Salon Media Group, Inc. Non-Plan Stock Option Agreement with Christopher Neimeth

Summary

Salon Media Group, Inc. has granted Christopher Neimeth the option to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of company stock at $0.16 per share. The option vests over four years, with 25% vesting after one year and the remainder vesting monthly over the next three years, provided Mr. Neimeth remains in service. The option expires ten years from the grant date. This agreement outlines the terms, vesting schedule, and conditions under which the option can be exercised.

EX-10.33 3 salon_8k-ex1033.txt Exhibit 10.33 SALON MEDIA GROUP, INC. NON-PLAN STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT Salon Media Group, Inc. has granted to Christopher Neimeth (the "Optionee") an option (the "Option") to purchase certain shares of Stock upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Stock Option Agreement (the "Option Agreement"). 1. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION. ---------------------------- 1.1 Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms shall have the meanings set forth below: (a) "Date of Option Grant" means June 6, 2006. (b) "Number of Option Shares" means 1,000,000 shares of Stock, as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 9. (c) "Exercise Price" means $ 0.16 per share of Stock, as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 9. (d) "Initial Vesting Date" means the Date one (1) year after the Date of the Option Grant. (e) "Vested Shares" means, on any relevant date, except as otherwise provided herein, that portion (rounded down to the nearest whole share) of the Number of Option Shares determined by multiplying the Number of Option Shares by the "Vested Ratio" determined as of such date as follows: Vested Ratio ------------ Prior to Initial Vesting Date 0 On Initial Vesting Date, provided the Participant's Service has not terminated prior to such date 1/4 Plus: ----- For each additional full month of the Participant's continuous Service from Initial Vesting Date until the Vested Ratio equals 1/1, an additional 1/48 (f) "Option Expiration Date" means the date ten (10) years after the Date of Option Grant. 1 (g) "Affiliate" means (i) an entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) an entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities. For this purpose, the term "control" (including the term "controlled by") means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the relevant entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; or shall have such other meaning assigned such term for the purposes of registration on Form S-8 under the Securities Act. (h) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company. If one or more committees have been appointed by the Board to administer the Option Agreement, "Board" shall also mean such committee(s). (i) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder. (j) "Company" means Salon Media Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor corporation thereto. (k) "Consultant" means a person engaged to provide consulting services (other than as an Employee or a Director) to a Participating Company. (l) "Director" means the inability of the Optionee, in the opinion of a qualified physician acceptable to the Company, to perform the major duties of the Optionee's position with the Participating Company Group because of the sickness or injury of the Optionee. (m) "Disability" means the permanent and total disability of the Optionee within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. (n) "Employee" means any person treated as an employee (including an Officer or a Director who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating Company; provided, however, that neither service as a Director nor payment of a director's fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for this purpose. The Company shall determine in good faith and in the exercise of its discretion whether an individual has become or has ceased to be an Employee and the effective date of such individual's employment or termination of employment, as the case may be. For purposes of an individual's rights, if any, under the terms of the Plan as of the time of the Company's determination of whether or not the individual is an Employee, all such determinations by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive as to such rights, if any, notwithstanding that the Company or any court of law or governmental agency subsequently makes a contrary determination as to such individual's status as an Employee. (o) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 2 (p) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of a share of stock or other property as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, or by the Company, in its sole discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following: (i) If, on such date, the Stock is listed on a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing sale price of a share of Stock (or the mean of the closing bid and asked prices of a share of Stock if the Stock is so quoted instead) as quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, The Nasdaq SmallCap Market, OTC Bulletin Board or such other national or regional securities exchange or market system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or market system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Board, in its discretion. (ii) If, on such date, the Stock is not listed on a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Board without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse. (q) "Insider" means an Officer, a Director of the Company or other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. (r) "Officer" means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the Company. (s) "Parent Corporation" means any present or future "parent corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code. (t) "Participating Company" means the Company or any Parent Corporation or Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate. (u) "Participating Company Group" means, at any point in time, all corporations collectively which are then Participating Companies. (v) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation. (w) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. (x) "Service" means the Optionee's employment or service with the Participating Company Group, whether in the capacity of an Employee, a Director or a Consultant. The Optionee's Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Optionee renders Service to the Participating Company Group or a change in the Participating Company for which the Optionee renders such Service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Optionee's Service. Furthermore, the 3 Optionee's Service with the Participating Company Group shall not be deemed to have terminated if the Optionee takes any military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise designated by the Company or required by law, a leave of absence shall not be treated as Service for purposes of determining the Optionee's Vested Shares. Except as otherwise provided by the Board, in its discretion, the Optionee's Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the corporation for which the Optionee performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether the Optionee's Service has terminated and the effective date of such termination. (y) "Stock" means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 9. (z) "Subsidiary Corporation" means any present or future "subsidiary corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code. 1.2 Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Option Agreement. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term "or" is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. 2. TAX STATUS OF OPTION. -------------------- This Option is intended to be a nonstatutory stock option and shall not be treated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code. 3. ADMINISTRATION. -------------- All questions of interpretation concerning this Option Agreement shall be determined by the Board. All determinations by the Board shall be final and binding upon all persons having an interest in the Option. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, or election. 4. EXERCISE OF THE OPTION. ---------------------- 4.1 Right to Exercise. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Option shall be exercisable on and after the Initial Vesting Date and prior to the termination of the Option (as provided in Section 6) in an amount not to exceed the number of Vested Shares less the number of shares previously acquired upon exercise of the Option. In no event shall the Option be exercisable for more shares than the Number of Option Shares, as adjusted pursuant to Section 9. 4.2 Method of Exercise. Exercise of the Option shall be by written notice to the Company which must state the election to exercise the Option, the number of whole shares of Stock for which the Option is being exercised and such other representations and agreements as 4 to the Optionee's investment intent with respect to such shares as may be required pursuant to the provisions of this Option Agreement. The written notice must be signed by the Optionee and must be delivered in person, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, by confirmed facsimile transmission, or by such other means as the Company may permit, to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, or other authorized representative of the Participating Company Group, prior to the termination of the Option as set forth in Section 6, accompanied by full payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased. The Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such written notice and the aggregate Exercise Price. 4.3 Payment of Exercise Price. (a) Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of shares of Stock for which the Option is being exercised shall be made (i) in cash, by check, or cash equivalent, (ii) by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of whole shares of Stock owned by the Optionee having a Fair Market Value not less than the aggregate Exercise Price, (iii) by means of a Cashless Exercise, as defined in Section 4.3(b), or (iv) by any combination of the foregoing. (b) Limitations on Forms of Consideration. (i) Tender of Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock to the extent such tender or attestation would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company's stock. The Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either have been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months (and not used for another option exercise by attestation during such period) or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company. (ii) Cashless Exercise. A "Cashless Exercise" means the delivery of a properly executed notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker in a form acceptable to the Company providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares of Stock acquired upon the exercise of the Option pursuant to a program or procedure approved by the Company (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company's sole and absolute discretion, to decline to approve or terminate any such program or procedure. 4.4 Tax Withholding. At the time the Option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, the Optionee hereby authorizes withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to the Optionee, and otherwise agrees to make adequate provision for (including by means of a Cashless Exercise to the extent permitted by the Company), any sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group, if any, which arise in connection 5 with the Option, including, without limitation, obligations arising upon (i) the exercise, in whole or in part, of the Option and (ii) the transfer, in whole or in part, of any shares acquired upon exercise of the Option. The Option is not exercisable unless the tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group are satisfied. Accordingly, the Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock until the tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group have been satisfied by the Optionee. 4.5 Certificate Registration. Except in the event the Exercise Price is paid by means of a Cashless Exercise, the certificate for the shares as to which the Option is exercised shall be registered in the name of the Optionee, or, if applicable, in the names of the heirs of the Optionee. 4.6 Restrictions on Grant of the Option and Issuance of Shares. The grant of the Option and the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise of the Option shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state or foreign law with respect to such securities. The Option may not be exercised if the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, the Option may not be exercised unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of exercise of the Option be in effect with respect to the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option or (ii) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. THE OPTIONEE IS CAUTIONED THAT THE OPTION MAY NOT BE EXERCISED UNLESS THE FOREGOING CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED. ACCORDINGLY, THE OPTIONEE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THE OPTION WHEN DESIRED EVEN THOUGH THE OPTION IS VESTED. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company's legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares subject to the Option shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to the exercise of the Option, the Company may require the Optionee to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company. 4.7 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise of the Option. 5. NONTRANSFERABILITY OF THE OPTION. -------------------------------- The Option may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee or the Optionee's guardian or legal representative and may not be assigned or transferred in any manner except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Following the death of the Optionee, the Option, to the extent provided in Section 7, may be exercised by the Optionee's legal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Optionee's will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution. 6 6. TERMINATION OF THE OPTION. ------------------------- The Option shall terminate and may no longer be exercised after the first to occur of (a) the close of business on the Option Expiration Date, (b) the close of business on the last date for exercising the Option following termination of the Optionee's Service as described in Section 7, or (c) a Change in Control to the extent provided in Section 8. 7. EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE. -------------------------------- 7.1 Option Exercisability. (a) Disability. If the Optionee's Service terminates because of the Disability of the Optionee, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable on the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee (or the Optionee's guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months after the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. (b) Death. If the Optionee's Service terminates because of the death of the Optionee, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable on the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee's legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Optionee's death at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months after the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. The Optionee's Service shall be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Optionee dies within three (3) months after the Optionee's termination of Service. (c) Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Option Agreement, if the Optionee's Service is terminated for Cause (as defined below), the Option shall terminate and cease to be exercisable on the effective date of such termination of Service. Unless otherwise defined in a contract of employment or service between the Optionee and a Participating Company, for purposes of this Option Agreement "Cause" shall mean any of the following: (i) the Optionee's theft, dishonesty, or falsification of any Participating Company documents or records; (ii) the Optionee's improper use or disclosure of a Participating Company's confidential or proprietary information; (iii) any action by the Optionee which has a material detrimental effect on a Participating Company's reputation or business; (iv) the Optionee's failure or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from a Participating Company of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure or inability; (v) any material breach by the Optionee of any employment agreement between the Optionee and a Participating Company, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement; or (vi) the Optionee's conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere) of any criminal act which impairs the Optionee's ability to perform his or her duties with a Participating Company. (d) Other Termination of Service. If the Optionee's Service terminates for any reason, except Disability, death or Cause, the Option, to the extent 7 unexercised and exercisable by the Optionee on the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee at any time prior to the expiration of three (3) months after the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. 7.2 Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than for Cause, if the exercise of the Option within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 7.1 is prevented by the provisions of Section 4.6, the Option shall remain exercisable until three (3) months after the date the Optionee is notified by the Company that the Option is exercisable, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. 7.3 Extension if Optionee Subject to Section 16(b). Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than for Cause, if a sale within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 7.1 of shares acquired upon the exercise of the Option would subject the Optionee to suit under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Option shall remain exercisable until the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth (10th) day following the date on which a sale of such shares by the Optionee would no longer be subject to such suit, (ii) the one hundred and ninetieth (190th) day after the Optionee's termination of Service, or (iii) the Option Expiration Date. 8. CHANGE IN CONTROL. ----------------- 8.1 Definitions. (a) An "Ownership Change Event" shall be deemed to have occurred if any of the following occurs with respect to the Company: (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related transactions by the stockholders of the Company of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (iv) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company. (b) A "Change in Control" shall mean an Ownership Change Event or a series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, a "Transaction") wherein the stockholders of the Company immediately before the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company's voting stock immediately before the Transaction, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company or, in the case of a Transaction described in Section 8.1(a)(iii), the corporation or other business entity to which the assets of the Company were transferred (the "Transferee"), as the case may be. For purposes of the preceding sentence, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company or the Transferee, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities. The Board shall have the right to determine whether multiple sales or exchanges of the voting securities of the Company or multiple Ownership Change Events are related, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. 8 8.2 Effect of Change in Control on Option. In the event of a Change in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the "Acquiror"), may, without the consent of the Optionee, either assume the Company's rights and obligations under the Option or substitute for the Option a substantially equivalent option for the Acquiror's stock. The Option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the date of the Change in Control to the extent that the Option is neither assumed or substituted for by the Acquiror in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised as of the date of the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares acquired upon exercise of the Option prior to the Change in Control and any consideration received pursuant to the Change in Control with respect to such shares shall continue to be subject to all applicable provisions of this Option Agreement except as otherwise provided herein. Furthermore, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the corporation the stock of which is subject to the Option immediately prior to an Ownership Change Event described in Section 8.1(a)(i) constituting a Change in Control is the surviving or continuing corporation and immediately after such Ownership Change Event less than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of its voting stock is held by another corporation or by other corporations that are members of an affiliated group within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to the provisions of Section 1504(b) of the Code, the Option shall not terminate unless the Board otherwise provides in its discretion. 9. ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE. -------------------------------------------- Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting normal cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made in the number, Exercise Price and class of shares subject to the Option, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the Optionee's rights under the Option. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as "effected without receipt of consideration by the Company." Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 9 shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and in no event may the purchase price of the Option be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to the Option. Such adjustments shall be determined by the Board, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. 10. RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER, EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT. ----------------------------------------------- The Optionee shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the Option until the date of the issuance of a certificate for the shares for which the Option has been exercised (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 9. If the Optionee is an Employee, the 9 Optionee understands and acknowledges that, except as otherwise provided in a separate, written employment agreement between a Participating Company and the Optionee, the Optionee's employment is "at will" and is for no specified term. Nothing in this Option Agreement shall confer upon the Optionee any right to continue in the Service of a Participating Company or interfere in any way with any right of the Participating Company Group to terminate the Optionee's Service as an Employee or Consultant, as the case may be, at any time. 11. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. ------------------------------ In connection with the receipt of the Option and any acquisition of shares upon the exercise thereof (collectively, the "Securities"), the Optionee hereby agrees, represents and warrants as follows: 11.1 Investment Intent. The Optionee is acquiring the Securities solely for the Optionee's own account for investment and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution of the Securities or any portion thereof and not with any present intention of selling, offering to sell or otherwise disposing of or distributing the Securities or any portion thereof in any transaction other than a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act. The Optionee further represents that the entire legal and beneficial interest of the Securities is being acquired, and will be held, for the account of the Optionee only and neither in whole nor in part for any other person. 11.2 Absence of Solicitation. The Optionee was not presented with or solicited by any form of general solicitation or general advertising, including, but not limited to, any advertisement, article, notice, or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media, or broadcast over television, radio or similar communications media, or presented at any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising. 11.3 Capacity to Protect Interests. The Optionee has (i) a preexisting personal or business relationship with the Company or any of its Officers, directors, or controlling persons, consisting of personal or business contacts of a nature and duration to enable the Optionee to be aware of the character, business acumen and general business and financial circumstances of the person with whom such relationship exists, or (ii) such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to make the Optionee capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and to protect the Optionee's own interests in the transaction, or (iii) both such relationship and such knowledge and experience. 11.4 Reliance by Company. The Optionee understands that the Option and any shares acquired upon exercise of the Option have not been qualified under the Corporate Securities Law of 1968, as amended, of the State of California by reason of a specific exemption therefrom, which exemption depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the Optionee's representations as expressed herein. The Optionee understands that the Company is relying on the Optionee's representations and warrants that the Company is entitled to rely on such representations and that such reliance is reasonable. 10 12. LEGENDS. ------- 12.1 The Company may at any time place legends referencing any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law restrictions on all certificates representing shares of stock subject to the provisions of this Option Agreement. The Optionee shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares acquired pursuant to the Option in the possession of the Optionee in order to carry out the provisions of this Section. 13. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. ------------------------ 13.1 Further Instruments. The parties hereto agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Option Agreement. 13.2 Binding Effect. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Option Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns. 13.3 Termination or Amendment. The Board may terminate or amend the Option at any time; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 8.2 in connection with a Change in Control, no such termination or amendment may adversely affect the Option or any unexercised portion hereof without the consent of the Optionee unless such termination or amendment is necessary to comply with any applicable law or government regulation. No amendment or addition to this Option Agreement shall be effective unless in writing. 13.4 Notices. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given (except to the extent that this Option Agreement provides for effectiveness only upon actual receipt of such notice) upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail, or with an overnight courier service with postage and fees prepaid, addressed to the other party at the address shown below that party's signature or at such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to the other party. 13.5 Integrated Agreement. The Option Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of the Optionee and the Participating Company Group with respect to the subject matter contained herein and supersedes any prior agreements, understandings, restrictions, representations, or warranties among the Optionee and the Participating Company Group with respect to such subject matter other than those as set forth or provided for herein. To the extent contemplated herein, the provisions of the Notice and the Option Agreement shall survive any exercise of the Option and shall remain in full force and effect. 13.6 Applicable Law. This Option Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California as such laws are applied to agreements between California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of California. [Remainder of page intentionally left blank] 11 13.7 Counterparts. The Notice may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Salon Media Group, Inc. By: /s/ Conrad Lowry ------------------------------- Title: Chief Financial Officer and Secretary ---------------------------- Address: 101 Spear Street, Suite 203 San Francisco, CA 94105 The Optionee represents that the Optionee has read and is familiar with the terms and provisions of this Option Agreement and hereby accepts the option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof. The Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board upon any questions arising under this Option Agreement. OPTIONEE Date: 6/6/06 Signature: /s/ Chris Neimeth ------------------------ Chris Neimeth ----------------------------------- Name Printed Optionee Address: ___________________________________ ___________________________________ 12 Optionee: ______________________ Date:___________________________ STOCK OPTION EXERCISE NOTICE Salon Media Group, Inc. Attention: Chief Financial Officer One Rincon Center 101 Spear Street, Suite 203 San Francisco, CA 94105 Ladies and Gentlemen: 1. Option. I was granted a nonstatutory stock option (the "Option") to purchase shares of the common stock (the "Shares") of Salon Media Group, Inc. (the "Company") pursuant to a Stock Option Agreement (the "Option Agreement") as follows: Date of Option Grant: __________________ Number of Option Shares: __________________ Exercise Price per Share: $_________________ 2. Exercise of Option. I hereby elect to exercise the Option to purchase the following number of Shares, all of which are Vested Shares as determined in accordance with the Option Agreement: Total Shares Purchased: __________________ Total Exercise Price (Total Shares X Price per Share) $_________________ 3. Payments. I enclose payment in full of the total exercise price for the Shares in the following form(s), as authorized by my Option Agreement: (TM)Cash: $_________________ (TM)Check: $_________________ (TM)Tender of Company Stock: Contact Stock Administrator 1 4. Tax Withholding. I authorize payroll withholding and otherwise will make adequate provision for the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company, if any, in connection with the Option. I enclose payment in full of my withholding taxes, if any, as follows: (Contact Stock Administrator for amount of tax due.) (TM)Cash: $_________________ (TM)Check: $_________________ 5. Optionee Information. My address is:______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ My Social Security Number is:_______________________________________ 6. Binding Effect. I agree that the Shares are being acquired in accordance with and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Option Agreement, to all of which I hereby expressly assent. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon my heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns. I understand that I am purchasing the Shares pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement, a copy of which I have received and carefully read and understand. Very truly yours, __________________________________ (Signature) Receipt of the above is hereby acknowledged. Salon Media Group, Inc. By:_______________________________ Title:____________________________ Dated:____________________________ 2