Exhibit 99.23
THIS OPTION AGREEMENT is made on 20th December 1999
BETWEEN
1. PARAGON SOFTWARE (HOLDINGS) LIMITED whose registered office
is at Vo-Tec Centre Hambridge Lane Xxxxxxx XX 14 5TN ("the Company");
and
2. XXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX, 30 Southlands, Chineham, Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx,
XX00 0XX ("the Employee").
WHEREAS
(A) The Employee is an employee of a Group Company and the Company is
willing to grant an option to the Employee in respect of the Option
Shares (as defined below) on the following terms and conditions.
(B) The Company has an authorised share capital of(pound)5,000,000
comprising 44,197,222 ordinary shares of 10p each, of which
10,000,000 have been issued, 1,441,650 "A" preferred shares of 10p
each, all of which have been issued, 1,633,980 "B" preferred shares
of l0p each, all of which have been issued, and 2,727,148 "C"
preferred shares of l0p each, all of which have been issued. The "X,"
"X" and "C" preferred shares may be converted into ordinary shares as
set out in Article 2 of the Articles of Association of the Company.
NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:
1. Interpretation
1.1 In this Agreement the following words and expressions shall (save
where the context otherwise requires) have the following meanings:
1.1.1 "Auditors" the auditors of the Company from time to
time.
1.1.2 "Board" the board of directors of the Company from
time to time.
1.1.3 "Control" the meaning given by Section 840, Income
and Corporation Taxes Xxx 0000.
1.1.4 "Group Company" any company which is a
holding company or subsidiary of the
Company or a subsidiary of a holding
company of the Company.
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1.1.5 "Option" the right granted to the Employee in respect
of the Option Shares by clause 2.
1.1.6 "Option Shares" 2,000 Shares subject to
variation pursuant to clause 6.
1.1.7 "Shares" ordinary l0p shares of the Company.
1.1.8 "Subscription
Price" 10p per Share subject to variation pursuant
to clause 6.
1.2 Headings are for ease of reference only and shall not affect the
construction of this Agreement.
1.3 Except in so far as the context otherwise requires:
1.3.1 words denoting the singular shall include the plural and vice
versa; and
1.3.2 the reference to any enactment shall be construed as a
reference to that enactment as from time to time amended,
extended or re- enacted.
1.4 Words defined in the Companies Xxx 0000 shall have the same meaning
in this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires.
2. Grant of Option
In consideration of the sum of (pound)1 (receipt of which is
acknowledged by the Company) the Company grants the Employee the
right to subscribe for the Option Shares or any of them (in amounts
not less than 1,000 shares each) from time to time at the
Subscription Price upon and subject to the terms set out below.
3. Right to Exercise Option
3.1 The right to exercise the Option shall terminate forthwith upon the
Employee ceasing to be an employee of a Group Company except in the
following cases:
3.1.1 if the Employee dies the Option may be exercised by his
personal representatives within twelve months of the date of
death to the extent to which it could have been (but had not
been) exercised under clause 3.4 on such date;
3.1.2 if the Employee ceases to be an employee of a Group Company by
reason of:
3.1.2.1 injury or disability (evidenced to the satisfaction
of the Board); or
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3.1.2.2 retirement at state or contractual retirement age
including late retirement; or
3.1.2.3 termination of employment (other than proper
dismissal upon his failure to comply with the terms
of his employment) provided that the Employee has
been an employee of a Group Company for not less
than two years;
the Option may be exercised within six months of the date of
the Employee so ceasing to be such an employee to the extent
to which it could have been (but had not been) exercised
under clause 3.4 on such date.
3.2 The right to exercise the Option shall terminate forthwith upon the
Employee being adjudicated bankrupt.
3.3 The Option shall be personal to the Employee and may not be transferred,
assigned or charged.
3.4 Except where the Option is exercised pursuant to clause 5 the Option may
only be exercised as follows:
3.4.1 as to the first 25% of the total Option Shares after 15th
November, 2000;
3.4.2 as to a further 25% of the total Option Shares after 15th
November 2001;
3.4.3 as to a further 25% of the total Option Shares after 15th
November 2002;
3.4.4 as to the balance of 25% of the total Option Shares after
l5th November 2003.
3.5 The Option may not be exercised within six months of a previous
exercise of the Option but such period shall be reduced to three
months if the Employee shall have ceased to be an employee of a Group
Company (or have been given or have given notice of termination of
his employment) but remains entitled under the terms of this
Agreement to exercise the Option.
3.6 The Option shall lapse on the earliest of the following dates:
3.6.1 the seventh anniversary of the date of this Agreement.
3.6.2 the date on which the Employee ceases to be an employee of a
Group Company in circumstances other than those specified in
clause 3.1.
3.6.3 the date on which a resolution is passed or an order is made
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for the Company to be wound up.
3.6.4 the date on which the Employee is adjudicated bankrupt.
3.6.5 the date on which the Employee does or omits to do anything
as a result of which act or omission he ceases to be the
legal and beneficial owner of the Option.
4. Exercise of Option
4.1 The Option shall be exercisable in whole or in part by notice in
writing given by the Employee to the Company. The notice of exercise
of the Option shall be accompanied by a cheque in favour of the
Company for the aggregate of the Subscription Prices payable.
However, notwithstanding any other provision contained in this
agreement, the Employee shall not be entitled to exercise the Option
until he has satisfied the Board as to his ability (including
if it so decides putting the Company (or his employer company in the
Group) in sufficient funds (the amount of which shall be determined
by the Company)) to meet any obligation of the Company (or such
employer company) to account for income tax or other amounts that are
chargeable under the PAYE system (or other withholding tax system in
any other relevant jurisdiction) in relation to the exercise of the
Option. The Company shall use reasonable endeavours (with the
Employee's assistance if required) to agree with the Inland Revenue
(or other relevant tax authority) the amount of any such income tax
or liability in advance of any Shares being issued to the Employee
following the exercise of the Option. If any funds made available are
less than or greater than the amount needed to meet any obligation of
either such company to account for income tax or other amounts so
chargeable in relation to the exercise of the Option, a payment shall
be made forthwith by the Employee to such company, or vice versa, as
appropriate.
4.2 Within 30 days of receipt by the Company of a notice of exercise
under clause 4.1 and a cheque for the appropriate amount the Company
shall allot the Shares in respect of which the Option has been
validly exercised and shall issue a definitive certificate in respect
of the Shares allotted. Save for any rights determined by reference
to a record date on or before the date of allotment such Shares shall
rank pari passu and as one class with the other issued Shares.
4.3 In respect of all Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement at a time
when the Shares are dealt in on a recognised or designated investment
exchange (other than The Stock Exchange) the Company shall make
application for the grant of permission to deal in such Shares on the
said exchange and in respect of all Shares issued pursuant to this
Agreement at a time when the Shares are listed on The Stock Exchange
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the Company shall make application to the Council of The Stock
Exchange for such Shares to be admitted to the Official List.
5. Takeovers mergers etc
5.1 If any person obtains Control of the Company as a result of making:
5.1.1 a general offer to acquire the whole of the issued ordinary
share capital of the Company which is made on a condition
such that if it is satisfied the person making the offer will
have Control of the Company; or
5.1.2 a general offer to acquire all the Shares;
the Option may be exercised within one month of the date on which the
person making the offer has obtained Control of the Company and any
condition subject to which the offer is made has been satisfied.
5.2 If under the Section 425 Companies Act 1985 the Court sanctions a
compromise or arrangement proposed for the purposes or in connection
with a scheme for the reconstruction of the Company or its
amalgamation with any other company or companies, the Option may be
exercised within one month of the Court sanctioning the compromise or
arrangement.
5.3 If any person becomes bound or entitled to acquire shares in the
Company under the Sections 428 to 430F Companies Xxx 0000 the Option
may be exercised at any time when that person remains so bound or
entitled.
5.4 For the purposes of clause 5.1 a person shall be deemed to have
obtained Control of the Company if it or he and others acting in
concert with him have together obtained Control of the Company.
6. Variation of share capital
6.1 In the event of any capitalisation, consolidation, sub-division or
reduction of the share capital of the Company or any rights issue or
other variation of capital (other than a fresh issue of shares)
taking place after the date of this Agreement the number of Option
Shares and/or the Subscription Price shall be varied in such manner
(if at all) as the Board shall determine and the Auditors shall
confirm in writing to be in their opinion fair and reasonable
provided that no variation shall be made which would result in the
Subscription Price for a Share being less than its par value. The
Company shall notify the Employee of any such variation.
7. Relevance of contract of employment
7.1 The grant of an Option will not form part of the Employee's
entitlement to remuneration or benefits pursuant to his contract of
employment. The rights and obligations of the Employee under the
terms of his contract of employment with the Company shall not be
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affected by the grant of an Option.
7.2 The rights granted to the Employee upon the grant of an Option shall
not afford the Employee any rights or additional rights to
compensation or damages in consequence of the loss or termination of
his office or employment with the Company for any reason whatsoever.
7.3 The Employee shall not be entitled to any compensation or damages for
any loss or potential loss which he may suffer by reason of being or
becoming unable to exercise an Option in consequence of the loss or
termination of his office or employment with the Company for any
reason other than as provided for in clause 3. 1.
8. General
8.1 The Company shall at all times keep available sufficient authorised
and unissued Shares to satisfy the exercise to the full extent still
possible of the Option taking account of any other obligations of the
Company to issue shares of any kind.
8.2 No variation to the terms of this Agreement shall be effective unless
agreed in writing by the parties.
8.3 Any notice to be given by the Company to the Employee may be
personally delivered or sent by ordinary post to his last known
address and where a notice is sent by post to his last known address
it shall be deemed to have been received 48 hours after having been
put into the post properly addressed and stamped.
8.4 Any notice to be given by the Employee to the Company shall be
delivered or sent to the Company at its registered office and shall
be effective upon receipt.
EXECUTED AS A DEED by ) /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
PARAGON SOFTWARE (HOLDINGS) )
LIMITED in the presence of: ) /s/ X.X. Xxxxx
Director
Director/Secretary
EXECUTED A DEED by the said ) /s/ X.X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
XXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXX )
in the presence of: ) /s/ X. Xxxxx
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