Exhibit (d)(8)
1997 STOCK PLAN
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have
the same defined meanings in this Option Agreement.
I. NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT
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[Optionee's Name and Address]
You have been granted an option to purchase Common Stock of the Company,
subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, as
follows:
Grant Number _________________________
Date of Grant _________________________
Vesting Commencement Date _________________________
Exercise Price per Share $________________________
Total Number of Shares Granted _________________________
Total Exercise Price $________________________
Type of Option: ____ Incentive Stock Option
____ Nonstatutory Stock Option
Term/Expiration Date: _________________________
Vesting Schedule.
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This Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, in accordance with the
following schedule:
25% of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest twelve months after the
Vesting Commencement Date, and 1/48 of the Shares subject to the Option shall
vest each month thereafter, subject to the Optionee continuing to be a Service
Provider on such dates.
Termination Period.
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This Option may be exercised for thirty days after Optionee ceases to be a
Service Provider. Upon the death or Disability of the Optionee, this Option may
be exercised for such longer period as
provided in the Plan. In no event shall this Option be exercised later than the
Term/Expiration Date as provided above.
II. AGREEMENT
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1. Grant of Option. The Plan Administrator of the Company hereby grants
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to the Optionee named in the Notice of Grant attached as Part I of this
Agreement (the "Optionee") an option (the "Option") to purchase the number of
Shares, as set forth in the Notice of Grant, at the exercise price per share set
forth in the Notice of Grant (the "Exercise Price"), subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. Subject to
Section 15(c) of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and
conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of this Option Agreement,
the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail,
If designated in the Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock Option ("ISO"),
this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Section
422 of the Code. However, if this Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock
Option, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code Section 422(d)
it shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option ("NSO").
2. Exercise of Option.
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(a) Right to Exercise. This Option is exercisable during its term in
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accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Grant and the
applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.
(b) Method of Exercise. This Option is exercisable by delivery of an
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exercise notice, in the form attached as Exhibit A (the "Exercise Notice"),
which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in
respect of which the Option is being exercised (the "Exercised Shares"), and
such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company
pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. The Exercise Notice shall be completed
by the Optionee and delivered to [Title] of the Company. The Exercise Notice
shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all
Exercised Shares. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by
the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by such aggregate
Exercise Price.
No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of this Option unless
such issuance and exercise complies with Applicable Laws. Assuming such
compliance, for income tax purposes the Exercised Shares shall be considered
transferred to the Optionee on the date the Option is exercised with respect to
such Exercised Shares.
3. Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be
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by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the
Optionee:
(a) cash; or
(b) check;
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(c) consideration received by the Company under a cashless exercise
program implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan; or
(d) surrender of other Shares which (i) in the case of Shares acquired
upon exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six
(6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a Fair Market Value on the
date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised
Shares].
4. Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in
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any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and
may be exercised during the lifetime of Optionee only by the Optionee. The
terms of the Plan and this Option Agreement shall be binding upon the executors,
administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.
5. Term of Option. This Option may be exercised only within the term set
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out in the Notice of Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in
accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option Agreement.
6. Tax Consequences. Some of the federal tax consequences relating to
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this Option, as of the date of this Option, are set forth below. THIS SUMMARY IS
NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
THE OPTIONEE SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR
DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.
(a) Exercising the Option.
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(i) Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Optionee may incur regular
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federal income tax liability upon exercise of a NSO. The Optionee will be
treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax
rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised
Shares on the date of exercise over their aggregate Exercise Price. If the
Optionee is an Employee or a former Employee, the Company will be required to
withhold from his or her compensation or collect from Optionee and pay to the
applicable taxing authorities an amount in cash equal to a percentage of this
compensation income at the time of exercise, and may refuse to honor the
exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not
delivered at the time of exercise.
(ii) Incentive Stock Option. If this Option qualifies as an ISO,
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the Optionee will have no regular federal income tax liability upon its
exercise, although the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised
Shares on the date of exercise over their aggregate Exercise Price will be
treated as an adjustment to alternative minimum taxable income for federal tax
purposes and may subject the Optionee to alternative minimum tax in the year of
exercise. In the event that the Optionee ceases to be an Employee but remains a
Service Provider, any Incentive Stock Option of the Optionee that remains
unexercised shall cease to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option and will be
treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option on the date three (3)
months and one (1) day following such change of status.
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(b) Disposition of Shares.
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(i) NSO. If the Optionee holds NSO Shares for at least one
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year, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-
term capital gain for federal income tax purposes.
(ii) ISO. If the Optionee holds ISO Shares for at least one year
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after exercise and two years after the grant date, any gain realized on
disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal
income tax purposes. If the Optionee disposes of ISO Shares within one year
after exercise or two years after the grant date, any gain realized on such
disposition will be treated as a compensation income (taxable at ordinary income
rates) to the extent of the excess, if any, of the lesser of (A) the difference
between the Fair Market Value of the Shares acquired on the date of exercise and
the aggregate Exercise Price, or (B) the difference between the sale price of
such Shares and the aggregate Exercise Price. Any additional gain will be taxed
as capital gain, short-term or long-term depending on the period that the ISO
Shares were held.
(c) Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares. If the
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Optionee sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to
an ISO on or before the later of (i) two years after the grant date, or (ii) one
year after the exercise date, the Optionee shall immediately notify the Company
in writing of such disposition. The Optionee agrees that he or she may be
subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income
recognized from such early disposition of ISO Shares by payment in cash or out
of the current earnings paid to the Optionee.
7. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan is incorporated herein by
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reference. The Plan and this Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their
entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with
respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the
Optionee's interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and
Optionee. This agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws, but not
the choice of law rules, of California.
8. NO GUARANTEE OF CONTINUED SERVICE. OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES
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THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED
ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (AND NOT
THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED AN OPTION OR PURCHASING SHARES
HEREUNDER). OPTIONEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT, THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO
NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A
SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL
NOT INTERFERE WITH OPTIONEE'S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY'S RIGHT TO TERMINATE
OPTIONEE'S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT
CAUSE.
By your signature and the signature of the Company's representative below,
you and the Company agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the
terms and conditions of the
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Plan and this Option Agreement. Optionee has reviewed the Plan and this Option
Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of
counsel prior to executing this Option Agreement and fully understands all
provisions of the Plan and Option Agreement. Optionee hereby agrees to accept as
binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the
Administrator upon any questions relating to the Plan and Option Agreement.
Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence
address indicated below.
OPTIONEE: MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
_______________________________ ___________________________________
Signature By
_______________________________ ___________________________________
Print Name Title
_______________________________
Residence Address
_______________________________
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CONSENT OF SPOUSE
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The undersigned spouse of Optionee has read and hereby approves the terms
and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. In consideration of the
Company's granting his or her spouse the right to purchase Shares as set forth
in the Plan and this Option Agreement, the undersigned hereby agrees to be
irrevocably bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option
Agreement and further agrees that any community property interest shall be
similarly bound. The undersigned hereby appoints the undersigned's spouse as
attorney-in-fact for the undersigned with respect to any amendment or exercise
of rights under the Plan or this Option Agreement.
______________________________
Spouse of Optionee
EXHIBIT A
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1997 STOCK PLAN
EXERCISE NOTICE
Meridian Data, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: [Title]
1. Exercise of Option. Effective as of today, _______________, 199___,
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the undersigned ("Purchaser") hereby elects to purchase _______________ shares
(the "Shares") of the Common Stock of Meridian Data, Inc. (the "Company") under
and pursuant to the 1997 Stock Plan (the "Plan") and the Stock Option Agreement
dated ____________, 19___ (the "Option Agreement"). The purchase price for the
Shares shall be $_______, as required by the Option Agreement.
2. Delivery of Payment. Purchaser herewith delivers to the Company the
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full purchase price for the Shares.
3. Representations of Purchaser. Purchaser acknowledges that Purchaser
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has received, read and understood the Plan and the Option Agreement and agrees
to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.
4. Rights as Shareholder. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the
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appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer
agent of the Company) of the Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or
any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned
Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Shares so acquired shall
be issued to the Optionee as soon as practicable after exercise of the Option.
No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record
date is prior to the date of issuance, except as provided in Section 13 of the
Plan.
5. Tax Consultation. Purchaser understands that Purchaser may suffer
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adverse tax consequences as a result of Purchaser's purchase or disposition of
the Shares. Purchaser represents that Purchaser has consulted with any tax
consultants Purchaser deems advisable in connection with the purchase or
disposition of the Shares and that Purchaser is not relying on the Company for
any tax advice.
6. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan and Option Agreement are
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incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement, the Plan and the Option
Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and
agreements of the Company and Purchaser with respect to the subject matter
hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Purchaser's interest except by
means of a writing
signed by the Company and Purchaser. This agreement is governed by the internal
substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of California.
Submitted by: Accepted by:
PURCHASER: MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
__________________________________ ________________________________________
Signature By
__________________________________ ________________________________________
Print Name Its
Address: Address:
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__________________________________ Meridian Data, Inc.
__________________________________ 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
________________________________________
Date Received
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