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EXHIBIT 10.Z
NEITHER THIS AGREEMENT NOR THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY
STATE SECURITIES LAW, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR HYPOTHECATED
UNLESS THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT COVERING SUCH
SECURITIES, OR THE HOLDER RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE HOLDER OF THE
SECURITIES SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, STATING THAT SUCH SALE, TRANSFER,
ASSIGNMENT OR HYPOTHECATION IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS
DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT AND THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER STATE
LAW.
THE SHARES ISSUABLE HEREUNDER ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET
FORTH IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE
INSPECTED AT THE OFFICES OF THE COMPANY.
STAR SCIENTIFIC, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
NOTICE OF QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION GRANT
Optionee's Name and Address: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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You have been granted an option to purchase shares of Common Stock of
the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option
Agreement, as follows:
Grant Number: 1
Date of Grant: April 27, 1999
Vesting Commencement Date: April 27, 1999
Exercise Price per Share: $1 11/16
Total Number of Shares Granted: 1,000,000
Total Exercise Price: $1,687,500
Type of Option: Qualified Stock Option
Term/Expiration Date: March 1, 2009
GRANT OF OPTION: Star Scientific, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
hereby grants to ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Optionee") named in the Notice of Stock
Option Grant (the "Notice"), an option (this "Option") to purchase the total
number of shares of Common Stock (the "Shares") set forth in the Notice, at the
exercise price per share set forth in the Notice (the "Exercise Price") subject
to stockholder approval of the Plan (as such term is defined below) and the
terms, definitions and provisions of the Company's Amended and Restated 1998
Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") adopted by the Company, which is incorporated
herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined
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herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in
this Option Agreement and Notice.
VESTING. This Option shall be fully vested.
TERMINATION. This Option shall immediately terminate upon the earlier to occur
of (A) March 1, 2009, or (B) the effective date of termination of the Executive
Employment Agreement entered into as of April 27, 1999 among the Company, ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Optionee (the "Executive Employment Agreement") by the Company
for Cause (as such term is defined in Section 4(c) of the Executive Employment
Agreement) or by the Optionee without Good Reason (as such term is defined in
Section 4(f) of the Executive Employment Agreement).
ACCELERATED TERMINATION AND FORFEITURE OF OPTION; COMPANY PURCHASE RIGHT. On the
effective date of termination of the Executive Employment Agreement by the
Company for Cause under Section 4(c) of the Executive Employment Agreement or by
the Optionee upon voluntary termination under Section 4(e) of the Executive
Employment Agreement, as the case may be, (A) this Option shall immediately
terminate and revert to the Company (including all vested but unexercised shares
subject to this Option); and (B) any and all shares issued upon exercise of this
Option on or prior to such effective date of termination or date of notice shall
be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company at a purchase price
equal to the exercise price of such shares.
1. EXERCISE OF OPTION.
a. RIGHT TO EXERCISE. This Option shall be exercisable at any
time during its term in accordance with the applicable provisions of
the Plan and this Option Agreement. In the event of termination of
Optionee's status as an Employee, this Option shall be exercisable in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option
Agreement. This Option shall be subject to the provisions of Section
6(j) of the Plan relating to the exercisability or termination of this
Option in the event of a Change in Control.
b. METHOD OF EXERCISE. This Option shall be exercisable only
by delivery of an Exercise Notice (attached as Exhibit A) which shall
state the election to exercise this Option, the whole number of Shares
in respect of which this Option is being exercised, such other
representations and agreements as to the holder's investment intent
with respect to such Shares and such other provisions as may be
required by the Compensation Committee. Such Exercise Notice shall be
signed by the Optionee and shall be delivered in person or by certified
mail to the Secretary of the Company accompanied by payment of the
Exercise Price. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon
receipt by the Company of such written notice accompanied by the
Exercise Price.
No Shares will be issued pursuant to the exercise of this
Option unless such issuance and such exercise shall comply with all
Applicable Laws. Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes, the
Shares shall be considered transferred to the Optionee on the date on
which this Option is exercised with respect to such Shares.
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c. TAXES. No Shares will be issued to the Optionee or other
person pursuant to the exercise of this Option, until the Optionee or
other person has made arrangements acceptable to the Compensation
Committee for the satisfaction of federal, state and local income and
employment tax withholding obligations.
2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. Payment of the Exercise Price shall be by any of
the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee;
provided, however, that such exercise method does not then violate an Applicable
Law:
a. cash;
b. check;
c. surrender of shares of Common Stock of the Company
(including withholding of Shares otherwise deliverable upon exercise of
this Option) which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender
equal to the Exercise Price of the Shares as to which this Option is
being exercised (but only to the extent that such exercise of this
Option would not result in an accounting compensation charge with
respect to the shares used to pay the exercise price unless otherwise
determined by the Compensation Committee);
d. delivery of a properly executed Exercise Notice together
with such other documentation as the Compensation Committee and the
broker, if applicable, shall require to effect an exercise of this
Option and delivery to the Company of the Exercise Price; or
e. application of such amount of the Optionee's accrued and
unpaid salary then outstanding that is equal to the Exercise Price of
the Shares as to which this Option is being exercised.
3. RETIREMENT OF OPTIONEE. In the event the Optionee's status as an
Employee terminates as a result of the Optionee's retirement but not due to
disability, the Optionee may, to the extent otherwise so entitled on the
Termination Date, exercise this Option at any time prior to the Term/Expiration
Date.
4. DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. In the event the Optionee's status as an
Employee terminates as a result of the Optionee's disability, the Optionee may
exercise this Option at any time prior to the Term/Expiration Date.
5. DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event the Optionee's status as an Employee
terminates as a result of the Optionee's death, this Option may be exercised at
any time prior to the Term/Expiration Date. This Option may be exercised by the
Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise this Option
by bequest or inheritance.
6. TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION. This Option shall not be transferred by
the Optionee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or Title I of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act, as amended, and this Option may be exercised
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during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee or such Optionee's
guardian or legal representative. The terms of this Option shall be binding upon
the executors, administrators, heirs and successors of the Optionee.
7. TERM OF OPTION. This Option may be exercised only within the term
set out in the Notice, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance
with the Plan and the terms of this Option Agreement.
8. OPTIONEE'S REPRESENTATIONS. By receipt of this Option, by its
execution, and by its exercise in whole or in part, the Optionee represents to
the Company that:
a. The Optionee acknowledges that both this Option and any
Shares purchased upon its exercise are securities, the issuance by the
Company of which requires compliance with federal and state securities
laws;
b. The Optionee acknowledges that these securities are made
available to the Optionee only on the condition that the Optionee makes
the representations contained in this Section to the Company;
c. The Optionee has made a reasonable investigation of the
affairs of the Company sufficient to be well informed as to the rights
and the value of these securities;
d. The Optionee understands that to the extent that the
securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Act"), or any applicable state law, such securities
have been made available to the Optionee in reliance upon one or more
specific exemptions contained in the Act and any applicable state law,
which may include reliance on Rule 701 promulgated under the Act, if
available, or which may depend upon (i) the Optionee's bona fide
investment intention in acquiring these securities; (ii) the Optionee's
intention with respect to these securities in compliance with federal
and state securities laws; (iii) the Optionee having no present
intention of selling or transferring any part thereof (recognizing that
this Option is not transferable) in violation of applicable federal and
state securities laws; and (iv) there being certain restrictions on
transfer of the Shares subject to this Option;
e. The Optionee understands that, to the extent that the
Shares are not registered under the Act, the Shares subject to this
Option, in addition to other restrictions on transfer, must be held
indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Act and any
applicable state law, or unless an exemption from registration is
available; that Rule 144, the usual exemption from registration under
the Act, is only available after the satisfaction of certain holding
periods and in the presence of a public market for the Shares; that
there is no certainty that a public market for the Shares will exist,
and that otherwise it will be necessary that the Shares be sold
pursuant to another exemption from registration which may be difficult
to satisfy; and
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f. The Optionee understands that the certificate representing
the Shares will bear a legend prohibiting their transfer in the absence
of their registration or an opinion of counsel for the Company that
registration is not required.
g. The Optionee acknowledges that this Option may not qualify
for incentive stock option treatment under the Code or the rules and
regulations thereunder and that he has consulted with his own tax
counsel regarding the tax treatment of this Option and any Shares
issued upon exercise of this Option.
9. 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 the 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
the Optionee. This Option Agreement is governed by the internal laws of the
State of Delaware.
10. HEADINGS. The captions used in this Option are inserted for
convenience and shall not be deemed a part of this Option for construction or
interpretation.
11. INTERPRETATION. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this
Option Agreement shall be submitted by the Optionee or by the Company forthwith
to the Board or the Compensation Committee which administers the Plan, which
shall review such dispute at its next regular meeting. The resolution of such
dispute by the Board or the Compensation Committee shall be final and binding on
all persons.
STAR SCIENTIFIC, INC.
a Delaware corporation
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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The Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and represents
that he is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts
this Option Agreement subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof. The
Optionee (i) has reviewed the Plan and this Option Agreement in their entirety,
(ii) has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing
this Option Agreement, (iii) is not relying on the Company for tax advice in
connection with the receipt and exercise of this Option, and (iv) fully
understands all provisions of this Option Agreement. The Optionee hereby agrees
to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of
the Compensation Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan or this
Option Agreement. The Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any
change in the residence address indicated below.
Dated as of April 27, 1999 Signed:
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Residence Address:
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EXHIBIT A
STAR SCIENTIFIC, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
EXERCISE NOTICE
Star Scientific, Inc.
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Attention: Secretary
1. EXERCISE OF OPTION. Effective as of today, the undersigned (the
"Optionee") hereby elects to exercise the Optionee's option to purchase
____________ (_________) shares of the Common Stock (the "Shares") of Star
Scientific, Inc. (the "Company") under and pursuant to the Company's Amended and
Restated 1998 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") and the Qualified Stock Option
Agreement between the Company and the undersigned dated as of April 27, 1999
(the "Option Agreement").
2. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE OPTIONEE. The Optionee acknowledges that the
Optionee has received, read and understood the Plan and this Option Agreement
and agrees to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.
3. RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. Until the stock certificate evidencing such
Shares is issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the
Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote
or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with
respect to the Common Stock subject to this Option, notwithstanding the exercise
of this Option. The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock
certificate promptly after this Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made
for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the
stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 7 of the Plan.
4. DELIVERY OF PAYMENT. The Optionee herewith delivers to the Company
the full Exercise Price for the Shares.
5. TAX CONSULTATION. The Optionee understands that the Optionee may
suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of the Optionee's purchase or
disposition of the Shares. The Optionee represents that the Optionee has
consulted with any tax consultants the Optionee deems advisable in connection
with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that the Optionee is not
relying on the Company for any tax advice.
6. TAXES. The Optionee agrees to satisfy all applicable federal, state
and local income and employment tax withholding obligations and herewith
delivers to the Company the full amount of such obligations.
7. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The Company may assign any of its rights
under this Exercise Notice to single or multiple assignees, and this Exercise
Notice shall inure to the benefit of
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the successors and assigns of the Company. This Exercise Notice shall be binding
upon the Optionee and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors
and assigns.
8. HEADINGS. The captions used in this Exercise Notice are inserted for
convenience and shall not be deemed a part of this Exercise Notice for
construction or interpretation.
9. INTERPRETATION. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this
Exercise Notice shall be submitted by the Optionee or by the Company forthwith
to the Company's Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee which
administers the Plan, which shall review such dispute at its next regular
meeting. The resolution of such a dispute by the Board or the Compensation
Committee shall be final and binding on all persons.
10. GOVERNING LAW; SEVERABILITY. This Exercise Notice shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding
that body of law pertaining to conflicts of law. Should any provision of this
Exercise Notice be determined by a court of law to be illegal or unenforceable,
the other provisions shall nevertheless remain effective and shall remain
enforceable.
11. NOTICES. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given
in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery or upon
deposit in the United States mail by certified mail, with postage and fees
prepaid, addressed to the other party at its address as shown below beneath its
signature, or to such other address as such party may designate in writing from
time to time to the other party.
12. FURTHER INSTRUMENTS. The parties agree to execute such further
instruments and to take such further action as may be reasonably necessary to
carry out the purposes and intent of this Exercise Notice.
13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The Plan and this Option Agreement are
incorporated herein by reference. This Exercise Notice, 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 the 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 the Optionee.
Submitted by: Accepted by:
OPTIONEE STAR SCIENTIFIC, INC.
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▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Name:
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Title:
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