GADZOOX NETWORKS, INC.
1993 STOCK PLAN
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall
have the same defined meanings in this Option Agreement.
I. NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT
[FirstName] [LastName]
You have 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:
Grant Number [GrantNumber]
Date of Grant [DateofGrant]
Vesting Commencement Date [VestingCommDate]
Exercise Price per Share $[PricePerShare]
Total Number of Shares Granted [TotalNumShares]
Total Exercise Price $[TotalExercPrice]
Type of Option: [ ] Incentive Stock Option
[ ] Nonstatutory Stock Option
Term/Expiration Date: [TermExperDate]
1. Vesting Schedule. This Option may be exercised, in whole or in part,
in accordance with the following schedule:
[Vesting Schedule]
2. Termination Period. This Option may be exercised 30 days after
termination of employment or consulting relationship, or such longer period as
may be applicable upon death or Disability of Optionee as provided in the Plan,
but in no event later than the Term/Expiration Date as provided above.
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II. AGREEMENT
1. Grant of Option. Gadzoox Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby grants to the Optionee named in the Notice of Grant (the
"Optionee"), an option (the "Option") to purchase a total number of shares of
Common Stock (the "Shares") set forth in the Notice of Grant, at the exercise
price per share set forth in the Notice of Grant (the "Exercise Price") subject
to the terms, definitions and provisions of the 1993 Stock Plan (the "Plan")
adopted by the Company, which is incorporated herein by reference. Unless
otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same
defined meanings in this Option.
If designated in the Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock
Option, this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option as
defined in Section 422 of the Code. However, if this Option is intended to be an
Incentive Stock Option, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code
Section 422(d) it shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
2. Exercise of Option. This Option shall be exercisable during its term
in accordance with the Exercise Schedule set out in the Notice of Grant and with
the provisions of Section 9 of the Plan as follows:
(i) Right to Exercise.
(a) This Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a
share.
(b) In the event of Optionee's. death, disability or other
termination of employment, the exercisability of the Option is governed by
Sections 6, 7 and 8 below, subject to the limitation contained in subsection
2(i)(c).
(c) In no event may this option be exercised after the date
of expiration of the term of this Option as set forth in the Notice of Grant.
(ii) Method of Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable by
written notice (in the form attached as Exhibit A) which shall state the
election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in respect of which the
Option is being exercised, and such other representations and agreements as to
the holder's investment intent with respect to such shares of Common Stock as
may be required by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. Such
written notice shall be signed by the Optionee and shall be delivered in person
or by certified mail to the Secretary of the Company. The written notice shall
be accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price. This Option shall be deemed to
be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such written notice accompanied by
the Exercise Price.
No Shares will be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option
unless such issuance and such exercise shall comply with all relevant provisions
of law and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then
be listed. Assuming such compliance, for income tax
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purposes the Shares shall be considered transferred to the Optionee on the date
on which the option is exercised with respect to such Shares.
3. Optionee's Representations. In the event the Shares purchasable
pursuant to the exercise of this Option have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, at the time this Option is exercised,
optionee shall, if required by the Company, concurrently with the exercise of
all or any portion of this option, deliver to the Company his 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
resolutions until the end of such Market Standoff Period.
5. Method of Payment. Payment of the Exercise Price shall be by any of
the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee:
(i) cash; or
(ii) check; or
(iii) surrender of other shares of Common Stock of the Company
which (A) in the case of Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a Company
option, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months on the date
of surrender, and (B) have a fair market value on the date of surrender equal to
the Exercise Price of the Shares as to which the option is being exercised.
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
federal or, state securities or other law or regulation, including any rule
under Part 207 of Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations ("Regulation G")
as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board. As a condition to the exercise of
this Option, the Company may require Optionee to make any representation and
warranty to the Company as may be required by any applicable law or regulation.
7. Termination of Relationship. In the event of termination of
Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant, Optionee may, to the
extent otherwise so entitled at the date of such
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termination (the "Termination Date"), exercise this Option during the
Termination Period set out in the Notice of Grant. To the extent that Optionee
was not entitled to exercise this option at the date of such termination, or if
Optionee does not exercise this option within the time specified herein, the
Option shall terminate.
8. Disability of Optionee. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6
above, in the event of termination of Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee or Consultant as a result of total and permanent disability (as defined
in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), Optionee may, but only within twelve (12)
months from the date of termination of employment (but in no event later than
the date of expiration of the term of this Option as set forth in Section 10
below), exercise the Option to the extent otherwise so entitled at the date of
such termination. To the extent that Optionee was not entitled to exercise the
Option at the date of termination, or if optionee does not exercise such Option
(to the extent otherwise so entitled) within the time specified herein, the
Option shall terminate.
9. Death of Optionee. In the event of termination of Optionee's
Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant as a result of the death of
Optionee, the Option may be exercised at any time within twelve (12) months
following the date of death (but in no event later than the date of expiration
of the term of this Option as set forth in Section 10 below), by Optionee's
estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest
or inheritance, but only to the extent the Optionee could exercise the Option at
the date of death.
10. Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in
any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and
may be exercised during the lifetime of Optionee only by him. The terms of this
Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors
and assigns of the Optionee.
11. 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. The limitations set out
in Section 7 of the Plan regarding Options designated as Incentive Stock Options
and Options granted to more than ten percent (10%) shareholders shall apply to
this Option.
12. Taxation Upon Exercise of Option. Optionee understands that, upon
exercising a nonstatutory Option, he or she will recognize income for tax
purposes in an amount equal to the excess of the then fair market value of the
Shares over the exercise price. However, the timing of this income recognition
may be deferred for up to six months if Optionee is subject to Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). If the
Optionee is an 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 equal to a percentage of this compensation income.
Additionally, the Optionee may at some point be required to satisfy tax
withholding obligations with respect to a disqualifying disposition of an
Incentive Stock Option. The Optionee shall satisfy his or her tax withholding
obligation arising upon the exercise of this Option out of Optionee's
compensation or by payment to the Company.
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13. Tax Consequences. Set forth below is a brief summary as of the date
of this option of some of the federal and California 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.
OPTIONEE SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING
OF THE SHARES.
(i) Exercise of ISO. If this option qualifies as an ISO, there
will be no regular federal income tax liability or California 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.
(ii) Exercise of Nonstatutory Stock Option. If this Option does
not qualify as an ISO, there may be a regular federal income tax liability and
California income tax liability upon the exercise of the 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, the Company will be required to withhold from Optionee's compensation
or collect from Optionee and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount
equal to a percentage of this' compensation income at the time of exercise.
(iii) 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 and California 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 are disposed of 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 and California income
tax purposes. If Shares purchased under an ISO are disposed of within such
one-year period or within 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.
(iv) 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.
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Gadzoox Networks, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation
By:___________________________
OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO
THE OPTION HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING CONSULTANCY OR EMPLOYMENT 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 NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT, NOR IN THE COMPANY'S STOCK OPTION PLAN WHICH IS
INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, SHALL CONFER UPON OPTIONEE ANY RIGHT WITH
RESPECT TO CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTANCY BY THE COMPANY, NOR SHALL
IT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH HIS RIGHT OR THE COMPANY'S RIGHT TO TERMINATE HIS
EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTANCY AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.
Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and represents that
they are 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 in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the
advice of counsel prior to executing this Option 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.
Dated:__________________ _________________________________
Optionee
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