EXHIBIT 10.1
J. ALEXANDER’S CORPORATION
Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement
     THIS INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and
entered into as of this _____ day of ___, 200 _____(the “Grant Date”), by and
between J. Alexander’s Corporation, a Tennessee corporation (together with its
Subsidiaries and Affiliates, the “Company”), and _____ (the “Optionee”).
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed
to such terms in the J. Alexander’s Corporation Amended and Restated 2004 Equity
Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).
     WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Plan, which permits the issuance of
stock options for the purchase of shares of the common stock, par value $.05 per
share, of the Company (the “Shares”); and
     WHEREAS, the Company desires to afford the Optionee an opportunity to
purchase Shares as hereinafter provided in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan;
     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set
forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally
bound hereby, agree as follows:
     1. Grant of Option.
          (a) The Company grants as of the date of this Agreement the right and
option (the “Option”) to purchase _____ Shares, in whole or in part (the “Option
Stock”), at an exercise price of $____ per Share, on the terms and conditions
set forth in this Agreement and subject to all provisions of the Plan. The
Optionee, holder or beneficiary of the Option shall not have any of the rights
of a shareholder with respect to the Option Stock until such person has become a
holder of such Shares by the due exercise of the Option and payment of the
Option Payment (as defined in Section 3 below) in accordance with this
Agreement.
          (b) The Option shall be an incentive stock option within the meaning
of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”),
and this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith. In
order to provide the Company with the opportunity to claim the benefit of any
income tax deduction which may be available to it upon the exercise of the
Option, and in order to comply with all applicable federal or state tax laws or
regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to insure
that, if necessary, all applicable federal, state or other taxes are withheld or
collected from the Optionee.
     2. Exercise of Option. The Optionee may exercise the Option beginning on
the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement with respect to one-fourth
of the Shares and with respect to an additional one-fourth of the Shares on the
second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date of this Agreement, provided
that Optionee has been an employee of the Company at all times from the Grant
Date to such anniversary (such four-year period being referred to as the
“Vesting Period”). Notwithstanding the above, each

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outstanding Option shall vest and become exercisable upon the occurrence of a
Change in Control and shall be governed by the provisions of Section 13 of the
Plan. In the event that the Optionee is Disabled or elects Normal Retirement (as
defined below) before the expiration of the Vesting Period, the Option shall
vest as of the date of such disability or Normal Retirement, as the case may be,
on a pro rata basis with respect to the amount of the Vesting Period that has
elapsed, rounded to the nearest whole share. If Optionee elects Early Retirement
(as defined below) prior to the expiration of the Vesting Period, this Option
shall vest as though Optionee had elected Normal Retirement, provided that the
Optionee’s Early Retirement is with the consent of the Committee. “Early
Retirement” means retirement, for purposes of the Plan with the express consent
of the Company at or before the time of such retirement, from active employment
with the Company prior to age 65, in accordance with any applicable early
retirement policy of the Company then in effect. “Normal Retirement” means
retirement from active employment with the Company on or after age 65. For
purposes of this Agreement, “Disabled” means that the Optionee is permanently
unable to perform the essential duties of the Optionee’s occupation. In the
event the Optionee dies before the expiration of the Vesting Period while
employed by the Company, the Option shall vest in full as of the date of death.
     3. Manner of Exercise. The Option may be exercised in whole or in part at
any time within the period permitted hereunder for the exercise of the Option,
with respect to whole Shares only, by serving written notice of intent to
exercise the Option delivered to the Company at its principal office (or to the
Company’s designated agent), stating the number of Shares to be purchased, the
person or persons in whose name the Shares are to be registered and each such
person’s address and social security number. Such notice shall not be effective
unless accompanied by payment in full of the Option Price for the number of
Shares with respect to which the Option is then being exercised (the “Option
Payment”) and cash equal to the required withholding taxes as set forth by
Internal Revenue Service and applicable State tax guidelines for the employer’s
minimum statutory withholding. The Option Payment shall be made in cash or cash
equivalents or in whole Shares that have been held by the Optionee for at least
six months prior to the date of exercise valued at the Shares’ Fair Market Value
on the date of exercise (or next succeeding trading date if the date of exercise
is not a trading date), together with any applicable withholding taxes, or by a
combination of such cash (or cash equivalents) and Shares. The Optionee shall
not be entitled to tender Shares pursuant to successive, substantially
simultaneous exercises of the Option or any other stock option of the Company.
Subject to applicable securities laws, the Optionee may also exercise the Option
by delivering a notice of exercise of the Option and by simultaneously selling
the Shares of Option Stock thereby acquired pursuant to a brokerage or similar
agreement approved in advance by proper officers of the Company, using the
proceeds of such sale as payment of the Option Payment, together with any
applicable withholding taxes. The Optionee shall notify the Company of any
disposition of shares acquired under this Agreement if such disposition occurs
within two years after the date of grant or one year after the date of exercise
of the Option. For purposes of this Agreement, “Fair Market Value” means the
closing sales price of the Shares on the American Stock Exchange. The Committee
may also approve another method of payment of the Option Price or the tax
withholding amount, in its discretion in accordance with the Plan.
     4. Termination of Option. The Option will expire seven years from the date
of grant of the Option (the “Term”) with respect to any then unexercised portion
thereof, unless terminated earlier as set forth below:

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          (a) Termination by Death. If the Optionee’s employment by the Company
terminates by reason of death, or if the Optionee dies within three months after
termination of such employment for any reason other than Cause, this Option may
thereafter be exercised, to the extent the Option was exercisable at the time of
such termination or with accelerated vesting if employment terminated upon
death, by the legal representative of the estate or by the legatee of the
Optionee under the will of the Optionee, for a period of one year from the date
of death or until the expiration of the Term of the Option, whichever period is
the shorter.
          (b) Termination by Reason of Disability. If the Optionee’s employment
by the Company terminates by reason of Disability, this Option may thereafter be
exercised, to the extent the Option was exercisable at the time of such
termination, by the Optionee or personal representative or guardian of the
Optionee, as applicable, for a period of three years from the date of such
termination of employment or until the expiration of the Term of the Option,
whichever period is the shorter; provided, however, that if the Option is
exercised following the one-year anniversary of the date of termination, the
Option shall thereafter be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
          (c) Termination by Normal Retirement or Early Retirement. If
Optionee’s employment by the Company terminates by reason of Normal Retirement
or Early Retirement, this Option may thereafter be exercised by the Optionee, to
the extent the Option was exercisable at the time of such termination, for a
period of three years from the date of such termination of employment or until
the expiration of the Term of the Option, whichever period is the shorter;
provided, however, that if the Option is exercised following the three-month
anniversary of the date of termination, the Option shall thereafter be treated
as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
          (d) Termination for Cause. If the Optionee’s employment by the Company
is terminated for Cause, this Option shall terminate immediately and become void
and of no effect.
          (e) Other Termination. If the Optionee’s employment by the Company
terminates voluntarily or is involuntarily terminated for any reason other than
for Cause, death, Disability or Normal Retirement or Early Retirement, this
Option may be exercised, to the extent the Option was exercisable at the time of
such termination, by the Optionee for a period of three months from the date of
such termination of employment or the expiration of the Term of the Option,
whichever period is the shorter.
     5. No Right to Continued Employment. The grant of the Option shall not be
construed as giving Optionee the right to be retained in the employ of the
Company, and the Company may at any time dismiss Optionee from employment, free
from any liability or any claim under the Plan.
     6. Adjustment to Option Stock. The Committee shall make equitable and
proportionate adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria
included in, this Option in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events
(including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4.2 of the Plan)
affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes
in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles in accordance with the
Plan.

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     7. Amendments to Option. Subject to the restrictions contained in
Sections 6.2 and 14 of the Plan, the Committee may waive any conditions or
rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or
terminate, the Option, prospectively or retroactively; provided that any such
waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or
termination that would adversely affect the rights of the Optionee or any holder
or beneficiary of the Option shall not to that extent be effective without the
consent of the Optionee, holder or beneficiary affected.
     8. Limited Transferability. During the Optionee’s lifetime this Option can
be exercised only by the Optionee, except as otherwise provided in Section 4(a)
above or in this Section 8. This Option may not be assigned, alienated, pledged,
attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by Optionee other than
(i) to a Permitted Transferee or (ii) by will or the laws of descent and
distribution. Any attempt to otherwise transfer this Option shall be void. No
transfer of this Option by the Optionee by will or by laws of descent and
distribution shall be effective to bind the Company unless the Company shall
have been furnished with written notice thereof and an authenticated copy of the
will and/or such other evidence as the Committee may deem necessary or
appropriate to establish the validity of the transfer. Any transfer of this
Option by the Optionee to a Permitted Transferee must be for no consideration
and, after the transfer, the Permitted Transferee shall have the sole
responsibility for determining whether and when to exercise the Option. A
Permitted Transferee may not transfer any such Option other than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution. For purposes of this Agreement, “Permitted
Transferee” means the Optionee’s Immediate Family, a Permitted Trust or a
partnership of which the only partners are members of the Optionee’s Immediate
Family. For purposes of this Agreement, “Immediate Family” means the Optionee’s
children and grandchildren, including adopted children and grandchildren,
stepchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, spouse, siblings (including
half brothers and sisters), father-in-law, mother-in-law, daughters-in-law and
sons-in-law. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Permitted Trust” means a trust
solely for the benefit of the Optionee or Optionee’s Immediate Family.
     9. Reservation of Shares. At all times during the term of this Option, the
Company shall use its best efforts to reserve and keep available such number of
Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Agreement.
     10. Plan Governs. The Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the
Plan and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof. The terms
of this Agreement are governed by the terms of the Plan, and in the case of any
inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the
terms of the Plan shall govern.
     11. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is, or becomes, or is
deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any
Person or the Award, or would disqualify the Plan or Award under any laws deemed
applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended
to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed
amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the
intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such
jurisdiction, Person or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and Award shall
remain in full force and effect.

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     12. Notices. All notices required to be given under this Option shall be
deemed to be received if delivered or mailed as provided for herein to the
parties at the following addresses, or to such other address as either party may
provide in writing from time to time.

     
To the Company:
  J. Alexander’s Corporation
 
  Suite 260
 
  3401 West End Avenue
 
  Nashville TN 37203
 
  Attn: Chief Financial Officer
 
   
To the Optionee:
  The address then maintained with respect to the Optionee in the Company’s
records.

     13. Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of this Agreement
shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee
without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles.
     14. Resolution of Disputes. Any dispute or disagreement which may arise
under, or as a result of, or in any way related to, the interpretation,
construction or application of this Agreement shall be determined by the
Committee. Any determination made hereunder shall be final, binding and
conclusive on the Optionee and the Company for all purposes.
     15. Successors in Interest. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon any successor to the Company. This Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of the Optionee’s legal representative and assignees. All
obligations imposed upon the Optionee and all rights granted to the Company
under this Agreement shall be binding upon the Optionee’s heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assignees.
     16. Excessive Shares. In the event that the number of Shares subject to
this Option exceeds any maximum established under the Code for Incentive Stock
Options that may be granted to Optionee, or in the event that this Option
becomes first exercisable in any calendar year to obtain Common Stock having a
Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) in excess of $100,000, this
Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option to the extent of such
excess. The proceeding sentence shall be interpreted consistently with the
provisions of Section 422(d) of the Code.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Incentive Stock Option
Agreement to be duly executed effective as of the day and year first above
written.

            J. ALEXANDER’S CORPORATION
      By:                        

            Optionee:
            Please Print           

            Optionee:
            Signature           

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