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EXHIBIT 99.3
OFFICER ▇▇▇▇▇
FASTCOMM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
FORM OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
RECITALS
A. The Compensation Committee of the Board has authorized an option
grant to ______________________ (the "Optionee") in connection with the services
he is to perform for the Corporation (or a Parent or Subsidiary), and this
Agreement is intended to evidence the terms and conditions of that option grant.
B. 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, an option to purchase up to the number of Option Shares
specified in the Grant Notice. The Option Shares shall be purchasable form 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 no greater than 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 or 6.
3. LIMITED TRANSFERABILITY. This option 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 also 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 Plan Administrator
may deem appropriate.
4. DATES OF EXERCISE. This option shall become exercisable for the
Option Shares in a series of installments as specified in the Grant Notice. As
the option becomes exercisable for such installments, those installments shall
accumulate, and the option shall remain exercisable for the accumulated
installments until the Expiration Date
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or sooner termination of the option term under Paragraph 5 or 6.
5. CESSATION OF SERVICE. The option term specified in Paragraph 2
shall terminate (and this option shall cease to be outstanding) prior to the
Expiration Date should any of the following provisions become applicable:
(i) Should Optionee cease to remain in Service for any reason (other
than death, Permanent Disability or Misconduct) while this option is
outstanding, then the period during which this option may be exercised
shall be limited to the one (1)-month period commencing with the date of
such cessation of Service, but in no event shall this option be exercisable
at any time after the Expiration Date.
(ii) Should Optionee die while holding this option, then the personal
representation 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. Such right shall lapse, and this option shall cease to be
outstanding, upon the earlier of (A) the expiration of the twelve
(12)-month period measured from the date of Optionee's death or (B) the
Expiration Date.
(iii) Should Optionee cease Service by reason of Permanent Disability
while this option is outstanding, then the period during which this option
may be exercised shall be limited to the twelve (12)-month period
commencing with the date of such cessation of Service. In no event shall
this option be exercisable at any time after the Expiration Date.
(iv) Should Optionee's Service be terminated for Misconduct or should
Optionee otherwise engage in any Misconduct while this option is
outstanding, then this option shall terminate immediately and cease to
remain outstanding.
(v) During the limited period of post-Service exercisability, this
option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the number of
Option Shares for which this option is exercisable at the time of
Optionee's cessation of Service. Upon the expiration of such limited
exercise period or (if earlier) upon the Expiration Date, this option shall
terminate and cease to be outstanding for any exercisable Option Shares for
which the option has not otherwise been exercised. To the extent this
option is not exercisable for one or more Option Shares at the time of
Optionee's cessation of Service, this option shall immediately terminate
and cease to be outstanding with respect to those shares.
(vi) In the event of a Corporate Transaction or Change in Control,
the provisions of Paragraph 6 shall govern the period for which
this option is to remain exercisable following Optionee's
cessation of Service and shall supersede any provisions to the
contrary in this Paragraph 5.
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6. SPECIAL ACCELERATION OF OPTION
(a) This option, to the extent outstanding at the time of a Corporate
Transaction but not otherwise fully exercisable for all the Option Shares, shall
automatically accelerate in full so that this option shall, immediately prior to
the effective date of the Corporate Transaction, become exercisable for all of
the Option Shares at the time subject to this option and may be exercised for
any or all of those Option Shares as fully-vested shares.
(b) 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 an part of its business or assets.
7. 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.
8. SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS. The holder of this option shall not have any
shareholder 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.
9. 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:
(i) Execute and deliver to the Corporation a Notice of Exercise for
the Option shares for which the option is exercised.
(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
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(C) 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 (1) 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 (11) 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 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.
(iv) Make appropriate arrangements with the Corporation (or Parent or
Subsidiary employing or retaining Optionee) for the satisfaction of all
Federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding requirements
applicable to the option exercise.
(b) As soon as practical after the Exercise Date, 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.
(c) In no event may this option be exercised for any fractional shares.
10. 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.
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11. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Except to the extent otherwise provided in
Paragraphs 3 and 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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12. 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.
13. 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. All decisions of the Plan Administrator with respect
to any question or issue arising under the Plan or this Agreement shall be
conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in this option.
14. GOVERNING LAW. The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Virginia without resort
to that State's conflict-of-laws rules.
FastComm Communications Corporation
By:
---------------,---- ---------------------------------
Title: President and CEO
---------------------------------,
OPTIONEE
Address:
-------------------------
-------------------------
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EXHIBIT I
NOTICE OF EXERCISE
I hereby notify FastComm Communications Corporation (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
on ____________________, ___.
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
one or more Purchased Shares.
--------------------------
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: ----------------------------------
Employee Number: ----------------------------------
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APPENDIX
The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:
A. AGREEMENT shall mean this Stock Option Agreement.
B. BOARD shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
C. CHANGE IN CONTROL shall mean either of the following changes in
control or ownership of the Corporation:
(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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) 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 shareholders, 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 such election or nomination was approved by the
Board.
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
shareholder-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 FastComm Communications Corporation, a Virginia
corporation.
H. EMPLOYEE shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction
of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and
method of performance.
I. EXERCISE DATE shall mean the date on which the option shall have been
exercised in accordance with Paragraph 9 of the Agreement.
J. EXERCISE PRICE shall mean the exercise price per share as specified in
the Grant Notice.
K. EXERCISE SCHEDULE shall mean the installment schedule specified in the
Grant Notice pursuant to which the option is to become exercisable for the
Option Shares in a series of installments over Optionee's period of Service.
L. EXPIRATION DATE shall mean the date on which the option expires as
specified in the Grant Notice.
M. 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 determined by
the Plan Administrator to be 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.
▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ DATE shall mean the date of grant of the option as specified in
the Grant Notice.
▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ NOTICE shall mean the Notice of Grant of Stock Option
accompanying the Agreement, pursuant to which Optionee has been informed of the
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basic terms of the option evidenced hereby.
P. INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION shall mean the termination of Optionee's
Service which occurs by reason of Optionee's involuntary dismissal or discharge
by the Corporation.
Q. MISCONDUCT shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement
or dishonesty by Optionee, any unauthorized use or disclosure by Optionee of
confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation or any Parent or
Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by Optionee adversely affecting
the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a
material manner. The foregoing definition shall not be deemed to be inclusive of
all the acts or omissions which the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary)
may consider as grounds for the dismissal or discharge of Optionee or any other
individual in the Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).
R. NON-STATUTORY OPTION shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the
requirements of Code Section 422.
S. NOTICE OF EXERCISE shall mean the notice of exercise in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit 1.
T. OPTION SHARES shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock subject
to the option as specified in the Grant Notice.
U. OPTIONEE shall mean person to whom the option is granted as specified
in the Grant Notice.
V. PARENT shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an
unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each
corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time
of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations
in such chain.
W. PERMANENT DISABILITY shall mean the inability of Optionee to engage in
any substantial gainful activity 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.
X. PLAN shall mean this Stock Option Agreement and the Grant Notice.
Y. PLAN ADMINISTRATOR shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board
acting in its capacity as administrator of the Plan.
Z. SERVICE shall mean the Optionee's performance of services for the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in the capacity of an Employee, a
non-
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employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent
advisor.
AA. STOCK EXCHANGE shall mean the American Stock Exchange or the New York
Stock Exchange.
BB. SUBSIDIARY shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in
an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided each
corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the
time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one or the other
corporations in such chain. If this option is designated a Non-Statutory Option
in the Grant Notice, Subsidiary shall also include any corporation, partnership,
joint-venture or other business entity in which the Corporation owns, directly
or indirectly, stock or a capital or profit interest.
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