EXHIBIT (d)(1)(C)
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
AND ARBITRATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT IS MADE in Clinton, Mississippi, by and between the
employee whose name appears below (the "Employee") and WorldCom, Inc. (the
"Company").
The Company has implemented the WorldCom, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan
which, together with any amendments thereto, is hereinafter referred to as the
"Plan". The Company, acting through the Compensation and Stock Option Committee
of the Board of Directors (the "Committee"), has granted to the Employee the
option to purchase from the Company shares of WorldCom group $0.01 par value
common stock ("Common Stock") described below (the "Option"), subject to the
provisions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The
Company and the Employee wish to provide for binding arbitration of
employment-related disputes, as hereinafter provided. References herein to
employment with the Company shall be deemed to also include employment with a
subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company unless otherwise determined by or
as directed by the Committee.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals and the provisions
hereof, the Company and the Employee hereby agree as follows:
The Company grants to the Employee and the Employee accepts the Option on
the terms and conditions contained herein and in the Plan. The terms, conditions
and agreements on pages 2 through 4 of this Agreement are incorporated herein by
reference.
GRANT EXPIRATION NUMBER OF OPTION PRICE
GRANT ID EMPLOYEE DATE DATE SHARES PER SHARE
[grantid] [First_Name][Last_Name]
[SSNGlobal_ID]
The Option shall vest and, subject and pursuant to the provisions of the
Plan and this Agreement, shall be exercisable to the extent of one-third (1/3)
the number of shares of Common Stock originally covered hereby (the "Option
Shares") on and after January 1, 2003, another one-third (1/3) of the Option
Shares on and after January 1, 2004, and the remaining one-third (1/3) of the
Option Shares on and after January 1, 2005, subject to appropriate adjustment
pursuant to the Plan and provided, as to vesting of the Option Shares, the
Employee must be employed by the Company on the applicable vesting date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Option shall vest and, subject and pursuant
to the provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, shall be exercisable with
respect to all of the Option Shares to the extent not previously exercised
immediately upon (A) any Change of Control (as hereinafter defined) of the
Company following the date hereof, (B) any termination by the Company of the
Employee's employment with the Company by reason of the Employee's disability or
without cause, or (C) the Employee's death. Any determination of whether or not
the Employee's employment with the Company was terminated by reason of the
Employee's disability or without cause shall be made by or as directed by the
Committee. For purposes of the vesting and exercisability of the Option Shares,
unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Employee's employment with the
Company shall be deemed terminated with cause (not without cause) if, among
other things, such termination occurs by reason of the elimination, relocation
or consolidation of the Employee's position or function and the declination by
the Employee to serve the Company in another position or function or at another
location available within the Company. The Option shall terminate and lapse as
to any shares which do not vest pursuant to the provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Employee have duly executed this
Agreement as of __________, 2002, with respect to the grant of the Option and
the binding arbitration of employment-related disputes. THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS
A BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION WHICH MAY BE ENFORCED BY THE PARTIES.
EMPLOYEE: WORLDCOM, INC.
SAMPLE
___________________________________ ________________________________________
By: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, President and CEO
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CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS REGARDING STOCK OPTIONS
1. GRANT OF OPTION. Pursuant to the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the
Employee the Option set forth on page 1 of this Agreement, upon the terms
and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan.
2. TIME OF EXERCISE. This Option shall become exercisable as set forth on
page 1 hereof.
3. TERM. This Option shall terminate at the earliest of:
(a) 5:00 p.m. Central time on the expiration date indicated on
page 1;
(b) one (1) year following the Employee's death;
(c) one (1) year following the termination by the Company of the
Employee's employment with the Company by reason of disability
or without cause;
(d) three (3) months following the termination of the Employee's
employment with the Company by reason of retirement (under
normal Company policies); or
(e) any other termination date specified in or pursuant to the
Plan, provided the provisions of clause (i) of Section 6 of
the Plan shall not apply in the case of cessation of
employment due to termination thereof by the Company without
cause, which shall be governed by the provisions hereof.
Upon termination of the Employee's employment with the Company for
any reason other than as set forth above, the Option or the
unexercised portion thereof shall terminate.
4. WHO MAY EXERCISE. The Option and all rights thereunder shall be
non-assignable and non-transferable, except to the extent that the
holder's legatees, personal representatives or distributees in the event
of the Employee's death may be permitted to exercise them as set forth
herein or except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to the Plan. Any
attempted transfer, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition
of the Option except as provided herein or in accordance with the Plan
shall be null and void and without effect. In the event of the death or
disability of the Employee, the Option or the unexercised portion thereof
may be exercised to the extent that the Employee or permitted transferee
or assign was entitled to do so at the date of the Employee's death or
disability (giving effect to the vesting provisions on page 1 hereof) by
the Employee, his personal representative, executor, administrator, heirs,
devisees or permitted transferee or assign, as applicable, but in no event
after the expiration of the term of the Option as specified in Section 3,
above.
5. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON EXERCISE. The Company may postpone the issuance of
shares and impose other restrictions upon any exercise of the Option or
other options including, without limitation, if necessary until admission
of such shares to listing on any stock exchange and completion of
registration and qualification of such shares under any applicable state,
federal or foreign law, rule or regulation.
6. MANNER OF EXERCISE. To exercise the Option, the Employee (or, if
applicable, the persons designated in Section 4, above) shall comply with
procedures as may be established from time to time by the Company. Such
exercise shall be accompanied by full payment of the option price and, if
applicable, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes required to be
withheld pursuant to the Plan, in cash (including certified or bank
cashier's check or the equivalent) or, in the discretion of the Committee,
by delivery of Common Stock or any combination of cash and Common Stock.
Only whole shares of Common Stock may be purchased.
7. RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDER. The Employee or permitted transferee or assign
shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered
by the Option until the issuance of a certificate or certificates for such
shares.
8. ADJUSTMENTS. The number and kind of securities subject to the Option and
other options to purchase Common Stock and the per share purchase price
with respect thereto are subject to adjustment by the Committee upon the
happening of certain events, as described in the Plan.
9. NO OBLIGATION. Neither the granting of the Option nor any term or
provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall constitute or be evidence of
any understanding or obligation, express or implied, on the part of the
Company or others to employ the Employee for any specified period or at
any specified compensation or to make subsequent grants of stock options
to the Employee, which are in the sole and absolute discretion of the
Company.
10. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN AND AGREEMENT. Except as otherwise provided herein,
the Option and the exercise thereof are subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan, the receipt of a copy of which the Employee
acknowledges by virtue of acceptance hereof. Determinations by the
Committee hereunder or under the Plan including, without limitation, a
determination by the Committee of any question which may arise with
respect to the interpretation, construction or application of the
provisions of the Option, this Agreement or the Plan shall be final,
conclusive and binding. The Committee may establish, amend and revoke
rules and regulations relating to the Plan and its administration as the
Committee may deem advisable.
11. CHANGE OF CONTROL DEFINED. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of
Control" shall mean any transaction or series of related transactions
after the date hereof which result in (A) a transfer of more than fifty
percent (50%) of the outstanding equity securities of the Company (by
voting power) by one or more shareholders of the Company, other than
transfers pursuant to a merger or consolidation of the Company, (B) any
sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (C) any
merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other entity,
where more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding equity securities
of the surviving or resulting entity (by voting power) are directly or
indirectly controlled by persons other than shareholders of the Company
immediately prior to such merger or consolidation. All percentages
referenced herein shall be determined on a fully diluted basis. The
following transactions shall not constitute, or be considered in
determining, a Change of Control: (A) any acquisition of securities by the
Company, or (B) any acquisition of securities by any employee benefit plan
or related trust sponsored or maintained by the Company.
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AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE EMPLOYMENT-RELATED DISPUTES
A. The Employee and the Company agree that, at the option of either party,
any allegation, claim, cause of action, demand or dispute (hereafter
collectively referred to as a "Dispute"), directly or indirectly related
to the Employee's employment with the Company or termination of such
employment including, but not limited to, any Dispute directly or
indirectly related to options or rights to acquire stock of the Company
granted pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement(s) shall be
resolved through impartial binding arbitration. In the event that either
party demands arbitration, the Employee and the Company agree that the
proceeding shall be the exclusive, final and binding forum for the
ultimate resolution of a Dispute, subject to any rights of appeal that
either party may have under the Federal Arbitration Act and/or under
applicable state law dealing with the review of arbitration decisions.
This agreement to arbitrate applies to all employment-related Disputes
including, but not limited to, those under Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the
Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, any
wage and hour or wage payment law, or any other federal, state or local
law, regulation or ordinance regarding employment or termination of
employment. It also applies to, among others, all Disputes for breach of
contract or wrongful discharge, breach of express or implied promises or
covenants of good faith and fair dealing, intentional or negligent
infliction of emotional distress, defamation, claims regarding stock or
options to acquire stock, commissions, bonuses, or any other compensation
or benefits, and any other claim related to the Employee's employment or
termination of employment.
B. The Employee and the Company agree that neither party may pursue an action
against the other in a court of law regarding any employment-related
Dispute, except for claims involving Workers' Compensation benefits or
unemployment benefits. The Employee and the Company further agree that, by
executing this Agreement, they are waiving the right to have Disputes
subject to arbitration under this Agreement decided by a jury. The parties
also agree that the arbitration requirement set forth herein is fully
enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act, and that a judgment upon
any such award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. This
agreement to arbitrate does not alter any substantive rights that the
parties may have under law, including the Employee's statutory right to
file a charge with an administrative agency for investigative purposes or
other action by the agency not inconsistent with this Agreement. Nor does
this agreement to arbitrate limit or restrict the Employee's ability to
participate or assist any agency in its investigation, processing or
handling of any such charge. This agreement to arbitrate transfers each
party's right to seek relief from either a judge or a jury to an impartial
arbitrator. With respect to any Dispute pertaining to stock options or
rights, the Arbitrator shall be governed by the terms and conditions
contained in the applicable plan(s) and related agreement(s) consistent
with applicable law. Nothing in this agreement to arbitrate shall
adversely affect or diminish the rights, power and authority of the
Committee or the Board of Directors of the Company with respect to stock
options or rights and the related plans and agreements including, without
limitation, the interpretation, construction or application of the
applicable provisions, the creation, amendment or revocation of rules and
regulations or the plan itself, the making of determinations, the taking
of other actions or the final, binding and conclusive nature of the
foregoing. The arbitrator may not substitute his/her judgment for any such
Committee determination or action.
C. In the event that the Employee or the Company initially elects to file
suit in any court, the other party will have forty-five (45) days from the
date that it is formally served with a summons and copy of the suit to
notify the party filing suit of the non-filing party's demand for
arbitration. Under such circumstances, the action must be dismissed by
consent of the parties or by the court on motion, and arbitration
commenced with the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"). If no lawsuit
has been instituted, either the Employee or the Company may initiate
arbitration by serving a written demand for arbitration upon the other
party and the AAA. The demand must be served within six (6) months of the
events giving rise to the Dispute, unless an applicable statute provides
for a longer period for filing an initial claim, in which case such longer
period shall apply. Any Dispute for which such a demand is not timely made
will be deemed waived.
D. The arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the American
Arbitration Association National Rules for the Resolution of Employment
Disputes (the "AAA Rules"), in effect on the date the demand for
arbitration is made, except as modified by this Agreement. A copy of the
AAA Rules may be obtained by written request to the Company. The Dispute
shall be heard and determined by one arbitrator, who is either a retired
judge or a licensed lawyer, experienced in arbitrating or adjudicating
employment-related disputes. He or she shall also be a member of the
National Academy of Arbitrators. Either party, upon request at the close
of hearing, shall be given leave to file a post-hearing brief. The time
for filing the brief shall be set by the arbitrator. The arbitrator shall
issue a written award with Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, and
may grant any remedy or relief that would have been available to the
parties had the matter been heard in court. Unless the parties otherwise
agree, the arbitration shall be heard within twenty-five (25) miles of the
Employee's residence at the time of the hearing. The Company will pay the
expenses of the arbitrator, including required travel, as well as any
filing or administrative fees required by AAA for the cost of providing
services. The arbitrator shall have the authority consistent with the AAA
Rules to order such discovery as the arbitrator considers necessary to
explore the issues in the Dispute. The parties shall bear their own
attorneys' fees and costs related to any Dispute and the arbitration
thereof. However, if any party prevails on a statutory claim which affords
the prevailing party attorneys' fees, or if there is a written agreement
between the parties providing for fees, the arbitrator may award
reasonable attorneys' fees to the prevailing party.
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E. The parties understand and agree that this agreement regarding arbitration
shall not prevent either party from pursuing equitable or injunctive
relief in a judicial forum for any Disputes relating to the enforcement of
rights dealing with non-solicitation or no-hire of employees,
non-solicitation or disruption of relations with respect to customers or
vendors, non-disclosure, confidentiality, trade secrets, inventions,
patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks or any other matter
relating to restrictive covenants or unfair competition. All other
remedies, whether related to the application for equitable or injunctive
relief or independent thereof, shall be subject to mandatory and binding
arbitration in accordance with this Agreement.
F. The Employee acknowledges that the phrases "termination without cause" or
"termination with cause," as used in the applicable stock option plan(s)
and/or agreement(s), have particular meaning relating solely to the
options involved. These terms do not in any way limit, modify or supersede
the employment at-will relationship that exists between the Employee and
the Company. This Agreement is not intended, and shall not be construed,
to create any contract of employment, express or implied.
G. The Employee has been advised of his/her right to consult with counsel at
no expense to the Company prior to entering into this Agreement. Employee
further agrees that he or she has had sufficient time to seek legal
consultation.
H. This agreement to arbitrate shall survive the termination of the parties'
employment relationship and the expiration of any stock or benefit plan or
program. It can be modified only by a writing signed by the parties, which
specifically states their intent to modify this agreement to arbitrate.
I. Any notice, demand or request under this agreement to arbitrate shall be
sent or delivered to the Employee at the Employee's most recent address in
the Company's records and to the Company at 0000 00xx Xxxxxx, X.X.,
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000, attn: Chief Legal Counsel, or to such other
address as a party may direct by notice to the other party, and shall be
deemed given, made or served when delivered in person or on the next
business day when sent by overnight courier or on the second succeeding
business day when sent by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid,
return receipt requested).
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