Exhibit 10.3
NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, INC.
Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement
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Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of February 19, 1999
("Agreement") between Nobel Learning Communities, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and Xxxxx X. Xxxxx ("Employee").
1. Definitions
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1.1 "Change in Control" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12 of
the Company's 1995 Stock Incentive Plan, as the same may be amended from time to
time (except that no such amendment shall have the effect of making this
definition more restrictive than prior to such amendment).
1.2 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time.
1.3 "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
of the Company or, in the event that there is no such Compensation Committee,
the Board of Directors of the Company.
1.4 "Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.001 per
share.
1.5 "Date of Exercise" means the date on which the notice required by
Section 4.1 is received by the Company.
1.6 "Date of Grant" means February 19, 1999.
1.7 "Option" means the option granted hereunder. The Option hereby
granted is a non-qualified stock option (i.e., not an "incentive stock option"
within the meaning of section 422 of the Code).
1.8 "Optioned Stock" means the shares of Common Stock that are subject to
the Option.
1.9 "Subsidiary" means any corporation which is a subsidiary of the
Company under the definition of "subsidiary corporation" contained in section
424(f) of the Code, or any successor.
1.10 "Termination Date" means the earliest to occur of the following:
(a) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant;
(b) if Employee's employment by the Company (and Subsidiaries) is
terminated by either party for any reason other than death or disability, the
date three months after the date of such termination of employment;
(c) if Employee shall become disabled (within the meaning of section
22(e)(3) of the Code) during Employee's employment and Employee's employment is
terminated as a consequence of such disability, the date one year after the date
of such termination of employment; or
(d) if Employee shall die during Employee's employment, the date one
year after the date of death;
provided that if Employee's employment is terminated for any reason other than
death and Employee shall die following such termination of employment but prior
to the expiration of the period determined under clause (b) or (c) above
(whichever is applicable), then the Termination Date shall mean the earlier of
(i) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant and (ii) the date one year
after the date of death.
2. Grant of Option.
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Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company hereby
grants to Employee the option to purchase 110,000 shares of Common Stock. The
exercise price of the Option in respect of each share of Optioned Stock shall be
$4.84375, subject to adjustment pursuant Section 9 hereof. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, only full shares shall be issued hereunder, and any fractional share
which might otherwise be issuable upon the exercise of the Option shall be
forfeited.
3. Time of Exercise.
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The Option shall be exercisable from time to time following the Date of
Grant through the Termination Date with respect to all or any portion of the
Option which shall have been vested as of the Date of Exercise. The Option shall
vest with respect to one-third of the shares of Optioned Stock subject thereto
as of the Date of Grant on each of the first, second and third anniversary dates
of the Date of Grant; provided however that upon a Change in Control, the Option
shall immediately vest with respect to all of the shares of Optioned Stock. The
Option shall terminate absolutely at 5:00 p.m. New York Time on the Termination
Date.
4. Manner of Exercise; Payment.
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4.1 Exercise of the Option shall be effected by giving written notice of
exercise to the Company, in care of the Secretary of the Company. Any such
notice shall state the number of shares of Optioned Stock for which the Option
is being exercised and shall be accompanied by
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payment in full of the exercise price for such shares of Optioned Stock. Such
notice shall be irrevocable once given.
4.2 Employee shall have the right to exercise the Option with respect to
all or part of the Optioned Stock. Exercise of the Option with respect to part
of the Optioned Stock does not waive or limit Employee's rights with respect to
the balance of the Optioned Stock.
4.3 The exercise price for the Optioned Stock upon exercise shall be
payable in cash or its equivalent; provided, however, that if the Committee, in
its discretion, so determines at or prior to the time of exercise, Employee may
pay all or a portion of the exercise price in shares of Common Stock previously
acquired by Employee; provided further that if such shares were acquired through
exercise of an option or under a stock appreciation right or through the grant
by the Company of restricted stock or unrestricted stock, Employee shall have
held such shares for a period of more than 12 months on the Date of Exercise;
provided further that any right to pay the exercise price by delivery of shares
shall be subject to applicable laws. In the event all or a portion of the
aggregate exercise price is paid with shares of Common Stock, the shares of
Common Stock surrendered in payment of such Option shall be valued in such
manner as the Committee reasonably determines.
5. Nontransferability.
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The Option shall not be assignable or transferable by Employee, otherwise
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and the Option shall be
exercisable only by the Grantee; provided that in the event of Employee's legal
disability, the Option may be so exercised by Employee's guardian or legal
representative and in the event of Employee's death, the Option may be so
exercised by Employee's estate, personal representative or beneficiary who
acquired the right to exercise such Option by bequest or inheritance or by
reason of the death of Employee. If Employee is married at the time of exercise
of the Option and if Employee so requests at the time of exercise, the
certificate or certificates issued shall be registered in the name of Employee
and Employee's spouse, jointly, with right of survivorship.
6. Securities Laws
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6.1 The Company may from time to time impose any conditions on the
exercise of the Option as it deems necessary or advisable to ensure that the
Option granted hereunder, and the exercise thereof, satisfy the applicable
requirements of federal and state securities laws. Such conditions to satisfy
applicable federal and state securities laws may include, without limitation,
the partial or complete suspension of the right to exercise the Option, the
printing of legends on certificates issued pursuant to Section 7 and requiring
Employee to deliver to the Company a representation letter as to Employee's
investment intent and such other matters (including those set forth in Section
6.2) as the Company deems advisable.
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6.2 Employee hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:
(a) upon exercise of the Option, Employee will acquire the Optioned
Stock for his own account, not as a nominee or agent, for investment and without
a view to resale or other distribution within the meaning of the Securities Act
of 1933 (the "1933 Act") and the rules and regulations thereunder, and Employee
will not distribute any of the Optioned Stock in violation of the 1933 Act or
any state securities laws;
(b) Employee understands that:
(i) the shares of Optioned Stock may not be registered under
the 1933 Act and, if they are not, they must be held indefinitely by Employee
unless such shares are subsequently registered under the 1933 Act or an
exemption from registration is available;
(ii) any routine sales of the Optioned Stock made under Rule
144 promulgated under the 1933 Act may be made only in accordance with the terms
and conditions of that Rule (which currently includes minimum holding period
requirements and, in certain cases, limits as to the number of shares which may
be sold in specified periods) and that in such cases where Rule 144 is not
applicable, registration or compliance with some other registration exemption
will be required; and
(iii) the certificates representing the Optioned Stock issuable
to Employee will contain a restrictive legend noting the restrictions on
transfer described herein and under federal and applicable state securities
laws, and appropriate "stop-transfer" instructions will be given to the
Company's stock transfer agent;
(c) Employee is an "accredited investor" as such term is defined in
Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the 1933 Act, because he either (i)
currently has a net worth (or joint net worth with his spouse) equal to at least
$1,000,000 or (ii) had an individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the
two most recent years or joint income with his spouse in excess of $300,000 in
each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income
level in the current year;
(d) Employee's knowledge and experience in financial and business
matters are such that Employee is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of
an acquisition of the Optioned Stock pursuant to the Option.
7. Issuance of Certificates for Shares
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Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the certificates for the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Option shall be delivered
to Employee (or to such person entitled thereto in accordance with Section 5) as
promptly after the Date of Exercise as is feasible, provided that the exercise
shall not be complete, and the Company shall not be obligated to make
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such deliveries, until (a) Employee has made payment in full for such shares of
Optioned Stock pursuant to Section 4 and (b) Employee and the Company (or such
Subsidiary as is the employer of Employee) have arranged for the payment by
Employee to the Company (or such Subsidiary), or the withholding from Employee's
other compensation, of an amount in cash equal to the amount of any tax required
to be withheld by the Company (or such Subsidiary) by any applicable federal or
state laws or regulations on account of such exercise. The Company may also
condition delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the prior receipt from
Employee of any undertakings or representations that it may determine are
required to ensure that the certificates are being issued in compliance with
federal and state securities laws.
8. Rights Prior to Issuance of Certificates
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Neither Employee nor the person to whom the rights of Employee shall have
passed by will or the laws of descent and distribution shall have any of the
rights of a stockholder with respect to any shares of Optioned Stock until the
date of the issuance to such person of certificates for such shares of Optioned
Stock pursuant thereto.
9. Stock Dividends; Subdivision or Combination of Shares
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The number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option (as well as the
Option exercise price per share), shall, subject to the provisions of section
424(a) of the Code, be adjusted to reflect any stock dividend, stock split,
share combination, or similar change in the capitalization of the Company. In
the event of a corporate transaction (as that term is described in section
424(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations issued thereunder as, for
example, a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation,
reorganization, or liquidation), the Option shall be assumed by the surviving or
successor corporation; provided, however, that, in the event of a proposed
corporate transaction, the Committee may terminate all or a portion of the
Option effective upon closing of such corporate transaction if it determines
that such termination is in the best interests of the Company. If the Committee
decides so to terminate outstanding Options, the Committee shall give Executive
not less than seven days' notice prior to any such termination by reason of such
a corporate transaction, and, at the closing of such corporate transaction, the
Option shall be terminated (unless previously exercised) and the Company shall
pay to Executive (except to the extent that the Option is terminated prior to
the date of such closing otherwise than by reason of such Committee action) an
amount equal to the consideration paid, or to be paid, per share of Common Stock
to holders of Common Stock in connection with such corporate transaction (as
determined in good faith by the Committee) less the exercise price of the
Option. The Committee also may, in its discretion reasonably exercised, change
the terms of the Option to reflect any such corporate transaction.
10. Option Not to Affect Employment
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The Option granted hereunder shall not confer upon Employee any right to
continue in the employment of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
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11. Withholding.
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Each Employee authorizes the Company to make any required withholding from
such Employee's compensation for the payment of any and all income taxes and
other sums that may be due any governmental authority (other than taxes imposed
directly upon the Company) as a result of the receipt by Employee of
compensation income pursuant to the foregoing payments, and agrees, if requested
by the Company and if the Company has complied with its obligations hereunder,
and in lieu of all or a portion of such withholding, to pay the Company in a
lump sum such amounts as the Company may be required to remit to any
governmental authority on behalf of Employee in respect of any such taxes and
other sums.
12. Miscellaneous
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12.1 All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be transmitted by messenger, courier service or certified first-class
mail (in each case postage or cost of delivery prepaid) and shall be effective
when delivered. The address for notices and other communications of (i) the
Company is Rose Tree Corporate Center II, 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx
0000, Xxxxx, XX 00000, Attn: Corporate Secretary, and (ii) Employee is the
address set forth below under Employee's signature. Either party may change its
address for notice given notice to the other pursuant to this Section 13.1.
12.2 This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts all of
which taken together will constitute one and the same instrument.
12.3 This Agreement shall be governed by the applicable Code provisions
to the maximum extent possible; otherwise, the operation of, and the rights of
Employee under this Agreement shall be governed by applicable federal law and
otherwise by the laws of the State of Delaware.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the date
and year first above written.
Nobel Learning Communities, Inc.
By:_____________________________________
X. X. Xxxxx, Chairman
EMPLOYEE:
________________________________________
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Employee's Address:
0 Xxxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
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