
Accordingly, the Company may grant to certain employees ("Optionees") the option ("Option") to purchase shares of the common stock of the Company ("Stock"), as hereinafter set forth. The DELL COMPUTER CORPORATION 1998 BROAD-BASED STOCK OPTION PLAN (the "Plan") is intended to provide a means whereby certain employees of DELL COMPUTER CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and its subsidiaries may develop a sense of proprietorship and personal involvement in the development and financial success of the Company, and to encourage them to remain with and devote their best efforts to the business of the Company, thereby advancing the interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Overall, the Dell plan says the following. The sections in italics are the actual language of the plan the sections in regular type are 's interpretation. Bill Coleman and Keith Fortier, neither of whom is a lawyer, have summarized each section in plain English and explained why it matters to the person who has stock options under the plan.

asked some of its stock options experts to interpret a stock option plan from Dell Computer Corporation. The language is difficult to understand - employees, human resource professionals, even top executives have a tough time interpreting stock option plans. Stock option plans are written by lawyers. Stock option agreements are the individual options grants, vesting schedules, and other employee-specific information.

Stock option plans are the large contracts that govern stock options programs.
