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EXHIBIT 99.12
ACT NETWORKS, INC.
AUTOMATIC STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
RECITALS
A. The Corporation has implemented an automatic option grant program
under the Plan pursuant to which eligible non-employee members of the Board will
automatically receive special option grants at periodic intervals over their
period of Board service in order to provide such individuals with a meaningful
incentive to continue to serve as members 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 an option to purchase shares of Common
Stock under the Plan.
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, 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 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, together with the
special stock appreciation right provided under Paragraph 7(b), 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, this option may, in connection
with the Optionee's estate plan, be assigned in whole or in part during the
Optionee's lifetime to one or more members of the Optionee's immediate family or
to a trust established exclusively for one or more such family members. The
assigned portion may only be exercised by the person or persons who acquire a
proprietary interest in the option pursuant to the assignment. The terms
applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for the
option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set forth in such
documents issued to the assignee as the Corporation may deem appropriate.
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4. EXERCISABILITY/VESTING.
(a) This option shall be immediately exercisable for any
or all of the Option Shares, whether or not the Option Shares are at the time
vested in accordance with the Vesting Schedule, and shall remain so exercisable
until the Expiration Date or sooner termination of the option term under
Paragraph 5, 6 or 7.
(b) Optionee shall, in accordance with the Vesting
Schedule, vest in the Option Shares in one or more installments over his or her
period of Board service. Vesting in the Option Shares may be accelerated
pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 5, 6 or 7. In no event, however, shall
any additional Option Shares vest 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:
(a) Should Optionee cease to serve as a Board member for
any reason (other than death or Permanent Disability) while this option is
outstanding, 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) in which Optionee is vested on the date Optionee ceases service as a Board
member. 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 vested Option Shares for which the option has
not been exercised.
(b) Should Optionee die during the twelve (12)-month
period following his or her cessation of Board service and hold this option at
the time of his or her death, 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 in
which Optionee is vested 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 such 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.
(c) 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 vest in full so that this
option may be exercised 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
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expiration of the twelve (12)-month period measured from the date of Optionee's
cessation of Board service or (ii) the specified Expiration Date, whereupon this
option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding.
(d) 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
in which Optionee is not otherwise at that time vested in accordance with the
normal Vesting Schedule 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 vested shall
automatically vest so that this option shall, immediately prior to the effective
date of such Corporate Transaction, become exercisable for all of the Option
Shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock and may be exercised for any or
all of those vested Option Shares. Immediately following the Corporate
Transaction, this option shall terminate and cease to be exercisable except to
the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) in
connection with such Corporate Transaction.
(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.
(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. 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 vested shall automatically vest so that
this option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of such Change in
Control, become exercisable for all of the Option Shares as fully-vested shares
of Common Stock and may be exercised for all or any portion of those vested
Option Shares . This option shall remain exercisable for such fully-vested
Option Shares until the earliest to occur of (i) the Expiration Date, (ii) the
sooner termination of this option in accordance with Paragraph 5 or 6 or (iii)
the surrender of the option in connection with a Hostile Take-Over.
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(b) Optionee shall have the unconditional right,
exercisable at any time during the thirty (30)-day period immediately following
the consummation of a Hostile TakeOver, 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.
(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)
days following such delivery date. The exercise of such limited stock
appreciation right in accordance with the terms of this Paragraph 7 has been
pre-approved pursuant to the express provisions of the automatic option grant
program in effect under the Plan, and no approval of the Plan Administrator or
the Board shall be required at the time of the actual option surrender and cash
distribution. Upon receipt of the cash distribution, this option shall be
cancelled with respect to the Option 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 of this Agreement, and the Corporation shall issue a replacement
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 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.
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 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:
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(i) To the extent the option is exercised for
vested Option Shares, execute and deliver to the Corporation a Notice of
Exercise for the Option Shares for which the option is exercised. To the
extent this option is exercised for unvested Option Shares, execute and
deliver to the Corporation a Purchase Agreement.
(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,
(B) 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
(C) to the extent the option is exercised
for vested Option Shares, through a special sale and remittance
procedure pursuant to which Optionee (or any other person or persons
exercising the option) shall concurrently provide irrevocable
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 (or the Purchase
Agreement) 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.
(b) As soon after the Exercise Date as practical, 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. To the
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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.
(c) In no event may this option be exercised for any
fractional shares.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
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.
15. GOVERNING LAW. The interpretation, performance and
enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California without resort to that State's conflict-of-laws rules.
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EXHIBIT I
NOTICE OF EXERCISE
I hereby notify ACT Networks, 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 1997 Stock Incentive 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 for any Purchased Shares in which I am vested at the time of exercise of
the Option.
__________________________ , 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, 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 ACT Networks, 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 per share as specified
in the Grant Notice.
J. EXPIRATION DATE shall mean the date on which the option expires as
specified in the Grant Notice.
K. 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. 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
which serves as 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 the Agreement, pursuant to which Optionee has been informed of the
basic terms of the option evidenced hereby.
N. HOSTILE TAKE-OVER shall mean 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.
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O. 1934 ACT shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
P. NON-STATUTORY OPTION shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the
requirements of Code Section 422.
Q. NOTICE OF EXERCISE shall mean the notice of exercise in the form of
Exhibit I.
R. OPTION SHARES shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock subject
to the option.
S. OPTIONEE shall mean the person to whom the option is granted as
specified in the Grant Notice.
T. PERMANENT DISABILITY shall mean the inability of Optionee to perform
his or her usual duties as a member of the Board 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.
U. PLAN shall mean the Corporation's 1997 Stock Incentive Plan.
V. PURCHASE AGREEMENT shall mean the stock purchase agreement (in form
and substance satisfactory to the Corporation) which grants the Corporation the
right to repurchase, at the Exercise Price, any and all unvested Option Shares
held by Optionee at the time of Optionee's cessation of Board service and which
precludes the sale, transfer or other disposition of any purchased Option Shares
while subject to such repurchase right.
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.
Y. VESTING SCHEDULE shall mean the vesting schedule specified in the
Grant Notice pursuant to which the Optionee is to vest in the Option Shares in
one or more installments over his or her period of Board service, subject to the
special vesting acceleration provisions of the Agreement.
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