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EXHIBIT 99.14
ONYX ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
RECITALS
I. The Board has adopted the Plan for the purpose of retaining the
services of selected Employees, non-employee members of the Board or the board
of directors of any Parent or Subsidiary and consultants and other independent
advisors who provide services to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).
A. Optionee is to render valuable services to the Corporation (or a
Parent or Subsidiary), and this Agreement is executed pursuant to, and is
intended to carry out the purposes of, the Plan in connection with the
Corporation's grant of an option to Optionee.
B. All capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning
assigned to them in the attached Appendix.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:
1. GRANT OF OPTION. The Corporation hereby grants to Optionee, as of
the Grant Date, an option to purchase up to the number of Option Shares
specified in the Grant Notice. The Option Shares shall be purchasable from time
to time during the option term specified in Paragraph 2 at the Exercise Price.
2. OPTION TERM. This option shall have a term of ten (10) years
measured from the Grant Date and shall accordingly expire at the close of
business on the Expiration Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with
Paragraph 5 or 6.
3. LIMITED TRANSFERABILITY. This option shall be neither
transferable nor assignable by Optionee other than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution following Optionee's death and may be exercised, during
Optionee's lifetime, only by Optionee. However, if this option is designated a
Non-Statutory Option in the Grant Notice, then this option may, in connection
with the Optionee's estate plan, be assigned in whole or in part during
Optionee's lifetime to one or more members of the Optionee's immediate family or
to a trust established for the exclusive benefit of one or more such family
members. The assigned portion shall be exercisable only by the person or persons
who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to such assignment.
The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in
effect for this option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set
forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Plan Administrator may
deem appropriate.
4. DATES OF EXERCISE. This option shall become exercisable for the
Option Shares in one or more installments as specified in the Grant Notice. As
the option becomes exercisable for such installments, those installments shall
accumulate and the option shall remain exercisable for the accumulated
installments until the Expiration Date or sooner termination of the option term
under Paragraph 5 or 6.
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5. CESSATION OF SERVICE. The option term specified in Paragraph 2
shall terminate (and this option shall cease to be outstanding) prior to the
Expiration Date should any of the following provisions become applicable:
(i) Should Optionee cease to remain in Service for any reason
(other than death, Permanent Disability or Misconduct) while this option
is outstanding, then Optionee shall have a period of three (3) months
(commencing with the date of such cessation of Service) during which to
exercise this option, but in no event shall this option be exercisable at
any time after the Expiration Date.
(ii) Should Optionee die while this option is outstanding,
then the personal representative of Optionee's estate or the person or
persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to Optionee's will or
in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution shall have the
right to exercise this option. Such right shall lapse and this option
shall cease to be outstanding upon the earlier of (A) the expiration of
the twelve (12)-month period measured from the date of Optionee's death
or (B) the Expiration Date.
(iii) Should Optionee cease Service by reason of Permanent
Disability while this option is outstanding, then Optionee shall have a
period of twelve (12) months (commencing with the date of such cessation
of Service) during which to exercise this option. In no event shall this
option be exercisable at any time after the Expiration Date.
(iv) During the limited period of post-Service
exercisability, this option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more
than the number of vested Option Shares for which the option is
exercisable at the time of Optionee's cessation of Service. Upon the
expiration of such limited exercise period or (if earlier) upon the
Expiration Date, this option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding
for any vested Option Shares for which the option has not been exercised.
To the extent Optionee is not vested in the Option Shares at the time of
Optionee's cessation of Service, this option shall immediately terminate
and cease to be outstanding with respect to those shares.
(v) Should Optionee's Service be terminated for Misconduct,
then this option shall terminate immediately and cease to remain
outstanding.
(vi) In the event of a Corporate Transaction, the provisions
of Paragraph 6 shall govern the period for which this option is to remain
exercisable following Optionee's cessation of Service and shall supersede
any provisions to the contrary in this paragraph.
6. SPECIAL ACCELERATION OF OPTION.
(a) In the event of a Corporate Transaction, the
exercisability of this option, to the extent outstanding at such time but not
otherwise fully exercisable, shall
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automatically accelerate so that this option shall, immediately prior to the
effective date of the Corporate Transaction, become exercisable for any or all
of the Option Shares at the time subject to this option as fully-vested shares
of Common Stock. No such acceleration of this option, however, shall occur if
and to the extent: (i) this option is, in connection with the Corporate
Transaction, either to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent
thereof) or to be replaced with a comparable option to purchase shares of the
capital stock of the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or (ii) this
option is to be replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor
corporation which preserves the spread existing on the Option Shares for which
this option is not exercisable at the time of the Corporate Transaction (the
excess of the Fair Market Value of such Option Shares over the aggregate
Exercise Price payable for such shares) and provides for subsequent pay-out in
accordance with the same exercise schedule in effect for the option pursuant to
the option exercise schedule set forth in the Grant Notice. The determination of
option comparability under clause (i) shall be made by the Plan Administrator,
and such determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
(b) Immediately following the Corporate Transaction, this
option, to the extent not previously exercised, shall terminate and cease to be
outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or
parent thereof) in connection with the Corporate Transaction.
(c) If this option is assumed in connection with a Corporate
Transaction, then this option shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after
such Corporate Transaction, to apply to the number and class of securities which
would have been issuable to Optionee in consummation of such Corporate
Transaction had the option been exercised immediately prior to such Corporate
Transaction, and appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the Exercise
Price, provided the aggregate Exercise Price shall remain the same.
(d) Upon an Involuntary Termination of Optionee's Service
within eighteen (18) months following a Corporate Transaction in which this
option is assumed or replaced, the exercisability of this option, to the extent
outstanding at such time but not otherwise fully exercisable, shall
automatically accelerate so that this option shall immediately become fully
exercisable for all the Option Shares at the time subject to this option as
fully-vested shares of Common Stock and may be exercised for any or all of those
shares at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Expiration Date or (ii) the
expiration of the one (1)-year period measured from the effective date of the
Involuntary Termination.
(e) This Agreement shall not in any way affect the right of
the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its
capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or
sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
7. ADJUSTMENT IN OPTION SHARES. Should any change be made to the
Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the
outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation's receipt of
consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made to (i) the total number
and/or class of securities subject to this option and (ii) the Exercise Price in
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order to reflect such change and thereby preclude a dilution or enlargement of
benefits hereunder.
8. STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. The holder of this option shall not have any
stockholder rights with respect to the Option Shares until such person shall
have exercised the option, paid the Exercise Price and become a holder of record
of the purchased shares.
9. MANNER OF EXERCISING OPTION.
(a) In order to exercise this option with respect to all or
any part of the Option Shares for which this option is at the time exercisable,
Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising the option) must take the
following actions:
(i) Execute and deliver to the Corporation a Notice of
Exercise for the Option Shares for which the option is exercised.
(ii) Pay the aggregate Exercise Price for the purchased
shares in one or more of the following forms:
(A) cash or check made payable to the Corporation;
(B) a promissory note payable to the Corporation,
but only to the extent authorized by the Plan Administrator in
accordance with Paragraph 13;
(C) shares of Common Stock held by Optionee (or
any other person or persons exercising the option) for the requisite
period necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's earnings for
financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the
Exercise Date; or
(D) through a special sale and remittance
procedure pursuant to which Optionee (or any other person or persons
exercising the option) shall concurrently provide irrevocable
written instructions (I) to a Corporation-designated brokerage firm
to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and remit to
the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the
settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate Exercise
Price payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable Federal,
state and local income and employment taxes required to be withheld
by the Corporation by reason of such exercise and (II) to the
Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares
directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale.
Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure is
utilized in connection with the option exercise, payment of the
Exercise Price must accompany the Notice of Exercise delivered to
the Corporation in connection with the option exercise.
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(iii) Furnish to the Corporation appropriate
documentation that the person or persons exercising the option (if other
than Optionee) have the right to exercise this option.
(iv) Make appropriate arrangements with the Corporation
(or Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Optionee) for the
satisfaction of all Federal, state and local income and employment tax
withholding requirements applicable to the option exercise.
(b) As soon as practical after the Exercise Date, the
Corporation shall issue to or on behalf of Optionee (or any other person or
persons exercising this option) a certificate for the purchased Option Shares,
with the appropriate legends affixed thereto.
(c) In no event may this option be exercised for any
fractional shares.
10. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
(a) The exercise of this option and the issuance of the Option
Shares upon such exercise shall be subject to compliance by the Corporation and
Optionee with all applicable requirements of law relating thereto and with all
applicable regulations of any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if
applicable) on which the Common Stock may be listed for trading at the time of
such exercise and issuance.
(b) The inability of the Corporation to obtain approval from
any regulatory body having authority deemed by the Corporation to be necessary
to the lawful issuance and sale of any Common Stock pursuant to this option
shall relieve the Corporation of any liability with respect to the non-issuance
or sale of the Common Stock as to which such approval shall not have been
obtained. The Corporation, however, shall use its best efforts to obtain all
such approvals.
11. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Except to the extent otherwise provided
in Paragraphs 3 and 6, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of, and be binding upon, the Corporation and its successors and assigns
and Optionee, Optionee's assigns and the legal representatives, heirs and
legatees of Optionee's estate.
12. NOTICES. Any notice required to be given or delivered to the
Corporation under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed
to the Corporation at its principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be
given or delivered to Optionee shall be in writing and addressed to Optionee at
the address indicated below Optionee's signature line on the Grant Notice. All
notices shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the
U.S. mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the party to be notified.
13. FINANCING. The Plan Administrator may, in its absolute
discretion and without any obligation to do so, permit Optionee to pay the
Exercise Price for the purchased Option Shares by delivering a promissory note.
The terms of any such promissory note
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(including the interest rate, the requirements for collateral and the terms of
repayment) shall be established by the Plan Administrator in its sole
discretion.(1)
14. CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement and the option evidenced hereby are
made and granted pursuant to the Plan and are in all respects limited by and
subject to the terms of the Plan. All decisions of the Plan Administrator with
respect to any question or issue arising under the Plan or this Agreement shall
be conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in this option.
15. GOVERNING LAW. The interpretation, performance and enforcement
of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California
without resort to that State's conflict-of-laws rules.
16. EXCESS SHARES. If the Option Shares covered by this Agreement
exceed, as of the Grant Date, the number of shares of Common Stock which may
without stockholder approval be issued under the Plan, then this option shall be
void with respect to such excess shares, unless stockholder approval of an
amendment sufficiently increasing the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
under the Plan is obtained in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.
17. ADDITIONAL TERMS APPLICABLE TO AN INCENTIVE OPTION. In the event
this option is designated an Incentive Option in the Grant Notice, the following
terms and conditions shall also apply to the grant:
(i) This option shall cease to qualify for favorable tax
treatment as an Incentive Option if (and to the extent) this option is
exercised for one or more Option Shares: (A) more than three (3) months
after the date Optionee ceases to be an Employee for any reason other than
death or Permanent Disability or (B) more than twelve (12) months after
the date Optionee ceases to be an Employee by reason of Permanent
Disability.
(ii) No installment under this option shall qualify for
favorable tax treatment as an Incentive Option if (and to the extent) the
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the Grant Date) of the Common
Stock for which such installment first becomes exercisable hereunder
would, when added to the aggregate value (determined as of the respective
date or dates of grant) of any earlier installments of the Common Stock
and any other securities for which this option or any other Incentive
Options granted to Optionee prior to the Grant Date (whether under the
Plan or any other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or
Subsidiary) first become exercisable during the same calendar year, exceed
One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in the aggregate. Should such One
Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limitation be exceeded in any calendar
year, this option shall nevertheless become exercisable for the excess
shares in such calendar year as a Non-Statutory Option.
(iii) Should the exercisability of this option be accelerated
upon a Corporate Transaction, then this option shall qualify for favorable
tax treatment as an Incentive Option only to the extent the aggregate Fair
Market Value (determined at the Grant Date) of the Common Stock for which
this option first becomes exercisable in the calendar year in which the
Corporate Transaction occurs does not, when added to the aggregate value
(determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) of the Common
Stock or other securities for which this option or one or more other
Incentive Options granted to Optionee prior to the Grant Date (whether
under the Plan or any other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent
or Subsidiary) first become exercisable during the same calendar year,
exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in the aggregate. Should
the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limitation be
exceeded in the calendar year of such Corporate Transaction, the option
may nevertheless be exercised for the excess shares in such calendar year
as a Non-Statutory Option.
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(1) Authorization of payment of the Exercise Price by a promissory note may,
under currently proposed Treasury Regulations, result in the loss of
incentive stock option treatment under the Federal tax laws.
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(iv) Should Optionee hold, in addition to this option, one or
more other options to purchase Common Stock which become exercisable for
the first time in the same calendar year as this option, then the
foregoing limitations on the exercisability of such options as Incentive
Options shall be applied on the basis of the order in which such options
are granted.
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EXHIBIT I
NOTICE OF EXERCISE
I hereby notify Onyx Acceptance Corporation (the "Corporation") that
I elect to purchase ________ shares of the Corporation's Common Stock (the
"Purchased Shares") at the option exercise price of $________ per share (the
"Exercise Price") pursuant to that certain option (the "Option") granted to me
under the Corporation's 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan on ________, 199_.
Concurrently with the delivery of this Exercise Notice to the
Corporation, I shall hereby pay to the Corporation the Exercise Price for the
Purchased Shares in accordance with the provisions of my agreement with the
Corporation (or other documents) evidencing the Option and shall deliver
whatever additional documents may be required by such agreement as a condition
for exercise. Alternatively, I may utilize the special broker-dealer sale and
remittance procedure specified in my agreement to effect payment of the Exercise
Price.
, 199
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Date
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Optionee
Address:
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Print name in exact manner
it is to appear on the
stock certificate:
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Address to which certificate
is to be sent, if different
from address above:
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Social Security Number:
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Employee Number:
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APPENDIX
The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:
A. AGREEMENT shall mean this Stock Option Agreement.
B. BOARD shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
C. CODE shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
D. COMMON STOCK shall mean the Corporation's common stock.
E. CORPORATE TRANSACTION shall mean either of the following
stockholder-approved transactions to which the Corporation is a party:
(i) a merger or consolidation in which securities possessing more
than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
Corporation's outstanding securities are transferred to a person or
persons different from the persons holding those securities
immediately prior to such transaction, or
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the Corporation's assets in complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Corporation.
F. CORPORATION shall mean Onyx Acceptance Corporation, a Delaware
corporation.
G. EMPLOYEE shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction
of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and
method of performance.
H. EXERCISE DATE shall mean the date on which the option shall have
been exercised in accordance with Paragraph 9 of the Agreement.
I. EXERCISE PRICE shall mean the exercise price per share as
specified in the Grant Notice.
J. EXPIRATION DATE shall mean the date on which the option expires
as specified in the Grant Notice.
K. FAIR MARKET VALUE per share of Common Stock on any relevant date
shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq National
Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling
price per share of Common Stock on the date in question, as the
price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers
on the Nasdaq National Market or any successor system. If there is
no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in
question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling
price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
(ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock
Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling
price per share of Common Stock on the date in question on the
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Stock Exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the
primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially
quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange. If
there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date
in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling
price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
X. XXXXX DATE shall mean the date of grant of the option as
specified in the Grant Notice.
X. XXXXX NOTICE shall mean the Notice of Grant of Stock Option
accompanying the Agreement, pursuant to which Optionee has been informed of the
basic terms of the option evidenced hereby.
N. INCENTIVE OPTION shall mean an option which satisfies the
requirements of Code Section 422.
O. INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION shall mean the termination of Optionee's
Service which occurs by reason of:
(i) Optionee's involuntary dismissal or discharge by the Corporation
for reasons other than Misconduct, or
(ii) Optionee's voluntary resignation following (A) a change in
Optionee's position with the Corporation (or Parent or Subsidiary
employing Optionee) which materially reduces Optionee's level of
responsibility, (B) a reduction in Optionee's level of compensation
(including base salary, fringe benefits and participation in
corporate-performance based bonus or incentive programs) by more
than fifteen percent (15%) or (C) a relocation of Optionee's place
of employment by more than fifty (50) miles, provided and only if
such change, reduction or relocation is effected by the Corporation
without Optionee's consent.
P. MISCONDUCT shall mean the commission of any act of fraud,
embezzlement or dishonesty by Optionee, any unauthorized use or disclosure by
Optionee of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or any
Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by Optionee adversely
affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or
Subsidiary) in a material manner. The foregoing definition shall not be deemed
to be inclusive of all the acts or omissions which the Corporation (or any
Parent or Subsidiary) may consider as grounds for the dismissal or discharge of
Optionee or any other individual in the Service of the Corporation (or any
Parent or Subsidiary).
Q. NON-STATUTORY OPTION shall mean an option not intended to satisfy
the requirements of Code Section 422.
R. NOTICE OF EXERCISE shall mean the notice of exercise in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit I.
S. OPTION SHARES shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the option as specified in the Grant Notice.
T. OPTIONEE shall mean the person to whom the option is granted as
specified in the Grant Notice.
U. PARENT shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in
an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each
corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time
of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations
in such chain.
V. PERMANENT DISABILITY shall mean the inability of Optionee to
engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which is expected to result in death
or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of twelve (12)
months or more.
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X. XXXX shall mean the Corporation's 1996 Stock Option/Stock
Issuance Plan.
X. PLAN ADMINISTRATOR shall mean either the Board or a committee of
Board members, to the extent the committee is at the time responsible for the
administration of the Plan.
Y. SERVICE shall mean the Optionee's performance of services for the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in the capacity of an Employee, a
non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent
advisor.
Z. STOCK EXCHANGE shall mean the American Stock Exchange or the New
York Stock Exchange.
AA. SUBSIDIARY shall mean any corporation (other than the
Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the
Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the
unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty
percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
in one of the other corporations in such chain.
