EXHIBIT 10.10
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (NON-QUALIFIED)
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This STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made effective as of
__________________, by and between American Physicians Service Group, Inc., (the
"Company"), and ___________________ (the "Optionee").
Whereas Optionee is a valuable and trusted employee and or director of the
Company, and the Company considers it desirable and in its best interests that
Optionee be given an inducement to acquire a further proprietary interest in the
Company and an added incentive to advance the interests of the Company by
possessing an option to purchase shares of the Company's common stock, par value
$0.01 (the "Common Stock"), in accordance with the Amended and Restated
Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Company (the "Plan").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed by and
between the parties as follows:
1. Grant of Non-Qualified Stock Option. The Company hereby grants to Optionee
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the right, privilege and option (the "Option") to purchase _____________
shares of Common Stock (the "Option Shares") at the purchase price of
$______ per share (the "Option Price"), as a Non-Qualified Stock Option,
in the manner and subject to the conditions hereinafter provided.
2. Time of Exercise of Option. Subject to the limitations contained herein,
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the aforesaid option may be exercised at any time, and from time to time,
in whole or in part, during the period ending five (5) years from the date
of this agreement or until the termination thereof as provided in Section 4
below.
3. Method of Exercise. The Option shall be exercised by written notice
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directed to the Board of Directors of the Company, at the Company's
principal place of business, specifying the number of shares of Common
Stock purchased and accompanied by payment of the option price in a form
suitable to the Company. With the consent of the Option Committee, such
payment may be in the form of shares of Company stock owned by the Optionee
immediately prior to the exercise of the Option.
(a) This option is exercisable with respect to the shares in cumulative
annual installments as indicated below:
Date Number of Shares
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(b) The Company shall make immediate delivery of such shares, provided
that if any law or regulation requires the Company to take any action with
respect to the shares specified in such notice before the issuance thereof,
then the date of delivery of such shares shall be extended for the period
necessary to take such action.
(c) The Option may be exercised within the above limitations and subject
to the limitations contained within this section, as to any part of all of
the shares covered thereby.
4. Termination of Option. Except as herein otherwise stated, the Option to
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the extent not heretofore exercised shall terminate upon the first to occur
of the following dates:
(a) The expiration of the option period as set out in Section 2 above.
(b) The expiration of three (3) months after the date on which an
Optionee's employment by the Company or director relationship with the
Company is terminated for any reason other than death or permanent and
total disability;
(c) The expiration of twelve (12) months after the date on which
Optionee's employment by the Company or director relationship with the
Company is terminated by reason of Optionee's permanent and total
disability;
(d) In the event of Optionee's death while serving as director of, or in
the employ of, the Company, his/her executors or administrators may
exercise, within twelve (12) months following the date of death, the Option
as to any of the Option Shares not theretofore exercised during the
lifetime of Optionee; or
(e) The expiration of ten (10) years following the grant of this Option,
commencing the effective date set forth above.
5. Reclassification, Consolidation or Merger. If all or any portion of the
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Option shall be exercised subsequent to any share dividend, split-up,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination or exchange of shares,
separation, reorganization or liquidation occurring after the date hereof,
as a result of which shares of any class of the capital stock of the
Company shall be issued in respect of the then issued and outstanding
Common Stock, or Common Stock shall be changed into the same or a different
number of shares of the same or another class or classes of the capital
stock of the Company, the person or persons so exercising the Option shall
receive, for the aggregate price paid upon such exercise, the aggregate
number and class of shares of the capital stock of the Company which, if
Common Stock (as authorized at the date hereof) had been purchased
immediately prior to such event at the price per share set forth in Section
1 hereof, such person or persons would be holding at the time of such
exercise; provided, however, that no fractional share shall be issued upon
any such exercise, and the aggregate price paid shall be appropriately
reduced on account of any fractional share not issued. No
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adjustment shall be made in the minimum number of shares which may be
purchased at any one time, as fixed by subsection 3(c) hereof.
6. Withholding of Tax. To the extent that the exercise of this Option or the
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disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired by exercise of this Option
results in compensation income to Optionee for federal or state income tax
purpose, Optionee shall deliver to the Company at the time of such exercise
or disposition such amount of money or shares of Common Stock as the
Company may require to meet its obligation under applicable tax laws or
regulations, and, if Optionee fails to do so, the Company is authorized to
withhold from any cash or Common Stock remuneration then or thereafter
payable to Optionee any tax required to be withheld by reason of such
resulting compensation income. Upon an exercise of this Option, the
Company is further authorized in its discretion to satisfy any such
withholding requirement out of any cash or shares of Common Stock
distributable to Optionee upon such exercise.
7. Rights Prior to Exercise of Option. This Option is not transferable by
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Optionee, except in the event of his/her death as provided in Subsection
4(c) above, and during his/her lifetime is exercisable only by him/her.
Optionee shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to the Option
Shares until payment of the Option Price and delivery to him of such shares
as herein provided.
8. Modification and Waiver. Except for the Plan, this Agreement constitutes
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the entire Agreement between the parties pertaining to the subject matter
contained in it and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements,
representations and understandings of the parties. No supplement,
modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless
executed in writing by the party to be charged therewith. No waiver of any
of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed, or shall constitute a
continuing waiver.
9. Applicable Law and Venue. This Agreement has been executed by the Company
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at, and shall be deemed to be performable in, Xxxxxx County, Texas. For
these and other reasons, the parties agree that this Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Texas.
10. Jurisdiction. The parties agree that the courts of the State of Texas, and
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any courts whose jurisdiction is derivative on the jurisdiction of the
courts of the State of Texas, shall have exclusive personal jurisdiction
over all parties to this Agreement.
11. Headings. The subject headings of the sections of this Agreement are
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included for purposes of convenience only, and shall not affect the
construction or interpretation of any of its provisions.
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12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in one or more
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identical counterparts, each of which for all purposes shall be deemed an
original, and all of which shall constitute, collectively, one instrument;
but in making proof of this Agreement, it shall not be necessary to produce
or account for more than one executed counterpart.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have duly executed it on
the dates indicated below, to be effective, however, as of the date first
hereinabove written.
Date: __________________________ By: _____________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Chairman of
the Board
Optionee:
Date: _________________________ By: ____________________________
Name
____________________________
Address
____________________________
Address
____________________________
Social Security Number
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