FRONTIER AIRLINES, INC. 2004 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document
Exhibit 10.26
FRONTIER AIRLINES, INC.
2004 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT is made as of this day of , 200 (the "Grant Date"), between Frontier Airlines, Inc., a Colorado corporation (the "Company"), and (the "Option Holder").
1. Grant of Option. Pursuant to the Frontier Airlines, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Option Holder a non-qualified stock option (the "Option") to purchase ( ) shares of the common stock of the Company (the "Stock") at an exercise price per share of $ (the "Option Price"). The Option grant is effective as of the Grant Date. The Option is not intended to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
2. Requirements for Exercise; Vesting. Except as provided otherwise in this Agreement, the Option shall not become exercisable until the Option Holder has completed one full year of continuous service as a member of the Company's Board of Directors ("Board Service") after the Grant Date. Upon the completion of one full year of continuous Board Service after the Grant Date, the Option shall become vested and exercisable in full.
Except as set forth in Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement, the Option shall not be exercisable as to any shares of Stock as to which the vesting requirements of this Section 2 have not be satisfied, regardless of the circumstances under which the Option Holder's Board Service shall be terminated. Once exercisable, the Option will continue to be vested and exercisable as to such shares until expiration or termination of the Option as provided in Section 5 or Section 6 hereof. If at any time the number of shares of Stock that are covered by the vested and exercisable portion of the Option includes a fractional share, the number of shares of Stock as to which the Option shall be actually vested and exercisable shall be rounded down to the next whole share of Stock.
3. Method for Exercising the Option. The Option may be exercised only by delivery of written notice of exercise in person or through certified or registered mail, fax or overnight delivery to the Company at the following address: Frontier Airlines, Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, or such other address as shall be furnished in writing to the Option Holder by the Company, and payment of the Option Price in full as described below. Such written notice shall specify that the Option is being exercised and the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is exercised.
Payment of the Option Price for the Stock in full, together with any taxes, must be made within 30 days of the delivery of the notice of exercise (i) by certified or cashier's check payable to the Company's order, or (ii) by wire transfer to such account as may be specified by the Company for this purpose. Payment may be made by the Option Holder or by a broker who is assisting the Option Holder with the exercise of the Option.
The purchase of such Stock shall take place at the address of the Company and be effective upon delivery of the notice of exercise and payment of the Option Price for the Stock in full together with any applicable taxes. At the time of purchase, a properly executed certificate or certificates representing the Stock so purchased shall be issued by the Company and delivered to the Option Holder or a broker designee as instructed by the Option Holder.
The Company intends to register the shares of Stock subject to this Option and this Option on a Form S-8 Registration Statement (or any successor or replacement Form). Notwithstanding such registration, the Company may require the Option Holder, as a condition of exercise of this Option, to give written assurance in substance and form satisfactory to the Company and its counsel to the effect that the Option Holder is acquiring the Stock for his own account for investment and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the same, and to such other effects as the Company deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with federal and state securities laws. Legends evidencing such restrictions may be placed on the Stock certificates.
4. Adjustment of the Option. The number of shares subject to the Option and the Option Price may be adjusted as provided in Section 11 of the Plan; provided however, that all adjustments shall be made in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations or other guidance issued thereunder.
5. Expiration and Termination of the Option. The Option shall expire on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Grant Date, (the period from the Grant Date to the expiration date is the "Option Period") or prior to such time as follows:
(a) Termination for Cause. If the Option Holder's Board Service is terminated for "cause," as determined by the other members of the Board of Directors, within the Option Period, the entire Option, whether or not vested, shall become void, shall be forfeited and shall terminate immediately upon the termination or the Option Holder's Board Service. For this purpose, "cause" shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by the Option Holder, any unauthorized use of disclosure by the Option Holder of confidential information or trade secrets of the Company or any Affiliate, any other intentional misconduct by the Option Holder that adversely affects the business or affairs of the Company or any Affiliate, or any other conduct that violates the Company's policies or procedures.
(b) Termination on Account of Disability. If the Option Holder's Board Service terminates by reason of Disability (as defined below), the Option will become fully vested and exercisable on the date of such termination. The Option may be exercised by the Option Holder or the Option Holder's representative until the earlier of (i) one year after the termination of Board Service or (ii) the end of the Option Period. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" means the status granted to an Option Holder when the Option Holder suffers a physical or mental condition or illness that renders the Option Holder, even with attempts by the Company to make reasonable accommodations, totally and permanently incapable of performing essential functions required of the Board Services.
(c) Death. If the Option Holder dies during the Option Period while still in Board Service, the Option shall become fully vested and exercisable on the date of the Option Holder's death if not otherwise fully vested and exercisable. The Option may be exercised by the Option Holder's Beneficiary (described in Section 5(e) below) until the earlier of (i) the date that is one year after the date of death or (ii) the end of the Option Period.
(d) Retirement. If the Option Holder's Board Service terminates on account of Retirement prior to the first anniversary of the Grant Date, the Option shall become fully vested and exercisable on a pro rata basis based on the ratio of (1) the number of days after the Grant Date to and including the date of Retirement to (2) 365. The Option may be exercised as to the number of shares that vest according to the preceding sentence until the earlier of (i) the date that is third anniversary of the date of Retirement or (ii) the end of the Option Period.
(e) Termination for Other Reasons. If the Option Holder's Board Service terminates during the Option Period for any reason other than cause, Disability, death, or Retirement the Option may be exercised by the Option Holder until the earlier of (i) the date that is three (3) months following the date of such termination of Board Service, or (ii) the end of the Option Period. In any such case, the Option may be exercised only as to the shares as to which the Option had become exercisable on or before the date of termination of Board Service.
(f) Designation of Beneficiary. The Optionee may designate a beneficiary by completing a beneficiary designation from approved by the Company and delivering the completed designation form to the Human Resources Department of the Company. The person who is the Optionee's named beneficiary at the time of his or her death (herein referred to as the "Beneficiary") shall be entitled to exercise the Option, to the extent it is exercisable, after the death of the Optionee within the time limits set forth above. The Optionee may from time to time revoke or change his or her Beneficiary without the consent of any prior Beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Human Resources Department of the Company. The last such designation received by the Company will be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Company prior the Optionee's death, and in no event shall any designation be effective as of a date prior to such receipt. If the Company is in doubt as to the right of any person to exercise the Option, the Company may refuse to recognize such exercise, without liability for any interest or dividends thereon, until the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Committee") determines the person entitled to exercise such Option, which determination shall be final and conclusive.
6. Adjustment of and Changes in the Common Stock. The Option shall be adjusted as provided in Section 11 of the Plan; provided that no adjustment shall be contrary to Code section 409A or shall be effected in a manner that would subject the Option Holder to taxes and penalties under Code section 409A.
7. Transferability. The Option may not be transferred except by will or pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution, and it shall be exercisable during the Option Holder's life only by him, or in the event of Disability or incapacity, by his guardian or legal representative, and after his death, only by those entitled to do so under his will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution. Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the Option or any right or privilege granted hereunder, or upon the levy of any attachment or similar process upon the rights and privileges herein conferred, the Option and the rights and privileges hereunder shall become immediately null and void.
8. Limitation of Rights. The Option Holder or his successor shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares of Stock covered by this Option until the Option Holder or his successors become the holder of record of such shares.
9. Withholding. The issuance of Stock pursuant to the exercise of this Option shall be subject to the requirement that the Option Holder shall make appropriate arrangements with the Company to provide for the amount of any tax withholding that is applicable to the exercise of the Option.
10. Miscellaneous.
- (i)
- If to the Company, to Frontier Airlines, Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, or at such other address as may have been furnished to the Option Holder in writing by the Company; or
- (ii)
- If to the Option Holder, to the Option Holder at the address below the Option Holder's signature, or at such other address as may have been furnished to the Company by the Option Holder.
(a) Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by first class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by personal delivery to the appropriate party, addressed:
Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given as of the second day after deposit in the United States mails, postage prepaid, properly addressed as set forth above, in the case of mailed notice, or as of the date delivered in the case of personal delivery.
(b) Amendment. Except as provided herein, this Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified unless evidenced in writing and signed by the Company and the Option Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended in the sole discretion of the Committee to make any changes that are necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code and any guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code. Further provided that no amendment to this Agreement, other than an amendment to comply with Section 409A of the Code, may adversely affect the rights of the Option Holder without the Option Holder's consent.
(c) Defined Terms. Capitalized terms shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan or in this Agreement.
(d) Compliance with Securities Laws. This Agreement shall be subject to the requirement that if at any time counsel to the Company shall determine that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares of Stock subject to the Option upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental or regulatory body, is necessary as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of such shares thereunder, the Option may not be exercised in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained on conditions acceptable to the Committee. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Company to apply for or obtain such listing, registration or qualification.
(e) Construction; Severability. The section headings contained herein are for reference purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and each other provision of this Agreement shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.
(f) Waiver. Any provision contained in this Agreement may be waived, either generally or in any particular instance, by the Committee appointed under the Plan, but only to the extent permitted under the Plan.
(g) Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and the Option Holder and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
(h) Rights to Continued Board Service. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as giving the Option Holder any right to be retained as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company and this Agreement is limited solely to governing the rights and obligations of the Option Holder with respect to the Stock and the Option.
(i) Terms of Plan. The terms and provisions of the Plan are incorporated in this Agreement by reference. If there is a conflict or inconsistency between the terms and provisions of the Plan and the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Plan shall govern and control. The Option Holder hereby acknowledges that a copy of the Plan and the prospectus are available on the Company's internet site, that the Company has undertaken to make a paper copy of the Plan and prospectus available at no charge, that he has reviewed the Plan and prospectus to the extent he deems necessary, and that he agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof.
(j) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
| FRONTIER AIRLINES, INC. | ||
By: |
||
Name: |
||
Title: |
||
OPTION HOLDER |
||
Printed Name: |
||
Address: |
||
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT