NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT UNDER THE NEUSTAR, INC. 1999 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

EX-10.43 7 w56848exv10w43.htm EX-10.43 exv10w43

EXHIBIT 10.43

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
UNDER THE
NEUSTAR, INC. 1999 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

THIS AGREEMENT, made as of December 18, 2003 (the “Effective Date”), by and between NeuStar, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Martin Lowen (the “Participant”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Company desires to afford the Participant the opportunity to acquire an ownership of the Company’s common stock, par value $.002 per share (“Common Stock”), so that he may have a direct proprietary interest in the Company’s success.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1. Grant of Option. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Company’s 1999 Equity Incentive Plan, as restated as of March 13, 2002 (the “Plan”), the Company hereby grants to the Participant, during the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on December 18, 2013 (the “Expiration Date”), the right and option (the right to purchase any one share of Common Stock hereunder being an “Option”) to purchase from the Company 35,487 shares of Common Stock. The Options shall have an exercise price of $9.00 per share, which represents the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock as of the date hereof.

2. Limitations on Exercise of Options. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the Plan, the Options shall vest and become exercisable, on a cumulative basis, with respect to 40% of the shares on December 18, 2005, and with respect to 1.667% of the shares on the last day of each succeeding calendar month thereafter so long as the Participant continues in the Service of the Company; provided, however, the Participant may not exercise any Option for fractional shares of Common Stock. The Committee or the Board may accelerate the vesting and exercisability of any or all of the then-unvested Options at any time.

3. Termination of Service. (a) If prior to the Expiration Date, the Participant’s Service with the Company shall terminate by reason of a Normal Termination (as defined in the Plan), the Options shall remain exercisable until the earlier of the Expiration Date or three (3) months days after such date of termination (the “Date of Termination”) to the extent the Options were vested and exercisable as of the Date of Termination.

(b) If the Participant’s Service with the Company shall cease prior to the Expiration Date by reason of death or disability, or the Participant shall die or become disabled while entitled to exercise any of the Options pursuant to paragraph 3(a), the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative, or, in the case of death, the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant or the person or persons to whom the Options shall have been validly transferred by the executor or administrator pursuant to

will or the laws of descent and distribution, shall have the right, until the earlier of the Expiration Date or one year after the date of death or disability, to exercise the Options to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise them on the date of death or disability.

(c) If, prior to the Expiration Date, the Participant’s Service with the Company is terminated for “Cause” (as defined in the Plan), (i) unless otherwise provided by the Committee, the Options, to the extent not exercised as of the Date of Termination, shall lapse and be canceled, and (ii) all shares of Common Stock received pursuant to an exercise of the Options after such termination, in contravention of subsection (i) above, may be purchased by the Company at its discretion for the exercise price of such shares paid by the Participant. If the Participant’s Service relationship with the Company is suspended pending an investigation of whether the Participant shall be terminated for Cause, all the Participant’s rights with respect to the Options shall be suspended during the period of investigation.

(d) If, prior to the Expiration Date, the Participant’s Service with the Company is terminated other than for Cause, a Normal Termination, death or disability, the Options, to the extent then vested and exercisable as of the Date of Termination, shall remain exercisable until the earlier of the Expiration Date or thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination.

(e) After the expiration of any exercise period described in any of Sections 3(a) — (d) hereof, or otherwise upon the Expiration Date, the Options shall terminate together with all of the Participant’s rights hereunder, to the extent not previously exercised.

4. Non-Transferable. Except as specifically authorized by the Committee, the Participant may not transfer the Options except by will or the laws of descent and distribution and the Options shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or, in the event of the Participant’s legal incapacity, his guardian or legal representative. Except as so authorized, no purported assignment or transfer of the Options, or of the rights represented thereby, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise (except by will or the laws of descent and distribution), shall vest in the assignee or transferee any interest or right herein whatsoever.

5. Adjustments and Corporate Reorganizations; Changes in Organization.

(a) In accordance with and subject to the applicable terms of the Plan and this Agreement, the Options shall be subject to adjustment or substitution, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, as to the number, price or kind of Common Stock or other consideration subject to such Options or as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion to be equitable (i) in the event of changes in the outstanding Common Stock or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of stock dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits, recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations, exchanges, or other relevant changes in capitalization occurring after the date hereof or (ii) in the event of any change in applicable laws or any

change in circumstances which results in or would result in any substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, the Participant. The Committee shall give the Participant written notice of an adjustment hereunder.

(b) In the event that the Company undertakes a change in its organization, including but not limited to a combination of business units, the creation of a new business unit, the elimination of a business unit, or the acquisition, sale or transfer of an interest in a business unit, the Options shall be subject to adjustment or substitution (including but not limited to the substitution of common stock of or other ownership interest in a Related Entity, other consideration or another Award under the Plan), as to the number, price or kind of Common Stock or other consideration subject to such Options or as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion to be equitable. For purposes of this Agreement, a “business unit” shall mean any Related Entity or any division or other unit or group within the Company that the Committee designates as a “business unit”.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 13(b) of the Plan, in the event of a Corporate Transaction (as defined below), if the Options evidenced by this Agreement are not assumed or continued or a substantially equivalent option or right is not substituted by the surviving corporation, the successor corporation or its parent corporation, as applicable (the “Successor Corporation”), the Participant shall, as of the date of the Corporate Transaction, fully vest in and have the right to exercise such Options as to all shares of Common Stock then subject thereto that would otherwise have vested and become exercisable during the twelve-month period commencing on the date of the Corporate Transaction and, subject to the next sentence, unvested Options with respect to any other shares of Common Stock shall continue to vest as set forth in Section 2. If any Options evidenced by this Agreement are assumed or replaced (and any such Options shall be considered assumed if the Company in a Corporate Transaction reaffirms the Options) in connection with a Corporate Transaction and do not otherwise vest at that time, and if Participant’s Service with the Company is subsequently terminated within one (1) year following such Corporate Transaction, unless such Service is terminated by the Successor Corporation for Cause or by the Participant voluntarily without Good Reason (as defined below), the Participant shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise the Options as to all shares of Common Stock then subject thereto that, but for such termination, would have otherwise vested and become exercisable during the twelve-month period commencing on the effective date of such termination, and unvested Options with respect to any other shares of Common Stock shall continue to vest as set forth in Section 2.

(d) For purposes of this Agreement, a “Corporate Transaction” shall mean any of the following events:

(i) The consummation of any merger or consolidation of the Company in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation, or pursuant to which shares of Common Stock are converted into cash, securities or other

property, if following such merger or consolidation the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such merger or consolidation own less than a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving corporation.

(iii) The approval by the holders of the Common Stock of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(iv) The acquisition by a person, within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) or of Section 13 (d)(3) (as in effect on the date of adoption of the Plan) of the Exchange Act of a majority or more of the Company’s outstanding voting securities (whether directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record), other than a person who held such majority on the date of adoption of the Plan. Ownership of voting securities shall take into account and shall include ownership as determined by applying Rule 13d-3(d)(l)(i) (as in effect on the date of adoption of the Plan) pursuant to the Exchange Act.

(e) For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean, without the Participant’s prior written consent, any of the following events or conditions and the failure of the Successor Corporation to cure such event or condition within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Participant:

(i) A substantial diminution or material adverse change in the Participant’s status, title, position, authority, duties or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) as in effect immediately prior to a Corporate Transaction, except in connection with the Participant’s termination of Service with the Company for Cause, disability, death or by the Participant other than for Good Reason.

(ii) A reduction in the Participant’s annual base salary.

(iii) The Successor Corporation’s failure to cover the Participant under employee benefit plans, programs and practices that, in the aggregate, provide substantially comparable benefits (from an economic perspective) to the Participant relative to the benefits and total costs under the material employee benefit plans, programs and practices in which the Participant (and/or his family or dependents) is participating immediately preceding the Corporate Transaction.

(iv) The Successor Corporation’s requiring the Participant to be based at any office location that is more than fifty (50) miles further from the Participant’s office location immediately prior to a Corporate Transaction; except for reasonable required travel for the Successor Corporation’s business that is not

materially greater than such travel requirements prior to such Corporate Transaction.

(v) A material breach by the Successor Corporation of its obligations to the Participant under the Plan.

6. Exercise: Payment For and Delivery of Common Stock. The Options shall be exercised by delivering written notice to the Committee stating the number of whole shares of Common Stock to be purchased, the person or persons in whose name the shares of Common Stock are to be registered and each such person’s address and social security number. Such notice shall not be effective unless accompanied by the full purchase price for all shares to be purchased, and any applicable withholding (as described below). The purchase price shall be payable in cash, in shares of Common Stock, any combination of cash or shares of Common Stock or such other method of payment as is authorized by the Plan with the consent of the Committee; provided, however, that the Participant may use Common Stock in payment of the exercise price only if the shares so used are considered “mature” for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles (i.e., (i) been held by the Participant free and clear for at least six (6) months prior to the use thereof to pay part of an Option exercise price, (ii) been purchased by the Participant in other than a compensatory transaction, or (iii) meet any other requirements for “mature” shares as may exist on the date of the use thereof to pay part of an Option exercise price). In the event that all or part of the purchase price is paid in shares of Common Stock, the shares used in payment shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the Options. At the time of exercise, the Participant shall pay to the Company, in cash, or by having the Company withhold upon exercise of the Option a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable to the Participant based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise, at the election of the Participant, such minimum amount as the Company deems necessary to satisfy its obligation to withhold Federal, state or local income or other taxes incurred by reason of the exercise or the transfer of shares thereupon. Payment in currency or by certified or cashier’s check shall be considered payment in cash.

7. Rights as Common Stockholder. (a) The Participant or a transferee of the Options shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the Options until he shall have become the holder of record of such shares (and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Participant promptly to become the holder of record of such shares), and, except as provided in Section 5 hereof, no adjustment shall be made for dividends or distributions or other rights in respect of such shares for which the record date is prior to the date upon which he shall become the holder or record thereof.

8. Company; Participant. (a) The term “Company” as used in this Agreement with reference to employment shall include the Company and its affiliates.

(b) Whenever the word “Participant” is used in any provision of this Agreement under circumstances where the provision should logically be construed to apply to the executors, the administrators, legal representatives or the person or persons

to whom the Options may be transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, the word “Participant” shall be deemed to include such person or persons.

9. Requirements of Law. (a) By accepting the Options, the Participant represents and agrees for himself and his transferees (whether by will or the laws of descent and distribution) that, unless a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), is in effect as to shares purchased upon any exercise of the Options, (i) any and all shares so purchased shall be acquired for his personal account and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution, and (ii) each notice of the exercise of any portion of this Option shall be accompanied by a representation and warranty in writing, signed by the person entitled to exercise the same, that the shares arc being so acquired in good faith for his personal account and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution.

(b) No certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock may be purchased, issued or transferred if the exercise hereof or the issuance or transfer of such shares shall constitute a violation by the Company or the Participant of any (i) provision of any Federal, state or other securities law, (ii) requirement of any securities exchange listing agreement to which the Company may be a party, or (iii) other requirement of law or of any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company. Any reasonable determination in this connection by the Board or the Committee, upon notice given to the Participant, shall be final, binding and conclusive.

(c) The certificates representing shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of options shall carry such appropriate legend, and such written instructions shall be given to the Company’s transfer agent, as may be deemed necessary or advisable by counsel to the Company in order to comply with the requirements of the Act or any state securities laws.

10. Notices. Any notice to be given to either party shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to such party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the Company in care of its Secretary at its principal office, and to the Participant at the address given beneath his signature hereto, or at such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.

11. Disposition of Common Stock. The Participant agrees to notify the Company, in writing, within thirty (30) days of any disposition (whether by sale, exchange, gift or otherwise) of shares of Common Stock purchased under this Agreement.

12. Binding Effect. Subject to Section 4 hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.

13. Plan. The terms and provisions of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof as though fully set forth herein. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between discretionary terms and provisions of this Agreement, this Agreement shall govern and control. In all

other instances of conflicts or inconsistencies or omissions, the terms and provisions of the Plan shall govern and control. All capitalized terms not otherwise expressly defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan.

14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Plan, contains the entire agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, with respect thereto.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has granted this Option on the date of grant specified above.

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument.


NEUSTAR, INC.
By:	/s/ Jeffrey Ganek
	Name:	Jeffrey Ganek
	Title:	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


ACCEPTED:

/s/ Martin Lowen Martin Lowen

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT AMENDMENT

This Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement Amendment dated as of June 22, 2004 (this “Amendment”) is made by and between NeuStar, Inc. a Delaware corporation having its principal place of business in Sterling, Virginia (the “Company”), and Martin Lowen (the “Participant”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Option Agreement (as defined below).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, Company granted Participant the right and option to purchase from the Company 35,487 shares (the “Option Shares”) of Company’s common stock, par value $.002 per share;

WHEREAS, Company and Participant entered into an Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the NeuStar, Inc. 1999 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Option Agreement”) dated December 18, 2003;

WHEREAS, the Company and Participant desire to amend the Option Agreement to revise the definitions of “Corporate Transaction” under Section 5(d) thereof and the definition of “Good Reason” under Section 5(e) thereof as set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and further valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Amendment to Section 5 (d) and 5(e) of the Option Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Sections 5 (d) and 5(e) of the Option Agreement are hereby amended and restated in their entirety as follows:

“(d) For purposes of this Agreement, a “Corporate Transaction” shall mean any of the following events:

(i) The consummation of any merger or consolidation of the Company, if immediately following such merger or consolidation the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not own at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving corporation in approximately the same proportion as they did immediately prior to such merger or consolidation.

(ii) The consummation of any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer in one transaction or a series of related transactions of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets,

First Amendment to NQ Option Agreement with Optionee

other than a transfer of the Company’s assets to a majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation, or to an entity in which the holders of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the entity immediately prior to the transfer own at least the majority of the outstanding securities immediately after such transfer in approximately the same proportion as immediately prior to such transfer.

(iii) The approval by the holders of the Common Stock of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(iv) The acquisition by a person, within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) or of Section 13 (d)(3) of the Exchange Act of a majority or more of the Company’s outstanding voting securities (whether directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record), other than a person who held such majority on the date of adoption of the Plan. Ownership of voting securities shall take into account and shall include ownership as determined by applying Rule 13d-3(d)(l)(i) pursuant to the Exchange Act.

	(i)		A substantial diminution or material adverse change in the Participant’s status, title, position, authority, duties or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) as in effect immediately prior to a Corporate Transaction, except in connection with the Participant’s termination of Service with the Company for Cause, disability, death or by the Participant other than for Good Reason.

	(ii)		A reduction in the Participant’s annual base salary, except in connection with an across-the-board salary reduction of less than ten percent (10%) affecting all senior executives of the Company.

	(iii)		The Successor Corporation’s failure to cover the Participant under employee benefit plans, programs and practices that, in the aggregate, provide substantially comparable benefits (from an economic perspective) to the Participant

First Amendment to NQ Option Agreement with Optionee

			relative to the benefits and total costs under the material employee benefit plans, programs and practices in which the Participant (and/or his family or dependents) is participating immediately preceding the Corporate Transaction.

	(iv)		The Successor Corporation’s requiring the Participant to be based at any office location that is more than fifty (50) miles further from the Participant’s office location immediately prior to a Corporate Transaction; except for reasonable required travel for the Successor Corporation’s business that is not materially greater than such travel requirements prior to such Corporate Transaction.

	(v)		A material breach by the Successor Corporation of its obligations to the Participant under the Plan.”

2. Entire Agreement. This Amendment sets forth the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto in relation to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior negotiations and agreements among the parties relating to such subject matter. None of the terms or conditions of this Amendment may be changed, modified, waived or canceled orally or otherwise, except in writing.

3. Full Force and Effect of Agreement. Except as hereby specifically amended, modified or supplemented, the Option Agreement is hereby confirmed and ratified in all respects and shall be and remain in full force and effect according to their respective terms.

4. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

5. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Sate of Delaware, without regards to the principles of conflicts of law.

First Amendment to NQ Option Agreement with Optionee

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be made, executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.


NEUSTAR, INC.
By:	/s/ Jeffrey E. Ganek
	Name:	Jeffrey E. Ganek
	Title:	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

OPTIONEE:
Martin Lowen

/s/ Martin Lowen

First Amendment to NQ Option Agreement with Optionee

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT AMENDMENT

This Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement Amendment dated as of May 20, 2005 (this “Amendment”) is made by and between NeuStar, Inc. a Delaware corporation having its principal place of business in Sterling, Virginia (the “Company”), and Martin Lowen (the “Participant”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Option Agreement (as defined below).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, Company granted Participant the right and option to purchase from the Company 35,487 shares (the “Option Shares”) of Company’s common stock, par value $.002 per share;

WHEREAS, Company and Participant entered into a Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the NeuStar, Inc. 1999 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Option Agreement”)dated December 18, 2003, as amended on June 22, 2004.

WHEREAS, the Company and Participant desire to amend the Option Agreement to provide for, among other things, accelerated vesting of a certain number of the Option Shares under the circumstance and terms as set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and further valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Amendment to Section 5 of the Option Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Section 5 of the Option Agreement is hereby amended by deleting Sections 5 (c), (d) and (e) thereof and replacing such Sections with the following language:

“(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 13(b) of the Plan, in the event of a Corporate Transaction (as defined below), if the Option evidenced by this Agreement is not assumed or continued or a substantially equivalent option or right is not substituted by the surviving corporation, the successor corporation or its parent corporation, as applicable (the “Successor Corporation”), the Participant shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise the Option as to all shares of Common Stock then subject thereto, including shares as to which the Option would not otherwise be vested or exercisable. Any such Options that are assumed or replaced (and any such Option shall be considered assumed if the Company in a Corporate Transaction reaffirms the Option) in connection with a Corporate Transaction and do not otherwise vest at that time shall be fully vested and exercisable in the event the Participant’s Service with the Company should

subsequently be terminated within two (2) years following such Corporate Transaction, unless such Service is terminated by the Successor Corporation for Cause or by the Participant voluntarily without Good Reason (as defined below).

(d) For purposes of this Agreement, a “Corporate Transaction” shall mean any of the following events:

(ii) The consummation of any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer in one transaction or a series of related transactions of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than a transfer of the Company’s assets to a majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation, or to an entity in which the holders of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the entity immediately prior to the transfer own at least the majority of the outstanding securities immediately after such transfer in approximately the same proportion as immediately prior to such transfer.

(iii) The approval by the holders of the Common Stock of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(i)

A substantial diminution or material adverse change in the Participant’s status, title, position, authority, duties or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) as in effect immediately prior to a Corporate Transaction, except in connection with the Participant’s termination of

Service with the Company for Cause, disability, death or by the Participant other than for Good Reason.

	(ii)		A reduction in the Participant’s annual base salary.

	(iii)		The Successor Corporation’s failure to cover the Participant under employee benefit plans, programs and practices that, in the aggregate, provide substantially comparable benefits (from an economic perspective) to the Participant relative to the benefits and total costs under the material employee benefit plans, programs and practices in which the Participant (and/or his family or dependents) is participating immediately preceding the Corporate Transaction.

	(iv)		The Successor Corporation’s requiring the Participant to be based at any office location that is more than fifty (50) miles further from the Participant’s office location immediately prior to a Corporate Transaction; except for reasonable required travel for the Successor Corporation’s business that is not materially greater than such travel requirements prior to such Corporate Transaction.

	(v)		A material breach by the Successor Corporation of its obligations to the Participant under the Plan.”

Governing Law. This Amendment shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Sate of Delaware, without regards to the principles of conflicts of law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment No. 2 to the Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement to be made, executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.


NEUSTAR, INC.
By:	/s/ Jeffrey E. Ganek
	Name:	Jeffrey E. Ganek
	Title:	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

OPTIONEE:
Martin Lowen

/s/ Martin Lowen