14
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
October 21, 1998
Xx. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Executive Vice President of Manufacturing and Media
Valassis Communications, Inc.
00000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Dear Dick:
This Agreement confirms the grant of a Non-Qualified Stock Option
to you effective as of September 15, 1998 (the "Effective Date')
under the Valassis Communications, Inc. Amended and Restated 1992
Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), upon the following terms
and conditions:
1. GRANT OF OPTION. Pursuant to action of the
Compensation/Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors (the
"Committee") under the Plan, Valassis Communications, Inc. (the
"Company") hereby grants to you a Non-Qualified Stock Option
(hereinafter called the "Option") to purchase, subject to the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, an aggregate 100,000
Common Shares of the Company at a per share purchase price equal to
thirty-two and five-eighths dollars ($32.625) (the "Purchase
Price"). The number of shares under the Option and the Purchase
Price thereof shall be adjusted by the Committee, and you shall be
entitled to such adjustment, upon the occurrence of any event
described in Section 8 of the Plan. An equitable adjustment shall
be determined by the Committee in good faith.
2. TIMES OF EXERCISE AND TERM OF THE OPTION.
(a)Subject to Paragraph 3 hereof, the Option may not
be exercised in any event for the first six months following the
Effective Date.
(b)Subject to Subsection 2(a) above, the Option shall
become exercisable by you according to the vesting schedule set
forth below at such time that the closing sales price per Common
Share on the New York Stock Exchange is equal to or exceeds the
following targets:
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October 21, 1998
Page 2
Percentage of Shares Subject to
OPTION THAT BECOME EXERCISABLE FAIR MARKET VALUE TARGET
33.333% $42.00
33.333% $47.00
33.334% $52.00
(c) Notwithstanding Subsections 2(a) and 2(b) above,
all Common Shares with respect to which the Option is not then
exercisable shall be come fully exercisable upon (i) termination of
your employment by the Company other than for Cause, as defined in
your Employment Agreement; (ii) termination of your employment for
Good Reason, as defined in your Employment Agreement; or (iii) a
Change in Control.
(d)If fewer than the number of Common Shares then
available for purchase pursuant to the Option are purchased at any
time under this Agreement, you may purchase the remaining Common
Shares at any subsequent time during the term of the Option. The
Option shall expire in its entirety on the fourth anniversary of
the Effective Date (the "Option Expiration Date") subject to
earlier termination as hereinafter provided. The Option shall not
be exercised for fractional shares. Notation of any partial
exercise will be made by the Company on Schedule 1 hereto.
3. CERTAIN EXERCISE REQUIREMENTS. The Option is
exercisable by you only while you are in the employ of the Company
or an Affiliate, except that:
(a)Upon termination of your employment (i) by reason
of death or Disability; or (ii) by the Company other than for
Cause, the Option shall become immediately exercisable with respect
to all Common Shares thereunder as of the date of such termination
and shall be exercisable by you (or your beneficiary, in the case
of your death) for a period of six months following the date of
such termination, but in no event beyond the Option Expiration
Date; and
(b)Upon termination of your employment by the
Company for Cause, or by you, the Option, to the extent exercisable
as of the date of such termination (taking into account any
acceleration of exercisability under Paragraph 2(c)), shall be
exercisable by you for a period of six months following the date of
such termination, but in no event beyond the Option Expiration
Date.
4. METHOD OF EXERCISE AND PAYMENT. Exercise of the Option shall
be by written notice, in a form substantially as attached to this
Agreement as Schedule A, delivered or mailed to the Secretary of
the Company at its principal office specifying the number of Common
Shares as to which the Option is being exercised and identifying
the Option by date of grant. Such notice shall be accompanied by
the full amount of the Option exercise price for the Common
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October 21, 1998
Page 3
Shares to be purchased in cash or by certified check or by delivery
of whole Common Shares owned by you ("Optionee Stock") in full or
partial payment of the exercise price. You will receive a credit
against the purchase price of the Common Shares as to which the
Option is being exercised equal to the Fair Market Value as defined
in the Plan of such Optionee Stock as of the close of the business
day immediately preceding the date of delivery of the notice of
election to exercise the Option. Any Common Shares of Optionee
Stock being delivered must be accompanied by a duly executed
assignment to the Company in blank or with stock powers attached,
together with a written representation that such Common Shares of
Optionee Stock are owned by you free and clear of all liens, claims
and encumbrances and such other representations as the Company
shall determine. Only whole Common Shares of Optionee Stock with a
Fair Market Value up to, but not exceeding, the Purchase Price of
the Common Shares as to which the Option is being exercised will be
accepted hereunder. Delivery of the Common Shares of Optionee
Stock may be made at the office of the Company or at the offices of
the transfer agent appointed for the transfer of Common Shares of
the Company. The Committee may, in its discretion, refuse to
accept any tendered payment in the form of Common Shares in which
case it shall deliver the tender back to you and notify you of its
refusal. In order to preserve your rights under any Option, you
must, within three business days after such notification, tender to
the Company the cash or certified check required to pay for the
Common Shares with respect to which such Option is being exercised.
It shall be a condition to the Company's obligation to deliver
Common Shares upon exercise of any portion of the Option that you
pay, or make provisions satisfactory to the Company for the payment
of any taxes which the Company is obligated to withhold or collect
with respect to such exercise or otherwise with respect to the
Option.
5. SECURITIES LAW REQUIREMENTS. The Company shall use
its best efforts to register the Common Shares covered by this
Agreement (including to qualify them for sale under any state law)
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), unless
the disposition thereof is exempt from the registration
requirements of the Act.
6. INCORPORATION OF PLAN PROVISIONS. This Agreement is
made pursuant to the Valassis Communications Inc. Amended and
Restated 1992 Long-Term Incentive Plan and is subject to all the
terms and provisions of such Plan as if the same were fully set
forth herein. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Plan.
7. SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS. You shall not be, nor have any
of the rights or privileges of, a holder of Common Shares in
respect of any Common Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the
Option, including any rights regarding voting or payment of
dividends, unless and until a certificate representing such Shares
has been delivered to you.
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October 21, 1998
Page 4
8. MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement: (a) shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of any successor of the Company and
your successors, assigns and estate, including your executors,
administrators and trustees; (b) shall be governed by the laws of
the State of Delaware and any applicable laws of the United States;
and (c) may not be amended except in writing.
It is your intent and that of the Company that this Non-Qualified
Stock Option is not classified as an Incentive Stock Option and
that any ambiguities in construction shall be interpreted in order
to effectuate such intent.
To confirm your acceptance of the foregoing, please sign and return
this Agreement to Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Secretary, Valassis
Communications, Inc., 00000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx,
00000.
VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:\s\Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
____________________________
AGREED:
\s\Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
___________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Date: October 21, 1998
___________________________
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