1
EXHIBIT 4.4
NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
(1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan)
This Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement ("Option Agreement") is
between Century Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
____________________ (the "Optionee").
WITNESSETH:
The Company has heretofore adopted the Century Bancshares, Inc. 1994
Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") for the purpose of providing employees
and officers of the Company or Century National Bank (the "Bank") and their
Affiliates (as defined in the Plan) with additional incentive to promote the
success of the business, to increase their proprietary interest in the success
of the Company, and to encourage them to remain in the employ of the Company,
the Bank, and their Affiliates (collectively hereinafter referred to as the
"Company").
The Company, acting through the Stock Option Committee designated by
the Board of Directors (the "Committee"), has determined that its interests will
be advanced by the issuance to Optionee of nonqualified stock options under the
Plan.
NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of these premises it is agreed
as follows:
1. Option. Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, the
Company, effective as of ___________________ (the "Grant Date"), hereby
irrevocably grants to Optionee the right and option ("Option") to purchase from
the Company _________ shares of the Company's common stock, $1.00 par value
("Common Stock"), at a price of _________ per share ("Exercise Price"), which is
deemed to be not less than the fair market value of Common Stock on the Grant
Date.
2. Option Period; Vesting. The Option herein granted may be exercised
by Optionee in whole or in part at any time during a ten (10) year period
("Option Period") beginning on the Grant Date, subject to the limitation that
said Options shall not be exercisable for more than a percentage of the
aggregate number of shares offered by this Option Agreement determined by the
number of months Optionee is employed with the Company or the Bank from the
effective date of this Option Agreement to the date of such exercise, in
accordance with the following schedule:
Number of Full Percentage of
Months of Employment Options Exercisable
-------------------- -------------------
Less than 6 months None
6 months or more, but less than 18 months 25%
18 months or more, but less than 30 months 50%
30 months or more, but less than 42 months 75%
42 months or more, but less than 120 months 100%
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Committee in its
sole discretion may waive the foregoing schedule of vesting and, upon written
notice to Optionee, accelerate the earliest
2
date or dates on which any of the Options granted hereunder are exercisable with
respect to any of the shares offered.
3. Procedure for Exercise. The Option herein granted may be exercised
by written notice by Optionee to the Secretary of the Company setting forth the
number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Option is to be
exercised accompanied by payment of the purchase price for the shares to be
purchased, and specifying the address to which the certificate for such shares
is to be mailed. Payment shall be by means of cash, cashier's check, bank draft,
postal or express money order payable to the order of the Company or, at the
option of Optionee, in shares of Common Stock theretofore owned by such Optionee
(or a combination of cash and Common Stock) having a value equal to the
aggregate purchase price. Notice may also be delivered by fax or telecopy
provided that the purchase of such shares is delivered to the Company via wire
transfer on the same day the fax is received by the Secretary of the Company. As
promptly as practicable after receipt of such written notification and payment,
the Company shall deliver to Optionee certificates for the number of shares of
Common Stock with respect to which such Option has been so exercised.
4. Termination of Employment. If Optionee's employment with the Company
is terminated during the Option Period for any reason including death or
Disability, Options granted to him or her, which are not exercisable on such
date of termination of employment, shall thereupon terminate. Except as
otherwise provided in this Section or in Section 5 below, any Options which are
exercisable on the date of his or her termination of employment may be exercised
during a three-month period beginning on such date of termination. In no event
may any Option be exercised after the earlier to occur of the last day of the
three-month period or the last day of the Option Period. If Optionee's
termination of employment is due to Optionee's dishonesty, theft, embezzlement
from the Company, disclosing trade secrets of the Company, willful violation of
any rules of the Company pertaining to the conduct of individuals performing
services for the Company, or the commission of a willful felonious act while in
the employment of the Company, then any Option or unexercised portion thereof
granted to Optionee shall expire upon such termination of employment.
5. Death or Disability. If Optionee's employment with the Company is
terminated by his or her death or Disability, all Options hereunder exercisable
at the date of such death or Disability shall be thereafter exercisable by
Optionee, the guardian of his or her estate, his or her executor or
administrator, or the person or persons to whom his or her rights under this
Option Agreement shall pass by will or by the laws of descent and distribution,
as the case may be, for a period of one year from the date of Optionee's death
or Disability. In no event may any Option be exercised after the earlier to
occur of the last of such one year period or the last day of the Option Period.
"Disability" shall mean with respect to the Optionee that in the opinion of a
physician selected by the Committee, he or she is incapable of performing
services for the Company by reason of any medically determinable physical or
mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or to be of long,
continued and indefinite duration. The Disability occurs on the date of such
determination by such physician.
6. Transferability. Neither the Option hereunder nor any rights or
benefits of Optionee under this Option Agreement shall be transferable by
Optionee otherwise than by Optionee's will or by the laws of descent and
distribution. During the lifetime of Optionee, the Option shall be
-2-
3
exercisable only by him or her. Any heir or legatee of Optionee shall take
rights herein granted subject to the terms and conditions hereof. No such
transfer of this Option Agreement to heirs or legatees of Optionee shall be
effective to bind the Company unless the Company shall have been furnished with
written notice thereof and a copy of such evidence as the Committee may deem
necessary to establish the validity of the transfer and the acceptance by the
transferee or transferees of the terms and conditions hereof.
7. Surrender of Option. On the event of a termination of employment due
to the Optionee's death, Disability or Normal Retirement (as determined under
the Century Bancshares, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan), the Optionee (or the
Optionee's personal representative(s), heir(s) or devisee(s)) may make
application to the Committee, in a form acceptable to the Committee, to
surrender all or part of any options held by such Optionee in exchange for a
cash payment from the Company of an amount equal to the difference between the
Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of the Common Stock on the date of
the Optionee's termination of employment and the Exercise Price of the option.
The Optionee acknowledges that whether the Company accepts such application or
determines to make payment, in whole or in part, is within the absolute and sole
discretion of the Company. It is expressly understood that the Company is under
no obligation to make any such payments. In the event that the Company accepts a
surrender application from the Optionee, such payment shall be in lieu of the
exercise of the underlying option and such option shall cease to be exercisable.
8. No Rights as Stockholder. Optionee shall have no rights as a
stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by this Option
Agreement until the date of issuance of a certificate for shares of Common Stock
purchased pursuant to this Option Agreement. Until such time, Optionee shall not
be entitled to dividends or to vote at meetings of the stockholders of the
Company. Except as provided in Section 11 hereof, no adjustment shall be made
for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash or securities or other
property) paid or distributions or other rights granted in respect of any share
of Common Stock for which the record date for such payment, distribution or
grant is prior to the date upon which the Optionee shall have been issued share
certificates, as provided hereinabove.
9. Extraordinary Corporate Transactions. If the Company recapitalizes
or otherwise changes its capital structure, or merges, consolidates, sells all
of its assets or dissolves (each of the foregoing a "Fundamental Change"), then
thereafter upon any exercise of an Option theretofore granted the Optionee shall
be entitled to purchase under such Option, in lieu of the number of shares of
Common Stock as to which Option shall then be exercisable, the number and class
of shares of stock and securities to which the Optionee would have been entitled
pursuant to the terms of the Fundamental Change if, immediately prior to such
Fundamental Change, the Optionee had been the holder of record of the number of
shares of Common Stock as to which such option is then exercisable.
10. Change of Control. In the event there is a Change of Control (as
hereinafter defined), and if the Optionee is employed by the Company or the Bank
at the time such Change of Control occurs, then Options granted by this
Agreement shall become fully vested, regardless of Optionee's length of service,
effective as of the date such Change of Control occurs or, if applicable, such
earlier
-3-
4
time as may be necessary to allow the Optionee to sell or exchange shares
purchased pursuant to this Option in connection with the transaction resulting
in such Change of Control.
In the event of a Change of Control, the Committee, in its discretion
shall act to effect one or more of the following alternatives with respect to
the Option held by the Optionee: (1) determine a limited period of time for the
exercise of this Option on or before a specified date (before or after such
Change of Control) after which specified date all unexercised Options and all
rights of the Optionee thereunder shall terminate; (2) require the mandatory
surrender to the Company of some or all of the outstanding Options held by the
Optionee (irrespective of whether such Options are then exercisable under the
provisions of this Agreement) as of a date, before or after such Change of
Control, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall
thereupon cancel this Option and the Company shall pay to the Optionee an amount
of cash per share equal to the excess, if any, of the Change of Control Value
(as defined in the Plan) of the shares subject to this Option over the exercise
price(s) under this Option for such shares; (3) make such adjustments to the
extent that this Option is outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to
reflect such Change of Control (provided, however, that the Committee may
determine in its sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to the extent
that this Option is outstanding); or (4) provide that thereafter upon any
exercise of this Option, Optionee shall be entitled to purchase under this
Option, in lieu of the number of shares of stock then covered by this Option,
the number and class of shares of stock or other securities or property
(including, without limitation, cash) to which Optionee would have been entitled
pursuant to the terms of the agreement of merger, consolidation, sale of assets
or dissolution if, immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, sale of
assets or dissolution, Optionee had been the holder of record of the number of
shares of stock then covered by this Option. The provisions contained in this
paragraph shall not alter any rights or terminate any rights of the Optionee to
further payments pursuant to any other agreement with the Company following a
Change of Control.
For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean the
occurrence of any of the following events: (i) a change in the Company's or the
Bank's status requiring prior notice to the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System and/or the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency pursuant to
the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978 and regulations, 12 C.F.R. Section 5.50
and 225.41, promulgated thereunder; or (ii) the acquisition by any person or
group of persons (as such terms are defined and used in Sections 3(a)(9) and
14(d)(2), respectively, of the 0000 Xxx) of beneficial ownership (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 issued under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of securities
representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities of the Company or Bank entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors ("Voting Securities"); or (iii)
individuals who constituted the Board of the Company on the date of the Plan
("Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of
that Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date
of the Plan whose election or whose nomination for election by the Company's
stockholders was approved by a majority vote of the directors comprising the
Incumbent Board shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered as though
he or she were a member of the Incumbent Board; or (iv) a recapitalization,
reorganization, merger, or consolidation with respect to which those persons (as
defined above) who were beneficial owners of the Voting Securities of the
Company or the Bank immediately prior to such recapitalization, reorganization,
merger, or consolidation do not, following such recapitalization,
reorganization, merger, or consolidation, beneficially own, directly or
-4-
5
indirectly, shares representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined
voting power of the Voting Securities of the Company resulting from such
recapitalization, reorganization, merger, or consolidation; or (v) a sale of all
or substantially all the assets of the Bank or the Company.
11. Changes in Capital Structure. The existence of outstanding Options
shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its
shareholders to make or authorize any or all 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 issuance of
Common Stock or subscription rights thereto, or any issuance of bonds,
debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Common
Stock or the rights thereof, or the 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 proceedings, whether of a similar character or otherwise.
If the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company shall at any time be
changed or exchanged by declaration of a stock dividend, stock split,
combination of shares, or recapitalization, the number and kind of shares
subject to the Plan or subject to any Options theretofore granted, and the
Option prices, shall be appropriately and equitably adjusted so as to maintain
the proportionate number of shares without changing the aggregate Option price.
12. Compliance With Securities Laws. Upon the acquisition of any shares
pursuant to the exercise of the Option herein granted, Optionee (or any person
acting under Section 6) will enter into such written representations, warranties
and agreements as the Company may reasonably request in order to comply with
applicable securities laws or with this Option Agreement.
13. Compliance With Laws. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions
hereof, Optionee agrees that he or she will not exercise the Option(s) granted
hereby, and that the Company will not be obligated to issue any shares pursuant
to this Option Agreement, if the exercise of the Option(s) or the issuance of
such shares of Common Stock would constitute a violation by Optionee or by the
Company of any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority.
14. Withholding of Tax. To the extent that the exercise of this Option
or the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired by exercise of this Option
results in compensation income to Optionee for federal or state income tax
purposes, Optionee shall pay to the Company at the time of such exercise or
disposition (or such other time as the law permits if Optionee is subject to
Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) such amount of
money as the Company may require to meet its obligation under applicable tax
laws or regulations; and, if Optionee fails to do so, the Company is authorized
to withhold from any cash remuneration then or thereafter payable to Optionee,
any tax required to be withheld by reason of such resulting compensation income
or Company may otherwise refuse to issue or transfer any shares otherwise
required to be issued or transferred pursuant to the terms hereof.
15. Resolution of Disputes. As a condition of the granting of the
Option hereby, Optionee and his or her heirs and successors agree that any
dispute or disagreement which may arise hereunder shall be determined by the
Committee in its sole discretion and judgment, and that any such determination
and any interpretation by the Committee of the terms of this Option Agreement
-5-
6
shall be final and shall be binding and conclusive, for all purposes, upon the
Company, Optionee, his or her heirs and personal representatives.
16. Legends on Certificate. The certificates representing the shares of
Common Stock purchased by exercise of an Option will be stamped or otherwise
imprinted with legends in such form as the Company or its counsel may require
with respect to any applicable restrictions on sale or transfer and the stock
transfer records of the Company will reflect stop-transfer instructions with
respect to such shares.
17. Notices. Every notice hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
given by registered or certified mail or by fax or telecopy. All notices of the
exercise of any Option hereunder shall be directed to Century Bancshares, Inc.,
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000, Attention: Corporate
Secretary. Any notice given by the Company to Optionee directed to him or her at
his or her address on file with the Company shall be effective to bind him or
her and any other person who shall acquire rights hereunder. The Company shall
be under no obligation whatsoever to advise Optionee of the existence, maturity
or termination of any of Optionee's rights hereunder and Optionee shall be
deemed to have familiarized himself or herself with all matters contained herein
and in the Plan which may affect any of Optionee's rights or privileges
hereunder.
18. Construction and Interpretation. Whenever the term "Optionee" is
used herein under circumstances applicable to any other person or persons to
whom this award, in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 hereof, may be
transferred, the word "Optionee" shall be deemed to include such person or
persons. References to the masculine gender herein also include the feminine
gender for all purposes.
19. Agreement Subject to Plan. This Option Agreement is subject to the
Plan. The terms and provisions of the Plan (including any subsequent amendments
thereto) are hereby incorporated herein by reference thereto. In the event of a
conflict between any term or provision contained herein and a term or provision
of the Plan, the applicable terms and provisions of the Plan will govern and
prevail. All definitions of words and terms contained in the Plan shall be
applicable to this Option Agreement.
20. Employment Relationship. Employees shall be considered to be in the
employment of the Company as long as they remain employees of the Company or a
parent or subsidiary corporation (as defined in Section 424 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended). Any questions as to whether and when there
has been a termination of such employment and the cause of such termination
shall be determined by the Committee, and its determination shall be final.
Nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring upon Optionee the
right to continue in the employ of the Company, nor shall anything contained
herein be construed or interpreted to limit the "employment at will"
relationship between Optionee and the Company.
21. Confidentiality; Nonsolicitation. Optionee recognizes and
acknowledges that Optionee has and will have access to confidential information
of a special and unique value concerning the Company and/or the Bank which may
include, without limitation, books and records relating to operations, customer
names and addresses, customer service requirements, customer
-6-
7
financial statements, and other financial, business and personal information
relating to the Company and/or the Bank, their customers, markets, officers and
criteria. Optionee also recognizes that a portion of the business of the Company
and the Bank is dependent upon trade secrets, including techniques, methods,
systems, processes, data and other confidential information. The protection of
these trade secrets and confidential information against unauthorized disclosure
or use is of critical importance to the Company. Optionee therefore agrees that,
without prior written authorization from the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, Optionee will not at any time, either while employed by the Company or
the Bank or afterwards, make any independent use of or disclose to any other
person, any trade secrets or confidential information of the Company or the
Bank.
All records, files, memoranda, reports, price lists, customer lists,
documents, and other information (together with all copies thereof) which relate
to the Company and/or the Bank, and which Optionee has obtained or obtains,
uses, prepares, or comes into contact with shall remain the sole property of the
Company. Upon the termination of Optionee's employment with the Company, all
such materials and all copies thereof shall be returned to the Company
immediately.
Optionee, on behalf of him/herself and his/her present and future
affiliates and employers for a period of six months following the termination of
Optionee's employment with the Company and/or the Bank, agrees not to and shall
not directly or indirectly (i) hire, employ or engage any past, present or
future employee of the Company or the Bank without the prior written permission
of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, (ii) compete for or solicit
banking, lending, deposit taking or any other banking or trust services business
from any customer of the Company or the Bank, or (iii) use in any competition,
solicitation or marketing effort any proprietary list or other information
concerning customers of the Company or the Bank.
22. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Option Agreement and any other
agreements and instruments contemplated by this Option Agreement contain the
entire Agreement of the parties, and this Option Agreement may be amended only
in writing signed by both parties.
23. Binding Effect. This Option Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of any successors to the Company and all persons lawfully
claiming under Optionee.
-7-
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Option Agreement has been executed as of
the _______ day of _________, 200__.
CENTURY BANCSHARES, INC.
By:
------------------------------------------
OPTIONEE
---------------------------------------------
Name:
----------------------------------------
-8-
