THE ADVISORY BOARD COMPANY AWARD AGREEMENT FOR NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS
Exhibit 10.18
FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, The Advisory Board Company, a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), hereby grants to Optionee named below the stock option (the “Option”) to purchase any
part or all of the number of shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common
Stock”), that are covered by this Option, as specified below, at the Exercise Price per share
specified below and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Award Agreement,
the Plan specified below (as may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”) and the Standard Terms
and Conditions for Non-Qualified Stock Options Granted, a copy of which is attached hereto, as may
be amended from time to time. This Option is granted pursuant to the Plan and is subject to and
qualified in its entirety by the Plan.
Plan: |
Name of Optionee: |
Social Security Number: |
Grant Date: |
Number of Shares of Common Stock covered by Option: |
Exercise Price Per Share: |
Expiration Date: |
Vesting Schedule: |
This Option is not intended to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. By executing and delivering this Award Agreement,
Optionee acknowledges that he or she has received and read, and agrees that this Option shall be
subject to, the terms of this Award Agreement, the Standard Terms and Conditions attached hereto
and made a part hereof, and the Plan.
| THE ADVISORY BOARD COMPANY | THE OPTIONEE | |||||||
By: |
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Name:
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Name: | |||||||
Title:
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Address: | |||||||
1. TERMS OF OPTION
The Advisory Board Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), has granted to the
Optionee named in the Award Agreement to which these Standard Terms and Conditions are
attached (the “Award Agreement”) options (the “Option”) to purchase any part or all of the
number of shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common
Stock”), set forth in the Award Agreement, at the purchase price per share and upon the
other terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Award Agreement, these Standard
Terms and Conditions, and the Plan specified in the Award Agreement (the “Plan”). For
purposes of these Standard Terms and Conditions and the Award Agreement, any reference to
the Company shall include a reference to any Subsidiary. Certain capitalized terms not
otherwise defined herein are defined in the Plan.
2. EXERCISE OF OPTION
The exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) of the Option is set forth in the Award Agreement.
To the extent not previously exercised (and subject to termination or acceleration as
provided in these Standard Terms and Conditions or the Plan, or as determined or approved by
the Administrator), the Option shall be exercisable on and after the date and to the extent
it becomes vested, as described in the Award Agreement, to purchase up to that number of
shares of Common Stock as set forth in the Award Agreement.
To exercise the Option (or any part thereof), the Optionee shall deliver a “Notice of
Exercise” to the Company specifying the number of whole shares of Common Stock the Optionee
wishes to purchase and how the Optionee’s shares of Common Stock should be registered (in
the Optionee’s name only or in the Optionee’s and the Optionee’s spouse’s names as community
property or as joint tenants with right of survivorship).
The Company shall not be obligated to issue any shares of Common Stock until the Optionee
shall have paid the total Exercise Price for that number of shares of Common Stock. The
Exercise Price may be paid:
| A. | in cash, | ||
| B. | by payment under an arrangement with a broker where payment is made pursuant to an irrevocable commitment by a broker to deliver all or part of the proceeds from the sale of the Option shares to the Company, | ||
| C. | by tendering (either physically or by attestation) shares of Common Stock owned by the Optionee and having a fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price but only if such will not result in an accounting charge to the Company, or | ||
| D. | by any combination of the foregoing or in such other form(s) of consideration as the Administrator (as defined in the Plan) in its discretion shall specify. |
Fractional shares may not be exercised. Shares of Common Stock will be issued as soon as
practical after exercise. Notwithstanding the above, the Company shall not be obligated to
deliver any shares of Common Stock during any period when the Company determines that the
exercisability of the Option or the delivery of shares hereunder would violate any federal,
state or other applicable laws.
3. EXPIRATION OF OPTION
Except as provided in this Section 3, the Option shall expire and cease to be exercisable as
of the Expiration Date set forth in the Award Agreement.
| A. | Upon the death of the Optionee while in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or while serving as a member of the Board, or upon the date of a termination of the Optionee’s employment as a result of the Total and Permanent Disablement of the Optionee, or the Optionee’s Retirement, and except as otherwise provided under paragraph D of this Section 3, all of the Optionee’s Options then held shall be exercisable by his or her estate, heir or beneficiary at any time during the one-year period commencing on the date of death or termination, as the case may be. Any and all Options that are unexercised during the one-year period commencing on the date of death or termination, as the case may be, shall terminate as of the end of such one- year period. | ||
| B. | Upon the date of a termination of the Optionee’s employment with the Company for any reason other than the death of the Optionee, and except as otherwise provided under paragraph D of this Section 3, (i) any part of the Option that is unexercisable as of such termination date shall remain unexercisable and shall terminate as of such date, and (ii) any part of the Option that is exercisable as of such termination date shall expire the earlier of ninety (90) days following such date or the Expiration Date of the Option. | ||
| C. | Upon the date of termination of service by a non-employee member of the Company’s Board of Directors for any reason other than the death of the Optionee, and except as otherwise provided under paragraph D of this Section 3, (i) any part of the Option that is unexercisable as of such termination date shall remain unexercisable and shall terminate as of such date, and (ii) any part of the Option that is exercisable as of such termination date shall expire the earlier of twelve (12) months following such date or the Expiration Date of the Option. | ||
| D. | If, within one year after a Change of Control (as defined in Section 14 hereof) of the Company, the Optionee’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason other than for Cause (as defined in Section 14 hereof), death, Total and Permanent Disablement, Retirement, or voluntary resignation by the Optionee, the Option shall become fully exercisable on the date of such termination and shall expire ninety (90) days thereafter. |
4. RESTRICTIONS ON RESALES OF OPTION SHARES
The Company may impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines
appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales by the Optionee or other subsequent
transfers by the Optionee of any shares of Common Stock issued as a result of the exercise
of the Option, including without limitation (a) restrictions under an ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
policy, (b) restrictions designed to delay and/or coordinate the timing and manner of sales
by Optionee and other optionholders and (c) restrictions as to the use of a specified
brokerage firm for such resales or other transfers.
5. INCOME TAXES; TAX WITHHOLDING OBLIGATIONS
The Optionee will be subject to federal and state income and other tax withholding
requirements on the date (generally, the date of exercise) determined by applicable law,
based on the excess of the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the
portion of the Option that is exercised over the Exercise Price. The Optionee will be
solely responsible for the payment of all U.S. federal income and other taxes, including any
state, local or non-U.S. income or employment tax obligation that may be related to the
exercise of the Option, including any such taxes that are required to be withheld and paid
over to the applicable tax authorities (the “Tax Withholding Obligation”). The Optionee
will be responsible for the satisfaction of such Tax Withholding Obligation in a manner
acceptable to the Company in its sole discretion.
The Company may refuse to issue any shares of Common Stock to the Optionee until the
Optionee satisfies the Tax Withholding Obligation. The Optionee acknowledges that the
Company has the right to retain without notice from shares issuable upon exercise of the
Option
(or any portion thereof) or from salary or other amounts payable to the Optionee, shares or
cash having a value sufficient to satisfy the Tax Withholding Obligation.
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The Optionee is ultimately liable and responsible for all taxes owed by the Optionee in
connection with the Option, regardless of any action the Company takes or any transaction
pursuant to this Section 5 with respect to any tax withholding obligations that arise in
connection with the Option. The Company makes no representation or undertaking regarding the
treatment of any tax withholding in connection with the grant, issuance, vesting or exercise
of the Option or the subsequent sale of any of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon
exercise of the Option. The Company does not commit and is under no obligation to structure
the Option to reduce or eliminate the Optionee’s tax liability.
The Option is not intended to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and will be interpreted accordingly.
6. NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION
Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, the Optionee may not assign or transfer the
Option to anyone other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and the Option
shall be exercisable only by the Optionee during his or her lifetime. The Company may
cancel the Optionee’s Option if the Optionee attempts to assign or transfer it in a manner
inconsistent with this Section 6.
7. THE PLAN AND OTHER AGREEMENTS
The provisions of the Plan are incorporated into these Standard Terms and Conditions by this
reference. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of these Standard
Terms and Conditions and the Plan, the Plan controls.
The Award Agreement, these Standard Terms and Conditions, the Plan, and any employment or
similar agreement entered into by Optionee and the Company prior to the date of the Award
Agreement and that specifically addresses the treatment of Options constitute the entire
understanding between the Optionee and the Company regarding the Option. Any other prior
agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the Option are superseded.
8. LIMITATION OF INTEREST IN SHARES SUBJECT TO OPTION
Neither the Optionee (individually or as a member of a group) nor any beneficiary or other
person claiming under or through the Optionee shall have any right, title, interest, or
privilege in or to any shares of Common Stock allocated or reserved for the purpose of the
Plan or subject to the Award Agreement or these Standard Terms and Conditions except as to
such shares of Common Stock, if any, as shall have been issued to such person upon exercise
of the Option or any part of it.
9. NOT A CONTRACT FOR EMPLOYMENT
Nothing in the Plan, in the Award Agreement, these Standard Terms and Conditions or any
other instrument executed pursuant to the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee any right to
continue in the Company’s employ or service nor limit in any way the Company’s right to
terminate the Optionee’s employment at any time for any reason.
10. NO LIABILITY OF COMPANY
The Company and any affiliate which is in existence or hereafter comes into existence shall
not be liable to the Optionee or any other person as to: (a) the non-issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock as to which the Company has been unable to obtain from any regulatory
body having jurisdiction the authority deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to
the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder; and (b) any tax consequence expected,
but not realized, by the Optionee or other person due to the receipt, exercise or settlement
of any Option granted hereunder.
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11. NOTICES
All notices, requests, demands and other communications pursuant to these Standard Terms and
Conditions shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally
delivered, telexed or telecopied to, or, if mailed, when received by, the other party at the
following addresses (or at such other address as shall be given in writing by either party
to the other):
| If to the Company to: | ||
| The Advisory Board Company | ||
| ▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. | ||
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
| Attention: Administrator of Stock Incentive Plan |
If to the Optionee, to the address set forth below the Optionee’s signature on the Award
Agreement.
12. GENERAL
In the event that any provision of these Standard Terms and Conditions is declared to be
illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
provision shall be reformed, if possible, to the extent necessary to render it legal, valid
and enforceable, or otherwise deleted, and the remainder of these Standard Terms and
Conditions shall not be affected except to the extent necessary to reform or delete such
illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision.
The headings preceding the text of the sections hereof are inserted solely for convenience
of reference, and shall not constitute a part of these Standard Terms and Conditions, nor
shall they affect its meaning, construction or effect.
These Standard Terms and Conditions shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties hereto and their respective permitted heirs, beneficiaries, successors and assigns.
13. FURTHER ASSURANCES
Participant shall cooperate and take such action as may be reasonably requested by the
Company in order to carry out the provisions and purposes of these Standard Terms and
Conditions.
14. DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Agreement, the terms set forth below shall have the following meanings:
| A. | “Cause” means (i) the commission of an act of fraud or theft against the Company; (ii) conviction for any felony; (iii) conviction for any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude which might, in the Company’s reasonable opinion, cause embarrassment to the Company; (iv) significant violation of any material Company policy; (v) willful or repeated non-performance or substandard performance of material duties which is not cured within thirty (30) days after written notice thereof to the Optionee; (vi) or violation of any material District of Columbia, state or federal laws, rules or regulations in connection with or during performance of the Optionee’s work which, if such violation is curable, is not cured within thirty (30) days after notice thereof to the Optionee. | ||
| B. | “Change of Control” means any of the following: |
| 1. | the “acquisition” by a “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules promulgated thereunder), other than by Permitted Holders, of beneficial ownership (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13d-3) directly or indirectly, of any securities of the Company or any successor of the Company immediately after which such person or group owns securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company or any successor of the Company; |
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| 2. | approval by the stockholders of the Company of any merger, consolidation or reorganization involving the Company, unless either (A) the stockholders of the Company immediately before such merger, consolidation or reorganization own, directly or indirectly immediately following such merger, consolidation or reorganization, at least 60% of the combined voting power of the company(ies) resulting from such merger, consolidation or reorganization in substantially the same proportion as their ownership immediately before such merger, consolidation or reorganization, or (B) the stockholders of the Company immediately after such merger, consolidation or reorganization include Permitted Holders; | ||
| 3. | approval by the stockholders of the Company of a transfer of 50% or more of the assets of the Company or a transfer of assets that during the current or either of the prior two fiscal years accounted for more than 50% of the Company’s revenues or income, unless the person to which such transfer is made is either (A) a Subsidiary of the Company, (B) wholly owned by all of the stockholders of the Company, or (C) wholly owned by Permitted Holders; or | ||
| 4. | approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. |
| C. | “Permitted Holders” means: |
| 1. | the Company, | ||
| 2. | any Subsidiary, | ||
| 3. | any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary, and | ||
| 4. | any group which includes or any person who is wholly or partially owned by a majority of the individuals who immediately prior to a Change of Control are executive officers (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 3b-7) of the Company or any successor to the Company; provided that immediately prior to and for six months following such Change of Control such executive officers of the Company are beneficial owners (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 16a-1(a)(2)) of the common stock of the Company or any successor to the Company; and provided further that such executive officers’ employment is not terminated by the Company or any successor to the Company (other than as a result of death or disability) during the six months following such Change of Control. If, as a result of a transaction, a Change of Control would have been deemed to have occurred but for the fact that the requirements of this paragraph C.4. had been satisfied at the time of such transaction and the requirements of this paragraph C.4. cease to be satisfied on a date within six-months of such transaction, a Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred on such date. |
15. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY
The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to any
awards granted under the Plan by electronic means or to request the Optionee’s consent to
participate in the Plan by electronic means. By accepting the Award, the Optionee consents
to receive such documents by electronic delivery and, if requested, to agree to participate
in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the
Company or another third party designated by the Company, and such consent shall remain in
effect throughout the Participant’s term of employment or service with the Company and
thereafter until withdrawn in writing by the Optionee.
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