CELTIC INVESTMENT INC.
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into this 12th day of November, 1996, by and
between Celtic Investment, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Corporation") and
Larry Meek ("Employee").
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, U.S. Commercial Funding Corp. ("USCF") and Employee whereby USCF
has agreed to hire Employee and Employee has, agreed to be employed by USCF
pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in such agreement; and
WHEREAS, USCF is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation has agreed to grant a stock option to Employee
entitling Employee to purchase shares of the Corporation's common stock
("Shares"); and
WHEREAS, the purpose of granting this option to Employee is to promote the
success of the Corporation and USCF and to advance the interests of the
Corporation and USCF by providing an additional means, through the grant of this
stock option, to motivate, retain and reward Employee with an incentive for high
levels of individual performance and improved financial performance of the
Corporation and USCF;
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Grant of Option. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
the Corporation hereby grants to the Employee, the option ("Option") to purchase
from the Corporation up to an aggregate of 150,000 Shares ("Option Shares"),
from time to time, at a price of $3.00 per Share ("Exercise Price"). These
Options shall vest in three equal installments each of which shall entitle the
Employee to purchase 50,000 Option Shares. These Options shall vest as followes:
Vesting Date Number of Shares
July 17, 1996 50,000
July 17, 1997 50,000
50,000
2. ISO's and NSO'S. The Option, and each vested installment thereof,
granted hereunder shall be deemed to be an Incentive Stock Option ("ISO") to the
maximum amount allowed by the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") and a Non-Statutory
Stock Option ("NSO"') to the extent not deemed to be an ISO. Furthermore, the
Company anticipates that a portion of each vested installment of the Option will
be allocated between ISO's and NSO's. The Company shall take such additional
action as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to obtain ISO designation to
the full extent allowed by IRC regulations.
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3. Exercise of Option. The Option shall become exercisable by the Employee
beginning on the date of vesting and must be exercised, if at all, within three
(3) years from the date of vesting.
3.1. Manner of Exercise. This Option may be exercised in whole or in part
by delivery to the Corporation, from time to time, of a written notice signed by
the Employee, specifying the number of Option Shares that the Employee then
desires to purchase, together with: (I) cash, certified check, or bank draft
payable to the order of the Corporation or (ii) other form of payment acceptable
to the Board of Directors, for an amount equal to the Exercise Price of such
Shares. Employee may make payment of all or a portion of the Exercise Price in
installments and in such event, the Employee shall deliver a promissory note, in
form satisfactory to the Board of Directors, for the deferred portion of the
exercise price secured by a pledge, also in form satisfactory to the Board of
Directors, of the Shares purchased by such exercise of the Option. The Employee
may pay all or a portion of the Exercise Price, and/or the tax withholding
liability with respect to the exercise of the Option either by surrendering
shares of stock already owned by Employee or by withholding Option Shares,
provided that the Board determines that the fair market value of such
surrendered stock or withheld Option Shares is equal to the corresponding
portion of such Exercise Price and/or tax withholding liability, as the case may
be, to be paid for therewith.
3.2. Certificates. Promptly after any exercise in whole or in part
of the Option by the Employee, the Corporation shall deliver to the Employee a
certificate or certificates for the number of Option Shares with respect to
which the Option was so exercised, registered in the Employee's name.
4. Duration of Option. The Option, to the extent vested and not previously
exercised, shall terminate upon the earliest of the following dates:
4.1. July 17, 2003 (the "Expiration Date");
4.2. If the Employee's employment is terminated for cause, the
Option shall terminate at the time of such termination for cause;
4.3. If the Employee's employment is terminated other than for
cause as a result of Employee's disability or death, the Option shall
terminate (a) ninety days after the date of such termination of employment
with respect to ISO shares and (b) one hundred eighty days after the date
of such termination of employment with respect to NSO shares. In such
event, only that portion of the Option which has vested may be exercised
during such thirty day period.
4.4. If the Employee's employment is terminated as a result of his
death or disability (as defined in IRC ss. 22(e)(3), the Option shall
terminate three months after the date of such termination of employment
for death or disability. In such event, only that portion of the Option
which has vested may be exercised during such three month period
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5. Restriction on Transferability. This Option is not transferable by the
Employee otherwise than by testamentary will or the laws of descent and
distribution and, during the Employee's lifetime, may be exercised only by the
Employee or the Employee's guardian or legal representative. Except as permitted
by the preceding sentence, neither this Option nor any of the rights and
privileges conferred thereby shall be transferred, assigned, pledged, or
hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise), and no such
option, right, or privilege shall be subject to execution, attachment, or
similar process. Upon any attempt to transfer this Option, or any right or
privilege conferred thereby, contrary to the provisions hereof, or upon the levy
of any attachment or similar process upon such option, right, or privilege, this
option and any such rights and privileges shall immediately become null and
void.
5.1 Exercise in Event of Death or Disability. Whenever the word
"Employee" is used in any provision of this Agreement under circumstances when
the provision should logically be construed to apply to the Employee's guardian,
executor, administrator, or the person to whom the Option may be transferred by
testamentary will or by the laws of descent and distribution, the word
"Employee" shall be deemed to include such person or persons.
5.2 No Rights As Shareholder Prior To Exercise. The Employee shall
not, by virtue hereof, be entitled to any rights of a shareholder in the
Corporation, either at law or equity. The rights of the Employee are limited to
those expressed in this Option and are not enforceable against the Corporation
except to the extent set forth herein.
6. Registration of Option Shares. The Option Shares have not been
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company shall use
its best efforts to register the Options Shares on Form S-8 with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as soon as practical or December 31,1998.
7. Anti-Dilution Provisions. The number and kind of Shares purchasable
upon the exercise of this Option and the exercise price shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time as follows:
7.l. In case the Corporation shall (i) pay a dividend or make a
distribution on the outstanding Shares payable in Shares, (ii) subdivide the
outstanding Shares into a greater number of Shares, (iii) combine the
outstanding Shares into a lesser number of Shares, or (iv) issue by
reclassification of the Shares any Shares of the Corporation, the Employee shall
thereafter be entitled, upon exercise, to receive the number and kind of shares
which, if this Option had been exercised immediately prior to the happening of
such event, the Employee would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled
to receive upon such dividend, distribution, subdivision, combination, or
reclassification.
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7.2 In case the Corporation shall consolidate or merge into or with
another corporation, or in case the Corporation shall sell or convey to any
other person or persons all or substantially all the property of the
Corporation, the Employee shall thereafter be entitled, upon exercise, to
receive the kind and amount of shares, other securities, cash, and property
receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale, or conveyance by a holder of
the number of Shares which might have been purchased upon exercise of this
Option immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale, or conveyance, and
shall have no other conversion rights. In any such event, effective provision
shall be made, in the certificate or articles of incorporation of the resulting
or surviving corporation, in any contracts of sale and conveyance, or otherwise
so that, so far as appropriate and as nearly as reasonably may be, the
provisions set forth herein for the protection of the rights of the Employee
shall thereafter be made applicable.
7.3 Whenever the number of Shares purchasable upon exercise of this
Option is adjusted pursuant to this Section, the exercise price per Share shall
be adjusted simultaneously by multiplying that exercise price per Share in
effect immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction, of which the
numerator shall be the number of Shares purchasable upon exercise of this Option
immediately prior to such adjustment, and of which the denominator shall be the
number of Shares so purchasable after such adjustment, so that the aggregate
exercise price of this Option remains the same.
7.4. The existence of the Option shall not affect in any way the
right or power of the Corporation or its shareholders to make or authorize any
adjustments, recapitalization, reorganization, or other changes in the
Corporation's capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation
of the Corporation, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred shares with
rights greater than or affecting the Shares, or the dissolution or liquidation
of the Corporation, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or
business, or any other corporate act or proceeding wether of a similar character
or otherwise.
8. No Waiver of Corporation's Right to Terminate Employment. Nothing in
this Agreement shall affect in any manner whatsoever the right or power of USCF
to terminate Employee's employment for any reason, with or without cause.
9. Notices. Any notices permitted or required under this Agreement shall
be deemed given upon the date of personal delivery or 48 hours after deposit in
the United States mail, postage fully prepaid, return receipt requested,
addressed to the Corporation at its principal placement of business and to
Employee at his residence.
10. Corporation's Right to Repurchase Shares. In the event Employee's
employment is terminated for cause, the Company may repurchase Employee any
Option Shares purchased by Employee hereunder. The purchase price to be paid for
such shares shall be the Exercise Price paid by the Employee for the Option
Shares, plus an eight percent (8%) carrying cost. The Corporation's right to
repurchase Option Shares pursuant to this Section 10, shall terminate ninety
days from the date of such termination of employment for cause.
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1l. Right of First Refusal to Repurchase Shares. In the event Employee's
employment is terminated other than for cause and in the event Employee desires
to sell all or a portion of the Option Shares within ninety days of such
termination of employment, the Corporation shall have the first right of refusal
to purchase such shares. In such event, the Employee shall give written notice
to the Corporation of his intent to sell all or a portion of the Option Shares.
After receiving such notice, the Corporation shall have twenty (20) days to
purchase from Employee all of the Option Shares which Employee intends to sell.
Any Option Shares purchased hereunder shall be paid at the price per share shall
be the "bid" price of the Company's common stock on the date of Employee's
notice of intent to sell, provided, however, that if Employee has received and
accepted a bona fide offer for the purchase of the Option Shares, the price paid
by the Corporation shall be the offered price rather than the "bid" price.
12. Miscellaneous
12.1. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.
12.2. Titles and Captions. All section titles or captions contained
in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed part of the
context nor effect the interpretation of this Agreement.
12.3. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the understanding
between and among the parties and supersedes any prior understandings and
agreements among them respecting the subject matter of this Agreement.
12.4. Binding Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
12.5. Computation of Time. In computing any period of time pursuant
to this Agreement, the day of the act, event or default from which the
designated period of time begins to run shall be included, unless it is a
Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, in which event the period shall begin to
run on the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. In the
event that the last day of any period falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal
holiday period , such period shall run until the end thereafter which is not a
Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
12.6 Pronouns and Plurals. All pronouns and any variations thereof
shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular, or plural
as the identity of the person or persons may require.
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12.7 Arbitration. If at any time during the term of this Agreement
any dispute, difference, or disagreement shall arise upon or in respect of the
Agreement, and the meaning and construction hereof, every such dispute,
difference, and disagreement shall be referred to a single arbiter agreed upon
by the parties, or if no single arbiter can be agreed upon, an arbiter or
arbiters shall be selected in accordance with the rules of the American
Arbitration Association and such dispute, difference, or disagreement shall be
settled by arbitration in accordance with the then prevailing commercial rules
of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award rendered by
the arbiter may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
12.8 Presumption. This Agreement or any section thereof shall not be
construed against any party due to the fact that said Agreement or any section
thereof was drafted by said party.
12.9 Further Action. The parties hereto shall execute and deliver
all documents, provide all information and take or forbear from all such action
as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of the Agreement.
12.10 Parties in Interest. Nothing herein shall be constructed to
the benefit of any third party nor is it intended that any provision shall be
for the benefit of any third party.
12.11 Saving Clause. If any provision of this Agreement, or the
application of such provision to any person or circumstance shall be held
invalid, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such provision
to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid,
shall not be affected thereby.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement the day and
year first above-written.
Celtic Investment, Inc.
By /s/ Douglas P. Morris /s/ Larry Meek
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Douglas P. Morris, President Larry Meek
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