Exhibit 10.7

 

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Quanex Corporation

1996 Employee Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan

 

 

This STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made between QUANEX
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and
                         (the “Optionee”).  The Board of Directors of the
Company has adopted the Quanex Corporation 1996 Employee Stock Option and
Restricted Stock Plan (the “Plan”), which is incorporated by reference herein. 
The Company considers that its interests will be served by granting the Optionee
an option to purchase shares of common stock of the Company as an inducement for
[his] [her] continued and effective performance of services for the Company or
an Affiliate.  Any term used in this Agreement that is not specifically defined
herein shall have the meaning specified in the Plan.

 

IT IS AGREED:

 

1.             SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE PLAN AND THIS AGREEMENT, ON
                              , 200   (THE “DATE OF GRANT”), THE COMPANY HEREBY
GRANTS TO THE OPTIONEE A NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION (THE “OPTION”) TO PURCHASE
                          SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY, $.50 PAR
VALUE PER SHARE, AT A PRICE OF $                     PER SHARE, SUBJECT TO
ADJUSTMENT AS PROVIDED IN THE PLAN.  THE OPTION IS EXERCISABLE IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE:

 

(A)           ON THE DAY AFTER THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF GRANT, THE
OPTION MAY BE EXERCISED WITH RESPECT TO UP TO 1/3 OF THE SHARES SUBJECT TO THE
OPTION;

 

(B)           AFTER EACH SUCCEEDING ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF GRANT, THE OPTION
MAY BE EXERCISED WITH RESPECT TO UP TO AN ADDITIONAL 1/3 OF THE SHARES SUBJECT
TO THE OPTION, SO THAT AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE
OF GRANT THE OPTION SHALL BE EXERCISABLE IN FULL; AND

 

(C)           TO THE EXTENT NOT EXERCISED, INSTALLMENTS SHALL BE CUMULATIVE AND
MAY BE EXERCISED IN WHOLE OR IN PART.

 

However, the Option shall be exercisable in full on the date a Change in Control
occurs, provided that the Optionee’s employment with the Company has not
terminated prior to such date.  For purposes of this Section 1, the term “Change
in Control” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in the individual
change in control agreement between the Company and the Optionee in effect on
the Date of Grant.

 

2.             EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED BELOW, THE OPTION GRANTED TO THE OPTIONEE
UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT BE TRANSFERABLE OR ASSIGNABLE BY THE OPTIONEE
OTHER THAN BY WILL OR THE LAWS OF DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION, AND SHALL BE
EXERCISABLE DURING THE OPTIONEE’S LIFETIME ONLY BY [HIM] [HER].  THE OPTIONEE
MAY TRANSFER THIS OPTION TO A MEMBER OR MEMBERS OF [HIS] [HER] IMMEDIATE FAMILY,
A TRUST UNDER WHICH [HIS] [HER] IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE THE ONLY
BENEFICIARIES AND A PARTNERSHIP OF WHICH [HIS] [HER] IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS
ARE THE ONLY PARTNERS.  FOR THIS PURPOSE, “IMMEDIATE FAMILY” MEANS THE
OPTIONEE’S SPOUSE, CHILDREN, STEPCHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN,

 

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PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, SIBLINGS (INCLUDING HALF BROTHERS AND SISTERS), AND
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FAMILY MEMBERS BY ADOPTION.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT, SUCH A TRANSFEREE OF THE OPTION GRANTED UNDER THIS
AGREEMENT MAY EXERCISE THE OPTION DURING THE OPTIONEE’S LIFETIME.  NONE OF THE
COMPANY, ITS EMPLOYEES OR DIRECTORS MAKES ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR GUARANTEES
CONCERNING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCLUSION OF THIS PROVISION
IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE OPTIONEE’S TRANSFER OF THE OPTION GRANTED UNDER THIS
AGREEMENT OR TRANSFEREE’S EXERCISE OF THE OPTION.  IT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE OPTIONEE TO SEEK ADVICE FROM [HIS] [HER] OWN TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING
THOSE TAX CONSEQUENCES.  THE OPTIONEE IS ENTITLED TO RELY UPON ONLY THE TAX
ADVICE OF HIS OWN TAX ADVISORS.

 

3.             THE OPTION SHALL TERMINATE AND BECOME NULL AND VOID ON THE
EARLIEST OF (A) THE LAST DAY OF THE TEN YEAR PERIOD COMMENCING ON THE DATE OF
GRANT, (B) THE LAST DAY OF THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD COMMENCING ON THE DATE OF THE
SEVERANCE OF THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OPTIONEE AND THE COMPANY
AND ALL AFFILIATES FOR ANY REASON OTHER THAN DEATH, DISABILITY OR RETIREMENT, OR
(C) THE LAST DAY OF THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD COMMENCING O THE DATE OF THE SEVERANCE
OF THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OPTIONEE AND THE COMPANY AND ALL
AFFILIATES DUE TO DEATH, DISABILITY OR RETIREMENT.  IN THE EVENT OF THE
OPTIONEE’S SEVERANCE OF THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE AND THE
COMPANY AND ALL AFFILIATES FOR ANY REASON OTHER THAN DEATH, DISABILITY OR
RETIREMENT, THE OPTION SHALL NOT CONTINUE TO VEST AFTER SUCH SEVERANCE OF
EMPLOYMENT.  IN THE EVENT OF THE SEVERANCE OF THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE AND ALL AFFILIATES DUE TO THE DEATH, DISABILITY OR
RETIREMENT OF THE OPTIONEE, THE OPTION SHALL CONTINUE TO VEST AFTER SUCH
SEVERANCE OF EMPLOYMENT UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THE OPTION.

 

Upon the death of the Optionee prior to the expiration of [his] [her] Option,
[his] [her] executors, administrators or any person or persons to whom [his]
[her] Option may be transferred by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution, shall have the right, at any time prior to the expiration date of
the Option to exercise the Option with respect to the number of shares that the
Optionee would have been entitled to exercise if [he] [she] were still alive.

 

4.             THIS AGREEMENT MAY NOT BE CHANGED OR TERMINATED ORALLY BUT ONLY
BY AN AGREEMENT IN WRITING SIGNED BY THE PARTY AGAINST WHOM ENFORCEMENT OF ANY
SUCH CHANGE OR TERMINATION IS SOUGHT.

 

5.             THE COMPANY SHALL NOT BE DEEMED BY THE GRANT OF THE OPTION (AS
DISTINGUISHED FROM A SEPARATE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT OR SERVICE CONTRACT, IF ANY)
TO BE REQUIRED TO RETAIN THE SERVICES OF THE OPTIONEE FOR ANY PERIOD.

 

6.             THE OPTIONEE SHALL NOT HAVE ANY RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER WITH
RESPECT TO ANY SHARES COVERED BY THE OPTION UNTIL THE DATE OF THE ISSUANCE OF
THE STOCK CERTIFICATE OR CERTIFICATES TO [HIM] [HER] FOR SUCH SHARES FOLLOWING
HIS EXERCISE OF THE OPTION PURSUANT TO ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PAYMENT FOR
THE SHARES.  NO ADJUSTMENT SHALL BE MADE FOR DIVIDENDS OR OTHER RIGHTS FOR WHICH
THE RECORD DATE IS PRIOR TO THE DATE SUCH CERTIFICATE OR CERTIFICATES ARE
ISSUED.

 

7.             THE OPTIONEE CONSENTS TO THE PLACING ON THE CERTIFICATE FOR ANY
SHARES COVERED BY THE OPTION OF AN APPROPRIATE LEGEND RESTRICTING RESALE OR
OTHER TRANSFER OF SUCH SHARES EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933 AND ALL APPLICABLE RULES THEREUNDER.

 

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8.             IN THE EVENT OF ANY DIFFERENCE OF OPINION CONCERNING THE MEANING
OR EFFECT OF THE PLAN OR THIS AGREEMENT, SUCH DIFFERENCE SHALL BE RESOLVED BY
THE COMMITTEE REFERRED TO IN THE PLAN.

 

9.             THE VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.  ANY INVALIDITY OF ANY
PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT AFFECT THE VALIDITY OF ANY OTHER
PROVISION.

 

10.           ALL OFFERS, NOTICES, DEMANDS, REQUESTS, ACCEPTANCES OR OTHER
COMMUNICATIONS HEREUNDER SHALL BE IN WRITING AND SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN
DULY MADE OR GIVEN IF MAILED BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT
REQUESTED.  ANY SUCH NOTICE MAILED TO THE COMPANY SHALL BE ADDRESSED TO ITS
PRINCIPAL OFFICE, AND ANY NOTICE MAILED TO THE OPTIONEE SHALL BE ADDRESSED TO
THE OPTIONEE’S RESIDENCE ADDRESS AS IT APPEARS ON THE BOOKS AND RECORDS OF THE
COMPANY OR TO SUCH OTHER ADDRESS AS EITHER PARTY MAY HEREAFTER DESIGNATE IN
WRITING TO THE OTHER.

 

11.           THIS AGREEMENT SHALL, EXCEPT AS HEREIN STATED TO THE CONTRARY,
INURE TO THE BENEFIT OF AND BIND THE LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, SUCCESSORS AND
ASSIGNS OF THE PARTIES HERETO.

 

12.           THIS OPTION IS A NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION WHICH IS NOT INTENDED
TO BE GOVERNED BY SECTION 422 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED.

 

13.           In accepting this Option, the Optionee accepts and agrees to be
bound by all the terms and conditions of the Plan which pertain to nonqualified
stock options granted under the Plan.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered to be
effective as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

QUANEX CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Raymond A. Jean

 

 

Chairman, President and CEO

 

 

Accepted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Optionee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

 

 

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