KRY Stock Option Plan
posted on
Jan 26, 2008 09:03PM
Crystallex International Corporation is a Canadian-based gold company with a successful record of developing and operating gold mines in Venezuela and elsewhere in South America
MBDOCS_3496715.4
CRYSTALLEX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
INCENTIVE SHARE OPTION PLAN
as amended and restated
as of June 21, 2007
MBDOCS_3496715.4
INCENTIVE SHARE OPTION PLAN
1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1.1 Interpretation
For the purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) “affiliate”, “associate” and “subsidiary” have the meanings ascribed to those terms
in Section 1 of the Securities Act (Ontario);(b) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation;
(c) “Business Day” means a day on which banks are open for business in the City of
Toronto, Ontario but does not include a Saturday, Sunday or holiday in the
Province of Ontario.
(d) “Common Shares” means the Common Shares of the Corporation;
(e) “Corporation” means Crystallex International Corporation;
(f) “Consultant” means an individual (including an individual whose services are
contracted through a corporation the shares of which are beneficially owned,
directly or indirectly, by the individual) with whom the Corporation or any of its
subsidiaries has a contract for substantial services;
(g) “Director” means a director of the Corporation;
(h) “Eligible Person” means a director, officer, employee, part-time employee or
Consultant of the Corporation or any corporation that is an associate, affiliate or
subsidiary of the Corporation;
(i) “Insider” means:
(i) an insider as defined in Section 1(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), otherthan a person who falls within that definition solely by virtue of being a
director or senior officer of a subsidiary of the Corporation, and
(ii) an associate of any person who is an insider by virtue of (i) above;
(j) “Option” means an option to purchase Common Shares granted to an Eligible
Person pursuant to the terms of the Plan;
(k) “Outstanding Issue” at any time means the number of issued and outstanding
Common Shares, on a non-diluted basis, at that time;
(l) “Participant” means an Eligible Person to whom an Option has been granted;
- 2 -
MBDOCS_3496715.4
(m) “Plan” means this amended and restated Incentive Share Option Plan of the
Corporation;
(n) “Share Compensation Arrangement” means any stock option, stock option plan,
employee stock purchase plan or any other compensation or incentive mechanism
involving the issuance or potential issuance of Common Shares, including a share
purchase from treasury which is financially assisted by the Corporation by way of a
loan, guarantee or otherwise; and
(o) “Termination Date” means the date on which a Participant ceases to be an Eligible
Person.
Words importing the singular number only shall include the plural and vice versa and
words importing the masculine shall include the feminine.
The Plan and all matters to which reference is made herein shall be governed by and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada
applicable therein.
1.2 Purpose
The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Corporation by providing Eligible
Persons with additional economic incentive, encouraging stock ownership by Eligible Persons,
increasing the proprietary interest of Eligible Persons in the success of the Corporation,
encouraging Eligible Persons to remain with the Corporation, and attracting new employees and
officers to the Corporation and its associates, affiliates and subsidiaries.
1.3 Administration
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a committee of the Board duly
appointed for this purpose by the Board and consisting of not less than three
directors. If a committee is appointed for this purpose, all references to the Board
will be deemed to be references to the committee.
(b) Subject to the limitations of the Plan, the Board shall have the authority:
(i) to interpret the Plan and to adopt, amend and rescind such administrative
guidelines and other rules and regulations relating to the Plan as it shall
from time to time deem advisable, and
(ii) to make all other determinations and to take all other actions in connection
with the implementation and administration of the Plan including, without
limitation, for the purpose of ensuring compliance with Section 3.4 hereof,
as it may deem necessary or advisable.
The Board’s guidelines, rules, regulations, interpretations and determinations shall
be conclusive and binding upon the Corporation and all Eligible Persons.
- 3 -
MBDOCS_3496715.4
(c) If the Corporation enters into a transaction that results in a merger, amalgamation,
plan of arrangement, consolidation, reorganization or other business combination
pursuant to which the business of the Corporation is combined with that of any
third party; a third party makes a take-over bid for the Corporation or the
Corporation enters into a transaction that results in a third party acquiring all or
substantially all of the assets of the corporation by way of purchase, lease or any
other means, the Board may make such provisions for the protection of the rights of
Participants as the Board in its discretion deems appropriate, including amending or
waiving any restrictions applicable to the exercise of outstanding Options.
(d) With the consent of the affected Participants, and subject to any required regulatory
or other approval, the Board may amend or modify any outstanding Options in any
manner.
1.4 Shares Reserved
(a) The maximum number of Common Shares issued and issuable under the Plan at
any time and from time to time shall be 10% of the Outstanding Issue.
(b) The maximum number of Common Shares issuable to any one person at any time
under the Plan shall not exceed 5% of the Outstanding Issue.
(c) The maximum number of Common Shares issued or issuable to Insiders at any time
under the Plan and any other Stock Compensation Arrangement shall not exceed
10% of the Outstanding Issue.
(d) Any Common Shares subject to an Option that for any reason is cancelled or
terminated without having been exercised shall again be available for grant under
the Plan.
(e) If there is a change in the outstanding Common Shares by reason of any stock
dividend or any recapitalization, amalgamation, subdivision, consolidation,
combination or exchange of shares, or other corporate change, subject to any
required regulatory approval, the Board shall make appropriate substitutions or
adjustments in:
(i) the number or kind of shares or other securities issued and issuable pursuant
to the Plan, and
(ii) the number and kind of shares subject to unexercised Options theretofore
granted and in the exercise price of such Options,
provided, however, that no substitution or adjustment shall obligate the Corporation
to issue or sell fractional shares.
- 4 -
MBDOCS_3496715.4
1.5 Limits with respect to Directors
(a) Subject to Subsection 1.5(b), the maximum number of Options that may be granted
to a Director under the Plan in respect of his service as a Director is: 50,000 upon
his first election or appointment as a Director and 25,000 upon his re-election or reappointment
as a Director for any year thereafter.
(b) The limitation in Subsection 1.5(a) shall not apply to:
(i) any Options that may be granted to a Director in respect of his service as
any other type of Eligible Person;
(ii) any Options that may be granted to a Director in respect of his service as the
chair or a member of any committee of the Board; and
(iii) any Options that may be granted to a Director in respect of his contribution
as a Director that the Board considers exceptional and outside the scope of
the contribution ordinarily expected of a Director.
2. OPTIONS
2.1 Grants
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have the authority to issue Options to
Eligible Persons and to determine the limitations, restrictions and conditions, if any, in addition to
those set forth in Sections 2.2 and 2.3, applicable to such grant and the exercise of such Options,
including:
(a) the nature and duration of any restrictions on the exercise of such Options or the
sale or other disposition of Common Shares acquired upon exercise of such
Options; and
(b) the nature of the events, if any, and the duration of the period in which any
Participant’s rights in respect of Common Shares acquired upon exercise of an
Option may be forfeited.
An Eligible Person may receive Options on more than one occasion under the Plan and
may receive separate Options on any one occasion.
2.2 Exercise Price
The Board shall establish the exercise price for each Option at the time such Option is
granted. The exercise price of any Option granted by the Board shall not be less than the closing
price of the Common Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on the trading day immediately
preceding the date of the grant of the Option.
The exercise price shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of
Subsection 1.4(e).
- 5 -
MBDOCS_3496715.4
2.3 Exercise of Options
(a) Subject to Subsections 2.3(c), (e) and (f), all Options granted by the Board shall
expire and be of no further force or effect on the first to occur of: (i) the 10th
anniversary of the date of the grant of the Option; and (ii) such earlier date as the
Board may determine at the time of grant of the Option (the “Expiry Date”).
(b) The Board may determine when any Option will become exercisable and may
determine that the Option shall be exercisable in instalments.
(c) In the event that the Expiry Date of any Option would otherwise occur during or
within 10 Business Days following the end of a period in which the trading of the
Common Shares is restricted by the policies of the Corporation (a “Blackout
Period”), then the Expiry Date of such Option shall be extended to the date which
is the tenth (10th) Business Day following the expiration of the Blackout Period.(d) Options shall not be transferable by the Participant otherwise than on death by will
or the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable during the lifetime
of a Participant only by the Participant and after death only by the Participant’s
legal representative.
(e) Unless otherwise determined by the Board or provided in an employment
agreement between the Corporation and the Participant, if any portion of an Option
held by the Participant is not vested by the Termination Date, that portion of the
Option shall expire and may not under any circumstances be exercised by the
Participant. Without limitation, and for greater certainty only, this provision will
apply regardless of whether the Participant was dismissed with or without cause
and regardless of whether the Participant received compensation in respect of
dismissal or was entitled to a period of notice of termination which would
otherwise have permitted a greater portion of the Option to vest with the
Participant.
(f) Unless otherwise determined by the Board, if a Participant ceases to be an Eligible
Person for any reason other than death, each Option held by the Participant and
vested on the Termination Date shall continue to be exercisable until the Expiry
Date.
(g) Subject to Subsection 2.3(a) and unless otherwise determined by the Board, if a
Participant ceases to be an Eligible Participant by reason of death, each Option held
by the Participant and vested on the Termination Date shall cease to be exercisable
12 months after the Termination Date.
(h) Each Option shall be confirmed by an option agreement executed by the
Corporation and by the Participant.
(i) Except as set forth in Subsection 2.3(j), the exercise price of each Common Share
purchased under an Option shall be paid in full in cash or by bank draft or certified
cheque at the time of such exercise, and upon receipt of payment in full, but subject
- 6 -
MBDOCS_3496715.4
to the terms of the Plan, the number of Common Shares in respect of which the
Option is exercised shall be duly issued as fully paid and non-assessable.
(j) In lieu of exercising an Option in accordance with Subsection 2.3(i), the Board may
permit a Participant to elect to receive, without payment by the Participant of any
additional consideration, Common Shares equal to the value of the Option (or the
portion thereof being exercised) by surrender of the Option at the principal office of
the Corporation, together with written notice reflecting such “cashless” exercise, in
which event the Corporation shall issue to the Participant a number of Common
Shares computed using the following formula:
X = Y (A – B)
A
Where: X = The number of Common Shares to be issued to the
Participant pursuant to the cashless exercise;
Y = The number of Common Shares in respect of which the
cashless exercise election is made;
A = The fair market value of one Common Share in the date of
exercise of the Option; and
B = The exercise price of the Option.
For the purposes of this Subsection, the fair market value of one Common Share as
of a particular date shall be the volume weighted average trading price of one
Common Share on the Toronto Stock Exchange over the period of 5 consecutive
trading days ending on and including the last trading day prior to the particular
cashless exercise date. Upon a cashless exercise in accordance with this
Subsection, the number of Common Shares which may be issued under this Plan
shall be reduced by the number of Shares referred to above as “X” and not the
number referred to as “Y”.
3. GENERAL
3.1 Amendments by the Board
Subject to Section 3.2, the Board may, subject to the policies, rules, regulations and
discretions of any stock exchange on which the Common Shares are from time to time
listed and to the requirements of any other applicable regulatory authority, at any time and
from time to time, without notice or shareholder approval, amend, suspend or terminate the
Plan, or any portion thereof, or any Option granted hereunder, in such respects as the
Board may consider advisable, provided that no option previously granted to a Participant
under the Plan shall be impaired. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Board may make the following types of amendments to the Plan without shareholder
approval:
- 7 -
MBDOCS_3496715.4
(a) Reduce the number of securities issuable under the Plan.
(b) Subject to subsection 3.2(c) below, increase or decrease the maximum number of
Common Shares any single Participant is entitled to receive under the Plan.
(c) Any amendment pertaining to the vesting provisions of each Option.
(d) Any amendment to the terms of the Plan relating to the effect of termination,
cessation of employment, disability or death of a Participant on the right to exercise
Options.
(e) Any amendment pertaining to the assignability of grants of Options required for
estate planning purposes.
(f) Increase the option period referred to in Subsection 2.3(c) and 2.3(f) of this Plan.
(g) Increase the exercise price or purchase price of any Option.
(h) Amend the process by which a Participant can exercise his or her Option, including
the required form of payment for the Common Shares, the form of exercise notice
and the place where such payments and notices must be delivered.
(i) Add and/or amend any form of financial assistance provision to the Plan.
(j) Add and/or amend a cashless exercise feature, payable in cash or Common Shares.
(k) Amend the eligibility requirements for Eligible Participants in the Plan.
(l) Any amendment as may be necessary or desirable to bring the Plan into compliance
with securities, corporate or tax laws and the rules and policies of any stock
exchange upon which the Common Shares are from time to time listed.
(m) Any amendment to add covenants of the Corporation for the protection of
Participants, provided that the Board shall be of the good faith opinion that such
additions will not be prejudicial to the rights or interests of the Participants.
(n) Any amendment not inconsistent with the Plan as may be necessary or desirable
with respect to matters or questions, which, in the good faith opinion of the Board,
having in mind the best interests of the Participants, it may be expedient to make,
provided that the Board shall be of the opinion that such amendments and
modifications will not be prejudicial to the interests of the Participants.
(o) Any such changes or corrections which, in the advise of counsel to the Corporation,
are required for the purpose of curing or correcting any ambiguity or defect or
inconsistent provision or clerical omission or mistake or manifest error, provided
that the Board shall be of the opinion that such changes or corrections will not be
prejudicial to the rights and interests of the Participants.
- 8 -
MBDOCS_3496715.4
3.2 Amendments Requiring Shareholder Approval
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, none of the following amendments shall
be made to the Plan without the approval of the shareholders (excluding, if necessary, the
votes of securities held directly or indirectly by Insiders benefiting from such amendment):
(a) Amendments to the Plan which would increase the maximum number of Common
Shares issuable under the Plan as a fixed percentage of the Outstanding Issue,
otherwise than in accordance with Subsection 1.4(e) of this Plan.
(b) Amendments to the Plan which would result in a reduction in the exercise price or
purchase price, or cancellation and reissue of Options to an Insider.
(c) Any amendment to the Plan to increase the maximum number of Common Shares
that may be:
(i) issued to Insiders within any one year period, and
(ii) issuable to Insiders, at any time.
under the Plan or, when combined with the Corporation’s other security based
compensation arrangements, which could exceed 10% of the Outstanding Issue,
respectively.
(d) Any amendment to the Plan that extends the exercise period of an Option granted
to an Insider beyond the original Expiry Date, otherwise than in accordance with
Subsection 2.3(c) of this Plan.
(e) Any amendment to the Plan allowing awards granted under plans to be transferable
or assignable other than for normal estate settlement purposes.
(f) Any amendment to the amending provisions of the Plan other than as permitted
under the applicable rules and policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange or such other
exchange upon which the Common Shares of the Corporation may be posted and
listed for trading.
3.3 Termination
The Board may terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time in accordance with
applicable legislation, and subject to any required regulatory or other approval. No such
termination shall alter or impair the Options or any rights pursuant thereto granted previously to
any Participant without the consent of such Participant. If the Plan is terminated, the provisions of
the Plan and any administrative guidelines and other rules and regulations adopted by the Board
and in force at the time of termination shall continue in effect during such time as the Options
remain outstanding.
- 9 -
MBDOCS_3496715.4
3.4 Compliance with Legislation
The Plan, the grant and exercise of Options hereunder and the Corporation’s obligation to
sell and deliver Common Shares upon exercise of Options shall be subject to all applicable federal,
provincial and foreign laws, rules and regulations, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange
on which the Common Shares are listed for trading and to such regulatory and other approvals as
may, in the opinion of counsel to the Corporation, be required. The Corporation shall not be
obliged by any provision of the Plan or the grant of any Option hereunder to issue or sell Common
Shares in violation of such laws, rules and regulations or any condition of such approvals. No
Option shall be granted and no Common Shares issued or sold hereunder where such grant, issue
or sale would require registration of the Plan or of Common Shares under the securities laws of
any foreign jurisdiction and any purported grant of any Option or issue or sale of any Common
Shares hereunder in violation of this provision shall be void. In addition, the Corporation shall
have no obligation to issue any Common Shares pursuant to the Plan unless such Common Shares
shall have been duly listed, upon official notice of issuance, with all stock exchanges on which the
Common Shares are listed for trading.
Common Shares issued and sold to Participants pursuant to the exercise of Options may be
subject to limitations on sale or resale under applicable securities laws.
3.5 Effective Date
The Plan shall be effective upon the approval of the Plan by:
(a) the Toronto Stock Exchange and any other exchange upon which the Common
Shares of the Corporation may be posted and listed for trading; and
(b) the shareholders of the Corporation, given by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the votes attached to the Common Shares of the Corporation entitled to vote, and
represented and voted at an annual or special meeting of the holders of such
Common Shares held, among other things, to consider and approve the Plan.
3.6 Miscellaneous
(a) Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or
additional compensation arrangements, subject to any required regulatory or other
approval.
(b) Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Option granted under the Plan shall give
any Participant any interest or title in or to any Common Shares of the Corporation
or any rights as a shareholder of the Corporation or any other legal or equitable
right against the Corporation whatsoever other than as set forth in the Plan and
upon the exercise of any Option.
(c) The Plan does not give any Participant or Eligible Person the right or obligation to
continue to serve as a director, officer or employee of the Corporation or any
- 10 -
MBDOCS_3496715.4
corporation that is an associate, affiliate or subsidiary of the Corporation. The
awarding of Options to any Eligible Person is a matter to be determined solely in
the discretion of the Board. The Plan shall not in any way fetter, limit, obligate,
restrict or constrain the Board with regard to the issue of Common Shares or any
other securities in the capital of the Corporation.
(d) No fractional Common Shares shall be issued upon the exercise of Options. If a
Participant would become entitled to a fractional Common Share upon the exercise
of an Option, the Participant shall only have the right to purchase the next lowest
whole number of Common Shares and no payment or other adjustment shall be
made with respect to the fractional Common Share disregarded.