EXHIBIT 10.18
VALUESTAR CORPORATION
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into
effective as of the 28th day of January, 2000, by and between VALUESTAR
CORPORATION, a Colorado corporation (the "Company") and Xxxxxx Sick (the
"Optionee").
BACKGROUND
A. The Company has determined to reward and to provide incentives to those who
are primarily responsible for the operations of the Company and for shaping and
carrying out the long-range plans of the Company and aiding in its continued
growth and financial success.
B. In furtherance of these purposes, the Board of Directors of the Company has
authorized the grant to Optionee of a stock option to purchase certain shares of
the common stock, par value $.00025 per share, of the Company ("Common Stock")
by resolution dated January 28, 2000.
C. The Company and Optionee wish to confirm the terms, conditions, and
restrictions of this option.
For and in consideration of the premises, the mutual covenants contained herein,
and other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
GRANT AND EXERCISE OF OPTION
1.1 GRANT OF OPTION. Subject to the terms, restrictions, limitations, and
conditions stated herein, the Company hereby grants to Optionee an option (the
"Option") to purchase 345,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Option Shares"). The
date first written above shall be the date on which the Option has been granted
(the "Grant Date").
1.2 EXERCISE OF THE OPTION (a) The Option may be exercised with respect to all
or any portion of the vested Option Shares at any time during the Option Period
(as defined below) by the delivery to the Company, at its principal place of
business, of (i) a written notice of exercise which shall be delivered to the
Company no earlier than thirty (30) days and no later than ten (10) days prior
to the date upon which Optionee desires to exercise all or any portion of the
Option (the "Exercise Date"); (ii) a certified check payable to the Company in
the amount of the Exercise Price (as defined below) multiplied by the number of
Option Shares being purchased (the "Purchase Price") OR with the advance
approval of the Company, by delivery of a number of shares of Common Stock,
which have been held by Optionee for at least six months, having a fair market
value, as of the date the Option is exercised, at least equal to the Purchase
Price OR with the advance approval of the Company by a certified check payable
to the Company in an amount less than the Exercise Price and by delivery of a
number of shares of Common Stock, which have been held by Optionee for at least
six months, having a fair market value, as of the date the Option is exercised,
at least equal to the balance of the Purchase Price OR with the advance approval
of the Company by Optionee advising the Company, at the time this Option is
exercised, to withhold
from exercise under the Option the appropriate number of Option Shares, the
aggregate fair market value of which on the date of exercise of the Option is
equal to the aggregate cash purchase price of the Option Shares being exercised
and purchased under the Option, and such withholding shall constitute full
payment for the non-withheld Option Shares issued upon exercise OR such other
consideration as the Board of Directors may specifically authorize; and (iii)
except as permitted in Paragraph 1.2(b) below, a certified check payable to the
Company in the amount of all withholding tax obligations, if any (whether
federal, state or local), imposed on the Company by reason of the exercise of
the Option, or if applicable the Withholding Election described in Section
1.2(b). Upon acceptance of such notice, receipt of payment in full, the Company
shall cause a certificate representing the shares of Common Stock as to which
the Option has been exercised (less any withheld Option Shares, if applicable)
to be issued and delivered to the Optionee.
(b) In lieu of paying the withholding tax obligation, if any, in cash, as
described in Section 1.2(a) (iii), the Optionee may elect, with the advance
approval of the Company, to have the actual number of shares issuable upon
exercise of the Option reduced by the smallest number of whole shares of Common
Stock which, when multiplied by the fair market value of the Common Stock as of
the date the Option is exercised, is sufficient to satisfy the amount of the
withholding tax obligations imposed on the Company by reason of the exercise
thereof (the "Withholding Election"). The Optionee may take a Withholding
Election only if all of the following conditions are met:
(i) the Withholding Election must be made by electing the Withholding
Election in the written notice of exercise; and by executing and
delivering to the Company a properly completed Notice of Withholding
Election; and
(ii) any Withholding Election made will be irrevocable; however, the
Company may, in its sole discretion, disapprove and not give effect to
any Withholding Election at its discretion or due to its cash position
or based on any other regulatory or statutory factor in its reasonable
judgment.
1.3 EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price for each share of Common Stock shall be
Seven Dollars ($7.00) (the "Exercise Price").
1.4 TERM AND TERMINATION OF OPTION. Except as otherwise provided herein, the
term of the Option ("Option Period") shall commence on the Grant Date and
terminate on January 27, 2005. Subject to paragraph 1.5 below, this Option shall
become exercisable (vest) based on the passage of services to the Company in
accordance with the following vesting schedule:
20,000 options shares shall vest on June 30, 2000
25,000 options shares shall vest on September 30, 2000
30,000 options shares shall vest on December 31, 2000
22,500 options shares shall vest on March 31, 2001
22,500 options shares shall vest on June 30, 2001
22,500 options shares shall vest on September 30, 2001
22,500 options shares shall vest on December 31, 2001
22,500 options shares shall vest on March 31, 2002
22,500 options shares shall vest on June 30, 2002
22,500 options shares shall vest on September 30, 2002
22,500 options shares shall vest on December 31, 2002
22,500 options shares shall vest on March 31, 2003
22,500 options shares shall vest on June 30, 2003
22,500 options shares shall vest on September 30, 2003
22,500 options shares shall vest on December 31, 2003
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Once the right to purchase shares has accrued and vested, such shares may
thereafter be purchased at any time, or in part from time to time, until the
termination date of this Option, subject to the provisions of Paragraph 1.7
below. In no case may this Option be exercised for a fraction of a share. No
shares shall vest after termination of services to the Company unless otherwise
agreed in writing.
Upon the expiration of the Option Period as set forth above, this Option, and
all unexercised rights granted to the Optionee hereunder shall terminate, and
thereafter be null and void.
1.5 ACCELERATION OF VESTING. In the event of a merger, sale or reorganization of
the Company with or into any other corporation or corporations or a sale of all
or substantially all of the assets or outstanding stock of the Company, in which
transaction the Company's stockholders immediately prior to such transaction own
immediately after such transaction less than 50% of the equity securities of the
surviving corporation or its parent, all Option Shares that have not been
terminated in accordance with this agreement, that will become vested within 48
months of the closing date of such merger, sale or reorganization will be
accelerated. In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another
corporation, this outstanding option may be assumed or an equivalent option or
right may be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary
of such successor corporation. For the purposes of this paragraph, this Option
shall be considered assumed if, following the merger, the Option confers the
right to purchase or receive, for each Option Share immediately prior to the
merger, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property)
received in the merger by holders of Common Stock for each share held on the
effective date of the transaction (and if the holders are offered a choice of
consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares). If such consideration received in the merger is not
solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Board of
Directors of the Company may, with the consent of the successor corporation,
provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of this Option,
for each Option Share, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or
its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by
holders of Common Stock in the merger.
1.6 RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. Optionee, or, if applicable, any Transferee (as
defined in Section 3.12 (c)) shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect
to any shares covered by the Option until a stock certificate for the shares is
issued in Optionee's or Transferee's name. No adjustment to the Option shall be
made pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof for dividends paid or declared on or with
respect to Common Stock in cash, securities other than Common Stock, or other
property, for which the record date is prior to the date of exercise hereof.
1.7 EARLY TERMINATION OF OPTION. The Option Period shall terminate on the date
of the first to occur of the following:
(a) January 27, 2005:
(b) Disability or Death as provided by this subparagraph (b). This
Option shall terminate and no further options shall vest thereafter
upon Optionee's death or disability and any vested options at the time
of such death or disability shall no longer be exercisable after the
expiration of twelve (12) months from the date of death or disability
of the Optionee.
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(c) If Optionee's services as an employee is terminated for no reason,
or for any reason (voluntarily or otherwise) other than disability or
death, then no further options shall vest thereafter and this Option
shall terminate and no longer be exercisable six months after such
termination. If Optionee shall die within six months after termination
the remaining vested portion shall terminate on the earlier of the
expiration of the Option Period or twelve months after the date of
death.
(d) the date immediately preceding the consummation of the dissolution
or liquidation of the Company. The Company will use its best efforts to
provide written notice to Optionee of such dissolution or liquidation
or like transaction, at least (30) days prior to the closing of such
transaction to permit Optionee to exercise the Option to the extent
vested. In no event will te option be exercisable beyond expiration of
the Option Period.
ARTICLE 2
RESTRICTION ON OPTION AND OPTION SHARES
2.1 RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF OPTION. The Option evidenced hereby is
non-transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and
shall be exercisable during the lifetime of Optionee only by Optionee (or, in
the event of Optionee's death or disability, by a permitted Transferee).
2.2 LOCK-UP PROVISION. In connection with any public registration of the
Company's securities, the Optionee (and any transferee of Optionee) agrees, upon
the request of the Company or the underwriter(s) managing such underwritten
offering of the Company's securities, not to sell, make any short sale of, loan,
grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of this Option, any
of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Option or any other
securities of the Company heretofore or hereafter acquired by Optionee (other
than unrestricted securities acquired in the open market and those included in
the registration) without the prior written consent of the Company and such
underwriter(s), as the case may be, for a period of time not to exceed one
hundred eighty (180) days from the effective date of the registration (the
"Lock-Up Period"). Upon request by the Company, Optionee (and any transferee of
Optionee) agrees to enter into any further reasonable agreement in writing in a
form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and such underwriter(s)in
furtherance of such lock-up. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions
with respect to the securities subject to the foregoing restrictions until the
end of said 180-day period. Any shares issued upon exercise of this Option shall
bear an appropriate legend referencing this lock-up provision (the "Lock-Up
Legend").
ARTICLE 3
GENERAL PROVISIONS
3.1 CHANGE IN CAPITALIZATION. If the number of outstanding shares of the Common
Stock shall be increased or decreased by a change in par value, split-up, stock
split, reverse stock split, reclassification, distribution of common stock
dividend, or other similar capital adjustment, an appropriate adjustment shall
be made by the Board of Directors in the number and kind of shares as to which
the
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Option, or the portion thereof then unexercised, shall be or become exercisable,
such that Optionee's proportionate interest shall be maintained as before the
occurrence of the event. The adjustment shall be made without change in the
total price applicable to the unexercised portion of the Option and with a
corresponding adjustment in the Exercise Price. No fractional shares shall be
issued or made subject to the Option in making such adjustment. All adjustments
made by the Board of Directors under this Section shall be final, binding, and
conclusive.
3.2 LEGENDS. Each certificate representing the Option Shares purchased upon
exercise of the Option shall (unless a registration statement covering the
Option Shares is in effect) be endorsed with the following legend and Optionee
shall not make any transfer of the Option shares without first complying with
the restrictions on transfer described in such legend:
TRANSFER IF RESTRICTED
THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR
SIMILAR STATE SECURITIES LAWS APPLICABLE TO SUCH SECURITIES
(COLLECTIVELY THE "ACTS") AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED,
OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS (1) THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER
SUCH ACTS COVERING SUCH SECURITIES, (2) THE TRANSFER IS MADE IN
COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144 PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR
SIMILAR STATE SECURITIES LAW, OR (3) THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED AN
OPINION OF COUNSEL, REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, STATING
THAT SUCH SALE, TRANSFER, ASSIGNMENT OR HYPOTHECATION IS EXEMPT FROM
THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACTS.
Optionee agrees that the Company may also include any other legends required by
applicable federal or state securities laws.
3.3 GOVERNING LAWS. This Agreement shall be construed, administered and enforced
according to the laws of the State of California, excluding that body of law
dealing with conflicts of law.
3.4 SUCCESSORS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the heirs, legal representatives, successors, and permitted assigns of the
parties.
3.5 NOTICE. Except as otherwise specified herein, all notices and other
communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been given if personally delivered or if sent by registered or certified
United States mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the
proposed recipient at the last known address of the recipient. Any party may
designate any other address to which notices shall be sent by giving notice of
the address to the other parties in the same manner as provided herein.
3.6 SEVERABILITY. In the event that any one or more of the provisions or portion
thereof contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be invalid,
illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, the same shall not invalidate or
otherwise affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement
shall be construed as if the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or
portion thereof had never been contained herein.
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3.7 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement expresses the entire understanding and
Agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
3.8 VIOLATION. Any transfer, pledge, sale, assignment, or hypothecation of the
Option or any portion thereof made in violation of the terms of this Agreement
shall be void and without effect.
3.9 HEADINGS. Paragraph headings used herein are for convenience of reference
only and shall not be considered in construing this Agreement.
3.10 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. In the event of any actual or threatened default in,
or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, the
party or parties who are thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific
performance and injunction in addition to any and all other rights and remedies
at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative.
3.11 NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS CREATED. The grant of the Option hereunder shall not
be construed as giving Optionee the right to continued employment with the
Company.
3.12 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. The capitalized terms listed below are used herein
with the meaning thereafter ascribed:
(a) "Disability" means (1) the inability of Optionee to perform the
duties of Optionee's employment with the Company due to physical or
emotional incapacity or illness, where such inability is expected to be
of long-continued and indefinite duration or (2) Optionee shall be
entitled to (i) disability retirement benefits under the federal Social
Security Act or (ii) recover benefits under any long-term disability
plan or policy maintained by the Company. In the event of a dispute,
the determination of Disability shall be made by the Board of Directors
and shall be supported by advice of a physician competent in the area
to which such Disability relates.
(b) "Fair Market Value" means of the applicable prices selected from
the following alternatives for the date as of which Fair Market Value
is to be determined as quoted in the Wall Street Journal (or in such
other reliable publication as the committee, in it's discretion, may
determine to rely upon): (i) if the common stock is listed on the New
York Stock Exchange, the mean of highest and lowest sales prices per
share of the Common Stock as quoted in the NYSE - Composite
transactions listing for such or each date, (ii) if the common Stock is
not listed on such exchange, the mean of the highest and lowest sales
prices per share of Common stock for such or each date on (or on any
composite index including) the principal United States Securities
Exchange registered under the 1934 Act on which the Common Stock is
listed, or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on any such
exchange, the mean of the highest and lowest sales prices per share of
the Common Stock for such or each date on the National Associates of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotations Systems or any successor system
then in use ("NASDAQ"). If there are no such sales price quotations for
the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined but there
are such sales price quotations within a reasonable period both before
and after such date, then Fair Market Value shall be determined by
taking a weighted average of the means between the highest and lowest
sales prices per share
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of the Common Stock as so quoted on the nearest date before, and the
nearest date after, the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be
determined. The average should be weighted inversely by the respective
numbers of trading days between the selling dates and the date as of
which Fair Market Value is to be determined. If there are no such sales
price quotations on, or within a reasonable period both before and
after, the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined, then
Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be the mean between the
bonafide bid and asked prices per share of Common Stock as so quoted
for such date on NASDAQ, or if none, the weighted average of the means
between such bonafide bid and asked prices on the nearest trading date
before, and the nearest trading date after, the date as of which Fair
Market Value is to be determined, if both such dates are within a
reasonable period. If the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock cannot
be determined on the basis set forth in this definition for the date as
of which Fair Market Value is to be determined, the Committee shall in
good faith determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on such
date. Fair Market Value shall be determined without regard to any
restriction, other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never
lapse.
(c) "Transferee" means the estate, or the executor or administrator of
the estate, of a deceased Optionee, or the personal representative of
an Optionee suffering a Disability.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day and year
first set forth above.
VALUESTAR CORPORATION
BY: /s/ XXXXX XXXXX
ITS: President
ATTESTED:
BY: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXX
ITS: Controller
ACCEPTED:
/s/ XXXXXX X. SICK
XXXXXX SICK
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