Please wait
Exhibit
4.4
e.Digital
Corporation
SPECIAL
STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE
e.Digital
Corporation (the “Company”) hereby grants to the Optionee named below, an
employee of the Company, as an inducement material to the Optionee’s continuing
employment with the Company, a stock option to purchase the number of shares
of
the Company’s common stock set forth below. This option is subject to all of the
terms and conditions as set forth herein and the Stock Option Agreement
(attached hereto), which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
|
Optionee:
|
Pat
Nunally
|
|
Grant
No:
|
S-04
|
|
Date
of Grant:
|
10/2/2006
|
|
Shares
Subject to Option:
|
250,000
common shares
|
|
Exercise
Price Per Share:
|
$0.16
|
|
Expiration
Date:
|
10/2/2010
|
|
Intended
to be Incentive Stock Option:
|
No
|
| |
|
|
VESTING
SCHEDULE:
|
|
|
Vesting
Start Date
|
Vesting
Schedule
|
|
(on
performance)
|
Subject
to continuing Service (as defined in the Stock Option Agreement)
this
option becomes exercisable with respect to the Shares Subject to
Option
only upon e.Digital’s receipt of an aggregate of twenty-five million
($25,000,000) dollars in licensing fees resulting from any Contingency
Representation Agreement with a law firm partner (net after all
costs,
attorneys fees and expenses) prior to the Expiration
Date.
|
ADDITIONAL
TERMS/ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: This grant is a part of a total grant of 750,000 shares
by the Board as an inducement to your continued consultancy with the Company
with the balance documented in a separate option agreement. The undersigned
Optionee acknowledges receipt of, and represents that the Optionee has read,
understands, accepts and agrees to the terms of this Grant Notice and the Stock
Option Agreement. Optionee hereby accepts the Option subject to all of its
terms
and conditions and further acknowledges that as of the Date of Grant, this
Grant
Notice and the Stock Option Agreement set forth the entire understanding between
Optionee and the Company regarding the acquisition of stock in the Company
and
supersede all prior oral and written agreements pertaining to this particular
option.
NOTE:
THE
OPTIONEE IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ELECTION TO EXERCISE THE OPTION, AND
THE
COMPANY SHALL HAVE NO OBLIGATION WHATSOEVER TO PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE OPTIONEE
OF
ANY MATTER, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE DATE THE OPTION
TERMINATES.
|
e.Digital
Corporation:
|
Optionee:
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
By:
/s/W. A. Blakeley
|
/s/Pat
Nunally
|
|
President
|
|
e.Digital
Corporation
SPECIAL
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Pursuant
to the Grant Notice and this Stock Option Agreement (“Agreement”), e.Digital
Corporation (the “Company”) has granted to the Optionee named in the Grant
Notice (“you” or the “Optionee”) an Option to purchase the number of shares of
the Company’s common stock (“Stock”) indicated in the Grant Notice at the
exercise price indicated in the Grant Notice.
The
details of this Option are as follows:
1.
Definitions And Construction.
1.1
Definitions. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their
respective meanings set forth below:
(a)
“Affiliate” means (i) an entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly,
or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company
or
(ii) an entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by
the
Company directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities,
or
(iii) an entity which the Board designates as an Affiliate. For this purpose,
the term “control” (including the term “controlled by”) means the possession,
direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of the relevant entity, whether through the ownership
of
voting securities, by contract or otherwise; or shall have such other meaning
assigned such term for the purposes of registration on Form S-8 under the
Securities Act.
(b)
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. If one or more Committees
have been appointed by the Board to administer outstanding stock options,
“Board” also means such Committee(s).
(c)
A
“Change In Control” means the occurrence of any of the following
events:
(i) The
agreement to acquire or a tender offer that is accepted for beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) by any
individual, entity or group (within the meaning of section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2)
of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”), of 50% or more of either (x) the then
outstanding shares of Stock (the “Outstanding Stock”) or (y) the combined voting
power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to
vote
generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting
Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the
following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any
acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company,
(C)
any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, (D)
any
acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with
clauses (A), (B) and (C) of paragraph (iii) below; or
(ii) Individuals
who constitute the Incumbent Board cease for any reason to constitute at least
a
majority of the Board; or
(iii) Consummation
of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of
all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company or an acquisition of assets
of
another corporation (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following
such Business Combination, (A) the Outstanding Stock and Outstanding Company
Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination represent
or
are converted into or exchanged for securities which represent or are
convertible into more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares
of
common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the
case
may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including,
without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns
the
Company, or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or
through one or more subsidiaries), (B) no Person (excluding any employee benefit
plan (or related trust) of the Company or the corporation resulting from such
Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more
of,
respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent
that
such ownership of the Company existed prior to the Business Combination and
(C)
at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation
resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board
at
the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the
Board, providing for such Business Combination; or
(iv) Consummation
of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of
all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”),
unless, following such Business Combination, the Outstanding Stock and
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business
Combination represent or are converted into or exchanged for securities which
represent or are convertible into more than 50% of, respectively, the then
outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result
of
such transaction owns the Company, or all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries); or
(v) Approval
by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution
of
the Company.
(d)
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(e)
“Committee” means the Compensation Committee or other committee of the Board
duly appointed to administer this Agreement and having such powers as shall
be
specified by the Board. Unless the powers of the Committee have been
specifically limited, the Committee shall have all of the powers of the Board
granted herein.
(f)
“Company” means e.Digital Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or any
Successor.
(g)
“Consultant” means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services
(other than as an Employee or a Director) to a Participating
Company.
(h)
“Director” means a member of the Board or of the board of directors of any other
Participating Company.
(i)
“Disability” means the Optionee has been determined by the long-term disability
insurer of the Participating Company Group as eligible for disability benefits
under the long-term disability plan of the Participating Company Group or the
Optionee has been determined eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits
by the Social Security Administration of the United States of
America.
(j)
“Employee” means any person treated as an employee (including an Officer or a
Director who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating
Company. The Company shall determine in good faith and in the exercise of its
discretion whether the Optionee has become or has ceased to be an Employee
and
the effective date of the Optionee’s employment or termination of employment, as
the case may be.
(k)
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(l)
“Fair
Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Stock determined as
follows:
(vi) if
shares
of Stock of the same class are listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges
on any national or regional securities exchange at the date of determining
the
Fair Market Value, then the last reported sale price, regular way, on the
composite tape of that exchange on that business day or, if no such sale takes
place on that business day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices,
regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted
to
unlisted trading privileges on that securities exchange or, if no such closing
prices are available for that day, the last reported sale price, regular way,
on
the composite tape of that exchange on the last business day before the date
in
question; or
(vii) if
shares
of Stock of the same class are not listed or admitted to unlisted trading
privileges as provided in subparagraph (i) and if sales prices for shares of
Stock of the same class in the over-the-counter market are reported by the
OTC
Bulletin Board (“OTCBB”) as of the date of determining the Fair Market Value,
then the last reported sales price so reported on that business day or, if
no
such sale takes place on that business day, the average of the high bid and
low
asked prices so reported or, if no such prices are available for that day,
the
last reported sale price so reported on the last business day before the date
in
question; or
(viii) if
shares
of Stock of the same class are not listed or admitted to unlisted trading
privileges as provided in subparagraph (i) and sales prices for shares of Stock
of the same class are not reported by the OTCBB (or a similar system then in
use) as provided in subparagraph (ii), and if bid and asked prices for shares
of
Stock of the same class in the over-the-counter market are reported by OTCBB
(or, if not so reported, by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated) as
of
the date of determining the Fair Market Value, then the average of the high
bid
and low asked prices on that business day or, if no such prices are available
for that day, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on the last
business day before the date in question; or
(ix) if
shares
of Stock of the same class are not listed or admitted to unlisted trading
privileges as provided in subparagraph (i) and sales prices or bid and asked
prices therefor are not reported by OTCBB (or the National Quotation Bureau
Incorporated) as provided in subparagraph (ii) or subparagraph (iii) as of
the
date of determining the Fair Market Value, then the value determined in good
faith by the Committee, which determination shall be conclusive for all
purposes; or if shares of Stock of the same class are listed or admitted to
unlisted trading privileges as provided in subparagraph (i) or sales prices
or
bid and asked prices therefor are reported by OTCBB (or the National Quotation
Bureau Incorporated) as provided in subparagraph (ii) or subparagraph (iii)
as
of the date of determining the Fair Market Value, but the volume of trading
is
so low that the Board of Directors determines in good faith that such prices
are
not indicative of the fair value of the Stock, then the value determined in
good
faith by the Committee, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes
notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (i), (ii) or (iii).
(m)
“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to be (as set forth in the
Option Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive stock option within the
meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
(n)
“Insider” means an Officer, a Director of the Company or other person whose
transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange
Act.
(o)
“Non-Control Affiliate” means any entity in which any Participating Company has
an ownership interest and which the Board shall designate as a Non-Control
Affiliate.
(p)
“Officer” means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the
Company.
(q)
An
“Ownership Change Event” shall be deemed to have occurred if any of the
following occurs with respect to the Company: (i) the direct or indirect sale
or
exchange in a single or series of related transactions by the stockholders
of
the Company of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock of the Company;
(ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; (iii) the sale,
exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board
in
its discretion, of the assets of the Company; or (iv) a liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
(r)
“Parent Corporation” means any present or future “parent corporation” of the
Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(s)
“Participating Company” means the Company or any Parent Corporation or
Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.
(t)
“Participating Company Group” means, at any point in time, all entities
collectively which are then Participating Companies.
(u)
“Rule
16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or
any successor rule or regulation.
(v)
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(w)
“Service” means
(i)
the
Optionee’s employment or service with the Participating Company Group, whether
in the capacity of an Employee, a Director or a Consultant. The Optionee’s
Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in
the
capacity in which the Optionee renders Service to the Participating Company
Group or a change in the Participating Company for which the Optionee renders
such Service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the
Optionee’s Service. Furthermore, only to such extent as may be provided by the
Company’s leave policy, the Optionee’s Service with the Participating Company
Group shall not be deemed to have terminated if the Optionee takes any military
leave, sick leave, or other leave of absence approved by the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence shall be treated as Service
for purposes of vesting only to such extent as may be provided by the Company’s
leave policy. The Optionee’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated either
upon an actual termination of Service or upon the entity for which the Optionee
performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company; except that if the
entity for which Optionee performs Service is a Subsidiary Corporation and
ceases to be a Participating Company as a result of the distribution of the
voting stock of such Subsidiary Corporation to the stockholders of the Company,
Service shall not be deemed to have terminated as a result of such distribution.
Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine
whether the Optionee’s Service has terminated and the effective date of such
termination.
(ii)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, an Optionee’s Service shall
not be deemed to have terminated merely because the Participating Company for
which the Optionee renders Service ceases to be a member of the Participating
Company Group by reason of a Spinoff Transaction, nor shall Service be deemed
to
have terminated upon resumption of Service from the Spinoff Company to a
Participating Company. For all purposes under this Agreement, the Optionee’s
Service shall include Service, whether in the capacity of an Employee, Director
or a Consultant, for the Spinoff Company provided the Optionee was employed
by
the Participating Company Group immediately prior to the Spinoff Transaction.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company’s auditors determine that the
provisions or operation of the preceding two sentences would cause the Company
to incur a compensation expense and provided further that in the absence of
the
preceding two sentences no such compensation expense would be incurred, then
the
two preceding sentences shall be without force or effect, and the vesting and
exercisability of each outstanding Option and any shares acquired upon the
exercise thereof shall be determined under any other applicable provision of
this Agreement.
(x)
“Spinoff Company” means a Participating Company which ceases to be such as a
result of a Spinoff Transaction.
(y)
“Spinoff Transaction” means a transaction in which the voting stock of an entity
in the Participating Company Group is distributed to the shareholders of a
parent corporation as defined by Section 424(e) of the Code, of such
entity.
(z)
“Stock” means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in
accordance with Section 9.
(aa)
“Subsidiary Corporation” means any present or future “subsidiary corporation” of
the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(bb)
“Successor” means a corporation into or with which the Company is merged or
consolidated or which acquires all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company and which is designated by the Board as a Successor for purposes of
this
Agreement.
1.2
Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only
and
shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this
Agreement. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall
include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term
“or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires
otherwise.
2.
Vesting. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, this option will vest
as provided in the Grant Notice.
3.
Exercise Of The Option.
3.1
Method Of Exercise. You may exercise the vested portion of this Option at any
time prior to the expiration of the Option by delivering a notice of exercise
in
such form as may be designated by the Company from time to time together with
the exercise price to the Secretary of the Company, or to such other person
as
the Company may designate, during regular business hours and prior to the
expiration of the Option, together with such additional documents as the Company
may then require.
3.2
Method Of Payment. Payment of the exercise price may be by cash (or check),
or
pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal
Reserve Board which, prior to the issuance of Stock, results in either the
receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable
instructions to a broker which provides for the payment of the aggregate
exercise price to the Company, or a combination of the above methods, as the
Company may designate from time to time. The Company reserves, at any and all
times, the right, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, to establish,
decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the exercise
of
Options by means of a Cashless Exercise.
3.3
Tax
Withholding. By exercising this Option you agree that as a condition to any
exercise of this Option, the Company may withhold from your pay and any other
amounts payable to you, or require you to enter an arrangement providing for
the
payment by you to the Company of any tax withholding obligation of the Company
arising by reason of (1) the exercise of this Option; or (2) the disposition
of
Stock acquired upon such exercise.
3.4
Responsibility For Exercise. You are responsible for taking any and all actions
as may be required to exercise this Option in a timely manner and for properly
executing any such documents as may be required for exercise in accordance
with
such rules and procedures as may be established from time to time. By signing
this Agreement you acknowledge that information regarding the procedures and
requirements for this exercise of the Option is available to you on request.
The
Company shall have no duty or obligation to notify you of the expiration date
of
this Option.
4.
Securities Law Compliance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, this Option may not be exercised unless the Stock issuable upon exercise
of this Option is then registered under the Securities Act or, if such Stock
is
not then so registered, the Company has determined that such exercise and
issuance would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act.
5.
Termination Of The Option. The term of this Option commences on the Date of
Grant (as specified in the Grant Notice) and expires and shall no longer be
exercisable upon the earliest of:
5.1
the
Expiration Date indicated in the Grant Notice;
5.2
the
last day for exercising the Option following termination of your Service as
described in Section 6 below; or
5.3
a
Change of Control, to the extent provided in Section 7 below.
6.
Effect
Of Termination Of Service.
6.1
Option Exercisability. Subject to earlier termination of the Option as otherwise
provided herein, the Option shall be exercisable after the Optionee’s
termination of Service only during the applicable time period determined in
accordance with this Section 6 and thereafter shall terminate.
(a)
Disability. If the Optionee’s Service terminates because of the Disability of
the Optionee, the Option shall continue for a period of one year from
termination of employment resulting from such Disability and may be exercised
by
the Optionee at any time during the one year period but in any event no later
than the Expiration Date.
(b)
Death. If the Optionee’s Service terminates because of the death or because of
the Disability of the Optionee and such termination is subsequently followed
by
the death of the Optionee, (A) the exercisability and vesting of the Option
shall be accelerated effective upon the Optionee’s death, and (B) the Option, to
the extent unexercised and exercisable on the date of the Optionee’s death, may
be exercised by the Optionee’s legal representative or other person who acquired
the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Optionee’s death at any time
prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months after the date of the Optionee’s
death, but in any event no later than the Expiration Date.
(c)
Termination After Change In Control. If the Optionee’s Service ceases as a
result of Termination After Change in Control (as defined below), then (A)
the
exercisability and vesting of the Option shall be accelerated effective as
of
the date on which the Optionee’s Service terminated, and (B) the Option, to the
extent unexercised and exercisable on the date on which the Optionee’s Service
terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee (or the Optionee’s guardian or
legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of six (6) months
after the date on which the Optionee’s Service terminated, but in any event no
later than the Expiration Date.
(e)
Other
Termination Of Service. If the Optionee’s Service with the Participating Company
Group terminates for any reason except Disability, death, Transfer to a
Non-Control Affiliate, or Termination after Change in Control, the Option,
to
the extent unexercised and exercisable by the Optionee on the date on which
the
Optionee’s Service terminates, may be exercised by the Optionee at any time
prior to the expiration of 90 days after the date on which the Optionee’s
Service terminates, but in any event no later than the Expiration
Date.
6.2
Extension If Exercise Prevented By Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, other
than termination for Cause, if the exercise of an Option within the applicable
time periods set forth in Section 6.1 is prevented by the provisions of Section
4 above, the Option shall remain exercisable until three (3) months after the
date the Optionee is notified by the Company that the Option is exercisable,
but
in any event no later than the Expiration Date.
6.3
Extension If Optionee Subject To Section 16(b). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
other than termination for Cause, if a sale within the applicable time periods
set forth in Section 6.1 of shares acquired upon the exercise of the Option
would subject the Optionee to suit under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act,
the
Option shall remain exercisable until the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth
(10th) day following the date on which a sale of such shares by the Optionee
would no longer be subject to such suit, (ii) the one hundred and ninetieth
(190th) day after the Optionee’s termination of Service, or (iii) the Expiration
Date.
6.4
Certain Definitions.
(a)
“Cause” shall mean any of the following: (1) the Optionee’s theft, dishonesty,
or falsification of any Participating Company documents or records; (2) the
Optionee’s improper use or disclosure of a Participating Company’s confidential
or proprietary information; (3) any action by the Optionee which has a
detrimental effect on a Participating Company’s reputation or business; (4) the
Optionee’s failure or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after
written notice from a Participating Company of, and a reasonable opportunity
to
cure, such failure or inability; (5) any material breach by the Optionee of
any
employment or service agreement between the Optionee and a Participating
Company, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement;
(6)
the Optionee’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere) of
any criminal act which impairs the Optionee’s ability to perform his duties with
a Participating Company; or (7) violation of a material Company
policy.
(b)
“Good
Reason” shall mean any one or more of the following:
(i)
without the Optionee’s express written consent, the assignment to the Optionee
of any duties, or any limitation of the Optionee’s responsibilities,
substantially inconsistent with the Optionee’s positions, duties,
responsibilities and status with the Participating Company Group immediately
prior to the date of the Change in Control;
(ii)
without the Optionee’s express written consent, the relocation of the principal
place of the Optionee’s employment or service to a location that is more than
fifty (50) miles from the Optionee’s principal place of employment or service
immediately prior to the date of the Change in Control, or the imposition of
travel requirements substantially more demanding of the Optionee than such
travel requirements existing immediately prior to the date of the Change in
Control;
(iii)
any
failure by the Participating Company Group to pay, or any material reduction
by
the Participating Company Group of, (A) the Optionee’s base salary in effect
immediately prior to the date of the Change in Control (unless reductions
comparable in amount and duration are concurrently made for all other employees
of the Participating Company Group with responsibilities, organizational level
and title comparable to the Optionee’s), or (B) the Optionee’s bonus
compensation, if any, in effect immediately prior to the date of the Change
in
Control (subject to applicable performance requirements with respect to the
actual amount of bonus compensation earned by the Optionee);
(iv)
any
failure by the Participating Company Group to (A) continue to provide the
Optionee with the opportunity to participate, on terms no less favorable than
those in effect for the benefit of any employee or service provider group which
customarily includes a person holding the employment or service provider
position or a comparable position with the Participating Company Group then
held
by the Optionee, in any benefit or compensation plans and programs, including,
but not limited to, the Participating Company Group’s life, disability, health,
dental, medical, savings, profit sharing, stock purchase and retirement plans,
if any, in which the Optionee was participating immediately prior to the date
of
the Change in Control, or their equivalent, or (B) provide the Optionee with
all
other fringe benefits (or their equivalent) from time to time in effect for
the
benefit of any employee group which customarily includes a person holding the
employment or service provider position or a comparable position with the
Participating Company Group then held by the Optionee;
(v)
any
breach by the Participating Company Group of any material agreement between
the
Optionee and a Participating Company concerning Optionee’s employment;
or
(vi)
any
failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of any material agreement
between the Optionee and the Company concerning the Optionee’s employment by a
successor or assign of the Company.
(c)
“Termination After Change In Control” shall mean either of the following events
occurring within twenty-four (24) months after a Change in Control:
(i)
termination by the Participating Company Group of the Optionee’s Service with
the Participating Company Group for any reason other than for Cause;
or
(ii)
the
Optionee’s resignation for Good Reason from all capacities in which the Optionee
is then rendering Service to the Participating Company Group within a reasonable
period of time following the event constituting Good Reason.
Notwithstanding
any provision herein to the contrary, Termination After Change in Control shall
not include any termination of the Optionee’s Service with the Participating
Company Group which (1) is for Cause; (2) is a result of the Optionee’s death or
Disability; (3) is a result of the Optionee’s voluntary termination of Service
other than for Good Reason; or (4) occurs prior to the effectiveness of a Change
in Control.
7.
Change
In Control. In the event of a Change in Control, the surviving, continuing,
successor, or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof,
as the case may be (the “Acquiring Corporation”), may, without the consent of
the Optionee, either assume the Company’s rights and obligations the Option or
substitute for the Option substantially equivalent options for the Acquiring
Corporation’s stock. In the event the Acquiring Corporation elects not to assume
or substitute for the Option in connection with a Change in Control, the
exercisability and vesting of the Option shall be accelerated, effective as
of
the date ten (10) days prior to the date of the Change in Control. The exercise
or vesting of this Option that was permissible solely by reason of this Section
shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the Change in Control. To the
extent this Option is neither assumed or substituted for by the Acquiring
Corporation in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised as of the
date of the Change in Control, it shall terminate and cease to be outstanding
effective as of the date of the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, shares acquired upon exercise of the Option prior to the Change
in
Control and any consideration received pursuant to the Change in Control with
respect to such shares shall continue to be subject to all applicable provisions
of the Agreement. Furthermore, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the corporation
the stock of which is subject to the Option immediately prior to an Ownership
Change Event described in Section 1.1(q)(i) constituting a Change in Control
is
the surviving or continuing corporation and immediately after such Ownership
Change Event less than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power
of
its voting stock is held by another corporation or by other corporations that
are members of an affiliated group within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of
the
Code without regard to the provisions of Section 1504(b) of the Code, the Option
shall not terminate unless the Board otherwise provides in its
discretion.
8.
Option
Not A Service Contract. This Option is not an employment or service contract
and
nothing in this Agreement or the Grant Notice shall be deemed to create in
any
way whatsoever any obligation on your part to continue in the service of the
Company, or of the Company to continue your service with the Company. In
addition, nothing in your Option shall obligate the Company, its stockholders,
Board, Officers or Employees to continue any relationship which you might have
as a Director or Consultant for the Company.
9.
Adjustments For Changes In Capital Structure. In the event of any stock
dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination,
reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the Company,
appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number and class of shares subject
to the Option and in the exercise price per share of the Option. If a majority
of the shares of Stock are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become
(whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event) shares of another
corporation (the “New Shares”), the Board may unilaterally amend this Agreement
to provide that the Option is exercisable for New Shares. In the event of any
such amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise price per
share of, the Option shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as
determined by the Board, in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any
fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall
be
rounded down to the nearest whole number, and in no event may the exercise
price
of the Option be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of
the
Stock subject to the Option.
10.
Representations. By executing this Agreement, you hereby warrant and represent
that you are acquiring this Option for your own account and that you have no
intention of distributing, transferring or selling all or any part of this
Option except in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and Section
25102(f) of the California Corporations Code. You also hereby warrant and
represent that you have either (i) preexisting personal or business
relationships with the Company or any of its officers, directors or controlling
persons, or (ii) the capacity to protect your own interests in connection with
the grant of this Option by virtue of the business or financial expertise of
you
or any of your professional advisors who are unaffiliated with and who are
not
compensated by the Company or any of its affiliates, directly or
indirectly.
11.
Notices. Any notices provided for in this Agreement or the Grant Notice shall
be
given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon receipt or, in
the
case of notices delivered by the Company to you, five (5) days after deposit
in
the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to you at the last address
you provided to the Company.
12.
Transferability. This Option shall not be transferable in any manner (including
without limitation, sale, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, or
assignment) other than, (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution,
(ii) by written designation of a beneficiary, in a form acceptable to the
Company, with such designation taking effect upon the death of the Optionee,
(iii) by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form acceptable to
the
Company (including such representations, warranties and indemnifications as
the
Company shall require the Optionee to make to protect the Company’s interests
and ensure that this Option has been transferred under the circumstances
approved by the Company), by gift to the Optionee’s spouse, former spouse,
children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling,
niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,
brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, persons having one of the foregoing types
of
relationship with the Optionee due to adoption, any person sharing the
Optionee’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a foundation in which
these persons or the Optionee control the management of assets, and any other
entity in which these persons (or the Optionee) own more than fifty percent
of
the voting interests. A transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent
of the voting interests are owned by these persons (or the Optionee) in exchange
for an interest in that entity is specifically included as a permissible type
of
transfer. In addition, a transfer to a trust created solely for the benefit
(i.e., the Optionee and/or any or all of the foregoing persons hold more than
50
percent of the beneficial interest in the trust) of the Optionee and/or any
or
all of the foregoing persons is also a permissible transferee, or (iv) such
other transferees as may be authorized by the Board in its sole and absolute
discretion. During the Optionee’s life this Option is exercisable only by the
Optionee or a transferee satisfying the above conditions. Except in the event
of
the Optionee’s death, upon transfer of this Option to any or all of the
foregoing persons, the Optionee is liable for any and all taxes due upon
exercise of this transferred Option. At no time will a transferee who is
considered an affiliate under Rule 144(a)(1) be able to sell any or all such
Stock without complying with Rule 144. The right of a transferee to exercise
the
transferred portion of this Option shall terminate in accordance with the
Optionee’s right of exercise under this Option and is further subject to such
representations, warranties and indemnifications from the transferee that the
Company requires the transferee to make to protect the Company’s interests and
ensure that this Option has been transferred under the circumstances approved
by
the Company. Once a portion of this Option is transferred, no further transfer
may be made of that portion of this Option.
13.
Arbitration. Any dispute or claim concerning the Option, the Grant Notice or
this Agreement shall be fully, finally and exclusively resolved by binding
arbitration conducted by the American Arbitration Association pursuant to the
commercial arbitration rules in San Diego, California. By accepting the Option,
the Optionee and the Company waive their respective rights to have any such
disputes or claims tried by a judge or jury.
14.
Amendment. The Board may amend your Option at any time, provided no such
amendment may adversely affect the Option or any unexercised portion of your
Option, without your consent unless such amendment is necessary to comply with
any applicable law or government regulation. No amendment or addition to this
Agreement shall be effective unless in writing or, in such electronic form
as
may be designated by the Company.