EXHIBIT 10.8
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
[Director Non-Qualified]
AGREEMENT made as of the 11th day of January, 1999, by and
between XXXXXX HOLDING CORP., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxx (the "Director").
WHEREAS, on January 11, 1999 (the "Grant Date"), pursuant to
the terms and conditions of the Xxxxxx Holding Corp. 1996 Stock Plan (the
"Plan"), the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the grant to the
Director of an option (the "Option") to purchase an aggregate of 5,000 shares of
the authorized but unissued Common Stock of the Company, $.0001 par value (the
"Common Stock"), conditioned upon the Director's acceptance thereof upon the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and subject to the terms of the
Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Director desires to acquire the Option on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and subject to the terms of the
Plan;
IT IS AGREED:
1. Grant of Stock Option. The Company hereby grants the
Director the Option to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of 5,000 shares
of Common Stock (the "Option Shares") on the terms and conditions set forth
herein and subject to the provisions of the Plan.
2. Non-Incentive Stock Option. The Option represented hereby
is not intended to be an Option which qualifies as an "Incentive Stock Option"
under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
3. Exercise Price. The exercise price of the Option shall be
$3.875 per share, subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided.
4. Exercisability. This Option is exercisable, subject to the
terms and conditions of the Plan, immediately. It shall remain exercisable
except as otherwise provided herein, until the close of business on January 10,
2009 (the "Exercise Period").
5. Termination of Directorship. The Option shall terminate on
the third anniversary of the first date upon which the Director shall no longer
be a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, or any successor company,
for any reason whatsoever.
6. Withholding Tax. Not later than the date as of which an
amount first becomes includible in the gross income of the Director for Federal
income tax purposes with respect to the Option, the Director shall pay to the
Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding the
payment of, any Federal, state and local taxes of any kind required by law to be
withheld or paid with respect to such amount. The obligations of the Company
under the Plan and pursuant to this Agreement shall be conditional upon such
payment or arrangements with the Company and the Company shall, to the extent
permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of
any kind otherwise due to the Director from the Company.
7. Adjustments. In the event of any merger, reorganization,
consolidation, recapitalization, consolidation, recapitalization, dividend
(other than cash dividend), stock split, reverse stock split, or other change in
corporate structure affecting the number of issued shares of Common Stock, the
Company shall proportionally adjust the number and kind of Option Shares and the
exercise price of the Option in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of
the Director's proportionate interest in the Company and her rights hereunder,
provided that the number of Option Shares shall always be a whole number.
8. Method of Exercise.
8.1. Notice to the Company. The Option shall be
exercised in whole or in part by written notice in substantially the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A directed to the Company at its principal place of
business accompanied by full payment as hereinafter provided of the exercise
price for the number of Option Shares specified in the notice.
8.2. Delivery of Option Shares. The Company
shall deliver a certificate for the Option Shares to the Director as soon as
practicable after payment therefor.
8.3. Payment of Purchase Price.
8.3.1. Cash Payment. The Director shall
make cash payments by wire transfer, certified or bank check or personal check,
in each case payable to the order of the Company; the Company shall not be
required to deliver certificates for Option Shares until the Company has
confirmed the receipt of good and available funds in payment of the purchase
price thereof.
8.3.2. Cashless Payment. Provided that
prior approval of the Company has been obtained, the Director may use Common
Stock of the Company owned by him or her to pay the purchase price for the
Option Shares by delivery of stock certificates in negotiable form which are
effective to transfer good and valid title thereto to the Company, free of any
liens or encumbrances. Shares of Common Stock used for this purpose shall be
valued at the Fair Market Value.
8.3.3. Payment Price of Withholding Tax.
Any required withholding tax may be paid in cash or with Common Stock in
accordance with Sections 8.3.1. and 8.3.2.
8.3.4. Exchange Act Compliance.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to reject
payment in the form of Common Stock if in the opinion of counsel for the
Company, (i) it could result in an event of "recapture" under Section 16(b) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (ii) such shares of Common Stock may not be
sold or transferred to the Company; or (iii) such transfer could create legal
difficulties for the Company.
9. Nonassignability. The Option shall not be assignable or
transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution in the
event of the death of the Director. No transfer of the Option by the Director by
will or by the laws of descent and distribution shall be effective to bind the
Company unless the Company shall have been furnished with written notice
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thereof and a copy of the will and such other evidence as the Company may deem
necessary to establish the validity of the transfer and the acceptance by the
transferee or transferees of the terms and conditions of the Option.
10. Company Representations. The Company hereby represents and
warrants to the Director that:
(i) the Company, by appropriate and all required
action, is duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and consummate
all of the transactions contemplated hereunder; and
(ii) the Option Shares, when issued and delivered by
the Company to the Director in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and
non-assessable.
11. Director Representations. The Director hereby represents
and warrants to the Company that
(i) he or she is acquiring the Option and shall
acquire the Option Shares for his or her own account and not with a
view towards the distribution thereof;
(ii) he or she has received a copy of all reports and
documents required to be filed by the Company with the Commission
pursuant to the Exchange Act within the last 24 months and all reports
issued by the Company to its stockholders;
(iii) he or she understands that he or she must bear
the economic risk of the investment in the Option Shares, which cannot
be sold by his or her unless they are registered under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or an exemption therefrom is available
thereunder and that the Company is under no obligation to register the
Option Shares for sale under the 1933 Act;
(iv) in his or her position with the Company, he or
she has had both the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers
from the officers and directors of the Company and all persons acting
on its behalf concerning the terms and conditions of the offer made
hereunder and to obtain any additional information to the extent the
Company possesses or may possess such information or can acquire it
without unreasonable effort or expense necessary to verify the accuracy
of the information obtained pursuant to clause (ii) above;
(v) he or she is aware that the Company shall place
stop transfer orders with its transfer agent against the transfer of
the Option Shares in the absence of registration under the 1933 Act or
an exemption therefrom as provided herein; and
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(vi) in the absence of registration under the 1933
Act, the certificates evidencing the Option Shares shall bear the
following legend:
"The shares represented by this certificate have been
acquired for investment and have not been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933. The shares may not
be sold or transferred in the absence of such
registration or an exemption therefrom under said
Act."
12. Restriction on Transfer of Option Shares. Anything in this
Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Director hereby agrees that he or
she shall not sell, transfer by any means or otherwise dispose of the Option
Shares acquired by him or her without registration under the 1933 Act, or in the
event that they are not so registered, unless (i) an exemption from the 1933 Act
registration requirements is available thereunder, and (ii) the Director has
furnished the Company with notice of such proposed transfer and the Company's
legal counsel, in its reasonable opinion, shall deem such proposed transfer to
be so exempt.
13. Miscellaneous.
13.1. Notices. All notices, requests, deliveries,
payments, demands and other communications which are required or permitted to be
given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either delivered
personally or sent by registered or certified mail, or by private courier,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid to the Company at its principal
executive office and to the Director at his address set forth below, or to such
other address as either party shall have specified by notice in writing to the
other. Notice shall be deemed duly given hereunder when delivered or mailed as
provided herein.
13.2. Plan Paramount; Conflicts with Plan. This
Agreement and the Option shall, in all respects, be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan, whether or not stated herein. In the event of a conflict
between the provisions of the Plan and the provisions of this Agreement, the
provisions of the Plan shall in all respects be controlling.
13.3. Stockholder Rights. The Director shall not
have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the Option Shares until
such shares have been issued after the due exercise of the Option.
13.4. Waiver. The waiver by any party hereto of a
breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a
waiver of any other or subsequent breach.
13.5. Entire Agreement. This Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended except by writing executed by
the Director and the Company.
13.6. Binding Effect; Successors. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and, to the
extent not prohibited herein, their respective heirs, successors, assigns and
representatives. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to
confer on any person other than the parties hereto and as provided above, their
respective heirs, successors, assigns and representatives any rights, remedies,
obligations or liabilities.
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13.7. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
(without regard to choice of law provisions).
13.8. Headings. The headings contained herein are
for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit
or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of
this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
DIRECTOR : XXXXXX HOLDING CORP.
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
____________________________ By:______________________________
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, President
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF OPTION
--------------------
DATE
Xxxxxx Holding Corp.
Attention: Board of Directors
Re: Purchase of Option Shares
Gentlemen:
In accordance with my Stock Option Agreement dated as of
January 11, 1999 ("Agreement") with Xxxxxx Holding Corp. (the "Company"), I
hereby irrevocably elect to exercise the right to purchase _________ shares of
the Company's common stock, par value $.0001 per share ("Common Stock"), which
are being purchased for investment and not for resale.
As payment for my shares, enclosed is (check and complete
applicable box[es]):
|_| a [personal check] [certified check] [bank check]
payable to the order of "Xxxxxx Holding Corp." in the
sum of $_________;
|_| confirmation of wire transfer in the amount of
$_____________; and/or
|_| [If prior approval of the Company has been obtained,]
certificate for ____ shares of the Company's Common
Stock, free and clear of any encumbrances, duly
endorsed, having a Fair Market Value (as such term is
defined in the Company's 1996 Stock Plan) of
$_________.
I hereby represent, warrant to, and agree with, the Company
that
(i) I am acquiring the Option Shares for my own
account and not with a view towards the distribution thereof;
(ii) I have received a copy of all reports and
documents required to be filed by the Company with the Commission
pursuant to the Exchange Act within the last 24 months and all reports
issued by the Company to its stockholders;
(iii) I understand that I must bear the economic risk
of the investment in the Option Shares, which cannot be sold by me
unless they are registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933
Act") or an exemption therefrom is available thereunder and that the
Company is under no obligation to register the Option Shares for sale
under the 1933 Act;
(iv) in my position with the Company, I have had both
the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the officers
and directors of the Company and all persons act ing on its behalf
concerning the terms and conditions of the offer made hereunder and to
obtain any additional information to the extent the Company possesses
or may possess such information or can acquire it without unreasonable
effort or expense necessary to verify the accuracy of the information
obtained pursuant to clause (ii) above;
(v) I am aware that the Company shall place stop
transfer orders with its transfer agent against the transfer of the
Option Shares in the absence of registration under the 1933 Act or an
exemption therefrom as provided herein;
(vi) my rights with respect to the Option Shares
shall, in all respects, be subject to the terms and conditions of this
Company's 1996 Stock Plan and this Agreement; and
(vii) in the absence of registration under the 1933
Act, the certificates evidencing the Option Shares shall bear the
following legend:
"The shares represented by this certificate have been
acquired for investment and have not been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933. The shares may not
be sold or transferred in the absence of such
registration or an exemption therefrom under said
Act."
Kindly forward to me my certificate at your earliest convenience.
Very truly yours,
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(Signature) (Address)
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(Print Name) (Address)
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(Social Security Number)
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