Date: Percentage of Options Vested: On the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement 25% One month after the first anniversary and each month thereafter for 35 months 2.083% per month

EX-10.1.1 13 exh10-11_16709.htm FORM OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT www.eXFILE.com ###-###-#### --- NEXX SYSTEMS, INC. FORM S-1
EXHIBIT 10.1.1
 
Date:   _________________________________________ 
 
______________________________________________
 
______________________________________________

______________________________________________



Re:           NEXX Systems, Inc. - Incentive Stock Option Grant


Dear  ____________________ :

It is with pleasure I hereby inform you that the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of NEXX Systems, Inc.  (the “NEXX Systems”) has granted you an incentive stock option to purchase up to ______________ shares of the NEXX Systems’ Common Stock at an exercise price of $___________ per share.

These options will vest as follows:
 
Date:   Percentage of Options Vested:
     
On the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement
 
25%
     
One month after the first anniversary and each month thereafter for 35 months
 
2.083% per month

Please note that Options that have not been exercised before the end of ten years from the date of grant shall expire without any further notice.  If you leave NEXX Systems or your employment with NEXX Systems is terminated without Cause, you shall have 90 days after the date of termination of your employment to exercise the vested portion of your Option Grant.  However, in the event your employment is terminated by NEXX Systems for Cause, the Option shall not be exercisable and shall terminate.
 
The attached Terms of Incentive Stock Option Grant spells out in more detail all of the elements of your Option Grant by which both NEXX Systems and you agree to be bound.
 
I would like to thank you for the efforts you made and for your contribution to NEXX Systems.  This Option Grant is a reflection of our appreciation of your efforts as we all work to contribute to NEXX Systems’ growth and success.
 

 
Sincerely,                                                                           ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
 

 
Stanley D. Piekos                                                              ____________________________
Vice President and CFO                                                                           [Name]
 
 
 
 

TERMS OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION GRANT

The Company desires to grant to the Employee an Option to purchase shares of its common stock, $.001 par value per share (the “Shares”) as described in the Cover Page, under and for the purposes set forth in the Company’s 2003 Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”).  The Company and the Employee understand and agree that any terms used and not defined herein have the same meanings as in the Plan.   The Company and the Employee each intend that the Option granted herein qualify as an ISO.


1.           GRANT OF OPTION.

The Company hereby grants to the Employee the right and option to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of the Option Grant mentioned in the Cover Page, on the terms and conditions and subject to all the limitations set forth herein, under United States securities and tax laws, and in the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference.  The Employee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.

2.           PURCHASE PRICE.

The purchase price of the Shares covered by the Option shall be as referenced in the Cover Page, which price shall be subject to adjustment, as provided in the Plan, in the event of a stock split, reverse stock split or other events affecting the holders of Shares (the “Purchase Price”).  Payment shall be made in accordance with this Plan.

3.           EXERCISABILITY OF OPTION.

(a)         Vesting Period.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan, the Option granted hereby shall become exercisable as set forth on the Cover Page.   The foregoing rights are cumulative and are subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan.

(b)         Effect of Change of Control.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Change of Control (as defined below), those Shares which would have vested in each vesting installment during the remainder of the fiscal year in which the Change of Control occurs under this Option will become vested for purposes of this Agreement and the Plan unless this Option has otherwise expired or been terminated pursuant to its terms or the terms of the Plan.  If, within the twelve months following a Change of Control, the Employee’s employment is terminated without cause, as defined in the Plan, an additional 25% of the Shares which would have vested in each vesting installment remaining under this Option or any successor option to this Option (but in any event, not to exceed, with prior vested options, 100% of the Option), will be vested for purposes of the Plan and this Agreement, upon the date of such termination of employment.1

(c)         Definition of Change of Control.  Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 
(i)
Ownership.  Any “Person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) becomes the “Beneficial Owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities (excluding for this purpose the Company or its Affiliates or any employee benefit plan of the Company) pursuant to a transaction or a series of related transactions which the Board of Directors does not approve; or

(ii)           
Merger/Sale of Assets.  A merger or consolidation of the Company whether or not approved by the Board of Directors, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or the parent of such corporation) at least 50% of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or parent of such corporation outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the Company approve an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; or
_____________________________
1 The acceleration of vesting of the option will result in the portion of the option in excess of $100,000 (determined by the number of shares vested in a calendar year times the purchase price) being treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

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(iii)          
Change in Board Composition.  A change in the composition of the Board of Directors, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors.  “Incumbent Directors” shall mean directors who either (A) are directors of the Company as of the date of the Grant, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but shall not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Company).

 
4.
TERM OF OPTION.

This Option shall terminate ten years from the date of this Agreement or, if the Employee owns as of the date hereof more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of the Company or an Affiliate, five years from the date of this Agreement, but shall be subject to earlier termination as provided herein or in the Plan.

If the Employee ceases to be an employee of the Company or of an Affiliate (for any reason other than the death or Disability of the Employee or termination of the Employee’s employment for “cause” as defined in the Plan, the Option may be exercised, if it has not previously terminated, within three months after the date the Employee ceases to be an employee of the Company or an Affiliate, or within the originally prescribed term of the Option, whichever is earlier, but may not be exercised thereafter.  In such event, the Option shall be exercisable only to the extent that the Option has become exercisable and is in effect at the date of such cessation of employment.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of the Employee’s Disability or death within three months after the termination of employment, the Employee or the Employee’s Survivors may exercise the Option within one year after the date of the Employee’s termination of employment, but in no event after the date of expiration of the term of the Option.

In the event the Employee’s employment is terminated by the Employee’s employer for “cause” as defined in the Plan, the Employee’s right to exercise any unexercised portion of this Option shall cease immediately as of the time the Employee is notified his or her employment is terminated for “cause,” and this Option shall thereupon terminate.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if subsequent to the Employee’s termination as an employee, but prior to the exercise of the Option, the Board of Directors of the Company determines that, either prior or subsequent to the Employee’s termination, the Employee engaged in conduct which would constitute “cause,” then the Employee shall immediately cease to have any right to exercise the Option and this Option shall thereupon terminate.

In the event of the Disability of the Employee, as determined in accordance with the Plan, the Option shall be exercisable within one year after the Employee’s termination of employment or, if earlier, within the term originally prescribed by the Option.  In such event, the Option shall be exercisable:

 
(a)
to the extent that the Option has become exercisable but has not been exercised as of the date of Disability; and

 
(b)
in the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to the extent of a pro rata portion through the date of Disability of any additional vesting rights that would have accrued on the next vesting date had the Employee not become Disabled.  The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued in the current vesting period prior to the date of Disability.

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In the event of the death of the Employee while an employee of the Company or of an Affiliate, the Option shall be exercisable by the Employee’s Survivors within one year after the date of death of the Employee or, if earlier, within the originally prescribed term of the Option.  In such event, the Option shall be exercisable:

 
(x)
to the extent that the Option has become exercisable but has not been exercised as of the date of death; and

 
(y)
in the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to the extent of a pro rata portion through the date of death of any additional vesting rights that would have accrued on the next vesting date had the Employee not died.  The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued in the current vesting period prior to the Employee’s date of death.

 
5.
METHOD OF EXERCISING OPTION.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Option may be exercised by written notice to the Company or its designee, in substantially the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.  Such notice shall state the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall be signed by the person exercising the Option.  Payment of the purchase price for such Shares shall be made in accordance with this Plan.  The Company shall deliver a certificate or certificates representing such Shares as soon as practicable after the notice shall be received, provided, however, that the Company may delay issuance of such Shares until completion of any action or obtaining of any consent, which the Company deems necessary under any applicable law (including, without limitation, state securities or “blue sky” laws).  The certificate or certificates for the Shares as to which the Option shall have been so exercised shall be registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the person so exercising the Option (or, if the Option shall be exercised by the Employee and if the Employee shall so request in the notice exercising the Option, shall be registered in the name of the Employee and another person jointly, with right of survivorship) and shall be delivered as provided above to or upon the written order of the person exercising the Option.  In the event the Option shall be exercised, pursuant to Section 4 hereof, by any person other than the Employee, such notice shall be accompanied by appropriate proof of the right of such person to exercise the Option.  All Shares that shall be purchased upon the exercise of the Option as provided herein shall be fully paid and nonassessable.

 
6.
PARTIAL EXERCISE.

Exercise of this Option to the extent above stated may be made in part at any time and from time to time within the above limits, except that no fractional share shall be issued pursuant to this Option.

 
7.
NON-ASSIGNABILITY.

The Option shall not be transferable by the Employee otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  The Option shall be exercisable, during the Employee’s lifetime, only by the Employee (or, in the event of legal incapacity or incompetency, by the Employee’s guardian or representative) and shall not be assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process.  Any attempted transfer, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of the Option or of any rights granted hereunder contrary to the provisions of this Section 7, or the levy of any attachment or similar process upon the Option shall be null and void.
 
 
8.
NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER UNTIL EXERCISE.

The Employee shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to this Agreement until registration of the Shares in the Company’s share register in the name of the Employee.  Except as is expressly provided in the Plan with respect to certain changes in the capitalization of the Company, no adjustment shall be made for dividends or similar rights for which the record date is prior to the date of such registration.

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9.
ADJUSTMENTS.

The Plan contains provisions covering the treatment of Options in a number of contingencies such as stock splits and mergers.  Provisions in the Plan for adjustment with respect to stock subject to Options and the related provisions with respect to successors to the business of the Company are hereby made applicable hereunder and are incorporated herein by reference; provided, however, that in the event of a Change of Control (as defined in Section 3 above) those Shares which would have vested in each vesting installment during the remainder of the fiscal year in which the Change of Control occurs under this Option will become vested for purposes of the Plan and this Agreement and, further, if within the 12 months following a Change of Control, the Employee’s employment is terminated without cause as defined in the Plan, an additional 25% of the Shares which would have vested in each vesting installment remaining under this Option or any successor option to this Option, will be vested for purposes of the Plan and this Agreement, upon the date of such termination of employment.

 
10.
TAXES.

The Employee acknowledges that any income or other taxes due from him or her with respect to this Option or the Shares issuable pursuant to this Option shall be the Employee’s responsibility.

In the event of a Disqualifying Disposition (as defined in Section 15 below) or if the Option is converted into a Non-Qualified Option and such Non-Qualified Option is exercised, the Company may withhold from the Employee’s remuneration, if any, the minimum statutory amount of federal, state and local withholding taxes attributable to such amount that is considered compensation includable in such person’s gross income.  At the Company’s discretion, the amount required to be withheld may be withheld in cash from such remuneration, or in kind from the Shares otherwise deliverable to the Employee on exercise of the Option.  The Employee further agrees that, if the Company does not withhold an amount from the Employee’s remuneration sufficient to satisfy the Company’s income tax withholding obligation, the Employee will reimburse the Company on demand, in cash, for the amount under-withheld.

 
11.
PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.

Unless the offering and sale of the Shares to be issued upon the particular exercise of the Option shall have been effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as now in force or hereafter amended (the “1933 Act”), the Company shall be under no obligation to issue the Shares covered by such exercise unless and until the following conditions have been fulfilled:

 
(a)
The person(s) who exercise the Option shall warrant to the Company, at the time of such exercise, that such person(s) are acquiring such Shares for their own respective accounts, for investment, and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any such Shares, in which event the person(s) acquiring such Shares shall be bound by the provisions of the following legend which shall be endorsed upon the certificate(s) evidencing the Shares issued pursuant to such exercise:

“The shares represented by this certificate have been taken for investment and they may not be sold or otherwise transferred by any person, including a pledgee, unless (1) either (a) a Registration Statement with respect to such shares shall be effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (b) the Company shall have received an opinion of counsel satisfactory to it that an exemption from registration under such Act is then available, and (2) there shall have been compliance with all applicable state securities laws;” and

 
(b)
If the Company so requires, the Company shall have received an opinion of its counsel that the Shares may be issued upon such particular exercise in compliance with the 1933 Act without registration thereunder.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company may delay issuance of the Shares until completion of any action or obtaining of any consent, which the Company deems necessary under any applicable law (including without limitation state securities or “blue sky” laws).

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12.           RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SHARES.

(a)           Restrictions on Transfer of Option.  The Shares acquired by the Employee pursuant to the exercise of the Option granted hereby shall not be transferred by the Employee except as permitted herein and pursuant to the Plan.   All certificates representing the Shares to be issued to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement shall have endorsed thereon a legend substantially as follows:  “The shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions set forth in a Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement with this Company, a copy of which Agreement is available for inspection at the offices of the Company or will be made available upon request.”

(b)           Restrictions on Transfer of Underlying Shares.  It shall be a condition precedent to the validity of any sale or other transfer of any Shares by the Employee that the following restrictions be complied with (except as hereinafter otherwise provided):

 
(i)
No Shares owned by the Employee may be sold, pledged or otherwise transferred (including by gift or devise) to any person or entity, voluntarily, or by operation of law, except in accordance with the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 
(ii)
Before selling or otherwise transferring all or part of the Shares, the Employee shall give written notice of such intention to the Company, which notice shall include the name of the proposed transferee, the proposed purchase price per share, the terms of payment of such purchase price and all other matters relating to such sale or transfer and shall be accompanied by a copy of the binding written agreement of the proposed transferee to purchase the Shares of the Employee.  Such notice shall constitute a binding offer by the Employee to sell to the Company such number of the Shares then held by the Employee as are proposed to be sold in the notice at the monetary price per share designated in such notice, payable on the terms offered to the Employee by the proposed transferee (provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to meet any non-monetary terms of the proposed transfer, including, without limitation, delivery of other securities in exchange for the Shares proposed to be sold).  The Company shall give written notice to the Employee as to whether such offer has been accepted in whole by the Company within sixty days after its receipt of written notice from the Employee.  The Company may only accept such offer in whole and may not accept such offer in part.  Such acceptance notice shall fix a time, location and date for the Closing on such purchase (“Closing Date”) which shall not be less than ten nor more than sixty days after the giving of the acceptance notice, provided, however, if any of the Shares to be sold pursuant to this Section 12(b) have been held by the Employee for less than six months, then the Closing Date may be extended by the Company until no more than ten days after such Shares have been held by the Employee for six months if required under applicable accounting rules in effect at the time.  The place for such Closing shall be at the Company’s principal office.  At such Closing, the Employee shall accept payment as set forth herein and shall deliver to the Company in exchange therefor certificates for the number of Shares stated in the notice accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer.

 
(iii)
If the Company shall fail to accept any such offer, the Employee shall be free to sell all, but not less than all, of the Shares set forth in his or her notice to the designated transferee at the price and terms designated in the Employee’s notice, provided that (i) such sale is consummated within six months after the giving of notice by the Employee to the Company as aforesaid, and (ii) the transferee first agrees in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Section 12(b) so that such transferee (and all subsequent transferees) shall thereafter only be permitted to sell or transfer the Shares in accordance with the terms hereof.  After the expiration of such six months, the provisions of this Section 12(b) shall again apply with respect to any proposed voluntary transfer of the Employee’s Shares.

 
(iv)
The restrictions on transfer contained in this Section 12(b) shall not apply to (a) transfers by the Employee to his or her spouse or children or to a trust for the benefit of his or her spouse or children, (b) transfers by the Employee to his or her guardian or conservator, and (c) transfers by the Employee, in the event of his or her death, to his or her executor(s) or administrator(s) or to trustee(s) under his or her will (collectively, “Permitted Transferees”); provided however, that in any such event the Shares so transferred in the hands of each such Permitted Transferee shall remain subject to this Agreement, and each such Permitted Transferee shall so acknowledge in writing as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of such transfer.

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(v)
The provisions of this Section 12(b) may be waived by the Company.  Any such waiver may be unconditional or based upon such conditions as the Company may impose.

(c)           Attempted Transfer in Violation of Agreement.  If the Employee or his or her successor in interest fails to deliver the Shares to be repurchased by the Company under this Agreement, the Company may elect (a) to establish a segregated account in the amount of the repurchase price, such account to be turned over to the Employee or his or her successor in interest upon delivery of such Shares, and (b) immediately to take such action as is appropriate to transfer record title of such Shares from the Employee to the Company and to treat the Employee and such Shares in all respects as if delivery of such Shares had been made as required by this Agreement.  The Employee hereby irrevocably grants the Company a power of attorney which shall be coupled with an interest for the purpose of effectuating the preceding sentence.  The Company shall not be required to transfer any Shares on its books which shall have been sold, assigned or otherwise transferred in violation of this Agreement, or to treat as owner of such Shares, or to accord the right to vote as such owner or to pay dividends to, any person or organization to which any such Shares shall have been so sold, assigned or otherwise transferred, in violation of this Agreement.

(d)           Stock Splits, Mergers, Etc.  If the Company shall pay a stock dividend or declare a stock split on or with respect to any of its Common Stock, or otherwise distribute securities of the Company to the holders of its Common Stock, the number of shares of stock or other securities of Company issued with respect to the shares then subject to the restrictions contained in this Agreement shall be added to the Shares subject to the Company’s rights to repurchase pursuant to this Agreement.  If the Company shall distribute to its stockholders shares of stock of another corporation, the shares of stock of such other corporation, distributed with respect to the Shares then subject to the restrictions contained in this Agreement, shall be added to the Shares subject to the Company’s rights to repurchase pursuant to this Agreement.

If the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be subdivided into a greater number of shares or combined into a smaller number of shares, or in the event of a reclassification of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, or if the Company shall be a party to a merger, consolidation or capital reorganization, there shall be substituted for the Shares then subject to the restrictions contained in this Agreement such amount and kind of securities as are issued in such subdivision, combination, reclassification, merger, consolidation or capital reorganization in respect of the Shares subject immediately prior thereto to the Company’s rights to repurchase pursuant to this Agreement.

(e)           Impact of Initial Public Offering on Transfer Restrictions.  The provisions of Sections 12(b) shall terminate upon the consummation of a public offering of any of the Company’s securities pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the 1933 Act, in which offering the aggregate gross proceeds to the Company exceed $25,000,000

(f)           Underwriter Lock-Up.  The Employee agrees that in the event the Company proposes to offer for sale to the public any of its equity securities and such Employee is requested by the Company and any underwriter engaged by the Company in connection with such offering to sign an agreement restricting the sale or other transfer of Shares, then it will promptly sign such agreement and will not transfer, whether in privately negotiated transactions or to the public in open market transactions or otherwise, any Shares or other securities of the Company held by him or her during such period as is determined by the Company and the underwriters, not to exceed 180 days following the closing of the offering, plus such additional period of time as may be required to comply with Marketplace Rule 2711 of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or similar rules thereto (such period, the “Lock-Up Period”).  Such agreement shall be in writing and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and such underwriter and pursuant to customary and prevailing terms and conditions.  Notwithstanding whether the Employee has signed such an agreement, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Shares or other securities of the Company subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of the Lock-Up Period.

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(g)           No Obligation to Disclose Future Transactions.  The Employee acknowledges and agrees that neither the Company, its shareholders nor its directors and officers, has any duty or obligation to disclose to the Employee any material information regarding the business of the Company or affecting the value of the Shares before, at the time of, or following a termination of the employment of the Employee by the Company, including, without limitation, any information concerning plans for the Company to make a public offering of its securities or to be acquired by or merged with or into another firm or entity.
 
 
13.
NO OBLIGATION TO EMPLOY.

The Company is not by the Plan or this Option obligated to continue the Employee as an employee of the Company or an Affiliate.  The Employee acknowledges:  (i) that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be suspended or terminated by the Company at any time; (ii) that the grant of the Option is a one-time benefit which does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of options, or benefits in lieu of options; (iii) that all determinations with respect to any such future grants, including, but not limited to, the times when options shall be granted, the number of shares subject to each option, the option price, and the time or times when each option shall be exercisable, will be at the sole discretion of the Company; (iv) that the Employee’s participation in the Plan is voluntary; (v) that the value of the Option is an extraordinary item of compensation which is outside the scope of the Employee’s employment contract, if any; and (vi) that the Option is not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments.
 
 
14.
OPTION IS INTENDED TO BE AN ISO.

The parties each intend that the Option be an ISO so that the Employee (or the Employee’s Survivors) may qualify for the favorable tax treatment provided to holders of Options that meet the standards of Section 422 of the Code.  Any provision of this Agreement or the Plan which conflicts with the Code so that this Option would not be deemed an ISO is null and void and any ambiguities shall be resolved so that the Option qualifies as an ISO.  Nonetheless, if the Option is determined not to be an ISO, the Employee understands that neither the Company nor any Affiliate is responsible to compensate him or her or otherwise make up for the treatment of the Option as a Non-qualified Option and not as an ISO.  The Employee should consult with the Employee’s own tax advisors regarding the tax effects of the Option and the requirements necessary to obtain favorable tax treatment under Section 422 of the Code, including, but not limited to, holding period requirements.

 
15.
NOTICE TO COMPANY OF DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION.

The Employee agrees to notify the Company in writing immediately after the Employee makes a Disqualifying Disposition of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Option.  A Disqualifying Disposition is defined in Section 424(c) of the Code and includes any disposition (including any sale) of such Shares before the later of (a) two years after the date the Employee was granted the Option or (b) one year after the date the Employee acquired Shares by exercising the Option, except as otherwise provided in Section 424(c) of the Code.  If the Employee has died before the Shares are sold, these holding period requirements do not apply and no Disqualifying Disposition can occur thereafter.

 
16.
NOTICES.

Any notices required or permitted by the terms of this Agreement or the Plan shall be given by recognized courier service, facsimile, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

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If to the Company:
 
 
NEXX SYSTEMS, INC.
 
900 Middlesex Turnpike, Building 6
 
Billerica, Massachusetts 01821


If to the Employee:                      At the Address Set Forth on the Cover Page

or to such other address or addresses of which notice in the same manner has previously been given.  Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given upon the earlier of receipt, one business day following delivery to a recognized courier service or three business days following mailing by registered or certified mail.
 
 
17.
GOVERNING LAW.

This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof. ..  For the purpose of litigating any dispute that arises under this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to exclusive jurisdiction in Massachusetts and agree that such litigation shall be conducted in the courts of Middlesex County, Massachusetts or the federal courts of the United States for the District of  Massachusetts.

 
18.
BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT.

Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the other provisions hereof, this Agreement shall be for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 
19.
ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

This Agreement (including the Cover Page), together with the Plan, embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.  No statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement not expressly set forth in this Agreement shall affect or be used to interpret, change or restrict, the express terms and provisions of this Agreement, provided, however, in any event, this Agreement shall be subject to and governed by the Plan.

 
20.
MODIFICATIONS AND AMENDMENTS.

The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be modified or amended as provided in the Plan.

 
21.
WAIVERS AND CONSENTS.

Except as provided in the Plan, the terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, or consent for the departure therefrom granted, only by written document executed by the party entitled to the benefits of such terms or provisions.  No such waiver or consent shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver or consent with respect to any other terms or provisions of this Agreement, whether or not similar.  Each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which it was given, and shall not constitute a continuing waiver or consent.

22.           DATA PRIVACY.

By entering into this Agreement, the Employee:  (i) authorizes the Company and each Affiliate, and any agent of the Company or any Affiliate administering the Plan or providing Plan recordkeeping services, to disclose to the Company or any of its Affiliates such information and data as the Company or any such Affiliate shall request in order to facilitate the grant of options and the administration of the Plan; (ii) waives any data privacy rights he or she may have with respect to such information; and (iii) authorizes the Company and each Affiliate to store and transmit such information in electronic form.

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23.           CONSENT OF SPOUSE.

If the Employee is married as of the date of this Agreement, the Employee’s spouse shall execute a Consent of Spouse in the form of Exhibit B hereto, effective as of the date hereof.  Such consent shall not be deemed to confer or convey to the spouse any rights in the Shares that do not otherwise exist by operation of law or the agreement of the parties.  If the Employee marries or remarries subsequent to the date hereof, the Employee shall, not later than 60 days thereafter, obtain his or her new spouse’s acknowledgement of and consent to the existence and binding effect of Section 12 of this Agreement by such spouse’s executing and delivering a Consent of Spouse in the form of Exhibit B.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Exhibit A

NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION

[Form for Unregistered Shares]

To:           NEXX SYSTEMS, INC.


Ladies and Gentlemen:

I hereby exercise my Incentive Stock Option to purchase ___________ shares (the “Shares”) of the common stock, $.001 par value, of Nexx Systems, Inc. (the “Company”), at the exercise price of $____ per share, pursuant to and subject to the terms of that certain Incentive Stock Option Agreement between the undersigned and the Company dated _________, 200_.

I am aware that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or any state securities laws.  I understand that the reliance by the Company on exemptions under the 1933 Act is predicated in part upon the truth and accuracy of the statements by me in this Notice of Exercise.

I hereby represent and warrant that (1) I have been furnished with all information which I deem necessary to evaluate the merits and risks of the purchase of the Shares; (2) I have had the opportunity to ask questions concerning the Shares and the Company and all questions posed have been answered to my satisfaction; (3) I have been given the opportunity to obtain any additional information I deem necessary to verify the accuracy of any information obtained concerning the Shares and the Company; and (4) I have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that I am able to evaluate the merits and risks of purchasing the Shares and to make an informed investment decision relating thereto.

I hereby represent and warrant that I am purchasing the Shares for my own personal account for investment and not with a view to the sale or distribution of all or any part of the Shares.

I understand that because the Shares have not been registered under the 1933 Act, I must continue to bear the economic risk of the investment for an indefinite time and the Shares cannot be sold unless the Shares are subsequently registered under applicable federal and state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

I agree that I will in no event sell or distribute or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Shares unless (1) there is an effective registration statement under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws covering any such transaction involving the Shares or (2) the Company receives an opinion of my legal counsel (concurred in by legal counsel for the Company) stating that such transaction is exempt from registration or the Company otherwise satisfies itself that such transaction is exempt from registration.

I consent to the placing of a legend on my certificate for the Shares stating that the Shares have not been registered and setting forth the restriction on transfer contemplated hereby and to the placing of a stop transfer order on the books of the Company and with any transfer agents against the Shares until the Shares may be legally resold or distributed without restriction.

I understand that at the present time Rule 144 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) may not be relied on for the resale or distribution of the Shares by me.  I understand that the Company has no obligation to me to register the sale of the Shares with the SEC and has not represented to me that it will register the sale of the Shares.

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I understand the terms and restrictions on the right to dispose of the Shares set forth in the 2003 Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Option Plan and the Incentive Stock Option Agreement, both of which I have carefully reviewed.  I consent to the placing of a legend on my certificate for the Shares referring to such restriction and the placing of stop transfer orders until the Shares may be transferred in accordance with the terms of such restrictions.

I have considered the Federal, state and local income tax implications of the exercise of my Option and the purchase and subsequent sale of the Shares.

I am paying the option exercise price for the Shares as follows:





Please issue the stock certificate for the Shares (check one):

 o  to me; or

 o  to me and ________________, as joint tenants with right of survivorship

 
                 and mail the certificate to me at the following address:

__________________________________________
 
__________________________________________
 
__________________________________________

My mailing address for shareholder communications, if different from the address listed above is:

__________________________________________
 
__________________________________________
 
__________________________________________
 
 
Very truly yours,  
   
   
   
Employee (signature)  
   
   
Print Name
 
   
   
Date
 
   
   
Social Security Number  

 
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Exhibit A

NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION

[Form For Registered Shares]
TO:           NEXX SYSTEMS, INC.
 
IMPORTANT NOTICE:  This form of Notice of Exercise may only be used at such time as the Company has filed a Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission under which the issuance of the Shares for which this exercise is being made is registered and such Registration Statement remains effective.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I hereby exercise my Incentive Stock Option to purchase _________ shares (the “Shares”) of the common stock, $.001 par value, of NEXX Systems, Inc. (the “Company”), at the exercise price of $________ per share, pursuant to and subject to the terms of that certain Incentive Stock Option Agreement between the undersigned and the Company dated _______________, 200_.

I understand the nature of the investment I am making and the financial risks thereof.  I am aware that it is my responsibility to have consulted with competent tax and legal advisors about the relevant national, state and local income tax and securities laws affecting the exercise of the Option and the purchase and subsequent sale of the Shares.

I am paying the option exercise price for the Shares as follows:

 

 
Please issue the Shares (check one):

 o to me; or

         o to me and ____________________________, as joint tenants with right of survivorship,

at the following address:

__________________________________________
 
__________________________________________
 
__________________________________________
 
My mailing address for shareholder communications, if different from the address listed above, is:

__________________________________________
 
__________________________________________
 
__________________________________________
 
Very truly yours,  
   
   
   
Employee (signature)  
   
   
Print Name
 
   
   
Date
 
   
   
Social Security Number  
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Exhibit B
 

 
CONSENT OF SPOUSE

I, ____________________________, spouse of _____________________________, acknowledge that I have read the Incentive Stock Option Agreement dated as of _______________, 200__ (the “Agreement”) to which this Consent is attached as Exhibit B and that I know its contents.  Capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement.  I am aware that by its provisions the Shares granted to my spouse pursuant to the Agreement are subject to a limitation on resale in the event of an initial public offering of securities of NEXX SYSTEMS, INC. (the “Company”) and that, accordingly, my spouse may not be able to immediately resell shares within the first 180 days following the closing of an initial public offering of the Company’s securities.


I hereby agree that my interest, if any, in the Shares subject to the Agreement shall be irrevocably bound by the Agreement and further understand and agree that any community property interest I may have in the Shares shall be similarly bound by the Agreement.


I AM AWARE THAT THE LEGAL, FINANCIAL AND RELATED MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE AGREEMENT ARE COMPLEX AND THAT I AM FREE TO SEEK INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE OR COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO THIS CONSENT.  I HAVE EITHER SOUGHT SUCH GUIDANCE OR COUNSEL OR DETERMINED AFTER REVIEWING THE AGREEMENT CAREFULLY THAT I WILL WAIVE SUCH RIGHT.

Dated as of the _______ day of ________________, 200__.



Signed____________________________________

Printed
Name  ____________________________________

 
 

 


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