INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.2
INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, dated , is made by and between Cherokee Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereinafter referred to as the “Company,” and , an Employee of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, hereinafter referred to as “Optionee.”
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to afford the Optionee the opportunity to purchase shares of its Common Stock, par value $0.02 per share; and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to carry out The 2003 Incentive Award Plan of Cherokee Inc. (the “Plan”) (the terms of which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Agreement);
WHEREAS, the Committee, appointed to administer the Plan, has determined that it would be to the advantage and best interest of the Company and its stockholders to grant the Incentive Stock Option (the “Option”) provided for herein to the Optionee as an inducement to enter into or remain in the service of the Company or its Subsidiaries and as an incentive for increased efforts during such service, and has advised the Company thereof and instructed the undersigned officer to issue said Option; and
WHEREAS, all capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
GRANT OF OPTION
1.1 Grant of Option. In consideration of the Optionee’s agreement to remain in the employ of the Company or its Subsidiaries and for other good and valuable consideration, effective as of (the “Date of Grant”), the Company irrevocably grants to the Optionee the option to purchase any part or all of an aggregate of shares of Common Stock, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The Option shall be an Incentive Stock Option.
1.2 Purchase Price. The purchase price of the shares of Common Stock covered by the Option shall be per share without commission or other charge; provided, however, that the price per share of the shares subject to the Option shall not be less than the greater of (i) 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant, or (ii) 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant in the case of an Optionee then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or parent corporation thereof (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code).
1.3 Consideration to the Company. In consideration of the granting of the Option by the Company, the Optionee agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or any Subsidiary, with such duties and responsibilities as the Company shall from time to time prescribe, for a period of at least one (1) year from the Date of Grant. Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall confer upon the Optionee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge the Optionee at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause.
1.4 Adjustments in Option. The Committee may make adjustments with respect to the Option in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.3 of the Plan.
ARTICLE II
PERIOD OF EXERCISABILITY
2.1 Commencement of Exercisability.
(a) Subject to Sections 2.3 and 4.9, the Option shall vest and become exercisable as follows: [Insert vesting schedule].
(b) No portion of the Option which has not become exercisable at Termination of Employment shall thereafter become exercisable, except as may be otherwise provided by the Committee.
2.2 Duration of Exercisability. The installments provided for in Section 2.1(a) are cumulative. Each such installment which becomes exercisable pursuant to Section 2.1 shall remain exercisable until it becomes unexercisable under Section 2.3.
2.3 Expiration of Option. The Option may not be exercised to any extent by anyone after the first to occur of the following events:
(a) The expiration of ten (10) years from the Date of Grant; or
(b) If the Optionee owned (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code), at the time the Option was granted, more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or parent corporation thereof (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code), the expiration of five (5) years from the date the Option was granted; or
(c) The expiration of twelve (12) months following the date of the Optionee’s Termination of Employment by reason of the Optionee’s death or permanent and total disability; or
(d) The expiration of three (3) months following the date of the Optionee’s Termination of Employment for any reason other than such Optionee’s death or permanent and total disability, unless such Optionee dies within said three-month period.
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2.4 Special Tax Consequences. The Optionee acknowledges that, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of stock with respect to which “incentive stock options” (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, but without regard to Section 422(d) of the Code), including the Option, are exercisable for the first time by the Optionee during any calendar year (under the Plan and all other incentive stock option plans of the Company, any Subsidiary and any parent corporation thereof (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code)) exceeds $100,000, the Option and such other options shall be treated as not qualifying under Section 422 of the Code but rather shall be taxed as non-qualified stock options. The Optionee further acknowledges that the rule set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied by taking options into account in the order in which they were granted. For purposes of these rules, the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the option with respect to such stock is granted.
ARTICLE III
EXERCISE OF OPTION
3.1 Person Eligible to Exercise. During the lifetime of the Optionee, only the Optionee may exercise the Option or any portion thereof. After the death of the Optionee, any exercisable portion of the Option may, prior to the time when the Option becomes unexercisable under Section 2.3, be exercised by the Optionee’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Optionee’s will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.
3.2 Partial Exercise. Any exercisable portion of the Option or the entire Option, if then wholly exercisable, may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to the time when the Option or portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 2.3; provided, however, that each partial exercise shall be for whole shares only.
3.3 Manner of Exercise. The Option, or any exercisable portion thereof, may be exercised solely by delivery to the Secretary or the Secretary’s office of all of the following prior to the time when the Option or such portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 2.3:
(a) A written notice complying with the applicable rules established by the Committee stating that the Option, or a portion thereof, is exercised. The notice shall be signed by the Optionee or other person then entitled to exercise the Option or such portion of the Option;
(b) Full cash payment to the Secretary of the Company for the shares with respect to which the Option, or portion thereof, is exercised. However, the Committee may in its sole and absolute discretion (i) allow a delay in payment up to thirty (30) days from the date the Option, or portion thereof, is exercised; (ii) allow payment, in whole or in part, through the delivery of shares of Common Stock which have been owned by the Optionee for at least six months, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company with a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof; (iii) allow payment, in whole or in part, through the surrender of shares of Common Stock then
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issuable upon exercise of the Option having a Fair Market Value on the date of Option exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof; (iv) allow payment, in whole or in part, through the delivery of a notice that the Optionee has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to shares of Common Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price, provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale; or (v) allow payment through any combination of the consideration provided in the foregoing subparagraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv);
(c) Such representations and documents as the Committee, in its absolute discretion, deems necessary or advisable to effect compliance with all applicable provisions of the Securities Act and any other federal or state securities laws or regulations. The Committee may, in its absolute discretion, also take whatever additional actions it deems appropriate to effect such compliance including, without limitation, placing legends on share certificates and issuing stop-transfer notices to agents and registrars; and
(d) In the event the Option or portion thereof shall be exercised pursuant to Section 3.1 by any person or persons other than the Optionee, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option.
3.4 Conditions to Issuance of Stock Certificates. The shares of Common Stock deliverable upon the exercise of the Option, or any portion thereof, may be either previously authorized but unissued shares or issued shares which have then been reacquired by the Company. Such shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of the Option or portion thereof prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions:
(a) The admission of such shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which such Common Stock is then listed; and
(b) The completion of any registration or other qualification of such shares under any state or federal law or under rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or of any other governmental regulatory body, which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable; and
(c) The obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable; and
(d) The receipt by the Company of full payment for such shares, including payment of all amounts which, under federal, state or local tax law, the Company (or other employer corporation) is required to withhold upon exercise of the Option; and
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(e) The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the exercise of the Option as the Committee may from time to time establish for reasons of administrative convenience.
3.5 Rights as Stockholder. The holder of the Option shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder of the Company in respect of any shares purchasable upon the exercise of any part of the Option unless and until certificates representing such shares shall have been issued by the Company to such holder.
ARTICLE IV
OTHER PROVISIONS
4.1 Administration. The Committee shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee in good faith shall be final and binding upon the Optionee, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, this Agreement or the Option. In its absolute discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan and this Agreement, except with respect to matters which under Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m) of the Code, or any regulations or rules issued thereunder, are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.
4.2 Option Not Transferable.
(a) Neither the Option nor any interest or right therein or part thereof shall be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless and until the Option has been exercised, or the shares underlying such Option have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such shares have lapsed. Neither the Option nor any interest or right therein or part thereof shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the Optionee or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence.
(b) During the lifetime of the Optionee, only the Optionee may exercise the Option (or any portion thereof). After the death of the Optionee, any exercisable portion of an Option may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the Option Agreement, be exercised by the Optionee’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Optionee’s will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.
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4.3 Shares to Be Reserved. The Company shall at all times during the term of the Option reserve and keep available such number of shares of Common Stock as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Agreement.
4.4 Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary, and any notice to be given to the Optionee shall be addressed to the Optionee at the address given beneath the Optionee’s signature hereto. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 4.4, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice which is required to be given to the Optionee shall, if the Optionee is then deceased, be given to the Optionee’s personal representative if such representative has previously informed the Company of such representative’s status and address by written notice under this Section 4.4. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when enclosed in a properly sealed envelope or wrapper addressed as aforesaid, deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.
4.5 Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
4.6 Stockholder Approval. The Plan will be submitted for approval by the Company’s stockholders within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan was initially adopted by the Board. The Option may not be exercised to any extent by anyone prior to the time when the Plan is approved by the stockholders, and if such approval has not been obtained by the end of said twelve-month period, the Option shall thereupon be canceled and become null and void.
4.7 Notification of Disposition. The Optionee shall give prompt notice to the Company of any disposition or other transfer of any shares of stock acquired under this Agreement if such disposition or transfer is made (a) within two (2) years from the Date of Grant with respect to such shares or (b) within one (1) year after the transfer of such shares to him. Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by the Optionee in such disposition or other transfer.
4.8 Construction. This Agreement shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the laws of the State of California without regard to conflicts of laws thereof.
4.9 Conformity to Securities Laws. The Optionee acknowledges that the Plan is intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any and all regulations and rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and state securities laws and regulations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the Option is granted and may be exercised, only in such a manner as to conform to such laws, rules and regulations. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed and delivered by the parties hereto.
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| [Name] President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
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| Optionee |
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| Optionee’s Social Security Number: |
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