Exhibit 10.11
(SOUNDBITE COMMUNICATIONS(R) LOGO)
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Re: SoundBite Communications, Inc. (the "Company")
Grant of Nonqualified Stock Option
Dear __________:
The Company is pleased to advise you that its Board of Directors has
granted to you a stock option (an "Option") on __________ as provided below,
under the SoundBite Communications, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"), a
copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
1. Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
"Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Cause" shall mean any act or acts or failure or failure to act by you
which the Board determines in its reasonable judgment is or could be injurious
to or not in the best interests of the Company.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and
any successor statute.
"Committee" shall mean the Stock Option Committee, or such other
committee (if any) of the Board which may be designated by the Board to
administer the Plan. The Committee shall be composed of two or more directors as
appointed from time to time to serve by the Board.
"Common Stock" shall mean the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.001
per share, or, in the event that the outstanding Common Stock is hereafter
changed into or exchanged for different stock or securities of the Company, such
other stock or securities.
"Company" shall mean SoundBite Communications, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and (except to the extent the context requires otherwise) any
subsidiary corporation of SoundBite Communications, Inc. as such term is defined
in Section 424(f) of the Code.
"Disability" shall mean your inability, due to illness, accident,
injury, physical or mental incapacity or other disability, to carry out
effectively your duties and obligations to the Company or to participate
effectively and actively in the management of the Company for a period of at
least 90 consecutive days or for shorter periods aggregating at least 120 days
(whether or not consecutive) during any twelve-month period, as determined in
the reasonable judgment of the Board.
"Option Shares" shall mean (i) all shares of Common Stock issued or
issuable upon the exercise of the Option and (ii) all shares of Common Stock
issued with respect to the Common Stock referred to in clause (i) above by way
of stock dividend or stock split or in connection with any conversion, merger,
consolidation or recapitalization or other reorganization affecting the Common
Stock. Option Shares shall continue to be Option Shares in the hands of any
holder other than you (except for the Company and, to the extent that you are
permitted to transfer Option Shares pursuant to paragraph 14 or 16 hereof,
purchasers pursuant to a public offering under the Securities Act), and each
such transferee thereof shall succeed to the rights and obligations of a holder
of Option Shares hereunder.
"Public Sale" means any sale of Option Shares to the public pursuant
to an offering registered under the Securities Act or to the public through a
broker, dealer or market maker pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 adopted
under the Securities Act.
"Sale of the Company" shall mean a merger or consolidation effecting a
change in control of the Company, a sale of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets or a sale of a majority of the Company's outstanding voting
securities.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and any successor statute.
["Service Provider" shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.]
2. Option.
a. Terms. Your Option is for the purchase of up to __________ shares
of Common Stock (the "Option Shares") at a price per share of $__________ (the
"Exercise Price"), payable upon exercise as set forth in paragraph 2(b) below.
Your Option shall expire at the close of business on __________ (the "Expiration
Date"), subject to earlier expiration as provided in paragraph 3(b) below or
upon termination of your service to the Company as provided in paragraph 4(b)
below. [Your Option is intended to be a Nonqualified Stock Option.] [Your option
is not intended to be an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section
422A of the Code.]
b. Payment of Option Price. Subject to paragraph 3 below, your Option
may be exercised in whole or in part upon payment of an amount (the "Option
Price") equal to the product of (i) the Exercise Price multiplied by (ii) the
number of Option Shares to be acquired. Payment shall be made in cash (including
check, bank draft or money order).
3. Exercisability/Vesting.
a. Normal Vesting. [Your Option shall fully vest and become
exercisable with respect to all of your Option Shares at the time such Option is
granted to you. None of your Option Shares shall be vested as of the date your
relationship as a Service Provider with the Company began. Notwithstanding the
foregoing,] Your Option Shares shall become vested in accordance with the
following schedule: [25% of you Option Shares or, if greater, 25% of the Option
Shares you would hold assuming the full exercise of your Option (rounded down to
the nearest whole share) shall vest one year after ________________ and 2 and
1/12% of your Option Shares or, if greater, 2 and 1/12% of the Option Shares
you would hold assuming the full exercise of your Option (rounded down to the
nearest whole share) shall vest at the end of each calendar month beginning one
year after _____________________ and continuing for 36 months][2 and 1/12% of
your Option shares or, if greater, 2 and 1/12% of the Option Shares you would
hold assuming the full exercise of your Option (rounded down to the nearest
whole share) shall vest at the end of each full month from ___________________]
[(thereby totaling a four year vesting schedule)] if an only if you are, and
have been, continuously [employed by][providing service to] the Company [or
acting as a Service Provider] from the date of this Agreement through such
date[; provided that none of your Option Shares shall be vested in the event
that your [employment with][service to] the Company [or your relationship as a
Service Provider] terminates for any reason prior to the first anniversary of
the date your [employment with][service to][relationship as a Service Provider
to] the Company began]. Option Shares which have become vested pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement are referred to herein as "Vested Option Shares," and
all other Options are referred to herein as "Unvested Option Shares."
b. Acceleration of Vesting on Sale of the Company. If you have been
continuously [employed by][providing service to] the Company [or have been
acting as a Service Provider] from the [Vesting Date][date] of this Agreement
until a Sale of the Company, the portion of your outstanding Option Shares which
have not become vested at the date of such event shall immediately vest and
become exercisable [with respect to 25% of your Unvested Option Shares (or, if
greater, 25% of the Unvested Option Share you would hold assuming the full
exercise of your Options)][with respect to 100% of your Unvested Option Shares
(or, if greater, 100% of the Unvested Option Share you would hold assuming the
full exercise of your Options)][in full] simultaneously with the consummation of
the Sale of the Company. [If following a Sale of the Company, you are either
involuntarily terminated for reasons other than Cause, or you voluntarily
terminate your employment because (i) your responsibilities have been materially
reduced or (ii) your cash compensation plan has been reduced by 10% or more,
100% of your Unvested Option Shares (or, if greater, 100% of the Unvested Option
Shares you would hold assuming the full exercise of your Options) shall
immediately vest upon your termination date.] In any event, any portion of your
Option which has not been exercised prior to or in connection with the Sale of
the Company shall be forfeited, unless otherwise determined by the Committee or
the Board.
4. Expiration of Option.
a. Normal Expiration. In no event shall any part of your Option be
exercisable after the Expiration Date set forth in paragraph 2(a) above.
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b. Early Expiration Upon Termination of Service. Any portion of your
Option that was not vested and exercisable on the date your service to the
Company is terminated shall expire and be forfeited on such date, and any
portion of your Option that was vested and exercisable on the date your service
to the Company terminated shall also expire and be forfeited; provided that: (i)
if you die or become subject to any Disability, the portion of your Option that
is vested and exercisable shall expire 180 days from the date of your death or
Disability, but in no event after the Expiration Date; and (ii) if you retire,
resign or are discharged by the Company other than for Cause, the portion of
your Option that is vested and exercisable shall expire 90 days from the date of
your resignation or discharge, but in no event after the Expiration Date.
5. Procedure for Exercise. You may exercise all or any portion of your
Option, at any time and from time to time prior to its expiration, by delivering
written notice to the Company (to the attention of the Company's Secretary) and
your written acknowledgment that you have read and have been afforded an
opportunity to ask questions of management of the Company regarding all
financial and other information provided to you regarding the Company, together
with payment of the Option Price in accordance with the provisions of paragraph
2(b) above. As a condition to any exercise of your Option, you shall permit the
Company to deliver to you all financial and other information regarding the
Company it believes necessary to enable you to make an informed investment
decision, and you shall make all customary investment representations which the
Company requires.
You understand that you will be solely responsible for any necessary or
desirable filings you may wish to make upon the exercise of your Options and
that the Company will not be responsible for making such filings on your behalf.
6. Securities Laws Restrictions and Other Restrictions on Transfer of
Option Shares. You represent that when you exercise your Option you shall be
purchasing Option Shares for your own account and not on behalf of others. You
understand and acknowledge that federal and state securities laws govern and
restrict your right to offer, sell or otherwise dispose of any Option Shares
unless your offer, sale or other disposition thereof is registered under the
Securities Act and state securities laws, or in the opinion of the Company's
counsel, such offer, sale or other disposition is exempt from registration or
qualification thereunder. You agree that you shall not offer, sell or otherwise
dispose of any Option Shares in any manner which would: (i) require the Company
to file any registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(or any similar filing under state law) or to amend or supplement any such
filing or (ii) violate or cause the Company to violate the Securities Act, the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or any other state or federal law.
You further understand that the certificates for any Option Shares you purchase
shall bear such legends as the Company deems necessary or desirable in
connection with the Securities Act or other rules, regulations or laws.
7. Non-Transferability of Option. Your Option is personal to you and
is not transferable by you other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution. During your lifetime only you (or your guardian or legal
representative) may exercise your Option. In the event of your death, your
Option may be exercised only (i) by the executor or administrator of your estate
or the
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person or persons to whom your rights under the Option shall pass by will or the
laws of descent and distribution and (ii) to the extent that you were entitled
hereunder at the date of your death.
8. Conformity with Plan. Your Option is intended to conform in all
respects with, and is subject to all applicable provisions of, the Plan (which
is incorporated herein by reference). Inconsistencies between this Agreement and
the Plan shall be resolved in accordance with the terms of the Plan. By
executing and returning the enclosed copy of this Agreement, you acknowledge
your receipt of this Agreement and the Plan and agree to be bound by all of the
terms of this Agreement and the Plan.
9. Rights of Participants. Nothing in this Agreement shall interfere
with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate your service at
any time (with or without Cause), nor confer upon you any right to continue in
the service of the Company for any period of time or to continue your present
(or any other) rate of compensation, and in the event of your termination of
service (including, but not limited to, termination by the Company without
Cause) any portion of your Option that was not previously vested and exercisable
shall be forfeited. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon you any right to
be selected again as a Plan participant, and nothing in the Plan or this
Agreement shall provide for any adjustment to the number of Option Shares
subject to your Option upon the occurrence of subsequent events except as
provided in paragraph 11 below.
10. Withholding of Taxes. The Company shall be entitled, if necessary
or desirable, to withhold from you from any amounts due and payable by the
Company to you (or secure payment from you in lieu of withholding) the amount of
any withholding or other tax due from the Company with respect to any Option
Shares issuable under this Plan, and the Company may defer such issuance unless
indemnified by you to its satisfaction.
11. Adjustments. In the event of a reorganization, recapitalization,
stock dividend or stock split, reclassification or combination or other change
in the shares of Common Stock, the Board or the Committee may, in order to
prevent the dilution or enlargement of rights under your Option, make such
adjustments in the number and type of shares authorized by the Plan, the number
and type of shares covered by your Option and the Exercise Price specified
herein as may be determined to be appropriate and equitable.
12. Right to Purchase Unvested Option Shares Upon Your Termination of
Service.
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a. Repurchase of Unvested Option Shares. If your service to the
Company shall terminate, including upon your death, Disability, resignation or
termination with or without Cause (the date on which such termination occurs
being referred to as the "Termination Date"), then the Company shall have the
option to repurchase all or any part of the Unvested Option Shares issued or
issuable upon exercise of your Option, whether held by you or by one or more of
your transferees, at the price determined in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph 13 hereof (the "Repurchase Option").
b. Repurchase by Company. The Company may elect to purchase all or any
portion of the Unvested Option Shares by delivery of written notice (the
"Repurchase Notice") to you or any other holders of the Option Shares within 120
days after the Termination Date. The Repurchase Notice shall set forth the
number of Option Shares to be acquired from you and such other holder(s), the
aggregate consideration to be paid for such shares and the time and place for
the closing of the transaction. The number of Option Shares to be repurchased by
the Company shall first be satisfied to the extent possible from the Unvested
Option Shares held by you at the time of delivery of the Repurchase Notice. If
the number of Option Shares then held by you is less than the total number of
Option Shares the Company has elected to purchase, then the Company shall
purchase the remaining shares elected to be purchased from the other holders
thereof, pro rata according to the number of shares held by each such holder at
the time of delivery of such Repurchase Notice (determined as close as practical
to the nearest whole shares).
c. Closing of Repurchase of Unvested Option Shares. The purchase of
Option Shares pursuant to this paragraph 12 shall be closed at the Company's
executive offices within 20 days after the expiration of the 120-day period
referred to in paragraph 12(b). At the closing, the purchaser or purchasers
shall pay the purchase price in the manner specified in paragraph 13(b) and you
and any other holders of Option Shares being purchased shall deliver the
certificate or certificates representing such shares to the purchaser or
purchasers or their nominees, accompanied by duly executed stock powers. Any
purchaser of Option Shares under this paragraph 12 shall be entitled to receive
customary representations and warranties from you and any other selling holders
of Option Shares regarding the sale of such shares (including representations
and warranties regarding good title to such shares, free and clear of any liens
or encumbrances) and to require all sellers' signatures to be guaranteed by a
national bank or reputable securities broker.
13. Purchase Price for Option Shares.
a. Purchase Price. The purchase price per share to be paid for the
Option Shares purchased by the Company pursuant to paragraph 12 shall for
Unvested Option Shares be equal to the Exercise Price for each such Option
Share.
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b. Manner of Payment. If the Company elects to purchase all or any
part of the Option Shares, including Option Shares held by one or more
transferees, the Company shall pay for such shares: (i) first, by certified
check or wire transfer of funds to the extent such payment would not cause the
Company to violate the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and
would not cause the Company to breach any agreement to which it is a party
relating to the indebtedness for borrowed money or other material agreement; and
(ii) thereafter, with a subordinated promissory note of the Company. Such
subordinated promissory note shall bear interest at the rate of 8% per annum
(which shall be payable annually in cash unless otherwise prohibited), shall
have all principal payment due on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance
and shall be subordinated on terms and conditions satisfactory to the holders of
the Company's indebtedness for borrowed money. In addition, the Company may pay
the purchase price for such shares by offsetting amounts outstanding under any
indebtedness or obligations owed by you to the Company.
14. Restrictions on Transfer of Option Shares.
a. Transfer of Option Shares. You shall not sell, pledge or otherwise
transfer any interest in any Option Shares except pursuant to a Public Sale or
the provisions of paragraph 12 or 16 hereof ("Exempt Transfers").
b. Certain Permitted Transfers. The restrictions contained in this
paragraph 14 shall not apply with respect to transfers of Option Shares (i)
pursuant to applicable laws of descent and distribution or (ii) among your
family group; provided that the restrictions contained in this paragraph 14
shall continue to be applicable to the Option Shares after any such transfer and
the transferees of such Option Shares have agreed in writing to be bound by the
provisions of this Agreement. Your "family group" means your spouse and
descendants.
c. Termination of Restrictions. The restrictions on the transfer of
Option Shares set forth in this paragraph 14 shall continue with respect to each
Option Share until the date on which such Option Share has been transferred in a
transaction permitted by this paragraph 14(c) (except in a transaction
contemplated by paragraph 14(b)); provided in any event the restrictions on
transfers set forth in this paragraph 14 shall terminate when the Company has
sold shares of its Common Stock pursuant to a public offering registered under
the Securities Act.
15. Additional Restrictions on Transfer.
a. Restrictive Legend. The certificates representing the Option Shares
shall bear the following legend:
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"THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ORIGINALLY ISSUED ON
_______ HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE SOLD
OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION THEREUNDER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE
ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER, CERTAIN REPURCHASE
OPTIONS AND CERTAIN OTHER AGREEMENTS SET FORTH IN AN OPTION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND _______ DATED AS OF ___________ A COPY OF WHICH MAY
BE OBTAINED BY THE HOLDER HEREOF AT THE COMPANY'S PRINCIPAL PLACE OF
BUSINESS WITHOUT CHARGE."
b. Opinion of Counsel. You may not sell, transfer or dispose of any
Option Shares (except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act) without first delivering to the Company an opinion of counsel
reasonably acceptable in form and substance to the Company that registration
under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law is not required
in connection with such transfer.
c. Holdback. You agree not to effect any public sale or distribution
of any equity securities of the Company, or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, during the seven days prior to
and the 180 days after the effectiveness of any underwritten Demand Registration
or any underwritten Piggyback Registration (as such terms are defined in the
Registration Agreement), except as part of such underwritten registration if
otherwise permitted.
16. Sale of the Company.
a. Consent to Sale of Company. If the Board or the holders of a
majority of the common stock then outstanding approves a Sale of the Company (an
"Approved Sale"), you shall vote for, consent to, and raise no objections
against the Approved Sale of the Company. If the Approved Sale is structured (i)
as a merger or consolidation, you shall waive any dissenter's rights, appraisal
rights or similar rights in connection with such merger or consolidation, or
(ii) as a sale of stock, you shall agree to sell all of your Option Shares,
rights to acquire Option Shares and other shares of the Company's capital stock
on the terms and conditions approved by the Persons approving such sale. You
shall take all necessary and desirable actions in connection with the
consummation of the Approved Sale of the Company as requested by the Board.
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b. Purchaser Representative. If the Company or the holders of the
Company's securities enter into any negotiation or transaction for which Rule
506 (or any similar rule then in effect) promulgated by the Securities Exchange
Commission may be available with respect to such negotiation or transaction
(including a merger, consolidation or other reorganization), you shall, at the
request of the Company, appoint a purchaser representative (as such term is
defined in Rule 501) reasonably acceptable to the Company. If you appoint the
purchaser representative designated by the Company, the Company shall pay the
fees of such purchaser representative, but if you decline to appoint the
purchaser representative designated by the Company you shall appoint another
purchaser representative (reasonably acceptable to the Company), and you shall
be responsible for the fees of the purchaser representative so appointed.
c. Termination of Restrictions. The provisions of this paragraph 16
shall terminate when the Company has sold shares of its Common Stock pursuant to
a public offering registered under the Securities Act.
17. Remedies. The parties hereto shall be entitled to enforce their
rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages by reason of any
breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights
existing in their favor. You acknowledge and agree that money damages would not
be an adequate remedy for any breach by you of the provisions of this Agreement
and that the Company may, in its sole discretion, apply to any court of law or
equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive
relief (without posting bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent
any violation by you of the provisions of this Agreement.
18. Amendment. Except as otherwise provided herein, any provision of
this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the prior written consent of
you and the Company.
19. Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf
of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the
respective successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto whether so
expressed or not.
20. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited
by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to
the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder
of this Agreement.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two
or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of
which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
22. Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of this Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this
Agreement.
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23. Governing Law. The corporate law of Delaware shall govern all
questions concerning the relative rights of the Company and its stockholders.
All other questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of
this Agreement shall be governed by the internal law, and not the law of
conflicts, of Delaware.
24. Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to be given
or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered personally or
mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage
prepaid, to the recipient. Such notices, demands and other communications shall
be sent to you and to the Company at the addresses indicated below:
a. If to the Participant:
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
b. If to the Company:
SoundBite Communications, Inc.
0 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
or to such other address or to the attention of such other person as the
recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.
25. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
understanding between you and the Company, and supersedes all other agreements,
whether written or oral, with respect to the acquisition by you of Common Stock
of the Company.
* * * *
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Please execute this Agreement in the space below and return it to the
Company's Secretary at its executive offices to confirm your understanding and
acceptance of the agreements contained in this Agreement.
Very truly yours,
By
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Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Enclosures: 1. Extra copy of this Agreement
2. Copy of the Plan
The undersigned hereby acknowledges having read this Agreement and the
Plan and hereby agrees to be bound by all provisions set forth herein and in the
Plan.
Dated as of Participant
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