TESSCO TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED STOCK OPTION
Exhibit 10.3.4
TESSCO TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
STOCK OPTION
THIS STOCK OPTION (this “Option”) is granted by TESSCO Technologies Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), to _______________(the “Optionee”) effective as of ______________, 20___ (the “Grant Date”).
RECITALS
A. The Optionee is a Key Employee of the Company. In order to provide the Optionee additional incentive to further the Company’s growth, development, and financial success, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Committee”), pursuant to authority delegated by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), desires to grant to the Optionee, pursuant to the TESSCO Technologies Incorporated 2019 Stock and Incentive Plan (as from time to time hereafter amended, the “Plan”), an option to purchase _________ (______) shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), at an exercise price of $______ per share (the “Exercise Price”), which price the Compensation Committee has determined to be the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the Grant Date. |
B. This Option is granted pursuant to the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. The Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and thereof, and all applicable laws and regulations. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan. |
C. This Option is not intended to, and shall not, constitute or be treated as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. |
NOW, THEREFORE, to evidence the grant of the option and to set forth the terms and conditions governing the exercise thereof and the parties’ other agreements relative thereto, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1.1. In General. The Company hereby grants to the Optionee the right, and the Optionee shall be entitled, to purchase from the Company at any time and from time to time after the date hereof but not later than 5:00 p.m. Baltimore, Maryland time on ________ __, 20__ (the “Expiration Date”), up to ___________ (_______) shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “Option Shares”) at the Exercise Price, all on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth. |
1.2. Vesting. Except as otherwise set forth (and subject to all of the other conditions and limitations contained) in this Section 1, this Option shall become exercisable (i.e., vest) with respect to a stated percentage or number of Option Shares on each of the dates set forth below (each a “Vesting Date”), subject further to Optionee’s Continuous Service through each such Vesting Date: |
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(a) On the first yearly anniversary of the Grant Date, twenty-five percent (25%) of the Option Shares, or __________ Option Shares; and |
(b) On the day of the month corresponding to the Grant Date (i.e., on the 10th day (or if there is no day, the next day)) and for each of the Thirty Six (36) successive calendar months following the first anniversary of the Grant Date, an additional 2.08333% of the number of Option Shares (with the number of Option Shares rounded up or down as the Company shall determine), until the fourth anniversary of the Grant Date, when this Option will be fully vested for all _______________ (________) Option Shares. |
Except as may otherwise be expressly provided herein, there shall be no proportionate or partial vesting during periods prior to each Vesting Date, and all vesting shall occur only on the appropriate Vesting Date. Without limiting any other terms hereof or of the Plan otherwise providing for termination of this Option in whole or in part, any unvested portion of this Option shall terminate and be null and void upon termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Service.
1.3. Termination for Cause. If the Optionee’s Continuous Service is terminated by the Company for Cause, all rights of Optionee under this Option shall terminate immediately, effective as of such termination. |
1.4. Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason; Voluntary Termination. If the Optionee’s Continuous Service is terminated (x) by the Company other than for Cause and other than on account of Disability or (y) by the Optionee for Good Reason, or (z) on account of the resignation or voluntary termination of employment by the Optionee in the absence of Cause, then, subject to Section 1.8 hereof, the Optionee shall be entitled to exercise this Option to the same extent that it would have been exercisable on the effective date of termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Service (and without regard to any subsequent events) for a period of ninety (90) days thereafter (but in no event later than the Expiration Date), whereupon all rights of Optionee under this Option shall terminate immediately, unless the Board or the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion determines that this Option should be exercisable to some greater extent or remain exercisable for some longer period (ending in no event later than the Expiration Date). |
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terminate immediately, unless the Board or the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion determines that this Option should be exercisable to some greater extent or remain exercisable for some longer period (ending in no event later than the Expiration Date). |
1.7. Expiration. This Option, including any then unexercised portion of this Option, and all rights of Optionee hereunder, shall in any event automatically and without notice terminate on the Expiration Date, if not sooner. |
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Company shall have the right and option to deliver a Change in Control Notice as provided above without any corresponding acceleration of the vesting of this Option, and this Option shall then be exercisable only to the extent otherwise exercisable as of the date of termination of Continuous Service and without acceleration, until the expiration of the reasonable period otherwise provided for hereunder. Any acceleration of the vesting of this Option (and the right of Optionee to exercise this Option with respect to any Option Shares vested other than on account of the passage of time) as described in or contemplated by a Change in Control Notice shall be, and any exercise by the Optionee may be, in each case whether delivered pursuant to this subsection (b) of subsection (c) below, conditioned upon the actual occurrence or consummation of the Change in Control and satisfaction of any other conditions, qualifications or limitations included or provided for in the Change in Control Notice or notice of exercise. |
(c) Change in Control Agreement. In the event of, or if in anticipation of, a Change in Control in which the Company is not or will not be the surviving or acquiring company, or will be liquidated or dissolved, or in which the Company is or becomes, or will become, a wholly-owned subsidiary of another company after the effective date of the Change in Control, in any event occurring prior to the Expiration Date and prior to any other termination of this Option (including upon exercise by the Company of the right and option afforded to it subsection (b) above): (1) if there is no Change in Control Agreement (as defined below) or if the Change in Control Agreement does not specifically provide for the change, conversion or exchange of this Option for similar securities of another company, the Company will deliver to Optionee a Change in Control Notice in the manner described in (but not pursuant to) subsection (b) above, thereby providing the Optionee with a reasonable opportunity to exercise this Option as otherwise provided for in (but not pursuant to) subsection (b) above, and Optionee shall thereupon have the right during the applicable period of not less than fifteen (15) days to exercise this Option as to all or any part of the shares covered hereby, including, if the Continuous Service of Optionee then continues (but not otherwise), shares as to which this Option would not otherwise be exercisable by reason of an insufficient lapse of time, and this Option will thereupon terminate and expire as otherwise provided for in (but not pursuant to) subsection (b) above, effective upon, or immediately prior to and conditioned upon, the occurrence of such Change in Control; and (2) if there is a Change in Control Agreement and if the Change in Control Agreement provides for the change, conversion or exchange of the shares under outstanding and unexercised stock options, generally, or under this Option, for securities or other property of another company, and provides for the change, conversion or exchange of this Option, or the assumption or substitution of this Option, for similar securities or other property of another company, then in connection with the Change in Control, in lieu of this Option terminating (and, where applicable, in lieu of being accelerated) to the extent not exercised as otherwise contemplated by clause (1) of this subsection (c), then, and unless the Company shall have exercised its right under subsection (b) above, this Option shall be so changed, converted or exchanged, or assumed or substituted for, in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of the Change in Control Agreement for the adjustment, change, conversion or exchange of such stock and such options (and if holders of Common Stock were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares). If such consideration received in the transaction constituting a Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor company, or its parent or subsidiary, provide that the consideration to be received upon the exercise or vesting of the substitute or assumed option will be solely common stock of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary substantially equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by holders of shares of Common Stock in the transaction constituting a Change in Control. All |
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adjustments and determinations under this subsection (c), including any determination of such substantial equality of value of consideration, shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion and its determination shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, on such terms and conditions as may be set forth in an award agreement, in the event of a termination of the Optionee's employment in such successor company (other than for Cause or on account of Disability or the comparable reasons applicable to such award agreement) within one (1) year following such Change in Control (subject, however, to earlier expiration as of the Expiration Date), the option held by the Optionee at the time of the Change in Control shall be accelerated as described in Section 1.8(a) above. |
1.9. Certain Definitions. |
For purposes of this Option:
(a) “Cause” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan and shall also include, to the extent not already included, any act or failure to act determined in good faith by the Committee to constitute gross misconduct by the Optionee. |
(b) “Change in Control Agreement” means a written plan or agreement regarding the terms and implementation of a Change in Control in which the Company is not the surviving or acquiring company, or in which the Company is or becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of another company after the effective date of the Change in Control (and in any event excluding any liquidation). |
(c) “Good Reason” means any of the following: |
(1) Any material adverse change by the Company in the Optionee’s duties or reporting responsibilities or any material reduction by the Company in the Optionee’s authority (other than as a result of Disability of Optionee), provided, however, that a change in authority, duties or responsibilities solely due to the Company becoming a division, subsidiary or otherwise part of a larger organization shall not by itself constitute Good Reason, and provided further that the Optionee specifically objects in writing to the change or reduction within thirty (30) days after the change or reduction first occurs and the Company (or its successor) does not rescind the change or reduction within a further period of thirty (30) days; or |
(2) Any material failure by the Company or its subsidiaries to make a payment due and owing to the Optionee or to provide the Optionee with a benefit due and owing to the Optionee, but only if the failure is not cured in all material respects within fifteen (15) days after the Company receives written notice of such failure; or |
(3) Any reduction of Optionee’s annual base salary, or any material reduction in the package of benefits provided to Optionee as an employee of the Company (excluding benefits in the nature of cash or equity incentive compensation), except to the extent that the base salary or package of benefits of all other officers of the Company is similarly reduced (except insofar as such reduction would require the Company to violate a binding employment agreement), and provided that the Optionee specifically objects in writing to the reduction within thirty (30) days after the reduction first occurs and the Company (or its successor) does not rescind the reduction within a further period of thirty (30) days. |
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2.1. In General. In the event the Optionee desires to exercise this Option with respect to all or any vested portion of the Option Shares, the Optionee shall give notice to the Company in substantially the form of Exhibit A (together with any other representations, warranties, and undertakings that may otherwise be required by the Company of the Optionee pursuant to the terms of this Option or the Plan). Such notice shall state the number of Option Shares with respect to which this Option is being exercised and shall be accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Option Shares with respect to which this Option is being exercised (the “Aggregate Exercise Price”). |
2.3. Withholding Taxes. The Company shall be entitled to require as a condition of delivery of the shares to be acquired upon exercise of this Option that the Optionee remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy all federal, state, and other taxes or withholding requirements that may be imposed upon the Company (“Tax Obligations”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or the Committee may in its sole discretion authorize payment or other satisfaction of all or any portion of such Tax Obligations to be made in a manner similar to one or more of the methods referenced in Section 2.2 with respect to payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price. Whether or not the Company requires the Optionee to remit any such amounts, the Company shall have the right to withhold such amounts from any compensation or other payments otherwise due to the Optionee. |
2.4. Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares upon exercise of this Option. If any fractional interest in a share is otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of this Option, the Company shall purchase the fractional interest for an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the fractional interest. |
2.5. Limitation on Exercise. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Option, this Option shall not be exercisable in whole or in part, and no shares of Common Stock shall be issuable by the Company in respect of any attempted exercise, at any time when such exercise or issuance is prohibited by the Company’s policies then in effect concerning transactions by officers, directors, or employees in securities of the Company. |
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SECTION 3. MISCELLANEOUS |
3.1. Entire Agreement. This Option (together with the Plan, to which it is and shall remain subject) constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding, relating to the subject matter of this Option. |
3.2. Conflicts with Plan; Amendments. This Agreement has been granted as an “Option” (and, in particular, a “Non-Qualified Option”) under the Plan and shall be construed consistently with the Plan. In the event of any clear conflict between the provisions of the Plan and this Option, the provisions of the Plan (including any such provisions that defer to an applicable award, such as this Option) shall control. The Committee has the right, in its sole discretion, to amend this Option from time to time in any manner for the purpose of promoting the objectives of the Plan but only if the similar terms of all other Non-Qualified Options under the Plan that are then in effect at the time of such amendment and are also similarly amended with substantially the same effect. Any such amendment of this Option will, upon adoption by the Committee, become and be binding and conclusive on all persons affected by it without requirement for consent or other action by any such person. The Company will give the Optionee or other registered holder of this Option written notice of any such amendment of this Option as promptly as practicable after it is adopted. |
3.3. No Rights of Stockholder. The Optionee shall not be deemed a stockholder of the Company for any purpose until the shares issuable upon exercise of this Option have been issued to the Optionee upon exercise of this Option. The existence of this Option shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations, or other changes in the Company’s capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of bonds, debentures, or shares of capital stock with a preference ahead of, or convertible into, or otherwise affecting the Common Stock or rights thereof, or dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise. |
3.4. No Rights of Continued Employment. This Option shall not confer upon the Optionee any right of continued employment or Continuous Service with the Company or otherwise, nor shall it entitle the Optionee to any continued level of base salary. |
3.5. Transfer Restrictions. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, this Option is not transferable, and, during the lifetime of the Optionee, the Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee, or the Optionee's guardian or legal representative. In addition, this Option shall not be assigned, negotiated, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise), and this Option shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, negotiate, pledge or hypothecate this Option, or in the event of any levy upon this Option by reason of any execution, attachment or similar process contrary to the provisions hereof, this Option shall immediately become null and void. The terms of this Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee. |
3.6. Notices. Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be sufficiently given if delivered in person or by commercial courier service or sent by first class mail, postage prepaid: |
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(a) If to the Company, addressed to it at 00000 XxXxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000, marked for the attention of the Chief Financial Officer, and |
(b) If to the Optionee, to the address set forth below Optionee’s signature (or if not set forth, as appearing in the records of the Company), |
or in either case to such other address as any party shall notify the other in accordance with this section.
3.7. Governing Law. This Option shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the federal laws of the United States and the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to any provision that would result in the application of the laws of any other state or jurisdiction). |
3.8. Headings. The descriptive headings in this Option are inserted for convenience of reference only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement. |
3.9. Incorporation of Recitals and Exhibits. The recitals to this Option and any exhibits and schedules hereto are a material part of and by this reference are hereby incorporated into this Option. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Stock Option to be signed under seal as of the date first above written.
ATTEST/WITNESS:TESSCO TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
______________________________By: ____________________________(SEAL)
_____________________________
_____________________________
OPTIONEE:
____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________
Address:
_______________________________
_______________________________
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EXHIBIT A
TESSCO TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
STOCK OPTION
NOTICE OF EXERCISE
______________________________
(Date)
TO:
TESSCO Technologies Incorporated
00000 XxXxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: President
I am the holder of a Stock Option dated as of ___________ __, 20__ to purchase shares of the Common Stock of TESSCO Technologies Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) at a price of $____ per share. I hereby exercise that Stock Option with respect to _________ shares, for an aggregate exercise price of $_______________. Payment of the aggregate exercise price accompanies this Notice of Exercise.
I acknowledge that the Company is entitled to require as a condition of delivering the certificate representing these shares that I remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy all federal, state, and other taxes or withholding requirements that may be imposed upon the Company. Whether or not the Company requires me to remit any such amounts, the Company shall have the right to withhold such amounts from any compensation or other payments otherwise due to me.
Very truly yours,
________________________________
Optionee
Address:
________________________________
________________________________
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