Exhibit 10.17
HF HOLDINGS, INC.
1999 JUNIOR MANAGEMENT
STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is to advance the
interests of HF Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), by
enhancing the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries (if any) to attract
and retain able employees of the Company; to reward such individuals for their
contributions; and to encourage such individuals to take into account the
long-term interests of the Company through interests in shares of the Company's
Common Stock, $.001 par value per share (the "Stock"). Any employee selected to
receive an award under the Plan is referred to as a "participant".
No option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be an incentive stock
option, as defined in section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
2. ADMINISTRATION
The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors (the "Board")
of the Company. The Board shall have discretionary authority, not inconsistent
with the express provisions of the Plan, (a) to grant option awards to such
eligible persons as the Board may select; (b) to determine the time or times
when awards shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock subject to each
award; (c) to determine the terms and conditions of each award; (d) to prescribe
the form or forms of any instruments evidencing awards and any other instruments
required under the Plan and to change such forms from time to time; (e) to
adopt, amend, and rescind rules and regulations for the administration of the
Plan; and (f) to interpret the Plan and to decide any questions and settle all
controversies and disputes that may arise in connection with the Plan. Such
determinations of the Board shall be conclusive and shall bind all parties.
Subject to Section 9 the Board shall also have the authority, both generally and
in particular instances, to waive compliance by a participant with any
obligation to be performed by him or her under an award, to waive any condition
or provision of an award, and to amend or cancel any award (and if an award is
cancelled, to grant a new award on such terms as the Board shall specify),
except that the Board may not take any action with respect to an outstanding
award that would adversely affect the rights of the participant under such award
without such participant's consent. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be
construed as limiting the power of the Board to make adjustments required by
Section 4(c) and Section 6(g).
The Board may, in its discretion, delegate some or all of its powers
with respect to the Plan to a committee (the "Committee"), in which event all
references (as appropriate) to the Board hereunder shall be deemed to refer to
the Committee. The Committee, if one is appointed, shall consist of at least two
directors. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum,
and all determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its
members. Any determination of the Committee under the Plan may be made without
notice or meeting of the Committee by a writing signed by a majority of the
Committee members. On and after registration of the Stock under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), the Board shall delegate the power to
select directors and officers to receive awards under the Plan and the timing,
pricing, and amount of such awards to a Committee, all members of which shall be
disinterested persons within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the 1934 Act and
"outside directors" within the meaning of section 162(m)(4)(c)(i) of the Code.
3. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN
The Plan shall become effective on September 27, 1999.
No awards shall be granted under the Plan after the completion of ten
years from the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board, but awards
previously granted may extend beyond that date.
4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
(a) NUMBER OF SHARES. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section
4(c), the aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be the subject of awards
granted under the Plan shall be 333,000. If any award granted under the Plan
terminates without having been exercised in full, or upon exercise is satisfied
other than by delivery of Stock, the number of shares of Stock as to which such
award was not exercised shall not be available for future grants. No employee
shall be entitled to grants of options in excess of 330,000 shares, subject to
adjustment in accordance with Section 4(c).
(b) SHARES TO BE DELIVERED. Shares delivered under the Plan shall be
authorized but unissued Stock, or if the Board so decides in its sole
discretion, previously issued Stock acquired by the Company and held in its
treasury. No fractional shares of Stock shall be delivered under the Plan.
(c) CHANGES IN STOCK. In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or
combination of shares, recapitalization, or other change in the Company's
capital stock, the number and kind of shares of stock or securities of the
Company subject to awards then outstanding or subsequently granted under the
Plan, the exercise price of such awards, the maximum number of shares or
securities that may be delivered under the Plan, and other relevant provisions
shall be appropriately adjusted by the Board, whose determination shall be
binding on all persons.
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The Board may also adjust the number of shares subject to outstanding
awards, the exercise price of outstanding awards, and the terms of outstanding
awards, to take into consideration material changes in accounting practices or
principles, extraordinary dividends, consolidations or mergers (except those
described in Section 6(g)), acquisitions or dispositions of stock or property,
or any other event if it is determined by the Board that such adjustment is
appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation of the Plan.
5. AWARDS; ETC.
Persons eligible to receive awards under the Plan shall be those
employees who, in the opinion of the Board, are in a position to make a
significant contribution to the success of the Company and its subsidiaries. A
subsidiary for purposes of the Plan shall be a corporation in which the Company
owns, directly or indirectly, stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock.
6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
(a) EXERCISE PRICE OF OPTIONS. The exercise price of each option shall
be determined by the Board, but the exercise price shall not be less, in the
case of an original issue of authorized stock, than par value.
(b) DURATION OF OPTIONS. An option shall be exercisable during such
period or periods as the Board may specify. The latest date on which an option
may be exercised (the "Expiration Date") shall be the date which is ten years
from the date the option was granted or such earlier date as may be specified by
the Board at the time the option is granted.
(c) EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.
(1) An option shall become exercisable at such time or times and
upon such conditions as the Board shall specify. In the case
of an option not immediately exercisable in full, the Board
may at any time accelerate the time at which all or any part
of the option may be exercised.
(2) Any exercise of an option shall be in writing, signed by the
proper person and furnished to the Company, accompanied by (i)
such documents as may be required by the Board and (ii)
payment in full as specified below in Section 6(d) for the
number of shares for which the option is exercised.
(3) The Board shall have the right to require that the participant
exercising the option remit to the Company an amount
sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, or local withholding
tax requirements (or make other arrangements satisfactory to
the Company with regard to such taxes) prior to the delivery
of any Stock pursuant to the exercise of the option. If
permitted by the Board, either at the time of the
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grant of the option or in connection with exercise, the
participant may elect, at such time and in such manner as the
Board may prescribe, to satisfy such withholding obligation by
(i) delivering to the Company Stock owned by such individual
having a fair market value equal to such withholding
obligation, or (ii) requesting that the Company withhold from
the shares of Stock to be delivered upon the exercise a number
of shares of Stock having a fair market value equal to such
withholding obligation.
In addition, if at the time the option is exercised the Board
determines that under applicable law and regulations the
Company could be liable for the withholding of any federal or
state tax with respect to a disposition of the Stock received
upon exercise, the Board may require as a condition of
exercise that the participant exercising the option agree to
give such security as the Board deems adequate to meet the
potential liability of the Company for the withholding of tax,
and to augment such security from time to time in any amount
reasonably deemed necessary by the Board to preserve the
adequacy of such security.
(4) If an option is exercised by the executor or administrator of
a deceased participant, or by the person or persons to whom
the option has been transferred by the participant's will or
the applicable laws of descent and distribution, the Company
shall be under no obligation to deliver Stock pursuant to such
exercise until the Company is satisfied as to the authority of
the person or persons exercising the option.
(d) PAYMENT FOR AND DELIVERY OF STOCK. Stock purchased upon exercise of
an option under the Plan shall be paid for as follows: (i) in cash, check
acceptable to the Company (determined in accordance with such guidelines as the
Board may prescribe), or money order payable to the order of the Company, or
(ii) if so permitted by the Board, (A) through the delivery of shares of Stock
(which, in the case of Stock acquired from the Company, shall have been held for
at least six months unless the Board specifies a shorter period) having a fair
market value on the last business day preceding the date of exercise equal to
the purchase price, or (B) by delivery of a promissory note of the participant
to the Company, such note to be payable on such terms as are specified by the
Board, or (C) by delivery of an unconditional and irrevocable undertaking by a
broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise
price, or (D) by any combination of the permissible forms of payment; provided,
that if the Stock delivered upon exercise of the option is an original issue of
authorized Stock, at least so much of the exercise price as represents the par
value of such Stock shall be paid other than with a personal check or promissory
note of the person exercising the option.
(e) DELIVERY OF STOCK. A participant shall not have the rights of a
stockholder with regard to awards under the Plan except as to Stock actually
received by him under the Plan.
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The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any shares of Stock (i)
until, in the opinion of the Company's counsel, all applicable federal and state
laws and regulations have been complied with, (ii) if the outstanding Stock is
at the time listed on any stock exchange, until the shares to be delivered have
been listed or authorized to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of
issuance, and (iii) until all other legal matters in connection with the
issuance and delivery of such shares have been approved by the Company's
counsel. If the sale of Stock has not been registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, the Company may require, as a condition to exercise of the
award, such representations or agreements as counsel for the Company may
consider appropriate to avoid violation of such Act and may require that the
certificates evidencing such Stock bear an appropriate legend restricting
transfer.
(f) NONTRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS. No award may be transferred other
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and during a
participant's lifetime an award may be exercised only by him or her.
(g) MERGERS, ETC. In the event of any merger, consolidation,
dissolution, or liquidation of the Company, the Board in its sole discretion
may, as to any outstanding awards, make such substitution or adjustment in the
aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan and in the
number and purchase price (if any) of shares subject to such awards as it may
determine, or accelerate, amend, or terminate such awards upon such terms and
conditions as it shall provide (which, in the case of the termination of the
vested portion of any award, shall require payment or other consideration which
the Board deems equitable in the circumstances).
7. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
If a participant's employment or other service relationship with the
Company terminates prior to the Expiration Date the following shall apply:
(a) Options that are not exercisable immediately prior to the
termination shall terminate, except that the Board may in its
sole discretion provide that the participant or beneficiary
receive in cash, with respect to each share of Stock to which
an option relates, the excess of (i) the share's fair market
value on the date of the participant's termination, over (ii)
the option exercise price.
(b) To the extent exercisable immediately prior to termination of
employment or other service, the option shall continue to be
exercisable thereafter during the period prior to the
Expiration Date and within 60 days following the termination
(180 days in the event that a participant's service terminates
by reason of death), unless the participant's employment or
other service is terminated "for cause" as defined in (c)
below, in which case all awards shall terminate immediately.
Except as otherwise provided in an award, after completion of
the 60-day (or 180-day) period, such awards shall terminate to
the extent not previously exercised, expired, or terminated.
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(c) The following, as determined by the Board in its reasonable
judgment, shall constitute "cause" termination: (i) a
participant's failure to perform, or negligence in the
performance of, his or her duties and responsibilities to the
Company; (ii) a participant's fraud, embezzlement or other
material dishonesty with respect to the Company; or (iii)
other conduct by a participant that is harmful to the
business, interest, or reputation of the Company; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that, if the participant and the Company are parties
to an employment agreement relating to the employment of such
participant by the Company and such employment agreement
contains a definition of "Cause" (or other similar term)
similar in intent to the immediately preceding definition and
relating to the termination by the Company of such employment,
such definition in such employment agreement shall be
substituted for such immediately foregoing definition for
purposes of this Plan, but only with respect to such
participant.
No option shall be exercised or surrendered in exchange for a cash payment after
the Expiration Date.
In the case of any award, the Board may provide in the case of any
award for post-termination exercise provisions different from those expressly
set forth in this Section 7, including without limitation terms allowing a later
exercise by a former employee (or, in the case of a former employee who is
deceased, the person or persons to whom the award is transferred by will or the
laws of descent and distribution) as to all or any portion of the award not
exercisable immediately prior to termination of employment or other service, but
in no case may an award be exercised after the Expiration Date.
8. EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the grant of awards shall confer
upon any participant any right to continue as an employee of, or consultant or
adviser to, the Company, its parent, or any subsidiary or affect in any way the
right of the Company, its parent, or a subsidiary to terminate the participant's
relationship at any time. Except as specifically provided by the Board in any
particular case, the loss of existing or potential profit in awards granted
under this Plan shall not constitute an element of damages in the event of
termination of the relationship of a participant even if the termination is in
violation of an obligation of the Company to the participant by contract or
otherwise.
9. EFFECT, DISCONTINUANCE, CANCELLATION, AMENDMENT, AND TERMINATION
Neither adoption of the Plan nor the grant of awards to a participant
shall affect the Company's right to make awards to such participant that are not
subject to the Plan, to issue to such participant Stock as a bonus or otherwise,
or to adopt other plans or arrangements under which Stock may be issued.
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The Board may at any time or times amend the Plan or any outstanding
award for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of section 422 of the Code
or of any changes in applicable laws or regulations or for any other purpose
that may at the time be permitted by law, or may at any time terminate the Plan
as to any further grants of awards; provided that, except to the extent
expressly required by the Plan, no such amendment shall adversely affect the
rights of any participant (without his or her consent) under any award
previously granted, nor shall such amendment, without the approval of the
stockholders of the Company, effectuate a change for which stockholder approval
is required in order for the Plan to continue to qualify under Rule 16b-3
promulgated under Section 16 of the 1934 Act.
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HF HOLDINGS, INC.
1999 JUNIOR MANAGEMENT STOCK OPTION PLAN
THE SHARES RECEIVED UPON EXERCISE OF THIS OPTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE RIGHTS,
RESTRICTIONS AND OBLIGATIONS APPLICABLE TO SUCH SHARES, ALL AS PROVIDED IN THE
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 1999 AMONG THE COMPANY AND
CERTAIN OTHER PARTIES THERETO AS AMENDED AND IN EFFECT FROM TIME TO TIME, AND IN
THE JOINDER AND SUPPLEMENT TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, A COPY OF WHICH IS
ATTACHED HERETO.
THIS OPTION IS NOT TRANSFERABLE BY THE OPTIONEE OTHER THAN BY WILL OR THE LAWS
OF DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION, AND IS EXERCISABLE DURING THE OPTIONEE'S LIFETIME
ONLY BY THE OPTIONEE.
[FORM OF]
Non-Incentive Option Certificate
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Stock option granted by HF Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), to ___________ (the "Optionee"), pursuant to the Company's 1999
Junior Management Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). All initially capitalized
terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning provided in the Plan.
1. Grant of Option
This certificate evidences the grant by the Company on September 27,
1999 to the Optionee of an option to purchase, in whole or in part, on the terms
provided herein and in the Plan, a total of __________ shares of Common Stock of
the Company (the "Shares") at $5.83 per Share.
The latest date on which this option may be exercised (the "Final
Exercise Date") is the earlier of September 27, 2009 or a Termination Event as
defined in clause (ii) of Section 1.9 of the Joinder and Supplement to
Stockholders Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A. The option evidenced by
this certificate is not an incentive stock option.
This option is subject to the vesting schedule set forth on Schedule 1
hereto and shall become exercisable as set forth thereon.
2. Exercise of Option.
Each election to exercise this option shall be in writing, signed by
the Optionee or by his or her executor or administrator or by the person or
persons to whom this option is
transferred by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution (the
"Legal Representative"), and received by the Company at its principal office,
accompanied by payment in full and by such additional documentation evidencing
the right to exercise (or, in the case of a Legal Representative, of the
authority of such person) as the Company may require. Such notice of election to
exercise will include a commitment by the Optionee or Legal Representative to
provide the Company with notice as required by Section 8 hereof. The purchase
price may be paid (i) in cash or by personal check, bank check or money order
payable to the order of the Company, (ii) by delivery of an unconditional and
irrevocable undertaking by a broker to deliver to the Company promptly upon the
sale of the shares of Stock to be issued sufficient funds to pay the exercise
price, or (iii) by any combination of the permissible forms of payment;
provided, that so much of the purchase price as equals the par value of the
Shares being purchased shall be paid other than by personal check.
3. Stockholders Agreement
The stock option evidenced by this certificate and any Shares
transferred pursuant to the exercise of this option shall be subject to the
Stockholders Agreement dated as of September 27, 1999 among the Company and
certain other parties thereto as amended and in effect from time to time (the
"Stockholders Agreement"), and no grant of options shall become effective unless
and until the Optionee shall have executed a Joinder and Supplement to
Stockholders Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The
option, and shares received upon exercise of the option, shall be subject to the
rights, restrictions and obligations applicable to such options and shares all
as provided from time to time in such Stockholders Agreement and the Joinder and
Supplement to the Stockholders Agreement.
4. Restrictions on Transfer
In addition to the provisions of Section 3 above, if at the time this
option is exercised the Company is a party to any agreement restricting the
transfer of any outstanding shares of its Common Stock, this option may be
exercised only if the Shares so acquired are made subject to the transfer
restrictions set forth in that agreement (or if more than one such agreement is
then in effect, the agreement specified by the Board).
Certificates evidencing any shares purchased by an Optionee upon
exercise of options granted hereby may bear the following legends, in addition
to any legends which may be required by any agreement referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph:
"The shares of stock represented by this certificate have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be
transferred, except pursuant to an effective registration, or exemption
from registration under said Act."
"The shares of stock represented by this certificate are subject to
restrictions on voting and transfer set forth in the Stockholders
Agreement dated as of September 27, 1999,
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as amended and in effect from time to time. The Company will furnish a
copy of such agreement to the holder of this certificate without charge
upon written request."
"The shares of stock represented by this certificate are also subject
to certain call rights as provided in the Joinder and Supplement to
Stockholders Agreement, dated as of __________, 1999, as amended and in
effect from time to time, and were originally issued to, or were issued
in respect of shares originally issued to, the following Junior
Management Investor: ____________.
5. Withholding
No Shares will be transferred pursuant to the exercise of this option
unless and until the person exercising this option shall have remitted to the
Company an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state or local withholding
tax requirements, or shall have made other arrangements satisfactory to the
Company with respect to such taxes.
6. Status Change
Upon the termination of the Optionee's employment, this option shall
terminate as to any Shares for which it was not exercisable immediately prior to
termination; provided, that the Board in its sole discretion may provide (either
prior to or following termination) that any or all of such portion of this
option not otherwise exercisable prior to termination shall be treated as having
become exercisable immediately prior to termination. As to that number of Shares
for which the option was exercisable, or deemed exercisable by action of the
Board, immediately prior to termination, it shall remain exercisable as follows:
(i) if termination occurs for any reason other than death, for a
period of 60 days following the date of termination, except as
provided in clause (ii) below, but in no event beyond the
Final Exercise Date, or
(ii) following death, for a period of 180 days thereafter, but not
beyond the Final Exercise Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Optionee is terminated for cause (as
provided in the Plan) the option shall immediately terminate as to all Shares
subject to the option.
7. Nontransferability of Option.
Except as set forth in Sections 6 and 7 of the Stockholders Agreement,
this option is not transferable by the Optionee other than by will or the
applicable laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during the
Optionee's lifetime only by the Optionee.
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8. Effect on Employment.
Neither the grant of Options hereunder, nor the issuance of the Shares
upon exercise of such Options, shall give the Optionee any right to be retained
in the employ of the Company, affect the right of the Company to discharge or
discipline such Optionee at any time, or affect any right of such Optionee to
terminate his or her employment at any time.
9. Provisions of the Plan.
This option is subject in its entirety to the provisions of the Plan, a
copy of which is furnished to the Optionee with this option.
[THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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[Jr. Management Stock Option Plan]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this option to be executed
under its corporate seal by its duly authorized officer. This option shall take
effect as a sealed instrument.
HF HOLDINGS, INC.
By:___________________________
Title:
Dated: _______________
Schedule 1 to
Option Agreement
under
1999 Junior Management Stock Option Plan
The following vesting schedule will apply:
25% of the total number of Shares first indicated above shall become
immediately exercisable on the date hereof.
25% of the total number of Shares first indicated above shall become
exercisable on each of September 27, 2000, September 27, 2001 and
September 27, 2002.
100% of the total number of Shares from time to time outstanding but
not yet exercisable shall become exercisable upon a Liquidity Event (as
defined in the Stockholders Agreement).