EXHIBIT 10.4
COMMVAULT SYSTEMS, INC.
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
This Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (the "Agreement") dated, is made by
and between CommVault Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") and (the "Optionee").
By signing below, the Optionee acknowledges that he or she has read, understands
and agrees to be bound by all terms and conditions of this Agreement set forth
herein and attached hereto, including the Grant Notice, (together the
"Agreement").
CommVault Systems, Inc.
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Signature Optionee's Signature
N. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name
Chief Executive Officer
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Title
PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THIS DOCUMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY TO
XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX - FINANCE.
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NOTICE OF GRANT OF STOCK OPTION ("GRANT NOTICE")
Notice is hereby given to the Optionee, as identified above, of the following
option grant (the "Options") to purchase shares of the Common Stock of CommVault
Systems, Inc.
Grant Date:
Vesting Commencement Date:
Exercise Price:
Number of Options:
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Expiration Date:
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Commencement of Exercisability:
(a) Subject to subsection (b), the Options shall become exercisable in
cumulative installments as follows: (i) The first installment shall
consist of shares and shall become exercisable on the first day
following the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date
thereafter. (ii) An installment consisting of shares shall become
exercisable on the first day following each quarterly anniversary of
the Vesting Commencement Date thereafter.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no portion of the Option, which is
unexercisable upon the Optionee's Termination of Employment shall
thereafter become exercisable.
(c) Optionee understands and agrees that the Options are granted subject to
and in accordance with the terms of the CommVault Systems, Inc. 1996
Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") and any amendments thereto. Optionee
understands that any shares of Common Stock purchased under the Options
will be subject to the terms set forth in the Stockholders Agreement
and any amendments thereto, which may be reviewed at the Company's
offices. Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.
TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS. OPTIONEE HEREBY AGREES THAT ALL SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
ACQUIRED UPON THE EXERCISE OF THE OPTIONS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN TRANSFER
RESTRICTIONS AND RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL EXERCISABLE BY THE COMPANY AND ITS
ASSIGNS. THE TERMS OF SUCH RIGHTS AND RESTRICTIONS ARE SPECIFIED IN THE
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT THE COMPANY'S OFFICES.
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COMMVAULT SYSTEMS, INC.
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the CommVault Systems, Inc. 1996 Stock
Option Plan (the "Plan");
WHEREAS, the Optionee is an employee of Company, or other Participant
as defined in the Plan;
WHEREAS, the Options granted pursuant to this Agreement and the shares
of Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Options are subject to all of the
terms and provisions of the Plan and the Stockholders Agreement. In the event of
any conflict between this Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall
control, and in the event of any conflict between this Agreement or the Plan and
the Stockholders Agreement, the terms of the Stockholders Agreement shall
control.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained and other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, the Company and the Optionee do hereby agree to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.
DEFINITIONS
The following terms shall have the meanings specified below unless the context
clearly indicates to the contrary. The singular pronoun shall include the
plural, where the context so indicates. Other capitalized terms not defined in
this Agreement shall have the meanings specified in the Plan.
1. "BOARD" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
2. "COMMITTEE" shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board; provided,
however, that in the event no such Committee is elected, the Board shall have
all duties and powers reserved to the Committee, and the term "Committee" as
used herein shall refer to the Board.
3. "COMMON STOCK" shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company.
4. "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
5. "FAIR MARKET VALUE" of a share of Common Stock as of a given date shall be
(a) the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as established by
the Committee acting in good faith, or
(b) if Common Stock is publicly traded on an exchange or quoted on
NASDAQ or any over-the-counter system, the average over a period of 21 days
consisting of the date as of which the Fair Market Value is being determined and
the 20 consecutive trading days prior to such date of the mean between the
closing prices of the sales of such Common Stock as of such dates on all
national securities exchanges on which such securities may at the time be
listed, or if there have been no sales on any such exchange on any such dates,
(c) the mean between the highest bid and lowest asked prices on all
such exchanges at the close of business on such dates, or, if Common Stock is
not listed on an exchange but is quoted in the NASDAQ system, the mean between
the representative bid and asked prices quoted
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in the NASDAQ System as of 4:00 P.M., New York time on such dates, or, if Common
Stock is not quoted in the NASDAQ System,
(d) the mean between the highest bid and lowest asked prices on such
dates in the domestic over-the-counter market as reported by the National
Quotation Bureau Incorporated, or any similar successor organization.
6. "GRANT NOTICE" shall mean the Notice of Grant of Stock Option accompanying
this Agreement, pursuant to which the Optionee has been informed of the terms of
the Options evidenced hereby.
7. "OPTIONS" shall mean the non-qualified stock options to purchase Common Stock
granted to the Optionee pursuant to the Plan and the Grant Notice.
8. "PARENT CORPORATION" shall mean any corporation in an unbroken chain of
corporations ending with the Company if each of the corporations other than the
Company then owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting
power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
9. "PLAN" shall mean that certain CommVault Systems, Inc. 1996 Stock Option
Plan, as amended.
10. "QDRO" shall mean a qualified domestic relations order as defined by the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or Title I of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the regulations and rules
thereunder.
11. "RULE 16B-3" shall mean that certain Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time.
12. "SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
13. "STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT" shall mean that certain Stockholders Agreement
dated as of May 22, 1996, as amended, by and among the Company and the other
stockholders of the Company that are or may from time to time become parties
thereto.
14. "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations
beginning with the Company if each such corporation, other than the last
corporation in the unbroken chain, then owns stock possessing 50% or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other
corporations in such chain.
15. "TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT" shall mean the time when the employee-employer
relationship between the Optionee and the Company or any Parent Corporation or
Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, with or without good cause, including,
but not by way of limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death,
disability or retirement; but excluding (a) a termination where there is a
simultaneous reemployment or continuing employment of the Optionee by the
Company or any Parent Corporation or Subsidiary, (b) at the discretion of the
Committee, a termination which results in a temporary severance of the
employee-employer relationship, and (c) at the discretion of the Committee, a
termination which is followed by the simultaneous establishment of a consulting
relationship by the Company or any Parent Corporation or Subsidiary with the
Optionee. The Committee, in its discretion, shall determine the effect of all
matters and questions relating to Termination of Employment, including, but not
by way of limitation, the question of whether a Termination of Employment
resulted from a discharge for good cause, and all questions of whether a
particular leave of absence constitutes Terminations of Employment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, the Company
or any Parent Corporation or Subsidiary has an absolute and unrestricted right
to terminate the Optionee's employment at any time for any reason whatsoever,
with or without good cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in
a written employment agreement between the Optionee and the Company (or Parent
Corporation or Subsidiary).
ARTICLE I: GRANT OF OPTIONS
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1.1 GRANT OF OPTIONS. In consideration of the Optionee's promises set forth in
Section 1.2, and for other good and valuable consideration, on the date hereof
the Company irrevocably grants to the Optionee, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan, the number of Options
specified in the Grant Notice, each with respect to one share of Common Stock,
subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan and herein.
1.2 CONSIDERATION TO THE COMPANY
1.2.1 FAITHFUL SERVICES. In consideration of the granting of the
Options the Optionee agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the
Company or a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary of the Company, with such duties
and responsibilities as such employer shall from time to time prescribe.
1.2.2 NON-COMPETITION. In consideration of the granting of the Options
the Optionee agrees that Optionee WILL NOT IN ANY MANNER OR CAPACITY, DIRECTLY
OR INDIRECTLY, COMPETE WITH COMPANY in any business presently or hereafter
engaged in by Company during the period of his or her employment and for a
period of ONE (1) YEAR from Optionee's Termination of Employment with Company.
1.2.3 NON-SOLICITATION. In consideration of the granting of the Options
the Optionee agrees that Optionee will not in any manner or capacity, directly
or indirectly, solicit or attempt to solicit for employment, whether full time,
part time or on a consultant basis, any current or future employee of Company
for a period of 1 year.
1.2.4 DIVERSION OF BUSINESS. In consideration of the granting of the
Options the Optionee agrees that Optionee will not in any manner or capacity,
directly or indirectly, divert or attempt to divert from Company, through any
means whatsoever, any business or customers of Company.
1.2.5 ADEQUATE AND LEGITIMATE PROTECTION OF COMPANY/INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.
Optionee recognizes that the foregoing obligations and limitations are
reasonable for the legitimate and adequate protection of the Company in
consideration of the Options herein granted. The parties acknowledge that the
injury that Company will suffer in the event of a breach by Optionee of this
Section 1.2 cannot be compensated by monetary damages alone, and Optionee
therefore agrees that Company, in addition to and without limiting any other
remedies or rights that it may have either under this Agreement or otherwise,
shall have the right to obtain an injunction against Optionee from any court of
competent jurisdiction, enjoining such breach.
1.2.6 EMPLOYMENT AT WILL. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon
the Optionee any right to continue in the employ of the Company, any Parent
Corporation or any Subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the
rights of the Company, any Parent Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Company,
which are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge the Optionee at any time for
any reason whatsoever, with or without good cause.
1.3 ADJUSTMENTS IN OPTIONS. In the event that the outstanding shares of the
stock subject to the Options are changed into or exchanged for a different
number or kind of shares of the Company or other securities of the Company by
reason of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock
split, stock dividend or combination of shares, the Committee shall make an
appropriate and equitable adjustment in the number and kind of shares as to
which the Options, or portions thereof then unexercised, shall be exercisable,
to the end that after such
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event the Optionee's proportionate interest shall be maintained as before the
occurrence of such event. Such adjustment in the Options shall be made without
change in the total price applicable to the unexercised portion of the Options
(except for any change in the aggregate price resulting from rounding-off of
share quantities or prices) and with any necessary corresponding adjustment in
the exercise price per share. Any such adjustment made by the Committee shall be
final and binding upon the Optionee, the Company and all other interested
persons.
1.4 EXERCISABILITY. Options shall become exercisable in one or more installments
as specified in the Grant Notice. Such installments shall accumulate and each
such installment which becomes exercisable shall remain exercisable until it
becomes unexercisable under Section 1.5.
1.5 EXPIRATION OF OPTIONS. The Options may not be exercised to any extent by
anyone after the first to occur of the following events: (a) The tenth (10th)
anniversary of the date of this Agreement; or, (b) The thirtieth (30th) day
following the Optionee's Termination of Employment for any reason; or, (c) The
effective date of the occurrence of a transaction or event described in Section
3.3 in connection with which the Committee provides, by action taken prior to
the occurrence of such transaction or event, that the Options shall not be
exercisable after such transaction or event.
ARTICLE II: EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
2.1 PERSON ELIGIBLE TO EXERCISE. During the lifetime of the Optionee, only he or
she may exercise the Options or any portion thereof, unless it has been disposed
of pursuant to a QDRO. After the death of the Optionee, any exercisable portion
of the Options may, prior to the time when the Options (or portion thereof)
become unexercisable under Section 1.5, be exercised by his or her personal
representative or by any person empowered to do so under the Optionee's will or
under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.
2.2 PARTIAL EXERCISE. Exercisable Options may be exercised in whole or in part
at any time prior to the time when the Options or portion thereof become
unexercisable under Section 1.5; provided, however, that each partial exercise
shall be for not less than the smallest exercisable installment set forth in the
Grant Notice, and shall be for whole shares only.
2.3 MANNER OF EXERCISE. The Options, or any exercisable portion thereof, shall
be deemed exercised upon delivery of all of the following to the Secretary of
the Company or his or her office prior to the Option becoming unexercisable
under Section 1.5:
(a) A written notice complying with the applicable rules established by
the Committee stating that the Option, or a portion thereof, is exercised. The
notice shall be signed by the Optionee or other person then entitled to exercise
the Option or such portion;
(b) Full payment (in cash or by check) for the shares with respect to
which such Option is exercised; provided that the Committee may, in its
discretion, allow payment, in whole or in part, through the surrender of shares
of Common Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Options having a Fair Market
Value on the date of exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price of the
Options or exercised portion thereof;
(c) A bona fide written representation and agreement, in a form
satisfactory to the Committee, signed by the Optionee or other person then
entitled to exercise such Options, stating that the shares of Common Stock are
being acquired for his or her own account, for investment and without any
present intention of distributing or reselling said shares or any of them except
as
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may be permitted under the Securities Act and then applicable rules and
regulations thereunder, and that the Optionee or other person then entitled to
exercise such Option or portion will indemnify the Company against and hold it
free and harmless from any loss, damage, expense or liability resulting to the
Company if any sale or distribution of the shares by such person is contrary to
the representation and agreement referred to above. The Committee may, in its
discretion, take whatever additional actions it deems appropriate to insure the
observance and performance of such representation and agreement and to effect
compliance with the Securities Act and any other federal or state securities
laws or regulations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Committee may require an opinion of counsel acceptable to it to the effect that
any subsequent transfer of shares acquired on exercise of Options does not
violate the Securities Act, and may issue stop-transfer orders covering such
shares. Share certificates evidencing Common Stock issued on exercise of the
Options shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the provisions of this
subsection (c) and the Stockholders Agreement and the agreements herein. The
written representation and agreement referred to in the first sentence of this
subsection (c) shall, however, not be required if the shares to be issued
pursuant to such exercise have been registered under the Securities Act, and
such registration is then effective in respect of such shares;
(d) A bona fide written representation and agreement, in a form
satisfactory to the Committee, signed by the Optionee or other person then
entitled to exercise such Option, stating that the Optionee (or other holder of
the Option) shall be deemed to be a signatory to, and to be bound by all of the
terms and provisions of, the Stockholders Agreement, and that such Optionee (or
other holder) agrees that upon request by the Company, he or she will execute a
signature page to such Stockholders Agreement; and
(e) In the event the Options shall be exercised pursuant to Section 2.1
by any person or persons other than the Optionee, appropriate proof of the right
of such person or persons to exercise the Options.
2.4 CONDITIONS TO ISSUANCE OF STOCK CERTIFICATES. The shares of Common Stock
deliverable upon the exercise of Options may be either previously authorized but
unissued shares or issued shares which have then been reacquired by the Company.
Such shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable. The Company shall not be
required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for shares of
Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of Options prior to fulfillment of all
of the following conditions: (a) The admission of such shares to listing on all
stock exchanges on which such class of stock is then listed; and, (b) The
completion of any registration or other qualification of such shares under any
state or federal law or under rulings or regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission or of any other governmental regulatory body, which the
Committee shall, in its discretion, deem necessary or advisable; and, (c) The
obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal
governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its discretion, determine to
be necessary or advisable; and, (d) The payment to the Company (or other
employer corporation) of all amounts which, under federal, state or local tax
law, it is required to withhold upon exercise of the Options in accordance with
Section 3.4; and, (e) The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the
exercise of the Option as the Committee may from time to time establish for
reasons of administrative convenience.
2.5 RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. The holder of the Options shall not be, nor have any
of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder of the Company in respect of any
shares purchasable upon the exercise of any Option unless and until certificates
representing such shares shall have been issued by the Company to such holder.
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ARTICLE III: OTHER PROVISIONS
3.1 OPTIONS NOT TRANSFERABLE. Options may not be sold, pledged, assigned, or
transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution or pursuant to a QDRO, unless and until the Options have been
exercised, or the shares underlying the Options have been issued, and all
restrictions applicable to such shares have lapsed. No Options or interest or
right therein shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the
Optionee or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition
by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any
other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation
of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or
equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition
thereof shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such
disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence.
3.2 SHARES TO BE RESERVED. The Company shall at all times during the term of the
Options reserve and keep available such number of shares of Common Stock as will
be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Agreement.
3.3 CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK OR ASSETS OF THE COMPANY, ACQUISITION OR LIQUIDATION
OF THE COMPANY AND OTHER CORPORATE EVENTS
(a) In the event that the Committee determines that any dividend or
other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities,
or other property), recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse
stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split, spin-off,
combination, repurchase, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange
or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company,
or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of
warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the
Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event, in the Committee's
sole discretion, affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment is determined
by the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement
of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available with respect
to the Options, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem
equitable, adjust any or all of: (i) the number and kind of shares of Common
Stock (or other securities or property) subject to the Options, and, (ii) the
exercise price with respect to the Options.
(b) In the event of any transaction or event described in Section
3.3(a) or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the
Company, any affiliate of the Company, or the financial statements of the
Company or any affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or
accounting principles, the Committee, in its discretion, is hereby authorized to
take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Committee determines
that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of
the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available with respect to
the Options, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such
changes in laws, regulations or principles: (i) In its sole discretion, and on
such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, the Committee may provide, by
action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event and either
automatically or upon the Optionee's request, for either the purchase of the
Options (to the extent unexercised) for an amount of cash equal to the amount
that could have been attained upon the exercise of the Options or realization of
the Optionee's rights had such Options been currently exercisable or the
replacement of the Options with other rights or property selected by the
Committee in its sole discretion; (ii) In its sole discretion, the Committee may
provide, by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event,
that the Option cannot be
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exercised after such event; (iii) In its sole discretion, and on such terms and
conditions as it deems appropriate, the Committee may provide, by action taken
prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event, that for a specified
period of time prior to such transaction or event, the Options shall be
exercisable as to all shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement; (iv) In its sole discretion, and on such terms and
conditions as it deems appropriate, the Committee may provide, by action taken
prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event, that upon such event, the
Options be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or
subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or
awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent
or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of
shares and prices; and (v) In its sole discretion, and on such terms and
conditions as it deems appropriate, the Committee may make adjustments in the
number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property)
subject to the Options (to the extent unexercised) and/or in the terms and
conditions of the Options (including the exercise price).
(c) No adjustment or action described in this Section 4.3 or in any
other provision of this Agreement shall be authorized to the extent that such
adjustment or action would result in short-swing profits liability under Section
16 of the Exchange Act or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 unless
the Committee determines that the Option is not to comply with such exemptive
conditions.
(d) The number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Option shall
always be rounded to the next whole number.
3.4 TAX WITHHOLDING. The Company shall be entitled to require payment in cash or
deduction from other compensation payable to each Optionee of any sums required
by federal, state or local tax law to be withheld with respect to the issuance,
commencement of exercisability or exercise of the Options. The Committee may, in
its discretion, allow the Optionee to elect to have the Company withhold shares
of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Options having a Fair Market Value
equal to the sums required to be withheld.
3.5 LIMITATIONS APPLICABLE TO SECTION 16 PERSONS. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, the Plan and the Options shall be subject to any
additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section
16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3) that are
requirements for the application of such exemptive rule, to the extent the
Optionee is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. To the extent permitted
by applicable law, this Agreement and the Options shall be deemed amended to the
extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.
3.6 NOTICES. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the
Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of its Secretary, and any
notice to be given to the Optionee shall be addressed to him at the address
given beneath his signature on the Grant Notice. By a notice given pursuant to
this Section 3.6, either party may hereafter designate a different address for
notices to be given to him or it. Any notice which is required to be given to
the Optionee shall, if the Optionee is then deceased, be given to the Optionee's
personal representative if such representative has previously informed the
Company of his or her status and address by written notice under this Section
3.6. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when enclosed in a properly sealed
envelope or wrapper addressed as aforesaid, deposited (with postage prepaid) in
a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States
Postal Service.
3.7 TITLES. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve
as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
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3.8 CONFORMITY TO LAWS. The Optionee acknowledges that the Plan, this Agreement,
the Options and shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Options are
subject to compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and
regulations (including, but not limited to, federal and state securities laws)
and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as
may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in
connection therewith. To the extent permitted by applicable law, this Agreement
and the Options shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to
such laws, rules and regulations.
3.9 INVALID PROVISION. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular
provision hereof shall not affect the other provisions hereof, and this
Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable
provision was omitted.
3.10 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
3.11 ASSIGNMENT. Except as otherwise provided herein, no party may assign this
Agreement or any of his or its rights, interests or obligations hereunder
without the prior written consent of the other parties, provided that the
Company's rights and obligations hereunder may be assigned to any Parent
Corporation or Subsidiary or to any successor pursuant to a merger,
consolidation or similar event. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement and the
respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon, the successors and assigns of the parties.
3.12 EFFECT OF OPTIONS UPON OTHER COMPENSATION PLANS. The Options and any
payments with respect thereto shall not constitute "compensation" for purposes
of any pension, welfare or other benefit plan or policy of the Company unless
provided for therein.
3.13 LAW GOVERNING. The laws of the State of New York shall govern the
interpretation, validity and performance of the terms hereof, regardless of the
law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of law.
3.14 VENUE. Any suit hereunder shall be brought in the federal or state courts
in the districts which include Monmouth County, New Jersey and Optionee hereby
agrees and submits to the personal jurisdiction and venue thereof.
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