Exhibit 10.10
J2 COMMUNICATIONS
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Date Option Granted: May 17, 2002
Name of Optionee
0000 Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Residence Address
THIS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of the date set forth above
between J2 COMMUNICATIONS, a California corporation (hereinafter called the
"Company"), and the optionee named above (hereinafter called the "Optionee").
RECITAL
The Board of Directors of the Company, or a duly appointed Committee (as
such term is defined in the J2 COMMUNICATIONS Amended and Restated 1999 Stock
Option, Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Plan (the "Plan")) (acting solely by
"outside directors" as such term is defined in the regulations regarding
performance based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended), has determined that it is to the advantage and interest of
the Company and its shareholders to grant the option provided for herein to the
Optionee as an inducement to associate with, and remain in the service of, the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as such term is defined in the Plan) and as
an incentive for increased effort during such service. All capitalized terms
used herein which are not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meaning
ascribed to them in the Plan.
In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
(a) Grant of Option. Pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions
of the Plan, the Company grants to the Optionee the right and option (the "Stock
Option") to purchase on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth all or
any part of an aggregate of one hundred thousand (100,000) shares (the "Shares")
of the presently authorized and unissued Common Stock of the Company at the
purchase price of $_____ per share as the Optionee may, from time to time,
elect. The Stock Option shall vest in its entirety immediately upon being
granted.
(b) Exercise. The right to exercise the Stock Option granted hereunder,
to the extent unexercised, shall remain in effect for a period of ten years from
the date of grant, and thereafter shall terminate and expire.
(c) Method of Exercise. The Stock Option may be exercised by the
Optionee from time to time by delivering written notice to the Company (in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A) stating the number of Shares with respect to
which the Stock Option is being exercised, together with payment in full of the
purchase price for the number of Shares being exercised. Payment of the purchase
price, in whole or in part, may be made (A) in cash or by certified or cashier's
check payable to the order of the Company, (B) in the form of unrestricted Stock
(if held for at least six 6 months) already owned by the Optionee, (C) by
cancellation of any indebtedness owed by the Company to the Optionee, (D)
through the surrender of shares of Stock then issuable upon exercise of the
Stock Option having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise thereof equal to
the aggregate exercise price of the Stock Option exercised or portion thereof,
or (E) by any combination of the foregoing. If requested by the Board of
Directors of the Company or the Committee, prior to the delivery of any Shares,
the Optionee, or any other person entitled to exercise the Stock Option, shall
supply the Board of Directors of the Company or the Committee with a
representation that the Shares are not being acquired with a view to
distribution and will be sold or otherwise disposed of only in accordance with
applicable federal and state statutes, rules and regulations. As soon after the
notice of exercise as the Company is reasonably able to comply, the Company
shall, without transfer or issue tax to the Optionee or other person entitled to
exercise the Stock Option, deliver to the Optionee or such other person, at the
main office of the Company or such other place as shall be mutually acceptable,
a certificate or certificates for the shares being exercised.
The Optionee may exercise the Stock Option for less than the total
number of Shares for which the Stock Option is exercisable, provided that a
partial exercise may not (i) be for less than 100 shares, except in the final
year of the Stock Option, and (ii) include any fractional shares.
(d) Termination of Stock Option. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement or the Plan to the contrary, this Stock Option shall terminate and
expire as provided in paragraph (b) of this Agreement or at such earlier times
and on such terms as follows:
(1) Termination by Death. If the Optionee's employment with the
Company, any Subsidiary or Parent Corporation terminates by reason of death, the
Stock Option may thereafter be immediately exercised by the legal representative
of the estate or by the legatee of the Optionee under the will of the Optionee,
until the expiration of the stated term of the Stock Option;
(2) Termination by Reason of Disability. No termination of the
Optionee's employment with the Company, any Subsidiary or Parent Corporation by
reason of Disability shall affect the exercisability of the Stock Option; and
(3) Other Termination. Except as otherwise provided in this
paragraph or otherwise determined by the Administrator, if the Optionee's
employment with the Company, any Subsidiary or Parent Corporation terminates for
any reason other than death or Disability, the Stock Option may be exercised
until the expiration of the stated term of this Stock Option; provided, however,
that if the expiration of the stated term of the Stock Option is less than 30
days from the date of termination, then the Stock Option shall expire 30 days
from the date of termination.
(e) Adjustments. The number and kind of shares subject to this Stock
Option and
the price to be paid therefor shall be subject to adjustment as provided in the
Plan.
(f) Non-Transferability. This Stock Option is not assignable or
transferable by the Optionee, either voluntarily or by operation of law, other
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable,
during the Optionee's lifetime, only by the Optionee.
(g) No Shareholder Rights. The Optionee or other person entitled to
exercise the Stock Option shall have no rights or privileges as a shareholder
with respect to any shares subject hereto until the Optionee or such person has
(1) given written notice of exercise, (2) paid in full for such Shares, and (3)
if requested, given the representations provided for in paragraphs (c) and (i)
of this Agreement (the "Exercise Conditions"), and no adjustment (except such
adjustments as may be effected pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (e)
hereof) shall be made for dividends or distributions of rights in respect of
such Shares if the record date is prior to the date on which the Optionee or
such person shall have satisfied all of the Exercise Conditions.
(h) Plan Controls. The Stock Option shall be subject to and governed by
the provisions of the Plan (a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B),
which the Committee alone shall have the authority to interpret and construe. In
the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the Plan,
the Plan shall govern. All determinations and interpretations thereof made by
the Committee shall be conclusive and binding on all parties hereto and upon
their successors and assigns. This Stock Option is not intended to meet the
requirements of an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422A of
the Code.
(i) Conditions to Issuance of Shares. THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO ISSUE
SHARES OF ITS COMMON STOCK UPON EXERCISE OF THE STOCK OPTION IS EXPRESSLY
CONDITIONED UPON THE COMPLETION BY THE COMPANY OF ANY REGISTRATION OR OTHER
QUALIFICATION OF SUCH SHARES UNDER ANY STATE AND/OR FEDERAL LAW OR RULINGS OR
REGULATIONS OF ANY GOVERNMENT REGULATORY BODY or THE MAKING OF SUCH INVESTMENT
REPRESENTATIONS OR OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS BY THE OPTIONEE OR ANY
PERSON ENTITLED TO EXERCISE THE STOCK OPTION IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM ANY SUCH REGISTRATION OR OTHER QUALIFICATION
OF SUCH SHARES WHICH THE COMMITTEE SHALL, IN ITS REASONABLE DISCRETION, DEEM
NECESSARY OR ADVISABLE. SUCH REQUIRED REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS INCLUDE
REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS THAT THE OPTIONEE, OR ANY OTHER PERSON ENTITLED
TO EXERCISE THE STOCK OPTION, (A) IS NOT PURCHASING SUCH SHARES FOR DISTRIBUTION
AND (B) AGREES TO HAVE PLACED UPON THE FACE AND REVERSE OF ANY CERTIFICATES FOR
SUCH SHARES A LEGEND SETTING FORTH ANY REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS WHICH HAVE
BEEN GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE OR A REFERENCE THERETO AND STATING THAT, PRIOR TO
MAKING ANY SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF ANY SUCH SHARES, THE OPTIONEE, OR ANY
OTHER PERSON ENTITLED TO EXERCISE THE STOCK OPTION, WILL GIVE THE COMPANY NOTICE
OF INTENTION TO SELL OR DISPOSE OF THE SHARES NOT LESS THAN FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO
SUCH SALE OR DISPOSITION.
(j) Method of Acceptance. This Agreement is addressed to the Optionee in
duplicate and shall not be effective until the Optionee executes the acceptance
below and returns one copy to the Company, thereby acknowledging that he has
read and agreed to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan.
(k) Governing Law. THIS OPTION AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA APPLICABLE TO
CONTRACTS MADE IN, AND TO BE PERFORMED WITHIN, THAT STATE.
EXECUTED as of the 17th day of May, 2002.
J2 COMMUNICATIONS
----------------------------
XXXXX TOLL
Chief Financial Officer
ACCEPTED:
--------------------------
XXXXXX X. XXXXXX, Optionee
--------------------------
Date
EXHIBIT "A"
J2 COMMUNICATIONS
AMENDED AND RESTATED 1999 STOCK OPTION, DEFERRED STOCK
AND RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
Notice of Exercise
Corporate Secretary
J2 Communications.
00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Dear Sir:
1. I am the holder of an option granted under the Company's Amended and Restated
1999 Stock Option, Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Plan (the "Plan"). I
hereby exercise my option (the "Option") to purchase ___________________________
(______) shares (the "Shares") of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise
price of ____________ Dollars and __________ Cents ($ ) per Share. Payment to
the Company of the aggregate exercise price for the Shares, in accordance with
the provisions of the Stock Option Agreement between me and the Company
regarding the Option (the "Option Agreement"), is enclosed.
2. Tax Representation. I understand that I may suffer adverse tax consequences
as a result of my purchase or disposition of the Shares. I represent that I have
consulted any tax consultants I deem advisable in connection with the purchase
or disposition of the Shares (or have knowingly chosen not to consult a tax
advisor) and that I am not relying on the Company or its employees, directors,
officers, attorneys or accountants for any tax advice. The Option I am hereby
exercising is a Non-Qualified Stock Option, which is a taxable event.
3. Other Acknowledgments.
a. I acknowledge receipt of copies of the Company's current Prospectus
with respect to the Plan and its most recent Annual Report to Shareholders.
b. I am aware that the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder, may impose limitations on the resale of the Company's stock acquired
pursuant to this option exercise. I hereby certify that any resale of such stock
will be made in compliance with the Act and those regulations and requirements
and any applicable state securities laws, rules and regulations.
c. I hereby appoint U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation as my agent to
accept delivery of the shares of the Company's stock being purchased on my
behalf pursuant to this option exercise, and request U.S. Stock Transfer
Corporation to forward the
certificates representing those shares to me at the address shown above.
d. Prior to delivery of the Shares, I agree to make such representations
as are required by or pursuant to the Plan or the Option Agreement.
e. I agree to have placed on the face and reverse of any certificates
for the Shares such legend as is required by or pursuant to the Option
Agreement.
Date: ________________________________
Very truly yours,
--------------------
Optionee
______________________________________
Social Security Number
______________________________________
______________________________________
(Address)
