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EXHIBIT 99.9
CREDIT MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, INC.
AUTOMATIC STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
RECITALS
A. Credit Management Solutions, Inc. has implemented an automatic
option grant program under the Corporation's 1997 Stock Incentive Plan pursuant
to which eligible non-employee members of the Corporation's Board will
automatically receive special option grants at designated intervals over their
period of Board service in order to provide such individuals with a meaningful
incentive to continue to serve as a member of the Board.
B. Optionee is an eligible non-employee Board member, and this
Agreement is executed pursuant to, and is intended to carry out the purposes of,
the Plan in connection with the automatic grant of a stock option to purchase
shares of the Corporation's Common Stock under the Plan.
C. The granted option is intended to be a non-statutory option which
does not meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.
D. All capitalized terms in this Agreement, to the extent not otherwise
defined in the Agreement, shall have the meaning assigned to them in the
attached Appendix.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:
1. GRANT OF OPTION. The Corporation hereby grants to Optionee,
as of the Grant Date, a Non-Statutory Option to purchase up to the number of
Option Shares specified in the Grant Notice. The Option Shares shall be
purchasable from time to time during the option term specified in Paragraph 2 at
the Exercise Price.
2. OPTION TERM. This option shall have a maximum term of ten
(10) years measured from the Grant Date and shall accordingly expire at the
close of business on the Expiration Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance
with Paragraph 5, 6 or 7.
3. LIMITED TRANSFERABILITY. This option may, in connection
with the Optionee's estate plan, be assigned in whole or in part during
Optionee's lifetime to one or more members of the Optionee's immediate family or
to a trust established for the exclusive benefit of one or more such family
members. The assigned portion shall be exercisable only by the person or persons
who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to such assignment.
The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in
effect for this option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set
forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Corporation may deem
appropriate. Should the Optionee die while holding this option, then this option
shall be transferred in accordance with Optionee's will or the laws of descent
and distribution.
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4. EXERCISABILITY/VESTING.
(a) This option shall become exercisable in
accordance with the exercise schedule set forth in the Grant Notice.
Exercisability of the option may be accelerated pursuant to the provisions of
Paragraph 5, 6 or 7. In no event, however, shall any additional Option Shares
become exercisable following Optionee's cessation of service as a Board member.
5. CESSATION OF BOARD SERVICE. Should Optionee's service as a
Board member cease while this option remains outstanding, then the option term
specified in Paragraph 2 shall terminate (and this option shall cease to be
outstanding) prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with the following
provisions:
(i) Should Optionee cease to serve as a
Board member for any reason (other than death or Permanent Disability)
while holding this option, then the period for exercising this option
shall be reduced to a twelve (12)-month period commencing with the date
of such cessation of Board service, but in no event shall this option
be exercisable at any time after the Expiration Date. During such
limited period of exercisability, this option may not be exercised in
the aggregate for more than the number of Option Shares (if any) for
which the option is exercisable on the date of Optionee's cessation of
Board service. Upon the earlier of (i) the expiration of such twelve
(12)-month period or (ii) the specified Expiration Date, the option
shall terminate and cease to be exercisable with respect to any such
Option Shares for which the option has not been exercised.
(ii) Should Optionee die during the twelve
(12)-month period following his or her cessation of Board service, then
the personal representative of Optionee's estate or the person or
persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to Optionee's will
or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution shall have
the right to exercise this option for any or all of the Option Shares
for which the ooption is exercisable at the time of Optionee's
cessation of Board service (less any Option Shares purchased by
Optionee after such cessation of Board service but prior to death).
Such right of exercise shall terminate, and this option shall
accordingly cease to be exercisable for those vested Option Shares,
upon the earlier of (i) the expiration of the twelve (12)-month period
measured from the date of Optionee's cessation of Board service or (ii)
the specified Expiration Date of the option term.
(iii) Should Optionee cease service as a Board
member by reason of death or Permanent Disability, then all Option
Shares at the time subject to this option but not otherwise vested
shall immediately vest in full so that Optionee (or the personal
representative of Optionee's estate or the person or persons to whom
the option is transferred upon Optionee's death) shall have the right
to exercise this option for any or all of the Option Shares as
fully-vested shares of Common Stock at any time prior to the earlier of
(i) the expiration of the twelve (12)-month period measured from the
date of Optionee's cessation of Board service or (ii) the specified
Expiration Date.
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(iv) Upon Optionee's cessation of Board service
for any reason other than death or Permanent Disability, this option
shall immediately terminate and cease to be outstanding with respect to
any and all Option Shares for which this option is not otherwise at
that time exercisable in accordance with the normal exercise schedule
set forth in the Grant Notice or the special vesting acceleration
provisions of Paragraph 6 or 7 below.
6. CORPORATE TRANSACTION.
(a) In the event of a Corporate Transaction, all Option
Shares at the time subject to this option but not otherwise fully exercisable
shall automatically vest so that this option shall, immediately prior to the
specified effective date for the Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable
for all of the Option Shares at the time subject to this option and may be
exercised for all or any portion of such shares as fully-vested shares of Common
Stock. Immediately following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, this
option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed
by the successor corporation or its parent company.
(b) If this option is assumed in connection with a
Corporate Transaction, then this option shall be appropriately adjusted,
immediately after such Corporate Transaction, to apply to the number and class
of securities which would have been issuable to Optionee in consummation of such
Corporate Transaction had the option been exercised immediately prior to such
Corporate Transaction, and appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the
Exercise Price, provided the aggregate Exercise Price shall remain the same.
7. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER.
(a) All Option Shares subject to this option at the time
of a Change in Control but not otherwise fully exercisable shall automatically
accelerate in full so that this option shall, immediately prior to the effective
date of such Change in Control, become fully exercisable for all of the Option
Shares at the time subject to this option and may be exercised for all or any
portion of such shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. This option shall
remain exercisable for such fully-vested Option Shares until the earliest to
occur of (i) the specified Expiration Date, (ii) the sooner termination of this
option in accordance with Paragraph 5 or 6 or (iii) the surrender of this option
under Paragraph 7(b).
(b) Optionee shall have an unconditional right
(exercisable during the thirty (30)-day period immediately following the
consummation of a Hostile Take-Over) to surrender this option to the Corporation
in exchange for a cash distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to
the excess of (i) the Take-Over Price of the Option Shares at the time subject
to the surrendered option (whether or not those Option Shares are otherwise at
the time vested) over (ii) the aggregate Exercise Price payable for such shares.
This Paragraph 7(b) limited stock appreciation right shall in all events
terminate upon the expiration or sooner termination of the option term and may
not be assigned or transferred by Optionee.
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(c) To exercise the Paragraph 7(b) limited stock
appreciation right, Optionee must, during the applicable thirty (30)-day
exercise period, provide the Corporation with written notice of the option
surrender in which there is specified the number of Option Shares as to which
the option is being surrendered. Such notice must be accompanied by the return
of Optionee's copy of this Agreement, together with any written amendments to
such Agreement. The cash distribution shall be paid to Optionee within five (5)
business days following such delivery date, and neither the approval of the Plan
Administrator nor the consent of the Board shall be required in connection with
such option surrender and cash distribution. Upon receipt of such cash
distribution, this option shall be cancelled with respect to the shares subject
to the surrendered option (or the surrendered portion), and Optionee shall cease
to have any further right to acquire those Option Shares under this Agreement.
The option shall, however, remain outstanding for the balance of the Option
Shares (if any) in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement,
and the Corporation shall accordingly issue a new stock option agreement
(substantially in the same form as this Agreement) for those remaining Option
Shares.
8. ADJUSTMENT IN OPTION SHARES. Should any change be made to
the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the
outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation's receipt of
consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made to (i) the number and/or
class of securities subject to this option and (ii) the Exercise Price in order
to reflect such change and thereby preclude a dilution or enlargement of
benefits hereunder; provided, however, that the aggregate Exercise Price shall
remain the same.
9. STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. The holder of this option shall not
have any stockholder rights with respect to the Option Shares until such person
shall have exercised the option, paid the Exercise Price and become a holder of
record of the purchased shares.
10. MANNER OF EXERCISING OPTION.
(a) In order to exercise this option for all or any
part of the Option Shares for which the option is at the time exercisable,
Optionee or, in the case of exercise after Optionee's death, Optionee's
executor, administrator, heir or legatee, as the case may be, must take the
following actions:
(i) Execute and deliver to the Corporatiom
a Notice of Exercise for the Option Shares for which the option is
issued.
(ii) Pay the aggregate Exercise Price for
the purchased shares shall be paid in one or more of the following
alternative forms:
(A) cash or check made payable to the
Corporation's order; or
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(B) shares of Common Stock held by
Optionee for the requisite period necessary to avoid a charge
to the Corporation's earnings for financial reporting purposes
and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date; or
(C) through a special sale and
remittance procedure pursuant to which Optionee shall provide
irrevocable written instructions (A) to a
Corporationdesignated brokerage firm to effect the immediate
sale of the vested shares purchased under the option and remit
to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the
settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate
Exercise Price payable for those shares plus the applicable
Federal, state and local income taxes required to be withheld
by the Corporation by reason of such exercise and (B) to the
Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased
shares directly to suchbrokerage firm in order to complete the
sale.
(i) Furnish to the Corporation appropriate
documentation that the person or persons exercising the option (if
other than Optionee) has the right to exercise this option.
(iv) Make appropriate arrangement must
be made with the Corporation for the satisfaction of all Federal, state
and local income tax withholding requirements applicable to the option
exercise.
(b) Except to the extent the sale and remittance
procedure specified above is utilized in connection with the option exercise,
payment of the Exercise Price for the purchased shares must accompany the
Exercise Notice delivered to the Corporation in connection with the option
exercise.
(c) As soon as practical after the Exercise
Date, the Corporation shall issue to or on behalf of Optionee (or any other
person or persons exercising this option) a certificate or certificates
representing the purchased Option Shares. To the extent any such Option Shares
are unvested, the certificates for
those Option Shares shall be endorsed with an appropriate legend evidencing the
Corporation's repurchase rights and may be held in escrow with the Corporation
until such shares vest.
(d) In no event may this option be exercised for
fractional shares.
11. NO IMPAIRMENT OF RIGHTS. This Agreement shall not in any
way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or
otherwise make changes in its capital or business structure or to merge,
consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its
business or assets. Nor shall this Agreement in any way be construed or
interpreted so as to affect adversely or otherwise impair the right of the
Corporation or the
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stockholders to remove Optionee from the Board at any time in accordance with
the provisions of applicable law.
12. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
(a) The exercise of this option and the issuance of
the Option Shares upon such exercise shall be subject to compliance by the
Corporation and Optionee with all applicable requirements of law relating
thereto and with all applicable regulations of any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq
National Market, if applicable) on which the Common Stock may be listed for
trading at the time of such exercise and issuance.
(b) The inability of the Corporation to obtain
approval from any regulatory body having authority deemed by the Corporation to
be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Common Stock pursuant to
this option shall relieve the Corporation of any liability with respect to the
non-issuance or sale of the Common Stock as to which such approval shall not
have been obtained. However, the Corporation shall use its best efforts to
obtain all such applicable approvals.
13. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Except to the extent otherwise
provided in Paragraph 3 or 6, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Corporation and its successors and
assigns and Optionee, Optionee's assigns and the legal representatives, heirs
and legatees of Optionee's estate.
14. CONSTRUCTION/GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and the option
evidenced hereby are made and granted pursuant to the automatic option grant
program in effect under the Plan and are in all respects limited by and subject
to the express terms and provisions of that program. The interpretation,
performance, and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
the State of Maryland without resort to that State's conflict-of-laws rules.
15. NOTICES. Any notice required to be given or delivered to
the Corporation under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and
addressed to the Corporation at its principal corporate offices. Any notice
required to be given or delivered to Optionee shall be in writing and addressed
to Optionee at the address indicated below Optionee's signature line on the
Grant Notice. All notices shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or
upon deposit in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the
party to be notified.
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EXHIBIT I
NOTICE OF EXERCISE
I hereby notify Credit Management Solutions, Inc. (the
"Corporation") that I elect to purchase shares of the Corporation's Common Stock
(the "Purchased Shares") at the option exercise price of $ per share (the
"Exercise Price") pursuant to that certain option (the "Option") granted to me
pursuant to the automatic option grant program under the Corporation's 1997
Stock Incentive Plan on , 199 .
Concurrently with the delivery of this Exercise Notice to the
Secretary of the Corporation, I shall hereby pay to the Corporation the Exercise
Price for the Purchased Shares in accordance with the provisions of my agreement
with the Corporation evidencing the Option and shall deliver whatever additional
documents may be required by such agreement as a condition for exercise.
Alternatively, I may utilize the special broker/dealer sale and remittance
procedure specified in my agreement to effect payment of the Exercise Price for
any Purchased Shares in which I am vested at the time of exercise.
__________________________ , 199__
Date __________________________
Optionee
Address: __________________
___________________________
Print name in exact manner
it is to appear on the ____________________________
stock certificate:
Address to which certificate ____________________________
is to be sent, if different
from address above: ____________________________
Social Security Number:
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APPENDIX
The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:
A. AGREEMENT shall mean this Automatic Stock Option Agreement.
B. BOARD shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
C. CHANGE IN CONTROL shall mean a change in ownership or control of the
Corporation effected through either of the following transactions:
(i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or
related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 0000 Xxx) of securities possessing more
than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
Corporation's outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer made directly to the Corporation's stockholders which the Board
does not recommend such stockholders to accept, or
(ii) a change in the composition of the Board over a period of
thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the
Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for
Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have
been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or
(B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during
such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in
clause (A) who were still in office at the time the Board approved such
election or nomination.
D. CODE shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
E. COMMON STOCK shall mean the Corporation's common stock.
F. CORPORATE TRANSACTION shall mean either of the following
stockholder-approved transactions to which the Corporation is a party:
(i) a merger or consolidation in which securities possessing
more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
Corporation's outstanding securities are transferred to a person or
persons different from the persons holding those securities immediately
prior to such transaction, or
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Corporation's assets in complete liquidation
or dissolution of the Corporation.
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G. CORPORATION shall mean Credit Management Solutions, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
H. EXERCISE DATE shall mean the date on which the option shall have
been exercised in accordance with Paragraph 10 of the Agreement.
I. EXERCISE PRICE shall mean the exercise price payable per share as
specified in the Grant Notice.
J. EXERCISE SCHEDULE shall mean the exercise schedule specified in the
Grant Notice, pursuant to which Optionee will vest in the Option Shares in one
or more installments over his or her period of Board service, subject to
acceleration in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement.
K. EXPIRATION DATE shall mean the date on which the option term expires
as specified in the Grant Notice.
L. FAIR MARKET VALUE per share of Common Stock on any relevant date
shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq
National Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing
selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question, as the
price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers on
the Nasdaq National Market or any successor system. If there is no
closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question,
then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the
last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
(ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock
Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price
per share of Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange
determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the
Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape
of transactions on such exchange. If there is no closing selling price
for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market
Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for
which such quotation exists.
X. XXXXX DATE shall mean the date of grant of the option as specified
in the Grant Notice.
X. XXXXX NOTICE shall mean the Notice of Grant of Automatic Stock
Option accompanying this Agreement, pursuant to which Optionee has been informed
of the basic terms of the option evidenced hereby.
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O. HOSTILE TAKE-OVER shall mean the acquisition, directly or
indirectly, by any person or related group of persons (other than Credit
Management Solutions, Inc. or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with, Credit Management Solutions,
Inc.) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 0000 Xxx)
of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined
voting power of Credit Management Solutions, Inc.'s outstanding securities
pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to Credit Management
Solutions, Inc.'s stockholders which the Board does not recommend such
stockholders to accept.
P. 1934 ACT shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Q. NON-STATUTORY OPTION shall mean an option not intended to satisfy
the requirements of Code Section 422.
R. NOTICE OF EXERCISE shall mean the notice of exercise in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit I.
S. OPTION SHARES shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the option.
T. OPTIONEE shall mean the person to whom the option is granted as
specified in the Grant Notice.
U. PERMANENT DISABILITY shall mean the inability of Optionee to perform
his or her usual duties as a Board member by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which is expected to result in death
or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of twelve (12)
months or more.
V.PLAN shall mean Corporation's 1997 Stock Incentive Plan.
W. STOCK EXCHANGE shall mean the American Stock Exchange or the
New York Stock Exchange.
X. TAKE-OVER PRICE shall mean the greater of (i) the Fair Market Value
per share of Common Stock on the date the option is surrendered to the
Corporation in connection with a Hostile Take-Over or (ii) the highest reported
price per share of Common Stock paid by the tender offeror in effecting the
Hostile Take-Over.
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