FORM 8-B
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES OF CERTAIN SUCCESSOR ISSUERS
Filed Pursuant to Section 12(b) or (g) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Meridian Data, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 77-0188708
(State of incorporation (IRS Employer Identification No.)
or organization)
5615 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
NONE
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
COMMON STOCK ($0.001 PAR VALUE)
(Title of class)
<PAGE>
Item 1. General Information
(a) The registrant, Meridian Data, Inc. (the "Company" or the
"Registrant"), was incorporated in Delaware on April 24, 1997.
(b) The Company's fiscal year ends December 31.
Item 2. Transaction of Succession
(a) The predecessor to the Company was Meridian Data, Inc., a California
corporation ("Meridian California"). Meridian California had Common Stock
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act").
(b) On May 29, 1997, Meridian California merged into the Company to
effect a reincorporation into Delaware. Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of
Merger of Meridian Data, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, and Meridian Data, Inc.,
a California corporation, each share of Meridian California's Common Stock, no
par value, was automatically converted into one share of the Company's Common
Stock, $0.001 par value, on the effective date of the merger. Each stock
certificate representing issued and outstanding shares of Meridian California's
Common Stock, from the date of the merger, represents the same number of shares
of the Company's Common Stock.
Item 3. Securities to be Registered
The Company currently has 35,000,000 shares of authorized Common Stock,
of which 8,712,383 shares had been issued as of June 1, 1997. None of such
issued shares were held in treasury as of June 1, 1997.
Item 4. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered
The Company's security to be registered hereunder is its Common Stock.
The holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of
record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders.
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding
Preferred Stock, holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such
dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally
available therefor. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Company, holders of Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets
remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preference of any
outstanding Preferred Stock. Holders of Common Stock have no preemptive rights
and have no rights to convert their Common Stock into any other securities.
There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the
Common Stock. All outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and
non-assessable.
Pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of
Directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to
issue up to 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and to fix
the designations, powers, preferences and rights (including, without limitation,
dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and
liquidation preferences) and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the Common Stock.
The Board of Directors, without stockholder approval, can issue Preferred Stock
with voting, conversion or other rights that could adversely affect the voting
power and other rights of the holders of Common Stock. Preferred Stock could
thus be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in
control of the Company or make removal of management more difficult.
Additionally, the issuance of Preferred Stock may have the effect of decreasing
the market price of the Common Stock. At present, there are no shares of
Preferred Stock outstanding.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, from which the Company
has not opted out in its Certificate of Incorporation, restricts certain
"business combinations" with "interested stockholders" for three years following
the date that a person or entity becomes an interested stockholder, unless the
Board of Directors approves the business combination and/or certain other
requirements are met.
Item 5. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Financial Statements
Not applicable. The capital structure and balance sheet of the
Company immediately after the merger were substantially the same as those of
Meridian California.
(b) Exhibits
(i) Proxy Statement or Prospectus. Not applicable. The capital
structure and balance sheet of the Company immediately after the
merger were substantially the same as those of Meridian California.
(ii) Other Exhibits.
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Reorganization among Parallan Computer, Inc., PAC
Acquisition Subsidiary, Inc. and Meridian Data, Inc. dated December 1, 1994
previously filed as Exhibit 2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K and
incorporated herein by reference.
2.2 Agreement and Plan of Merger between Meridian Data, Inc., a California
corporation, and Meridian Data, Inc., a Delaware corporation dated May
29,1997.
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation.
3.2 Bylaws of Meridian Data, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
4.2 Fourth Article of Certificate of Incorporation (see Exhibit 3.1).
9.1 Shareholders Agreement, dated as of June 1, 1992, among IBM Corporation,
Parallan Computer, Inc. and certain shareholders of Parallan Computer, Inc.
previously filed as Exhibit 9.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1
(Registration No. 33-57976) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.1A Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors and officers previously
filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration
No. 33-57976) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.1B Form of Indemnification Agreement by and among Meridian Data, Inc., a
Delaware corporation and its directors and officers.
10.2 Restated and Amended 1988 Incentive Stock Plan and forms of agreements
thereunder previously filed under Registration Statement on Form S-8
(Registration No. 333-3934) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.3 1992 Incentive Stock Plan and form of agreement thereunder previously filed
as Exhibit 10.3 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
33-57976) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.4 1992 Key Employee Stock Plan and form of agreement thereunder previously
filed as Exhibit 10.4 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration
No. 33-57976) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.5 Amended and Restated 1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and form of
subscription agreement thereunder previously filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1995, and
incorporated herein by reference.
10.6 Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and certain of the
Registrant's shareholders previously filed as Exhibit 10.6 to Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-57976) and incorporated herein
by reference.
10.7 Custodial Agreement dated as of May 12, 1992 between Parallan Computer,
Inc., IBM Corporation and File-PROTEK, Inc. previously filed as Exhibit
10.7 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-57976) and
incorporated herein by reference.
10.8 Share Purchase Agreement dated as of May 15, 1992 between Parallan
Computer, Inc., and IBM Corporation, as amended, previously filed as
Exhibit 10.8 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
33-57976) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.9 Marketing Agreement dated as of June 1, 1992 between Parallan Computer,
Inc. and IBM Corporation previously filed as Exhibit 10.9 to Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-57976) and incorporated herein
by reference.
10.10 Master Work Agreement dated as of June 1, 1992 between Parallan Computer,
Inc. and IBM Corporation previously filed as Exhibit 10.10 to Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-57976) and incorporated herein
by reference.
10.11 Secured Loan Agreement dated as of June 1, 1992 between Parallan Computer,
Inc. and IBM Credit Corporation previously filed as Exhibit 10.11 to
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-57976) and
incorporated herein by reference.
10.12 Lease Agreement dated as of October 26, 1992 between Parallan Computer,
Inc. and South Bay/Copley Joint Venture previously filed as Exhibit 10.12
to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-57976) and
incorporated herein by reference.
10.13 Master Equipment Lease dated as of June 29, 1990 between Parallan
Computer, Inc. and Western Technology Investment previously filed as
Exhibit 10.13 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
33-57976) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.14 Master Equipment Lease dated as of January 15, 1993 between Parallan
Computer Inc. and Phoenix Leasing Incorporated previously filed as Exhibit
10.14 to Registration Statement on Form S-1(Registration No. 33-57976) and
incorporated herein by reference.
10.15 Amendment to the Master Work Agreement and Marketing Agreement dated as of
March 31, 1994, between Parallan Computer, Inc. and IBM Corporation.
10.16 Meridian Data, Inc. 1987 Incentive Stock Plan and form of subscription
agreement thereunder previously filed as Exhibit 4.3 to Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 33-89162) and incorporated herein
by reference.
10.17 Stock Option Assignment and Exercise Agreement between the Registrant,
International Business Machines Corporation and certain shareholders of
the Registrant dated March 6, 1996 previously filed as Exhibit 10.17 to
the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995,
and incorporated herein by reference.
10.1 Meridian Data, Inc. 1995 Director Stock Plan and form of subscription
agreement thereunder previously filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No, 333-2622) and incorporated herein
by reference.
10.19 Meridian Data, Inc. 1997 Incentive Stock Plan and form of agreement
thereunder.
16.1 Letter regarding change in accountants previously filed as Exhibit 16.1 to
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-57976) and
incorporated herein by reference.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the Company has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
Meridian Data, Inc.
Date: . By: /s/ GIANLUCA U. RATTAZZI
Gianluca U. Rattazzi
President and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
LIST OF ATTACHED EXHIBITS
2.2 Agreement and Plan of Merger between Meridian Data, Inc., a California
corporation, and Meridian Data, Inc., a Delaware corporation dated May 29,
1997.
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation.
3.2 Bylaws of Meridian Data, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
4.2 Fourth Article of the Certificate of Incorporation (See Exhibit 3.1)
10.1B Form of Indemnification Agreement by and among Meridian Data, Inc., a
Delaware corporation and its directors and officers.
10.19 Meridian Data, Inc. 1997 Incentive Stock Plan and form of agreement
thereunder.
<PAGE>
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER Exhibit 2.2
OF MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
A DELAWARE CORPORATION
AND
A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of May 29, 1997, (the
"Agreement") is between Meridian Data, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("MDI-Delaware") and Meridian Data, Inc., a California corporation
("MDI-California"). MDI-Delaware and MDI-California are sometimes referred to
herein as the "Constituent Corporations."
R E C I T A L S
A. MDI-Delaware is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware and has an authorized capital of 40,000,000 shares,
35,000,000 of which are desig- nated "Common Stock," $.001 par value and
5,000,000 of which are designated "Preferred Stock", $.001 par value. As of
the date of this Agreement of Merger, 10,000 shares of Common Stock were
issued and outstanding, all of which were held by MDI-California. No shares
of Preferred Stock were outstanding.
B. MDI-California is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws
of the State of California and has an authorized capital of 35,000,000
shares, designated "Common Stock", no par value.
C. The Board of Directors of MDI-California has determined that, for the
purpose of effecting the reincorporation of MDI-California in the State of
Delaware, it is advisable and in the best interests of MDI-California that
MDI-California merge with and into MDI-Delaware upon the terms and
conditions herein provided.
D. The respective Boards of Directors of MDI-Delaware and MDI-California have
approved this Agreement and have directed that this Agreement be submitted
to a vote of their respective stockholders and executed by the undersigned
officers.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants set
forth herein, MDI-Delaware and MDI-California hereby agree, subject to the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth, as follows:
I. MERGER
1.1 Merger. In accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the Delaware
General Corporation Law and the California General Corporation Law,
MDI-California shall be merged with and into MDI-Delaware (the "Merger"),
the separate existence of MDI-California shall cease and MDI-Delaware shall
be, and is herein sometimes referred as, the "Surviving Corporation", and
the name of the Surviving Corporation shall be Meridian Data, Inc.
1.2 Filing and Effectiveness. The Merger shall become effective when the
following actions shall have been completed:
(a) This Agreement and Merger shall have been adopted and approved by the
stockholders of each Constituent Corporation in accordance with the
requirements of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the California
General Corporation Law;
(b) All of the conditions precedent to the consummation of the Merger specified
in this Agreement shall have been satisfied or duly waived by the party
entitled to satisfaction thereof;
(c) An executed Agreement and Plan of Merger meeting the requirements of the
Delaware General Corporation Law shall have been filed with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware; and
The date and time when the Merger shall become effective, as aforesaid, is
herein called the "Effective Date of the Merger."
1.3 Effect of the Merger. Upon the Effective Date of the Merger, the separate
existence of MDI-California shall cease and MDI-Delaware, as the Surviving
Corporation, (i) shall continue to possess all of its assets, rights,
powers and property as constituted immediately prior to the Effective Date
of the Merger, (ii) shall be subject to all actions previously taken by its
and MDI-California's Board of Directors, (iii) shall succeed, without other
transfer, to all of the assets, rights, powers and property of
MDI-California in the manner more fully set forth in Section 259 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, (iv) shall continue to be subject to all
of the debts, liabilities and obligations of MDI-Delaware as constituted
immediately prior to the Effective Date of the Merger, and (v) shall
succeed, without other transfer, to all of the debts, liabilities and
obligations of MDI-California in the same manner as if MDI-Delaware had
itself incurred them, all as more fully provided under the applicable
provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the California
Corporations Code.
II. CHARTER DOCUMENTS, DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
2.1 Certificate of Incorporation. The Certificate of Incorporation of
MDI-Delaware as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date of the
Merger shall continue in full force and effect as the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until duly amended in accordance
with the provisions thereof and applicable law.
2.2 Bylaws. The Bylaws of MDI-Delaware as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Date of the Merger shall continue in full force and effect as the
Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until duly amended in accordance with
the provisions thereof and applicable law.
2.3 Directors and Officers. The directors and officers of MDI-California
immediately prior to the Effective Date of the Merger shall be the
directors and officers of the Surviving Cor- poration until their
successors shall have been duly elected and qualified or until as otherwise
provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation or the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
III. MANNER OF CONVERSION OF STOCK
3.1 MDI-California Common Shares. Upon the Effective Date of the Merger, each
share of MDI-California Common Stock, no par value, issued and outstanding
immediately prior thereto shall by virtue of the Merger and without any
action by the Constituent Corporations, the holder of such shares or any
other person, be converted into and exchanged for one fully paid and
nonassessable share of Common Stock, no par value, of the Surviving
Corporation. No fractional share interests of Surviving Corporation Common
Stock shall be issued. In lieu thereof, any fractional share interests to
which a holder would otherwise be entitled shall be aggregated.
3.2 MDI-California Options, Stock Purchase Rights and Convertible Securities.
(a) Upon the Effective Date of the Merger, the Surviving Corporation shall
assume the obligations of MDI-California under, and continue, the option
plans (including without limitation the 1987 Incentive Stock Plan, the 1988
Incentive Stock Plan, the 1992 Incentive Stock Plan, the 1992 Key Employee
Stock Plan, the 1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the 1995 Director Plan,
the 1997 Incentive Stock Plan, and all other employee benefit plans of
MDI-California. Each outstanding and unexercised option, other right to
purchase, or security convertible into, MDI-California Common Stock (a
"Right") shall become, subject to the provisions in paragraph (c) hereof,
an option, right to purchase or a security convertible into the Surviving
Corporation's Common Stock on the basis of one share of the Surviving
Corporation's Common Stock for each one share of MDI-California Common
Stock issuable pursuant to any such Right, on the same terms and conditions
and at an exercise price equal to the exercise price applicable to any such
MDI-California Right at the Effective Date of the Merger. This paragraph
3.2(a) shall not apply to MDI-California Common Stock. Such Common Stock is
subject to paragraph 3.1.
(b) A number of shares of the Surviving Corporation's Common Stock shall be
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options, stock purchase rights
and convertible securities equal to the number of shares of MDI-California
Common Stock so reserved immediately prior to the Effective Date of the
Merger.
(c) The assumed Rights shall not entitle any holder thereof to a fractional
share upon exercise or conversion. In addition, no "additional benefits"
(within the meaning of Section 424(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended) shall be accorded to the optionees pursuant to the
assumption of their options.
3.3 MDI-Delaware Common Stock. Upon the Effective Date of the Merger, each
share of Common Stock, $.001 par value, of MDI-Delaware issued and
outstanding immediately prior thereto shall, by virtue of the Merger and
without any action by MDI-Delaware, the holder of such shares or any other
person, be cancelled and returned to the status of authorized but unissued
shares.
3.4 Exchange of Certificates. After the Effective Date of the Merger, each
holder of an outstanding certificate representing shares of MDI-California
Common Stock may be asked to surrender the same for cancellation to Boston
EquiServe of California (the "Exchange Agent"), and each such holder shall
be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a certificate or certificates
representing the number of shares of the Surviving Corporation's Common
Stock, as the case may be, into which the surrendered shares were converted
as herein provided. Until so surrendered, each outstanding certificate
theretofore representing shares of MDI-California Common Stock shall be
deemed for all purposes to represent the number of shares of the Surviving
Corporation's Common Stock, respectively, into which such shares of
MDI-California Common Stock, as the case may be, were converted in the
Merger.
The registered owner on the books and records of the Surviving Corporation
or the Exchange Agent of any such outstanding certificate shall, until such
certificate shall have been surrendered for transfer or conversion or
otherwise accounted for to the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent,
have and be entitled to exercise any voting and other rights with respect
to and to receive dividends and other distributions upon the shares of
Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation represented by such outstanding
certificate as provided above.
Each certificate representing Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation so
issued in the Merger shall bear the same legends, if any, with respect to
the restrictions on transferability as the certificates of MDI-California
so converted and given in exchange therefore, unless otherwise determined
by the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation in compliance with
applicable laws.
If any certificate for shares of the Surviving Corporation's stock is to be
issued in a name other than that in which the certificate surrendered in
exchange therefor is registered, it shall be a condition of issuance
thereof that the certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed and
otherwise in proper form for transfer, that such transfer otherwise be
proper and comply with appli- cable securities laws and that the person
requesting such transfer pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other
taxes payable by reason of issuance of such new certificate in a name other
than that of the registered holder of the certificate surrendered or
establish to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such tax
has been paid or is not payable.
IV. GENERAL
4.1 Covenants of MDI-Delaware. MDI-Delaware covenants and agrees that it will,
on or before the Effective Date of the Merger:
(a) Qualify to do business as a foreign corporation in the State of California
and in connection therewith irrevocably appoint an agent for service of
process as required under the provisions of Section 2105 of the California
General Corporation Law.
(b) File any and all documents with the California Franchise Tax Board
necessary for the assumption by MDI-Delaware of all of the franchise tax
liabilities of MDI-California.
(c) Take such other actions as may be required by the California General
Corporation Law.
4.2 Further Assurances. From time to time, as and when required by MDI-Delaware
or by its successors or assigns, there shall be executed and delivered on
behalf of MDI-California such deeds and other instruments, and there shall
be taken or caused to be taken by it such further and other actions as
shall be appropriate or necessary in order to vest or perfect in or conform
of record or otherwise by MDI-Delaware the title to and possession of all
the property, interests, assets, rights, privileges, immunities, powers,
franchises and authority of MDI-California and otherwise to carry out the
purposes of this Agreement, and the officers and directors of MDI-Delaware
are fully authorized in the name and on behalf of MDI-California or
otherwise to take any and all such action and to execute and deliver any
and all such deeds and other instruments.
4.3 Abandonment. At any time before the Effective Date of the Merger, this
Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned for any reason
whatsoever by the Board of Directors of either MDI-California or of
MDI-Delaware, or of both, notwithstanding the approval of this Agreement by
the shareholders of MDI-California or by the sole stockholder of
MDI-Delaware, or by both.
4.4 Amendment. The Boards of Directors of the Constituent Corporations may
amend this Agreement at any time prior to the filing of this Agreement (or
certificate in lieu thereof) with the Secretary of State of the States of
California and Delaware, provided that an amendment made subsequent to the
adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of either Constituent
Corporation shall not: (1) alter or change the amount or kind of shares,
securities, cash, property and/or rights to be received in exchange for or
on conversion of all or any of the shares of any class or series thereof of
such Constituent Corporation, (2) alter or change any term of the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation to be effected by
the Merger, or (3) alter or change any of the terms and conditions of this
Agreement if such alteration or change would adversely affect the holders
of any class or series of capital stock of any Constituent Corporation.
4.5 Registered Office. The registered office of the Surviving Corporation in
the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, County of New
Castle, DE 19801 and The Corporation Trust Company is the registered agent
of the Surviving Corporation at such address.
4.6 Agreement. Executed copies of this Agreement will be on file at the
principal place of business of the Surviving Corporation at 5615 Scotts
Valley Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 and copies thereof will be furnished
to any stockholder of either Constituent Corporation, upon request and
without cost.
4.7 Governing Law. This Agreement shall in all respects be construed,
interpreted and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the
State of Delaware and, so far as applicable, the merger provisions of the
California General Corporation Law.
4.8 FIRPTA Notification. (a) On the Effective Date of the Merger,
MDI-California shall deliver to MDI-Delaware, as agent for the shareholders
of MDI-California, a properly executed statement (the "Statement")
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. MDI-Delaware shall
retain the Statement for a period of not less than seven years and shall,
upon request, provide a copy thereof to any person that was a shareholder
of MDI-California immediately prior to the Merger. In consequence of the
approval of the Merger by the shareholders of MDI-California, (i) such
shareholders shall be considered to have requested that the Statement be
delivered to MDI-Delaware as their agent and (ii) MDI-Delaware shall be
considered to have received a copy of the Statement at the request of the
MDI-California shareholders for purposes of satisfying MDI-Delaware's
obligations under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(c)(3).
(b) MDI-California shall deliver to the Internal Revenue Service a notice
regarding the Statement in accordance with the requirements of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.897-2(h)(2).
4.9 Counterparts. In order to facilitate the filing and recording of this
Agreement, the same may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement having first been approved by the
resolutions of the Board of Directors of MDI-Delaware and MDI-California is
hereby executed on behalf of each of such two corporations and attested by their
respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
a Delaware corporation
By:/s/ GIANLUCA U. RATTAZZI
Gianluca U. Rattazzi, President
and Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:
/s/ MARIO M. ROSATI
Mario M. Rosati, Secretary
MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
a California corporation
By:/s/ GIANLUCA U. RATTAZZI
Gianluca U. Rattazzi, President
and Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:
/s/ MARIO M. ROSATI
Mario M. Rosati, Secretary
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
May ___, 1997
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF MERIDIAN DATA, INC.:
In connection with the reincorporation (the "Reincorporation") in Delaware
of Meridian Data, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"), pursuant to
the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Agreement") dated as of May 29, 1997
between the Company and Meridian Data, Inc., a Delaware corporation and
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("MDI-Delaware"), your shares of Company
stock will be replaced by shares of stock in MDI-Delaware.
In order to establish that (i) you will not be subject to tax under
Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), in
consequence of the Reincorporation and (ii) MDI-Delaware will not be required
under Section 1445 of the Code to withhold taxes from the MDI-Delaware stock
that you will receive in connection therewith, the Company hereby represents to
you that, as of the date of this letter, shares of Company stock do not
constitute a "United States real property interest" within the meaning of
Section 897(c) of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder.
A copy of this letter will be delivered to MDI-Delaware pursuant to Section
4.8 of the Agreement.
Under penalties of perjury, the undersigned officer of the Company hereby
declares that, to the best knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the facts
set forth herein are true and correct.
Sincerely,
/s/ GIANLUCA U. RATTAZZI
Gianluca U. Rattazzi, President and
Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION Exhibit 3.1
OF
MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
ARTICLE I
The name of the corporation is Meridian Data, Inc. (the "Corporation").
ARTICLE II
The address of the Corporation's registered office in the State of Delaware
is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801.
The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust
Company.
ARTICLE III
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity
for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of
Delaware.
ARTICLE IV
The Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of shares of stock to be
designated, respectively, Common Stock, $0.001 par value, and Preferred Stock,
$0.001 par value. The total number of shares that the Corporation is authorized
to issue is 40,000,000 shares. The number of shares of Common Stock authorized
is 35,000,000. The number of shares of Preferred authorized is 5,000,000.
The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series
pursuant to a resolution or resolutions providing for such issue duly adopted by
the board of directors (authority to do so being hereby expressly vested in the
board). The board of directors is further authorized to determine or alter the
rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed upon any
wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock and to fix the number of shares of any
series of Preferred Stock and the designation of any such series of Preferred
Stock. The board of directors, within the limits and restrictions stated in any
resolution or resolutions of the board of directors originally fixing the number
of shares constituting any series, may increase or decrease (but not below the
number of shares in any such series then outstanding) the number of shares of
any series subsequent to the issue of shares of that series.
The authority of the board of directors with respect to each such class or
series shall include, without limitation of the foregoing, the right to
determine and fix:
(a) the distinctive designation of such class or series and the number of
shares to constitute such class or series;
(b) the rate at which dividends on the shares of such class or series shall be
declared and paid, or set aside for payment, whether dividends at the rate
so determined shall be cumulative or accruing, and whether the shares of
such class or series shall be entitled to any participating or other
dividends in addition to dividends at the rate so determined, and if so, on
what terms;
(c) the right or obligation, if any, of the Corporation to redeem shares of the
particular class or series of Preferred Stock and, if redeemable, the
price, terms and manner of such redemption;
(d) the special and relative rights and preferences, if any, and the amount or
amounts per share, which the shares of such class or series of Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to receive upon any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation;
(e) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which shares of such class or series
shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of capital stock of
any other class or series, including the price or prices or the rate or
rates of conversion or exchange and the terms of adjustment, if any;
(f) the obligation, if any, of the Corporation to retire, redeem or purchase
shares of such class or series pursuant to a sinking fund or fund of a
similar nature or otherwise, and the terms and conditions of such
obligation;
(g) voting rights, if any, on the issuance of additional shares of such class
or series or any shares of any other class or series of Preferred Stock;
(h) limitations, if any, on the issuance of additional shares of such class or
series or any shares of any other class or series of Preferred Stock; and
(i) such other preferences, powers, qualifications, special or relative rights
and privileges thereof as the board of directors of the Corporation, acting
in accordance with this Certificate of Incorporation, may deem advisable
and are not inconsistent with law and the provisions of this Certificate of
Incorporation.
ARTICLE V
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change, or repeal any
provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or
hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon the stockholders
herein are granted subject to this right.
ARTICLE VI
The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
ARTICLE VII
1. Limitation of Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or as may hereafter
be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the
Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director.
2. Indemnification. The Corporation may indemnify to the fullest extent
permitted by law any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action
or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by
reason of the fact that such person or his or her testator or intestate is or
was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, or any predecessor of
the Corporation, or serves or served at any other enterprise as a director,
officer or employee at the request of the Corporation or any predecessor to the
Corporation.
3. Amendments. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor
the adoption of any provision of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation
inconsistent with this Article VII, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this
Article VII, in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding
accruing or arising or that, but for this Article VII, would accrue or arise,
prior to such amendment, repeal, or adoption of an inconsistent provision.
ARTICLE VIII
In the event any shares of Preferred Stock shall be redeemed or converted
pursuant to the terms hereof, the shares so converted or redeemed shall not
revert to the status of authorized but unissued shares, but instead shall be
canceled and shall not be re-issuable by the Corporation.
ARTICLE IX
Holders of stock of any series of this Corporation shall not be entitled to
cumulate their votes for the election of directors or any other matter submitted
to a vote of the stockholders, unless such cumulative voting is required
pursuant to Sections 2115 and/or 301.5 of the California Corporations Code, in
which event each such holder shall be entitled to as many votes as shall equal
the number of votes which (except for this provision as to cumulative voting)
such holder would be entitled to cast for the election of directors with respect
to his shares of stock multiplied by the number of directors to be elected by
him, and the holder may cast all of such votes for a single director or may
distribute them among the number of directors to be voted for, or for any two or
more of them as such holder may see fit, so long as the name of the candidate
for director shall have been placed in nomination prior to the voting and the
stockholder, or any other holder of the same class or series of stock, has given
notice at the meeting prior to the voting of the intention to cumulate votes.
ARTICLE X
1. Number of Directors. The number of directors which constitutes the whole
Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be designated in the Bylaws of the
Corporation.
2. Election of Directors. Elections of directors need not be by written
ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.
ARTICLE XI
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute,
the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal
the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE XII
No action shall be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation except at
an annual or special meeting of the stockholders called in accordance with the
Bylaws of the Corporation, and no action shall be taken by the stockholders by
written consent.
ARTICLE XIII
Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of
Delaware, as the Bylaws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept
(subject to any provision contained in the statutes) outside of the State of
Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the
Board of Directors or in the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE XIV
The name and mailing address of the incorporator are:
William B. Owens, Jr., Esq.
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
650 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, California 94304-1050
* * *
The undersigned incorporator hereby acknowledges that the above Certificate
of Incorporation of Meridian Data, Inc., is his act and deed and that the facts
stated therein are true.
/s/ WILLIAM B. OWENS, JR.
Dated: April 24, 1997 William B. Owens, Jr.
<PAGE>
BYLAWS Exhibit 3.2
OF
MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I CORPORATE OFFICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1-
1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1-
1.2 OTHER OFFICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1-
ARTICLE II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1-
2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1-
2.2 ANNUAL MEETING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1-
2.3 SPECIAL MEETING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2-
2.4 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2-
2.5 NOTIFICATIONS OF NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSED BUSINESS.. . . . -2-
2.6 MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE . . . . . . . -3-
2.7 QUORUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -4-
2.8 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -4-
2.9 VOTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -4-
2.10 WAIVER OF NOTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -5-
2.11 STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING. . -5-
2.12 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING . . . . . . . . -6-
2.13 PROXIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -6-
2.14 ORGANIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -6-
2.15 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE. . . . . . . . . . . -7-
ARTICLE III DIRECTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -7-
3.1 POWERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -7-
3.2 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -7-
3.3 ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS . . . . . . . . . -8-
3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -8-
3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE . . . . . . . . . -9-
3.6 REGULAR MEETINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -9-
3.7 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -9-
3.8 QUORUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-10-
3.9 WAIVER OF NOTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-10-
3.10 ADJOURNMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-10-
3.11 NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-10-
3.12 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING. . . . .-10-
3.13 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS . . . . . . . . . . . .-11-
3.14 APPROVAL OF LOANS TO OFFICERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-11-
ARTICLE IV COMMITTEES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-11-
4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-11-
4.2 MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES. . . . . . . . . . . . .-12-
4.3 COMMITTEE MINUTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-12-
ARTICLE V OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-12-
5.1 OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-12-
5.2 ELECTION OF OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-13-
5.3 SUBORDINATE OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-13-
5.4 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS. . . . . . . . . . . .-13-
5.5 VACANCIES IN OFFICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-13-
5.6 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-13-
5.7 PRESIDENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-14-
5.8 VICE PRESIDENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-14-
5.9 SECRETARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-14-
5.10 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-15-
ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES,
AND OTHER AGENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-15-
6.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. . . . . . . . .-15-
6.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-16-
6.3 INSURANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-16-
ARTICLE VII RECORDS AND REPORTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-17-
7.1 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS. . . . . . . . . . .-17-
7.2 INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-17-
7.3 ANNUAL STATEMENT TO STOCKHOLDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . .-17-
7.4 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS . . . . . .-17-
7.5 CERTIFICATION AND INSPECTION OF BYLAWS . . . . . . . . . .-17-
ARTICLE VIII GENERAL MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-18-
8.1 RECORD DATE FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN NOTICE AND VOTING. . .-18-
8.2 CHECKS; DRAFTS; EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS. . . . . . . . .-18-
8.3 CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS: HOW EXECUTED . . . .-18-
8.4 STOCK CERTIFICATES; TRANSFER; PARTLY PAID SHARES . . . . .-18-
8.5 SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES. . . . . . . . . . . .-19-
8.6 LOST CERTIFICATES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-20-
8.7 TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-20-
8.8 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-20-
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-20-
<PAGE>
ARTICLE I
CORPORATE OFFICES
1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE
The registered office of the corporation shall be fixed in the certificate
of incorporation of the corporation.
1.2 OTHER OFFICES
The board of directors may at any time establish branch or subordinate
offices at any place or places where the corporation is qualified to do
business.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS
Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place within or outside the
State of Delaware designated by the board of directors. In the absence of any
such designation, stockholders' meetings shall be held at the principal
executive office of the corporation.
2.2 ANNUAL MEETING
The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year on a date and at
a time designated by the board of directors. In the absence of such designation,
the annual meeting of stockholders shall be held on the second Tuesday of May in
each year at 10:00 a.m. However, if such day falls on a legal holiday, then the
meeting shall be held at the same time and place on the next succeeding full
business day. At the meeting, directors shall be elected, and any other proper
business may be transacted.
2.3 SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the stockholders may be called at any time by the
board of directors, or by the chairman of the board, or by the president, or by
one or more stockholders holding shares in the aggregate entitled to cast not
less than ten percent (10%) of the votes at that meeting.
If a special meeting is called by any person or persons other than the
board of directors or the president or the chairman of the board, then the
request shall be in writing, specifying the time of such meeting and the general
nature of the business proposed to be transacted, and shall be delivered
personally or sent by registered mail or by telegraphic or other facsimile
transmission to the chairman of the board, the president, any vice president or
the secretary of the corporation. The officer receiving the request shall cause
notice to be promptly given to the stockholders entitled to vote, in accordance
with the provisions of Sections 2.4 and 2.5 of these bylaws, that a meeting will
be held at the time requested by the person or persons calling the meeting, so
long as that time is not less than thirty-five (35) nor more than sixty (60)
days after the receipt of the request. If the notice is not given within twenty
(20) days after receipt of the request, then the person or persons requesting
the meeting may give the notice. Nothing contained in this paragraph of this
Section 2.3 shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a
meeting of stockholders called by action of the board of directors may be held.
2.4 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
All notices of meetings of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in
accordance with Section 2.6 of these bylaws not less than ten (10) (or, if sent
by third-class mail pursuant to Section 2.6 of these bylaws, thirty (30)) nor
more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting. The notice shall
specify the place, date, and hour of the meeting and (i) in the case of a
special meeting, the general nature of the business to be transacted (no
business other than that specified in the notice may be transacted) or (ii) in
the case of the annual meeting, those matters which the board of directors, at
the time of giving the notice, intends to present for action by the stockholders
(but subject to the provisions of the next paragraph of this Section 2.4 any
proper matter may be presented at the meeting for such action). The notice of
any meeting at which directors are to be elected shall include the name of any
nominee or nominees who, at the time of the notice, the board intends to present
for election.
2.5 NOTIFICATIONS OF NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSED BUSINESS.
Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of stock having a
preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation,
(a) nominations for the election of directors, and
(b) business proposed to be brought before any stockholder meeting
may be made by the Board of Directors or proxy committee appointed by the Board
of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors
generally if such nomination or business proposed is otherwise proper business
before such meeting. However, any such stockholder may nominate one or more
persons for election as directors at a meeting or propose business to be brought
before a meeting, or both, only if such stockholder has given timely notice in
proper written form of his intent to make such nomination or nominations or to
propose such business. To be timely, such stockholder's notice must be delivered
to or mailed and received by the Secretary of the corporation not less than
thirty-five (35) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting;
provided, however, that in the event that less than forty-five (45) days notice
or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to
stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not
later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which
such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was
made. To be in proper form, a stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set
forth:
(i) the name and address of the stockholder who intends to make
the nominations or propose the business and, as the case may be, of the person
or persons to be nominated or of the business to be proposed;
(ii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record
of stock of the corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and, if applicable,
intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or
persons specified in the notice;
(iii) if applicable, a description of all arrangements or
understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or
persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or
nominations are to be made by the stockholder;
(iv) such other information regarding each nominee or each matter
of business to be proposed by such stockholder as would be required to be
included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission had the nominee been nominated, or intended
to be nominated, or the matter been proposed, or intended to be proposed by the
Board of Directors; and
(v) if applicable, the consent of each nominee to serve as
director of the corporation if so elected.
The Chairman of the meeting shall refuse to acknowledge the nomination of
any person or the proposal of any business not made in compliance with the
foregoing procedure.
2.6 MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE
Written notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given either
personally or by first-class mail or by telegraphic or other written
communication. Notices not personally delivered shall be sent charges prepaid
and shall be addressed to the stockholder at the address of that stockholder
appearing on the books of the corporation or given by the stockholder to the
corporation for the purpose of notice. Notice shall be deemed to have been given
at the time when delivered personally or deposited in the mail or sent by
telegram or other means of written communication.
An affidavit of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any
stockholders' meeting, executed by the secretary, assistant secretary or any
transfer agent of the corporation giving the notice, shall be prima facie
evidence of the giving of such notice.
2.7 QUORUM
The holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by
proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stock- holders for the
transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the
certificate of incorporation. If, however, such quorum is not present or
represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the chairman of
the meeting or (ii) the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person
or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting in accordance
with Section 2.7 of these bylaws.
When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a
majority of the stock having voting power present in person or represented by
proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question
is one upon which, by express provision of the laws of the State of Delaware or
of the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, a different vote is
required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the
decision of the question.
If a quorum be initially present, the stockholders may continue to transact
business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough
stockholders to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken is approved by a
majority of the stockholders initially constituting the quorum.
2.8 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE
When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, unless these bylaws
otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time
and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is
taken. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business that
might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for
more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is
fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be
given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
2.9 VOTING
The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be
determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.11 of these bylaws,
subject to the provisions of Sections 217 and 218 of the General Corporation Law
of Delaware (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors and joint
owners, and to voting trusts and other voting agreements).
Except as may be otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or
these bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of
capital stock held by such stockholder and stockholders shall not be entitled to
cumulate their votes in the election of directors of with respect to any matter
submitted to a vote of the stockholders.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the stockholders of the corporation are
entitled, pursuant to Sections 2115 and 301.5 of the California Corporations
Code, to cumulate their votes in the election of directors, each such
stockholder shall be entitled to cumulate votes (i.e., cast for any candidate a
number of votes greater than the number of votes that such stockholder normally
is entitled to cast) only if the candidates' names have been properly placed in
nomination (in accordance with these bylaws) prior to commencement of the
voting, and the stockholder requesting cumulative voting has given notice prior
to commencement of the voting of the stockholder's intention to cumulate votes.
If cumulative voting is properly requested, each holder of stock, or of any
class or classes or of a series or series thereof, who elects to cumulate votes
shall be entitled to as many votes as equals the number of votes that (absent
this provision as to cumulative voting) he or she would be entitled to cast for
the election of directors with respect to his or her shares of stock multiplied
by the number of directors to be elected by him, and he or she may cast all of
such votes for a single director or may distribute them among the number to be
voted for, or for any two or more of them, as he or she may see fit.
2.10 WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware or of the certificate of incorporation or these
bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice,
whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to
notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice
of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express
purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any
business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the
business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting
of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so
required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.
2.11 STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, any action
required by this chapter to be taken at any annual or special meeting of
stockholders of a corporation, or any action that may be taken at any annual or
special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without
prior notice, and without a vote if a consent in writing, setting forth the
action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less
than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take
such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were
present and voted.
Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by
less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who
have not consented in writing. If the action which is consented to is such as
would have required the filing of a certificate under any section of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware if such action had been voted on by stockholders at
a meeting thereof, then the certificate filed under such section shall state, in
lieu of any statement required by such section concerning any vote of
stockholders, that written notice and written consent have been given as
provided in Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
2.12 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING
For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to notice of any
meeting or to vote thereat, the board of directors may fix, in advance, a record
date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the
record date is adopted by the board of directors and which shall not be more
than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any such
meeting, and in such event only stockholders of record on the date so fixed are
entitled to notice and to vote, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on
the books of the corporation after the record date.
If the board of directors does not so fix a record date, the record date
for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
stockholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next
preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the
close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the
meeting is held.
A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote
at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting
unless the board of directors fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting,
but the board of directors shall fix a new record date if the meeting is
adjourned for more than thirty (30) days from the date set for the original
meeting.
The record date for any other purpose shall be as provided in Section 8.1
of these bylaws.
2.13 PROXIES
Every person entitled to vote for directors, or on any other matter, shall
have the right to do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized by
a written proxy signed by the person and filed with the secretary of the
corporation, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3)
years from its date unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall
be deemed signed if the stockholder's name is placed on the proxy (whether by
manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic transmission, telefacsimile or
otherwise) by the stockholder or the stockholder's attorney-in-fact. The
revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be
governed by the provisions of Section 212(e) of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware.
2.14 ORGANIZATION
The president, or in the absence of the president, the chairman of the
board, or, in the absence of the president and the chairman of the board, one of
the corporation's vice presidents, shall call the meeting of the stockholders to
order, and shall act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the
president, the chairman of the board, and all of the vice presidents, the
stockholders shall appoint a chairman for such meeting. The chairman of any
meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedures
at the meeting, including such matters as the regulation of the manner of voting
and the conduct of business. The secretary of the corporation shall act as
secretary of all meetings of the stockholders, but in the absence of the
secretary at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting may
appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
2.15 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE
The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall
prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to
the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting,
during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to
the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held,
which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so
specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
3.1 POWERS
Subject to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware and
any limitations in the certificate of incorporation and these bylaws relating to
action required to be approved by the stockholders or by the outstanding shares,
the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed and all corporate
powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the board of directors.
3.2 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
The board of directors shall be not less than five (5) nor more than seven
(7) members. The exact number of directors shall be five (5) until changed,
within the limits specified above by a bylaw amending this Section 3.2 duly
adopted by the board of directors or by the stockholders. The indefinite number
of directors may be changed, or a definite number may be fixed without provision
for an indefinite number, by an amendment to this bylaw, duly adopted by the
board of directors or by the stockholders, or by a duly adopted amendment to the
certificate of incorporation.
No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of
removing any director before that director's term of office expires.
3.3 ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS
Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, directors shall be
elected at each annual meeting of stockholders to hold office until the next
annual meeting. Each director, including a director elected or appointed to fill
a vacancy, shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected
and until a successor has been elected and qualified.
3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES
Any director may resign effective on giving written notice to the chairman
of the board, the president, the secretary or the board of directors, unless the
notice specifies a later time for that resignation to become effective. If the
resignation of a director is effective at a future time, the board of directors
may elect a successor to take office when the resignation becomes effective.
Vacancies in the board of directors may be filled by a majority of the
remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining
director; however, a vacancy created by the removal of a director by the vote of
the stockholders or by court order may be filled only by the affirmative vote of
a majority of the shares represented and voting at a duly held meeting at which
a quorum is present (which shares voting affirmatively also constitute a
majority of the required quorum). Each director so elected shall hold office
until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until a successor has been
elected and qualified.
Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these
bylaws:
(i) Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from
any increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all of the
stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by a
majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a
sole remaining director.
(ii) Whenever the holders of any class or classes of stock or
series thereof are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of
the certificate of incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships of
such class or classes or series may be filled by a majority of the directors
elected by such class or classes or series thereof then in office, or by a sole
remaining director so elected.
If at any time, by reason of death or resignation or other cause, the
corporation should have no directors in office, then any officer or any
stockholder or an executor, administrator, trustee or guardian of a stockholder,
or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate
of a stockholder, may call a special meeting of stockholders in accordance with
the provisions of the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, or may apply
to the Court of Chancery for a decree summarily ordering an election as provided
in Section 211 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
If, at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created directorship,
the directors then in office constitute less than a majority of the whole board
(as constituted immediately prior to any such increase), then the Court of
Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or stockholders holding at
least ten (10) percent of the total number of the shares at the time outstanding
having the right to vote for such directors, summarily order an election to be
held to fill any such vacancies or newly created directorships, or to replace
the directors chosen by the directors then in office as aforesaid, which
election shall be governed by the provisions of Section 211 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware as far as applicable.
3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE
Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held at any place within
or outside the State of Delaware that has been designated from time to time by
resolution of the board. In the absence of such a designation, regular meetings
shall be held at the principal executive office of the corporation. Special
meetings of the board may be held at any place within or outside the State of
Delaware that has been designated in the notice of the meeting or, if not stated
in the notice or if there is no notice, at the principal executive office of the
corporation.
Any meeting, regular or special, may be held by conference telephone or
similar communication equipment, so long as all directors participating in the
meeting can hear one another; and all such directors shall be deemed to be
present in person at the meeting.
3.6 REGULAR MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held without notice if
the times of such meetings are fixed by the board of directors. If any regular
meeting day shall fall on a legal holiday, then the meeting shall be held next
succeeding full business day.
3.7 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE
Special meetings of the board of directors for any purpose or purposes may
be called at any time by the chairman of the board, the president, any vice
president, the secretary or any two directors.
Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered
personally or by telephone to each director or sent by first-class mail or
telegram, charges prepaid, addressed to each director at that director's address
as it is shown on the records of the corporation. If the notice is mailed, it
shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) days before the
time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is delivered personally or by
telephone or telegram, it shall be delivered personally or by telephone or to
the telegraph company at least forty-eight (48) hours before the time of the
holding of the meeting. Any oral notice given personally or by telephone may be
communicated either to the director or to a person at the office of the director
who the person giving the notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate
it to the director. The notice need not specify the purpose or the place of the
meeting, if the meeting is to be held at the principal executive office of the
corporation.
3.8 QUORUM
A majority of the authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business, except to adjourn as provided in Section 3.10
of these bylaws. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the
directors present at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present shall be
regarded as the act of the board of directors, subject to the provisions of the
certificate of incorporation and other applicable law.
A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact
business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is
approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.
3.9 WAIVER OF NOTICE
Notice of a meeting need not be given to any director (i) who signs a
waiver of notice or a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the
minutes thereof, whether before or after the meet- ing, or (ii) who attends the
meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of
notice to such directors. All such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be
filed with the corporate records or made part of the minutes of the meeting. A
waiver of notice need not specify the purpose of any regular or special meeting
of the board of directors.
3.10 ADJOURNMENT
A majority of the directors present, whether or not constituting a quorum,
may adjourn any meeting to another time and place.
3.11 NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT
Notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be
given unless the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four (24) hours. If
the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four (24) hours, then notice of
the time and place of the adjourned meeting shall be given before the adjourned
meeting takes place, in the manner specified in Section 3.7 of these bylaws, to
the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment.
3.12 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
Any action required or permitted to be taken by the board of directors may
be taken without a meeting, provided that all members of the board indi vidu
ally or collectively consent in writing to that action. Such action by written
consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the board of
directors. Such written consent and any counterparts thereof shall be filed with
the minutes of the proceedings of the board.3.13FEES AND COMPENSATION OF
DIRECTORS
Directors and members of committees may receive such compensation, if any,
for their services and such reimbursement of expenses as may be fixed or
determined by resolution of the board of directors. This Section 3.13 shall not
be construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other
capacity as an officer, agent, employee or otherwise and receiving compensation
for those services.
3.14 APPROVAL OF LOANS TO OFFICERS
The corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or
otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the corporation or any of its
subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who is a director of the
corporation or any of its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the
directors, such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to
benefit the corporation. The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or
without interest and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the board of
directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of
stock of the corporation. Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to
deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at
common law or under any statute.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS
The board of directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the
authorized number of directors, designate one (1) or more committees, each
consisting of two or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the board. The
board may designate one (1) or more directors as alternate members of any
committee, who may replace any absent member at any meeting of the committee.
The appointment of members or alternate members of a committee requires the vote
of a majority of the authorized number of directors. Any committee, to the
extent provided in the resolution of the board, shall have and may exercise all
the powers and authority of the board, but no such committee shall have the
power of authority to:
(a) amend the certificate of incorporation (except that a committee
may, to the extent authorized in the resolution or resolutions providing for the
issuance of shares of stock adopted by the board of directors as provided in
Section 151(a) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, fix the designations
and any of the preferences or rights of such shares relating to dividends,
redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the corporation or the
conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class
or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of
stock of the corporation);
(b) adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation under Sections 251 or 252
of the General Corporation Law of Delaware;
(c) recommend to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or
substantially all of the corporation's property and assets;
(d) recommend to the stockholders a dissolution of the corporation or a
revocation of a dissolution; or
(e) amend the bylaws of the corporation; and, unless the board resolution
establishing the committee, the bylaws or the certificate of incorporation
expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or authority to
declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock, or to adopt a
certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware.
4.2 MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES
Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken
in accordance with, the provisions of Article III of these bylaws, Section 3.5
(place of meetings), Section 3.6 (regular meetings), Section 3.7 (special
meetings and notice), Section 3.8 (quorum), Section 3.9 (waiver of notice),
Section 3.10 (adjournment), Section 3.11 (notice of adjournment), and Section
3.12 (action without meeting), with such changes in the context of those bylaws
as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the board of
directors and its members; provided, however, that the time of regular meetings
of committees may be determined either by resolution of the board of directors
or by resolution of the committee, that special meetings of committees may also
be called by resolution of the board of directors, and that notice of special
meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members, who shall
have the right to attend all meetings of the committee. The board of directors
may adopt rules for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the
provisions of these bylaws.
4.3 COMMITTEE MINUTES.
Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the
same to the board of directors when required.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
5.1 OFFICERS
The officers of the corporation shall be a president, a secretary, and a
chief financial officer. The corporation may also have, at the discretion of the
board of directors, a chairman of the board, one or more vice presidents, one or
more assistant secretaries, one or more assistant treasurers, and such other
officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of
these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
5.2 ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The officers of the corporation, except such officers as may be appointed
in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 or Section 5.5 of these bylaws,
shall be chosen by the board, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under
any contract of employment.
5.3 SUBORDINATE OFFICERS
The board of directors may appoint, or may empower the president to
appoint, such other officers as the business of the corporation may require,
each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform
such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the board of directors may
from time to time determine.
5.4 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS
Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of
employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the
board of directors at any regular or special meeting of the board or, except in
case of an officer chosen by the board of directors, by any officer upon whom
such power of removal may be conferred by the board of directors.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the
corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of
that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise
specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be
necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the
rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which the officer is a
party.
5.5 VACANCIES IN OFFICES
A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal,
disqualification or any other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed in
these bylaws for regular appointments to that office.
5.6 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
The chairman of the board, if such an officer be elected, shall, if
present, preside at meetings of the board of directors and exercise and perform
such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the
board of directors or as may be prescribed by these bylaws. If there is no
president, then the chairman of the board shall also be the chief executive
officer of the corporation and shall have the powers and duties prescribed in
Section 5.7 of these bylaws.
5.7PRESIDENT
Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the board of
directors to the chairman of the board, if there be such an officer, the
president shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall,
subject to the control of the board of directors, have general supervision,
direction, and control of the business and the officers of the corporation. He
shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence or
nonexistence of a chairman of the board, at all meetings of the board of
directors. He shall have the general powers and duties of management usually
vested in the office of president of a corporation, and shall have such other
powers and duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or these
bylaws.
5.8 VICE PRESIDENTS
In the absence or disability of the president, the vice presidents, if any,
in order of their rank as fixed by the board of directors or, if not ranked, a
vice president designated by the board of directors, shall perform all the
duties of the president and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be
subject to all the restrictions upon, the president. The vice presidents shall
have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be
prescribed for them respectively by the board of directors, these bylaws, the
president or the chairman of the board.
5.9 SECRETARY
The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive
office of the corporation or such other place as the board of directors may
direct, a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of directors, committees
of directors and stockholders. The minutes shall show the time and place of each
meeting, whether regular or special (and, if special, how authorized and the
notice given), the names of those present at directors' meetings or committee
meetings, the number of shares present or represented at stockholders' meetings,
and the proceedings thereof.
The secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive
office of the corporation or at the office of the corporation's transfer agent
or registrar, as determined by resolution of the board of directors, a share
register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of all stockholders
and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number
and date of certificates evidencing such shares, and the number and date of
cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.
The secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of
the stockholders and of the board of directors required to be given by law or by
these bylaws. He shall keep the seal of the corporation, if one be adopted, in
safe custody and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as
may be prescribed by the board of directors or by these bylaws.
5.10 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
The chief financial officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept
and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the
properties and business transactions of the corporation, including accounts of
its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital,
retained earnings, and shares. The books of account shall at all reasonable
times be open to inspection by any director.
The chief financial officer shall deposit all money and other valuables in
the name and to the credit of the corporation with such depositaries as may be
designated by the board of directors. He shall disburse the funds of the
corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, shall render to the
president and directors, whenever they request it, an account of all of his
transactions as chief financial officer and of the financial condition of the
corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as
may be prescribed by the board of directors or these bylaws.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES,
AND OTHER AGENTS
6.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The corporation shall, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted by
the General Corporation Law of Delaware as the same now exists or may hereafter
be amended, indemnify any person against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit,
or proceeding in which such person was or is a party or is threatened to be made
a party by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer
of the corporation. For purposes of this Section 6.1, a "director" or "officer"
of the corporation shall mean any person (i) who is or was a director or officer
of the corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, or (iii) who was a director or officer of a
corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the corporation or of another
enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.
The corporation shall be required to indemnify a director or officer in
connection with an action, suit, or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by
such director or officer only if the initiation of such action, suit, or
proceeding (or part thereof) by the director or officer was authorized by the
Board of Directors of the corporation.
The corporation shall pay the expenses (including attorney's fees) incurred
by a director or officer of the corporation entitled to indemnification
hereunder in defending any action, suit or proceeding referred to in this
Section 6.1 in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that payment
of expenses incurred by a director or officer of the corporation in advance of
the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding shall be made only upon
receipt of an undertaking by the director or officer to repay all amounts
advanced if it should ultimately be determined that the director of officer is
not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 6.1 or otherwise.
The rights conferred on any person by this Article shall not be exclusive
of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any
statute, provision of the corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, these
bylaws, agreement, vote of the stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise.
Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article
shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in
respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or
modification.
6.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS
The corporation shall have the power, to the maximum extent and in the
manner permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware as the same now
exists or may hereafter be amended, to indemnify any person (other than
directors and officers) against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,
fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in
connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or
proceeding, in which such person was or is a party or is threatened to be made a
party by reason of the fact that such person is or was an employee or agent of
the corporation. For purposes of this Section 6.2, an "employee" or "agent" of
the corporation (other than a director or officer) shall mean any person (i) who
is or was an employee or agent of the corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at
the request of the corporation as an employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or (iii) who was an
employee or agent of a corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the
corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor
corporation.
6.3 INSURANCE
The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is
or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred
by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such,
whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her
against such liability under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware.
ARTICLE VII
RECORDS AND REPORTS
7.1 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS
The corporation shall, either at its principal executive office or at such
place or places as designated by the board of directors, keep a record of its
stockholders listing their names and addresses and the number and class of
shares held by each stockholder, a copy of these bylaws as amended to date,
accounting books and other records of its business and properties.
Any stockholder of record, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall,
upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right
during the usual hours for business to inspect for any proper purpose the
corporation's stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and
records and to make copies or extracts therefrom. A proper purpose shall mean a
purpose reasonably related to such person's interest as a stockholder. In every
instance where an attorney or other agent is the person who seeks the right to
inspection, the demand under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or
such other writing that authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on
behalf of the stockholder. The demand under oath shall be directed to the
corporation at its registered office in Delaware or at its principal place of
business.
7.2 INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS
Any director shall have the right to examine (and to make copies of) the
corporation's stock ledger, a list of its stockholders and its other books and
records for a purpose reasonably related to his or her position as a director.
7.3 ANNUAL STATEMENT TO STOCKHOLDERS
The board of directors shall present at each annual meeting, and at any
special meeting of the stockholders when called for by vote of the stockholders,
a full and clear statement of the business and condition of the corporation.
7.4 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS
The chairman of the board, if any, the president, any vice president, the
chief financial officer, the secretary or any assistant secretary of this
corporation, or any other person authorized by the board of directors or the
president or a vice president, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on
behalf of this corporation all rights incident to any and all shares of the
stock of any other corporation or corporations standing in the name of this
corporation. The authority herein granted may be exercised either by such person
directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of
attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.
7.5 CERTIFICATION AND INSPECTION OF BYLAWS
The original or a copy of these bylaws, as amended or otherwise altered to
date, certified by the secretary, shall be kept at the corporation's principal
executive office and shall be open to inspection by the stockholders of the
corporation, at all reasonable times during office hours.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL MATTERS
8.1 RECORD DATE FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN NOTICE AND VOTING
For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to receive payment of
any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the
stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any other lawful
action (other than action by stockholders by written consent without a meeting),
the board of directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be
more than sixty (60) days before any such action. In that case, only
stockholders of record at the close of business on the date so fixed are
entitled to receive the dividend, distribution or allotment of rights, or to
exercise such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any
shares on the books of the corporation after the record date so fixed, except as
otherwise provided in the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
If the board of directors does not so fix a record date, then the record
date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of
business on the day on which the board adopts the applicable resolution.
8.2 CHECKS; DRAFTS; EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS
From time to time, the board of directors shall determine by resolution
which person or persons may sign or endorse all checks, drafts, other orders for
payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that are issued in
the name of or payable to the corporation, and only the persons so authorized
shall sign or endorse those instruments.
8.3 CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS: HOW EXECUTED
The board of directors, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, may
authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any
contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the
corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Unless so authorized or ratified by the board of directors or within the agency
power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or
authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its
credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
8.4 STOCK CERTIFICATES; TRANSFER; PARTLY PAID SHARES
The shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates,
provided that the board of directors of the corporation may provide by
resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of
its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to
shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the
corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the board of
directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates and, upon request,
every holder of uncertificated shares, shall be entitled to have a certificate
signed by, or in the name of the corporation by, the chairman or vice-chairman
of the board of directors, or the president or vice-president, and by the
treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or the secretary or an assistant secretary
of such corporation representing the number of shares registered in certificate
form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In
case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile
signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer,
transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued
by the corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer,
transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
Certificates for shares shall be of such form and device as the board of
directors may designate and shall state the name of the record holder of the
shares represented thereby; its number; date of issuance; the number of shares
for which it is issued; a summary statement or reference to the powers,
designations, preferences or other special rights of such stock and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights,
if any; a statement or summary of liens, if any; a conspicuous notice of
restrictions upon transfer or registration of transfer, if any; a statement as
to any applicable voting trust agreement; if the shares be assessable, or, if
assessments are collectible by personal action, a plain statement of such facts.
Upon surrender to the secretary or transfer agent of the corporation of a
certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of
succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the
corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel
the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.
The corporation may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly
paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid
therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent
any such partly paid shares, or upon the books and records of the corporation in
the case of uncertificated partly paid shares, the total amount of the
consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated.
Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully paid shares, the corporation shall
declare a dividend upon partly paid shares of the same class, but only upon the
basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.
8.5 SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES
If the corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or
more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the
preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of
each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or
summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the corporation shall
issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, how- ever, that,
except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the
face or back of the certificate that the corporation shall issue to represent
such class or series of stock a statement that the corporation will furnish
without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations,
the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special
rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
8.6 LOST CERTIFICATES
Except as provided in this Section 8.6, no new certificates for shares
shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is
surrendered to the corporation and cancelled at the same time. The board of
directors may, in case any share certificate or certificate for any other
security is lost, stolen or destroyed, authorize the issuance of replacement
certificates on such terms and conditions as the board may require; the board
may require indemnification of the corporation secured by a bond or other
adequate security sufficient to protect the corporation against any claim that
may be made against it, including any expense or liability, on account of the
alleged loss, theft or destruction of the certificate or the issuance of the
replacement certificate.
8.7 TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS
The board of directors may appoint one or more transfer agents or transfer
clerks, and one or more registrars, each of which shall be an incorporated bank
or trust company -- either domestic or foreign, who shall be appointed at such
times and places as the requirements of the corporation may necessitate and the
board of directors may designate.
8.8 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS
Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of
construction, and definitions in the General Corporation Law of Delaware shall
govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this
provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes
the singular, and the term "person" includes both a corporation and a natural
person.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
The original or other bylaws of the corporation may be adopted, amended or
repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote or by the board of directors of
the corporation. The fact that such power has been so conferred upon the
directors shall not divest the stockholders of the power, nor limit their power
to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws.
Whenever an amendment or new bylaw is adopted, it shall be copied in the
book of bylaws with the original bylaws, in the appropriate place. If any bylaw
is repealed, the fact of repeal with the date of the meeting at which the repeal
was enacted or the filing of the operative written consent(s) shall be stated in
said book.
<PAGE>
MERIDIAN DATA , INC. Exhibit 10.1B
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement ("Agreement") is effective as of
__________________ by and between Meridian Data, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and Indemnitee~ ("Indemnitee").
WHEREAS, effective as of the date hereof, Meridian Data, Inc., a California
corporation, is reincorporating into Delaware;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to attract and retain the services of highly
qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve the Company and its related
entities;
WHEREAS, in order to induce Indemnitee to continue to provide services to
the Company, the Company wishes to provide for the indemnification of, and the
advancement of expenses to, Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by law;
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize the continued difficulty in
obtaining liability insurance for the Company's directors, officers, employees,
agents and fiduciaries, the sig- nificant increases in the cost of such
insurance and the general reductions in the coverage of such insurance;
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee further recognize the substantial
increase in corporate litigation in general, subjecting directors, officers,
employees, agents and fiduciaries to expensive litigation risks at the same time
as the availability and coverage of liability insurance has been severely
limited; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the Company's reincorporation, the Company and
Indemnitee desire to continue to have in place the additional protection
provided by an indemnification agreement to provide indemnification and
advancement of expenses to the Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by
Delaware law;
WHEREAS, in view of the considerations set forth above, the Company desires
that Indemnitee shall be indemnified and advanced expenses by the Company as set
forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as set forth below.
1. Certain Definitions.
(a) "Change in Control" shall mean, and shall be deemed to have
occurred if, on or after the date of this Agreement, (i) any "person" (as such
term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended) or group acting in concert, other than a trustee or other fiduciary
holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company acting in such
capacity or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of
the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of
the Company, becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said
Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more
than 50% of the total voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding
Voting Securities, (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals
who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the
Company and any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or
nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of
at least two thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were
directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for
election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a
majority thereof, (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or
consolidation of the Company with any other corporation other than a merger or
consolidation which would result in the Voting Securities of the Company
outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by
remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the
surviving entity) at least 80% of the total voting power represented by the
Voting Securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (iv) the stockholders of the
Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement
for the sale or disposition by the Company of (in one transaction or a series of
related transactions) all or substantially all of the Company's assets.
(b) "Claim" shall mean with respect to a Covered Event: any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute
resolution mechanism, or any hearing, inquiry or investigation that Indemnitee
in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such action, suit,
proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, investigative or other.
(c) References to the "Company" shall include, in addition to Meridian
Data, Inc. any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a
constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which Meridian Data, Inc.
(or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party which, if its separate
existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its
directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries, so that if Indemnitee is
or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of such constituent
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation
as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise,
Indemnitee shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this
Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as Indemnitee
would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate
existence had continued.
(d) "Covered Event" shall mean any event or occurrence related to the
fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary
of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, or is or was serving at the
request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or
by reason of any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee while serving in
such capacity.
(e) "Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses (including attorneys'
fees and all other costs, expenses and obligations incurred in connection with
investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on
appeal), or preparing to defend, to be a witness in or to participate in, any
action, suit, proceeding, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, hearing,
inquiry or investigation), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in
settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) of any Claim and any federal,
state, local or foreign taxes imposed on the Indemnitee as a result of the
actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement.
(f) "Expense Advance" shall mean a payment to Indemnitee pursuant to
Section 3 of Expenses in advance of the settlement of or final judgement in any
action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, hearing,
inquiry or investigation which constitutes a Claim.
(g) "Independent Legal Counsel" shall mean an attorney or firm of
attorneys, selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d) hereof,
who shall not have otherwise performed services for the Company or Indemnitee
within the last three years (other than with respect to matters concerning the
rights of Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other Indemnitees under similar
indemnity agreements).
(h) References to "other enterprises" shall include employee benefit
plans; references to "fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on
Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to "serving
at the request of the Company" shall include any service as a director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves
services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect
to an employee benefit plan, its participants or its beneficiaries; and if
Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to
be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit
plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the
best interests of the Company" as referred to in this Agreement.
(i) "Reviewing Party" shall mean, subject to the provisions of Section
2(d), any person or body appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with
applicable law to review the Company's obligations hereunder and under
applicable law, which may include a member or members of the Company's Board of
Directors, Independent Legal Counsel or any other person or body not a party to
the particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification.
(j) "Section" refers to a section of this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated.
(k) "Voting Securities" shall mean any securities of the Company that
vote generally in the election of directors.
2. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Expenses. Subject to the provisions of Section
2(b) below, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses to the fullest
extent permitted by law if Indemnitee was or is or becomes a party to or witness
or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or
other participant in, any Claim (whether by reason of or arising in part out of
a Covered Event), including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or
payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses.
(b) Review of Indemnification Obligations. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event any Reviewing Party shall have determined (in a written
opinion, in any case in which Independent Legal Counsel is the Reviewing Party)
that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable
law, (i) the Company shall have no further obligation under Section 2(a) to make
any payments to Indemnitee not made prior to such determination by such
Reviewing Party, and (ii) the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by
Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all Expenses
theretofore paid to Indemnitee to which Indemnitee is not entitled hereunder
under applicable law; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has commenced or
thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to
secure a determination that Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder
under applicable law, any determination made by any Reviewing Party that
Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law
shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the
Company for any Expenses theretofore paid in indemnifying Indemnitee until a
final judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all
rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed). Indemnitee's
obligation to reimburse the Company for any Expenses shall be unsecured and no
interest shall be charged thereon.
(c) Indemnitee Rights on Unfavorable Determination; Binding Effect. If
any Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee substantively is not entitled to
be indemnified hereunder in whole or in part under applicable law, Indemnitee
shall have the right to commence litigation seeking an initial determination by
the court or challenging any such determination by such Reviewing Party or any
aspect thereof, including the legal or factual bases therefor, and, subject to
the provisions of Section 15, the Company hereby consents to service of process
and to appear in any such proceeding. Absent such litigation, any determination
by any Reviewing Party shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and
Indemnitee.
(d) Selection of Reviewing Party; Change in Control. If there has not
been a Change in Control, any Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of
Directors, and if there has been such a Change in Control (other than a Change
in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company's Board of
Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control), any
Reviewing Party with respect to all matters thereafter arising concerning the
rights of Indemnitee to indemnification of Expenses under this Agreement or any
other agreement or under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws as
now or hereafter in effect, or under any other applicable law, if desired by
Indemnitee, shall be Independent Legal Counsel selected by Indemnitee and
approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld).
Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written opinion to the
Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent Indemnitee would be
entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law and the Company agrees
to abide by such opinion. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the
Independent Legal Counsel referred to above and to indemnify fully such counsel
against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities
and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement
pursuant hereto. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Company shall not be required to pay Expenses of more than one Independent Legal
Counsel in connection with all matters concerning a single Indemnitee, and such
Independent Legal Counsel shall be the Independent Legal Counsel for any or all
other Indemnitees unless (i) the employment of separate counsel by one or more
Indemnitees has been previously authorized by the Company in writing, or (ii) an
Indemnitee shall have provided to the Company a written statement that such
Indemnitee has reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest
between such Indemnitee and the other Indemnitees with respect to the matters
arising under this Agreement.
(e) Mandatory Payment of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement other than Section 10 hereof, to the extent that Indemnitee
has been successful on the merits or otherwise, including, without limitation,
the dismissal of an action without prejudice, in defense of any Claim,
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in
connection therewith.
3. Expense Advances.
(a) Obligation to Make Expense Advances. Upon receipt of a written
undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amounts if it shall
ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified
therefore by the Company hereunder under applicable law, the Company shall make
Expense Advances to Indemnitee.
(b) Form of Undertaking. Any obligation to repay any Expense Advances
hereunder pursuant to a written undertaking by the Indemnitee shall be unsecured
and no interest shall be charged thereon.
(c) Determination of Reasonable Expense Advances. The parties agree
that for the purposes of any Expense Advance for which Indemnitee has made
written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses
included in such Expense Advance that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee's
counsel as being reasonable shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.
4. Procedures for Indemnification and Expense Advances.
(a) Timing of Payments. All payments of Expenses (including without
limitation Expense Advances) by the Company to the Indemnitee pursuant to this
Agreement shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law as soon as
practicable after written demand by Indemnitee therefor is presented to the
Company, but in no event later than thirty (30) business days after such written
demand by Indemnitee is presented to the Company, except in the case of Expense
Advances, which shall be made no later than ten (10) business days after such
written demand by Indemnitee is presented to the Company.
(b) Notice/Cooperation by Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall, as a condition
precedent to Indemnitee's right to be indemnified or Indemnitee's right to
receive Expense Advances under this Agreement, give the Company notice in
writing as soon as practicable of any Claim made against Indemnitee for which
indemnification will or could be sought under this Agreement. Notice to the
Company shall be directed to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company at the
address shown on the signature page of this Agreement (or such other address as
the Company shall designate in writing to Indemnitee). In addition, Indemnitee
shall give the Company such information and cooperation as it may reasonably
require and as shall be within Indemnitee's power.
(c) No Presumptions; Burden of Proof. For purposes of this Agreement,
the termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or
without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its
equivalent, shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any
particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has
determined that indemnification is not permitted by this Agreement or applicable
law. In addition, neither the failure of any Reviewing Party to have made a
determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any particular standard of
conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual determination by any
Reviewing Party that Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or did not
have such belief, prior to the commencement of legal proceedings by Indemnitee
to secure a judicial determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under
this Agreement under applicable law, shall be a defense to Indemnitee's claim or
create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of
conduct or did not have any particular belief. In connection with any
determination by any Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether the Indemnitee
is entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law, the burden of
proof shall be on the Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled.
(d) Notice to Insurers. If, at the time of the receipt by the Company
of a notice of a Claim pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, the Company has
liability insurance in effect which may cover such Claim, the Company shall give
prompt notice of the commencement of such Claim to the insurers in accordance
with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall
thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay,
on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Claim in
accordance with the terms of such policies.
(e) Selection of Counsel. In the event the Company shall be obligated
hereunder to provide indemnification for or make any Expense Advances with
respect to the Expenses of any Claim, the Company, if appropriate, shall be
entitled to assume the defense of such Claim with counsel approved by Indemnitee
(which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) upon the delivery to
Indemnitee of written notice of the Company's election to do so. After delivery
of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such
counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this
Agreement for any fees or expenses of separate counsel subsequently retained by
or on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to the same Claim; provided that, (i)
Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee's separate counsel in any
such Claim at Indemnitee's expense and (ii) if (A) the employment of separate
counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Company, (B)
Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of
interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense,
or (C) the Company shall not continue to retain such counsel to defend such
Claim, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee's separate counsel shall be
Expenses for which Indemnitee may receive indemnification or Expense Advances
hereunder.
5. Additional Indemnification Rights; Nonexclusivity.
(a) Scope. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify the Indemnitee to
the fullest extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that such indemnification
is not specifically authorized by the other provisions of this Agreement, the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's Bylaws or by statute. In
the event of any change after the date of this Agreement in any applicable law,
statute or rule which expands the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a
member of its board of directors or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, it
is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this
Agreement the greater benefits afforded by such change. In the event of any
change in any applicable law, statute or rule which narrows the right of a
Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its board of directors or an
officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, such change, to the extent not otherwise
required by such law, statute or rule to be applied to this Agreement, shall
have no effect on this Agreement or the parties' rights and obligations
hereunder except as set forth in Section 10(a) hereof.
(b) Nonexclusivity. The indemnification and the payment of Expense
Advances provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to any rights to which
Indemnitee may be entitled under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, its
Bylaws, any other agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested
directors, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or otherwise.
The indemnification and the payment of Expense Advances provided under this
Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action taken or not taken
while serving in an indemnified capacity even though subsequent thereto
Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in such capacity.
6. No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this
Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against
Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment
(under any insurance policy, provision of the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, Bylaws or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise payable hereunder.
7. Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision
of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of
Expenses incurred in connection with any Claim, but not, however, for all of the
total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for
the portion of such Expenses to which Indemnitee is entitled.
8. Mutual Acknowledgment. Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that
in certain instances, federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit the
Company from indem- nifying its directors, officers, employees, agents or
fiduciaries under this Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee understands and
acknowledges that the Company has undertaken or may be required in the future to
undertake with the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit the question of
indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a determination of the
Company's right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee.
9. Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains liability
insurance applicable to directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries,
Indemnitee shall be covered by such policies in such a manner as to provide
Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are provided to the most favorably
insured of the Company's directors, if Indemnitee is a director; or of the Com-
pany's officers, if Indemnitee is not a director of the Company but is an
officer; or of the Company's key employees, agents or fiduciaries, if Indemnitee
is not an officer or director but is a key employee, agent or fiduciary.
10. Exceptions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:
(a) Excluded Action or Omissions. To indemnify or make Expense
Advances to Indemnitee with respect to Claims arising out of acts, omissions or
transactions for which Indemnitee is prohibited from receiving indemnification
under applicable law.
(b) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or make Expense
Advances to Indemnitee with respect to Claims initiated or brought voluntarily
by Indemnitee and not by way of defense, counterclaim or crossclaim, except (i)
with respect to actions or proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right
to indemnification under this Agreement or any other agreement or insurance
policy or under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws now or
hereafter in effect relating to Claims for Covered Events, (ii) in specific
cases if the Board of Directors has approved the initiation or bringing of such
Claim, or (iii) as otherwise required under Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be
entitled to such indemnification, Expense Advances, or insurance recovery, as
the case may be.
(c) Lack of Good Faith. To indemnify Indemnitee for any Expenses
incurred by the Indemnitee with respect to any action instituted (i) by
Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court having
jurisdiction over such action determines as provided in Section 13 that each of
the material assertions made by the Indemnitee as a basis for such action was
not made in good faith or was frivolous, or (ii) by or in the name of the
Company to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court having jurisdiction
over such action determines as provided in Section 13 that each of the material
defenses asserted by Indemnitee in such action was made in bad faith or was
frivolous.
(d) Claims Under Section 16(b). To indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses
and the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of
securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, or any similar successor statute.
11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original.
12. Binding Effect; Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and
their respective successors, assigns (including any direct or indirect successor
by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of
the business or assets of the Company), spouses, heirs and personal and legal
representatives. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether
direct or indirect, and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise)
to all, substantially all, or a substantial part, of the business or assets of
the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to
Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if
no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall continue in effect
regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as a director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary (as applicable) of the Company or of any other
enterprise at the Company's request.
13. Expenses Incurred in Action Relating to Enforcement or Interpretation.
In the event that any action is instituted by Indemnitee under this Agreement or
under any liability insurance policies maintained by the Company to enforce or
interpret any of the terms hereof or thereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be
indemnified for all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to such action
(including without limitation attorneys' fees), regardless of whether Indemnitee
is ulti- mately successful in such action, unless as a part of such action a
court having jurisdiction over such action makes a final judicial determination
(as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that
each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such action
was not made in good faith or was frivolous; provided, however, that until such
final judicial determination is made, Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section
3 to receive payment of Expense Advances hereunder with respect to such action.
In the event of an action instituted by or in the name of the Company under this
Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee
shall be entitled to be indemnified for all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in
defense of such action (including without limitation costs and expenses incurred
with respect to Indemnitee's counterclaims and cross-claims made in such
action), unless as a part of such action a court having jurisdiction over such
action makes a final judicial determination (as to which all rights of appeal
therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that each of the material defenses
asserted by Indemnitee in such action was made in bad faith or was frivolous;
provided, however, that until such final judicial determination is made,
Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section 3 to receive payment of Expense
Advances hereunder with respect to such action.
14. Period of Limitations. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of
action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee,
Indemnitee's estate, spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal
representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of
such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be
extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal
action within such two year period; provided, however, that if any shorter
period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action, such
shorter period shall govern.
15. Notice. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (i) if
delivered by hand and signed for by the party addressed, on the date of such
delivery, or (ii) if mailed by domestic certified or registered mail with
postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date postmarked. Addresses
for notice to either party are as shown on the signature page of this Agreement,
or as subsequently modified by written notice.
16. Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby
irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware
for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out of
or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action instituted under this
Agreement shall be commenced, prosecuted and continued only in the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County, which shall be
the exclusive and only proper forum for adjudicating such a claim.
17. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in
the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a
single section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining
provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Furthermore, to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement
(including without limitation each portion of this Agreement containing any
provision held to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, that is not
itself invalid, void or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect
to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable.
18. Choice of Law. This Agreement, and all rights, remedies, liabilities,
powers and duties of the parties to this Agreement, shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware as applied to
contracts between Delaware residents entered into and to be performed entirely
in the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.
19. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company
shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of
recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents required and shall do
all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company
effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
20. Amendment and Termination. No amendment, modification, termination or
cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing signed
by both the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions
hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing
waiver.
21. Integration and Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire
understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes and merges all previous
written and oral negotiations, commitments, understandings and agreements
relating to the subject matter hereof between the parties hereto.
22. No Construction as Employment Agreement. Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained in
the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliated entities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Indemnification
Agreement as of the date first above written.
MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
By:
Gianluca U. Rattazzi, President and CEO
Address: 5615 Scotts Valley Drive
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED
INDEMNITEE:
Indemnitee~
Address~~~
<PAGE>
Exhibit 10.19
MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
1997 STOCK PLAN
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Stock Plan are:
- to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of
substantial responsibility,
- to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and Consultants,
and,
- to promote the success of the Company's business.
Options granted under the Plan may be Incentive Stock Options or
Nonstatutory Stock Options, as determined by the Administrator at the time of
grant. Stock Purchase Rights may also be granted under the Plan.
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) "Administrator" means the Board or any of its Committees as shall be
administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
(b) "Applicable Laws" means the requirements relating to the
administration of stock option plans under U. S. state corporate laws, U.S.
federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation
system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of
any foreign country or jurisdiction where Options or Stock Purchase Rights are,
or will be, granted under the Plan.
(c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(e) "Committee" means a committee of Directors appointed by the Board
in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
(f) "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company.
(g) "Company" means Meridian Data, Inc., a [California] corporation.
(h) "Consultant" means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the
Company or a Parent or Subsidiary to render services to such entity
(i) "Director" means a member of the Board.
(j) "Disability" means total and permanent disability as defined in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(k) "Employee" means any person, including Officers and Directors,
employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. A Service
Provider shall not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of
absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the
Company or between the Company, its Parent, any Subsidiary, or any successor.
For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed ninety days,
unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or
contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the
Company is not so guaranteed, on the 181st day of such leave any Incentive Stock
Option held by the Optionee shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock
Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director's fee by the Company
shall be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company.
(l) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(m) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock
determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange
or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq National
Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market
Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no
sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system for the last market
trading day prior to the time of determination, as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;
(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized
securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of
a Share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked
prices for the Common Stock on the last market trading day prior to the day of
determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as
the Administrator deems reliable; or
(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock,
the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator.
(n) "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option intended to qualify as an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(o) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option not intended to qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option.
(p) "Notice of Grant" means a written or electronic notice evidencing
certain terms and conditions of an individual Option or Stock Purchase Right
grant. The Notice of Grant is part of the Option Agreement.
(q) "Officer" means a person who is an officer of the Company within the
meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
(r) "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(s) "Option Agreement" means an agreement between the Company and an
Optionee evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option grant. The
Option Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(t) "Option Exchange Program" means a program whereby outstanding
Options are surrendered in exchange for Options with a lower exercise price.
(u) "Optioned Stock" means the Common Stock subject to an Option or
Stock Purchase Right.
(v) "Optionee" means the holder of an outstanding Option or Stock
Purchase Right granted under the Plan.
(w) "Parent" means a "parent corporation," whether now or hereafter
existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(x) "Plan" means this 1997 Stock Plan.
(y) "Restricted Stock" means shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to
a grant of Stock Purchase Rights under Section 11 of the Plan.
(z) "Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement" means a written agreement
between the Company and the Optionee evidencing the terms and restrictions
applying to stock purchased under a Stock Purchase Right. The Restricted Stock
Purchase Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the
Notice of Grant.
(aa) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor
to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to
the Plan.
(bb) "Section 16(b)" means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
(cc) "Service Provider" means an Employee, Director or Consultant.
(dd) "Share" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.
(ee) "Stock Purchase Right" means the right to purchase Common Stock
pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan, as evidenced by a Notice of Grant.
(ff) "Subsidiary" means a "subsidiary corporation", whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
3. Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 13 of the
Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and sold
under the Plan is nine hundred thousand (900,000) Shares. The Shares may be
authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
If an Option or Stock Purchase Right expires or becomes unexercisable
without having been exercised in full, or is surrendered pursuant to an Option
Exchange Program, the unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall become
available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has
terminated); provided, however, that Shares that have actually been issued under
the Plan, whether upon exercise of an Option or Right, shall not be returned to
the Plan and shall not become available for future distribution under the Plan,
except that if Shares of Restricted Stock are repurchased by the Company at
their original purchase price, such Shares shall become available for future
grant under the Plan.
4. Administration of the Plan.
(a) Procedure.
(i) Multiple Administrative Bodies. The Plan may be administered by
different Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers.
(ii) Section 162(m). To the extent that the Administrator determines
it to be desirable to qualify Options granted hereunder as "performance-based
compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan shall
be administered by a Committee of two or more "outside directors" within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(iii) Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions
hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder
shall be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.
(iv) Other Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan
shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee shall
be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.
(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan,
and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the
Board to such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its
discretion:
(i) to determine the Fair Market Value;
(ii) to select the Service Providers to whom Options and Stock
Purchase Rights may be granted hereunder;
(iii) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be
covered by each Option and Stock Purchase Right granted hereunder;
(iv) to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;
(v) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with
the terms of the Plan, of any Option or Stock Purchase Right granted hereunder.
Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price,
the time or times when Options or Stock Purchase Rights may be exercised (which
may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of
forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Option
or Stock Purchase Right of the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based in
each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall
determine;
(vi) to reduce the exercise price of any Option or Stock Purchase
Right to the then current Fair Market Value if the Fair Market Value of the
Common Stock covered by such Option or Stock Purchase Right shall have declined
since the date the Option or Stock Purchase Right was granted;
(vii) to institute an Option Exchange Program;
(viii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and awards
granted pursuant to the Plan;
(ix) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans
established for the purpose of qualifying for preferred tax treatment under
foreign tax laws;
(x) to modify or amend each Option or Stock Purchase Right (subject
to Section 15(c) of the Plan), including the discretionary authority to extend
the post-termination exercisability period of Options longer than is otherwise
provided for in the Plan;
(xi) to allow Optionees to satisfy withholding tax obligations by
electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon exercise
of an Option or Stock Purchase Right that number of Shares having a Fair Market
Value equal to the amount required to be withheld. The Fair Market Value of the
Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date that the amount of tax to
be withheld is to be determined. All elections by an Optionee to have Shares
withheld for this purpose shall be made in such form and under such conditions
as the Administrator may deem necessary or advisable;
(xii) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company
any instrument required to effect the grant of an Option or Stock Purchase Right
previously granted by the Administrator;
(xiii) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or
advisable for administering the Plan.
(c) Effect of Administrator's Decision. The Administrator's decisions,
determinations and interpretations shall be final and binding on all Optionees
and any other holders of Options or Stock Purchase Rights.
5. Eligibility. Nonstatutory Stock Options and Stock Purchase Rights may
be granted to Service Providers. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to
Employees.
6. Limitations.
(a) Each Option shall be designated in the Option Agreement as either an
Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding
such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the
Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the
first time by the Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the
Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be
treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 6(a),
Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they
were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the
time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted.
(b) Neither the Plan nor any Option or Stock Purchase Right shall confer
upon an Optionee any right with respect to continuing the Optionee's
relationship as a Service Provider with the Company, nor shall they interfere in
any way with the Optionee's right or the Company's right to terminate such
relationship at any time, with or without cause.
(c) The following limitations shall apply to grants of Options:
(i) No Service Provider shall be granted, in any fiscal year of the
Company, Options to purchase more than five hundred thousand (500,000) Shares.
(ii) In connection with his or her initial service, a Service
Provider may be granted Options to purchase up to an additional five hundred
thousand (500,000) Shares which shall not count against the limit set forth in
subsection (i) above.
(iii) The foregoing limitations shall be adjusted proportionately in
connection with any change in the Company's capitalization as described in
Section 13.
(iv) If an Option is cancelled in the same fiscal year of the
Company in which it was granted (other than in connection with a transaction
described in Section 13), the cancelled Option will be counted against the
limits set forth in subsections (i) and (ii) above. For this purpose, if the
exercise price of an Option is reduced, the transaction will be treated as a
cancellation of the Option and the grant of a new Option.
7. Term of Plan. Subject to Section 19 of the Plan, the Plan shall become
effective upon its adoption by the Board. It shall continue in effect for a term
of ten (10) years unless terminated earlier under Section 15 of the Plan.
8. Term of Option. The term of each Option shall be stated in the Option
Agreement. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the term shall be ten (10)
years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the
Option Agreement. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to
an Optionee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock
representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the
Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant or such
shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement.
9. Option Exercise Price and Consideration.
(a) Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for the Shares to be
issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be determined by the
Administrator, subject to the following:
(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option
(A) granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock
Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary,
the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value
per Share on the date of grant.
(B) granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in
paragraph (A) immediately above, the per Share exercise price shall be no less
than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(ii) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per Share
exercise price shall be determined by the Administrator. In the case of a
Nonstatutory Stock Option intended to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the per Share
exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on
the date of grant.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted with a
per Share exercise price of less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on
the date of grant pursuant to a merger or other corporate transaction.
(b) Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is granted,
the Administrator shall fix the period within which the Option may be exercised
and shall determine any conditions which must be satisfied before the Option may
be exercised.
(c) Form of Consideration. The Administrator shall determine the
acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method
of payment. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Administrator shall
determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of grant. Such
consideration may consist entirely of:
(i) cash;
(ii) check;
(iii) promissory note;
(iv) other Shares which (A) in the case of Shares acquired upon
exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six months
on the date of surrender, and (B) have a Fair Market Value on the date of
surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said
Option shall be exercised;
(v) consideration received by the Company under a cashless
exercise program implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan;
(vi) a reduction in the amount of any Company liability to the
Optionee, including any liability attributable to the Optionee's participation
in any Company-sponsored deferred compensation program or arrangement;
(vii) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment; or
(viii) such other consideration and method of payment for the
issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
10. Exercise of Option.
(a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder. Any Option granted
hereunder shall be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such
times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth
in the Option Agreement. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise, vesting of
Options granted hereunder shall be tolled during any unpaid leave of absence. An
Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
An Option shall be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i)
written or electronic notice of exercise (in accordance with the Option
Agreement) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full
payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. Full
payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the
Administrator and permitted by the Option Agreement and the Plan. Shares issued
upon exercise of an Option shall be issued in the name of the Optionee or, if
requested by the Optionee, in the name of the Optionee and his or her spouse.
Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books
of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right
to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist
with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.
The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the
Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right
for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as
provided in Section 13 of the Plan.
Exercising an Option in any manner shall decrease the number of
Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under
the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.
(b) Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider. If an Optionee
ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon the Optionee's death or
Disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option within such period of
time as is specified in the Option Agreement to the extent that the Option is
vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of
the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement). In the absence of
a specified time in the Option Agreement, the Option shall remain exercisable
for three (3) months following the Optionee's termination. If, on the date of
termination, the Optionee is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the
Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan.
If, after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within
the time specified by the Administrator, the Option shall terminate, and the
Shares covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.
(c) Disability of Optionee. If an Optionee ceases to be a Service
Provider as a result of the Optionee's Disability, the Optionee may exercise his
or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Option Agreement
to the extent the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event
later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option
Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Option Agreement, the
Option shall remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Optionee's
termination. If, on the date of termination, the Optionee is not vested as to
his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the
Option shall revert to the Plan. If, after termination, the Optionee does not
exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.
(d) Death of Optionee. If an Optionee dies while a Service Provider, the
Option may be exercised within such period of time as is specified in the Option
Agreement (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option
as set forth in the Notice of Grant), by the Optionee's estate or by a person
who acquires the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but
only to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death. In the
absence of a specified time in the Option Agreement, the Option shall remain
exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Optionee's termination. If, at
the time of death, the Optionee is not vested as to his or her entire Option,
the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option shall immediately
revert to the Plan. The Option may be exercised by the executor or administrator
of the Optionee's estate or, if none, by the person(s) entitled to exercise the
Option under the Optionee's will or the laws of descent or distribution. If the
Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.
(e) Buyout Provisions. The Administrator may at any time offer to buy
out for a payment in cash or Shares an Option previously granted based on such
terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate to the
Optionee at the time that such offer is made.
11. Stock Purchase Rights.
(a) Rights to Purchase. Stock Purchase Rights may be issued either
alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other awards granted under the Plan
and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan. After the Administrator determines
that it will offer Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan, it shall advise the
offeree in writing or electronically, by means of a Notice of Grant, of the
terms, conditions and restrictions related to the offer, including the number of
Shares that the offeree shall be entitled to purchase, the price to be paid, and
the time within which the offeree must accept such offer. The offer shall be
accepted by execution of a Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement in the form
determined by the Administrator.
(b) Repurchase Option. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise,
the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall grant the Company a repurchase
option exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of the
purchaser's service with the Company for any reason (including death or
Disability). The purchase price for Shares repurchased pursuant to the
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall be the original price paid by the
purchaser and may be paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the purchaser
to the Company. The repurchase option shall lapse at a rate determined by the
Administrator.
(c) Other Provisions. The Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall
contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the
Plan as may be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.
(d) Rights as a Shareholder. Once the Stock Purchase Right is exercised,
the purchaser shall have the rights equivalent to those of a shareholder, and
shall be a shareholder when his or her purchase is entered upon the records of
the duly authorized transfer agent of the Company. No adjustment will be made
for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the
Stock Purchase Right is exercised, except as provided in Section 13 of the Plan.
12. Non-Transferability of Options and Stock Purchase Rights. Unless
determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Option or Stock Purchase Right may
not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any
manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be
exercised, during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee. If the
Administrator makes an Option or Stock Purchase Right transferable, such Option
or Stock Purchase Right shall contain such additional terms and conditions as
the Administrator deems appropriate.
13. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Merger or Asset
Sale.
(a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the
shareholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by
each outstanding Option and Stock Purchase Right, and the number of shares of
Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to
which no Options or Stock Purchase Rights have yet been granted or which have
been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option or Stock
Purchase Right, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each
such outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right, shall be proportionately
adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common
Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend,
combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or
decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt
of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any
convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected
without receipt of consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the Board,
whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of
stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class,
shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to,
the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option or Stock
Purchase Right.
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution
or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator shall notify each Optionee as
soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction.
The Administrator in its discretion may provide for an Optionee to have the
right to exercise his or her Option until ten (10) days prior to such
transaction as to all of the Optioned Stock covered thereby, including Shares as
to which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable. In addition, the
Administrator may provide that any Company repurchase option applicable to any
Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right shall lapse
as to all such Shares, provided the proposed dissolution or liquidation takes
place at the time and in the manner contemplated. To the extent it has not been
previously exercised, an Option or Stock Purchase Right will terminate
immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.
(c) Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a merger of the Company with
or into another corporation, or the sale of substantially all of the assets of
the Company, each outstanding Option and Stock Purchase Right shall be assumed
or an equivalent option or right substituted by the successor corporation or a
Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the
successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option or Stock
Purchase Right, the Optionee shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise
the Option or Stock Purchase Right as to all of the Optioned Stock, including
Shares as to which it would not otherwise be vested or exercisable. If an Option
or Stock Purchase Right becomes fully vested and exercisable in lieu of
assumption or substitution in the event of a merger or sale of assets, the
Administrator shall notify the Optionee in writing or electronically that the
Option or Stock Purchase Right shall be fully vested and exercisable for a
period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, and the Option or
Stock Purchase Right shall terminate upon the expiration of such period. For the
purposes of this paragraph, the Option or Stock Purchase Right shall be
considered assumed if, following the merger or sale of assets, the option or
right confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share of Optioned Stock
subject to the Option or Stock Purchase Right immediately prior to the merger or
sale of assets, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or
property) received in the merger or sale of assets by holders of Common Stock
for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders
were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the
holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if
such consideration received in the merger or sale of assets is not solely common
stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with
the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be
received upon the exercise of the Option or Stock Purchase Right, for each Share
of Optioned Stock subject to the Option or Stock Purchase Right, to be solely
common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market
value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the
merger or sale of assets.
14. Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Option or Stock Purchase Right
shall be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the
determination granting such Option or Stock Purchase Right, or such other later
date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination shall be
provided to each Optionee within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.
15. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
(a) Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time amend, alter,
suspend or terminate the Plan.
(b) Shareholder Approval. The Company shall obtain shareholder approval
of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with
Applicable Laws.
(c) Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration,
suspension or termination of the Plan shall impair the rights of any Optionee,
unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Administrator,
which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.
Termination of the Plan shall not affect the Administrator's ability to exercise
the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Options granted under the
Plan prior to the date of such termination.
16. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.
(a) Legal Compliance. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the
exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right unless the exercise of such Option
or Stock Purchase Right and the issuance and delivery of such Shares shall
comply with Applicable Laws and shall be further subject to the approval of
counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
(b) Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an
Option or Stock Purchase Right, the Company may require the person exercising
such Option or Stock Purchase Right to represent and warrant at the time of any
such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.
17. Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain
authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is
deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale
of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect
of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority
shall not have been obtained.
18. Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will
at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
19. Shareholder Approval. The Plan shall be subject to approval by the
shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is
adopted. Such shareholder approval shall be obtained in the manner and to the
degree required under Applicable Laws.
<PAGE>
1997 STOCK PLAN
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have
the same defined meanings in this Option Agreement.
I. NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT
[Optionee's Name and Address]
You have been granted an option to purchase Common Stock of the Company,
subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, as
follows:
Grant Number _________________________
Date of Grant _________________________
Vesting Commencement Date _________________________
Exercise Price per Share $_________________________
Total Number of Shares Granted _________________________
Total Exercise Price $_________________________
Type of Option: ___ Incentive Stock Option
___ Nonstatutory Stock Option
Term/Expiration Date: _________________________
Vesting Schedule:
This Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, in accordance with the
following schedule:
25% of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest twelve months after the
Vesting Commencement Date, and 1/48 of the Shares subject to the Option shall
vest each month thereafter, subject to the Optionee continuing to be a Service
Provider on such dates.
Termination Period:
This Option may be exercised for thirty days after Optionee ceases to be a
Service Provider. Upon the death or Disability of the Optionee, this Option may
be exercised for such longer period as provided in the Plan. In no event shall
this Option be exercised later than the Term/Expiration Date as provided above.
II. AGREEMENT
1. Grant of Option. The Plan Administrator of the Company hereby grants to
the Optionee named in the Notice of Grant attached as Part I of this Agreement
(the "Optionee") an option (the "Option") to purchase the number of Shares, as
set forth in the Notice of Grant, at the exercise price per share set forth in
the Notice of Grant (the "Exercise Price"), subject to the terms and conditions
of the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. Subject to Section 15(c)
of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the
Plan and the terms and conditions of this Option Agreement, the terms and
conditions of the Plan shall prevail.
If designated in the Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock Option
("ISO"), this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under
Section 422 of the Code. However, if this Option is intended to be an Incentive
Stock Option, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code Section
422(d) it shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option ("NSO").
2. Exercise of Option.
(a) Right to Exercise. This Option is exercisable during its term in
accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Grant and the
applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.
(b) Method of Exercise. This Option is exercisable by delivery of an
exercise notice, in the form attached as Exhibit A (the "Exercise Notice"),
which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in
respect of which the Option is being exercised (the "Exercised Shares"), and
such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company
pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. The Exercise Notice shall be completed
by the Optionee and delivered to [Title] of the Company. The Exercise Notice
shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all
Exercised Shares. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by
the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by such aggregate
Exercise Price.
No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of this Option unless
such issuance and exercise complies with Applicable Laws. Assuming such
compliance, for income tax purposes the Exercised Shares shall be considered
transferred to the Optionee on the date the Option is exercised with respect to
such Exercised Shares.
3. Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by
any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee:
(a) cash; or
(b) check;
(c) consideration received by the Company under a cashless exercise
program implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan; or
(d) surrender of other Shares which (i) in the case of Shares acquired
upon exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six
(6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a Fair Market Value on the
date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised
Shares].
4. Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in any
manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may
be exercised during the lifetime of Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms of
the Plan and this Option Agreement shall be binding upon the executors,
administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.
5. Term of Option. This Option may be exercised only within the term set
out in the Notice of Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in
accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option Agreement.
6. Tax Consequences. Some of the federal tax consequences relating to this
Option, as of the date of this Option, are set forth below. THIS SUMMARY IS
NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
THE OPTIONEE SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR
DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.
(a) Exercising the Option.
(i) Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Optionee may incur regular
federal income tax liability upon exercise of a NSO. The Optionee will be
treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax
rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised
Shares on the date of exercise over their aggregate Exercise Price. If the
Optionee is an Employee or a former Employee, the Company will be required to
withhold from his or her compensation or collect from Optionee and pay to the
applicable taxing authorities an amount in cash equal to a percentage of this
compensation income at the time of exercise, and may refuse to honor the
exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not
delivered at the time of exercise.
(ii) Incentive Stock Option. If this Option qualifies as an ISO,
the Optionee will have no regular federal income tax liability upon its
exercise, although the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised
Shares on the date of exercise over their aggregate Exercise Price will be
treated as an adjustment to alternative minimum taxable income for federal tax
purposes and may subject the Optionee to alternative minimum tax in the year of
exercise. In the event that the Optionee ceases to be an Employee but remains a
Service Provider, any Incentive Stock Option of the Optionee that remains
unexercised shall cease to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option and will be
treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option on the date three (3)
months and one (1) day following such change of status.
(b) Disposition of Shares.
(i) NSO. If the Optionee holds NSO Shares for at least one year, any
gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital
gain for federal income tax purposes.
(ii) ISO. If the Optionee holds ISO Shares for at least one year
after exercise and two years after the grant date, any gain realized on
disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal
income tax purposes. If the Optionee disposes of ISO Shares within one year
after exercise or two years after the grant date, any gain realized on such
disposition will be treated as compensation income (taxable at ordinary income
rates) to the extent of the excess, if any, of the lesser of (A) the difference
between the Fair Market Value of the Shares acquired on the date of exercise and
the aggregate Exercise Price, or (B) the difference between the sale price of
such Shares and the aggregate Exercise Price. Any additional gain will be taxed
as capital gain, short-term or long-term depending on the period that the ISO
Shares were held.
(c) Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares. If the Optionee
sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to an ISO on
or before the later of (i) two years after the grant date, or (ii) one year
after the exercise date, the Optionee shall immediately notify the Company in
writing of such disposition. The Optionee agrees that he or she may be subject
to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income recognized
from such early disposition of ISO Shares by payment in cash or out of the
current earnings paid to the Optionee.
7. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan is incorporated herein by
reference. The Plan and this Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their
entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with
respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the
Optionee's interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and
Optionee. This agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws, but not
the choice of law rules, of California.
8. NO GUARANTEE OF CONTINUED SERVICE. OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT
THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY
CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (AND NOT THROUGH THE
ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED AN OPTION OR PURCHASING SHARES HEREUNDER).
OPTIONEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT
CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE
PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT
INTERFERE WITH OPTIONEE'S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY'S RIGHT TO TERMINATE OPTIONEE'S
RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.
By your signature and the signature of the Company's representative below,
you and the Company agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the
terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. Optionee has
reviewed the Plan and this Option Agreement in their entirety, has had an
opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option
Agreement and fully understands all provisions of the Plan and Option Agreement.
Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions
or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions relating to the Plan
and Option Agreement. Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any
change in the residence address indicated below.
OPTIONEE: MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
- ----------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Signature By
- ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------
Print Name Title
- ------------------------------------
Residence Address
- ------------------------------------
CONSENT OF SPOUSE
The undersigned spouse of Optionee has read and hereby approves the terms
and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. In consideration of the
Company's granting his or her spouse the right to purchase Shares as set forth
in the Plan and this Option Agreement, the undersigned hereby agrees to be
irrevocably bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option
Agreement and further agrees that any community property interest shall be
similarly bound. The undersigned hereby appoints the undersigned's spouse as
attorney-in-fact for the undersigned with respect to any amendment or exercise
of rights under the Plan or this Option Agreement.
---------------------------------------
Spouse of Optionee
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
1997 STOCK PLAN
EXERCISE NOTICE
Meridian Data, Inc.
5615 Scotts Valley Drive
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Attention: [Title]
1. Exercise of Option. Effective as of today, ________________, 199__, the
undersigned ("Purchaser") hereby elects to purchase ______________ shares (the
"Shares") of the Common Stock of Meridian Data, Inc. (the "Company") under and
pursuant to the 1997 Stock Plan (the "Plan") and the Stock Option Agreement
dated , 19___ (the "Option Agreement"). The purchase price for the Shares shall
be $ , as required by the Option Agreement.
2. Delivery of Payment. Purchaser herewith delivers to the Company the full
purchase price for the Shares.
3. Representations of Purchaser. Purchaser acknowledges that Purchaser has
received, read and understood the Plan and the Option Agreement and agrees to
abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.
4. Rights as Shareholder. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the
appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer
agent of the Company) of the Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or
any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned
Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Shares so acquired shall
be issued to the Optionee as soon as practicable after exercise of the Option.
No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record
date is prior to the date of issuance, except as provided in Section 13 of the
Plan.
5. Tax Consultation. Purchaser understands that Purchaser may suffer adverse
tax consequences as a result of Purchaser's purchase or disposition of the
Shares. Purchaser represents that Purchaser has consulted with any tax
consultants Purchaser deems advisable in connection with the purchase or
disposition of the Shares and that Purchaser is not relying on the Company for
any tax advice.
6. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan and Option Agreement are
incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement, the Plan and the Option
Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and
agreements of the Company and Purchaser with respect to the subject matter
hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Purchaser's interest except by
means of a writing signed by the Company and Purchaser. This agreement is
governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of
California.
Submitted by: Accepted by:
PURCHASER: MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------
Signature By
- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------
Print Name Its
Address: Address:
_________________________________ Meridian Data, Inc.
_________________________________ 5615 Scotts Valley Drive
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
-------------------------------------
Date Received
<PAGE>
1997 STOCK PLAN
NOTICE OF GRANT OF STOCK PURCHASE RIGHT
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have
the same defined meanings in this Notice of Grant.
[Grantee's Name and Address]
You have been granted the right to purchase Common Stock of the Company,
subject to the Company's Repurchase Option and your ongoing status as a Service
Provider (as described in the Plan and the attached Restricted Stock Purchase
Agreement), as follows:
Grant Number _________________________
Date of Grant _________________________
Price Per Share $________________________
Total Number of Shares Subject _________________________
to This Stock Purchase Right
Expiration Date: _________________________
YOU MUST EXERCISE THIS STOCK PURCHASE RIGHT BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE OR IT
WILL TERMINATE AND YOU WILL HAVE NO FURTHER RIGHT TO PURCHASE THE SHARES. By
your signature and the signature of the Company's representative below, you and
the Company agree that this Stock Purchase Right is granted under and governed
by the terms and conditions of the 1997 Stock Plan and the Restricted Stock
Purchase Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit A-1, both of which are made a
part of this document. You further agree to execute the attached Restricted
Stock Purchase Agreement as a condition to purchasing any shares under this
Stock Purchase Right.
GRANTEE: MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
- --------------------------- --------------------------------
Signature By
- --------------------------- --------------------------------
Print Name Title
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A-1
1997 STOCK PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have
the same defined meanings in this Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement.
WHEREAS the Purchaser named in the Notice of Grant, (the "Purchaser") is an
Service Provider, and the Purchaser's continued participation is considered by
the Company to be important for the Company's continued growth; and
WHEREAS in order to give the Purchaser an opportunity to acquire an equity
interest in the Company as an incentive for the Purchaser to participate in the
affairs of the Company, the Admin- istrator has granted to the Purchaser a Stock
Purchase Right subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Notice of
Grant, which are incorporated herein by reference, and pursuant to this
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement").
NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. Sale of Stock. The Company hereby agrees to sell to the Purchaser and the
Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock (the
"Shares"), at the per Share purchase price and as otherwise described in the
Notice of Grant.
2. Payment of Purchase Price. The purchase price for the Shares may be paid
by delivery to the Company at the time of execution of this Agreement of cash, a
check, or some combination thereof.
3. Repurchase Option.
(a) In the event the Purchaser ceases to be a Service Provider for any
or no reason (including death or disability) before all of the Shares are
released from the Company's Repurchase Option (see Section 4), the Company
shall, upon the date of such termination (as reasonably fixed and determined by
the Company) have an irrevocable, exclusive option (the "Repurchase Option") for
a period of sixty (60) days from such date to repurchase up to that number of
shares which constitute the Unreleased Shares (as defined in Section 4) at the
original purchase price per share (the "Repurchase Price"). The Repurchase
Option shall be exercised by the Company by delivering written notice to the
Purchaser or the Purchaser's executor (with a copy to the Escrow Holder) AND, at
the Company's option, (i) by delivering to the Purchaser or the Purchaser's
executor a check in the amount of the aggregate Repurchase Price, or (ii) by
cancelling an amount of the Purchaser's indebtedness to the Company equal to the
aggregate Repurchase Price, or (iii) by a combination of (i) and (ii) so that
the combined payment and cancellation of indebtedness equals the aggregate
Repurchase Price. Upon delivery of such notice and the payment of the aggregate
Repurchase Price, the Company shall become the legal and beneficial owner of the
Shares being repurchased and all rights and interests therein or relating
thereto, and the Company shall have the right to retain and transfer to its own
name the number of Shares being repurchased by the Company.
(b) Whenever the Company shall have the right to repurchase Shares
hereunder, the Company may designate and assign one or more employees, officers,
directors or shareholders of the Company or other persons or organizations to
exercise all or a part of the Company's purchase rights under this Agreement and
purchase all or a part of such Shares. If the Fair Market Value of the Shares to
be repurchased on the date of such designation or assignment (the "Repurchase
FMV") exceeds the aggregate Repurchase Price of such Shares, then each such
designee or assignee shall pay the Company cash equal to the difference between
the Repurchase FMV and the aggregate Repurchase Price of such Shares.
4. Release of Shares From Repurchase Option.
(a) _______________________ percent (______%) of the Shares shall be
released from the Company's Repurchase Option [one year] after the Date of Grant
and __________________ percent (______%) of the Shares [at the end of each month
thereafter], provided that the Purchaser does not cease to be a Service Provider
prior to the date of any such release.
(b) Any of the Shares that have not yet been released from the
Repurchase Option are referred to herein as "Unreleased Shares."
(c) The Shares that have been released from the Repurchase Option shall
be delivered to the Purchaser at the Purchaser's request (see Section 6).
5. Restriction on Transfer. Except for the escrow described in Section 6 or
the transfer of the Shares to the Company or its assignees contemplated by this
Agreement, none of the Shares or any beneficial interest therein shall be
transferred, encumbered or otherwise disposed of in any way until such Shares
are released from the Company's Repurchase Option in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution.
6. Escrow of Shares.
(a) To ensure the availability for delivery of the Purchaser's
Unreleased Shares upon repurchase by the Company pursuant to the Repurchase
Option, the Purchaser shall, upon execution of this Agreement, deliver and
deposit with an escrow holder designated by the Company (the "Escrow Holder")
the share certificates representing the Unreleased Shares, together with the
stock assignment duly endorsed in blank, attached hereto as Exhibit A-2. The
Unreleased Shares and stock assignment shall be held by the Escrow Holder,
pursuant to the Joint Escrow Instructions of the Company and Purchaser attached
hereto as Exhibit A-3, until such time as the Company's Repurchase Option
expires. As a further condition to the Company's obligations under this
Agreement, the Company may require the spouse of Purchaser, if any, to execute
and deliver to the Company the Consent of Spouse attached hereto as Exhibit A-4.
(b) The Escrow Holder shall not be liable for any act it may do or omit
to do with respect to holding the Unreleased Shares in escrow while acting in
good faith and in the exercise of its judgment.
(c) If the Company or any assignee exercises the Repurchase Option
hereunder, the Escrow Holder, upon receipt of written notice of such exercise
from the proposed transferee, shall take all steps necessary to accomplish such
transfer.
(d) When the Repurchase Option has been exercised or expires unexercised
or a portion of the Shares has been released from the Repurchase Option, upon
request the Escrow Holder shall promptly cause a new certificate to be issued
for the released Shares and shall deliver the certificate to the Company or the
Purchaser, as the case may be.
(e) Subject to the terms hereof, the Purchaser shall have all the rights
of a shareholder with respect to the Shares while they are held in escrow,
including without limitation, the right to vote the Shares and to receive any
cash dividends declared thereon. If, from time to time during the term of the
Repurchase Option, there is (i) any stock dividend, stock split or other change
in the Shares, or (ii) any merger or sale of all or substantially all of the
assets or other acquisition of the Company, any and all new, substituted or
additional securities to which the Purchaser is entitled by reason of the
Purchaser's ownership of the Shares shall be immediately subject to this escrow,
deposited with the Escrow Holder and included thereafter as "Shares" for
purposes of this Agreement and the Repurchase Option.
7. Legends. The share certificate evidencing the Shares, if any, issued
hereunder shall be endorsed with the following legend (in addition to any legend
required under applicable state securities laws):
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN
RESTRICTIONS UPON TRANSFER AND RIGHTS OF REPURCHASE AS SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE SHAREHOLDER, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE
SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.
8. Adjustment for Stock Split. All references to the number of Shares and
the purchase price of the Shares in this Agreement shall be appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or other change in the
Shares which may be made by the Company after the date of this Agreement.
9. Tax Consequences. The Purchaser has reviewed with the Purchaser's own tax
advisors the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of this
investment and the transactions contem- plated by this Agreement. The Purchaser
is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations
of the Company or any of its agents. The Purchaser understands that the
Purchaser (and not the Company) shall be responsible for the Purchaser's own tax
liability that may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. The Purchaser understands that Section 83 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), taxes as ordinary income the difference
between the purchase price for the Shares and the Fair Market Value of the
Shares as of the date any restrictions on the Shares lapse. In this context,
"restriction" includes the right of the Company to buy back the Shares pursuant
to the Repurchase Option. The Purchaser understands that the Purchaser may elect
to be taxed at the time the Shares are purchased rather than when and as the
Repurchase Option expires by filing an election under Section 83(b) of the Code
with the IRS within 30 days from the date of purchase. The form for making this
election is attached as Exhibit A-5 hereto.
THE PURCHASER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS THE PURCHASER'S SOLE
RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THE COMPANY'S TO FILE TIMELY THE ELECTION UNDER SECTION
83(b), EVEN IF THE PURCHASER REQUESTS THE COMPANY OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES TO MAKE
THIS FILING ON THE PURCHASER'S BEHALF.
10. General Provisions.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by the internal substantive laws,
but not the choice of law rules of California. This Agreement, subject to the
terms and conditions of the Plan and the Notice of Grant, represents the entire
agreement between the parties with respect to the purchase of the Shares by the
Purchaser. Subject to Section 15(c) of the Plan, in the event of a conflict
between the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail. Unless
otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same
defined meanings in this Agreement.
(b) Any notice, demand or request required or permitted to be given by
either the Company or the Purchaser pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered personally or
deposited in the U.S. mail, First Class with postage prepaid, and addressed to
the parties at the addresses of the parties set forth at the end of this
Agreement or such other address as a party may request by notifying the other in
writing.
Any notice to the Escrow Holder shall be sent to the Company's address
with a copy to the other party hereto.
(c) The rights of the Company under this Agreement shall be transferable
to any one or more persons or entities, and all covenants and agreements
hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the Company's
successors and assigns. The rights and obligations of the Purchaser under this
Agreement may only be assigned with the prior written consent of the Company.
(d) Either party's failure to enforce any provision of this Agreement
shall not in any way be construed as a waiver of any such provision, nor prevent
that party from thereafter enforcing any other provision of this Agreement. The
rights granted both parties hereunder are cumulative and shall not constitute a
waiver of either party's right to assert any other legal remedy available to it.
(e) The Purchaser agrees upon request to execute any further documents
or instruments necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes or intent of
this Agreement.
(f) PURCHASER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4 HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING SERVICE AS A SERVICE
PROVIDER AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED OR
PURCHASING SHARES HEREUNDER). PURCHASER FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT
THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE
SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED
ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT
ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE WITH PURCHASER'S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY'S RIGHT TO
TERMINATE PURCHASER'S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR
WITHOUT CAUSE.
By Purchaser's signature below, Purchaser represents that he or she is
familiar with the terms and provisions of the Plan, and hereby accepts this
Agreement subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof. Purchaser has
reviewed the Plan and this Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity
to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Agreement and fully
understands all provisions of this Agreement. Purchaser agrees to accept as
binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the
Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan or this Agreement.
Purchaser further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence
indicated in the Notice of Grant.
DATED: _____________________
PURCHASER: MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------
Signature By
- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------
Print Name Title
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A-2
ASSIGNMENT SEPARATE FROM CERTIFICATE
FOR VALUE RECEIVED I, _____________________________, hereby sell, assign and
transfer unto _______________________________________ (__________) shares of the
Common Stock of Meridian Data, Inc. standing in my name of the books of said
corporation represented by Certificate No. __ herewith and do hereby irrevocably
constitute and appoint ___________________________ to transfer the said stock on
the books of the within named corporation with full power of substitution in the
premises.
This Stock Assignment may be used only in accordance with the Restricted
Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") between________________________ and
the undersigned dated ______________, 19__.
Dated: _______________, 19
Signature:______________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Please do not fill in any blanks other than the signature
line. The purpose of this assignment is to enable the Company to exercise the
Repurchase Option, as set forth in the Agreement, without requiring additional
signatures on the part of the Purchaser.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A-3
JOINT ESCROW INSTRUCTIONS
_______, 19__
Corporate Secretary
Meridian Data, Inc.
5615 Scotts Valley Drive
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Dear ________________:
As Escrow Agent for both Meridian Data, Inc., a California corporation (the
"Company"), and the undersigned purchaser of stock of the Company (the
"Purchaser"), you are hereby authorized and directed to hold the documents
delivered to you pursuant to the terms of that certain Restricted Stock Purchase
Agreement ("Agreement") between the Company and the undersigned, in accordance
with the following instructions:
1. In the event the Company and/or any assignee of the Company (referred to
collectively as the "Company") exercises the Company's Repurchase Option set
forth in the Agreement, the Company shall give to Purchaser and you a written
notice specifying the number of shares of stock to be purchased, the purchase
price, and the time for a closing hereunder at the principal office of the
Company. Purchaser and the Company hereby irrevocably authorize and direct you
to close the transaction contemplated by such notice in accordance with the
terms of said notice.
2. At the closing, you are directed (a) to date the stock assignments
necessary for the transfer in question, (b) to fill in the number of shares
being transferred, and (c) to deliver same, together with the certificate
evidencing the shares of stock to be transferred, to the Company or its
assignee, against the simultaneous delivery to you of the purchase price (by
cash, a check, or some combination thereof) for the number of shares of stock
being purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Company's Repurchase Option.
3. Purchaser irrevocably authorizes the Company to deposit with you any
certificates evidencing shares of stock to be held by you hereunder and any
additions and substitutions to said shares as defined in the Agreement.
Purchaser does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint you as Purchaser's
attorney-in-fact and agent for the term of this escrow to execute with respect
to such securities all documents necessary or appropriate to make such
securities negotiable and to complete any transaction herein contemplated,
including but not limited to the filing with any applicable state blue sky
authority of any required applications for consent to, or notice of transfer of,
the securities. Subject to the provisions of this paragraph 3, Purchaser shall
exercise all rights and privileges of a shareholder of the Company while the
stock is held by you.
4. Upon written request of the Purchaser, but no more than once per calendar
year, unless the Company's Repurchase Option has been exercised, you shall
deliver to Purchaser a certificate or certificates representing so many shares
of stock as are not then subject to the Company's Repurchase Option. Within 90
days after Purchaser ceases to be a Service Provider, you shall deliver to
Purchaser a certificate or certificates representing the aggregate number of
shares held or issued pursuant to the Agreement and not purchased by the Company
or its assignees pursuant to exercise of the Company's Repurchase Option.
5. If at the time of termination of this escrow you should have in your
possession any documents, securities, or other property belonging to Purchaser,
you shall deliver all of the same to Purchaser and shall be discharged of all
further obligations hereunder.
6. Your duties hereunder may be altered, amended, modified or revoked only
by a writing signed by all of the parties hereto.
7. You shall be obligated only for the performance of such duties as are
specifically set forth herein and may rely and shall be protected in relying or
refraining from acting on any instrument reasonably believed by you to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. You
shall not be personally liable for any act you may do or omit to do hereunder as
Escrow Agent or as attorney-in-fact for Purchaser while acting in good faith,
and any act done or omitted by you pursuant to the advice of your own attorneys
shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith.
8. You are hereby expressly authorized to disregard any and all warnings
given by any of the parties hereto or by any other person or corporation,
excepting only orders or process of courts of law, and are hereby expressly
authorized to comply with and obey orders, judgments or decrees of any court. In
case you obey or comply with any such order, judgment or decree, you shall not
be liable to any of the parties hereto or to any other person, firm or
corporation by reason of such compliance, notwithstanding any such order,
judgment or decree being subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside,
vacated or found to have been entered without jurisdiction.
9. You shall not be liable in any respect on account of the identity,
authorities or rights of the parties executing or delivering or purporting to
execute or deliver the Agreement or any documents or papers deposited or called
for hereunder.
10. You shall not be liable for the outlawing of any rights under the
statute of limitations with respect to these Joint Escrow Instructions or any
documents deposited with you.
11. You shall be entitled to employ such legal counsel and other experts as
you may deem necessary properly to advise you in connection with your
obligations hereunder, may rely upon the advice of such counsel, and may pay
such counsel reasonable compensation therefor.
12. Your responsibilities as Escrow Agent hereunder shall terminate if you
shall cease to be an officer or agent of the Company or if you shall resign by
written notice to each party. In the event of any such termination, the Company
shall appoint a successor Escrow Agent.
13. If you reasonably require other or further instruments in connection
with these Joint Escrow Instructions or obligations in respect hereto, the
necessary parties hereto shall join in furnishing such instruments.
14. It is understood and agreed that should any dispute arise with respect
to the delivery and/or ownership or right of possession of the securities held
by you hereunder, you are authorized and directed to retain in your possession
without liability to anyone all or any part of said securities until such
disputes shall have been settled either by mutual written agreement of the
parties concerned or by a final order, decree or judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction after the time for appeal has expired and no appeal has
been perfected, but you shall be under no duty whatsoever to institute or defend
any such proceedings.
15. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and
shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the
United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail with postage and fees
prepaid, addressed to each of the other parties thereunto entitled at the
following addresses or at such other addresses as a party may designate by ten
days' advance written notice to each of the other parties hereto.
COMPANY: Meridian Data, Inc.
5615 Scotts Valley Drive
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
PURCHASER:
ESCROW AGENT: Corporate Secretary
Meridian Data, Inc.
5615 Scotts Valley Drive
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
16. By signing these Joint Escrow Instructions, you become a party hereto
only for the purpose of said Joint Escrow Instructions; you do not become a
party to the Agreement.
17. This instrument shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto, and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
18. These Joint Escrow Instructions shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with, the internal substantive laws, but not the choice
of law rules, of California.
Very truly yours,
MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
-------------------------------------
By
-------------------------------------
Title
PURCHASER:
-------------------------------------
Signature
-------------------------------------
Print Name
ESCROW AGENT:
- -------------------------------------
Corporate Secretary
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A-4
CONSENT OF SPOUSE
I, ____________________, spouse of ___________________, have read and
approve the foregoing Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement"). In
consideration of the Company's grant to my spouse of the right to purchase
shares of Meridian Data, Inc., as set forth in the Agreement, I hereby appoint
my spouse as my attorney-in-fact in respect to the exercise of any rights under
the Agreement and agree to be bound by the provisions of the Agreement insofar
as I may have any rights in said Agreement or any shares issued pursuant thereto
under the community property laws or similar laws relating to marital property
in effect in the state of our residence as of the date of the signing of the
foregoing Agreement.
Dated: _______________, 19
------------------------------------------
Signature of Spouse
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A-5
ELECTION UNDER SECTION 83(b)
OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986
The undersigned taxpayer hereby elects, pursuant to Section 83(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to include in taxpayer's gross income
for the current taxable year the amount of any compensation taxable to taxpayer
in connection with his or her receipt of the property described below:
1. The name, address, taxpayer identification number and taxable year of the
undersigned are as follows:
NAME: TAXPAYER:_______________ SPOUSE:_________________
ADDRESS:______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
IDENTIFICATION NO.: TAXPAYER:____________ SPOUSE:_____________
TAXABLE YEAR:______
2. The property with respect to which the election is made is described as
follows: _______ shares (the "Shares") of the Common Stock of Meridian Data,
Inc. (the "Company").
3. The date on which the property was transferred is:_______________, 19__.
4. The property is subject to the following restrictions:
The Shares may be repurchased by the Company, or its assignee, upon certain
events. This right lapses with regard to a portion of the Shares based on the
continued performance of services by the taxpayer over time.
5. The fair market value at the time of transfer, determined without regard to
any restriction other than a restriction which by its terms will never lapse, of
such property is: $______________.
6. The amount (if any) paid for such property is: $______________.
The undersigned has submitted a copy of this statement to the person for whom
the services were performed in connection with the undersigned's receipt of the
above-described property. The transferee of such property is the person
performing the services in connection with the transfer of said property.
The undersigned understands that the foregoing election may not be revoked
except with the consent of the Commissioner.
Dated: ___________________, 19____ __________________________________________
Taxpayer
The undersigned spouse of taxpayer joins in this election.
Dated: ___________________, 19____ __________________________________________
Spouse of Taxpayer
