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EXHIBIT 10.17
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
The Participant has been granted an Option by TAL International Group, Inc.
(the "Company") under the terms of the TAL International Group, Inc. 2004
Management Stock Plan (the "Plan"). The Option shall be subject to the following
Incentive Stock Option Terms (sometimes referred to as the "Option Terms"):
1. Terms of Award. The following words and phrases used in the Option Terms
shall have the meanings set forth in this paragraph 1:
(a) The "Participant" is XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX.
(b) The "Grant Date" is November 3, 2004.
(c) The number of "Covered Shares" is 400 shares of Stock.
(d) The "Exercise Price" is $1.00 per share.
Other words and phrases used in the Option Terms are defined in the Plan or
elsewhere in the Option Terms. Except where the context clearly implies or
indicates the contrary, a word, term, or phrase used in the Plan is similarly
used in the Option Terms.
2. Incentive Stock Option. The Option is intended to constitute an
"incentive stock option" as that term is used in Code section 422. To the extent
that the aggregate fair market value (determined at the time of grant) of
Covered Shares with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for
the first time by the Participant during any calendar year under all plans of
the Company and its Subsidiaries exceeds $100,000, the options or portions
thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were
granted) shall be treated as nonstatutory stock options. It should be understood
that there is no assurance that the Option will, in fact, be treated as an
incentive stock option.
3. Date of Exercise.
(a) Subject to the limitations of the Option Terms, the Option shall become
exercisable with respect to one-fourth (1/4) of the Covered Shares on the
one-year anniversary of the Grant Date (the "Initial Vesting Date") (but
only if the Date of Termination has not occurred prior to the Initial
Vesting Date). After the Initial Vesting Date, the Option shall become
exercisable with respect to an additional one forth (1/4) of the Covered
Shares at the anniversary of the Initial Vesting Date (but only if the Date
of Termination has not occurred prior to such anniversary), until such time
as this Option is fully exercisable.
(b) The Option may be exercised on or after the Date of Termination only as to
that portion of the Covered Shares for which it was exercisable (or became
exercisable) immediately prior to such date.
4. Expiration. The Option shall not be exercisable after the Company's
close of business on the last business day that occurs prior to the Expiration
Date. The "Expiration Date" shall be the earliest to occur of:
(a) the ten-year anniversary of the Grant Date;
(b) if the Date of Termination occurs by reason of the Participant's death or
Disability, the one-year anniversary of such Date of Termination;
(c) if the Date of Termination occurs by reason of termination of the
Participant by the employer for Cause, or by the Participant other than for
Good Reason, such Date of Termination; or
(d) if the Date of Termination occurs for reasons other than (i) the
Participant's death, (ii) the Participant's Disability, (iii) termination
of the Participant by the employer for Cause, or (iv) termination by the
Participant other than for Good Reason, the 90-day anniversary of such Date
of Termination.
5. Method of Option Exercise. Subject to the Option Terms and the Plan, the
Option may be exercised in whole or in part by filing an option exercise notice
in the form attached as Exhibit A (the "Exercise Notice") with the Secretary of
the Company at its corporate headquarters prior to the Company's close of
business on the last business day that occurs prior to the Expiration Date. Such
notice shall specify the number of shares of Stock which the Participant elects
to purchase and such other representations and agreements as may be required by
the Company, and shall be accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price. This
Option may not be exercised until such time as the Plan has been approved by the
shareholders of the Company. The Option shall not be exercisable if and to the
extent the Company determines that such exercise would violate applicable state
or Federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of any securities
exchange on which the Stock is traded. If the Company makes such a
determination, it shall use all reasonable efforts to obtain compliance with
such laws, rules and regulations. In making any determination hereunder, the
Company may rely on the opinion of counsel for the Company.
6. Payment of Exercise Price. Payment of the Exercise Price may be made by
any of the following methods or any combination thereof:
(a) By cash or by check payable to the Company.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by the Committee before the Option is
exercised and provided that the Company's common stock is publicly traded
and quoted regularly in the Wall Street Journal, by delivery of shares of
Stock owned by the Participant having an aggregate Fair Market Value
(valued as of the date of exercise) that is equal to the amount of cash
that would otherwise be required. Except as otherwise provided by the
Committee, payments made with shares of Stock shall be limited to shares
held by the Participant for not less than six months prior to the payment
date.
(c) Except as otherwise provided by the Committee before the Option is
exercised and provided that the Company's common stock is publicly traded
and quoted regularly in the Wall Street Journal, by authorizing a third
party to sell shares of Stock (or a sufficient portion of the shares)
acquired upon exercise of the Option and remit to the Company a sufficient
portion of the sale proceeds to pay the entire Exercise Price and any tax
withholding resulting from such exercise.
7. Change in Control. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 4.2(f) of the
Plan (relating to the adjustment of shares), and except as otherwise provided in
the Plan, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, all of the options shall
vest in full.
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8. Withholding. All deliveries and distributions under the Option Terms are
subject to withholding of all applicable taxes. At the election of the
Participant, and subject to such rules and limitations as may be established by
the Committee from time to time, such withholding obligations may be satisfied
through the surrender of shares of Stock which the Participant already owns, or
to which the Participant is otherwise entitled under the Plan; provided,
however, that such shares may be used to satisfy not more than the Company's
minimum statutory withholding obligation (based on minimum statutory withholding
rates for Federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are
applicable to such supplemental taxable income).
9. Participant's Representations and Shareholders Agreement. At the time
this Option is exercised, the Participant shall, if required by the Company,
concurrently with the exercise of all or any portion of this Option (i) deliver
to the Company his or her Investment Representation Statement in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B; and (ii) agree to execute and become a party to
the Shareholders Agreement, as may be in effect on such date.
10. Lock-Up Period. The Participant hereby agrees that, if so requested by
the Company or any representative of the underwriters (the "Managing
Underwriter") in connection with any registration of the offering of any
securities of the Company under the Securities Act, the Participant shall not
sell or otherwise transfer any Shares or other securities of the Company during
the 180-day period, or such other period as may be requested in writing by the
Managing Underwriter and agreed to in writing by the Company (the "Market
Standoff Period") following the effective date of a registration statement of
the Company filed under the Securities Act. Such restriction shall apply only to
the first registration statement of the Company to become effective under the
Securities Act that includes securities to be sold on behalf of the Company to
the public in an underwritten public offering under the Securities Act. The
Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject
to the foregoing restrictions until the end of such Market Standoff Period.
11. Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in
any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and
may be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant.
The terms of the Plan and the Option Terms shall be binding upon the executors,
administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Participant.
12. All Terms. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and
the Option Terms, including all Exhibits hereto, as applicable, constitute all
of the terms with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their
entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the
Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof. The Option Terms may be
amended by written agreement of the Company and the Participant without the
consent of any other person.
13. Definitions. For purposes of the Option Terms, words and phrases used
in this Agreement shall be defined as follows:
(a) Cause. If the Participant is subject to an employment agreement (or other
similar agreement) with the Company or a Subsidiary that provides a
definition of termination for "cause," then, for purposes of this Award,
the term "Cause" shall have meaning set forth in such agreement. In the
absence of such a definition, the term "Cause" shall mean any of the
following: (1) the willful and continued failure by the Participant to
substantially perform his duties, other than by reason of his being
Disabled (as defined below), (2) the willful engaging by the Participant in
conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or
its Affiliates,
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(3) conduct by the Participant that involves theft or fraud or, dishonesty
in connection with his duties, (4) the Participant's violation of a
non-compete or confidentiality agreement with the Company or an Affiliate,
or (5) conviction of felony involving moral turpitude.
(b) Change in Control. The term "Change in Control" means any of the following:
(i) the closing of any merger, combination, consolidation or similar
business transaction involving the Company in which the holders of Stock
immediately prior to such closing are not the holders, directly or
indirectly, of a majority of the ordinary voting securities of the
surviving person in such transaction immediately after such closing, (ii)
the closing of any sale or transfer by the Company of all or substantially
all of its assets to an acquiring person in which the holders of Stock
immediately prior to such closing are not the holders of a majority of the
ordinary voting securities of the acquiring person immediately after such
closings, (iii) the closing of any sale by the holders of Stock of an
amount of Stock that equals or exceeds a majority of the shares of Stock
immediately prior to such closing to a person in which the holders of the
Stock immediately prior to such closing are not the holders of a majority
of the ordinary voting securities of such person immediately after such
closing or (iv) the consummation of a registered public offering of Stock
by the Company pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for
gross proceeds of at least $50 million.
(c) Date of Termination. The "Date of Termination" shall be the first day
occurring on or after the Grant Date on which the Participant ceases to be
an Employee of, or Service Provider to, the Company or any Subsidiary,
regardless of the reason for such cessation, subject to the following:
(i) The Participant's cessation as an Employee and Service Provider shall
not be deemed to occur by reason of the transfer of the Participant between
the Company and a Subsidiary or between two Subsidiaries.
(ii) The Participant's cessation as an Employee and Service Provider shall
not be deemed to occur by reason of the Participant's being on a leave of
absence from the Company or a Subsidiary approved by the Company or
Subsidiary otherwise receiving the Participant's services.
(iii) If, as a result of a sale or other transaction, the Subsidiary for
whom Participant is employed (or to whom the Participant is providing
services as a Service Provider) ceases to be a Subsidiary (and the entity
for whom the Participant is employed or to whom the Participant is
providing services is or becomes an entity that is separate from the
Company), and the Participant is not, at the end of the 30-day period
following the transaction, an Employee of or Service Provider to the
Company or an entity that is then a Subsidiary, then the occurrence of such
transaction shall be treated as the Participant's Date of Termination
caused by the Participant being discharged by the entity for whom the
Participant is employed or to whom the Participant is providing services.
(iv) A Service Provider whose services to the Company or a Subsidiary are
governed by a written agreement with the Service Provider will cease to be
a Service Provider at the time the term of such written agreement ends
(without renewal); and a Service Provider whose services to the Company or
a Subsidiary are not governed by a written agreement with the Service
Provider will cease to be a Service Provider on the date that is 90 days
after the date
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the Service Provider last provides services requested by Company or
Subsidiary (as determined by the Committee).
(d) Disability. If the Participant is subject to an employment agreement (or
other similar agreement) with the Company or a Subsidiary that provides a
definition of termination for "disability," then, for purposes of this
Award, the term "Disability" shall have meaning set forth in such
agreement. In the absence of such a definition, the Participant shall be
considered to have a "Disability" during the period in which the
Participant is unable, by reason of a medically determinable physical or
mental impairment, to engage in any substantial gainful activity, which
condition, in the opinion of a physician selected by the Committee, is
expected to have a duration of not less than 120 days.
(e) Employee. The term "Employee" means any person, including Officers and
Directors, employed by the Company or any Subsidiary.
(f) Good Reason. If the Participant is subject to an employment agreement (or
other similar agreement) with the Company or a Subsidiary that provides a
definition of termination for "good reason," then, for purposes of this
Award, the term "Good Reason" shall have meaning set forth in such
agreement. In the absence of such a definition, the term "Good Reason"
shall mean either of (1) a reduction in the Participant's salary rate; or
(2) a reduction in the Participant's rank which occur without the
Participant's consent and which are not corrected by the Company within 10
days of delivery of a written notice to the Company by the Participant
which identifies the circumstances which the Participant believes
constitute a reduction in salary rate or rank.
(g) Shareholders Agreement. The term "Shareholders Agreement" means the
agreement governing the rights and obligations with respect to shares of
Stock and to holders of Stock (including, without limitation, voting and
sale rights), which agreement shall be in such form as the Company
determines.
(h) Stock. The term "Stock" means the Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
of the Company.
14. Designated Event Bonus.
(a) General. If upon the consummation of a Designated Event, the holders of all
of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock receive cash equal to
the Liquidation Preference (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation)
plus accrued but unpaid dividends as of the redemption date on each
outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock (such aggregate amount, the
"Series A Redemption Amount"), then the Company shall pay to Participant
the Bonus Amount. For the avoidance of doubt, any payments under this
Section 14 shall be subordinate to all rights of payment of the Series A
Preferred Stock.
(b) Payment of the Bonus Amount. The Bonus Amount shall be payable in cash.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Designated Event is a Public
Offering, the Company may, in its sole discretion, issue Stock or other
securities that are exercisable for or convertible into Stock in lieu of
cash payment of the Bonus Amount. The number of securities issued in
payment of the Bonus Amount would be based on the price per share of the
securities sold in the Public Offering.
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(c) Definitions. For purposes of this Section 14, the following terms shall
have the corresponding meanings:
(i) "Bonus Amount" shall mean an amount equal to the difference between (i)
all accrued but unpaid dividends on all of the shares of Series A Preferred
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Designated Event divided by the
difference between of (A) one minus (B) the Fully-Diluted Equity Factor and
(ii) all accrued but unpaid dividends on all of the shares of Series A
Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Designated Event.
(ii) "Certificate of Incorporation" shall mean the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as filed with the Secretary of
State of Delaware on the date hereof.
(iii) "Designated Event" shall mean a Change of Control (as defined in the
Certificate of Incorporation) or a Public Offering, in each case in which
the entire Series A Redemption Amount is paid in full in cash.
(iv) "Fully-Diluted Common Stock" shall mean all of the Stock, assuming
conversion, exercise or exchange of all outstanding convertible,
exercisable or exchangeable securities, options, warrants and similar
securities or instruments into or for Stock (regardless of whether such
convertible, exercisable or exchangeable securities, options, warrants or
similar securities or instruments are then convertible, exercisable or
exchangeable).
(v) "Fully-Diluted Equity Factor" shall mean the fraction obtained by
dividing (i) the Participant Shares by (ii) the Fully-Diluted Common Stock
immediately prior to the Designated Event.
(vi) "Participant Shares" shall mean the shares of Stock issuable upon
exercise of this Option, subject to adjustment for stock splits,
combinations, stock dividends, recapitalizations and similar transactions.
(vii) "Public Offering" shall mean a public offering and sale of equity
securities by the Company pursuant to an effective Registration Statement
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") for
gross proceeds of at least $50 million.
(viii) "Registration Statement" means any registration statement of the
Company filed with, or to be filed with, the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities
Act, including the related prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, and all
exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration
statement other than a registration statement (and related prospectus)
filed on Form S-8 or any successor form thereto.
(ix) "Series A Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Preferred Stock,
par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in
its name and on its behalf, all as of the Grant Date.
TAL INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ A. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
-----------------------------
Name: A. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
Title: Vice President
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