Form of Stock Option Agreement to Nextline Manufacturing Corp. 2014 Stock Option Plan

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Stock Agreements
EX-10.17 7 d120843dex1017.htm EX-10.17 EX-10.17

Exhibit 10.17

NEXTLINE MANUFACTURING CORP.

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Granted Under the

2014 STOCK OPTION PLAN

Unless otherwise defined herein, each capitalized term used in this Stock Option Agreement shall have the meaning given such term in the NextLine Manufacturing Corp. 2014 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”).

 

I.   NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT

  

Optionee’s Name and Address

  

 

  

 

  

 

The undersigned Optionee has been granted an Option to purchase Common Stock of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, as follows:

 

Date of Grant

                                              

Exercise Price per Share

                                              

Number of Shares Granted

                                              

Total Exercise Price

                                              

Type of Shares:

     Common Stock (“Common Stock”)

Type of Option:

     ☐ Incentive Stock Option

Nonstatutory Stock Option

     ☐ Nonstatutory Stock Option

Term/Expiration Date:

                                              

Vesting Schedule:

  This Option shall become exercisable in the following installments prior to the Expiration Date:
 

1)  25.0% of the Shares constituting the Option on the twelve-month anniversary of the Grant Date; and

 

2)  thereafter, at a rate of 1/48 of the Shares constituting the Option per month;

 

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Termination Period

  If Optionee ceases to be a Service Provider for any reason, the portion of this Option that is not vested shall expire immediately. In no event, however, may Optionee exercise this Option after the Term/Expiration Date as provided above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Options shall immediately expire in the event of the Service Provider’s Termination for Cause, in the event that an Optionee voluntary ceases to be a Service Provider, or in the event that an Optionee within the option term becomes an employee, consultant or director of a Competing Business.

 

II.

AGREEMENT

1. Grant of Option. The Plan Administrator of the Company hereby grants to the Optionee named in Section I above (the “Optionee”) in the Notice of Stock Option Grant (the “Notice of Grant”). an option (the “Option”) to purchase the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant, at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Notice of Grant (the “Exercise Price”), and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. Subject to subsection 16.3 of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail.

If designated in the Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”), this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code. Nevertheless, to the extent that the Option fails to meet the requirements of an ISO under Code Section 422, this Option shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option (“NSO”).

2. Exercise of Option.

(a) Right to Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Grant and with the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.

(b) Method of Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice in the form attached as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”) which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised, and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company. The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all Exercised Shares. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by the aggregate Exercise Price.

No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless such issuance and such exercise complies with Applicable Laws. Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the Shares shall be considered transferred to the Optionee on the date on which the Option is exercised with respect to such Shares.

 

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3. Optionee’s Representations. In the event the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, at the time this Option is exercised, the Optionee shall, if required by the Company, concurrently with the exercise of all or any portion of this Option, deliver to the Company his or her Investment Representation Statement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

4. Lock-Up Period. Optionee hereby agrees that, if so requested by the Company or any representative of the underwriters (the “Managing Underwriter”) in connection with any registration of the offering of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act, Optionee shall not sell or otherwise transfer any Shares or other securities of the Company during the 180-day period (or such other period as may be requested in writing by the Managing Underwriter and agreed to in writing by the Company) (the “Market Standoff Period”) following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act. Such restriction shall apply only to the first registration statement of the Company to become effective under the Securities Act that includes securities to be sold on behalf of the Company to the public in an underwritten public offering under the Securities Act. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of such Market Standoff Period.

5. Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee:

(a) cash or check;

(b) consideration received by the Company under a formal cashless exercise program adopted by the Company in connection with the Plan; or

(c) surrender of other Shares which, (i) in the case of Shares acquired upon exercise of a stock option, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares.

6. Restrictions on Exercise. This Option may not be exercised until such time as the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company, or if the issuance of such Shares upon such exercise or the method of payment of consideration for such shares would constitute a violation of any Applicable Law.

7. Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of Optionee only by Optionee; provided, however, that Administrator may, in its discretion, approve certain other transfers as set forth in Section 10 of the Plan. The terms of the Plan and this Option Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.

8. Term of Option. This Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option.

 

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9. Company Repurchase Rights. Optionee understands and agrees that, prior to the initial, underwritten public offering by the Company of its Shares, the Company shall have the absolute right to repurchase any of Optionee’s Shares within twelve (12) months of the date on which Optionee ceases, for any reason, to be a Service Provider. The purchase price to be paid by the Company for such Shares shall be as follows. In the event of the Service Provider’s Termination for Cause, or in the event that the Optionee breaches in any material respect any noncompete or nondisclosure agreement or becomes an employee, consultant or director of a Competing Business (as defined in the Plan) within twelve (12) months of ceasing to be a Service Provider, the purchase price shall be the price, if any, that the Optionee paid the Company for such Shares. In all other instances, the purchase price will be the equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock.

10. Tax Consequences. Set forth below is a brief summary as of the date of this Option of some of the federal tax consequences of exercise of this Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE OPTIONEE SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.

(a) Exercise of ISO. If this Option qualifies as an ISO, there will be no regular federal income tax liability upon the exercise of the Option, although the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price will be treated as an adjustment to the alternative minimum tax for federal tax purposes and may subject the Optionee to the alternative minimum tax in the year of exercise.

(b) Exercise of Nonstatutory Stock Option. There may be a regular federal income tax liability upon the exercise of a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Optionee will be treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price. If Optionee is an Employee or a former Employee, the Company will be required to withhold from Optionee’s compensation or collect from Optionee and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount in cash equal to a percentage of this compensation income at the time of exercise, and may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise.

(c) Disposition of Shares. In the case of an NSO, if Shares are held for at least one year, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes. In the case of an ISO, if Shares transferred pursuant to the Option are held for at least one year after exercise and at least two years after the Date of Grant, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will also be treated as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes. If Shares purchased under an ISO are disposed of within one year after exercise or two years after the Date of Grant, any gain realized on such disposition will be treated as compensation income (taxable at ordinary income rates) to the extent of the difference between the Exercise Price and the lesser of (1) the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of exercise, or (2) the sale price of the Shares. Any additional gain will be taxed as capital gain, short-term or long-term depending on the period that the ISO Shares were held.

 

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(d) Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares. If the Option granted to Optionee herein is an ISO, and if Optionee sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the ISO on or before the later of (1) the date two years after the Date of Grant, or (2) the date one year after the date of exercise, the Optionee shall immediately notify the Company in writing of such disposition. Optionee agrees that Optionee may be subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income recognized by the Optionee.

11. Section 409A of the Code. This Option is intended to be excepted from coverage under Section 409A and shall be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly. The Company may, in its sole discretion and without Optionee’s consent, modify or amend the terms of this Option Agreement. impose conditions on the timing and effectiveness of the exercise of the Option by Optionee, or take any other action it deems necessary or advisable, to cause the Option to be excepted from Section 409A (or to comply therewith to the extent the Company determines it is not excepted). Notwithstanding, Optionee recognizes and acknowledges that Section 409A of the Code may impose upon the Optionee certain taxes or interest charges for which the Optionee is and shall remain solely responsible.

12. Entire Agreement, Governing Law. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee. This agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws but not the choice of law rules of the State of Delaware.

13. No Guarantee of Continued Service. OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THIS OPTION OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER). OPTIONEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH OPTIONEE’S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY’S RIGHT TO TERMINATE OPTIONEE’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

 

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Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts this Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof. Optionee has reviewed the Plan and this Option Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option Agreement and fully understands all provisions of the Option. Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan or this Option Agreement. Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.

 

OPTIONEE:    NEXTLINE MANUFACTURING CORP.
     By:  

 

 

Signature

     Authorized Officer

 

Print Name

      

 

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