ENER-CORE, INC.
EXHIBIT 99.1(a)
ENER-CORE, INC.
2013 EQUITY AWARD INCENTIVE PLAN
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the 2013 Equity Award Incentive Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Stock Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”).
I. NOTICE OF GRANT
| Optionee’s Name: | ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Optionee’s Address: |
You have been granted an option to purchase common stock of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, as follows:
Grant Number
| Date of Grant | May 18, 2015 | |
| Vesting Commencement Date | May 18, 2016 | |
| Exercise Price per Share | $0.19 | |
| Total Number of Shares Granted | 300,000 | |
| Total Exercise Price | $57,000 | |
| Type of Option: | Incentive Stock Option | |
| X Nonstatutory Stock Option | ||
| Term/Expiration Date: | July 1, 2023 |
Exercise and Vesting Schedule:
This Option shall be exercisable in whole or in part, and this Option (and any Shares with respect to which the Optionee exercises this Option) shall vest according to the following vesting schedule, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, as follows:
1/4th of Total Number of Shares Granted ………………… May 18, 2016
1/36th of Remainder Number of Shares Granted …………… after each full month thereafter
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Termination Period:
This Option may be exercised, to the extent it is then vested, for three (3) months after Optionee ceases to be a Service Provider. Upon death or Disability of the Optionee, this Option may be exercised, to the extent it is then vested, for twelve (12) months after Optionee ceases to be Service Provider. In no event shall this Option be exercised later than the Term/Expiration Date as provided above.
II. AGREEMENT
▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ of Option. The Administrator of the Company hereby grants to the Optionee named in the Notice of Grant above (the “Optionee”), an option (the “Option”) to purchase the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant above, at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Notice of Grant above (the “Exercise Price”), and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. Subject to Section 14(c) of the Ener-Core, Inc. 2013 Equity Award Incentive Plan (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.
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”).
B. Exercise of Option. This Option shall be exercisable during its term in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 of the Plan as follows:
1. Right to Exercise.
(a) This Option shall be exercisable cumulatively according to the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant. Alternatively, at the election of the Optionee, this Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time as to Shares that have not yet vested. Vested Shares shall not be subject to the Company’s repurchase right (as set forth in the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit C-1).
(b) As a condition to exercising any rights granted under this Option for Unvested Shares, the Optionee shall execute the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement.
(c) As a condition to exercising any rights granted under this Option, the Optionee shall execute the Company’s then-current stockholders agreement(s) applicable to holders of common stock in the Company.
(d) This Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
2. 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, 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 Shares with respect to which the Optionee exercises this Option (the “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.
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No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of an 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. Upon an exercise of this Option, all Exercised Shares shall
C. Optionee’s Representations. In the event the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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.
D. Lock-Up Period. Optionee hereby agrees that, if so requested by the Company or any representative of the underwriters (the “Managing Underwriter”) in connection with any registration of the offering of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act, Optionee shall not sell or otherwise transfer any Shares or other securities of the Company during the 180-day period (or such other period as may be requested in writing by the Managing Underwriter and agreed to in writing by the Company) (the “Market Standoff Period”) following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act. Such restriction shall apply only to the first registration statement of the Company to become effective under the Securities Act that includes securities to be sold on behalf of the Company to the public in an underwritten public offering under the Securities Act. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of such Market Standoff Period.
E. 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:
1. cash;
2. check;
3. consideration received by the Company under a formal cashless exercise program adopted by the Company (in its discretion) in connection with the Plan; or
4. surrender of other Shares which, (i) in the case of Shares acquired upon exercise of an option, 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.
F. Restrictions on Exercise. This Option may not be exercised 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.
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G. 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.
H. 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.
I. Tax Consequences. Set forth below is a brief summary as of the date of this Option of some of the federal tax consequences of exercise of this Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE OPTIONEE SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.
1. Exercise of NSO. There may be a regular federal income tax liability upon the exercise of an NSO. The Optionee will be treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price. If Optionee is an Employee or a former Employee, the Company will be required to withhold from Optionee’s compensation or collect from Optionee and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount in cash equal to a percentage of this compensation income at the time of exercise, and may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise.
2. Exercise of ISO. If this Option qualifies as an ISO, there will be no regular federal income tax liability upon the exercise of the Option, although the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price will be treated as an adjustment to the alternative minimum tax for federal tax purposes and may subject the Optionee to the alternative minimum tax in the year of exercise.
3. Exercise of ISO Following Disability. If the Optionee ceases to be an Employee as a result of a disability that is not a total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, to the extent permitted on the date of termination, the Optionee must exercise an ISO within three months after such termination for the ISO to be qualified as an ISO.
4. Disposition of Shares. In the case of an NSO, if Shares are held for at least one year, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes. In the case of an ISO, if Shares transferred pursuant to the Option are held for at least one year after exercise and at least two years after the Date of Grant, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will also be treated as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes. If Shares purchased under an ISO are disposed of within one year after exercise or two years after the Date of Grant, any gain realized on such disposition will be treated as compensation income (taxable at ordinary income rates) to the extent of the difference between the Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares and the lesser of (i) the Fair Market Value of the Exercised Shares on the date of exercise, or (ii) the sale price of the Exercised Shares. Different rules may apply if the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code) at the time of purchase. Any additional gain will be taxed as capital gain, short-term or long-term depending on the period that the ISO Shares were held.
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5. 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 (i) the date two years after the Date of Grant, or (ii) 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.
6. Section 83(b) Election for Unvested Shares Purchased Pursuant to Options. With respect to the exercise of an Option for Unvested Shares, an election (the “Election”) may be filed by the Optionee with the Internal Revenue Service, within 30 days after the purchase of the Shares, electing pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed currently on any difference between the purchase price of the Shares and their Fair Market Value on the date of purchase. In the case of an NSO, this will result in a recognition of taxable income to the Optionee on the date of exercise, measured by the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised Shares, at the time the Option is exercised over the purchase price for the Exercised Shares. Absent such an election, taxable income will be measured and recognized by Optionee at the time or times on which the Company’s Repurchase Option lapses. In the case of an ISO, such an election will result in a recognition of income to the Optionee for alternative minimum tax purposes on the date of exercise, measured by the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised Shares, at the time the Option is exercised, over the purchase price for the Exercised Shares. Absent such an election, alternative minimum taxable income will be measured and recognized by Optionee at the time or times on which the Company’s Repurchase Option lapses. Optionee is strongly encouraged to seek the advice of his or her own tax consultants in connection with the purchase of the Shares and the advisability of filing of the Election under Section 83(b) of the Code. A form of Election under Section 83(b) is attached hereto as Exhibit C-5 for reference.
OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS OPTIONEE’S SOLE RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THE COMPANY’S TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF AND OPTIONEE’S ABILITY TO MAKE AND TO FILE TIMELY THE ELECTION UNDER SECTION 83(b), EVEN IF OPTIONEE REQUESTS THE COMPANY OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE TO MAKE THIS FILING ON OPTIONEE’S BEHALF.
J. 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 Nevada.
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K. 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 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.
L. Familiarity with the Plan. Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and represents that Optionee 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 | ENER-CORE, INC. | ||
| Signature | By: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||
| ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |||
| Print Name | |||
| Spouse signature | |||
| Print Name | |||
| Residence Address: | |||
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