EXHIBIT 10.7
NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS
1998 STOCK PLAN
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the 1998 Stock Plan shall
have the same defined meanings in this Stock Option Agreement.
I. NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT
----------------------------
[Name]
[Address]
The undersigned Optionee has been granted an Option to purchase Common
Stock of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this
Option Agreement, as follows:
Date of Grant
Vesting Commencement Date
Exercise Price per Share $
Total Number of Shares Granted
Total Exercise Price $
Type of Option:
Term/Expiration Date:
Vesting Schedule:
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This Option shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, according to the
following vesting schedule:
25% of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest twelve months after the
Vesting commencement Date, and 1/48 of the Shares subject to the Option shall
vest each month thereafter, subject to Optionee's continuing to be a Service
Provider on such dates.
Termination Period:
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This Option shall be exercisable for three months after Optionee ceases to
be a Service Provider. Upon Optionee's death or Disability, this Option may be
exercised for one year after Optionee ceases to be a Service Provider. In no
event may Optionee exercise this Option after the Term/Expiration Date as
provided above.
II. AGREEMENT
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1. Grant of Option. The Plan Administrator of the Company hereby grants
to the Optionee named in the Notice of Grant (the "Optionee"), an option (the
"Option") to purchase the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant, at
the exercise price per Share set forth in the Notice of Grant (the "Exercise
Price"), and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which is
incorporated herein by reference. Subject to Section 15(c) of the Plan, in the
event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option
Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail.
If designated in the Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock Option
("ISO"), this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option as
defined in Section 422 of the Code. Nevertheless, to the extent that it exceeds
the $100,000 rule of Code Section 422(d), this Option shall be treated as a
Nonstatutory Stock Option ("NSO").
2. Exercise of Option.
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(a) Right to Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable during its
term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Grant and
with the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.
(b) Method of Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable by delivery
of an exercise notice in the form attached as Exhibit A (the "Exercise Notice")
which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares with
respect to which the Option is being exercised, and such other representations
and agreements as may be required by the Company. The Exercise Notice shall be
accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all Exercised
Shares. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company
of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by the aggregate Exercise
Price.
No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless
such issuance and such exercise complies with Applicable Laws. Assuming such
compliance, for income tax purposes the Shares shall be considered transferred
to the Optionee on the date on which the Option is exercised with respect to
such Shares.
3. Optionee's Representations. In the event the Shares have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, at the time this Option
is exercised, the Optionee shall, if required by the Company, concurrently with
the exercise of all or any portion of this Option, deliver to the Company his or
her Investment Representation Statement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B.
4. Lock-Up Period. Optionee 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, Optionee 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.
5. Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be
by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the
Optionee:
(a) cash or check;
(b) consideration received by the Company under a formal cashless
exercise program adopted by the Company in connection with the Plan; or
(c) surrender of other Shares which, (i) in the case of Shares
acquired upon exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for more
than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a Fair Market Value
on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised
Shares.
6. Restrictions on Exercise. This Option may not be exercised until such
time as the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company, or if the
issuance of such Shares upon such exercise or the method of payment of
consideration for such shares would constitute a violation of any Applicable
Law.
7. 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 Optionee only by Optionee. The terms of
the Plan and this Option Agreement shall be binding upon the executors,
administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.
8. Term of Option. This Option may be exercised only within the term set
out in the Notice of Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in
accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option.
9. Tax Consequences. Set forth below is a brief summary as of the date
of this Option of some of the federal tax consequences of exercise of this
Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE,
AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE OPTIONEE SHOULD
CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.
(a) Exercise of NSO. There may be a regular federal income tax
liability upon the exercise of an NSO. The Optionee will be treated as having
received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) equal to the
excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of exercise
over the Exercise Price. If Optionee is an Employee or a former Employee, the
Company will be required to withhold from Optionee's compensation or collect
from Optionee and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount in cash
equal to a percentage of this compensation income at the time of exercise, and
may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such
withholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise.
(b) Exercise of ISO. If this Option qualifies as an ISO, there will
be no regular federal income tax liability upon the exercise of the Option,
although the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date
of exercise over the Exercise Price will be treated as an adjustment to the
alternative minimum tax for federal tax purposes and may subject the Optionee to
the alternative minimum tax in the year of exercise.
(c) Disposition of Shares. In the case of an NSO, if Shares are held
for at least one year, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be
treated as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes. In the case
of an ISO, if Shares transferred pursuant to the Option are held for at least
one year after exercise and of at least two years after the Date of Grant, any
gain realized on disposition of the Shares will also be treated as long-term
capital gain for federal income tax purposes. If Shares purchased under an ISO
are disposed of within one year after exercise or two years after the Date of
Grant, any gain realized on such disposition will be treated as compensation
income (taxable at ordinary income rates) to the extent of the difference
between the Exercise Price and the lesser of (1) the Fair Market Value of the
Shares on the date of exercise, or (2) the sale price of the Shares. Any
additional gain will be taxed as capital gain, short-term or long-term depending
on the period that the ISO Shares were held.
(d) Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares. If the
Option granted to Optionee herein is an ISO, and if Optionee sells or otherwise
disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the ISO on or before the
later of (1) the date two years after the Date of Grant, or (2) the date one
year after the date of exercise, the Optionee shall immediately notify the
Company in writing of such disposition. Optionee agrees that Optionee may be
subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income
recognized by the Optionee.
10. Change in Control.
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(a) For purposes of this Section 10, the following definitions shall
apply:
(i) a "Change in Control" means the happening of any of the following
events:
(A) Any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities
of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting
power represented by the Company's then outstanding voting securities; or
(B) A change in the composition of the Board occurring within a
one-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are
Incumbent Directors. "Incumbent Directors" shall mean directors who either (i)
are directors of the Company as of the date hereof, or (ii) are elected, or
nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a
majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination
(but shall not include an individual whose election or nomination is in
connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election
of directors to the Company); or
(C) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company
with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would
result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior
thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than fifty
percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of
the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger
or consolidation; or
(D) the consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of
all or substantially all of the Company's assets.
(ii) "Qualified Optionee" shall mean an Optionee who has been
employed by or provided services for the Company for a minimum of one year prior
to any Change of Control.
(iii) "Involuntary Termination" shall mean any of the following
events: (A) without the Optionee's express written consent, a significant
reduction of the Optionee's duties, authority or responsibilities, relative to
the Optionee's duties, authority or responsibilities as in effect immediately
prior to the Change in Control; (B) without the Optionee's express written
consent, a substantial reduction, without good business reasons, of the
facilities and perquisites (including office space and location) available to
the Optionee immediately prior to the Change in Control; (C) without the
Optionee's express written consent, a reduction in the base salary of the
Optionee as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control; (D) without
the Optionee's express written consent, a material reduction in the kind or
level of employee benefits, including bonuses, to which the Optionee was
entitled immediately prior to the Change in Control with the result that the
Optionee's overall benefits package is significantly reduced; (E) without the
Optionee's express written consent, the relocation of the Optionee to a facility
or a location more than thirty (30) miles from the Optionee's then present
location; (F) any purported termination of the Optionee which is not effected
for Disability or for Cause (as defined below), or any purported termination for
which the grounds relied upon are not valid; or (G) or any act or set of facts
or circumstances which would, under California case law or statute, constitute a
constructive termination of the Optionee.
(iv) "Cause" shall mean (A) any act of personal dishonesty taken by
the Optionee in connection with his responsibilities as a Service Provider and
intended to result in
substantial personal enrichment of the Optionee, (B) Optionee's conviction of or
plea of nolo contendre to a felony, (C) a willful act by the Optionee which
constitutes gross misconduct and which is injurious to the successor
corporation, and (D) following delivery to the Optionee of a written demand for
performance from the successor corporation which describes the basis for the
successor corporation's belief that the Optionee has not substantially performed
his duties, continued violations by the Optionee of the Optionee's obligations
to the successor corporation which are demonstrably willful and deliberate on
the Optionee's part.
(b) In the event of a Change of Control, if (i) the undersigned Optionee
is then a Qualified Optionee and (ii) the undersigned Optionee's status as a
Service Provider with the successor corporation is terminated by the successor
corporation as a result of an Involuntary Termination within twelve (12) months
following such Change of Control, such Optionee shall vest in and have the right
to exercise any outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right to the extent that
the Option or Stock Purchase Right is vested on the date of termination and as
to an additional fifty percent (50%) of those Shares as to which the Option or
Stock Purchase Right would not otherwise be vested or exercisable on the date of
termination. Thereafter, the Option or Stock Purchase Right shall remain
exercisable in accordance with this Agreement and the remaining unvested portion
of the Option shall continue to vest at the rate described in the Vesting
Schedule.
(c) In the event that any vesting described above in Section 10(b) would
prevent a Change of Control from being accounted for as a "pooling of interests"
for financial accounting purposes, and such treatment is a condition to the
closing of the Change of Control, any vesting of options under Section 10(b)
shall be limited to the extent necessary to effectuate such treatment.
11. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan is incorporated herein by
reference. The Plan and this Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement
of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their
entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with
respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the
Optionee's interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and
Optionee. This agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws but not
the choice of law rules of California.
12. No Guarantee of Continued Service. OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES
THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED
ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (NOT THROUGH
THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THIS OPTION OR ACQUIRING SHARES
HEREUNDER). OPTIONEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT, THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO
NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A
SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL
NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH OPTIONEE'S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY'S RIGHT TO
TERMINATE OPTIONEE'S
RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.
Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and represents that he
or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts
this Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof. Optionee has
reviewed the Plan and this Option in their entirety, has had an opportunity to
obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option and fully
understands all provisions of the Option. Optionee hereby agrees to accept as
binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the
Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan or this Option.
Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence
address indicated below.
OPTIONEE NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS
___________________________ ______________________________________
Signature By: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Secretary and Chief Financial Officer
___________________________ ______________________________________
Print Name Its
Address: Address: 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
-------- -------
Menlo Park, CA 94025
______________________________________
Date Received
EXHIBIT A
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1998 STOCK PLAN
EXERCISE NOTICE
Nuance Communications
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Secretary
1. Exercise of Option. Effective as of today, ___________, 2000, the
undersigned ("Optionee") hereby elects to exercise Optionee's option to purchase
_________ shares of the Common Stock (the "Shares") of Nuance Communications
(the "Company") under and pursuant to the 1998 Stock Plan (the "Plan") and the
Stock Option Agreement dated ________, 19____ (the "Option Agreement").
2. Delivery of Payment. Purchaser herewith delivers to the Company the
full purchase price of the Shares, as set forth in the Option Agreement.
3. Representations of Optionee. Optionee acknowledges that Optionee has
received, read and understood the Plan and the Option Agreement and agrees to
abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.
4. Rights as Shareholder. Until the issuance of the Shares (as evidenced
by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized
transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any
other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock,
notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Shares shall be issued to the
Optionee as soon as practicable after the Option is exercised. No adjustment
shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior
to the date of issuance except as provided in Section 12 of the Plan.
5. Company's Right of First Refusal. Before any Shares held by Optionee
or any transferee (either being sometimes referred to herein as the "Holder")
may be sold or otherwise transferred (including transfer by gift or operation of
law), the Company or its assignee(s) shall have a right of first refusal to
purchase the Shares on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section (the
"Right of First Refusal").
(a) Notice of Proposed Transfer. The Holder of the Shares shall
deliver to the Company a written notice (the "Notice") stating: (i) the
Holder's bona fide intention to sell or otherwise transfer such Shares; (ii) the
name of each proposed purchaser or other transferee ("Proposed Transferee");
(iii) the number of Shares to be transferred to each Proposed Transferee; and
(iv) the bona fide cash price or other consideration for which the Holder
proposes to transfer the Shares (the "Offered Price"), and the Holder shall
offer the Shares at the Offered Price to the Company or its assignee(s).
(b) Exercise of Right of First Refusal. At any time within thirty
(30) days after receipt of the Notice, the Company and/or its assignee(s) may,
by giving written notice to the Holder, elect to purchase all, but not less than
all, of the Shares proposed to be transferred to any one or more of the Proposed
Transferees, at the purchase price determined in accordance with subsection (c)
below.
(c) Purchase Price. The purchase price ("Purchase Price") for the
Shares purchased by the Company or its assignee(s) under this Section shall be
the Offered Price. If the Offered Price includes consideration other than cash,
the cash equivalent value of the non-cash consideration shall be determined by
the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith.
(d) Payment. Payment of the Purchase Price shall be made, at the
option of the Company or its assignee(s), in cash (by check), by cancellation of
all or a portion of any outstanding indebtedness of the Holder to the Company
(or, in the case of repurchase by an assignee, to the assignee), or by any
combination thereof within 30 days after receipt of the Notice or in the manner
and at the times set forth in the Notice.
(e) Xxxxxx's Right to Transfer. If all of the Shares proposed in the
Notice to be transferred to a given Proposed Transferee are not purchased by the
Company and/or its assignee(s) as provided in this Section, then the Holder may
sell or otherwise transfer such Shares to that Proposed Transferee at the
Offered Price or at a higher price, provided that such sale or other transfer is
consummated within 120 days after the date of the Notice, that any such sale or
other transfer is effected in accordance with any applicable securities laws and
that the Proposed Transferee agrees in writing that the provisions of this
Section shall continue to apply to the Shares in the hands of such Proposed
Transferee. If the Shares described in the Notice are not transferred to the
Proposed Transferee within such period, a new Notice shall be given to the
Company, and the Company and/or its assignees shall again be offered the Right
of First Refusal before any Shares held by the Holder may be sold or otherwise
transferred.
(f) Exception for Certain Family Transfers. Anything to the contrary
contained in this Section notwithstanding, the transfer of any or all of the
Shares during the Optionee's lifetime or on the Optionee's death by will or
intestacy to the Optionee's immediate family or a trust for the benefit of the
Optionee's immediate family shall be exempt from the provisions of this Section.
"Immediate Family" as used herein shall mean spouse, lineal descendant or
antecedent, father, mother, brother or sister. In such case, the transferee or
other recipient shall receive and hold the Shares so transferred subject to the
provisions of this Section, and there shall be no further transfer of such
Shares except in accordance with the terms of this Section.
(g) Termination of Right of First Refusal. The Right of First Refusal
shall terminate as to any Shares upon the first sale of Common Stock of the
Company to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed with
and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
6. Tax Consultation. Optionee understands that Optionee may suffer
adverse tax consequences as a result of Optionee's purchase or disposition of
the Shares. Optionee represents that Optionee has consulted with any tax
consultants Optionee deems advisable in connection with the purchase or
disposition of the Shares and that Optionee is not relying on the Company for
any tax advice.
7. Restrictive Legends and Stop-Transfer Orders.
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(a) Legends. Optionee understands and agrees that the Company shall
cause the legends set forth below or legends substantially equivalent thereto,
to be placed upon any certificate(s) evidencing ownership of the Shares together
with any other legends that may be required by the Company or by state or
federal securities laws:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "ACT") AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED,
SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS AND
UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT OR, IN THE OPINION OF COMPANY
COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES, SUCH
OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATION IS IN COMPLIANCE
THEREWITH.
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL HELD BY THE
ISSUER OR ITS ASSIGNEE(S) AS SET FORTH IN THE EXERCISE NOTICE
BETWEEN THE ISSUER AND THE ORIGINAL HOLDER OF THESE SHARES, A
COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE
ISSUER. SUCH TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS AND RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
ARE BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES.
(b) Stop-Transfer Notices. Optionee agrees that, in order to ensure
compliance with the restrictions referred to herein, the Company may issue
appropriate "stop transfer" instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and
that, if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate
notations to the same effect in its own records.
(c) Refusal to Transfer. The Company shall not be required (i) to
transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in
violation of any of the provisions of this Exercise Notice or (ii) to treat as
owner of such Shares or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any
purchaser or other transferee to whom such Shares shall have been so
transferred.
8. Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights
under this Exercise Notice to single or multiple assignees, and this Exercise
Notice shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.
Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Exercise Notice
shall be binding upon Optionee and his or her heirs, executors, administrators,
successors and assigns.
9. Interpretation. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this
Exercise Notice shall be submitted by Optionee or by the Company forthwith to
the Administrator which shall review such dispute at its next regular meeting.
The resolution of such a dispute by the Administrator shall be final and binding
on all parties.
10. Governing Law; Severability. This Exercise Notice is governed by the
internal substantive laws but not the choice of law rules, of California.
11. Entire Agreement. The Plan and Option Agreement are incorporated
herein by reference. This Exercise Notice, the Plan, the Option Agreement and
the Investment Representation Statement constitute the entire agreement of the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their
entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with
respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the
Optionee's interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and
Optionee.
Submitted by: Accepted by:
OPTIONEE NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS
___________________________ _______________________________
Signature By: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Secretary and CFO
___________________________ _______________________________
Print Name Its
Address: Address: 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
-------- ------- Menlo Park, CA
94025
___________________________
___________________________
_______________________________
Date Received
EXHIBIT B
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INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION STATEMENT
OPTIONEE:
COMPANY: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS
SECURITY: COMMON STOCK
AMOUNT:
DATE:
In connection with the purchase of the above-listed Securities, the
undersigned Optionee represents to the Company the following:
(a) Optionee is aware of the Company's business affairs and financial
condition and has acquired sufficient information about the Company to reach an
informed and knowledgeable decision to acquire the Securities. Optionee is
acquiring these Securities for investment for Optionee's own account only and
not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any "distribution" thereof
within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act").
(b) Optionee acknowledges and understands that the Securities constitute
"restricted securities" under the Securities Act and have not been registered
under the Securities Act in reliance upon a specific exemption therefrom, which
exemption depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of Optionee's
investment intent as expressed herein. In this connection, Optionee understands
that, in the view of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the statutory basis
for such exemption may be unavailable if Optionee's representation was
predicated solely upon a present intention to hold these Securities for the
minimum capital gains period specified under tax statutes, for a deferred sale,
for or until an increase or decrease in the market price of the Securities, or
for a period of one year or any other fixed period in the future. Optionee
further understands that the Securities must be held indefinitely unless they
are subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such
registration is available. Optionee further acknowledges and understands that
the Company is under no obligation to register the Securities. Optionee
understands that the certificate evidencing the Securities will be imprinted
with a legend which prohibits the transfer of the Securities unless they are
registered or such registration is not required in the opinion of counsel
satisfactory to the Company, and any other legend required under applicable
state securities laws.
(c) Optionee is familiar with the provisions of Rule 701 and Rule 144, each
promulgated under the Securities Act, which, in substance, permit limited public
resale of "restricted securities" acquired, directly or indirectly from the
issuer thereof, in a non-public offering subject to the satisfaction of certain
conditions. Rule 701 provides that if the issuer
qualifies under Rule 701 at the time of the grant of the Option to the Optionee,
the exercise will be exempt from registration under the Securities Act. In the
event the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, ninety (90) days thereafter (or
such longer period as any market stand-off agreement may require) the Securities
exempt under Rule 701 may be resold, subject to the satisfaction of certain of
the conditions specified by Rule 144, including: (1) the resale being made
through a broker in an unsolicited "broker's transaction" or in transactions
directly with a market maker (as said term is defined under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934); and, in the case of an affiliate, (2) the availability of
certain public information about the Company, (3) the amount of Securities being
sold during any three month period not exceeding the limitations specified in
Rule 144(e), and (4) the timely filing of a Form 144, if applicable.
In the event that the Company does not qualify under Rule 701 at the time
of grant of the Option, then the Securities may be resold in certain limited
circumstances subject to the provisions of Rule 144, which requires the resale
to occur not less than one year after the later of the date the Securities were
sold by the Company or the date the Securities were sold by an affiliate of the
Company, within the meaning of Rule 144; and, in the case of acquisition of the
Securities by an affiliate, or by a non-affiliate who subsequently holds the
Securities less than two years, the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
sections (1), (2), (3) and (4) of the paragraph immediately above.
(d) Optionee further understands that in the event all of the applicable
requirements of Rule 701 or 144 are not satisfied, registration under the
Securities Act, compliance with Regulation A, or some other registration
exemption will be required; and that, notwithstanding the fact that Rules 144
and 701 are not exclusive, the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission
has expressed its opinion that persons proposing to sell private placement
securities other than in a registered offering and otherwise than pursuant to
Rules 144 or 701 will have a substantial burden of proof in establishing that an
exemption from registration is available for such offers or sales, and that such
persons and their respective brokers who participate in such transactions do so
at their own risk. Optionee understands that no assurances can be given that
any such other registration exemption will be available in such event.
Signature of Optionee:
Date:______________________, 19___
