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Exhibit 10(iii)A(7)
INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIVISION PRESIDENTS
THIS AGREEMENT, made as of the 23rd day of September, 1997 (the "Grant
Date"), between National Service Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Name (the "Optionee").
WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the National Service Industries, Inc.
Long-Term Achievement Incentive Plan (the "Plan") in order to provide additional
incentive to certain officers and key employees of the Company and its
Subsidiaries; and
WHEREAS, the Optionee performs services for the Company or one of its
Subsidiaries; and
WHEREAS, the Committee responsible for administration of the Plan has
determined to grant the Option to the Optionee as provided herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Grant of Option.
1.1 The Company hereby grants to the Optionee the right and option
(the "Option") to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of Amount whole
Shares subject to, and in accordance with, the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement.
1.2 The Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and shall be so construed;
provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted as a
representation, guarantee or other undertaking on the part of the Company
that the Option is or will be determined to be an Incentive Stock Option
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. To the extent this Option is
not treated as an Incentive Stock Option, it will be treated as a
Nonqualified Stock Option.
1.3 This Agreement shall be construed in accordance and consistent
with, and subject to, the provisions of the Plan (the provisions of which
are incorporated herein by reference) and, except as otherwise expressly
set forth herein, the capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have
the same definitions as set forth in the Plan.
2. Purchase Price.
The price at which the Optionee shall be entitled to purchase Shares
upon the exercise of the Option shall be $44.3125 per Share.
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Exhibit 10(iii)A(7)
3. Duration of Option.
The Option shall be exercisable to the extent and in the manner
provided herein for a period of ten (10) years from the Grant Date (the
"Exercise Term"); provided, however, that the Option may be earlier
terminated as provided in Section 6 hereof.
4. Exercisability of Option.
Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement or the Plan, the Option
shall entitle the Optionee to purchase, in whole at any time or in part
from time to time, Para. Each such right of purchase shall be cumulative
and shall continue, unless sooner exercised or terminated as herein
provided during the remaining period of the Exercise Term.
5. Manner of Exercise and Payment.
5.1 Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the
Plan, the Option may be exercised by delivery of written notice to the
Company, at its principal executive office. Such notice shall state that
the Optionee is electing to exercise the Option and the number of Shares in
respect of which the Option is being exercised and shall be signed by the
person or persons exercising the Option. If requested by the Committee,
such person or persons shall (i) deliver this Agreement to the Secretary of
the Company who shall endorse thereon a notation of such exercise and (ii)
provide satisfactory proof as to the right of such person or persons to
exercise the Option.
5.2 The notice of exercise described in Section 5.1 shall be
accompanied by the full purchase price for the Shares in respect of which
the Option is being exercised, in cash, by check or by transferring Shares
to the Company having a Fair Market Value on the day preceding the date of
exercise equal to the cash amount for which such Shares are substituted.
5.3 Upon receipt of notice of exercise and full payment for the Shares
in respect of which the Option is being exercised, the Company shall,
subject to Section 17 of the Plan, take such action as may be necessary to
effect the transfer to the Optionee of the number of Shares as to which
such exercise was effective.
5.4 The Optionee shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have
any of the rights of a holder with respect to any Shares subject to the
Option until (i) the Option shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement and the Optionee shall have paid the full purchase price
for the number of Shares in respect of which the Option was exercised, (ii)
the Company shall have issued and delivered the Shares to the Optionee, and
(iii) the Optionee's name shall have been entered as a stockholder of
record on the books of the Company, whereupon the Optionee shall have full
voting and other ownership rights with respect to such Shares.
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Exhibit 10(iii)A(7)
6. Termination of Employment.
6.1 In General. If the employment of the Optionee with the Company and
its Subsidiaries shall terminate for any reason, other than for the reasons
set forth in Sections 6.2 and 7.2 below, the Optionee's right to exercise
any then outstanding Options (whether or not vested) shall terminate
immediately upon termination of employment.
6.2 Termination of Employment Due to Death, Disability or Retirement.
If the Optionee's termination of employment is due to death,
Disability or Retirement (termination on or after age 65), or if Optionee
terminates employment after age 55, the following shall apply:
(a) Termination Due To Death. In the event the Optionee dies while
actively employed, all vested Options at the date of death shall
remain exercisable at any time prior to the expiration of the
Exercise Term by (A) such person(s) that have acquired the
Optionee's rights under such Options by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution, or (B) if no such person described in
(A) exists, the Optionee's estate or representative of the
Optionee's estate. All Options that are not vested as of the date
of death shall be immediately forfeited.
(b) Termination by Disability. In the event the employment of the
Optionee is terminated by reason of Disability, all vested
Options as of the date the Committee determines the Optionee
terminated for Disability shall remain exercisable at any time
prior to the expiration of the Exercise Term. All Options that
are not vested as of the date of termination for Disability shall
be immediately forfeited.
(c) Termination by Retirement. In the event the employment of the
Optionee is terminated by reason of Retirement, the Optionee's
Options shall continue to vest in accordance with the original
schedule (just as if the Optionee had remained employed) and
shall remain exercisable at any time prior to the expiration of
the Exercise Term. In the event of the Optionee's death after
Retirement, the Options shall continue to vest and be exercisable
in accordance with this subsection (c) as if the Optionee had
lived and the Options shall be exercisable by the persons
described in (a) above.
(d) Termination After Attaining Age 55. If the Optionee terminates
employment (other than as a result of death or Disability) after
attaining age 55 but prior to age 65, unless the Committee
determines otherwise at the time of such termination, the
Optionee's Options shall continue to vest in accordance with the
original schedule (just as if the Optionee had remained employed)
and shall remain exercisable at any time prior to the expiration
of the Exercise Term. In the event of the Optionee's death after
Retirement, the Options shall continue to vest and be exercisable
in accordance with this subsection (d) as if the Optionee had
lived and the Options shall be exercisable by the persons
described in (a) above.
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Exhibit 10(iii)A(7)
7. Effect of Change in Control.
7.1 Notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary in this
Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, (i) the Option shall become
immediately and fully exercisable, and (ii) the Optionee will be permitted
to surrender for cancellation within sixty (60) days after such Change in
Control, the Option or any portion of the Option to the extent not yet
exercised, and the Optionee shall be entitled to receive immediately a cash
payment in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the Fair Market
Value, at the time of surrender, of the Shares subject to the Option or
portion thereof surrendered, over (B) the aggregate purchase price for such
Shares under the Option; provided, however, that if the Option was granted
within six (6) months prior to the Change in Control and the Optionee may
be subject to liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the
Optionee shall be entitled to surrender the Option, or any portion of the
Option, for cancellation during the sixty (60) day period following the
expiration of six (6) months from the Grant Date and to receive the amount
described above with respect to such surrender for cancellation.
7.2 If the employment of the Optionee is terminated within two (2)
years following a Change in Control, all vested Options shall continue to
be exercisable at any time within three (3) years after the date of such
termination of employment, but in no event after expiration of the Exercise
Term.
8. Nontransferability.
The Option shall not be transferable other than by will or by the laws
of descent and distribution. During the lifetime of the Optionee, the
Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee.
9. No Right to Continued Employment.
Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall be interpreted or
construed to confer upon the Optionee any right with respect to continuance
of employment by the Company or a Subsidiary, nor shall this Agreement or
the Plan interfere in any way with the right of the Company or a Subsidiary
to terminate the Optionee's employment at any time.
10. Adjustments.
In the event of a Change in Capitalization, the Committee may make
appropriate adjustments to the number and class of Shares or other stock or
securities subject to the Option and the purchase price for such Shares or
other stock or securities. The Committee's adjustment shall be made in
accordance with the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan and shall be
effective and final, binding and conclusive for all purposes of the Plan
and this Agreement.
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Exhibit 10(iii)A(7)
11. Terminating Events.
Subject to Section 7 hereof, upon the effective date of (i) the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) a merger or consolidation
of the Company (a "Transaction"), the Option shall continue in effect in
accordance with its terms and the Optionee shall be entitled to receive in
respect of all Shares subject to the Option, upon exercise of the Option,
the same number and kind of stock, securities, cash, property or other
consideration that each holder of Shares was entitled to receive in the
Transaction.
12. Withholding of Taxes and Notice of Disposition.
12.1 The Company shall have the right to deduct from any distribution
of cash to the Optionee an amount equal to the federal, state and local
income taxes and other amounts as may be required by law to be withheld
(the "Withholding Taxes") with respect to the Option. If the Optionee is
entitled to receive Shares upon exercise of the Option, the Optionee shall
pay the Withholding Taxes (if any) to the Company in cash prior to the
issuance of such Shares. In satisfaction of the Withholding Taxes, the
Optionee may make a written election (the "Tax Election"), which may be
accepted or rejected in the discretion of the Committee, to have withheld a
portion of the Shares issuable to him or her upon exercise of the Option,
having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the withholding Taxes,
provided that, if the Optionee may be subject to liability under Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act, the election must comply with the requirements
applicable to Share transactions by such Optionees.
12.2 If the Optionee makes a disposition, within the meaning of
Section 424(c) of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder, of any
Share or Shares issued to him pursuant to his exercise of the Option within
the two-year period commencing on the day after the Grant Date or within
the one-year period commencing on the day after the date of transfer of
such Share or Shares to the Optionee pursuant to such exercise, the
Optionee shall, within ten (10) days of such disposition, notify the
Company thereof, by delivery of written notice to the Company at its
principal executive office, and immediately deliver to the Company the
amount of Withholding Taxes.
13. Employee Bound by the Plan.
The Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and
agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof.
14. Modification of Agreement.
This Agreement may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated, and
any terms or conditions may be waived, but only by a written instrument
executed by the parties hereto.
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Exhibit 10(iii)A(7)
15. Severability.
Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining
provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected by such holding and
shall continue in full force in accordance with their terms.
16. Governing Law.
The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without
giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
17. Successors in Interest.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each
successor corporation. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the
Optionee's legal representatives. All obligations imposed upon the Optionee
and all rights granted to the Company under this Agreement shall be final,
binding and conclusive upon the Optionee's heirs, executors, administrators
and successors.
18. Resolution of Disputes.
Any dispute or disagreement which may arise under, or as a result of,
or in any way relate to, the interpretation, construction or application of
this Agreement shall be determined by the Committee. Any determination made
hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Optionee and the
Company for all purposes.
19. Shareholder Approval.
The effectiveness of this Agreement and of the grant of the Option
pursuant hereto is subject to the approval of the Plan by the stockholders
of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
ATTEST: NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC.
/s/ Kenyon W. Murphy By: /s/ James S. Balloun
Secretary James S. Balloun
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Name of Optionee: