TEMPLATE

 

 

INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT FOR

EMPLOYEES UNDER THE CINERGY CORP.

1996 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

 

 

THIS INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), effective as of
_______________ (the “Date of Grant”), is made by and between Cinergy Corp., a
Delaware corporation, and _______________ (the “Optionee”), an employee of
Cinergy Corp. or one of its directly or indirectly held majority or
greater-owned subsidiaries (collectively referred to in this Agreement as the
“Company”).

 

WHEREAS, Cinergy Corp. has adopted the Cinergy Corp. 1996 Long-Term Incentive
Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), pursuant to which
the Optionee has been granted an incentive stock option (the “Option”) to
purchase shares of Cinergy Corp. common stock, with par value of $0.01 per share
(“Common Stock”), pursuant to the Plan, on the terms set forth in this
Agreement; and

 

                WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement to set
forth their understandings with respect to the grant of the Option described in
this Agreement.

 

                NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals and the mutual
agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Option Grant.

 

Cinergy Corp. hereby grants to the Optionee effective on the Date of Grant an
Option to purchase __________ shares of Common Stock, pursuant to the Plan, on
the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.  The number of shares of
Common Stock subject to this Option, and the Option Price described below in
Section 2, are subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan.

 

2.                                      Purchase Price.

 

The purchase price of each share of Common Stock subject to this Option is
$__________ (the “Option Price”).  At the time this Option is exercised, the
Optionee must pay the aggregate Option Price of the shares with respect to which
the Optionee exercises the Option pursuant to one of the following methods:  (a)
in cash, (b) by tendering to the Company whole shares of Common Stock owned by
the Optionee, or owned jointly by the Optionee and his or her spouse (with the
spouse’s written consent), for at least six (6) months (a “Stock Swap”), which
tendered shares must have a Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) equal to
the aggregate Option Price of the shares with respect to which the Optionee
exercises the Option, (c) any combination of the methods described in (a) and
(b) of this sentence, or (d) any other method approved by the Compensation
Committee (the “Committee”) of Cinergy Corp.’s Board of

 

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Directors.  To exercise this Option, the Optionee must send written notice to
the Cinergy Corp. Manager, Compensation, at the address noted in Section 20 or
follow such other procedures as are specified by the Company.  The notice shall
state the number of shares of Common Stock in respect of which the Option is
being exercised, shall identify the Option as an incentive stock option, and
shall be signed by the person or persons exercising the Option.  The notice
shall be accompanied by payment of the full cash Option Price for such shares of
Common Stock, or followed as soon as practicable by the delivery of shares used
in a Stock Swap and related cash (if applicable), or any other consideration
approved by the Committee.  Certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock
purchased pursuant to this Option will not be delivered to the Optionee until
payment has been made.

 

3.                                      Term of, and Right to Exercise, Option.

 

The term of this Option (the “Option Term”) shall be for a period of ten years
from the Date of Grant, subject to earlier termination as otherwise provided in
this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided below, the Option shall become
exercisable with respect to _______________ (____%) of the total number of
shares of Common Stock covered by this Option on _______________, but only if
the Optionee remains continuously employed with the Company from the Date of
Grant until _______________.(1)  From and after the date the Option becomes
exercisable, the shares of Common Stock subject to this Option may be purchased
at any time, or from time to time, in whole or in part, until the Option Term
expires, but in no case may fewer than 100 such shares be purchased at any one
time, except to purchase all remaining shares subject to the Option.

 

4.                                      Effect of Termination of Employment due
to Reasons other than Retirement, Death or Disability.

 

If the Optionee ceases to be an employee of the Company for any reason other
than as a result of his or her termination of employment on or after attaining
age fifty (50) with five years of “Service” under the Cinergy Corp. Non-Union
Employees’ Pension Plan (“Retirement”), death or disability (as defined in
Section 7), this Option, to the extent exercisable on the date of termination,
will remain exercisable until the earlier of (a) the date three months following
the effective date of the Optionee’s termination of employment or (b) the
expiration of the Option Term.

 

 

5.                                      Effect of Termination of Employment Due
to Retirement.

 

If the Optionee ceases to be an employee of the Company as a result of his or
her Retirement, the Option shall become immediately exercisable in its entirety
and the Optionee may exercise this Option in whole or in part, subject to
Section 6, at any time prior to the expiration of the Option Term.

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(1) The vesting events for stock option grants vary for each participant (e.g.,
cliff or graded vesting schedule).

 

 

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6.                                      Effect of Death.

 

Notwithstanding Section 5, if the Optionee dies either while employed by the
Company or after his or her termination of employment because of Retirement, the
Option shall become immediately exercisable in its entirety and may be exercised
in whole or in part by the Optionee’s executor, administrator, legatees or
estate beneficiaries at any time during the period commencing upon the
Optionee’s death and ending on the earlier of (a) the date twelve (12) months
after the date of the Optionee’s death or (b) the expiration of the Option Term.

 

7.                                      Effect of Disability.

 

In the event that the Optionee while employed by the Company becomes “disabled,”
as that term is defined under the then existing long-term disability plan of the
Company in which the Optionee participates (or if no such plan exists, as
determined by the Committee), the Optionee will be deemed to be employed by the
Company during his or her period of disability.

 

8.                                      Effect of Change in Control.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a “Change in Control” (as
defined in the Plan) of Cinergy Corp. occurs while the Optionee is employed by
the Company, the Option, to the extent it has not previously terminated, shall
immediately become exercisable in full.

 

9.                                      Transferability.

 

This Option is not transferable or assignable otherwise than by will or the laws
of descent and distribution.  The Option may be exercised only by the Optionee,
or, if the Optionee dies, by his or her executor, administrator, legatees, or
beneficiaries of his or her estate who are entitled to this Option, or in the
event of his or her legal incapacity, by his or her guardian or legal
representative acting on behalf of the Optionee in a fiduciary capacity under
state law and court supervision.

 

10.                               Effect of Assignment or Pledge.

 

If the Optionee attempts to assign or pledge shares of Common Stock covered by
this Option, or if there is a levy, attachment, execution or other legal or
equitable process upon this Option, the Company has the right to terminate this
Option.

 

11.                               Incorporation of the Plan’s Terms.

 

This Option is subject to all the terms, provisions and conditions of the Plan,
which is incorporated into this Agreement by reference, and to such regulations,
procedures and administrative guidelines as may from time to time be adopted by
the Committee.  A copy of the Plan and a set of administrative guidelines have

 

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been furnished to the Optionee and an additional copy may be obtained from the
Company.  In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan or
administrative guidelines (as the case may be) and the provisions of this
Agreement, the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan and/or
administrative guidelines shall control, and this Agreement shall be deemed to
be modified accordingly.  The Committee shall have final authority to interpret
and construe the Plan and this Agreement and to make any and all determinations
thereunder, and its decision shall be binding and conclusive upon the Optionee
and his or her legal representative in respect of any questions arising under
the Plan, or this Agreement.

 

12.                               Incentive Stock Options.

 

This Option is intended to be an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of
that term under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 
Subject to and upon the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, each and
every provision of this Agreement shall be administered, construed and
interpreted so that this Option shall so qualify as an incentive stock option.

 

13.                               Disqualifying Dispositions.

 

The Optionee agrees to notify the Company, in writing pursuant to Section 20 of
the Plan or pursuant to such other procedures as are specified by the Company,
immediately upon any sale or transfer of any shares of Common Stock received
upon exercise of this Option to the extent such sale or transfer takes place
prior to the later of (a) two years from the Date of Grant, or (b) one year from
the date of exercise of this Option.

 

14.                               Expiration of Rights.

 

Unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, all
rights to exercise this Option will expire, in any event, ten years from the
Date of Grant.

 

15.                               Certificate.

 

Certificates evidencing shares transferred upon exercise of this Option may bear
a legend setting forth, among other things, such restrictions on the disposition
or transfer of the shares as the Company may deem consistent with applicable
federal and state laws.

 

16.                               No Right to Continued Employment.

 

Nothing in this Option shall restrict the right of the Company to terminate the
Optionee’s employment at any time with or without cause.

 

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17.                               Successors.

 

The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the Company, its successors and assigns, and the Optionee and the Optionee’s
beneficiaries, executors, administrators, heirs and successors.

 

18.                               Invalid Provision.

 

The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision of this Agreement
shall not affect the other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement
shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision
has been omitted.

 

19.                               Modifications.

 

No change, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be
valid unless the same be in writing and signed by the parties.

 

20.          Notices and Electronic Delivery and Signature.

 

All notices to the Company and the exercise of the Option herein granted, shall
be addressed to Cinergy Corp., 139 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202,
Attention: Manager, Compensation, or such other address or in accordance with
such other procedure as the Company may, from time to time, specify. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee hereby consents and agrees to
electronic delivery of any Plan documents, proxy materials, annual reports and
other related documents, including all materials required to be distributed
pursuant to applicable securities laws.  If the Company establishes procedures
for an electronic signature system for delivery and acceptance of Plan documents
(including documents relating to any programs adopted under the Plan), the
Employee hereby consents to such procedures and agrees that his or her
electronic signature is the same as, and shall have the same force and effect
as, his or her manual signature.  The Employee consents and agrees that any such
procedures and delivery may be effected by a third party engaged by the Company
to provide administrative services related to the Plan, including any program
adopted under the Plan.  The Employee understands that, unless earlier revoked
by the Employee, this consent shall be effective for the duration of the
Agreement and that he or she shall have the right at any time to request written
copies of any and all materials referred to above.

 

21.          Headings.

 

The headings of the Sections of this Agreement are provided for convenience only
and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction, and shall
not constitute a part of this Agreement.

 

 

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22.          Governing Law.

 

This Agreement and the Optionee’s rights under it shall be construed and
determined in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware.

 

23.          Entire Agreement.

 

This Agreement and the Plan contain the entire agreement and understanding of
the parties with respect to the subject matter contained in this Agreement, and
supersede all prior communications, representations and negotiations in respect
thereto.

 

24.          Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.

 

25.             Satisfaction of Legal Requirements.

 

This Option may not be exercised until the Company has been advised by counsel
that all applicable legal requirements have been met.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by the parties effective as
of the _____ day of _______________, _____.

 

OPTIONEE

CINERGY CORP.

 

 

Signature:  ____________________________

                 

 

 

By:  _____________________________

 

        

 

 

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