COSTAR GROUP, INC. FORM OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Exhibit
99.2
¨ Grantee’s
Copy
¨ Company's
Copy
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
2007
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
FORM
OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
To
«Name»:
CoStar
Group, Inc. (the "Company") has granted you an option (the
"Option") under the CoStar Group, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as
amended from time to time (the "Plan"), to purchase «NoShares» shares
(the "Shares") of common stock of the Company (the "Common
Stock"), at «Price» per share (the "Exercise
Price"). The date of
grant is «DateofGrant».
This
Option is subject in all respects to the applicable provisions of the Plan,
a
copy of which is attached, except as otherwise noted. By signing this
agreement (the "Agreement"), you acknowledge that you have received and
read the Plan. This Agreement incorporates the Plan by reference and
specifies other applicable terms and conditions. All capitalized
terms not defined by this Agreement have the meanings given in the
Plan. The Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors
(or other administrator of the Plan, the "Administrator") may adjust
the number of Shares and the Exercise Price with respect to your Option from
time to time in accordance with the Plan.
Subject
to the terms of the Plan, the Option is intended to be an incentive stock option
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), and will be interpreted accordingly; provided,
however that the Option will be an incentive stock option only to the extent
that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the date of grant) of the
stock with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the
first time by you during any calendar year (under the Plan and all other plans
of the Company and its subsidiary corporations, within the meaning of Code
Section 422(d)), does not exceed $100,000. This limitation will be
applied by taking Options into account in the order in which such Options were
granted. If, by design or operation, the Option exceeds this limit,
the excess will be treated as a nonqualified stock option.
[Alternative
for ISO/NQSO hybrid grant:
Subject
to the terms of the Plan, the Option is intended to be an incentive stock option
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), and a nonqualified stock option with respect to the
following number of shares for which the Option first becomes exercisable (and
will be interpreted accordingly):
Year Incentive
Stock Option
Shares Nonqualified
Stock Option Shares
[Insert]
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Option will be an incentive stock option only to the extent
that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the date of grant) of the
stock with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the
first time by you during any calendar year (under the Plan and all other plans
of the Company and its subsidiary corporations, within the meaning of Code
Section 422(d)), does not exceed $100,000. This limitation will be
applied by taking Options into account in the order in which such Options were
granted. If, by design or operation, the Option exceeds this limit,
the excess will be treated as a nonqualified stock option.]
In
addition to the terms, conditions, and restrictions set forth in the Plan,
the
following terms, conditions, and restrictions apply to the Option:
(1)
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Vesting. The
schedule for exercising the Option is as follows, subject to the
expiration provisions set forth in Section 3
below:
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a.
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You
may exercise the Option on the following
schedule:
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[Set
forth vesting schedule. Note, that options are subject to a minimum
one year vesting period.]
No
portion of the Option that is unexercisable at your termination of employment
will thereafter become exercisable, unless the Administrator determines
otherwise.
b.
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The
Option will become immediately exercisable in full upon the occurrence
of
a Change in Control.
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“Change
in Control” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following
events:
i.
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a
Person (as the term person is used for purposes of Section 13(d)
or 14(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (other than the
Company, any Company subsidiary, any Company benefit plan, or any
underwriter temporarily holding securities for an offering of such
securities) acquires ownership of more than 80% of the undiluted
total
voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities eligible to vote
to elect members of the Board (the “Company Voting
Securities”);
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2
ii.
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consummation
of a merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company with
or into
any other entity, unless the holders of the Company Voting Securities
outstanding immediately before such consummation, together with any
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under a Company benefit
plan, hold securities that represent immediately after such merger
or
consolidation at least 20% of the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of either the Company or the other
surviving
entity or its parent; or
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iii.
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the
stockholders of the Company approve (A) a plan of complete liquidation
or
dissolution of the Company or (B) an agreement for the Company’s sale or
disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets,
and such liquidation, dissolution, sale or disposition is
consummated.
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Even
if
other tests are met, a Change in Control has not occurred under any
circumstances in which the Company files for bankruptcy protection or is
reorganized following a bankruptcy filing.
The
provisions of Section 4 will also apply if the Change in Control is a
Substantial Corporate Change (as defined in those provisions).
c.
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The
Administrator may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the time at
which
you may exercise part or all of the Option; provided, that, except
in the
case of a Change in Control or your death or disability (as defined
in
Section 3(d) below), the Option may not vest before the one-year
anniversary of the date of grant.
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d.
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The
vesting period and/or exercisability of the Option may be adjusted
by the
Administrator to reflect the decreased level of employment during
any
period in which you are on an approved leave of absence or employed
on a
less than full time basis, provided, that the Administrator may take
into
consideration any accounting consequences to the
Company.
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(2)
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Exercise. Subject
to this Agreement and the Plan, unless the Administrator determines
otherwise, you may exercise the Option only by a written “Notice of
Exercise” to the Company or its designee on a form specified by the
Company on or before the date the Option expires. Unless the
Administrator determines otherwise, each such Notice
must:
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a.
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state
your election to exercise the Option and the number of Shares with
respect
to which you are exercising the
Option;
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b.
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be
signed by you or, if you have died or become disabled, by the party
entitled to exercise the Option;
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c.
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contain
such representations as the Company reasonably requires;
and
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d.
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be
accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price in full through one,
or a
combination, of the following payment methods, which method(s) shall
be
indicated in the Notice of
Exercise:
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i.
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cashier's
or certified check in the amount of the Exercise Price payable to
the
order of the Company;
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ii.
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direction
to the Company through your Notice of Exercise to send the share
certificates to be issued under this Option to a licensed broker
acceptable to the Company as your agent in exchange for the broker's
tendering to the Company cash (or acceptable cash equivalents) equal
to
the Exercise Price, for the Shares with respect to which the Option
is
being exercised, as part of a cashless
exercise;
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iii.
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unless
the Administrator determines otherwise, by surrender to the Company
of
shares of Common Stock with a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise
equal to all or part of the Exercise Price (with any balance paid
by cash
or check or, unless the Administrator determines otherwise, deducted
from
salary or other amounts payable to you), for the Shares with respect
to
which the Option is being exercised; provided, however, that you
may not surrender (turn in) previously held or owned Common Stock
of the
Company as payment unless you have held such stock for more than
six
months before the surrender. For purposes hereof, the date of
exercise shall be the date of delivery of (A) the duly executed Notice
of
Exercise and (B) the shares tendered for payment of the Exercise
Price;
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iv.
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unless
the Administrator determines otherwise, attestation of ownership
of Common
Stock and issuance of a net number of shares upon Option exercise;
or
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v.
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unless
the Administrator determines otherwise, by the Company withholding
from
the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to you upon the exercise
of
the Option (or portion thereof) the whole number of shares with a
Fair
Market Value on the date of exercise equal to all or part of the
Exercise
Price (rounded down, with any balance paid by cash or check or, unless
the
Administrator determines otherwise, deducted from salary or other
amounts
payable to you on such date of exercise). For purposes hereof,
the date of exercise shall be the date of delivery of the duly executed
Notice of Exercise.
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The
Company shall not be obligated to issue any shares of Common Stock until you
have paid the total Exercise Price for that number of shares of Common Stock
you
have elected to purchase. Shares of Common Stock will be issued as
soon as is practical after exercise.
(3)
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Expiration. The
Option will expire no later than the close of business on «ExpirationDate»
(ten years from the date of grant or five years for an ISO granted
to a
more-than 10% stockholder on the date of
grant).
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Unless
the Administrator determines otherwise at any time, you will forfeit any
unexercised portions of the Option (whether or not then exercisable) upon the
first to occur of:
a.
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the
Option's expiration under the preceding
sentence,
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b.
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the
90th day after your resignation, including retirement (for any reason
other than disability),
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c.
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the
90th day after the Company terminates your employment (for any reason
other than disability),
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d.
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in
the event of the termination of your employment for disability (as
determined by the Administrator), the earlier of (i) the first anniversary
of the termination of your employment and (ii) 30 days after you
cease to
have a disability, where, for purposes of this Agreement,
“disability” means the inability to engage in any substantial
gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical
or
mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that
has
lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not
less than
twelve months,
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e.
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the
first anniversary of your date of death,
and
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f.
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the
date you violate any covenant not to compete, nonsolicitation covenant
or
similar covenant in effect between you and the
Company.
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5
The
Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine all questions of whether
particular terminations or leaves of absence are terminations of employment
for
purposes of this Agreement.
If
you
exercise an Option more than 90 days after termination of employment with the
Company, you will only receive incentive stock option treatment to the extent
provided under the Code, and becoming or remaining an employee of another
related company (that is not a Subsidiary) or an independent contractor to
the
Company will not prevent loss of incentive stock option status as a result
of
the formal termination of employment unless otherwise provided under the
Code.
(4)
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Substantial
Corporate Change. Upon a Substantial Corporate Change, any
portion of this Option that is unexercised will terminate unless
provision
is made in writing in connection with such transaction
for:
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a.
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assumption
or continuation of outstanding Options;
or
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b.
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the
substitution for such Options, with appropriate adjustments as to
the
number and kind of shares of stock and prices, in which event the
Option
will continue in the manner and under the terms so
provided.
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Unless
the Board determines otherwise, if an Option would otherwise terminate pursuant
to the preceding sentence, you will have the right, at such time before the
consummation of the transaction causing such termination as the Board reasonably
designates, to exercise any unexercised portions of the Option, whether or
not
previously exercisable.
A
“Substantial Corporate Change” means the occurrence of any one or more
of the following events:
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i.
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a
Person (as the term person is used for purposes of Section 13(d)
or 14(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (other than the
Company, any Company subsidiary, any Company benefit plan, or any
underwriter temporarily holding securities for an offering of such
securities) acquires ownership of 100% of the combined voting power
of all
classes of stock of the Company;
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ii.
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merger,
consolidation or reorganization of the Company with or into one or
more
entities in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other
than
a merger or consolidation with a wholly owned subsidiary, a
reincorporation of the Company in a different jurisdiction or other
transaction in which there is no substantial change in the stockholders
of
the Company or their relative stock
holdings);
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iii.
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merger,
consolidation or reorganization of the Company in which the Company
is the
surviving corporation, but after which the stockholders of the Company
immediately prior to such merger (other than any stockholder that
merges,
or which owns or controls another corporation that merges, with the
Company in such merger) cease to own their shares or other equity
interest
in the Company;
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iv.
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the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
or
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v.
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the
sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets.
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(5)
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Taxes.
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a.
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You
understand and agree that the Company has not advised you regarding
your
income tax liability in connection with the Option. To the
extent required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law,
you
shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company in its sole discretion
for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise
by
reason of an Option exercise or disposition of shares issued as a
result
of an Option exercise. The Company shall not be required to
issue shares or to recognize the disposition of such shares until
such
obligations are satisfied.
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b.
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By
accepting the Option, you agree that, unless and to the extent you
have
otherwise satisfied any U.S. federal income and other taxes, including
state, local or non-U.S. income or employment tax obligations, related
to
the exercise of the Option that are required to be withheld and paid
over
to the applicable tax authorities (the “Tax Withholding
Obligations”) in a manner permitted or required by the Administrator
pursuant to the Plan, the Company is authorized (but not required)
to
deduct and retain without notice from the shares of Common Stock
issuable
to you in respect of the exercised portion of the Option the whole
number
of shares (rounding down) having a Fair Market Value on the exercise
date
or, if not a trading day, the first trading day before the exercise
date
(as determined by the Company consistent with any applicable tax
requirements) sufficient to satisfy the applicable Tax Withholding
Obligation. If the withheld shares are not sufficient to satisfy
your Tax
Withholding Obligation, you agree to pay to the Company as soon as
practicable, by cash or check or, unless otherwise determined by
the
Administrator, deducted from salary or other amounts payable to you,
any
amount of the Tax Withholding Obligation that is not satisfied by
the
withholding of shares of Common Stock described
above.
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c.
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You
are ultimately liable and responsible for all taxes owed by you in
connection with the Option, regardless of any action the Company
takes or
any transaction pursuant to this Section 5 with respect to any tax
withholding obligations that arise in connection with the Option.
The
Company makes no representation or undertaking regarding the treatment
of
any tax withholding in connection with the grant, issuance, vesting
or
exercise of the Option or the subsequent sale of any of the shares
of
Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the Option. The Company does
not
commit and is under no obligation to structure the Option to reduce
or
eliminate your tax liability.
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(6)
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Company
Postponement of Delivery. The Company may postpone issuing
and delivering any Shares for so long as the Company determines to
be
necessary or advisable to satisfy the
following:
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a.
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completing
or amending any registration or qualification of the Shares or satisfying
any exemption from registration under any federal or state law, rule,
or
regulation;
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b.
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complying
with any requests for representations under the
Plan;
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c.
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receiving
proof satisfactory to the Company that a person seeking to exercise
the
Option after your death or disability is authorized and entitled
to
exercise the Option; and
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d.
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satisfying
any federal, state, or local tax withholding
obligations.
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(7)
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Compliance
with Securities Laws.
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a.
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If,
at the time the Company should issue you Shares because of your exercise
of the Option, no current registration statement under the Securities
Act
of 1933 (the "Act") covers such issuance, you must, before the
Company will issue such Shares to
you:
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i.
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represent
to the Company, in form satisfactory to the Company's counsel, that
you
are acquiring the Shares for your own account and not with a view
to
reselling or distributing the Shares;
and
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ii.
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agree
that you may not sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of the Shares
issued
to you under the Option unless:
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A.
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a
registration statement under the Act is effective at the time of
disposition with respect to the Shares sold, transferred, or otherwise
disposed of; or
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B.
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the
Company has received an opinion of counsel or other information and
representations satisfactory to it to the effect that registration
under
the Act is not required by reason of Rule 144 under the Act or
otherwise.
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b.
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Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, you may not exercise the Option,
and the
Company shall not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock,
during any period when the Company determines that the exercisability
of
the Option or the delivery of shares hereunder would violate any
applicable federal or state securities laws or other laws or
regulations.
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(8)
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Restrictions
on Resales. The Company may impose such restrictions,
conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the
timing
and manner of any resales by you or other subsequent transfers by
you of
any shares of Common Stock issued as a result of the exercise of
the
Option, including without limitation (a) restrictions under an xxxxxxx
xxxxxxx policy, (b) restrictions designed to delay and/or coordinate
the
timing and manner of sales by you and other optionholders and
(c) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such
resales or other transfers.
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(9)
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Not
an Employment Contract. Nothing in this Agreement restricts
the right of the Company or any of its affiliates to terminate your
employment at any time, with or without cause. The termination
of employment, whether by the Company or any of its affiliates or
otherwise, and regardless of the reason therefore, has the consequences
provided for hereunder, under the Plan and under any applicable employment
or severance agreement.
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(10)
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Non-Transferability
of Option. You may not assign or transfer the Option to
anyone other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution
and the
Option shall be exercisable only by you during your
lifetime. The Company may cancel the Option if you attempt to
assign or transfer it in a manner inconsistent with this Section
10.
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(11)
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Limitation
of Interest. You understand and agree that you will not be
deemed for any purpose to be a stockholder of the Company with respect
to
any of the Shares unless and until they have been issued to you after
your
exercise of this Option and payment for the Shares. Neither you
(individually or as a member of a group) nor any beneficiary or other
person claiming under or through you shall have any right, title,
interest, or privilege in or to any shares of Common Stock allocated
or
reserved for the purpose of the Plan or subject to this Agreement
except
as to such shares of Common Stock, if any, as shall have been issued
to
such person upon exercise of the Option or any part of
it.
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(12)
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No
Fractional Shares. At the time of exercise, the Company
will round down any fractional Shares but will not make any cash
or other
payments in settlement of fractional shares eliminated by
rounding. If you have not then exercised the Option in full,
the Company will carry forward the fractional Shares rather than
eliminating them.
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(13)
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No
Limitation on Company Actions. You understand and agree
that the existence of this Option will not affect in any way the
right or
power of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any
or all
adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations, or other changes
in the
Company's capital structure or its business or any merger or consolidation
of the Company, or any issuance of bonds, debentures, preferred or
other
stocks with preference ahead of or convertible into, or otherwise
affecting the Common Stock or the rights thereof, or the dissolution
or
liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any
part of
its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding,
whether
of a similar character or
otherwise.
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(14)
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General.
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a.
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This
Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding between
you and
the Company regarding the Option. Any prior agreements,
commitments or negotiations concerning the Option are
superseded.
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b.
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The
laws of the State of Delaware will govern all matters relating to
this
Agreement, without regard to the principles of conflict of
laws.
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c.
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Any
notice you give to the Company (including notice of exercise of all
or
part of the Option) must be in writing and either hand-delivered
or mailed
to the Corporate Secretary of the Company (or to the Chief Financial
Officer if either you would receive the notice or the position is
vacant). If mailed, it should be sent by certified mail and be
addressed to the foregoing executive at the Company's then corporate
headquarters. Any notice given to you will be addressed to you
at your address as reflected on the personnel records of the
Company. You may change the address for notice by like notice
to the Company. Notice will be deemed to have been duly
delivered when hand-delivered, or, if mailed, two business days after
such
notice is postmarked.
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d.
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As
a condition of this Option, you, on behalf of yourself, your heirs,
successors and personal representatives ("you and your
successors"), agree that any dispute or disagreement which may arise
hereunder shall be decided by the Administrator. You and your
successors agree to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions
or interpretations of the Administrator concerning any questions
arising
under the Plan with respect to the Option, and you and your successors
hereby explicitly waive any right to judicial
review.
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e.
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In
the event that any provision of this Agreement is declared to be
illegal,
invalid or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction,
such provision shall be reformed, if possible, to the extent necessary
to
render it legal, valid and enforceable, or otherwise deleted, and
the
remainder of the terms hereunder shall not be affected except to
the
extent necessary to reform or delete such illegal, invalid or
unenforceable provision.
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f.
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This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties
hereto and their respective permitted heirs, beneficiaries, successors
and
assigns.
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g.
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The
headings preceding the text of the sections hereof are inserted solely
for
convenience of reference, and shall not constitute a part of this
Agreement, nor shall they affect its meaning, construction or
effect.
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h.
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All
questions arising under the Plan or under this Agreement shall be
decided
by the Administrator in its total and absolute
discretion.
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i.
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Wherever
a conflict may arise between the terms of this Agreement and the
terms of
the Plan, the terms of the Plan will
control.
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COSTAR
GROUP,
INC.
By: ______________________________
Name: ______________________________
Title: ______________________________
11
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I
acknowledge receipt of a copy of the attached Plan. I represent that
I have read and am familiar with the Plan's terms. I accept the
Option subject to all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and of
the
Plan under which it is granted, as the Plan may be amended in accordance with
its terms. I agree to accept as binding, conclusive, and final all
decisions or interpretations of the Administrator concerning any questions
arising under the Plan with respect to the Option.
Date: __________________________________
Signature
of
Grantee/Participant
No
one may sell, transfer, or distribute this Option or the securities that may
be
purchased upon exercise of this Option without an effective registration
statement relating thereto or an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company
or other information and representations satisfactory to the Company that such
registration is not required.