STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
(Non-Statutory Stock Option)
This STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this "Option Agreement") is made and
entered into on the execution date of the Option Certificate to which it is
attached (the "Certificate"), by and between DVD Express, Inc., a California
corporation (the "Company"), and the officer, director, employee or consultant
("Optionee") named in the Certificate.
Pursuant to the DVD Express, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Plan"), the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has authorized
the grant to Optionee of a non-statutory stock option to purchase shares of
the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"),
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Option
Agreement and in the Plan.
The Company and Optionee agree as follows:
1. Grant of Option.
The Company hereby grants to Optionee the right and option
(the "Option"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Option Agreement, to purchase all or any portion of that number of shares of the
Common Stock (the "Shares") set forth in the Certificate, at the Option exercise
price set forth in the Certificate (the "Exercise Price").
2. Term of Option.
The Option shall terminate and expire on the Option Expiration
Date set forth in the Certificate, unless sooner terminated as provided herein.
3. Exercise Period.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 3(b), 5, 7(c) and
7(d) of this Option Agreement, the Option shall become exercisable (in whole or
in part) upon and after the dates set forth under the caption "Exercise
Schedule" in the Certificate. The installments shall be cumulative; i.e., the
Option may be exercised, as to any or all Shares covered by an installment, at
any time or times after the installment first becomes exercisable and until
expiration or termination of the Option.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Option Agreement, the Option may not be exercised, in whole or in part, unless
and until any then-applicable requirements of all federal, state and local laws
and regulatory agencies shall have been fully complied with to the satisfaction
of the Company and its counsel.
4. Exercise of Option.
There is no obligation to exercise the Option, in whole or in
part. The Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, only by delivery to the
Company of:
(a) written notice of exercise in form and substance identical
to Exhibit "A" attached to this Option Agreement stating the number of shares of
Common Stock then being purchased (the "Purchased Shares"); and
(b) payment of the Exercise Price of the Purchased Shares,
either in cash, by check, by cancellation of any indebtedness of the Company to
Optionee for accrued and unpaid salary or, with the consent of the Administrator
of the Plan, by transfer to the Company of issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock, or by any combination of the above methods of payment. If payment
is made, in whole or in part, by transfer to the Company of issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock, the value of such shares shall be determined
as follows: (i) if the Stock is listed on an exchange or exchanges, or admitted
for trading in a market system which provides last sale data under Rule 11Aa3-1
of the General Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (a "Market System"),
the last reported sales price per share on the last business day prior to such
date on the principal exchange on which it is traded, or in such a Market
System, as applicable, or if no sale was made on such day on such principal
exchange or in such a Market System, as applicable, the last reported sales
price per share on the most recent day prior to such date on which a sale was
reported on such exchange or such Market System, as applicable; or (ii) if the
Common Stock is not then traded on an exchange or in such a Market System, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices per share for the Common Stock in
the over-the-counter market as quoted on NASDAQ on the day prior to such date;
or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on an exchange or quoted on NASDAQ,
an amount determined in good faith by the Administrator.
Following receipt of the notice and payment referred to above, the
Company shall issue and deliver to Optionee a stock certificate or stock
certificates evidencing the Purchased Shares; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be obligated to issue a fraction or fractions of a share of
its Common Stock, and may pay to Optionee, in cash or by check, the fair market
value of any fraction or fractions of a share exercised by Optionee, which fair
market value shall be determined as set forth in the preceding paragraph.
5. Termination of Employment.
(a) If Optionee shall cease to be an officer or employee of
the Company or, any Subsidiary or Parent of the Company for any reason other
than death or permanent disability (a "Terminating Event"), Optionee shall have
the right, subject to the provisions of Paragraph 5(c) and (d) below, to
exercise the Option at any time following such Terminating Event until the
earlier to occur of (x) 90 days following the date of such Terminating Event and
(y) the expiration of the term of this Option as set forth in Paragraph 2 of
this Option Agreement. The Option may be exercised following a Terminating Event
only to the extent exercisable as of the date of the Terminating Event. To the
extent unexercised at
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the end of the period referred to above, the Option shall terminate. The
Administrator, or a committee thereof, in its sole and absolute discretion,
shall determine whether or not authorized leaves of absence shall constitute
termination of employment for purposes of this Option Agreement.
(b) If, by reason of death or permanent disability (a "Special
Terminating Event"), Optionee shall cease to be an officer, director, employee
or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary or Parent of the Company, then
Optionee, Optionee's executors or administrators or any person or persons
acquiring the Option directly from Optionee by bequest or inheritance, shall,
subject to the provisions of Paragraph 5(c) below, have the right to exercise
the Option at any time following such Special Terminating Event until the
earlier to occur of (x) 12 months following the date of such Special Terminating
Event and (y) the expiration of the term of this Option as set forth in
Paragraph 2 of this Option Agreement. The Option may be exercised following a
Special Terminating Event only to the extent exercisable at the date of the
Special Terminating Event. To the extent unexercised at the end of the period
referred to above, the Option shall terminate.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Option
Agreement, following the occurrence of a Terminating Event or a Special
Terminating Event, the Company shall have the right to repurchase (the
"Repurchase Right") all or any portion of the Shares purchased by Optionee upon
the exercise of the Option, as well as any unexercised Options which Optionee
has the right to exercise at the time of termination. Following the occurrence
of a Terminating Event (which does not result from the Company's termination of
Optionee's employment "for cause") or a Special Terminating Event, the
Repurchase Right shall be exercisable at a price equal to the Fair Market Value
of such Shares or, in the case of unexercised options, the Fair Market Value of
the Shares underlying such unexercised options less the exercise price which
would be payable upon the exercise of such unexercised options. Following the
occurrence of a Terminating Event which does result from the Company's
termination of Optionee's employment "for cause," the Repurchase Right shall be
exercisable as to all or any portion of the Shares purchased by Optionee upon
the exercise of the Option, as well as any unexercised Options which Optionee
has the right to exercise at the time of termination, at a price equal to the
initial exercise price of such Shares or, in the case of unexercised options,
the initial exercise price of the Shares underlying such unexercised options
less the exercise price which would be payable upon the exercise of such
unexercised options. Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Administrator
on the basis of the definition of Fair Market Value set forth in Article 2 of
the Plan. To the extent that the Repurchase Right is exercisable at the initial
exercise price of the Shares or the Shares underlying unexercised options, the
exercise price shall become Fair Market Value as to 20% of such Shares which
were originally subject to this Option Agreement on each of the first five
anniversaries of the date of this Option Agreement.
(d) If Optionee shall be terminated "for cause" by the
Company, any Subsidiary or any Parent, Optionee shall have the right to exercise
the Option at any time within 30 days after such termination of employment and
prior to the date of termination of the Option under Paragraph 2 of this Option
Agreement with respect to all Shares with respect to
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which the Option was exercisable on the date his employment terminated as to
which the Option had not previously been exercised.
(e) For purposes of this Option Agreement, "cause" shall mean:
(i) with respect to Optionees of the Company:
(A) the failure or refusal by Optionee to perform
his duties to the Company; or
(B) Optionee's willful disobedience of any orders
or directives of the Board or any officers thereof acting under the authority
thereof or Optionee's deliberate interference with the compliance by other
employees of the Company with any such orders or directives; or
(C) the failure or refusal of Optionee to abide by
or comply with the written policies, standard procedures or regulations of the
Company; or
(D) any willful or continued act or course of
conduct by Optionee which the Board in good faith determines might reasonably be
expected to have a material detrimental effect on the Company or the business,
operations, affairs or financial position thereof; or
(E) the committing by the Optionee of any fraud,
theft, embezzlement or other dishonest act against the Company; or
(F) the determination by the Board of Directors of
the Company, in good faith and in the exercise of reasonable discretion, that
Optionee is not competent to perform his duties of employment; and
(ii) with respect to consultants, any material breach of
their consulting agreement with the Company.
(A) For purposes of this Option Agreement,
"permanent disability" shall mean permanent and total disability for a period
longer than six months as defined by the Administrator. Optionee shall not be
considered permanently disabled unless he furnishes proof of such disability
in such form and manner, and at such times, as the Administrator of the Plan
may from time to time require.
6. Restrictions on Purchased Shares.
None of the Purchased Shares shall be transferred (with or
without consideration), sold, offered for sale, assigned, pledged, hypothecated
or otherwise disposed of (each a "Transfer") and the Company shall not be
required to register any such Transfer and the Company may instruct its transfer
agent not to register any such Transfer, unless and until all of the following
events shall have occurred:
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(a) The Company has declined to exercise the right of first
refusal provided for in Paragraph 8 hereof;
(b) the Purchased Shares are Transferred pursuant to and in
conformity with (i) (x) an effective registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and (y) an exemption from registration
under the Act; and (ii) the securities laws of any state of the United States;
and
(c) Optionee has, prior to the Transfer of such Purchased
Shares, provided all relevant information to Company's counsel so that upon
Company's request, Company's counsel is able to, and actually prepares and
delivers to the Company a written opinion that the proposed Transfer (i) (x) is
pursuant to a registration statement which has been filed with the Commission
and is then effective, or (y) is exempt from registration under the Act as then
in effect, and the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder; and (ii)
is either qualified or registered under any applicable state securities laws, or
exempt from such qualification or registration. The Company shall bear all
reasonable costs of preparing such opinion.
Any attempted Transfer which is not in full compliance with this
Paragraph 6 shall be null and void ab initio, and of no force or effect.
7. Adjustments upon Recapitalization.
Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the
Company:
(a) If the outstanding shares of the Common Stock shall be
subdivided into a greater number of shares of the Common Stock, or a dividend in
shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of the Common Stock (in which latter event the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exchange of such
securities shall be deemed to have been distributed) shall be paid in respect of
the shares of Common Stock, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to
such subdivision or at the record date of such dividend shall, simultaneously
with the effectiveness of such subdivision or immediately after the record date
of such dividend, be proportionately reduced, and conversely, if the outstanding
shares of Common Stock shall be combined into a smaller number of shares of
Common Stock, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such combination
shall, simultaneously with the effectiveness of such combination, be
proportionately increased.
(b) When any adjustment is required to be made in the Exercise
Price, the number of Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Option shall be
adjusted to that number of Shares determined by (i) multiplying an amount equal
to the number of Shares purchasable on the exercise of the Option immediately
prior to such adjustment by the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to
such adjustment, and then (ii) dividing that product by the Exercise Price in
effect immediately after such adjustment.
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(c) In the event of: (1) a dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, or any corporate separation or division, including, but not limited to,
a split-up, a split-off or a spin-off, or a sale of substantially all of the
assets of the Company; (2) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not
the surviving corporation; or (3) a reverse merger in which the Company is the
surviving corporation but the shares of Stock outstanding immediately preceding
the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in
the form of securities, cash or otherwise, then, the Optionee's rights under
this Option Agreement shall be expressly governed by the decisions made by the
Administrator pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan.
(d) To the extent that the foregoing adjustments relate to
stock or securities of the Company, such adjustments shall be made by the
Administrator of the Plan, and its determination shall be final, binding and
conclusive.
(e) The provisions of this Paragraph 7 are intended to be
exclusive, and Optionee shall have no other rights upon the occurrence of any of
the events described in this Paragraph 7.
(f) The grant of the Option shall not affect in any way the
right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications,
reorganizations or changes in its capital or business structure, or to merge,
consolidate, dissolve or liquidate, or to sell or transfer all or any part of
its business or assets.
8. Right of First Refusal.
Optionee agrees that the Company shall have the right of first
refusal (the "First Refusal Right"), exercisable in connection with any proposed
sale, hypothecation or other disposition of the Shares purchased by Optionee
pursuant to this Option Agreement; and in the event Optionee desires to accept a
bona fide third-party offer for any or all of such Shares, the Shares shall
first be offered to the Company upon the same terms and conditions as are set
forth in the bona fide offer.
9. Waiver of Rights to Purchase Stock.
By signing this Option Agreement, Optionee acknowledges and
agrees that neither the Company nor any other person or entity is under any
obligation to sell or transfer to Optionee any option or equity security of the
Company, other than the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option and any
other right or option to purchase Common Stock which was previously granted in
writing to Optionee by the Board (or a committee thereof). By signing this
Option Agreement, except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence,
Optionee specifically waives all rights which he or she may have had prior to
the date of this Option Agreement to receive any option or equity security of
the Company.
10. Investment Intent.
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Optionee represents and agrees that if he or she exercises the
Option in whole or in part and if at the time of such exercise the Plan and/or
the Purchased Shares have not been registered under the Act, he or she will
acquire the Shares upon such exercise for the purpose of investment and not with
a view to the distribution of such Shares, and that upon each exercise of the
Option he or she will furnish to the Company a written statement to such effect.
11. Legend on Stock Certificates.
Optionee agrees that all certificates representing the
Purchased Shares will be subject to such stock transfer orders and other
restrictions (if any) as the Company may deem advisable under the rules,
regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed and any applicable
federal or state securities laws, and the Company may cause a legend or legends
to be put on such certificates to make appropriate reference to such
restrictions.
12. No Rights as Shareholder.
Except as provided in Section 8.1 of the Plan, Optionee shall
have no rights as a shareholder with respect to the Shares until the date of the
issuance to Optionee of a stock certificate or stock certificates evidencing
such Shares. Except as may be provided in Paragraph 7 of this Option Agreement,
no adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in
cash, securities or other property) or distributions or other rights for which
the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is issued.
13. Modification.
Subject to the terms and conditions and within the limitations
of the Plan, the Board (or a committee thereof) may modify, extend or renew the
Option or accept the surrender of, and authorize the grant of a new option in
substitution for, the Option (to the extent not previously exercised). No
modification of the Option shall be made which, without the consent of Optionee,
would cause the Option to fail to continue to qualify as an "incentive stock
option" within Section 422 of the Code or would alter or impair any rights of
the Optionee under the Option.
14. Withholding.
(a) The Company shall be entitled to require as a condition of
delivery of any Purchased Shares upon exercise of any Option that the Optionee
agree to remit, at the time of such delivery or at such later date as the
Company may determine, an amount sufficient to satisfy all federal, state and
local withholding tax requirements relating thereto, and Optionee agrees to take
such other action required by the Company to satisfy such withholding
requirements.
(b) With the consent of the Administrator, and in accordance
with any rules and procedures from time to time adopted by the Administrator,
Optionee may elect
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to satisfy his or her obligations under Paragraph 13(a) above by (i) directing
the Company to withhold a portion of the Shares otherwise deliverable (or to
tender back to the Company a portion of the Shares issued where the Optionee (a
"Section 16(b) Recipient") is required to report the ownership of the Shares
pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and has not made an election under Section 83(b) of the Code (a "Withholding
Right")); or (ii) tendering other shares of the Common Stock of the Company
which are already owned by Optionee which in all cases have a fair market value
(as determined in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4(b) hereof) on
the date as of which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined (the "Tax
Date") equal to the amount of taxes to be paid by such method.
(c) To exercise a Withholding Right, the Optionee must follow
the election procedures set forth below, together with such additional
procedures and conditions set forth in this Option Agreement or otherwise
adopted by the Administrator:
(i) the Optionee must deliver to the Company his or her
written notice of election (the "Election") and specify whether all or a stated
percentage of the applicable taxes will be paid in accordance with Paragraph
13(b) above and whether the amount so paid shall be made in accordance with the
"flat" withholding rates for supplemental wages or as determined in accordance
with Optionee's form W-4 (or comparable state or local form);
(ii) unless disapproved by the Administrator as provided
in Subsection (iii) below, the Election once made will be irrevocable; and
(iii) no Election is valid unless the Administrator has
the right and power, in its sole discretion, with or without cause or reason
therefor, to consent to the Election, to refuse to consent to the Election, or
to disapprove the Election; and if the Administrator has not consented to the
Election on or prior to the Tax Date, the Election will be deemed approved.
(iv) if the Optionee on the date of delivery of the
Election to the Company is a Section 16(b) Recipient, the following additional
provisions will apply:
(A) the Election cannot be made during the six
calendar month period commencing with the date of grant of the Withholding Right
(even if the Option to which such Withholding Right relates has been granted
prior to such date); and
(B) the Election must be made any day six calendar
months or more prior to the Tax Date.
(d) To exercise a Withholding Right, the Rights holder must
follow the election procedures set forth below, together with such additional
procedures and conditions as may be set forth in the related Rights agreement or
otherwise adopted by the Administrator:
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(i) The Rights holder must deliver to the Company his or
her written notice of election (the "Election") to have the Withholding Right
apply to all (or a designated portion) of his or her Right.
(ii) Unless disapproved by the Administrator as provided
in Subsection (iii) below, the Election once made will be irrevocable.
(e) Any election under Paragraph 13(b) above must:
(i) be made in writing on or prior to the Tax Date and
specify whether all or a stated percentage of the applicable taxes will be paid
in accordance with Paragraph 13(b) above and whether the amount so paid shall be
made in accordance with the "flat" withholding rates for supplemental wages or
as determined in accordance with Optionee's form W-4 (or comparable state or
local form);
(ii) be irrevocable, once made;
(iii) conform to all rules and procedures from time to
time adopted by the Administrator and be made subject to rejection by the
Administrator for any reason; and
(iv) in the case of a Section 16(b) Recipient:
(A) not be made within six months of the grant of
the Option; and
(B) be made not later than (x) six months less one
day prior to the Tax Date, or (y) in the ten day "window period" beginning on
the third day following the release of the Company's quarterly or annual summary
financial data as described in Rule 16b-3(e) of the Rules and Regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated under the Exchange Act.
15. Character of Option.
The Option is not intended to qualify as an "incentive stock
option" as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code.
16. General Provisions.
(a) Further Assurances. Optionee shall promptly take all
actions and execute all documents requested by the Company which the Company
deems to be reasonably necessary to effectuate the terms and intent of this
Option Agreement.
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(b) Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other
communications under this Option Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
given to the parties hereto as follows:
(i) If to the Company, to:
DVD Express, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
(ii) If to Optionee, to the address set forth in the
records of the Company,
or at such other address or addresses as may have been furnished by either such
party in writing to the other party hereto. Any such notice, request, demand or
other communication shall be effective (i) if given by mail, 72 hours after such
communication is deposited in the mail by first-class certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid, or (ii) if given by
any other means, when delivered at the address specified in this subparagraph
(b).
(c) Transfer of Rights under this Option Agreement. The
Company may at any time transfer and assign its rights and delegate its
obligations under this Option Agreement to any other person, corporation, firm
or entity, including its officers, directors and stockholders, with or without
consideration.
(d) Option Non-Transferable. Optionee may not sell, transfer,
assign or otherwise dispose of the Option except by will or the laws of descent
and distribution and Stock Options may be exercised during the lifetime of the
Option Holder only by the Option Holder or by his or her guardian or legal
representative.
(e) Market Stand-Off. In the event of an underwritten public
offering by the Company of its equity securities pursuant to an effective
registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
including the Company's initial public offering, Optionee shall not sell, make
any short sale of, loan, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option for the
repurchase of, or otherwise dispose or Transfer for value or otherwise agree to
engage in any of the foregoing transactions with respect to any shares of Common
Stock without the prior written consent of the Company or its underwriters, for
such period of time from and after the effective date of such registration
statement as may be requested by the Company or such underwriters (the "Market
Stand-Off"); provided, however, that in no event shall such period exceed one
hundred-eighty (180) days. The Market Stand-Off shall terminate following the
expiration of the two-year period immediately following the effective date of
the Company's initial public offering.
(f) Successors and Assigns. Except to the extent specifically
limited by the terms and provisions of this Option Agreement, this Option
Agreement shall be
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binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives.
(g) Governing Law. THIS OPTION AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE IN, AND TO BE PERFORMED WITHIN, THAT STATE.
(h) Severability. Should any paragraph or any part of a
paragraph within this Option Agreement be rendered void, invalid or
unenforceable by any court of law for any reason, such invalidity or
unenforceability shall not void nor render invalid or unenforceable any other
paragraph or part of a paragraph in this Option Agreement.
(i) Attorney's Fees. In the event that any action, suit or
proceeding is instituted upon any breach of this Option Agreement, the
prevailing party shall be paid by the other party thereto an amount equal to all
of the prevailing party's costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees incurred
in each and every such action, suit or proceeding (including any and all appeals
or petitions therefrom). As used in this Agreement, "attorneys' fees" shall mean
the full and actual cost of any legal services actually performed in connection
with the matter involved calculated on the basis of the usual fee charged by the
attorney performing such services and shall not be limited to "reasonable
attorneys' fees" as defined in any statute or rule of court.
(j) The Plan. This Option Agreement is made pursuant to the
Plan, and it is intended, and shall be interpreted in a manner, to comply
therewith. Any provision of this Option Agreement inconsistent with the Plan
shall be superseded and governed by the Plan.
(k) Miscellaneous. Titles and captions contained in this
Option Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and do not
constitute a part of this Option Agreement for any other purpose.
The Signature Page to this Option Agreement consists of the last
page of the Certificate.
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Exhibit "A"
NOTICE OF EXERCISE
(To be signed only upon exercise of the Option)
TO: DVD Express, Inc.
The undersigned, the holder of the enclosed Stock Option Agreement
(Non- Statutory Stock Option), hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the
purchase rights represented by the Option and to purchase thereunder _________ *
shares of Common Stock of DVD Express, Inc. (the "Company"), and herewith
encloses payment of $_______ and/or _________ shares of the Company's Common
Stock in full payment of the purchase price of such shares being purchased.
Dated: _______________
_____________________________________________
(Signature must conform in all
respects to name of holder as
specified on the face of the
Option)
_____________________________________________
(Please Print Name)
_____________________________________________
(Address)
* Insert here the number of shares called for on the face of the Option
(or, in the case of a partial exercise, the number of shares being exercised),
in either case without making any adjustment for additional Common Stock of the
Company, other securities or property which, pursuant to the adjustment
provisions of the Option, may be deliverable upon exercise.
