EXHIBIT 10.20
HARVEST NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
2004 LONG TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Agreement made at Houston, Texas, USA, as of _______________, by and
between HARVEST NATURAL RESOURCES, INC. (the "Company") and ___________________
(the "Optionee").
It is hereby agreed as follows:
1. Grant of Option; Consideration. The Company hereby confirms the grant,
pursuant to Article 6 of the Harvest Natural Resources 2004 Long Term
Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), to the Optionee on_____________, of a
nonqualified stock option to purchase up to ____________________ shares
of the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Shares"), at an exercise price of _____________ per share (the
"Option"). The Option granted hereunder is not intended to constitute
an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The terms of the Option are
subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, as provided in the
Plan.
The Optionee shall be required to pay no consideration for the grant of
the Option, except for his agreement to serve as a Non-Employee
Director, Employee or Consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary and
other agreements set forth herein.
2. Incorporation of Plan by Reference. The Option has been granted to the
Optionee under the Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto. All of the
terms, conditions, and other provisions of the Plan are hereby
incorporated by reference into this Stock Option Agreement (the
"Agreement"). Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined
herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan. If there is any
conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of
the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern.
3. Vesting. Subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and
this Agreement, including acceleration of vesting in the event of a
Change of Control or Total Disability, the Optionee may purchase up to
_____________ Shares upon exercise of this Option on or after
_____________, an additional _____________ Shares upon exercise of this
Option on or after _____________, and the remaining _____________
Shares upon exercise of this Option on or after _____________.
4. Term and Termination of Service. This Option, to the extent it has not
been previously exercised, shall expire at 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) on
_____________ or, if earlier, at 5:00 p.m. (Central Time):
(i) on the date 3 months after the Optionee ceases to be a
Non-Employee Director, Employee or Consultant of the Company
or any Subsidiary for any reason other than a Change of
Control, Total Disability or death;
(ii) on the date 12 months after the Optionee ceases to be a
Non-Employee Director, Employee or Consultant of the Company
or any Subsidiary by reason of Total Disability;
(iii) on the date 12 months after the date of the Optionee's death
who dies while in the service or employ of the Company or a
Subsidiary or within 3 months after the termination of such
employment or service; or
(iv) on the date 12 months after the Optionee's termination of
employment or service if such employment or service is
terminated within 730 days after the effective date of a
Change of Control.
Except in the case of a termination subject to (ii) above, the Option
shall be exercisable after the date of such termination of Optionee's
service or employment only to the extent the Option was exercisable at
the date of such termination. In the case of termination subject to
(ii) above, any Options that are not exercisable shall become
exercisable effective as of the termination date.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, if and for
so long as Optionee is subject to an Employment Agreement with the
Company, then the terms of the Employment Agreement will govern the
early expiration of the Option including, without limitation, vesting
and expiration dates. In the event of any conflict between the
Employment Agreement and the Agreement, the terms of the Employment
Agreement shall govern.
5. Option Exercise. The Option may be exercised in whole or in part (to
the extent then exercisable) by contacting the Company's designated
agent for processing Option exercises. An Option exercise must be
accompanied by payment in full of the exercise price (i) in cash, (ii)
through the withholding of shares of Stock (which would otherwise be
delivered to the Optionee) with an aggregate Fair Market Value on the
exercise date equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option,
(iii) a combination of a cash payment and such surrender of shares,
(iv) by means of a broker-assisted cashless exercise to the extent then
permitted under rules and regulations adopted by the Committee, or (v)
in such other manner as may then be permitted under rules and
regulations adopted by the Committee. As soon as practicable after the
valid exercise of the Option, the Company shall deliver to the Optionee
one or more stock certificates representing the Shares so purchased,
with any requisite legend affixed.
6. Non-Transferability. No right or interest of the Optionee in the Option
shall be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any
third party or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability
of the Optionee to any third party. The Option shall not be
transferable to any third party by the Optionee otherwise than (i) by
will or the laws of
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descent and distribution, (ii) pursuant to a qualified domestic
relations order as defined under the Internal Revenue Code or Title I
of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") to an
immediate family member, or (iii) to the extent authorized by the
Committee, to an immediate family member of the Optionee who acquires
the options from the Optionee through a gift.
7. Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The obligation of the Company to
deliver Shares upon the exercise of this Option is conditioned upon
compliance by the Optionee and by the Company with all applicable laws
and regulations, including regulations of federal and state agencies.
If requested by the Company, the Optionee shall provide to the Company,
as a condition to the valid exercise of this Option and the delivery of
any certificates representing Shares, appropriate evidence,
satisfactory in form and substance to the Company, that he is acquiring
the Shares for investment and not with a view to the distribution of
the Shares or any interest in the Shares, and a representation to the
effect that the Optionee shall make no sale or other disposition of the
Shares unless (i) the Company shall have received an opinion of counsel
satisfactory to it in form and substance that such sale or other
disposition may be made without compliance with registration or other
applicable requirements of federal and state laws and regulations, and
(ii) all steps required to comply with such laws and regulations in
connection with the sale or other disposition of the Shares have been
taken and all necessary approvals have been received. The certificates
representing the Shares may bear an appropriate legend giving notice of
the foregoing restrictions on transfer of the Shares, and any other
restrictive legend deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
8. Tax Withholding. Whenever Shares are to be delivered upon exercise of
the Option, the Company shall be entitled to require as a condition of
delivery or payment that the Optionee remit or, in appropriate cases,
agree to remit when due an amount sufficient to satisfy all federal,
state, and local withholding tax requirements relating thereto. The
Optionee will be entitled to elect to have the Company withhold from
the Shares to be delivered upon the exercise of the Option, a
sufficient number of such shares to satisfy the Optionee's federal,
state, and local withholding tax obligations relating to the Option
exercise to the extent then permitted under rules and regulations
adopted by the Committee and in effect at the time of the exercise of
the Option. In such case, the Shares withheld or the shares surrendered
will be valued at the Fair Market Value at the time of the exercise of
the Option.
9. Optionee Bound by Plan. The Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of the
attached copy of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all the terms and
provisions thereof (as presently in effect or hereafter amended), and
by all decisions and determinations of the Committee.
10. Binding Effect: Integration: No Other Rights Created. This Agreement
shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and
successors of the parties. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties with respect to the Option, and
supersedes any prior agreements or documents with respect to the
Option. No amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or
termination of this Agreement
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which may impose any additional obligation upon the Company or impair
the rights of the Optionee with respect to the Option shall be valid
unless in each instance such amendment, alteration, suspension,
discontinuation or termination is expressed in a written instrument
duly executed in the name and on behalf of the Company and by the
Optionee. Neither this Agreement nor the grant of the Option shall
constitute an employment agreement, nor shall either confer upon the
Optionee any right with respect to his continued status with the
Company.
HARVEST NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
BY:
--------------------------
Peter J. Hill
TITLE: President and CEO
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OPTIONEE:
--------------------------------
DATE:
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Attachment (copy of the Plan)
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