OPTIONABLE, INC. NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
EX-10.2
OPTIONABLE,
INC.
THIS
NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”)
is made and entered into as of June 29, 2010 (the “Grant
Date”) by and between Optionable, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”),
and Xxxx X’Xxxxxxxx (the “Optionee”).
WHEREAS,
the Company desires to grant the Optionee a stock option under the Company’s
2004 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) to
acquire shares of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the
“Common
Stock”).
WHEREAS,
the Plan provides that each option is to be evidenced by an award agreement,
setting forth the terms and conditions of the option.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and
agreements contained herein, the Company and the Optionee hereby agree as
follows:
1. Grant of
Option. The Company hereby grants to the Optionee, under the
Plan and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a stock option (the
“Option”)
to purchase all or any part of the number of shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”)
set forth below the Optionee’s name on the signature page hereto, on the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth. The Option granted hereunder
shall be treated as a nonstatutory stock option and is not intended to
constitute an incentive stock option under section 422 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
2. Exercise
Price. The exercise price per share (“Exercise
Price”) for the Shares covered by the Option shall be the closing price
per share of the Company’s stock upon grant ($0.015 per share), as quoted on the
Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section
10.
3. Vesting.
The right
to exercise the Option shall be 50,000 vested upon the Grant
Date. The “Vested
Percentage” of the Option shall be as follows:
75,000
six month after the date of grant
125,000
twelve months after the date of grant
125,000
eighteen-months after the date of grant
125,000
twenty-four months after the date of grant
The right to exercise this Option shall
immediately vest in the event of a “Change of Control” of the Company. For this
purpose, a “Change of Control” means the acquisition after the date hereof,
directly or indirectly, by any Person of ownership of, or the power to direct
the exercise of voting power with respect to, a majority of the issued and
outstanding voting shares of the Company. For this purpose, a “Person” means an individual or a
corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association,
joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an
agency or political subdivision thereof) or other entity of any
kind.
4. Term of
Options.
(a) Cancellation and
Forfeiture. The Option shall be cancelled and shall be null
and void, and the Optionee shall forfeit all rights pursuant to the Option,
(i) if the Optionee does not execute and return this Agreement to the
Company within sixty (60) days of the Grant Date, (ii) unless otherwise
agreed to in writing by the Board, upon the Optionee’s bankruptcy, and
(iii) upon the Optionee’s attempted assignment or transfer of the Option in
violation of Section 9.
(b) Termination. The
Option shall terminate and shall no longer be exercisable, even if vested, upon
the earliest to occur of the following events:
(i) if
the Optionee dies, the first anniversary of the date of death; and
(ii) ninety
days upon the termination of the Optionee’s services as the Chief Executive
Officer/President
(iii) five
years from the date of grant.
5. Exercise of
Option.
(a) Exercisability. The
Option shall be exercisable at any time prior to its termination pursuant to
Section 4(b) only to the extent of the Vested Percentage as of that
time. Notwithstanding termination of the Option pursuant to Section
4(b), the Board, in its discretion, may extend the period of exercisability of
the Option for such time period as it deems appropriate.
(b) Method of
Exercise. To the extent the Option is exercisable pursuant to
Section 5(a), the Optionee may exercise the Option in full or in part by giving
written notice to the Company, signed by the Optionee (or his legal
representative or heir, in the event of the Optionee’s death), stating the
Optionee’s election to exercise the Option and the number of whole Shares for
which the Option is being exercised. The written notice must be
accompanied by (i) full payment of the exercise price for the number of
Shares being purchased, and (ii) an executed copy of the form of investor
representation letter referred to in Section 6(b), if required pursuant to such
Section 6(b).
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(c) Payment of Exercise
Price. Payment of the exercise price for the number of Shares
for which the Option is being exercised shall be made:
(i) In
cash or by check payable to the order of the Company;
(ii) at
the discretion of the Board, by tender to the Company of shares of Common Stock
owned by the Optionee, acceptable to the Board, having a Fair Market Value (as
defined in the Plan) on the date of exercise at least equal to the exercise
price;
(iii) at
the discretion of the Board, by a combination of the methods described above;
or
(iv) by
such other method as may be approved by the Board.
(d) Maintenance of
Shares. The Company shall at all times during the term of the
Option reserve and keep available such number of shares of its Common Stock as
will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Option.
6. Securities Law
Restrictions.
(a) The
grant of the Option and the issuance of Shares upon exercise of the Option shall
be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state or
foreign law with respect to such securities. The Option may not be exercised if
the issuance of Shares upon such exercise would constitute a violation of any
applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws or other law or
regulations. In addition, the Option may not be exercised unless (i)
a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), shall at the time of
exercise of the Option be in effect with respect to the Shares to be issued upon
exercise of the Option or (ii) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company,
the Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option may be issued in accordance
with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act. THE OPTIONEE IS CAUTIONED THAT THE OPTION MAY NOT
BE EXERCISABLE UNLESS THE FOREGOING CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED. ACCORDINGLY, THE
OPTIONEE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THE OPTION WHEN DESIRED EVEN THOUGH THE
OPTION IS VESTED. As a condition to the exercise of the Option, the
Company may require the Optionee to satisfy any qualifications that may be
necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or
regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as
may be requested by the Company.
(b) In
the event that, as of the date on which the Option is exercised in whole or in
part, the Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option shall not be
effectively registered under the Securities Act, the person exercising the
Option shall give a written representation to the Company in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A and the Company shall place an “investment legend,” as
described in Exhibit A, upon any certificate for the Shares issued by reason of
such exercise.
(c) The
Company shall be under no obligation to cause a registration statement or a
post-effective amendment to any registration statement to be prepared for the
purposes of covering the issue of Shares.
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7. Tax
Withholding. Upon exercise of the Option, in whole or in part,
and as a condition thereto, the Optionee shall remit to the Company an amount
sufficient to satisfy the Optionee’s share of all United States federal, state
and local withholding tax requirements, in such manner and amount as shall be
specified by the Board. With respect to an
Optionee that is an employee or consultant of Company, the Company shall have
the right to withhold (or to cause one of the Company’s subsidiaries to
withhold), from compensation otherwise payable to the Optionee, an amount
sufficient to satisfy all federal, state and local withholding tax requirements
prior to the issuance of such Shares and the delivery of any certificate or
certificates for such Shares, and from time to time thereafter to the extent
such withholding obligations arise in connection with the Option, including,
without limitation, obligations arising upon (i) the exercise, in whole or
in part, of the Option, (ii) the transfer, in whole or in part, of any
Shares acquired on exercise of the Option, (iii) the operation of any law
or regulation providing for the imputation of interest, or (iv) the lapsing
of any restriction with respect to any Shares acquired on exercise of the
Option. The
Optionee acknowledges that the Company may issue a Form W-2, W-2c, 1099 or
substitute therefore, as appropriate, to the Optionee with respect to any United
States income recognized by the Optionee with respect to the
Option.
8. Non-Transferability.
(a) Unless
otherwise approved by the Board in its discretion, the Option may be exercised
during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee and may not be assigned
or transferred in any manner, except by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution. Upon the Optionee’s death, the Optionee’s legal
representative, or any person empowered under the Optionee’s will or under
applicable laws of descent and distribution, may exercise the Option to the
extent unexercised and exercisable by the Optionee as of the date of
death.
(b) Except
as provided in Section 9(a), without the prior written consent of the Board, no
right or benefit under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation,
alienation, sale, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge, and any attempt to
anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, pledge, encumber or charge the same without
such consent, if applicable, shall be void. Except with such consent,
no right or benefit under this Agreement shall in any manner be liable for or
subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities or torts of the
Optionee.
9. Change in Stock Subject to
Option. In the event of a recapitalization, reclassification,
stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or other change in corporate
structure affecting the Common Stock, the Board may adjust the terms of the
Option in accordance with Section 3 of the Plan.
10. No Special Rights; Duties of
Optionee.
(a) The
Optionee shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares
covered by the Option until the date of the issuance of a certificate or
certificates for the Shares for which the Option has been
exercised. No adjustment shall be made for dividends or distributions
or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such certificate
or certificates are issued, except as provided pursuant to Section
10.
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(b) Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be construed or deemed by any person under any
circumstances to bind the Company to commence or continue the employment or
consulting relationship of the Optionee for the period within which this Option
may be exercised, nor shall this Agreement be construed to create any duty of
the Company or any of its affiliates or any of its other shareholders to the
Optionee, or any duty of the Optionee to the Company or any of its affiliates or
other shareholders, comparable to the duties which partners or joint venturers
may owe to each other. However, during the period that the Optionee
provides employment or consulting services to the Company, the Optionee shall
render diligently and faithfully the services which are assigned to the Optionee
from time to time by the Board or by the executive officers of the
Company. The Optionee shall at no time take any action which directly
or indirectly would be inconsistent with the best interests of the
Company.
11. Notices. Any
notices or other communications required to be given hereunder shall be given by
hand delivery or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with
all fees prepaid and addressed, if to the Company, to it at _____________, and
if to the Optionee, at the address set forth on the signature page hereto, or to
such other address as either party may specify in writing from time to
time.
12. Termination or
Amendment. The Board may terminate or amend the Plan and/or
the Option at any time; provided, however, that no such termination or amendment
may adversely affect the Option or any unexercised portion thereof without the
written consent of the Optionee.
13. Integrated
Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding
and agreement of the Optionee and the Company with respect to the subject matter
contained herein and supersedes any prior understanding or agreement between the
parties, whether or not in writing, including, but not limited to, any prior
grant by the Company or any of its officers or authorized representatives to the
Optionee of an option or warrant to purchase Common Stock. There are
no agreements, understandings, restrictions, representations, or warranties
among the Optionee and the Company other than those as set forth or provided for
herein. To the extent contemplated herein, the provisions of this Agreement
shall survive any exercise of the Option and shall remain in full force and
effect.
14. Binding
Effect. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors,
administrations, successors and assigns.
15. Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without
regard to principles of conflicts of laws.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Nonstatutory Stock Option
Agreement as of the Grant Date.
OPTIONABLE,
INC.
By:______________________________
Name:
Title:
The
undersigned Optionee represents that the Optionee is familiar with the terms and
provisions of this Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement and the Plan, and hereby
accepts the Option subject to all of the terms and provisions
thereof. The Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive
and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board upon any questions
arising under this Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement and the
Plan. The undersigned acknowledges receipt of a copy of the
Plan.
___________________________________
Signature
of Optionee
Xxxx
X’Xxxxxxxx
Address:
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
Social
Security Number:
Number of
Shares Subject to
Option: 500,000
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EXHIBIT
A
Date:___________________
Optionable,
Inc.
______________
______________
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
In
connection with the acquisition by me of [__________________] shares of common
stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Shares”), of Optionable, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), I hereby represent to the Company as
follows:
(a) I
hereby confirm that: (i) the Shares to be received by me will be acquired for
investment only, for my own account, not as a nominee or agent and not with a
view to the sale or distribution of any part thereof; and (ii) I have no current
intention of selling, granting participation in or otherwise distributing the
Shares. I further represent that I do not have any contract,
undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any person to sell, transfer or grant
participation to such person, or to any third person, with respect to any of the
Shares.
(b) I
understand that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) on the basis that the acquisition of the
Shares by me and the issuance of securities by the Company to me is exempt from
registration under the 1933 Act and that the Company’s reliance on such
exemption is predicated on my representations set forth herein.
(c) I
represent that I have, either alone or together with the assistance of a
“purchaser representative” (as that term is defined in Regulation D promulgated
under the 1933 Act), such knowledge and experience in financial and business
matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of my investment in
the Company. I further represent that I am familiar with the business
and financial condition, properties, operations and prospects of the
Company. I further represent that I have had, prior to my acquisition
of the Shares, the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from,
the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the issuance and to obtain
information (to the extent the Company possessed such information or could
acquire it without unreasonable effort or expense) necessary to verify the
accuracy of any information furnished to me or to which I have had
access. I am satisfied that there is no material information
concerning the condition, properties, operations and prospects of the Company of
which I am unaware. I have made, either alone or together with my
advisors, such independent investigation of the Company as I deem to be, or my
advisors deem to be, necessary or advisable in correction with this
investment.
(d) I
understand that the Shares may not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of
without registration under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or
an exemption there from, and that in the absence of an effective registration
statement covering the Shares or an available exemption from registration tinder
the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws, the Shares must be held
indefinitely. In particular, I acknowledge that I am aware that the
Shares may not be sold pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act
unless all of the conditions of that Rule are met. Among the current
conditions for use of Rule 144 by certain holders is the availability to the
public of current information about the Company. Such information is
not now available, and the Company has no current plans to make such information
available. I represent that, in the absence of an effective
registration statement covering the Shares or an available exemption from
registration under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws, I will not
sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the Shares.
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(e) I
represent that I (i) am capable of bearing the economic risk of holding the
unregistered Shares for an indefinite period of time and have adequate means for
providing for my current needs and contingencies, (ii) can afford to suffer a
complete loss of my investment in the Shares, and (iii) understand and have
taken cognizance of all risk factors related to the acquisition of the
Shares.
(f) I
understand that the acquisition of the Shares involves a high degree of risk and
there is no established market for the Company’s capital stock and it is not
likely that any public market for such stock will develop in the near
future.
(g) I
represent that neither I nor anyone acting on my behalf has paid any commission
or other remuneration to any person in connection with the acquisition of the
Shares.
(h) Independent
of the additional restrictions on the transfer of the Shares contained herein, I
agree that I will not make a transfer, disposition or pledge of any of the
Shares other than pursuant to an effective registration statement under the 1933
Act and applicable state securities laws, unless and until: (i) I shall have
notified the Company of the proposed disposition and shall have furnished the
Company with a statement of the circumstances surrounding the disposition and
(ii) if requested by the Company and at my expense or at the expense of my
transferee, I shall have furnished to the Company an opinion of counsel,
reasonably satisfactory (as to counsel and as to substance) to the Company and
its counsel, to the effect that such transfer may be made without registration
of the Shares under the 1933 Act, and applicable state securities
laws.
(i) I
acknowledge that all certificates evidencing the Shares shall bear a legend in
substantially the following form:
“TRANSFER
RESTRICTED”
The
shares represented by this certificate have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities laws. These
shares have been acquired for investment and not with a view to distribution or
resale, and may not be sold, mortgaged, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise
transferred without an effective registration statement for such shares under
the Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities laws, or an opinion
of counsel satisfactory to the Company that registration is not required under
such Act and applicable state securities laws.
The
shares of stock represented by this certificate are subject to certain
restrictions on transfer, repurchase rights and lock-up provisions as set forth
in the certain Stock Option Agreement pursuant to which such shares were
acquired. Such Agreement is available for inspection without charge
at the office of the Secretary of the Company.
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(j) The
certificates evidencing the Shares shall also bear any legend required by any
applicable state securities law.
(k) In
addition, the Company shall make a notation regarding the restrictions on
transfer of the Shares in its stock books, and the Shares shall be transferred
on the books of the Company only if transferred or sold pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws
covering such Shares or pursuant to and in compliance with the provisions of the
Stock Option Agreement referenced above. A copy of this Agreement,
together with any amendments thereto, shall remain on file with the Secretary of
the Company and shall be available for inspection to any properly interested
person without charge within five (5) days after the Company’s receipt of a
written request therefore.
Sincerely yours,
______________________________
Xxxx
X’Xxxxxxxx
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