" shall mean a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan. (q) "Optioned Stock" shall mean the Common Stock subject to an Option. (r) "Optionee" shall mean an Employee or Consultant who receives an Option. (s) "Parent" shall mean a "parent corporation", whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code. (t) "Plan" shall mean this 1996 Stock Option Plan. (u) "Share" shall mean a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 11 of the Plan. 3 (v) "Subsidiary" shall mean a "subsidiary corporation", whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code. 3. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of Section 12 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be optioned and sold under the Plan is 6,500,000 shares of Common Stock. 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. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, shares issued under the Plan and later repurchased by the Company shall not become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. (a) COMPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATOR. (i) MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES. If permitted by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor rule thereto, as in effect at the time that discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan ("Rule 16b-3"), and by the legal requirements relating to the administration of incentive stock option plans, if any, of applicable securities laws and the Code (collectively, the "Applicable Laws"), the Plan may (but need not) be administered by different administrative bodies with respect to directors, officers who are not directors and Employees who are neither directors nor officers. (ii) ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. With respect to grants of Options to Employees or Consultants who are also officers or directors of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board, if the Board may administer the Plan in compliance with Rule 16b-3 as it applies to a plan intended to qualify thereunder as a discretionary plan and Section 162(m) of the Code as it applies so as to qualify grants of Options to Named Executives as performance-based compensation, or (B) a Committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan, which Committee shall be constituted (I) in such a manner as to permit the Plan to comply with Rule 16b-3 as it applies to a plan intended to qualify thereunder as a discretionary plan, (II) in such a manner as to qualify grants of Options to Named Executives as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code and (III) in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws. (iii) ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO OTHER PERSONS. With respect to grants of Options 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 Applicable Laws. (iv) GENERAL. Once a Committee has been appointed pursuant to subsection (ii) or (iii) of this Section 4(a), 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 any Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies (however 4 caused) and remove all members of a Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws and, in the case of a Committee appointed under subsection (ii), to the extent permitted by Rule 16b-3 as it applies to a plan intended to qualify thereunder as a discretionary plan, and to the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code to qualify grants of Options to Named Executives as performance-based compensation. (b) POWERS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion: (i) to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, in accordance with Section 2(l) of the Plan; (ii) to select the Employees and Consultants to whom Options may from time to time be granted hereunder; (iii) to determine whether and to what extent Options 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; (vi) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, the share price and any restriction or limitation, or any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions regarding any Option and/or the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion); (vii) to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Common Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an award under this Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the participant (including providing for and determining the amount, if any, of any deemed earnings on any deferred amount during any deferral period); and (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; (c) Effect of Administrator's Decision. All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and binding on all Optionees and any other holders of any Options. 5. ELIGIBILITY. (a) Nonstatutory Stock Options may be granted only to Employees and Consultants. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. An Employee or 5 Consultant who has been granted an Option may, if he or she is otherwise eligible, be granted an additional Option or Options. (b) Each Option shall be designated in the written option agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Stock Options that are exercisable for the first time by an 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. 6. TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the shareholders of the Company as described in Section 17 of the Plan. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 14 of the Plan. 7. TERM OF OPTION. The term of each Option shall be the term stated in the Option Agreement; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the term shall be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement. However, in the case of an Option granted to an Optionee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement. 8. LIMITATION ON GRANTS TO EMPLOYEES. Subject to adjustment as provided in this Plan, the maximum number of shares which may be granted under Options to any employee under this Plan for any fiscal year of the Company shall be 500,000. 9. OPTION EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION. (a) The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the Administrator, but shall be subject to the following: (i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option (A) granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting 6 power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. (B) granted to any Employee, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. (ii) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option (A) granted to a person who, at the time of the grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the grant. (B) granted to a person who, at the time of grant of such Option, is a Named Executive of the Company, the per share Exercise Price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant; (C) granted to any person other than a Named Executive, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 85% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. (iii) In the case of an Option granted on or after the effective date of registration of any class of equity security of the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act and prior to six months after the termination of such registration, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. (b) The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator (and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall be determined at the time of grant) and may consist entirely of (1) cash, (2) check, (3) promissory note, (4) other Shares which (x) in the case of Shares acquired upon exercise of an Option either have been owned by the Optionee for more than six months on the date of surrender or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company, and (y) 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, (5) delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price, (6) delivery of an irrevocable subscription agreement for the Shares which irrevocably obligates the option holder to take and pay for the Shares not more than twelve months after the date of delivery of the subscription agreement, (7) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment, or (8) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted under Applicable Laws. In making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept, the Administrator shall consider if acceptance of such consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the Company. 10. EXERCISE OF OPTION. (a) PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE; RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the 7 Administrator, including performance criteria with respect to the Company and/or the Optionee, and as shall be permissible under the terms of the Plan. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by the Company. Full payment may, as authorized by the Administrator, consist of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 9(b) of the Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly upon exercise of the Option. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 12 of the Plan. Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised. (b) TERMINATION OF STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT. In the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant (as the case may be), such Optionee may, but only within three (3) months (or such other period of time, not exceeding three (3) months in the case of an Incentive Stock Option or six (6) months in the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, as is determined by the Administrator, with such determination in the case of an Incentive Stock Option being made at the time of grant of the Option) after the date of such termination (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise his or her Option to the extent that he or she was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination. To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of such termination, or if the Optionee does not exercise such Option (which the Optionee was entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate. (c) DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10(b) above, in the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant as a result of his or her total and permanent disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), Optionee may, but only within six (6) months from the date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise the Option to the extent otherwise entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination. To the extent that Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate. 8 (ii) In the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant as a result of a disability which does not fall within the meaning of total and permanent disability (as set forth in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), Optionee may, but only within six (6) months from the date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise the Option to the extent otherwise entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination. However, to the extent that such Optionee fails to exercise an Option which is an Incentive Stock Option ("ISO") (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) within three (3) months of the date of such termination, the Option will not qualify for ISO treatment under the Code. To the extent that Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within six months (6) from the date of termination, the Option shall terminate. (d) DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death of an Optionee: (i) during the term of the Option who is at the time of his or her death an Employee or Consultant of the Company and who shall have been in Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant since the date of grant of the Option, the Option may be exercised, at any time within six (6) months (or such other period of time, not exceeding six months, as is determined by the Administrator, with such determination in the case of an Incentive Stock Option being made at the time of grant of the Option) following the date of death (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that would have accrued had the Optionee continued living and remained in Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant twelve (12) months (or such other period of time not exceeding twelve (12) months as is determined in the case of an Incentive Stock Option at the time of grant of the Option) after the date of death, subject to the limitation set forth in Section 5(b); or (ii) within three (3) months (or such other period of time not exceeding three (3) months as is determined by the Administrator, with such determination in the case of an Incentive Stock Option being made at the time of grant of the Option) after the termination of Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant, the Option may be exercised, at any time within six (6) months following the date of death (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that had accrued at the date of termination. (e) EXTENSION OF EXERCISE PERIOD. Notwithstanding the limitations set forth in Sections 10(b), (c) and (d) above, the Administrator has full power and authority to extend the period of time for which any Option granted under the Plan is to remain exercisable following termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant from the limited period set forth above or in the written option agreement to such greater period of time as the Administrator shall deem appropriate; provided, however, that in no event shall such Option be exercisable after the specified expiration date of the Option term. 9 (f) RULE 16b-3. Options granted to persons subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act must comply with Rule 16b-3 and shall contain such additional conditions or restrictions as may be required thereunder to qualify for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Plan transactions. 11. NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. The Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution. The designation of a beneficiary by an Optionee does not constitute a transfer. An Option may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee or a transferee permitted by this Section 11. 12. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION OR MERGER. Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option, and the number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option, the maximum number of Shares of Common Stock for which Options may be granted to any Employee under Section 8 of the Plan, and the price per share of Common Stock covered by each such outstanding Option, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action, unless otherwise provided by the Administrator. The Administrator may, in the exercise of its sole discretion in such instances, declare that any Option shall terminate as of a date fixed by the Administrator and give each Optionee the right to exercise his or her Option as to all or any part of the Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable. In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation, the Option shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the Administrator determines, in the exercise of its sole discretion and in lieu of such assumption or substitution, that the Optionee shall have the right to exercise the Option as to some or all of the Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable. If the Administrator makes an Option exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a merger or sale of assets, the Administrator shall notify the Optionee that the Option shall be exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, and the Option will terminate upon the expiration of such period. 10 13. TIME OF GRANTING OPTIONS. The date of grant of an Option shall, for all purposes, be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Option or such other date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to whom an Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant. 14. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. (a) AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem advisable; provided that, the following revisions or amendments shall require approval of the shareholders of the Company in the manner described in Section 18 of the Plan: (i) any increase in the number of Shares subject to the Plan, other than in connection with an adjustment under Section 12 of the Plan; (ii) any change in the designation of the class of persons eligible to be granted Options; (iii) any change in the limitation on grants to Employees as described in Section 8 of the Plan or other changes which would require shareholder approval to qualify Options granted hereunder as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code; or (iv) if the Company has a class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act at the time of such revision or amendment, any material increase in the benefits accruing to participants under the Plan. (b) SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. If any amendment requiring shareholder approval under Section 14(a) of the Plan is made subsequent to the first registration of any class of equity securities by the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, such shareholder approval shall be solicited as described in Section 18 of the Plan. (c) EFFECT OF AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. Any such amendment or termination of the Plan shall not affect Options already granted and such Options shall remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been amended or terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Board, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company. 15. CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. 11 As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the person exercising such Option 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 by any of the aforementioned relevant provisions of law. 16. 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. 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. 17. OPTION AGREEMENT. Options shall be evidenced by written option agreements in such form as the Board shall approve. 18. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. (a) Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted. (b) If and in the event that the Company registers any class of equity securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, any required approval of the shareholders of the Company obtained after such registration shall be solicited substantially in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. (c) If any required approval by the shareholders of the Plan itself or of any amendment thereto is solicited at any time otherwise than in the manner described in Section 18(b) hereof, then the Company shall, at or prior to the first annual meeting of shareholders held subsequent to the later of (1) the first registration of any class of equity securities of the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act or (2) the granting of an Option hereunder to an officer or director after such registration, do the following: (i) furnish in writing to the holders entitled to vote for the Plan or amendment substantially the same information which would be required (if proxies to be voted with respect to approval or disapproval of the Plan or amendment were then being solicited) by the rules and regulations in effect under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act at the time such information is furnished; and (ii) file with, or mail for filing to, the Securities and Exchange Commission four copies of the written information referred to in subsection (i) hereof not later than the date on which such information is first sent or given to shareholders. (d) The Company's failure to comply with subsection (c) above shall not affect the validity of any options properly granted under the Plan; provided, however, that any 12 Optionee subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall comply with any limitations imposed by the Exchange Act with respect to the exercise of the Option and transfer or other disposition of the Optioned Stock. 19. INFORMATION TO OPTIONEES. The Company shall provide to each Optionee, during the period for which such Optionee has one or more Options outstanding, copies of all annual reports which are provided to all shareholders of the Company. The Company shall not be required to provide such information if the issuance of Options under the Plan is limited to key employees whose duties in connection with the Company assure their access to equivalent information.