Exhibit 99.10
Form of Automatic Stock Option Agreement
EXHIBIT 99.10
ATL PRODUCTS, INC.
AUTOMATIC STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
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RECITALS
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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 Class
A 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
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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
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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
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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. 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.
4. EXERCISABILITY/VESTING.
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(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 set forth
in the Grant Notice, 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
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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 limited 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 of his or her cessation of Board service. Upon
the earlier of (i) the expiration of such twelve (12)-month period or (ii) the
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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
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date of Optionee's cessation of Board service or (ii) the specified Expiration
Date.
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(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 Class A
Common Stock at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the
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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.
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(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 specified effective date for
the Corporate Transaction, become exercisable for all of the Option Shares as
fully-vested shares and may be exercised for all or any portion of those fully-
vested shares. 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.
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7. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER.
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(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 and may be
exercised for all or any portion of those fully-vested shares. This option
shall remain exercisable for such fully-vested Option Shares until the earliest
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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).
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(b) Optionee shall have an unconditional right, exercisable at the
time 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.
(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. 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, and
neither the approval of the Plan Administrator nor the consent of 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 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 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
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Class A Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change
affecting the outstanding Class A 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
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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.
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10. MANNER OF EXERCISING OPTION.
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(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) 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 for those unvested Option Shares.
(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 Class A 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.
(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.
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(b) 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.
(c) 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 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 any fractional
shares.
11. NO IMPAIRMENT OF RIGHTS. This Agreement shall not in any way
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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. In addition, this Agreement shall not in any way be
construed or interpreted so as to affect adversely or otherwise impair the right
of the Corporation or the stockholders to remove Optionee from the Board at any
time in accordance with the provisions of applicable law.
12. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
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(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 Class A 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 Class A Common Stock pursuant to this option
shall relieve the Corporation of any liability with respect to the non-issuance
or sale of the Class A 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.
13. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Except to the extent otherwise provided
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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.
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14. NOTICES. Any notice required to be given or delivered to the
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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.
15. CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement and the option evidenced hereby are
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made and granted pursuant to the Plan and are in all respects limited by and
subject to the terms of the Plan.
16. GOVERNING LAW. The interpretation, performance and enforcement
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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 ATL Products, Inc. (the "Corporation") that I elect to
purchase __________ shares of the Corporation's Class A 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__
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Date
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Optionee
Address:
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Print name in exact manner
it is to appear on the
stock certificate:
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Address to which certificate
is to be sent, if different
from address above:
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Social Security Number:
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APPENDIX
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The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:
A. AGREEMENT shall mean this Automatic Stock Option Agreement.
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B. BOARD shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
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C. CHANGE IN CONTROL shall mean a change in ownership or control of the
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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 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) 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. CLASS A COMMON STOCK shall mean shares of the Corporation's Class A
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common stock.
E. CODE shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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F. CORPORATE TRANSACTION shall mean either of the following stockholder-
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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
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(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.
G. CORPORATION shall mean ATL Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
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H. EXERCISE DATE shall mean the date on which the option shall have been
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exercised in accordance with Paragraph 10 of the Agreement.
I. EXERCISE PRICE shall mean the exercise price per share as specified in
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the Grant Notice.
J. EXPIRATION DATE shall mean the date on which the option expires as
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specified in the Grant Notice.
K. FAIR MARKET VALUE per share of Class A Common Stock on any relevant
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date shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) If the Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A 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 Class A Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange
which serves as the primary market for the Class A 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 Class A 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.
▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ DATE shall mean the date of grant of the option as specified in
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the Grant Notice.
▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ NOTICE shall mean the Notice of Grant of Automatic Stock Option
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accompanying the Agreement, pursuant to which Optionee has been informed of the
basic terms of the option evidenced hereby.
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N. HOSTILE TAKEOVER shall mean the acquisition, directly or indirectly,
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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 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) 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.
O. 1934 ACT shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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P. NON-STATUTORY OPTION shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the
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requirements of Code Section 422.
Q. NOTICE OF EXERCISE shall mean the notice of exercise in the form of
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Exhibit I.
R. OPTION SHARES shall mean the number of shares of Class A Common Stock
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subject to the option.
S. OPTIONEE shall mean the person to whom the option is granted as
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specified in the Grant Notice.
T. PERMANENT DISABILITY shall mean the inability of Optionee to perform
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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.
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V. PURCHASE AGREEMENT shall mean the stock purchase agreement (in form
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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 those shares are unvested and subject to such repurchase right.
W. STOCK EXCHANGE shall mean the American Stock Exchange or the New York
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Stock Exchange.
X. TAKE-OVER PRICE shall mean the greater of (i) the Fair Market Value
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per share of Class A 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 Class A Common Stock paid by the tender offeror in effecting
the Hostile Take-Over.
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Y. VESTING SCHEDULE shall mean the vesting schedule specified in the Grant
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Notice, pursuant to which the Option Shares will vest in one or more
installments over the Optionee's period of Board service, subject to
acceleration in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement.
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