Stock Option Agreement - MP3.com Inc.
MP3.COM, INC.
2000 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
(NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTIONS)
Pursuant to the Stock Option Grant Notice ("Grant Notice") and this
Stock Option Agreement, MP3.com, Inc. (the "Company") has granted you an option
under its 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") to purchase the number of
shares of the Company's Common Stock indicated in the Grant Notice at the
exercise price indicated in the Grant Notice. Defined terms not explicitly
defined in this Stock Option Agreement but defined in the Plan shall have the
same definitions as in the Plan.
The details of your option are as follows:
1. VESTING. Subject to the limitations contained herein, your option
will vest as provided in the Grant Notice, provided that vesting will cease upon
the termination of your Continuous Service.
2. NUMBER OF SHARES AND EXERCISE PRICE. The number of shares subject to
your option and your exercise price per share referenced in the Grant Notice may
be adjusted from time to time for Capitalization Adjustments, as provided in the
Plan.
3. EXERCISE PRIOR TO VESTING ("EARLY EXERCISE"). If permitted in the
Grant Notice (i.e., the "Exercise Schedule" indicates that "Early Exercise" of
your option is permitted) and subject to the provisions of this option, you may
elect at any time that is both (i) during the period of your Continuous Service
and (ii) during the term of your option, to exercise all or part of your option,
including the nonvested portion of your option; provided, however, that:
(a) a partial exercise of your option shall be deemed to cover
first vested shares and then the earliest vesting installment of unvested
shares;
(b) any shares so purchased from installments which have not
vested as of the date of exercise shall be subject to the purchase option in
favor of the Company as described in the Company's form of Early Exercise Stock
Purchase Agreement; and
(c) you shall enter into the Company's form of Early Exercise
Stock Purchase Agreement with a vesting schedule that will result in the same
vesting as if no early exercise had occurred.
4. METHOD OF PAYMENT. Payment of the exercise price is due in full upon
exercise of all or any part of your option. You may elect to make payment of the
exercise price in cash or by check or in any other manner PERMITTED BY THE GRANT
NOTICE, which may include one or more of the following:
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(a) In the Company's sole discretion at the time your option is
exercised and provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is publicly
traded and quoted regularly in The Wall Street Journal, pursuant to a program
developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board which,
prior to the issuance of Common Stock, results in either the receipt of cash (or
check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the
aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds.
(b) Provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is
publicly traded and quoted regularly in The Wall Street Journal, by delivery of
already-owned shares of Common Stock that either have been held for the period
required to avoid a charge to the Company's reported earnings (generally six
months) or were not acquired, directly or indirectly from the Company, that are
owned free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests,
and that are valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise. "Delivery" for
these purposes, in the sole discretion of the Company at the time your option is
exercised, shall include delivery to the Company of your attestation of
ownership of such shares of Common Stock in a form approved by the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, your option may not be exercised by tender to the
Company of Common Stock to the extent such tender would constitute a violation
of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption
of the Company's stock.
5. WHOLE SHARES. Your option may only be exercised for whole shares.
6. SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, your option may not be exercised unless the shares issuable
upon exercise of your option are then registered under the Securities Act or, if
such shares are not then so registered, the Company has determined that such
exercise and issuance would be exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act. The exercise of your option must also comply with other
applicable laws and regulations governing the option, and the option may not be
exercised if the Company determines that the exercise would not be in material
compliance with such laws and regulations.
7. TERM. The term of your option commences on the Date of Grant and
expires upon the EARLIEST of the following:
(a) three (3) months after the termination of your Continuous
Service for any reason other than Disability or death, provided that if during
any part of such three (3) month period the option is not exercisable solely
because of the condition set forth in paragraph 6, the option shall not expire
until the earlier of the Expiration Date or until it shall have been exercisable
for an aggregate period of three (3) months after the termination of your
Continuous Service;
(b) twelve (12) months after the termination of your Continuous
Service due to Disability;
(c) eighteen (18) months after your death if you die either
during your Continuous Service or within three (3) months after your Continuous
Service terminates;
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(d) the Expiration Date indicated in the Grant Notice; or
(e) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant.
8. EXERCISE.
(a) You may exercise the vested portion of your option (and the
unvested portion of your option if the Grant Notice so permits) during its term
by delivering a Notice of Exercise (in a form designated by the Company)
together with the exercise price to the Secretary of the Company, or to such
other person as the Company may designate, during regular business hours,
together with such additional documents as the Company may then require.
(b) By exercising your option you agree that, as a condition to
any exercise of your option, the Company may require you to enter an arrangement
providing for the payment by you to the Company of any tax withholding
obligation of the Company arising by reason of (1) the exercise of your option,
(2) the lapse of any substantial risk of forfeiture to which the shares are
subject at the time of exercise, or (3) the disposition of shares acquired upon
such exercise.
(c) By exercising your option you agree that the Company (or a
representative of the underwriters) may, in connection with an underwritten
registration of the offering of any securities of the Company under the
Securities Act, require that you not sell, dispose of, transfer, make any short
sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or
similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any shares of
Common Stock or other securities of the Company held by you, for a period of
time specified by the underwriter(s) (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180)
days) following the effective date of the registration statement of the Company
filed under the Securities Act. You further agree to execute and deliver such
other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company and/or the
underwriter(s) which are consistent with the foregoing or which are necessary to
give further effect thereto. In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the
Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to your Common Stock
until the end of such period.
9. TRANSFERABILITY. Your option is transferable to (i) your family
members, (ii) a trust the beneficiaries of which are you and/or your family
members, (iii) a family limited partnership the partners of which are you and/or
your family members, or (iv) a family limited liability company the members of
which are you and/or your family members. A "family member" shall be limited to
your spouse, children, stepchildren and grandchildren (whether adopted or
natural), or such other family members for whom a Form S-8 is available at the
time of transfer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, by delivering written notice to
the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, you may designate a third
party who, in the event of your death, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise
your option.
10. RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. Vested shares that are received upon
exercise of your option are subject to any right of first refusal that may be
described in the Company's bylaws in effect at such time the Company elects to
exercise its right.
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11. OPTION NOT A SERVICE CONTRACT. Your option is not an employment or
service contract, and nothing in your option shall be deemed to create in any
way whatsoever any obligation on your part to continue in the employ of the
Company or an Affiliate, or of the Company or an Affiliate to continue your
employment. In addition, nothing in your option shall obligate the Company or an
Affiliate, their respective shareholders, Boards of Directors, Officers or
Employees to continue any relationship that you might have as a Director or
Consultant for the Company or an Affiliate.
12. WITHHOLDING OBLIGATIONS.
(a) At the time your option is exercised, in whole or in part, or
at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, you hereby authorize
withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to you, and otherwise
agree to make adequate provision for (including by means of a "same day sale"
pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal
Reserve Board to the extent permitted by the Company), any sums required to
satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the
Company or an Affiliate, if any, which arise in connection with your option.
(b) Upon your request and subject to approval by the Company, in
its sole discretion, and compliance with any applicable conditions or
restrictions of law, the Company may withhold from fully vested shares of Common
Stock otherwise issuable to you upon the exercise of your option a number of
whole shares having a Fair Market Value, determined by the Company as of the
date of exercise, not in excess of the minimum amount of tax required to be
withheld by law. If the date of determination of any tax withholding obligation
is deferred to a date later than the date of exercise of your option, share
withholding pursuant to the preceding sentence shall not be permitted unless you
make a proper and timely election under Section 83(b) of the Code, covering the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock acquired upon such exercise with
respect to which such determination is otherwise deferred, to accelerate the
determination of such tax withholding obligation to the date of exercise of your
option. Notwithstanding the filing of such election, shares shall be withheld
solely from fully vested shares of Common Stock determined as of the date of
exercise of your option that are otherwise issuable to you upon such exercise.
Any adverse consequences to you arising in connection with such share
withholding procedure shall be your sole responsibility.
(c) Your option is not exercisable unless the tax withholding
obligations of the Company and/or any Affiliate are satisfied. Accordingly, you
may not be able to exercise your option when desired even though your option is
vested, and the Company shall have no obligation to issue a certificate for such
shares or release such shares from any escrow provided for herein.
13. SPECIAL ACCELERATION PROVISIONS.
(a) TERMINATION. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan
or this Stock Option Agreement to the contrary, if (i) a Change in Control
occurs and (ii) within one (1) month prior to the date of such Change in Control
or eighteen (18) months after the date of such Change in Control your Continuous
Service terminates due to an involuntary termination (not
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including death or Disability) without Cause or due to a Constructive
Termination, then the vesting and exercisability of this option shall be
accelerated in full.
(b) DEFINITIONS.
(i) "CAUSE" means the occurrence of any of the following
(and only the following): (i) conviction of any felony or any crime involving
moral turpitude or dishonesty, (ii) participation in a fraud or act of
dishonesty against the Company, (iii) conduct that, based upon a good faith and
reasonable factual investigation and determination by the Board, demonstrates
Optionholder's gross unfitness to serve, or (iv) intentional, material violation
of any contract with the Company or any statutory duty to the Company that is
not corrected within thirty (30) days after written notice thereof. Physical or
mental disability shall not constitute "Cause."
(ii) "CONSTRUCTIVE TERMINATION" means the occurrence of
any of the following events or conditions: (i) (A) a change in the
Optionholder's status, title, position or responsibilities (including reporting
responsibilities) which represents an adverse change from the Optionholder's
status, title, position or responsibilities as in effect at any time within
ninety (90) days preceding the date of a Change in Control or at any time
thereafter; (B) the assignment to the Optionholder of any duties or
responsibilities which are inconsistent with the Optionholder's status, title,
position or responsibilities as in effect at any time within ninety (90) days
preceding the date of a Change in Control or at any time thereafter; or (C) any
removal of the Optionholder from or failure to reappoint or reelect the
Optionholder to any of such offices or positions, except in connection with the
termination of the Optionholder's Continuous Service for Cause, as a result of
the Optionholder's Disability or death or by the Optionholder other than as a
result of Constructive Termination; (ii) a reduction in the Optionholder's
annual base compensation or following (1) written notice and (2) failure to cure
the failure within ten (10) days of receipt of the written notice, any failure
to pay the Optionholder any compensation or benefits to which the Optionholder
is entitled within five (5) days of the date due; (iii) the Company's requiring
the Optionholder to relocate to any place outside a fifty (50) mile radius of
the Optionholder's current work site, except for reasonably required travel on
the business of the Company or its Affiliates which is not materially greater
than such travel requirements prior to the Change in Control; (iv) the failure
by the Company to (A) continue in effect (without reduction in benefit level
and/or reward opportunities) any material compensation or employee benefit plan
in which the Optionholder was participating at any time within ninety (90) days
preceding the date of a Change in Control or at any time thereafter, unless such
plan is replaced with a plan that provides substantially equivalent compensation
or benefits to the Optionholder, or (B) provide the Optionholder with
compensation and benefits, in the aggregate, at least equal (in terms of benefit
levels and/or reward opportunities) to those provided for under each other
employee benefit plan, program and practice in which the Optionholder was
participating at any time within ninety (90) days preceding the date of a Change
in Control or at any time thereafter; (v) any material breach by the Company of
any provision of an agreement between the Company and the Optionholder, whether
pursuant to this Plan or otherwise, other than a breach which is cured by the
Company within fifteen (15) days following written notice by the Optionholder of
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such breach; or (vi) the failure of the Company to obtain an agreement from any
successors and assigns to assume and agree to perform the obligations created
under this Plan.
(c) PARACHUTE PAYMENTS. In the event that the acceleration of the
vesting and exercisability of this option provided for in Section 13 and
benefits otherwise payable to an Optionholder (i) constitute "parachute
payments" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, or any comparable
successor provisions, and (ii) but for this subsection would be subject to the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or any comparable successor
provisions (the "Excise Tax"), then such Optionholder's benefits hereunder shall
be either
(i) provided to such Optionholder in full, or
(ii) provided to such Optionholder as to such lesser
extent which would result in no portion of such
benefits being subject to the Excise Tax,
whichever of the foregoing amounts, when taking into account applicable federal,
state, local and foreign income and employment taxes, the Excise Tax, and any
other applicable taxes, results in the receipt by such Optionholder, on an
after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or
some portion of such benefits may be taxable under the Excise Tax. Unless the
Company and such Optionholder otherwise agree in writing, any determination
required under this subsection shall be made in writing in good faith by the
independent public accounts of the Company. In the event of a reduction of
benefits hereunder, the Optionholder shall be given the choice of which benefits
to reduce. For purposes of making the calculations required by this subsection,
the accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning
applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations
concerning the application of the Code, and other applicable legal authority.
The Company and the Optionholder shall furnish to the accountants such
information and documents as the accountants may reasonably request in order to
make a determination under this subsection. The Company shall bear all costs the
accountants may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations
contemplated by this subsection.
If, notwithstanding any reduction described in this subsection,
the IRS determines that the Optionholder is liable for the Excise Tax as a
result of the receipt of the payment of benefits as described above, then the
Optionholder shall be obligated to pay back to the Company, within thirty (30)
days after a final IRS determination or in the event that the Optionholder
challenges the final IRS determination, a final judicial determination, a
portion of the payment equal to the "Repayment Amount." The Repayment Amount
with respect to the payment of benefits shall be the smallest such amount, if
any, as shall be required to be paid to the Company so that the Optionholder's
net after-tax proceeds with respect to any payment of benefits (after taking
into account the payment of the Excise Tax and all other applicable taxes
imposed on such payment) shall be maximized. The Repayment Amount with respect
to the payment of benefits shall be zero if a Repayment Amount of more than zero
would not result in the Optionholder's net after-tax proceeds with respect to
the payment of such benefits being maximized. If the Excise Tax is not
eliminated pursuant to this paragraph, the Optionholder shall pay the Excise
Tax.
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection 13(c), if
(i) there is a reduction in the payment of benefits as described in this
subsection, (ii) the IRS later determines that the Optionholder is liable for
the Excise Tax, the payment of which would result in the maximization of the
Optionholder's net after-tax proceeds (calculated as if the Optionholder's
benefits had not previously been reduced), and (iii) the Optionholder pays the
Excise Tax, then the Company shall pay to the Optionholder those benefits which
were reduced pursuant to this subsection contemporaneously or as soon as
administratively possible after the Optionholder pays the Excise Tax so that the
Optionholder's net after-tax proceeds with respect to the payment of benefits is
maximized.
14. NOTICES. Any notices provided for in your option or the Plan shall
be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon receipt or, in
the case of notices delivered by the Company to you, five (5) days after deposit
in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to you at the last address
you provided to the Company.
15. GOVERNING PLAN DOCUMENT. Your option is subject to all the
provisions of the Plan, the provisions of which are hereby made a part of your
option, and is further subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and
regulations which may from time to time be promulgated and adopted pursuant to
the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of your option and
those of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control.
7.