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Exhibit 10.38
DATE OF GRANT: FEBRUARY 4, 2000
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AREMISSOFT CORPORATION
NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THE GRANT OF THIS OPTION SHALL NOT IMPOSE AN OBLIGATION UPON THE OPTIONEE TO
EXERCISE THIS OPTION.
THIS AGREEMENT is made by and between AremisSoft Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Prime Growth Inc., a British Virgin Islands
corporation ("Optionee"), an entity in which Xx. Xxxx Poyiadjis ("Employee") has
voting and investing authority, effective as of February 4, 2000.
In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. GRANT OF OPTION. The Company hereby grants to Optionee, in the manner
and, subject to the conditions hereinafter provided, the right, privilege and
option to purchase (the "Option") an aggregate of Three Hundred and Seventy-Five
Thousand (375,000) shares of the Company's common stock, $.001 par value, (the
"Shares" or "Common Stock").
2. TERM OF OPTION. Subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions set
forth herein, the term of this Option shall be ten (10) years from the date of
grant (the "Expiration Date"). Any portion of this Option not exercised prior to
the Expiration Date shall thereupon become null and void.
3. EXERCISE OF OPTION.
3.1. VESTING OF OPTION. This Option shall become exercisable as follows:
(a) One-seventh (1/7) of the Shares covered by the said Option
shall vest on February 4, 2001 ("Vesting Start Date"), and
beginning with the date one year after the Vesting Start
Date, one-seventh (1/7) of the Shares covered by said
Option shall vest on the same day of each year-long period
for the following six (6) years so that all of the Shares
under this Option shall be fully vested Seven (7) years
from the Grant Date (each of the foregoing dates shall be
referred to as a "Vesting Date")
(b) Notwithstanding the above, the Shares which have not been
vested ("Unvested Portion") shall be subject to
accelerated vesting as follows:
Number of Shares Vesting Event
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125,000 or the Unvested Shall vest when the Company's 5-day
Portion, whichever is less average trading price as quoted on the
NASDAQ reaches $35.00
125,000 or the Unvested Shall vest when the Company's 5-day
Portion, whichever is less average trading price as quoted on the
NASDAQ reaches $42.50
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Number of Shares Vesting Event
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125,000 or the Unvested Shall vest when the Company's 5-day
Portion, whichever is less average trading price as quoted on the
NASDAQ reaches $50.00
Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Agreement, this
Option shall not become exercisable, in whole or in part, unless and until this
Option (or a plan which includes this Option) has been approved by stockholders
of the Company pursuant to NASD Rule 4460. In the event that the Optionee ceases
to be a director of the Company but continues as a consultant or employee of the
Company or any subsidiary, then all remaining unvested options shall immediately
vest and become exercisable by the Optionee.
All or any portion of the Shares underlying a Vested Portion of this
Option may be purchased during the term of this Option, but not as to less than
100 Shares (unless the remaining Shares then constituting the Vested Portion of
this Option is less than 100 Shares) at any time.
3.2. MANNER OF EXERCISE. The Vested Portion of this Option may be
exercised from time to time, in whole or in part, by presentation of a "Request
To Exercise Form," substantially in the form attached hereto, to the Company at
its principal office, which form must be duly executed by Optionee and
accompanied by payment, in cash, to the Company, in the aggregate amount of the
Exercise Price (as defined below), multiplied by the number of Shares the
Optionee is purchasing at such time, subject to reduction for withholding for
tax obligations, if any, as provided in Section 13.
Upon receipt and acceptance by the Company of such form accompanied by
the payment specified, the Optionee shall be deemed to be the record owner of
the Shares purchased, notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of the
Company may then be closed or that certificates representing the Shares
purchased under this Option may not then be actually delivered to the Optionee.
3.3. EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price (the "Exercise Price") payable
upon exercise of this Option shall be U.S. Thirty-Five Dollars (US $35.00) per
Share.
4. EXERCISE AFTER CERTAIN EVENTS.
4.1. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. If for any reason other than permanent
and total disability (as defined below) or death, an Employee ceases to be
employed by the Company, Options held at the date of such termination (to the
extent then exercisable) may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time
within three (3) months after the date of such termination.
4.2. PERMANENT DISABILITY AND DEATH. If an Employee becomes permanently
and totally disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), or dies while employed by the Company (or if
the Employee dies within the period that the Option remains exercisable after
termination of employment or affiliation), Options then held (to the extent then
exercisable) may be exercised by the Optionee, the Optionee's personal
representative, or by the person to whom the Option is transferred by will or
the laws of descent and distribution, in whole or in part, at any time within
one (1) year after the disability or death (but in no event after the expiration
date of the Option).
5. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF OPTION. This Option is not transferable by
Optionee without the prior written consent of the Company, and is exercisable
only by the Optionee during the Employee's lifetime
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except as provided in Section 4.2. above. The Option and the Shares underlying
the Option shall not be available for the debts or obligations of the Optionee,
nor shall it be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, pledge or other
means of disposition, whether voluntary or involuntary, or by operation of law
through judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal proceeding
(including bankruptcy).
6. ADJUSTMENT FOR CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. The existence of this Option shall
not affect the Company's right to effect adjustments, recapitalizations,
reorganizations or other changes in its or any other corporation's capital
structure or business, any merger or consolidation, any issuance of bonds,
debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the
Shares, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company's or any other
corporation's assets or business, or any other corporate act, whether similar to
the events described above or otherwise. If the outstanding Shares of the
Company's Common Stock are increased or decreased in number or changed into or
exchanged for a different number or kind of securities of the Company or any
other corporation by reason of a recapitalization, reclassification, stock
split, reverse stock split, combination of shares, stock dividend or other
similar event, an appropriate adjustment of the number and kind of securities
with respect to which this Option may be exercised and the exercise price at
which this Option may be exercised will be made.
7. DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER.
7.1. COMPANY NOT THE SURVIVOR. In the event of a dissolution or
liquidation of the Company, a merger, consolidation, combination or
reorganization in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, or a sale
of substantially all of the assets of the Company (as determined in the sole
discretion of the Board of Directors), the Company, in its absolute discretion,
may cancel each outstanding Option upon payment in cash to the Optionee of the
amount by which any cash and the fair market value of any other property which
the Optionee would have received as consideration for the Shares of Common Stock
covered by the Option if the Option had been exercised before such liquidation,
dissolution, merger, consolidation or sale, exceeds the exercise price of the
Option. In addition to the foregoing, in the event of a dissolution or
liquidation of the Company, or a merger, consolidation, combination or
reorganization, in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, the
Company, in its absolute discretion, may accelerate the time within which each
outstanding Option may be exercised.
7.2. COMPANY IS THE SURVIVOR. In the event of a merger, consolidation,
combination or reorganization in which the Company is the surviving corporation,
the Board of Directors shall determine the appropriate adjustment of the number
and kind of securities with respect to which outstanding Options may be
exercised, and the exercise price at which outstanding Options may be exercised.
The Board of Directors shall determine, in its sole and absolute discretion,
when the Company shall be deemed to survive for purposes of this Agreement.
8. RESERVATION OF SHARES. The Company agrees that prior to the earlier of the
expiration of this Option and the exercise and purchase of the total number of
Shares represented by this Option, there shall be reserved for issuance and
delivery upon exercise of this Option such number of the Company's authorized
and unissued Shares as shall be necessary to satisfy the terms and conditions of
this Agreement.
9. NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. The Optionee shall have no rights as a stockholder
with respect to any Shares covered by this Option unless the Optionee shall have
exercised this Option, and then only with respect to the Shares underlying the
portion of the Option exercised. The Optionee shall have no right to vote any
Shares, or to receive distributions of dividends or any assets or proceeds from
the sale of Company assets upon liquidation until Optionee has effectively
exercised this Option and fully paid for such Shares. Subject
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to Section 6, no adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for
which the record date is prior to the date title to the Shares has been acquired
by the Optionee.
10. NO RIGHTS TO EMPLOYMENT OR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT. The grant of this Option
shall in no way be construed so as to confer on Employee the rights to
employment or continued employment by the Company. Nothing hereunder shall
confer upon any Employee any right to employment or to continue in the employ of
the Company, or to interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the
Company, which are hereby expressly reserved, to terminate or discharge any
Employee at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause.
11. SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION. In the event the Board reasonably believes that
the Employee has committed an act of misconduct specified below, the Company may
suspend the Optionee's right to exercise any Option pending final determination
by the Board, which final determination shall be made within five (5) business
days of such suspension. If the Board determines that an Employee has committed
an act of embezzlement, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, or deliberate disregard
of the Company rules resulting in loss, damage or injury to the Company, or if
an Employee makes an unauthorized disclosure of any Company trade secret or
confidential information, engages in any conduct constituting unfair
competition, induces any Company customer to breach a contract with the Company,
or induces any principal for whom the Company acts as agent to terminate such
agency relationship, neither the Optionee nor its successors or assigns shall be
entitled to exercise any Option hereunder. In making such determination, the
Board shall act fairly and in good faith and shall give the Employee an
opportunity to appear and present evidence on the Employee's behalf.
12. PARTICIPATION IN COMPANY OPTION PLANS. The grant of this Option shall not
prevent the Employee from participating or being granted options in the
Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan or other plans; provided, however, that the
Employee meets the eligibility requirements, and such participation or grant
does not prevent the such plans from meeting the requirements of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
13. PAYMENT OF TAXES. The Optionee shall pay the Company in cash all local,
state and federal withholding taxes applicable to the grant or exercise of this
Option, or the transfer or other disposition of Shares acquired upon exercise of
this Option. Any such payment must be made promptly when the amount of such
obligation becomes determinable. At the election of the Optionee, the Company
shall have the right to sell to the Company any vested stock options (at the
fair market value less the exercise price) in order to meet any withholding
requirements.
14. ISSUE AND TRANSFER TAX. The Company will pay all issuance taxes, if any,
attributable to the initial issuance of Shares upon the exercise of the Option;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax or
taxes which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue or
delivery of any certificates for Shares in a name other than that of the
Optionee.
15. ARBITRATION. Any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of or relating to
this Option which cannot be amicably settled including, but not limited to, the
suspension or termination of Optionee's right in accordance with Section 11
above, shall be settled by arbitration. Said arbitration shall be conducted in
accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association at a time and place as selected by the arbitrator(s).
15.1. INITIATION OF ARBITRATION. After seven (7) days prior written
notice to the other, either party hereto may formally initiate arbitration under
this Agreement by filing a written request therefor, and paying the appropriate
filing fees, if any.
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15.2. HEARING AND DETERMINATION DATES. The hearing before the arbitrator
shall occur within thirty (30) days from the date the matter is submitted to
arbitration. Further, a determination by the arbitrator shall be made within
forty-five (45) days from the date the matter is submitted to arbitration.
Thereafter, the arbitrator shall have fifteen (15) days to provide the parties
with his or her decision in writing. However, any failure to meet the deadlines
in this section will not affect the validity of any decision or award.
15.3. BINDING NATURE OF DECISION. The decision of the arbitrator shall
be binding on the parties. Judgment thereon shall be entered in a court of
competent jurisdiction.
15.4. INJUNCTIVE ACTIONS. Nothing herein contained shall bar the right
of either party to seek to obtain injunctive relief or other provisional
remedies against threatened or actual conduct that will cause loss or damages
under the usual equity rules including the applicable rules for obtaining
preliminary injunctions and other provisional remedies.
15.5. COSTS. The cost of arbitration, including the fees of the
arbitrator, shall initially be borne equally by the parties; provided, the
prevailing party shall be entitled to recover such costs, in addition to
attorneys' fees and other costs, in accordance with Section 18 of this
Agreement.
16. NOTICES. All notices to be given by either party to the other shall be in
writing and may be transmitted by personal delivery, facsimile transmission,
overnight courier or mail, registered or certified, postage prepaid with return
receipt requested; provided, however, that notices of change of address or telex
or facsimile number shall be effective only upon actual receipt by the other
party. Notices shall be delivered at the following addresses, unless changed as
provided for herein:
To the Optionee:
Prime Growth Inc.
c/o Caribbean Corporate Services Limited
Xxxx Xxxxx Building, Wickhams Cay I
X.X. Xxx 000
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
To the Company:
AremisSoft Corporation
Evie Building
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Attn: Secretary
17. APPLICABLE LAW. This Option and the relationship of the parties in
connection with its subject matter shall be governed by, and construed under,
the laws of the state of Delaware.
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18. ATTORNEYS FEES. In the event of any litigation, arbitration or other
proceeding arising out of this Option, the prevailing party shall be entitled to
an award of costs, including an award of reasonable attorneys' fees. Any
judgment, order or award entered in any such proceeding shall designate a
specific sum as such an award of attorneys' fees and costs incurred. This
attorneys' fee provision is intended to be severable from the other provisions
of this Agreement, shall survive any judgment or order entered in any
proceeding, and shall not be deemed merged into any such judgment or order, so
that such further fees and costs as may be incurred in the enforcement of an
award or judgment or in defending it on appeal shall likewise be recoverable by
further order of a court or panel or in a separate action as may be appropriate.
19. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding
upon, the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors and successors.
20. TAX EFFECT. The federal tax consequences of stock options are complex and
subject to change. Each person should consult with his or her tax advisor before
exercising any Option or disposing of any Shares acquired upon the exercise of
an Option.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Option Agreement has been executed as of the
date first above written.
THE COMPANY: AREMISSOFT CORPORATION
By:
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Dr. Lycourgos X. Xxxxxxxxx,
Chairman of the Board
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REQUEST TO EXERCISE FORM
Dated:___________________________
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise all or part, as
specified below, of the Vested Portion of the option granted to him or her
pursuant to that certain Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement effective
_____________________, between the undersigned and AremisSoft Corporation (the
"Company") to purchase an aggregate of __________________ (________) shares of
the Company's common stock, $.001 par value (the "Shares").
The undersigned hereby tenders cash in the amount of $__________ per
Share multiplied by ________________________________ (___________), the number
of Shares he or she is purchasing at this time, for a total of $______________,
which constitutes full payment of the total exercise price thereof.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF SHARES
IN COMPANY'S TRANSFER BOOKS
Name: ____________________________________________
(Please typewrite or print in block letters)
Address: ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Signature: ____________________________________________
Accepted by AremisSoft Corporation:
By: ______________________________
______________________________
Name
______________________________
Title