PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
EX-10.5 6 a25924exv10w5.htm EXHIBIT 10.5 exv10w5
Exhibit 10.5
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE AND
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Peerless Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company) hereby grants to the holder listed below (Participant), an option to purchase the number of shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.001 (Stock), set forth below (the Option). This Option is subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Stock Option Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Stock Option Agreement) which is incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms used shall have the same defined meanings as ascribed to them in the Companys 2005 Incentive Award Plan (the Plan) and the Stock Option Agreement.
Participant: | Richard L. Roll | |
Grant Date: | December 15, 2006 | |
Exercise Price per Share: | $ 2.84 | |
Total Exercise Price: | $ 1,136,000 | |
Total Number of Shares Subject to the Option: | 400,000 shares | |
Expiration Date: | See Vesting Schedule below |
Type of Option: o Incentive Stock Option þ Non-Qualified Stock Option
Vesting Schedule:
The number of shares with respect to which this Option shall vest will be 200,000 shares when the Companys common stock is at or above $10.00 and 200,000 shares when the Companys common stock is at or above $14.00. A price hurdle is deemed to have been achieved when the closing price of the Companys common stock is at or above the price hurdle for 90 consecutive trading days or, in the event of a Change in Control as defined in your employment letter agreement dated December 12, 2006, if the price per share realized by the Companys public shareholders is at or above the price hurdle. You will have five years to achieve the price hurdles, commencing on the date of grant, and any options earned for price hurdle achievement will have a 7-year life from the date of grant. |
By his or her signature, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Stock Option Agreement and this Grant Notice. Participant has reviewed the Stock Option Agreement and this Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of this Grant Notice, and the Stock Option Agreement.
-1-
Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board of Directors of the Company upon any questions relating to the Option.
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION | PARTICIPANT | |||||
By: | /s/ John Rigali | By: | /s/ Richard L. Roll | |||
Print Name: | John Rigali | Print Name: | Richard L. Roll | |||
Title: | Vice President and CFO | |||||
Address: | 2381 Rosecrans Avenue | Address: | 15 Cellano | |||
El Segundo, CA 90245 | Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 |
-2-
EXHIBIT A
TO STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Pursuant to the Stock Option Grant Notice (the Grant Notice) to which this Stock Option Agreement (this Agreement) is attached, Peerless Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), has granted to Participant an option to purchase the number of shares of Stock indicated in the Grant Notice.
ARTICLE I
GENERAL
1.1 Defined Terms. Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Grant Notice and the Companys 2005 Incentive Award Plan (the Plan).
ARTICLE II
GRANT OF OPTION
2.1 Grant of Option. In consideration of Participants past and/or continued employment with or service to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary and for other good and valuable consideration, effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice (the Grant Date), the Company irrevocably grants to Participant the Option to purchase any part or all of an aggregate of the number of shares of Stock set forth in the Grant Notice, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Unless designated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option in the Grant Notice, the Option shall be an Incentive Stock Option to the maximum extent permitted by law.
2.2 Exercise Price. The exercise price of the shares of Stock subject to the Option shall be as set forth in the Grant Notice, without commission or other charge; provided, however, that the exercise price per share of Stock subject to the Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if this Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and Participant owns (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary corporation of the Company or any parent corporation of the Company (each within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code), the exercise price per share of Stock subject to the Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Grant Date.
2.3 Consideration to the Company; No Employment Rights. In consideration of the grant of the Option by the Company, Participant agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall confer upon Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and its Parents and Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary and Participant.
-1-
ARTICLE III
PERIOD OF EXERCISABILITY
3.1 Commencement of Exercisability.
(a) Subject to Sections 3.3, 5.8 and 5.10, the Option shall become vested and exercisable in such amounts and at such times as are set forth in the Grant Notice.
(b) No portion of the Option which has not become vested and exercisable at the date of Participants Termination of Employment, Termination of Directorship or Termination of Consultancy shall thereafter become vested and exercisable, except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors or as set forth in a written agreement between the Company and Participant.
3.2 Duration of Exercisability. The installments provided for in the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice are cumulative. Each such installment which becomes vested and exercisable pursuant to the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice shall remain vested and exercisable until it becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3.
3.3 Expiration of Option. The Option may not be exercised to any extent by anyone after the first to occur of the following events:
(a) The expiration of seven years from the Grant Date;
(b) If this Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and Participant owned (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code), at the time the Option was granted, more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary corporation of the Company or any parent corporation of the Company (each within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code), the expiration of five years from the Grant Date;
(c) The expiration of three months following the date of Participants Termination of Employment, Termination of Directorship or Termination of Consultancy, unless such termination occurs by reason of Participants death or Disability or Participants discharge for Cause;
(d) The expiration of one year following the date of Participants Termination of Employment, Termination of Directorship or Termination of Consultancy by reason of Participants death or Disability; or
(e) The expiration of three months following the date of Participants Termination of Employment, Termination of Directorship or Termination of Consultancy by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary by reason of Participants discharge for Cause.
Participant acknowledges that an Incentive Stock Option exercised more than three months after Participants Termination of Employment, other than by reason of death or Disability, will be taxed as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
3.4 Special Tax Consequences. Participant acknowledges that, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Option is granted) of all shares of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options, including the Option, are exercisable for the first time by Participant in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, the Option and such other options shall be Non-Qualified Stock Options to the extent necessary to comply with the limitations imposed by Section 422(d)
-2-
of the Code. Participant further acknowledges that the rule set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied by taking the Option and other incentive stock options into account in the order in which they were granted, as determined under Section 422(d) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
ARTICLE IV
EXERCISE OF OPTION
4.1 Person Eligible to Exercise. Except as provided in Sections 5.2(b) and 5.2(c), during the lifetime of Participant, only Participant may exercise the Option or any portion thereof. After the death of Participant, any exercisable portion of the Option may, prior to the time when the Option becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3, be exercised by Participants personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participants will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.
4.2 Partial Exercise. Any exercisable portion of the Option or the entire Option, if then wholly exercisable, may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to the time when the Option or portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3.
4.3 Manner of Exercise. The Option, or any exercisable portion thereof, may be exercised solely by delivery to the Secretary of the Company or the Secretarys office of all of the following prior to the time when the Option or such portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3:
(a) An Exercise Notice in writing signed by Participant or any other person then entitled to exercise the Option or portion thereof, stating that the Option or portion thereof is thereby exercised, such notice complying with all applicable rules established by the Board of Directors. Such notice shall be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B to the Grant Notice (or such other form as is prescribed by the Board of Directors);
(b) The receipt by the Company of full payment for the shares with respect to which the Option or portion thereof is exercised, including payment of any applicable withholding tax, which may be in one or more of the forms of consideration permitted under Section 4.4;
(c) A bona fide written representation and agreement, in such form as is prescribed by the Board of Directors, signed by Participant or the other person then entitled to exercise such Option or portion thereof, stating that the shares of Stock are being acquired for Participants own account, for investment and without any present intention of distributing or reselling said shares or any of them except as may be permitted under the Securities Act and then applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any other applicable law, and that Participant or other person then entitled to exercise such Option or portion thereof will indemnify the company against and hold it free and harmless from any loss, damage, expense or liability resulting to the Company if any sale or distribution of the shares by such person is contrary to the representation and agreement referred to above. The Board of Directors may, in its absolute discretion, take whatever additional actions it deems appropriate to ensure the observance and performance of such representation and agreement and to effect compliance with the Securities Act and any other federal or state securities laws or regulations and any other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board of Directors may require an opinion of counsel acceptable to it to the effect that any subsequent transfer of shares acquired on an Option exercise does not violate the Securities Act, and may issue stop-transfer orders covering such shares. Share certificates evidencing Stock issued on exercise of the Option shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the provisions of this subsection (c) and the agreements herein. The written representation and agreement referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (c) shall, however, not be required if the shares to be issued pursuant to such exercise have been registered under the Securities Act, and such registration is then effective in respect of such shares; and
-3-
(d) In the event the Option or portion thereof shall be exercised pursuant to Section 4.1 by any person or persons other than Participant, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option.
4.4 Method of Payment. Payment of the exercise price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Participant:
(a) cash;
(b) check;
(c) To the extent permitted under applicable laws, delivery of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to shares of Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the aggregate exercise price; provided, that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale;
(d) With the consent of the Board of Directors, such payment may be made, in whole or in part, through the surrender of shares of Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Option having a Fair Market Value on the date of Option exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof;
(e) With the consent of the Board of Directors, such payment may be made, in whole or in part, through the delivery of shares of Stock which have been owned by Participant for at least six (6) months, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company with a Fair Market Value on the date of Option exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof; or
(f) With the consent of the Board of Directors, any combination of the consideration provided in the foregoing paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e).
4.5 Conditions to Issuance of Stock Certificates. The shares of Stock deliverable upon the exercise of the Option, or any portion thereof, may be either previously authorized but unissued shares or issued shares which have then been reacquired by the Company. Such shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any shares of Stock purchased upon the exercise of the Option or portion thereof prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions:
(a) The admission of such shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which such Stock is then listed;
(b) The completion of any registration or other qualification of such shares under any state or federal law or under rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or of any other governmental regulatory body, which the Board of Directors shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable;
(c) The obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency which the Board of Directors shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable;
-4-
(d) The receipt by the Company of full payment for such shares, including payment of any applicable withholding tax, which may be in one or more of the forms of consideration permitted under Section 4.4; and
(e) The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the exercise of the Option as the Board of Directors may from time to time establish for reasons of administrative convenience.
4.6 Rights as Stockholder. The holder of the Option shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder of the Company in respect of any shares purchasable upon the exercise of any part of the Option unless and until such shares shall have been issued by the Company to such holder (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the shares are issued, except as provided in Section 12.3 of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference.
ARTICLE V
OTHER PROVISIONS
5.1 Administration. The Board of Directors shall have the power to interpret this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of this Agreement as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Board of Directors in good faith shall be final and binding upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Board of Directors shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to this Agreement or the Option.
5.2 Option Not Transferable.
(a) Subject to Section 5.2(b), the Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless and until the shares underlying the Option have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such shares have lapsed. Neither the Option nor any interest or right therein shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, with the consent of the Board of Directors and to the extent the Option is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, the Option may be transferred to one or more Permitted Transferees, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 12.1(b) of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference.
(c) Unless transferred to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with Section 5.2(b), during the lifetime of Participant, only Participant may exercise the Option or any portion thereof. Subject to such conditions and procedures as the Board of Directors may require, a Permitted Transferee may exercise the Option or any portion thereof during Participants lifetime. After the death of Participant, any exercisable portion of the Option may, prior to the time when the Option becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3, be exercised by Participants personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participants will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.
-5-
5.3 Restrictive Legends and Stop-Transfer Orders.
(a) The share certificate or certificates evidencing the shares of Stock purchased hereunder shall be endorsed with any legends that may be required by state or federal securities laws.
(b) Participant agrees that, in order to ensure compliance with the restrictions referred to herein, the Company may issue appropriate stop transfer instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and that, if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records.
(c) The Company shall not be required: (i) to transfer on its books any shares of Stock that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Agreement, or (ii) to treat as owner of such shares of Stock or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to whom such shares shall have been so transferred.
5.4 Shares to Be Reserved. The Company shall at all times during the term of the Option reserve and keep available such number of shares of Stock as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Agreement.
5.5 Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the address given beneath the signature of the Companys authorized officer on the Grant Notice, and any notice to be given to Participant shall be addressed to Participant at the address given beneath Participants signature on the Grant Notice. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 5.5, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice which is required to be given to Participant shall, if Participant is then deceased, be given to the person entitled to exercise his or her Option pursuant to Section 4.1 by written notice under this Section 5.5. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.
5.6 Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
5.7 Governing Law; Severability. This Agreement shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof. Should any provision of this Agreement be determined by a court of law to be illegal or unenforceable, the other provisions shall nevertheless remain effective and shall remain enforceable.
5.8 Conformity to Securities Laws. Participant acknowledges that the Option is intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any and all regulations and rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and state securities laws and regulations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Option shall be administered, and is granted and may be exercised, only in such a manner as to conform to such laws, rules and regulations. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.
-6-
5.9 Amendments. This Agreement may not be modified, amended or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by Participant or such other person as may be permitted to exercise the Option pursuant to Section 4.1 and by a duly authorized representative of the Company.
5.10 Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth in Section 5.2, this Agreement shall be binding upon Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.
5.11 Notification of Disposition. If this Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option, Participant shall give prompt notice to the Company of any disposition or other transfer of any shares of Stock acquired under this Agreement if such disposition or transfer is made (a) within two years from the Grant Date with respect to such shares or (b) within one year after the transfer of such shares to him. Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by Participant in such disposition or other transfer.
5.12 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Option and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.
5.13 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including all Exhibits hereto), and the Plan (to the extent incorporated herein by reference), constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.
-7-
EXHIBIT B
TO STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE
FORM OF EXERCISE NOTICE
Effective as of today, ___, 20___, the undersigned (Participant) hereby elects to exercise Participants option to purchase the number of shares of common stock specified below (the Shares) of Peerless Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), under and pursuant to the Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement dated as of (the Option Agreement). Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given in the Companys 2005 Incentive Award Plan (the Plan) and, if not defined in the Plan, the Option Agreement.
Grant Date: | ||
Number of Shares as to which Option is Exercised: | ||
Exercise Price per Share: | $ | |
Total Exercise Price: | $ | |
Certificate to be issued in name of: | ||
Payment delivered herewith: | $ (Representing the full exercise price for the Shares, as well as any applicable withholding tax) | |
Form of Payment: | ||
(Please specify) |
Type of Option: o Incentive Stock Option o Non-Qualified Stock Option
Participant acknowledges that Participant has received, read and understood the Option Agreement. Participant agrees to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions. Participant understands that Participant may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of Participants purchase or disposition of the Shares. Participant represents that Participant has consulted with any tax consultants Participant deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that Participant is not relying on the Company for any tax advice. The Option Agreement is incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement and the Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.
ACCEPTED BY: | ||||||
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION | SUBMITTED BY: | |||||
By: | By: | |||||
Print Name: | Print Name: | |||||
Title: | ||||||
Address: | ||||||
-1-