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Exhibit 99.18
CALPINE CORPORATION
DIRECTOR FEE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
RECITALS
A. The Corporation has implemented a special director fee stock option
program under the Plan pursuant to which non-employee Board members may, by
prior irrevocable election, apply all or any portion of the annual retainer fee
otherwise payable to them in cash to the acquisition of a special stock option
grant.
B. Optionee is a non-employee Board member who made the requisite
election to apply a portion of his retainer fee to the acquisition of the
special option, and this Agreement is executed pursuant to, and is intended to
carry out the purposes of, the Plan in connection with the grant of such special
option to Optionee.
C. All capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning
assigned to them in the attached Appendix.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:
1. GRANT OF OPTION. The Corporation hereby grants to Optionee,
as of the Grant Date, a Non-Qualified Option to purchase up to the number of
Option Shares specified in the Grant Notice. The Option Shares shall be
purchasable from time to time during the option term specified in Paragraph 2 at
the Exercise Price.
2. OPTION TERM. This option shall have a term of ten (10)
years measured from the Grant Date and shall accordingly expire at the close of
business on the Expiration Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with
Paragraph 5 or 6.
3. LIMITED TRANSFERABILITY. This option may, in connection
with the Optionee's estate plan, be assigned in whole or in part during
Optionee's lifetime to one or more members of the Optionee's immediate family or
to a trust established for the exclusive benefit of one or more such family
members. The assigned portion shall be exercisable only by the person or persons
who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to such assignment.
The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in
effect for this option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set
forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Corporation may deem
appropriate. Should the Optionee die while holding this option, then this option
shall be transferred in accordance with Optionee's will or the laws of descent
and distribution.
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4. EXERCISABILITY/VESTING. This option shall become
exercisable for the Option Shares in installments as specified in the Grant
Notice. As the option becomes exercisable for those installments, the
installments shall accumulate and the option shall remain exercisable for the
accumulated installments until the Expiration Date or sooner termination of the
option term under Paragraph 5 or 6.
5. CESSATION OF BOARD SERVICE. Should Optionee's service as a
Board member cease while this option remains outstanding, then the option term
specified in Paragraph 2 shall terminate (and this option shall cease to be
outstanding) prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with the following
provisions:
(i) Should Optionee cease to serve as a Board member
for any reason (other than death or Permanent Disability) while holding this
option, then the period for exercising this option shall be reduced to a two
(2)-year period (commencing with the date of such cessation of Board service),
but in no event shall this option be exercisable at any time after the
Expiration Date. During such limited exercise period, this option may not be
exercised in the aggregate for more than the number of Option Shares (if any)
for which the option is exercisable on the date of Optionee's cessation of Board
service. Upon the earlier of (A) the expiration of such two (2)-year period or
(B) the specified Expiration Date, the option shall terminate and cease to be
exercisable with respect to any exercisable Option Shares for which the option
has not been exercised.
(ii) Should Optionee cease service as a Board member
by reason of death or Permanent Disability, then this option shall automatically
accelerate and become immediately exercisable for all the Option Shares at the
time subject to this option so that Optionee (or the personal representative of
Optionee's estate or the person or persons to whom the option is transferred
upon Optionee's death) shall have the right to exercise this option for any or
all of those Option Shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Such right
shall lapse upon the earlier of (A) the expiration of the two (2)-year period
measured from the date of Optionee's cessation of Board service or (B) the
specified Expiration Date.
(iii) Upon Optionee's cessation of Board service for
any reason other than death or Permanent Disability, this option shall
immediately terminate and cease to be outstanding with respect to any and all
Option Shares for which the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable.
(iv) In the event of a Corporate Transaction or
Change in Control, the provisions of Paragraph 6 or Paragraph 7 shall govern the
period for which this option is to remain exercisable following Optionee's
cessation of Board service and shall supersede any provisions to the contrary in
this Paragraph 5.
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6. CORPORATE TRANSACTION.
(a) This option, to the extent outstanding at the
time of a Corporate Transaction but not otherwise fully exercisable for all the
Option Shares, shall automatically accelerate so that this option shall,
immediately prior to the effective date of such Corporate Transaction, become
exercisable for all the Option Shares at the time subject to this option and may
be exercised for any or all of those Option Shares as fully-vested shares of
Common Stock.
(b) This option shall be assumed by the successor
corporation (or parent thereof) in connection with such Corporate Transaction
and shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Corporate
Transaction, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have
been issuable to Optionee in consummation of such Corporate Transaction had the
option been exercised immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, and
appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the Exercise Price, provided the
aggregate Exercise Price shall remain the same.
(c) This option, as so accelerated and assumed, shall
remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the two (2)-year
period measured from the date of Optionee's cessation of Board service or (ii)
the specified Expiration Date.
(d) This Agreement shall not in any way affect the
right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change
its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate
or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
7. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER.
(a) All Option Shares subject to this option at the
time of a Change in Control but not otherwise vested shall automatically vest so
that this option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of such Change
in Control, become fully exercisable for all of the Option Shares at the time
subject to this option and may be exercised for all or any portion of such
shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. This option shall remain
exercisable for such fully-vested Option Shares until the earliest to occur of
(i) the specified Expiration Date, (ii) the sooner termination of this option in
accordance with Paragraph 5 or 6 or (iii) the surrender of this option under
Paragraph 7(b).
(b) Optionee shall have an unconditional right
(exercisable during the thirty (30)-day period immediately following the
consummation of a Hostile Take-Over) to surrender this option to the Corporation
in exchange for a cash distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to
the excess of (i) the Take-Over Price of the Option Shares at the time subject
to the surrendered option (whether or not those Option Shares are otherwise at
the time vested) over (ii) the aggregate Exercise Price payable for such shares.
This Paragraph 7(b) limited stock appreciation right shall in all events
terminate
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upon the expiration or sooner termination of the option term and may not be
assigned or transferred by Optionee.
(c) To exercise the Paragraph 7(b) limited stock
appreciation right, Optionee must, during the applicable thirty (30)-day
exercise period, provide the Corporation with written notice of the option
surrender in which there is specified the number of Option Shares as to which
the option is being surrendered. Such notice must be accompanied by the return
of Optionee's copy of this Agreement, together with any written amendments to
such Agreement. The cash distribution shall be paid to Optionee within five (5)
business days following such delivery date, and neither the approval of the Plan
Administrator nor the consent of the Board shall be required in connection with
such option surrender and cash distribution. Upon receipt of such cash
distribution, this option shall be cancelled with respect to the shares subject
to the surrendered option (or the surrendered portion), and Optionee shall cease
to have any further right to acquire those Option Shares under this Agreement.
The option shall, however, remain outstanding for the balance of the Option
Shares (if any) in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement,
and the Corporation shall accordingly issue a new stock option agreement
(substantially in the same form as this Agreement) for those remaining Option
Shares.
8. STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. The holder of this option shall not
have any stockholder rights with respect to the Option Shares until such person
shall have exercised the option, paid the Exercise Price and become a holder of
record of the purchased shares.
9. ADJUSTMENT IN OPTION SHARES. Should any change be made to
the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the
outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation's receipt of
consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made to (i) the number and/or
class of securities subject to this option and (ii) the Exercise Price in order
to reflect such change and thereby preclude a dilution or enlargement of
benefits hereunder.
10. MANNER OF EXERCISING OPTION.
(a) In order to exercise this option with respect to
all or any part of the Option Shares for which this option is at the time
exercisable, Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising the option)
must take the following actions:
(i) Execute and deliver to the Corporation a
Notice of Exercise for the Option Shares for which the option is
exercised.
(ii) Pay the aggregate Exercise Price for
the purchased shares in one or more of the following forms:
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(A) cash or check made payable to
the Corporation,
(B) shares of Common Stock held by
Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising the
option) for the requisite period necessary to avoid a charge
to the Corporation's earnings for financial reporting purposes
and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date, or
(C) through a special sale and
remittance procedure pursuant to which Optionee (or any other
person or persons exercising the option) shall concurrently
provide irrevocable written instructions (I) to a
Corporation-designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate
sale of the purchased shares and remit to the Corporation, out
of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date,
sufficient funds to cover the aggregate Exercise Price payable
for the purchased shares plus all applicable Federal, state
and local income taxes required to be withheld by the
Corporation by reason of such exercise and (II) to the
Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased
shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete
the sale.
Except to the extent the sale and remittance
procedure is utilized in connection with the option exercise,
payment of the Exercise Price must accompany the Notice of
Exercise.
(iii) Furnish to the Corporation appropriate
documentation that the person or persons exercising the option (if
other than Optionee) have the right to exercise this option.
(b) As soon after the Exercise Date as practical, the
Corporation shall issue to or on behalf of Optionee (or any other person or
persons exercising this option) a certificate for the purchased Option Shares,
with the appropriate legends affixed thereto.
(c) In no event may this option be exercised for any
fractional shares.
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11. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
(a) The exercise of this option and the issuance of
the Option Shares upon such exercise shall be subject to compliance by the
Corporation and Optionee with all applicable requirements of law relating
thereto and with all applicable regulations of any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq
National Market, if applicable) on which the Common Stock may be listed for
trading at the time of such exercise and issuance.
(b) The inability of the Corporation to obtain
approval from any regulatory body having authority deemed by the Corporation to
be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Common Stock pursuant to
this option shall relieve the Corporation of any liability with respect to the
non-issuance or sale of the Common Stock as to which such approval shall not
have been obtained. The Corporation, however, shall use its best efforts to
obtain all such approvals.
12. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Except to the extent otherwise
provided in Paragraph 3, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of, and be binding upon, the Corporation and its successors and assigns
and Optionee, Optionee's assigns and the legal representatives, heirs and
legatees of Optionee's estate.
13. NOTICES. Any notice required to be given or delivered to
the Corporation under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and
addressed to the Corporation at its principal corporate offices. Any notice
required to be given or delivered to Optionee shall be in writing and addressed
to Optionee at the address indicated below Optionee's signature line on the
Grant Notice. All notices shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or
upon deposit in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the
party to be notified.
14. CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement and the option evidenced
hereby are made and granted pursuant to the director fee option grant program in
effect under the Plan and are in all respects limited by and subject to the
terms of that program.
15. GOVERNING LAW. The interpretation, performance and
enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California without resort to that State's conflict-of-laws rules.
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APPENDIX
The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:
A. AGREEMENT shall mean this Director Fee Stock Option Agreement.
B. BOARD shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
C. CHANGE IN CONTROL shall mean a change in ownership or control of the
Corporation effected through either of the following transactions:
(i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or
related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 0000 Xxx) of securities possessing more
than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
Corporation's outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer made directly to the Corporation's stockholders which the Board
does not recommend such stockholders to accept, or
(ii) a change in the composition of the Board over a period of
thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the
Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for
Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (a) have
been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or
(b) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during
such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in
clause (a) who were still in office at the time the Board approved such
election or nomination.
D. CODE shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
E. COMMON STOCK shall mean the Corporation's common stock.
F. CORPORATE TRANSACTION shall mean either of the following
stockholder-approved transactions to which the Corporation is a party:
(i) a merger or consolidation in which securities possessing
more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
Corporation's outstanding securities are transferred to a person or
persons different from the persons holding those securities immediately
prior to such transaction, or
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(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Corporation's assets in complete liquidation
or dissolution of the Corporation.
G. CORPORATION shall mean Calpine Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
H. EXERCISE DATE shall mean the date on which the option shall have
been exercised in accordance with Paragraph 10 of the Agreement.
I. EXERCISE PRICE shall mean the exercise price per share as specified
in the Grant Notice.
J. EXPIRATION DATE shall mean the date on which the option expires as
specified in the Grant Notice.
K. FAIR MARKET VALUE per share of Common Stock on any relevant date
shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq
National Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing
selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question, as
such price is reported by the National Association of Securities
Dealers on the Nasdaq National Market or any successor system. If there
are no selling prices quoted for the Common Stock on the date in
question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price
on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
(ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock
Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price
per share of Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange
serving as the primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is
officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such
exchange. If there are no selling prices quoted for the Common Stock on
the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing
selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation
exists.
X. XXXXX DATE shall mean the date of grant of the option as specified
in the Grant Notice.
X. XXXXX NOTICE shall mean the Notice of Grant of Stock Option Under
Director Fee Option Grant Program accompanying the Agreement, pursuant to which
Optionee has been informed of the basic terms of the option evidenced hereby.
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N. HOSTILE TAKE-OVER shall mean the acquisition, directly or
indirectly, by any person or related group of persons (other than the
Corporation or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by,
or is under common control with, the Corporation) of beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 0000 Xxx) of securities possessing more
than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation's
outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to
the Corporation's stockholders which the Board does not recommend such
stockholders to accept.
O. 1934 ACT shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
P. NON-QUALIFIED OPTION shall mean an option not intended to satisfy
the requirements of Code Section 422.
Q. NOTICE OF EXERCISE shall mean the written notice of the option
exercise on the form provided by the Corporation for such purpose.
R. OPTION SHARES shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the option as specified in the Grant Notice.
S. OPTIONEE shall mean the person to whom the option is granted as
specified in the Grant Notice.
T. PERMANENT DISABILITY shall mean the inability of Optionee to perform
his or her usual duties as a Board member by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be
of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more.
U. PLAN shall mean the Corporation's 1996 Stock Incentive Plan.
V. STOCK EXCHANGE shall mean the American Stock Exchange or the New
York Stock Exchange.
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