EXHIBIT 99.3
COLDWATER CREEK INC.
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
RECITALS
A. The Board has adopted the Plan for the purpose of retaining the
services of select individuals who provide valuable services to the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).
B. Optionee is an individual who is to render such services to the
Corporation (or a Parent or Subsidiary), and this Agreement is executed
pursuant to, and is intended to carry out the purposes of, the Plan in
connection with the Corporation's grant of an option to Optionee.
C. All capitalized terms in this 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, an 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.
The Number of Option Shares specified in the Grant Notice is at a
level which the Plan Administrator considered commensurate with Optionee's
position and compensation with the Corporation as of the Grant Date. In the
event that Optionee's position with the Corporation is changed for any reason
to a position of less responsibility and compensation (the "Change"), the
Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, reduce the number of Option
Shares that are subject to the Option but have not yet become exercisable in
accordance with the Exercise Schedule, effective as of the time of the
Change. In such event, the Option shall remain outstanding with respect to
such lesser number of Option Shares, and shall continue to be governed by the
terms of the Option as evidenced by this Agreement. The Exercise Schedule
shall remain in place, provided, however, that each installment of Option
Shares scheduled to become exercisable after the effective date of the Change
shall be reduced proportionately to reflect the new reduced number of Option
Shares subject to the Option. Optionee shall be notified of the reduction in
the aggregate number of Option Shares and of the reduced number of Option
Shares which shall become exercisable pursuant to each installment under the
Exercise Schedule.
Immediately upon the Change, Optionee shall lose all rights and entitlement
with respect to the number of Option Shares by which the Option is reduced.
2. OPTION TERM. This option shall have a 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 17.
3. LIMITED TRANSFERABILITY. This option shall be neither
transferable nor assignable by Optionee other than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution following Optionee's death and may be exercised,
during Optionee's lifetime, only by Optionee. However, if this option is
designated a Non-Statutory Option in the Grant Notice, then 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 Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.
4. DATES OF EXERCISE. This option shall become exercisable for
the Option Shares in a series of installments in accordance with the Exercise
Schedule, subject to adjustment in the event of a Change as described in
Paragraph 1. As the option becomes exercisable for one or more installments,
those installments shall accumulate, and the option shall remain exercisable
for the accumulated installments until the Expiration Date or sooner
termination of the option term under Paragraph 5, 6 or 17.
5. CESSATION OF SERVICE. The option term specified in Paragraph 2
shall terminate and this option shall ceases to be outstanding prior to the
Expiration Date should any of the following provisions become applicable:
(i) Should Optionee cease to remain in Service for any
reason (other than death, Disability or Misconduct) while this option
is outstanding, then Optionee shall have a period of three (3) months
(commencing with the date of such cessation of Service) during which
to exercise this option, but in no event shall this option be
exercisable at any time after the Expiration Date.
(ii) Should Optionee die while this option is
outstanding, 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. Such right
shall lapse and this option shall cease to be outstanding upon the
EARLIER of (i) the expiration of the twelve (12)-
2.
month period measured from the date of Optionee's death or (ii) the
Expiration Date.
(iii) Should Optionee cease Service by reason of
Disability while this option is outstanding, then Optionee shall have
a period of twelve (12) months (commencing with the date of such
cessation of Service) during which to exercise this option. In no
event shall this option be exercisable at any time after the
Expiration Date.
(iv) During the applicable post-Service exercise
period, this option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more
than the number of Option Shares for which the option is exercisable
at time of Optionee's cessation of Service. Upon the expiration of
such limited exercise period or (if earlier) upon the Expiration Date,
this option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for any of
those Option Shares for which the option has not been exercised.
However, this option shall, immediately upon Optionee's cessation of
service, terminate and cease to be outstanding with respect to any
Option Shares for which this option is not otherwise at that time
exercisable.
(v) Should Optionee's Service be terminated for
Misconduct, then this option shall immediately terminate and cease to
be outstanding.
6. SPECIAL ACCELERATION OF OPTION.
(a) In the event of a Corporate Transaction, this option, to
the extent outstanding at the time of such transaction but not otherwise
fully exercisable, shall automatically accelerate so that this option shall,
immediately prior to the specified effective date for the Corporate
Transaction, become fully exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock
at the time subject to this option and may be exercised for all or any
portion of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. No such
acceleration of this option, however, shall occur if and to the extent: (i)
this option is, in connection with the Corporate Transaction, either to be
assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or to be replaced
with a comparable option to purchase shares of the capital stock of the
successor corporation (or parent thereof) or (ii) this option is to be
replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which
preserves the spread existing on the Option Shares at the time of the
Corporate Transaction (the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Option
Shares over the aggregate Exercise Price payable for such shares) and
provides for subsequent pay-out in accordance with the same exercise schedule
in effect for the option pursuant to the Exercise Schedule. The
determination of option comparability under clause (i) shall be made by the
Plan Administrator, and such determination shall be final, binding and
conclusive.
3.
(b) This option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding
immediately upon the consummation of such Corporate Transaction, except to
the extent assumed by the successor corporation or parent thereof in
connection with such Corporate Transaction. To the extent this option is
assumed in connection with a Corporate Transaction, appropriate adjustments
shall be made, immediately after such Corporate Transaction, so that the
option shall 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.
(c) This Agreement shall not in any way affect the right of
the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its
capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate
or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
7. 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 total 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.
8. 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 the
holder of record of the purchased shares.
9. MANNER OF EXERCISING OPTION.
(a) In order to exercise this option with respect to all or
any part of the Option Shares for which this option is at the time
exercisable, Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising the option)
must take the following actions:
(i) Execute and deliver to the Corporation a Notice of
Exercise for the Option Shares for which the option is exercised.
(ii) Pay the aggregate Exercise Price for the purchased
shares in one or more of the following forms:
(A) cash or check made payable to the Corporation; or
4.
(B) a promissory note payable to the Corporation, but
only to the extent authorized by the Plan Administrator in accordance
with Paragraph 14;
(C) in shares of Common Stock held by Optionee (or any
other person or persons exercising the option) 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
(D) through a special sale and remittance procedure
pursuant to which Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising
the option) shall concurrently provide irrevocable written
instructions (I) to a Corporation-designated brokerage firm to effect
the immediate sale of the purchased shares 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 the purchased shares plus all applicable Federal, state and local
income and employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation
by reason of such exercise and (II) to the Corporation to deliver the
certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm
in order to complete the sale.
Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure is
utilized in connection with the option exercise, payment of the
Exercise Price must accompany the Notice of Exercise delivered to the
Corporation in connection with the option exercise.
(iii) Furnish to the Corporation appropriate
documentation that the person or persons exercising the option (if
other than Optionee) have the right to exercise this option.
(iv) Execute and deliver to the Corporation such
written representations as may be requested by the Corporation in
order for it to comply with the applicable requirements of Federal and
state securities laws.
(v) Make appropriate arrangements with the Corporation
(or Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Optionee) for the
satisfaction of all Federal, state and local income and employment tax
withholding requirements applicable to the option exercise.
(b) 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 for the purchased Option
Shares, with the appropriate legends affixed thereto.
5.
(c) In no event may this option be exercised for any fractional
shares.
10. 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. The Corporation, however, shall use its best efforts
to obtain all such approvals.
11. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Except to the extent otherwise
provided in Paragraphs 3 and 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 permitted assigns and the legal
representatives, heirs and legatees of Optionee's estate.
12. 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.
13. FINANCING. The Plan Administrator may, in its absolute
discretion and without any obligation to do so, permit Optionee to pay the
Exercise Price for the purchased Option Shares by delivering a promissory
note. The terms of any such promissory note (including the interest rate, the
requirements for collateral and the terms of repayment) shall be established
by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion.
14. CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement and the option evidenced hereby
are made and granted pursuant to the Plan and are in all respects limited by
and subject to the terms of the Plan. All decisions of the Plan
Administrator with respect to any question or issue arising under the Plan or
this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having an
interest in this option.
6.
15. GOVERNING LAW. The interpretation, performance and enforcement
of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Idaho without
resort to that State's conflict-of-laws rules.
16. STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.
(a) The grant of this option is subject to approval of the
Plan by the Corporation's stockholders within twelve (12) months after the
adoption of the Plan by the Board. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF THIS
AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, THIS OPTION MAY NOT BE EXERCISED IN WHOLE OR IN
PART UNTIL SUCH STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL IS OBTAINED. In the event that such
stockholder approval is not obtained, then this option shall terminate in its
entirety and Optionee shall have no further rights to acquire any Option
Shares hereunder.
(b) If the Option Shares covered by this Agreement exceed, as
of the Grant Date, the number of shares of Common Stock which may without
stockholder approval be issued under the Plan, then this option shall be void
with respect to such excess shares, unless stockholder approval of an
amendment sufficiently increasing the number of shares of Common Stock
issuable under the Plan is obtained in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan.
17. ADDITIONAL TERMS APPLICABLE TO AN INCENTIVE OPTION. In the
event this option is designated an Incentive Option in the Grant Notice, the
following terms and conditions shall also apply to the grant:
(i) This option shall cease to qualify for favorable
tax treatment as an Incentive Option if (and to the extent) this
option is exercised for one or more Option Shares: (i) more than three
(3) months after the date Optionee ceases to be an Employee for any
reason other than death or Disability or (ii) more than twelve (12)
months after the date Optionee ceases to be an Employee by reason of
Disability.
(ii) No installment under this option shall qualify for
favorable tax treatment as an Incentive Option if (and to the extent)
the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the Grant Date) of the
Common Stock for which such installment first becomes exercisable
hereunder would, when added to the aggregate value (determined as of
the respective date or dates of grant) of any earlier installments of
Common Stock and or other securities for which this option or any
other Incentive Options granted to Optionee prior to the Grant Date
(whether under the Plan or any other option plan of the Corporation or
any Parent or Subsidiary) first become exercisable during the same
calendar year, exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in the
aggregate. Should such One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000)
limitation be exceeded in any calendar year, this option
7.
shall nevertheless become exercisable for the excess shares in such
calendar year as a Non-Statutory Option.
(iii) Should the exercisability of this option be
accelerated upon a Corporate Transaction, then this option shall
qualify for favorable tax treatment as an Incentive Option only to the
extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the Grant Date)
of the Common Stock for which this option first becomes exercisable in
the calendar year in which the Corporate Transaction occurs does not,
when added to the aggregate value (determined as of the respective
date or dates of grant) of the Common Stock or other securities for
which this option or one or more other Incentive Options granted to
Optionee prior to the Grant Date (whether under the Plan or any other
option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) first
become exercisable during the same calendar year, exceed One Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in the aggregate. Should the applicable
One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limitation be exceeded in the
calendar year of such Corporate Transaction, the option may
nevertheless be exercised for the excess shares in such calendar year
as a Non-Statutory Option.
(iv) Should Optionee hold, in addition to this option,
one or more other options to purchase Common Stock which become
exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year as this
option, then the foregoing limitations on the exercisability of such
options as Incentive Options shall be applied on the basis of the
order in which such options are granted.
8.
EXHIBIT I
NOTICE OF EXERCISE
I hereby notify Coldwater Creek, 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 under the Corporation's 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan on
_________________, 199_.
Concurrently with the delivery of this Exercise Notice to 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 (or other documents) 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.
________________________, 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: ________________________________________
Employee Number: ________________________________________
APPENDIX
The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:
A. AGREEMENT shall mean this Stock Option Agreement.
B. BOARD shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
C. CODE shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
D. COMMON STOCK shall mean the Corporation's common stock.
E. 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.
F. CORPORATION shall mean Coldwater Creek Inc. a Delaware corporation.
G. DISABILITY shall mean the inability of Optionee to engage in any
substantial gainful activity 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 not less than twelve (12)
months.
H. EMPLOYEE shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and
direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the
manner and method of performance.
I. EXERCISE DATE shall mean the date on which the option shall have
been exercised in accordance with Paragraph 9 of the Agreement.
J. EXERCISE PRICE shall mean the exercise price per share as specified
in the Grant Notice.
A-1.
K. EXERCISE SCHEDULE shall mean the exercise schedule specified in the
Grant Notice, subject to adjustment by the Plan Administrator in the event of
a Change, as described in Paragraph 1 of this Agreement.
L. EXPIRATION DATE shall mean the date on which the option expires as
specified in the Grant Notice.
M. 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 not at the time listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange but is traded
on the Nasdaq National Market, the Fair Market Value shall be the
closing selling price per share on the date in question, as such price
is reported by the National Association of Securities dealers through
the Nasdaq National Market. If there is no reported closing selling
price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the closing
selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation
exists shall be determinative of Fair Market Value.
(ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed or admitted
to trading on any national securities exchange, then the Fair Market
Value shall be the closing selling price per share on the date in
question on the 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 reported sale of Common Stock on such exchange on the date
in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling
price on the exchange on the last preceding date for which such
quotation exists.
(iii) If the Common Stock is on the date in question neither
listed nor admitted to trading on any national securities exchange nor
traded on the Nasdaq National Market, then the Fair Market Value of
the Common Stock on such date shall be determined by the Plan
Administrator after taking into account such factors as the Plan
Administrator shall deem appropriate.
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 Stock Option
accompanying the Agreement, pursuant to which Optionee has been informed of
the basic terms of the option evidenced hereby.
P. INCENTIVE OPTION shall mean an option which satisfies the
requirements of Code Section 422.
A-2.
Q. MISCONDUCT shall mean the commission of any act of fraud,
embezzlement or dishonesty by Optionee, any unauthorized use or disclosure by
Optionee of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or
any parent or subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by Optionee
adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any parent
or subsidiary) in a material manner. The foregoing definition shall not be
deemed to be inclusive of all the acts or omissions which the Corporation (or
any parent or subsidiary) may consider as grounds for the dismissal or
discharge of the Optionee or any other person in the Service of the
Corporation (or any parent or subsidiary).
R. 1933 ACT shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
to time.
S. 1934 ACT shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
T. NON-STATUTORY OPTION shall mean an option not intended to satisfy
the requirements of Code Section 422.
U. NOTICE OF EXERCISE shall mean the notice of exercise in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit I.
V. OPTION SHARES shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the option.
W. OPTIONEE shall mean the person to whom the option is granted as
specified in the Grant Notice.
X. PARENT shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an
unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each
such corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at
the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more
of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the
other corporations in such chain.
Y. PLAN shall mean the Corporation's 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance
Plan.
Z. PLAN ADMINISTRATOR shall mean either the Board or a committee of
Board members, to the extent the committee is at the time responsible for the
administration of the Plan.
AA. SERVICE shall mean the Optionee's performance of services on a
periodic basis for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in the
capacity of an Employee, a non-employee member of the board of directors or a
consultant.
BB. SUBSIDIARY shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation)
in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided
each such
A-3.
corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the last corporation in such
chain) owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent
(50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in
one of the other corporations in such chain.
A-4.