INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT INTEGRATED SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC.
Exhibit 4.5
INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
INTEGRATED SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC.
2009 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Grant of Option. Pursuant to the Integrated Security Systems, Inc. 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), as adopted by Integrated Security Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Company grants to
_________________________
(the “Participant”)
who is an employee of the Company, an option (sometimes referred to herein as the (“Stock Option”) to purchase from the Company a total of ______ full shares of Common Stock, $_______ par value per share, of the Company (the “Optioned Shares”) at an “Option Price” equal to $____ per share (being the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock on this Date of Grant or 110% of such Fair Market Value, in the case of a ten percent (10%) or more stockholder as provided in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)), in the amounts, during the periods and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
The “Date of Grant” of this Stock Option is __________. The “Option Period” shall commence on the Date of Grant and shall expire on the date immediately preceding the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant (or the date immediately preceding the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Date of Grant, in the case of a ten percent (10%) or more stockholder as provided in Section 422 of the Code). The Stock Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
2. Subject to Plan. This Stock Option and its exercise are subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Plan, and the terms of the Plan shall control to the extent not otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement. The defined terms used herein that are defined in the Plan shall have the same meanings defined for and assigned to them in the Plan. In addition, this Stock Option is subject to any rules promulgated pursuant to the Plan by the Board or the Committee and communicated to the Participant in writing.
3. Vesting; Time of Exercise. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement and subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Plan, the Optioned Shares shall be vested and the Stock Option shall be exercisable as follows:
| a. |
Twenty percent (20%) of the total Optioned Shares shall vest and that portion of the Stock Option shall be exercisable on the Date of Grant.
| b. |
An additional twenty percent (20%) of the total Optioned Shares shall vest and that portion of the Stock Option shall become exercisable on the first anniversary of the Date of Grant, provided the Participant is employed by the Company or a Subsidiary on that date.
| c. |
An additional twenty percent (20%) of the total Optioned Shares shall vest and that portion of the Stock Option shall become exercisable on the second anniversary of the Date of Grant, provided the Participant is employed by the Company or a Subsidiary on that date.
| d. |
An additional twenty percent (20%) of the total Optioned Shares shall vest and that portion of the Stock Option shall become exercisable on the third anniversary of the Date of Grant, provided the Participant is employed by the Company or a Subsidiary on that date.
| e. |
The remaining twenty percent (20%) of the total Optioned Shares shall vest and that portion of the Stock Option shall become exercisable on the fourth anniversary of the Date of Grant, provided the Participant is employed by the Company or a Subsidiary on that date.
[f. In the event that (i) a Change of Control occurs, (ii) this Option Agreement is not assumed by the surviving corporation or its parent, and (iii) the surviving corporation or its parent does not substitute its own option for this Stock Option, then upon the effective date of such Change of Control the total Optioned Shares not previously vested shall thereupon immediately become fully vested and this Stock Option shall become fully exercisable, if not previously so exercisable.]
4. Term; Forfeiture.
| (a) |
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, to the extent the unexercised portion of this Stock Option relates to Optioned Shares that are not vested on the Participant’s Termination of Service, the Stock Option will terminate on such date. The unexercised portion of this Stock Option that relates to Optioned Shares that are vested will terminate at the first to occur of the following:
| (i) |
5 p.m. on the date the Option Period terminates;
| (ii) |
5 p.m. on the date which is twelve (12) months following the date of the Participant’s Termination of Service with the Company by reason of the Participant’s death or Total and Permanent Disability;
| (iii) |
Immediately upon the Participant’s Termination for Cause (as defined herein);
| (iv) |
5 p.m. on the date which is three (3) months following the date of the Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason other than as set forth in subparagraphs (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) above of this Section 4.
| (v) |
5 p.m. on the date the Company causes any portion of the Stock Option to be forfeited pursuant to Section 7 hereof.
[(b) Alternative: For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean that the Participant shall have committed (i) an intentional material act of fraud or embezzlement in connection with his duties in the course of his employment with the Company; (ii) intentional wrongful material damage to property of the Company; or (iii) intentional wrongful disclosure of material secret processes or material confidential information of the Company. For the purposes of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, on the part of the Participant shall be deemed “intentional” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Participant not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.]
[(b) Alternative: For purposes of this Section 4, "Cause" shall mean (i) acts of fraud or dishonesty in the course of employment, (ii) violations of law causing material harm to the Company, (iii) substance abuse causing harm to the Company or impairing performance, (iv) conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude, or (v) insubordination, dereliction of duties, habitual absenteeism, or material failure to follow reasonable Company instructions after (solely in the case of this clause (v)) notice to the Participant and the Participant’s failure to correct same within the time period specified in the notice, which time period shall be not less than ten (10) business days.]
2
5. Who May Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Sections 3 and 4 above, this Stock Option may be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or by the Participant's guardian or legal representative. If the Participant's Termination of Service is due to death or Total and Permanent Disability prior to the termination date specified in Section 4(a)(i) hereof, the following persons may exercise this Stock Option on behalf of the Participant at any time prior to the earlier of the dates specified in Sections 4(a)(i), (ii) or (v) hereof: (i) if the Participant has a Total and Permanent Disability, the Participant or the guardian of the Participant; or (ii) if the Participant dies, the personal representative of the Participant's estate or the person who acquired the right to exercise this Stock Option by bequest or inheritance or by reason of the death of the Participant; provided that this Stock Option shall remain subject to the other terms of this Agreement, the Plan, and applicable laws, rules and regulations.
6. Restrictions on Exercise. This Stock Option may be exercised in whole or in part, but only with respect to full shares of Common Stock, and no fractional share of stock shall be issued. In no event may this Stock Option be exercised or shares of Common Stock be issued pursuant to this Agreement if any registration under state or federal securities laws required under the circumstances has not been accomplished.
7. Manner of Exercise. Subject to such administrative regulations as the Committee may from time to time adopt, the Stock Option may be exercised by the delivery of written notice to the Committee setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Stock Option is to be exercised, the date of exercise thereof (the “Exercise Date”) which shall be at least three (3) days after giving such notice unless an earlier time shall have been mutually agreed upon, and whether the Optioned Shares to be exercised will be considered as deemed granted under an Incentive Stock Option as provided in Section 11. On the Exercise Date, the Participant shall deliver to the Company consideration with a value equal to the total Option Price of the shares to be purchased, payable as follows: (a) cash, check, bank draft, or money order payable to the order of the Company, (b) Common Stock (including Restricted Stock) owned by the Participant on the Exercise Date, valued at its Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date, and which the Participant has not acquired from the Company within six (6) months prior to the Exercise Date, (c) by delivery (including by FAX) to the Company or its designated agent of an executed irrevocable option exercise form together with irrevocable instructions from the Participant to a broker or dealer, reasonably acceptable to the Company, to sell certain of the shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of the Stock Option or to pledge such shares as collateral for a loan and promptly deliver to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds necessary to pay such purchase price, and/or (d) in any other form of valid consideration that is acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion. In the event that shares of Restricted Stock are tendered as consideration for the exercise of the Stock Option, a number of shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of the Stock Option equal to the number of shares of Restricted Stock used as consideration therefor shall be subject to the same restrictions and provisions as the Restricted Stock so tendered.
Upon payment of all amounts due from the Participant, the Company shall cause certificates for the Common Stock then being purchased to be delivered as directed by the Participant (or the person exercising the Participant's Stock Option in the event of his Total and Permanent Disability or his death) at its principal business office promptly after the Exercise Date. The obligation of the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock shall, however, be subject to the condition that, if at any time the Committee shall determine in its discretion that the listing, registration, or qualification of the Stock Option or the Common Stock upon any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary as a condition of, or in connection with, the Stock Option or the issuance or purchase of shares of Common Stock thereunder, the Stock Option may not be exercised in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not reasonably acceptable to the Committee.
If the Participant fails to pay for any of the Optioned Shares specified in such notice or fails to accept delivery thereof, that portion of the Participant’s Stock Option and right to purchase such Optioned Shares may be forfeited by the Company.
8. Non-Assignability. This Stock Option is not assignable or transferable by the Participant in any form or fashion except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
9. Rights as Stockholder. Except for the adjustment in the number of shares of Common Stock as provided in Section 10 below, the Participant will have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Optioned
3
Shares until the issuance of a certificate or certificates to the Participant for the shares of Common Stock. The Optioned Shares shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in Section 10 below, no adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the issuance of such certificate or certificates.
10. Adjustment of Number of Shares and Related Matters. The number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Stock Option, and the Option Prices thereof, shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Articles 11 – 13 of the Plan.
11. Incentive Stock Option. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, this Stock Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option. To the extent the number of Optioned Shares exceeds the limit set forth in Section 6.3 of the Plan, such Optioned Shares shall be deemed granted pursuant to a Nonqualified Stock Option. Unless otherwise indicated by the Participant in the notice of exercise pursuant to Section 7, upon any exercise of this Stock Option, the number of exercised Optioned Shares that shall be deemed to be exercised pursuant to an Incentive Stock Option shall equal the total number of Optioned Shares so exercised multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is the number of unexercised Optioned Shares that could then be exercised pursuant to an Incentive Stock Option, and (ii) the denominator of which is the then total number of unexercised Optioned Shares.
12. Disqualifying Disposition. In the event that Common Stock acquired upon exercise of this Stock Option is disposed of by the Participant in a “Disqualifying Disposition,” such Participant shall notify the Company in writing within thirty (30) days after such disposition of the date and terms of such disposition. For purposes hereof, “Disqualifying Disposition” shall mean a disposition of Common Stock that is acquired upon the exercise of this Stock Option (and that is not deemed granted pursuant to a Nonqualified Stock Option under Section 11) prior to the expiration of either two years from the Date of Grant of this Stock Option or one year from the transfer of shares to the Participant pursuant to the exercise of this Stock Option.
13. Specific Performance. The parties acknowledge that remedies at law will be inadequate remedies for breach of this Agreement and consequently agree that this Agreement shall be enforceable by specific performance. The remedy of specific performance shall be cumulative of all of the right and remedies at law or in equity of the parties under this Agreement.
14. The Participant’s Representation. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, the Participant hereby agrees that he will not exercise this Stock Option, and that the Company will not be obligated to issue any shares of Common Stock to the Participant hereunder, if the exercise thereof or the issuance of such shares of Common Stock shall constitute a violation by the Participant or the Company of any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority. Any determination in this connection by the Company shall be final, binding, and conclusive. The obligations of the Company and the rights of the Participant are subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
15. Investment Representation. Unless the shares of Common Stock are issued to the Participant in a transaction registered under applicable federal and state securities laws, by his execution hereof, the Participant represents and warrants to the Company that all Common Stock which may be purchased hereunder will be acquired by the Participant for investment purposes only for his own account and not with any intent for resale or distribution in violation of federal or state securities laws. Unless the Common Stock is issued to him in a transaction registered under the applicable federal and state securities laws, all certificates issued with respect to the Common Stock shall bear an appropriate restrictive investment legend and shall be held indefinitely, unless they are subsequently registered under the applicable federal and state securities laws or the Participant obtains an opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and its counsel, that such registration is not required.
16. The Participant’s Acknowledgments. The Participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan, which is annexed hereto, and represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts this Stock Option subject to all the terms and provisions thereof. The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee or the Board, as appropriate, upon questions arising under the Plan or this Agreement.
4
17. Law Governing. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding any conflict of laws rule or principle of Delaware law that might refer the governance, construction, or interpretation of this Agreement to the laws of another state).
18. No Right to Continue Employment. Nothing herein shall be construed to confer upon the Participant the right to continue in the employment of the Company or interfere with or restrict in any way the right of the Company to discharge the Participant at any time (subject to any contract rights of the Participant).
19. Legal Construction. In the event that any one or more of the terms, provisions, or agreements that are contained in this Agreement shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the invalid, illegal, or unenforceable term, provision, or agreement shall not affect any other term, provision, or agreement that is contained in this Agreement and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if the invalid, illegal, or unenforceable term, provision, or agreement had never been contained herein.
20. Covenants and Agreements as Independent Agreements. Each of the covenants and agreements that is set forth in this Agreement shall be construed as a covenant and agreement independent of any other provision of this Agreement. The existence of any claim or cause of action of the Participant against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of the covenants and agreements that are set forth in this Agreement.
21. Entire Agreement. This Agreement together with the Plan supersede any and all other prior understandings and agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and constitute the sole and only agreements between the parties with respect to the said subject matter. All prior negotiations and agreements between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof are merged into this Agreement. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that no representations, inducements, promises, or agreements, orally or otherwise, have been made by any party or by anyone acting on behalf of any party, which are not embodied in this Agreement or the Plan and that any agreement, statement or promise that is not contained in this Agreement or the Plan shall not be valid or binding or of any force or effect.
22. Parties Bound. The terms, provisions, and agreements that are contained in this Agreement shall apply to, be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, and permitted successors and assigns, subject to the limitation on assignment expressly set forth herein.
23. Modification. No change or modification of this Agreement shall be valid or binding upon the parties unless the change or modification is in writing and signed by the parties. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Company may amend the Plan or revoke this Stock Option to the extent permitted by the Plan.
24. Headings. The headings that are used in this Agreement are used for reference and convenience purposes only and do not constitute substantive matters to be considered in construing the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
25. Gender and Number. Words of any gender used in this Agreement shall be held and construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular number shall be held to include the plural, and vice versa, unless the context requires otherwise.
5
26. Notice. Any notice required or permitted to be delivered hereunder shall be deemed to be delivered only when actually received by the Company or by the Participant, as the case may be, at the addresses set forth below, or at such other addresses as they have theretofore specified by written notice delivered in accordance herewith:
| a. |
Notice to the Company shall be addressed and delivered as follows:
Integrated Security Systems, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇
Carrollton, Texas 75006
Attn: _________________
Facsimile: _____________
| b. |
Notice to the Participant shall be addressed and delivered as set forth on the signature page.
27. Tax Requirements. The Participant is hereby advised to consult immediately with his or her own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of this Agreement. The Company or, if applicable, any Subsidiary (for purposes of this Section 27, the term “Company” shall be deemed to include any applicable Subsidiary), shall have the right to deduct from all amounts hereunder paid in cash or other form, any Federal, state, local, or other taxes required by law to be withheld in connection with this Award. The Company may, in its sole discretion, also require the Participant receiving shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan to pay the Company the amount of any taxes that the Company is required to withhold in connection with the Participant’s income arising with respect to this Award. Such payments shall be required to be made when requested by the Company and may be required to be made prior to the delivery of any certificate representing shares of Common Stock. Such payment may be made (i) by the delivery of cash to the Company in an amount that equals or exceeds (to avoid the issuance of fractional shares under (iii) below) the required tax withholding obligations of the Company; (ii) if the Company, in its sole discretion, so consents in writing, the actual delivery by the exercising Participant to the Company of shares of Common Stock that the Participant has not acquired from the Company within six (6) months prior to the date of exercise, which shares so delivered have an aggregate Fair Market Value that equals or exceeds (to avoid the issuance of fractional shares under (iii) below) the required tax withholding payment; (iii) if the Company, in its sole discretion, so consents in writing, the Company’s withholding of a number of shares to be delivered upon the exercise of the Stock Option, which shares so withheld have an aggregate fair market value that equals (but does not exceed) the required tax withholding payment; or (iv) any combination of (i), (ii), or (iii). The Company may, in its sole discretion, withhold any such taxes from any other cash remuneration otherwise paid by the Company to the Participant.
* * * * * * * *
6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer, and the Participant, to evidence his consent and approval of all the terms hereof, has duly executed this Agreement, as of the date specified in Section 1 hereof.
| COMPANY: | |
|
|
|
| INTEGRATED SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC. | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By: |
|
| Name: |
|
| Title: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| PARTICIPANT | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Signature | |
|
|
|
| Name: |
|
| Address: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D-1769374.2
7