KINETIC CONCEPTS, INC. INTERNATIONAL STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.35
Option
Number:
Optionee Name:
KINETIC
CONCEPTS, INC.
2004
EQUITY PLAN
THIS
AGREEMENT (the “Option Agreement”) is made and entered into as of
_______________, 200__ (the “Date of Grant”), by and between Kinetic Concepts,
Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), and [_________________________] (the
“Optionee”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the
meaning ascribed to them in the Company’s 2004 Equity Plan (the
“Plan”). Where the context permits, references to the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries or affiliates shall include the successors to the
foregoing.
Pursuant
to the Plan, the Administrator has determined that the Optionee is to be
granted
an option (the “Option”) to purchase Shares, subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in the Plan and herein, and hereby grants such Option.
1. Number
of Shares and
Exercise Price. The Option entitles the Optionee to purchase
[_______] Shares (the “Option Shares”) at a price of US$[______] per share (the
“Option Exercise Price”).
2. Option
Term. The term of the Option and of the Option Agreement (the
“Option Term”) shall commence on the Date of Grant and, unless the Option is
previously terminated pursuant to Paragraph 5 below, shall terminate upon
the
expiration of ten (10) years from the Date of Grant (the “Expiration
Date”). As of the Expiration Date, all rights of the Optionee
hereunder shall terminate.
3. Conditions
of
Exercise.
(a)
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Subject
to Paragraph 5 below, the Option shall become vested and exercisable
as to
25% of the Option Shares on the first anniversary of the Date of
Grant,
and as to an additional 25% of the Option Shares on each of the
three
succeeding anniversaries of Date of Grant, provided that the Optionee
has
been continuously employed by or actively providing services to
the
Company or any Subsidiary or affiliate through each such date
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(b)
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Except
as otherwise provided herein, the right of the Optionee to purchase
Option
Shares with respect to which the Option has become exercisable
and vested
may be exercised in whole or in part at any time or from time to
time
prior to the Expiration Date; provided, however, that the Option
may not
be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
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4. Method
of
Exercise. This Option may be exercised, in whole or in part,
by means of a written notice of exercise to the Company in such form as may
be
approved by the Administrator from time to time and which may be obtained
from
the Company’s Equity Accounting and Administration department, accompanied by
payment in full of the aggregate Option Exercise Price in U.S. dollars which
may
be made (i) in cash or by check, (ii) to the extent
permitted
by applicable law, by means of any cashless exercise procedure through the
use
of a brokerage arrangement approved by the Administrator, or (iii) any
combination of the foregoing.
5. Effect
of Conduct
Constituting Cause; Termination of Employment or Service; or Change in
Control.
(a)
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If
at any time (whether before or after termination of employment
or service)
the Administrator determines that the Optionee has engaged in conduct
that
would constitute Cause, consistent with local law and regulations,
the
Administrator may provide for the immediate forfeiture of the Option
(including any securities, cash or other property issued upon exercise
or
other settlement of the Option), whether or not vested, consistent
with
local law and regulations. Any such determination by the
Administrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on all
persons.
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(b)
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If
the Optionee’s active employment with or service to the Company, any
Subsidiary or affiliate thereof terminates for any reason other
than for
Cause, death or Disability, the Option, to the extent vested and
exercisable as of the date of such termination, shall expire 30
days
following the date of such termination and the Option, to the extent
not
vested and exercisable as of the date of such termination, shall
expire as
of such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Optionee’s
active employment with or service to the Company, any Subsidiary
or
affiliate thereof terminates for Cause, the Option, whether or
not vested
or exercisable, shall expire as of the date of such
termination. The Option shall not be exercisable after the
Expiration Date.
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(c)
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If
the Optionee’s employment with or service to the Company, any Subsidiary
or any affiliate thereof terminates by reason of the Optionee’s death or
Disability, any portion of the Option that is outstanding at such
time
shall become fully and immediately vested and exercisable, and
shall
expire 180 days following the date of such termination. The
Option shall not be exercisable after the Expiration Date.
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(d)
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Upon
the occurrence of a Change in Control, any portion of the Option
that is
outstanding at such time shall become fully and immediately vested
and
exercisable, unless the Option is either assumed or an equitable
substitution is made therefore. In addition, if the Optionee’s
employment with or service to the Company, any Subsidiary or affiliate
thereof is terminated other than for Cause within 24 months following
a
Change in Control, any portion of the Option that is outstanding
at such
time shall become fully and immediately vested and
exercisable.
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(e)
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If
Optionee transfers from the Company to its Subsidiary or affiliate
or from
one of the Company’s Subsidiaries or affiliates to another, such transfer
shall not constitute a termination of employment for purposes of
the
vesting and exercisability of the Option and the expiration of
the Option,
unless otherwise determined by the Administrator.
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6. Adjustments. The
Option and all rights and obligations under this Option Agreement are subject
to
Section 5 of the Plan.
7. Nontransferability
of
Option. Except by will or under the laws of descent and
distribution and as set forth in the following two sentences, the Optionee
may
not sell, transfer, pledge or assign the Option, and, during the lifetime
of the
Optionee, only the Optionee may exercise the Option. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, during the Optionee’s lifetime, the Administrator may, in its
sole discretion, permit the transfer, assignment or other encumbrance of
the
Option. Additionally, subject to the approval of the Administrator
and to any conditions that the Administrator may prescribe, the Optionee
may,
upon providing written notice to the Company, elect to transfer the Option
(i)
to members of his or her Immediate Family, provided that no such
transfer may be made in exchange for consideration, (ii) by instrument to
an
inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the Option is to be passed to
beneficiaries upon the death of the Optionee, or (iii) pursuant to a qualified
domestic relations order or any similar instrument, to the extent permitted
by
applicable law. Any attempted sale, transfer, pledge, assignment,
encumbrance or other disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions
hereof
shall be null and void and without effect.
8. Notice. Whenever
any notice is required or permitted hereunder, such notice shall be in writing
and shall be given by personal delivery, facsimile, first class mail, certified
or registered with return receipt requested. Any notice required or
permitted to be delivered hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given
on
the date which it is personally delivered or, whether actually received or
not,
on the fifth day after depositing in the post or 24 hours after transmission
by
facsimile to the respective parties named below.
If to the Company:
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Kinetic
Concepts, Inc.
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Attn.:
Chief Financial Officer
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0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
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Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
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U.S.A.
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Phone:
0-(000) 000-0000
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Fax:
0-(000) 000-0000
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If
to
the Optionee: [Name of
Optionee]
[Address]
______________________
Facsimile:
_____________
Either
party may change such party’s address for notices by duly giving notice pursuant
hereto.
9. Withholding
Requirements in
Connection With Option Exercises.
(a)
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Pursuant
to Section 14 of the Plan, the Company (or Subsidiary or affiliate,
as the
case may be) has the right to require the Optionee to remit to
the Company
(or Subsidiary or affiliate, as the case may be) in cash an amount
sufficient to satisfy Optionee’s income tax, social insurance, payroll
tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding (“Tax-Related
Items”) related to the Option. Regardless of any action the
Company (or Subsidiary or affiliate) takes with respect to any
or all
Tax-Related Items, the Optionee has the ultimate liability for
all
Tax-Related Items legally due by the Optionee and remains responsible
for
payment of same. The Company or Subsidiary (or affiliate): (1)
makes no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment
of any
Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Option,
including
the grant, vesting or exercise of the Option, the subsequent sale
of
Shares acquired pursuant to such exercise and the receipt of any
dividends; and (2) does not commit to structure the terms of the
grant or
any aspect of the Option to reduce or eliminate the Optionee’s liability
for Tax-Related Items.
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(b)
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The
Optionee shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to
the
Company and/or the Subsidiary (or affiliate) to satisfy all withholding
and payment on account obligations of the Company and/or the Subsidiary
(or affiliate). With the approval of the Administrator and if
permissible under local law, the Optionee may elect to have the
Company
withhold from delivery Shares or deliver Shares, in each case,
having a
value equal to the aggregate required minimum Tax-Related Items
withholding to be collected by the Company or any Subsidiary or
affiliate
thereof. Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value
on the date on which the amount of tax to be withheld is
determined. The Optionee agrees to allow the Company and/or the
Subsidiary (or affiliate) to withhold all applicable Tax-Related
Items
legally payable by the Optionee from the Optionee’s wages or other cash
compensation paid to the Optionee by the Company and/or the Subsidiary
(or
affiliate) or from the proceeds of the sale of the
Shares. Alternatively, or in addition, with the approval of the
Administrator and if permissible under local law, to the extent
that
Optionee is not able to otherwise pay the Tax-Related Items withholding,
the Optionee agrees that the Company may sell or arrange for the
sale of
Shares that the Optionee acquires to meet the withholding obligation
for
Tax-Related Items; and/or withhold from delivery Shares having
a value
equal to the aggregate required minimum Tax-Related Items
withholding. Finally, the Optionee shall pay to the Company or
the Subsidiary (or affiliate) any amount of Tax-Related Items that
the
Company or the Subsidiary (or affiliate) may be required to withhold
as a
result of the Optionee’s participation in the Plan or the Optionee’s
purchase of Shares that cannot be satisfied by the means previously
described. The Company may refuse to honor the exercise and
refuse to deliver the Shares if the Optionee fails to comply with
the
Optionee’s obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as
described in this paragraph.
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10. Compliance
with
Laws.
(a)
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Shares
shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of the Option granted
hereunder unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance and
delivery
of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant
provisions
of law, including, without limitation, the U.S. Securities Act
of 1933, as
amended, the U.S. Exchange Act, the requirements of any stock exchange
upon which the Shares may then be listed, and the applicable local
laws,
and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the
Company
with respect to such compliance. The Company shall be under no
obligation to effect the registration pursuant to the U.S. Securities
Act
of 1933, as amended, of any interests in the Plan or any Shares
to be
issued hereunder or to effect similar compliance under any state
or local
laws.
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(b)
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All
certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan shall be subject
to such
stock-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator
may deem
advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements
of the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which
the
Shares may then be listed, and any applicable federal, state, or
local
securities law, and the Administrator may cause a legend or legends
to be
placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to
such
restrictions. The Administrator may require, as a condition of
the issuance and delivery of certificates evidencing Shares pursuant
to
the terms hereof, that the recipient of such Shares make such agreements
and representations as the Administrator, in its sole discretion,
deems
necessary or desirable.
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11. Protections
Against
Violations of Agreement. No purported sale, assignment,
mortgage, hypothecation, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, gift, transfer in
trust
(voting or other) or other disposition of, or creation of a security interest
in
or lien on, any of the Option Shares by any holder thereof in violation of
the
provisions of this Option Agreement or the Articles of Incorporation or the
Bylaws of the Company, will be valid, and the Company will not transfer any
of
such Option Shares on its books nor will any of such Option Shares be entitled
to vote, nor will any dividends be paid thereon, unless and until there has
been
full compliance with such provisions to the satisfaction of the
Company. The foregoing restrictions are in addition to and not in
lieu of any other remedies, legal or equitable, available to enforce said
provisions.
12. Nature
of
Grant.
(a)
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The
Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary
in
nature and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated
by the
Company at any time, unless otherwise provided in the Plan and
this Option
Agreement;
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(b)
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The
grant of the Options is voluntary and occasional and does not create
any
contractual or other right to receive future grants of Options,
or
benefits in lieu of Options, even if Options have been granted
repeatedly
in the past;
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(c)
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All
decisions with respect to future Option grants, if any, will be
at the
sole discretion of the Company;
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(d)
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Participation
in the Plan is voluntary;
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(e)
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The
Option is an extraordinary item that does not constitute compensation
of
any kind for services of any kind rendered to the Company or the
Subsidiary (or affiliate), and which is outside the scope of the
Optionee’s employment contract, if any;
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(f)
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The
Option is not a part of normal or expected compensation or salary
for any
purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance,
resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments,
bonuses,
long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar
payments;
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(g)
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The
future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be
predicted
with certainty;
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(h)
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If
the underlying Shares do not increase in value, the Options will
have no
value;
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(i)
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If
the Optionee exercises the Option and obtains Shares, the value
of those
Shares acquired upon exercise may increase or decrease in value,
even
below the Option Exercise Price;
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(j)
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In
consideration of the grant of the Option, no claim or entitlement
to
compensation or damages shall arise from termination of the Option
or
diminution in value of the Option or Shares purchased through the
exercise
of the Option resulting from termination of the Optionee’s active
employment by the Company or the Subsidiary (or affiliate) (for
any reason
whatsoever and whether or not in breach of local labor laws) and
the
Optionee hereby releases the Company and the Subsidiary (or affiliate)
from any such claim that may arise; if, notwithstanding the foregoing,
any
such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have
arisen,
then, by signing this Option Agreement, the Optionee shall be deemed
irrevocably to have waived the Optionee’s entitlement to pursue such
claim; and
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(k)
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Notwithstanding
any terms or conditions of the Plan to the contrary, in the event
of
involuntary termination of the Optionee’s employment (whether or not in
breach of local labor laws), the Optionee’s right to receive the Option
and vest in Options under the Plan, if any, will terminate effective
as of
the date that the Optionee is no longer actively employed and will
not be
extended by any notice period mandated under local law (e.g., active
employment
would not include a period of “garden leave” or similar period pursuant to
local law); furthermore, in the event of involuntary termination
of
employment (whether or not in breach of local labor laws), the
Optionee’s
right to exercise the Option after termination of employment, if
any, will
be measured by the date of termination of the Optionee’s active employment
and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under local
law.
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13. Data
Privacy. The Optionee explicitly and unambiguously consents to
the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of the Optionee’s
personal data as described in this document by and among, as applicable,
the
Company and the Subsidiary and affiliates for the exclusive purpose of
implementing, administering and managing the Optionee’s participation in the
Plan.
The
Optionee hereby understands that
the Company and the Subsidiary (or affiliates) hold certain personal information
about the Optionee, including, but not limited to, the Optionee’s name, home
address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other
identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares of stock
or
directorships held in the Company, details of all options or any other
entitlement to shares of stock awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested
or
outstanding in the Optionee’s favor, for the purpose of implementing,
administering and managing the Plan (“Data”). The Optionee hereby
understands that Data may be transferred to any third parties assisting in
the
implementation, administration and management of the Plan, that these recipients
may be located in the Optionee’s country or elsewhere, and that the recipient’s
country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the Optionee’s
country. The Optionee hereby understands that the Optionee may
request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of
the
Data by contacting the Optionee’s local human resources
representative. The Optionee authorizes the recipients to receive,
possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form,
for the
purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Optionee’s
participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data
as may
be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Optionee may elect
to
deposit any Shares acquired upon exercise of the option. The Optionee
hereby understands that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to
implement, administer and manage the Optionee’s participation in the
Plan. The Optionee hereby understands that the Optionee may, at any
time, view Data, request additional information about the storage and processing
of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the
consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing the
Optionee’s local human resources representative. The Optionee hereby
understands, however, that refusing or withdrawing the Optionee’s consent may
affect the Optionee’s ability to participate in the Plan. For more
information on the consequences of the Optionee’s refusal to consent or
withdrawal of consent, the Optionee hereby understands that the Optionee
may
contact the human resources representative responsible for the Optionee’s
country at the local or regional level.
14. Failure
to Enforce Not a
Waiver. The failure of the Company to enforce at any time any
provision of the Option Agreement shall in no way be construed to be a waiver
of
such provision or of any other provision hereof.
15. Governing
Law. The Option Agreement shall be governed by and construed
according to the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its principles
of
conflicts of laws as provided in the Plan. For purposes of litigating
any dispute that arises under this Option or the Option Agreement, the parties
hereby submit to and consent to the jurisdiction of the State of Texas, agree
that such litigation shall be conducted in the courts of San Antonio, Texas,
or
the federal courts for the United States for the Western District of Texas,
and
no other courts, where this Option grant is made and/or performed.
16. Incorporation
of the
Plan. The Plan, as it exists on the date of the Option
Agreement and as amended from time to time, is hereby incorporated by reference
and made a part hereof, and the Option and this Option Agreement shall be
subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan. In the event of any
conflict between the provisions of the Option Agreement and the provisions
of
the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control, except as expressly stated
otherwise. The term “Section” generally refers to provisions within
the Plan; provided, however, the term “Paragraph” shall refer to a provision of
this Option Agreement.
17. Amendments. This
Option Agreement may be amended or modified at any time, but only by an
instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
18. Rights
as a
Shareholder. Neither the Optionee nor any of the Optionee’s
successors in interest shall have any rights as a shareholder of the Company
with respect to any Option Shares until the Optionee has given written notice
of
exercise, has paid in full for such Shares, and has satisfied the requirements
in Section 14 and 15(b) of the Plan.
19. Agreement
Not a Contract of
Employment. Neither the Plan, the granting of the Option, the
Option Agreement nor any other action taken pursuant to the Plan shall
constitute or be evidence of any agreement or understanding, express or implied,
that the Optionee has a right to continue to be employed by, or to provide
services as a director, consultant or advisor to, the Company, any Subsidiary
or
affiliate thereof for any period of time or at any specific rate of
compensation.
20. Authority
of the
Administrator. The Administrator shall have full authority to
interpret and construe the terms of the Plan and the Option
Agreement. The Administrator shall have the exclusive discretion to
determine when the Optionee is no longer actively employed for purposes of
the
Option. The determination of the Administrator as to any such matter
of interpretation or construction shall be final, binding and
conclusive.
21. Binding
Effect. The Option Agreement shall apply to and bind the
Optionee and the Company and their respective permitted assignees or
transferees, heirs, legatees, executors, administrators and legal
successors.
22. Tax
Representation. The Optionee has reviewed with his or her own
tax advisors the federal, state, local and worldwide tax consequences of
the
transactions contemplated by this Option Agreement. The Optionee is
relying solely on such advisors and not on any statement or representations
of
the Company or any of its agents. The Optionee understands that he or
she (and not the Company) shall be responsible for any tax liability that
may
arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Option
Agreement.
23. Language. If
the Optionee has received this or any other document related to the Plan
translated into a language other than English and if the translated version
is
different than the English version, the English version will
control.
24. Electronic
Delivery. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to
deliver any documents related to the Option granted under and participation
in
the Plan or future options that may be granted under the Plan by electronic
means or to request the Optionee’s consent to participate in the Plan by
electronic means. The Optionee hereby consents to receive such
documents by electronic delivery and, if requested, to agree to participate
in
the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained
by
the Company or another third party designated by the Company.
25. Acceptance. The
Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Option
Agreement. Optionee has read and understands the terms and provisions
thereof, and accepts the Option subject to all the terms and conditions of
the
Plan and the Option Agreement.
26. Severability. The
provisions of this Option Agreement are severable and if any one or more
provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole
or
in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and
enforceable.
[SIGNATURE
PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered the Option
Agreement on the day and year first above written.
KINETIC
CONCEPTS, INC.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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OPTIONEE
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Signature:
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Name:
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Address:
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Telephone
No.:
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Identification
No.:
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DATE
OF
GRANT
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NUMBER
OF
SHARES
SUBJECT
TO
OPTION
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OPTION
EXERCISE
PRICE
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EXPIRATION
DATE
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