EXHIBIT 10.2.8
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of August 20, 1996,
is made by and between Signature Resorts, Inc., a Maryland corporation
hereinafter referred to as "Company," and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, an employee of
the Company, hereinafter referred to as "Optionee":
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to afford the Optionee the opportunity to
purchase shares of its $.01 par value Common Stock; and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to carry out the Plan (the terms of which are
hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Agreement); and
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
shareholders to grant 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 officers to issue
said Option;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained
and other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
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Whenever the following terms are used in this Agreement, they shall have
the meaning specified below unless the context clearly indicates to the
contrary. The masculine pronoun shall include the feminine and neuter, and the
singular the plural, where the context so indicates.
Section 1.1 - Board
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"Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
Section 1.2 - Code
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"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Section 1.3 - Committee
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"Committee" shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, or a
subcommittee of the Board, appointed as provided in Section 9.1 of the Plan.
Section 1.4 - Common Stock
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"Common Stock" shall mean the common stock of the Company, par value $.01
per share, and any equity security of the Company issued or authorized to be
issued in the future, but excluding any warrants, options or other rights to
purchase Common Stock. Debt securities of the Company convertible into Common
Stock shall be deemed equity securities of the Company.
Section 1.5 - Company
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"Company" shall mean Signature Resorts, Inc., a Maryland corporation.
Section 1.6 - Director
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"Director" shall mean a member of the Board.
Section 1.7 - Employee
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"Employee" shall mean any officer or other employee (as defined in
accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code) of the Company, or of any
corporation which is a Subsidiary.
Section 1.8 - Exchange Act
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"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Section 1.9 - Fair Market Value
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"Fair Market Value" of a share of Common Stock as of a given date shall be
(i) the mean between the highest and lowest selling price of a share of Common
Stock on the principal exchange on which shares of Common Stock are then
trading, if any, on such date, or if shares were not traded on such date, then
on the closest preceding date on which a trade occurred, or (ii) if Common Stock
is not traded on an exchange, the mean between the closing representative bid
and asked prices for the Common Stock on such date as reported by NASDAQ or, if
NASDAQ is not then in existence, by its successor quotation system; or (iii) if
Common Stock is not publicly traded, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
Stock as established by the Committee acting in good faith.
Section 1.10 - Option
------------ -------
"Option" shall mean a non-qualified stock option granted under this
Agreement and Article III of the Plan.
Section 1.11 - Optionee
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"Optionee" shall mean an Employee or consultant granted an Option under
this Agreement and the Plan.
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Section 1.12 - Plan
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"Plan" shall mean The 1996 Equity Participation Plan of Signature Resorts,
Inc.
Section 1.13 - Rule 16b-3
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"Rule 16b-3" shall mean that certain Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time.
Section 1.14 - Secretary
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"Secretary" shall mean the Secretary of the Company.
Section 1.15 - Securities Act
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"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Section 1.16 - Subsidiary
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"Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation in an unbroken chain of
corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than
the last corporation in the unbroken chain then owns stock possessing fifty
percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
in one of the other corporations in such chain.
Section 1.17 - Termination of Consultancy
------------ --------------------------
"Termination of Consultancy" shall mean the time when the engagement of
Optionee as a Consultant to the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated for any
reason, with or without cause, including without limitation, resignation,
discharge, death or retirement; but excluding terminations where there is a
simultaneous commencement of employment with the Company or any Subsidiary. The
Committee, in its absolute discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters
and questions relating to Termination of Consultancy, including, but not by way
of limitation, the question of whether a Termination of Consultancy resulted
from a discharge for good cause, and all questions of whether particular leaves
of absence constitute Terminations of Employment. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Plan, the Company or any Subsidiary has an absolute and
unrestricted right to terminate a consultant's service at any time for any
reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly
provided otherwise in writing.
Section 1.18 - Termination of Employment
------------ --------------------------
"Termination of Employment" shall mean the time when the employee-employer
relationship between the Optionee and the Company or any Subsidiary is
terminated for any reason, including, but not by way of limitation, a
termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability or retirement; but
excluding (i) terminations where there is a simultaneous reemployment,
continuing employment of an Optionee by the
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Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) at the discretion of the Committee, terminations
which result in a temporary severance of the employee-employer relationship, and
(iii) at the discretion of the Committee, terminations which are followed by the
simultaneous establishment of a consulting relationship by the Company or a
Subsidiary with the former employee. The Committee, in its absolute discretion,
shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to Termination
of Employment, including, but not by way of limitation, the question of whether
a Termination of Employment resulted from a discharge for good cause, and all
questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute Terminations of
Employment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the Company or any
Subsidiary has an absolute and unrestricted right to terminate an Employee's
employment at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except
to the extent expressly provided otherwise in writing.
ARTICLE II
GRANT OF OPTION
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Section 2.1 - Grant of Option
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In consideration of the Optionee's agreement to remain in the employ of (or
consult for) the Company or its Subsidiaries for a period of at least two (2)
years after the option is granted and for other good and valuable consideration,
on the date hereof the Company irrevocably grants to the Optionee the option to
purchase any part or all of an aggregate of one hundred fifty thousand (150,000)
shares of its $.01 par value Common Stock upon the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement.
Section 2.2 - Purchase Price
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The purchase price of the shares of stock covered by the Option shall be
$14.00 per share without commission or other charge.
Section 2.3 - Consideration to Company
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In consideration of the granting of this Option by the Company, the
Optionee agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or a
Subsidiary, with such duties and responsibilities as the Company shall from time
to time prescribe, for a period of at least two (2) years from the date this
Option is granted. Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall confer upon any
Optionee any right to continue in the employ of, or as a consultant for, the
Company or any Subsidiary, or as a director of the Company, or shall interfere
with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and any Subsidiary, which
are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge the Optionee at any time for any
reason whatsoever, with or without good cause.
Section 2.4 - Adjustments in Option
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(a) In the event that the outstanding shares of the stock subject to the
Option are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares of
the
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Company or other securities of the Company, or of another corporation, by
reason of reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization,
reclassification, stock splitup, stock dividend or combination of shares, the
Committee shall make an appropriate and equitable adjustment in the number and
kind of shares as to which the Option, or portions thereof then unexercised,
shall be exercisable, to the end that after such event the Optionee's
proportionate interest shall be maintained as before the occurrence of such
event. Such adjustment in the Option may include any necessary corresponding
adjustment in the Option price per share, but shall be made without change in
the total price applicable to the unexercised portion of the Option (except for
any change in the aggregate price resulting from rounding-off of share
quantities or prices). Any such adjustment made by the Committee shall be final
and binding upon the Optionee, the Company and all other interested persons.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of such a reorganization,
merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock splitup, stock
dividend or combination, or other adjustment or event which results in shares of
Common Stock being exchanged for or converted into cash, securities or other
property, the Company will have the right to terminate the Plan as of the date
of the exchange or conversion, in which case all options, rights and other
awards under this Plan shall become the right to receive such cash, securities
or other property, net of any applicable exercise price.
(c) In the event of a "spin-off" or other substantial distribution of
assets of the Company which has a material diminutive effect upon the Fair
Market Value of the Company's Common Stock, the Board may in its discretion make
an appropriate and equitable adjustment to the Option to reflect such
diminution.
ARTICLE III
PERIOD OF EXERCISABILITY
------------------------
Section 3.1 - Commencement of Exercisability
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(a) Subject to Section 5.6, the Option shall become exercisable in three
(3) cumulative installments as follows:
(i) The first installment shall consist of fifty thousand (50,000) of
the shares covered by the Option and shall become exercisable on the first
anniversary of the date of execution of this Agreement.
(ii) The second installment shall consist of fifty thousand (50,000)
of the shares covered by the Option and shall become exercisable on the
second anniversary of the date of execution of this Agreement.
(iii) The third installment shall consist of fifty thousand (50,000)
of the shares covered by the Option and shall become exercisable on the third
anniversary of the date of execution of this Agreement.
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(b) No portion of the Option which is unexercisable at Termination of
Employment or Termination of Consultancy, as applicable, shall thereafter become
exercisable.
Section 3.2 - Duration of Exercisability
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The installments provided for in Section 3.1 are cumulative. Each such
installment which becomes exercisable pursuant to Section 3.1 shall remain
exercisable until it becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3.
Section 3.3 - 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 the Option was granted;
or
(b) The time of the Optionee's Termination of Employment or Termination of
Consultancy unless such Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy,
as applicable, results from his death, his retirement, his disability or his
being discharged not for "Cause" (as defined in Section 5(c) of the Employment
Agreement dated the date hereof between Optionee and the Company); or
(c) The expiration of three (3) months from the date of the Optionee's
Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy by reason of his
retirement or his being discharged not for "Cause," unless the Optionee dies
within said three-month period; or
(d) The expiration of one (1) year from the date of the Optionee's
Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy by reason of his
disability; or
(e) The expiration of one (1) year from the date of the Optionee's death;
or
(f) The effective date of either the merger or consolidation of the
Company with or into another corporation, the exchange of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company for the securities of another corporation, the
acquisition by another corporation or person of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets or eighty percent (80%) or more of the Company's then
outstanding voting stock, or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company,
unless the Committee waives this provision in connection with such transaction.
At least ten (10) days prior to the effective date of such merger,
consolidation, exchange, acquisition, liquidation or dissolution, the Committee
shall give the Optionee notice of such event if the Option has then neither been
fully exercised nor become unexercisable under this Section 3.3.
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Section 3.4 - Acceleration of Exercisability
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In the event of the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into
another corporation, the exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company for the securities of another corporation, the acquisition by
another corporation or person of all or substantially all of the Company's
assets or eighty percent (80%) or more of the Company's then outstanding voting
stock, or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the Committee may, in
its absolute discretion and upon such terms and conditions as it deems
appropriate, provide by resolution, adopted prior to such event and incorporated
in the notice referred to in Section 3.3(f), that at some time prior to the
effective date of such event this Option shall be exercisable as to all the
shares covered hereby, notwithstanding that this Option may not yet have become
fully exercisable under Section 3.1(a); provided, however, that this
acceleration of exercisability shall not take place if:
(a) This Option becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 prior to said
effective date; or
(b) In connection with such an event, provision is made for an assumption
of this Option or a substitution therefor of a new option by an employer
corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such corporation.
The Committee may make such determinations and adopt such rules and
conditions as it, in its absolute discretion, deems appropriate in connection
with such acceleration of exercisability, including, but not by way of
limitation, provisions to ensure that any such acceleration and resulting
exercise shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the contemplated
corporate transaction.
None of the foregoing discretionary terms of this Section shall be
permitted to the extent that such discretion would be inconsistent with the
requirements of Rule 16b-3.
ARTICLE IV
EXERCISE OF OPTION
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Section 4.1 - Person Eligible to Exercise
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During the lifetime of the Optionee, only he 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 3.3, be exercised by his personal representative or by any person
empowered to do so under the Optionee's will or under the then applicable laws
of descent and distribution.
Section 4.2 - Partial Exercise
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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 3.3;
provided, however, that
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each partial exercise shall be for not less than one thousand (1,000) shares and
shall be for whole shares only.
Section 4.3 - Manner of Exercise
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The Option, or any exercisable portion thereof, may be exercised solely by
delivery to the Secretary or his office of all of the following prior to the
time when the Option or such portion becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3:
(a) Notice in writing signed by the Optionee or the other person then
entitled to exercise the Option or portion, stating that the Option or portion
is thereby exercised, such notice complying with all applicable rules
established by the Committee or the Board; and
(b) (i) Full payment (in cash) for the shares with respect to which such
Option or portion is exercised;
(ii) With the consent of the Committee, payment delayed for up to
thirty (30) days from the date the Option, or portion thereof, is
exercised; or
(iii) With the consent of the Committee, (A) shares of the Company's
Common Stock owned by the Optionee duly endorsed for transfer to the
Company or (B) subject to the timing requirements of Section 4.4, shares of
the Company's Common Stock issuable to the Optionee upon exercise of the
Option, with a Fair Market Value on the date of Option exercise equal to
the aggregate purchase price of the shares with respect to which such
Option or portion is exercised; or
(iv) With the consent of the Committee, property of any kind which
constitutes good and valuable consideration; or
(v) With the consent of the Committee, a full recourse promissory
note bearing interest (at no less than such rate as shall then preclude the
imputation of interest under the Code or successor provision) and payable
upon such terms as may be prescribed by the Committee or the Board. The
Committee may also prescribe the form of such note and the security to be
given for such note. The Option may not be exercised, however, by delivery
of a promissory note or by a loan from the Company when or where such loan
or other extension of credit is prohibited by law; or
(vi) With the consent of the Committee, any combination of the
consideration provided in the foregoing subparagraphs (iii), (iv) and (v);
and
(c) A bona fide written representation and agreement, in a form
satisfactory to the Committee or the Board, signed by the Optionee or other
person then entitled to exercise such Option or portion, stating that the shares
of stock are being acquired for his own account, for investment and without any
present intention of distributing or reselling said shares or any of them except
as may be permitted under the Securities Act and then applicable rules and
regulations thereunder, and that the Optionee or other person then
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entitled to exercise such Option or portion will indemnify the Company against
and hold it free and harmless from any loss, damage, expense or liability
resulting to the Company if any sale or distribution of the shares by such
person is contrary to the representation and agreement referred to above. The
Committee may, in its absolute discretion, take whatever additional actions it
deems appropriate to insure the observance and performance of such
representation and agreement and to effect compliance with the Securities Act
and any other federal or state securities laws or regulations. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may require an opinion of counsel
acceptable to it to the effect that any subsequent transfer of shares acquired
on an Option exercise does not violate the Securities Act, and may issue stop-
transfer orders covering such shares. Share certificates evidencing stock issued
on exercise of this Option shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the
provisions of this subsection (c) and the agreements herein. The written
representation and agreement referred to in the first sentence of this
subsection (c) shall, however, not be required if the shares to be issued
pursuant to such exercise have been registered under the Securities Act, and
such registration is then effective in respect of such shares; and
(d) Full payment to the Company (or other employer corporation) of all
amounts which, under federal, state or local tax law, it is required to withhold
upon exercise of the Option; with the consent of the Committee, (i) shares of
the Company's Common Stock owned by the Optionee duly endorsed for transfer, or
(ii) subject to the timing requirements of Section 4.4, shares of the Company's
Common Stock issuable to the Optionee upon exercise of the Option, having a Fair
Market Value at the date of Option exercise equal to the sums required to be
withheld, may be used to make all or part of such payment; and
(e) In the event the Option or portion shall be exercised pursuant to
Section 4.1 by any person or persons other than the Optionee, appropriate proof
of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option.
Section 4.4 - Certain Timing Requirements
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Shares of the Company's Common Stock issuable to the Optionee upon exercise
of the Option may be used to satisfy the Option price or the tax withholding
consequences of such exercise only (i) during the period beginning on the third
(3rd) business day following the date of release of the quarterly or annual
summary statement of sales and earnings of the Company and ending on the twelfth
(12th) business day following such date or (ii) pursuant to an irrevocable
written election by the Optionee to use shares of the Company's Common Stock
issuable to the Optionee upon exercise of the Option to pay all or part of the
Option price or the withholding taxes (subject to the approval of the Committee)
made at least six (6) months prior to the payment of such Option price or
withholding taxes.
Section 4.5 - Conditions to Issuance of Stock Certificates
----------- --------------------------------------------
The shares of 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
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certificates for shares of 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 class of 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 or Board 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 or Board 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, it is
required to withhold upon exercise of the Option; and
(e) The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the exercise of
the Option as the Committee or Board may from time to time establish for reasons
of administrative convenience.
Section 4.6 - Rights as Shareholder
----------- ---------------------
The holder of the Option shall not be, nor have any of the rights or
privileges of, a shareholder 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 V
OTHER PROVISIONS
----------------
Section 5.1 - Administration
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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 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 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 this Plan 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.
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Section 5.2 - Option Not Transferable
----------- -----------------------
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
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; provided, however, that this Section 5.2
shall not prevent transfers by will or by the applicable laws of descent and
distribution.
Section 5.3 - Shares to Be Reserved
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The Company shall at all times during the term of the Option reserve and
keep available such number of shares of stock as will be sufficient to satisfy
the requirements of this Agreement.
Section 5.4 - Notices
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Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company
shall be addressed to the Company in care of its Secretary, and any notice to be
given to the Optionee shall be addressed to him at the address given beneath his
signature hereto. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 5.4, either party
may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to him. 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 his status and address by
written notice under this Section 5.4. 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.
Section 5.5 - Titles
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Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a
basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
Section 5.6 - Construction
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This Agreement shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the
laws of the State of Maryland.
Section 5.7 - 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, including without limitation Rule 16b-3. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary,
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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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed and delivered by the
parties hereto.
SIGNATURE RESORTS, INC.
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
---------------------------------
President
By /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
---------------------------------
Assistant Secretary
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
____________________________
Optionee
____________________________
____________________________
Address
Optionee's Taxpayer
Identification Number:
____________________________
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