ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL PETROLEUM PRODUCERS INC. STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.12
Form of Option Agreement
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL PETROLEUM PRODUCERS INC.
I. NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT
[Insert Name of Optionee]
The undersigned Optionee has been granted an Option to purchase Common Stock of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions herein, as follows:
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Date of Grant |
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________________ |
| Vesting Commencement Date | : | ____________ |
| Exercise Price per Share | : | $___________ |
| Total Number of Shares Granted | : | ______________ |
| Total Exercise Price | : | $________________ |
| Type of Option | : | o Incentive Stock Option |
| : | o Nonstatutory Stock Option | |
| Term/Expiration Date | : | Tenth Anniversary of Date of Grant |
Termination Period: This Option shall be exercisable for two (2) months after Optionee ceases to be a Service Provider. Upon Optionee’s death or Disability, this Option may be exercised for twelve (12) months after Optionee ceases to be a Service Provider. In no event may Optionee exercise this Option after the Term/Expiration Date as provided above.
II. AGREEMENT
1. Grant of Option.
(a) The Administrator hereby grants to the Optionee named in Section I. Notice of Grant (the “Optionee”), an option (the “Option”) to purchase the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant, at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Notice of Grant (the “Exercise Price”), and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. Subject to Section 14(b) of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail.
(b) If designated in the Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”), this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code. Nevertheless, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code Section 422(d), this Option shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option (“NSO”).
2. Exercise of Option.
(a) Right to Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Grant and with the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.
(b) Method of Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice in the form attached as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”) which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised (the “Exercised Shares”), and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company. The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all Exercised Shares. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by the aggregate Exercise Price.
No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of this Option unless such issuance and such exercise complies with Applicable Laws. Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the Shares shall be considered transferred to the Optionee on the date on which the Option is exercised with respect to such Shares.
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3. Optionee’s Representations. In the event the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), at the time this Option is exercised, the Optionee shall, if required by the Company, concurrently with the exercise of all or any portion of this Option, deliver to the Company his or her Investment Representation Statement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
4. Market Standoff Agreement. Optionee hereby agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the managing underwriter, during the twenty-four (24) month period (or such other period as may be requested in writing by the managing underwriter and agreed to in writing by the Company) commencing on the date of the final prospectus relating to the Company’s initial public offering (i) lend, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any securities of the Company, including (without limitation) shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any securities of the Company, including (without limitation) shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of securities, in cash or otherwise. Optionee agrees to execute an agreement(s) reflecting (i) and (ii) above as may be requested by the managing underwriter at the time of the initial public offering, and further agrees that the Company may impose stop transfer instructions with its transfer agent in order to enforce the covenants in (i) and (ii) above. The underwriters in connection with the Company’s initial public offering are intended third party beneficiaries of the covenants in this Section and shall have the right, power and authority to enforce such covenants as though they were a party hereto.
5. Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee:
(a) cash or check;
(b) consideration received by the Company under a formal cashless exercise program adopted by the Company in connection with the Plan; or
(c) surrender of other Shares which, (i) in the case of Shares acquired directly from the Company, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares.
6. Restrictions on Exercise. This Option may not be exercised until such time as the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, or if the issuance of such Shares upon such exercise or the method of payment of consideration for such shares would constitute a violation of any Applicable Law.
7. Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of Optionee only by Optionee. The terms of the Plan and this Option Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.
8. Term of Option. This Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option Agreement.
9. Tax Obligations.
(a) Withholding Taxes. Optionee agrees to make appropriate arrangements with the Company (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Optionee) for the satisfaction of all Federal, state, local and foreign income and employment tax withholding requirements applicable to the Option exercise. Optionee acknowledges and agrees that the Company may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise.
(b) Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares. If the Option granted to Optionee herein is an ISO, and if Optionee sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the ISO on or before the later of (1) the date two years after the Date of Grant or (2) the date one year after the date of exercise, the Optionee shall immediately notify the Company in writing of such disposition. Optionee agrees that Optionee may be subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income recognized by the Optionee.
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10. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee. This Option Agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws but not the choice of law rules of the State of Delaware.
11. No Guarantee of Continued Service. OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THIS OPTION OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER). OPTIONEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS OPTION AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH OPTIONEE’S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY’S RIGHT TO TERMINATE OPTIONEE’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.
12. Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts this Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof. Optionee has reviewed the Plan and this Option in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option and fully understands all provisions of the Option. Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan or this Option. Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.
| OPTIONEE: | ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL PETROLEUM PRODUCERS INC. | ||||
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| Facsimile #: _______________________ |
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| Email: ___________________________ |
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| *Please include address for notice purposes. |
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