ASTROPOWER INC
S-8, EX-4.7, 2000-10-24
SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES
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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.7

                     NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                     ------------------------------------

1.   Grant of Option.
     ---------------

  AstroPower, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby grants to
              Clare Nordquist (the "Director"), an option, to purchase an
              aggregate of 12,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value
              ("Common Stock"), of the Company at a price of $12.13 per share,
              purchasable as set forth in and subject to the terms and
              conditions of this option. Except where the context otherwise
              requires, the term "Company" shall include the parent and all
              subsidiaries of the Company as defined in Sections 425(e) and
              425(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
              "Code").

2.   Non-qualified Stock Option.
     --------------------------

  This option is not intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the
              meaning of Section 422A of the Code.

3.   Exercise of Option and Provisions for Termination.
     -------------------------------------------------

     (e)      Vesting Schedule
              ----------------

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, this option may be exercised
     prior to the tenth Anniversary of the date of grant (hereinafter the
     "Expiration Date") in installments as to not more than the number of shares
     and during the respective installment periods set forth in the table below.
     The right of exercise shall be cumulative so that if the option is not
     exercised to the maximum extent permissible during any exercise period, it
     shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, with respect to all shares not
     so purchased at any time prior to the Expiration Date or the earlier
     termination of this option.

                  Exercise Period                Total No. of Shares Exercisable
                  ---------------                -------------------------------

                  On or after 12/6/99
                  But prior to 12/6/00                         3,000

                  On or after 12/6/00
                  But prior to 12/6/01                         3,000

                  On or after 12/6/01
                  But prior to 12/6/02                         3,000

                  On or after 12/6/03                          3,000

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          This option may not be exercised at any time on or after the
Expiration Date.

     (b)  Exercise Procedure.
          ------------------

Subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, this option shall be
     exercised by the Director's delivery of written notice of exercise to the
     Treasurer of the Company, specifying the number of shares to be purchased
     and the purchase price to be paid therefore and accompanied by payment in
     full in accordance with Section 4. Such exercise shall be effective upon
     receipt by the Treasurer of the Company of such written notice together
     with the required payment. The Director may purchase less than the number
     of shares covered hereby, provided that no partial exercise of this option
     may be for any fractional share or for fewer than ten whole shares.

     (c)  Exercise Period Upon Death or Disability.
          ----------------------------------------

          If the Director dies or becomes disabled (with the meaning of Section
          22(e)(3) of the Code or any successor provision thereto), this option
          shall be exercisable, within the period of one year following the date
          of death or disability of the Director (but in no event after the
          Expiration Date), by the Director or by the person to whom this option
          is transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution,
          provided that this option shall be exercisable only to the extent that
          -------- ----
          this option was exercisable by the Director on the date of his or her
          death or disability. Except as otherwise indicated by the context, the
          term "Director", as used in this option, shall be deemed to include
          the estate of the Director or any person who acquires the right to
          exercise this option by bequest or inheritance or otherwise by reason
          of the death of the Director.

4.   Payment of Purchase Price.
     -------------------------

     Method of Payment.
     -----------------

     Payment of the purchase price for shares purchased upon exercise of this
     option shall be made by delivery to the Company of cash or a check to the
     order of the Company in the amount equal to the purchase price of such
     shares.

5.   Delivery of Shares; Compliance with Securities Laws, Etc.
     ---------------------------------------------------------

     (a)  General.
          -------

          The Company shall, upon payment of the option price for the number of
          shares purchased and paid for, make prompt delivery of such shares to
          the Director, provided that if any law or regulation requires the
                        -------- ----
          Company to take any action with respect to such shares before the
          issuance thereof, then the date of delivery of such shares shall be
          extended for the period necessary to complete such action.

     (b)  Listing, Qualification, Etc.
          ----------------------------

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This option shall be subject to the requirement that, if at any time, counsel to
     the Company shall determine that the listing, registration or qualification
     of the shares subject hereto upon any securities exchange or under any
     state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental or
     regulatory body, is necessary as a condition of, or in connection with, the
     issuance or purchase of shares hereunder, this option may not be exercised,
     in whole or in part, unless such listing, registration, qualification,
     consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained on conditions
     acceptable to the Board of Directors. Nothing herein shall be deemed to
     require the Company to apply for or to obtain such listing, registration or
     qualification.

6.   Nontransferability of Option.
     ----------------------------

  Except as provided in paragraph (c) of Section 3, this option is personal and
                  no rights granted hereunder may be transferred, assigned,
                  pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of
                  law or otherwise) nor shall any such rights be subject to
                  execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to
                  transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of
                  this option or of such rights contrary to the provisions
                  hereof, or upon the levy of any attachment or similar process
                  upon this option or such rights, this option and such rights
                  shall, at the election of the Company, become null and void.

7.   Rights as a Shareholder.
     -----------------------

  The Director shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares
                  which may be purchased by exercise of this option unless and
                  until a certificate representing such shares is duly issued
                  and delivered to the Director. No adjustment shall be made for
                  dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior
                  to the date such stock certificate is issued.

8.   Adjustments.
     -----------

     (a)  General.
          -------

If, as a result of a merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of
          the assets of the Company, reorganization, recapitalization,
          reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or
          other distribution with respect to the outstanding shares of Common
          Stock or other securities, the outstanding shares of Common Stock are
          increased or decreased, or are exchanged for a different number or
          kind of shares or other securities, or additional shares or new or
          different shares or other securities are distributed with respect to
          such shares of Common Stock or other securities, an appropriate and
          proportionate adjustment may be made in (i) the number and kind of
          shares or other securities subject to this option and (ii) the price
          for each share subject to this option, without changing the aggregate
          purchase price as to which this option remains exercisable.

     (b)  Authority to Make Adjustments.
          -----------------------------

Adjustments under this Section 8 will be made by a Committee of the Board of
     Directors appointed by the Board of Directors, whose determination as to
     what adjustments, if any, will be made and the extent thereof will be
     final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares will be issued pursuant
     to this option on account of any such adjustments.

     (c)  Limits on Adjustments.
          ---------------------

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No adjustment shall be made under this Section 9 which would, within the meaning
                     of any applicable provision of the Code, constitute a
                     modification, extension or renewal of this option or a
                     grant of additional benefits to the Director.

9.   Mergers, Etc.
     -------------

  In the event of a consolidation or merger in which the Company is not the
                surviving corporation, or which results in the acquisition of
                substantially all of the Company's outstanding Common Stock by a
                single person, entity or group of persons or entities acting in
                concert, or in the event of the sale or transfer of all or
                substantially all of the assets of the Company, or in the event
                of a reorganization or liquidation of the Company, prior to the
                Expiration Date or termination of this option, the Director
                shall, with respect to this option or any unexercised portion
                hereof, be entitled to the rights and benefits, and be subject
                to the limitations, set forth in Section 10 of the Plan.

10.  Change in Control
     -----------------

     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the case of a Change in
     Control of the Company, this option granted shall terminate on the later of
     (i) ninety (90) days after the occurrence of such Change in Control, and
     (ii) seven (7) months following the date of grant of each such option, and
     an option holder shall have the right, commencing at least five (5) days
     prior to such Change in Control and subject to any other limitation on
     exercise of an option in effect on the date of exercise, to immediately
     exercise any option in full, without regard to any vesting limitations, to
     the extent it shall not have been previously exercised.

11.  Withholding Taxes.
     -----------------

     The Company's obligation to deliver shares upon the exercise of this option
     shall be subject to the Director's satisfaction of all applicable federal,
     state and local income tax withholding requirements.

12.  Investment Representation; Legend.
     ---------------------------------

     (a)  Representations.
          ---------------

     (ix.)  Any shares purchased upon exercise of this option be acquired for
            the Director's account for investment only and not with a view to,
            or for sale in connection with, any distribution of the shares in
            violation of the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act") or any
            rule or regulation under the Securities Act.

     (x.)   The Director has had such opportunity as he or she has deemed
            adequate to obtain from representatives of the Company such
            information as is necessary to permit the Director to evaluate the
            merits and risks of his or her investment in the Company.

     (xi.)  The Director is able to bear the economic risk of holding shares

                                      27
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            acquired pursuant to the exercise of this option for an indefinite
            period.

     (xii.) The Director understands that (A) the shares acquired pursuant to
            the exercise of this option may not be registered under the
            Securities Act and if not so registered will be "restricted
            securities" within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
            (B) such shares cannot be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of
            unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act or
            an exemption from registration is then available; (C) in any event,
            the exemption from registration under Rule 144 will not be available
            for at least one year from the date of exercise of the option and
            even then will not be available unless a public market then exists
            for the Common Stock, adequate information concerning the Company is
            then available to the public and other terms and conditions of Rule
            144 are complied with.

By making payment upon exercise of this option, the Director shall be deemed to
have reaffirmed, as of the date of such payment, the representations made in
this Section 12.

     (f)  Legend on Stock Certificates

        All stock certificates representing share of Common Stock issued to the
        Director upon exercise of this option which are not registered under the
        Securities Act shall have affixed thereto a legend substantially in the
        following form, in addition to any other legends required by applicable
        state law:

"The shares of stock represented by this certificate have not been registered
                     under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be
                     transferred, sold or otherwise disposed of in the absence
                     of an effective registration statement with respect to the
                     shares evidenced by this certificate, filed and made
                     effective under the Securities Act of 1933, or an opinion
                     of counsel satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that
                     registration under such Act is not required".

13.  Miscellaneous.
     -------------

     (a)    Except as provided herein, this option may not be amended or
otherwise modified unless evidenced in writing and signed by the Company and the
Director.

     (b)    All notices under this option shall be mailed or delivered by hand
to the parties at their respective addresses set forth beneath their names below
or at such other address as may be designated in writing by either of the
parties to one another.

     (c)    This option shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Delaware.

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                           AstroPower, Inc.


                           By: /s/ Thomas J. Stiner
                               -----------------------------------------
                               Sr. Vice President & Chief Financial Officer_____

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                             DIRECTOR'S ACCEPTANCE

        (Please sign and return this page to Joy Puglisi - Solar Park)

The undersigned hereby accepts the foregoing option and agrees to the terms and
conditions thereof.

/s/ Clare Nordquist                      Address:_______________________________
------------------------------------
           Signature
                                         _______________________________________

____________________________________     _______________________________________
              Date
                                         _______________________________________




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of Grant:  December 6, 1999
Name:           Clare Nordquist
Shares Granted: 12,000 Shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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