Form of Stock Option Agreement

EX-10.1 2 a04-11215_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

Stock Option Agreement Terms and Conditions

1. Exercise of Option. This Option shall be vested and exercisable with respect to [generally: forty percent (40%) on the last day of the fiscal year following the grant; on the last day of the second fiscal year following the grant, an additional thirty percent (30%); on the last day of the third fiscal year following the grant, the remaining thirty percent (30%)]. All such installments shall vest and be exercisable from the commencement date thereof and ending ten years after the date of this Agreement, all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In the event of Change of Control, the Option granted pursuant to this Agreement shall become immediately exercisable with respect to the full number of shares subject to this Option notwithstanding the preceding. Additionally, upon the death of the Optionee while employed by ConAgra Foods, Inc. (the Company), or a subsidiary thereof, or if the Optionee terminates employment with the Company, or a subsidiary thereof, upon Normal Retirement (as defined in Paragraph 9(c) below), all Options hereunder shall become 100% vested and exercisable. The Option shall be subject to the following:

(a) Right to Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable during the term of the Option, by the Optionee:

(i) while the Optionee is in Continuous Employment with the Company;

(ii) for a period ending 90 days after the Optionee’s Continuous Employment terminates for any reason. The options that may be exercised are those that are vested at the time termination of employment occurs;

(iii) for a period ending three (3) years after the Optionee qualifies for and takes Early Retirement; however, the Company, at the sole and absolute discretion of the Human Resources Committee of the Board, may shorten or eliminate such period. The options that may be exercised are those that are vested at the time Early Retirement occurs;

(iv) for a period ending three (3) years after the Optionee’s Normal Retirement from Continuous Employment with the Company; and

(v) for a period of three (3) years after date of death (by the estate of the Optionee) if the Optionee should die while in the Continuous Employment of the Company.

(b) Method of Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable by a written notice which shall:

(i) state the election to exercise the Option, the number of shares in respect of which it is being exercised, the person in whose name the stock certificate or certificates for such shares of Common Stock is to be registered, his/her address and social security number;

(ii) be signed by the person or persons entitled to exercise the Option and, if the Option is being exercised by any person or persons other than the Optionee, be accompanied by proof satisfactory to counsel for the Company of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option. Payment of the purchase price of any shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised shall be by check, and shall be delivered with notice of exercise; provided, however, at the election of the Optionee, the amount equal to the purchase price may be paid, in whole or in part, in Common Stock of the Company at fair market value.

(c) Restrictions on Exercise. As a condition to his/her exercise of this Option, the Company may require the person exercising this Option to make any representation and warranty to the Company as may be required by any applicable law or regulation.

(d) Payment of Taxes Upon Exercise. As a condition of the issuance of shares hereunder, the Optionee agrees to remit to the Company at the time of exercise of this Option any taxes required to be withheld by the Company under Federal, state or local law as a result of the exercise. The Optionee may remit such amount by check or in a reduction of the number of shares exercised at fair market value to cover the required taxes.

2. Cancellation of Options. Upon the Optionee’s termination of employment, unvested options shall immediately cancel and any vested options not exercised during the exercise period set forth in Paragraph 1(a) shall be cancelled at the end of the exercise period.

Exhibit 10.1

Stock Option Agreement Terms and Conditions

3. Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be assigned, transferred, pledged or hypothecated in any manner (otherwise than by will or the laws of descent or distribution) nor may the Optionee enter into any transaction for the purpose of, or which as the effect of, reducing the market risk of holding the option by using puts, calls or similar financial techniques. This Option may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms of this Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.

4. Stock Subject to the Option. If the Option should expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, any unpurchased shares which were subject thereto shall once again be subject to the grant of an Option pursuant to the Plan. The Company will not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for shares to be issued hereunder until such shares have been listed (or authorized for listing upon official notice of issuance) upon each stock exchange on which outstanding shares of the same class are then listed and until the Company has taken such steps as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be required by law and applicable regulations, including the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and State Securities Laws and Regulations, in connection with the issuance or sale of such shares, and the listing of such shares on each such exchange. The Company will use its best efforts to comply with any such requirements.

5. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. If all or any portion of the Option is exercised subsequent to any stock dividend, upon subdivision, split-up, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock or a merger or consolidation involving the Company, the Human Resources Committee of the Board shall make equitable adjustment in the number of shares subject to this Option and adjustment in the per share Option Price, provided, however, that no fractional share shall be issued upon subsequent exercise of the Option and the aggregate price paid shall be appropriately reduced on account of any fractional share not issued.

6. Notices. Each notice relating to this Agreement shall be in writing. Each notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date it is received. Each notice to the Company shall be addressed to its principal office in Omaha, Nebraska, attention to Corporate Compensation. Each notice to the Optionee or any other person or persons entitled to exercise the Option shall be addressed to the Optionee’s address. Anyone to whom a notice may be given under this Agreement may designate a new address by notice to the effect.

7. Benefits of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each successor of the Company. All obligations imposed upon the Optionee and all rights granted to the Company under this Agreement shall be binding upon the Optionee’s heirs, legal representatives and successors. This Agreement shall be the sole and exclusive source of any and all rights which the Optionee, his heirs and legal representatives or successors may have in respect to the Plan or any Options or Common Stock granted or issued thereunder whether to himself or to any other person.

8. Resolution of Disputes. Any dispute or disagreement which should arise under or as a result of or in any way related to the interpretation, construction or application of this Agreement will be determined by the Human Resources Committee of the Board. Any determination made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive for all purposes. This Agreement and the legal relations between the parties hereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Nebraska.

9. Definitions.

(a) Change of Control. Change of Control shall mean:

(i) the acquisition (other than from the Company) by any person, entity or “group,” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), (excluding, for this purpose, the Company or its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan of the Company

Exhibit 10.1

Stock Option Agreement Terms and Conditions

or its subsidiaries which acquires beneficial ownership of voting securities of the Company) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of either the then outstanding shares of common stock or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; or

(ii) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (as of the date hereof the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for the election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board; or

(iii) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, with respect to which persons who were the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own more than 50% of the combined voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the reorganized, merged or consolidated company’s then outstanding voting securities, or a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or of the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

(b) Continuous Employment with the Company. Continuous Employment with the Company shall mean the absence of any interruption or termination of employment by the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company which now exists or hereafter is organized or acquired by the Company. Continuous Employment shall not be considered interrupted in the case of sick leave, Long Term Disability, military leave or any other leave of absence approved by the Company or in the case of transfers between payroll locations of the Company or between the Company, its parent or subsidiaries or its successor.

(c) Normal Retirement. Normal Retirement shall mean terminating employment with the Company or its subsidiaries on or after attaining age 65.

(d) Early Retirement. Early Retirement shall mean qualifying for and taking early retirement under a pension plan (as defined in § 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) that is sponsored by the Company or its subsidiaries. If the Optionee’s employer does not have a pension plan, then the Company’s salaried pension plan provisions for Early Retirement shall apply, which provide that the Optionee must (a) be at least age 55, and (b) have at least ten years of Continuous Employment with the Company.