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Exhibit 4.18    
  


 
 

Share Option and Share Appreciation Right Agreement    
  


        This Share Option and Share Appreciation Right Agreement (this "Agreement") is made as of  «Date» (the "Effective Date"),
between «Company_Name»
(the "Company"), and «Optionee» (the "Optionee"). 


RECITALS  


A.    The
Company has adopted the incentive stock option plan (the "Plan") attached hereto as Exhibit 1. 


B.    In
connection with services to be rendered by the Optionee to the Company and to encourage the Optionee's contribution to the success and progress of the Company, the Company desires
to grant the Optionee the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company's direct or indirect shareholder, Gucci Group N.V., a Netherlands company ("NV"). 



C.    In
accordance with the Plan, the Remuneration Committee (as defined below) has as of the Effective Date granted to the Optionee an option ("Option") to purchase shares of common stock
of NV (such shares referred to herein as the "Shares"), such Option being convertible under certain circumstances into an SAR (as defined below), according to the terms and conditions of the Plan and
this Agreement. 


AGREEMENT  


	1.
	Definitions.    Capitalized terms used herein shall have the following meanings: 



"Act"
is defined in Section 10. 


"Affiliate"
of any Person means any other Person Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such Person. 


"Agreement"
is defined in the preamble. 


"Cause"
means termination of the Optionee's employment at the option of the Company because the Optionee (i) has been convicted of, or has pled guilty or nolo
contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, (ii) has embezzled or misappropriated Gucci funds or property, (iii) has continued use of alcohol or
drugs to an extent that interferes with the performance by Optionee of the Optionee's employment responsibilities, or (iv) has violated a material term of employment. 


"Company"
is defined in the preamble. 


"Comparator
Company" means each of Bulgari, Coach, Hermes, LVMH, Richemont, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tiffany and Tod's, or such other publicly traded luxury goods companies as the Remuneration Committee may
from time to time designate. 


"Comparator
Enterprise Value/EBITA Ratio" means the average of the Enterprise Value/EBITA ratios for each Comparator Company, as adjusted in the discretion of the Remuneration Committee to address any
significant distortions resulting from particular facts and circumstances prevailing at the time in respect to any particular Comparator Company. Each such ratio shall be the Enterprise Value of the
Comparator Company divided by such Comparator Company's EBITA for the twelve months ended at the end of the Comparator Company's most recently completed fiscal quarter.

 


"Comparator
Price/Earnings Ratio" means the average of the Price/Earnings ratios for each Comparator Company, as adjusted in the discretion of the Remuneration Committee to address any significant
distortions resulting from particular facts and circumstances prevailing at the time in respect to any particular Comparator Company. Each such ratio shall be the average market price per share of
Comparator Company shares (determined on the basis of the average closing market price over the 30 trading days preceding its most recently completed fiscal quarter and its average number of shares
outstanding during such 30 day period) divided by such Comparator Company's net income per share for the twelve months ended at the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter (determined
on the basis of its average number of shares outstanding during the 30 trading days preceding its most recently completed fiscal quarter). 


"Control"
means (i) the ownership by any Person of voting stock (or other ownership interests) enabling such Person to elect a majority of the board of directors (or other governing body) of
any other Person or (ii) the possession of the power, whether by proxy, contract or otherwise, to direct the affairs of such other Person. 



"Conversion
Event" means the termination of the PPR Offer (including any extension thereof), unless an event described in clause (ii) of the definition of "Vesting Event" has occurred. 


"EBITA"
means earnings before interest, tax and amortization of goodwill and trademarks. 


"Effective
Date" is defined in the preamble. 


"Enterprise
Value" means the sum of (i) market capitalization (the market price per share of a public company determined on the basis of the average market price of the company shares over the
30 trading days preceding its most recently completed fiscal quarter multiplied by its average number of shares outstanding during such 30 day period) plus (ii) net debt (consolidated
total financial indebtedness, including capitalized lease obligations and off-balance sheet items in the nature of financial indebtedness, minus cash and cash equivalents). 


"Exercise
Price" is defined in Section 2. 


"Governmental
Authority" means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof or any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
functions of or pertaining to government. 


"Gucci"
means a group of companies including Gucci Group N.V., and its subsidiaries. 


"Invalid
Transfer" is defined in Section 5. 


"Not
For Cause" means the termination of the employment of Optionee at the option of the Company at any time for any reason other than on account of death of the Optionee, Permanent Disability, for
Cause, or in connection with a change of Control of the Company after which change of Control the Company is no longer an Affiliate of NV. 


"NV"
is defined in recital B. 


"Option"
is defined in recital C. 


"Optionee"
is defined in the preamble. 


"Option
Shares" is defined in Section 2. 


"PPR
Offer" means the offer to purchase all outstanding Shares that Pinault-Printemps-Redoute S.A. is required to make in March 2004 pursuant to the LVMH—Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton
S.A. settlement agreement dated 9 September 2001, if the Shares are then trading at a price below $101.50 per share.

 


"Permanent
Disability" means if, while employed by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, the Optionee becomes physically or mentally incapacitated or disabled so that (i) the Optionee is
substantially unable to perform the same services as the Optionee performed prior to incurring such incapacity or disability, to devote the Optionee's full working time or use the Optionee's best
efforts to advance the business and welfare of Gucci, or otherwise to perform the Optionee's duties under this Agreement and (ii) such condition exists for an aggregate of 180 days in
any 12 consecutive calendar month period (the Company, at its option and expense, being entitled to retain a physician reasonably acceptable to the Optionee to confirm the existence of such incapacity
or disability, and the determination of such physician being binding upon the Company and Optionee). 


"Person"
means an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever
nature. 


"Plan"
is defined in recital A. 


"Remuneration
Committee" means the remuneration committee of NV as designated from time to time by the Supervisory Board. 


"Retirement"
means the Optionee's retirement from employment with the Company in accordance with the Company's retirement policy then in effect. The Optionee's Retirement shall not constitute
resignation from employment with the Company. 


"SAR"
means share appreciation right, being a right to receive an amount in cash equal to the appreciation in the value of a Share, based upon the valuation criteria set forth herein, but, for the
avoidance of doubt, not including a right in the underlying share. 


"Section 16
Amount" is defined in Section 7. 


"Shares"
is defined in recital C. 


"Supervisory
Board" means the Supervisory Board of NV. 


"Termination
Date" means the date on which the Optionee ceases to be employed by the Company (unless such cessation of employment is due to Optionee's becoming employed by an Affiliate of the Company)
for any reason, or the date on which the Company ceases to be an Affiliate of NV. 


"Vesting
Event" means either of the following events: (i) on any 10 trading days on which the aggregate volume of shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange and on Euronext exceeds 100,000,
the average of the opening and closing prices on such exchanges exceeds $101.50, or (ii) on termination of the PPR Offer, either more than 15,000,000 shares (equitably adjusted for any
recapitalization transaction) or more than 15% of the then outstanding shares have not been tendered and accepted for payment by Pinault-Printemps-Redoute S.A.


 




2.    Grant of Option/SAR. 



	(a)
	Grant of Option: The Company grants to the Optionee the Option to acquire, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, all or
any part of the number of Shares set forth below the Optionee's signature on the signature page of this Agreement (the "Option Shares"), at the exercise price set forth below the Optionee's name on
the signature page of this Agreement, being the average of the closing prices on the New York Stock Exchange for one of the Shares over the 30 calendar days prior to the date of this Agreement (as
such amount may be adjusted in accordance with Section 6, the "Exercise Price"). The Optionee has the right and option, but not the obligation, to acquire the Option Shares at a price up to the
minimum acquisition price required by the Italian tax law in order to comply with provisions of Art. 48(2)gbis of D.P.R. dated 22 December 1986, No. 917 (as such amount may be adjusted
in accordance with Section 6) if such price is higher than the Exercise Price as defined in the last sentence.



	(b)
	Grant of SAR: Upon a Conversion Event, the Option shall automatically convert into an SAR, with each Option to purchase one Share
converting into one SAR, and any rights to purchase Shares or any interest therein shall automatically terminate. 




3.    Exercisability.    The Option shall not be exercisable on the Effective Date. Subject to Section 4, the Optionee's
right to exercise the Option shall not vest until the first to occur of a Vesting Event or a Conversion Event. Upon the occurrence of a Vesting Event, 20% of the Options shall vest on each anniversary
of the Effective Date, with retroactive vesting to the extent that the anniversary of the Effective Date precedes the date of the Vesting Event. 


        Upon
the conversion into an SAR, 20% of the SARs will vest on each anniversary of the Effective Date, with retroactive vesting to the extent that the anniversary of the Effective Date
precedes the date of the Conversion Event. 


4.    Expiration.  



	(a)
	The
vested portion of the Option or SAR shall expire upon the 10th anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that if the Optionee ceases to be employed by the Company
prior to such anniversary, the portion of the Option or SAR that is vested as of the Termination Date shall expire upon:



	(i)
	the
first anniversary of the Termination Date if the Optionee ceases to be employed by the Company due to Retirement, death or Permanent Disability;



	(ii)
	the
Termination Date if the Optionee is terminated from employment for Cause; or



	(iii)
	the
date that is 180 days after the Termination Date if the Optionee ceases to be employed by the Company due to resignation for any reason or termination Not For Cause, or
if the Company ceases to be an Affiliate of NV. 









	(b)
	The
unvested portion of the Option or SAR shall expire upon the Termination Date unless:



	(i)
	the
Company terminates the Optionee Not For Cause, in which case the unvested portion of the Option or SAR shall vest on the later to occur of (A) the Termination Date and
(B) a Vesting Event or a Conversion Event and the Option or SAR shall expire on the earlier of the 10th anniversary of the Effective Date or the date that is 180 days after the
Termination Date, or 

 



	(ii)
	the
employment of the Optionee is terminated on account of death of the Optionee, in which case the Optionee's right to exercise the Option or SAR shall vest as if the Termination
Date were the last date of the fiscal year and shall expire on the earlier of the 10th anniversary of the Effective Date or the first anniversary of the Termination Date. 







5.    Nontransferability.    The Option or SAR is personal to the Optionee and shall not be transferable by the Optionee otherwise
than upon the Optionee's death to the Optionee's spouse, child, estate, personal representative, heir or successor or upon the Optionee's death to a trust for the benefit of the Optionee's spouse,
child or heir, and the Option or SAR is exercisable, during the Optionee's lifetime, only by the Optionee or, in the event of the Optionee's Permanent Disability, the Optionee's guardian or legal
representative. More particularly, the Option or SAR may not be assigned, transferred (except as aforesaid), pledged or hypothecated in any way, whether by operation of law or otherwise, and shall not
be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any actual or attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation, execution, attachment or similar process of the Option or SAR (except as
aforesaid) ("Invalid Transfer") shall vest no rights whatsoever in any purported assignee, transferee, pledgee or any other purported beneficiary of the Invalid Transfer other than the Optionee. An
Invalid Transfer shall be void in the hands of any Person other than the Optionee, and neither NV nor the Company shall have any obligation (including, but not limited to, the obligation to issue or
transfer shares or make any distributions) to any Person other than Optionee (except to a permitted transferee under the first sentence of this Section) with respect to the Option or SAR. This
Agreement shall be binding on and enforceable against any Person who is a permitted transferee of the Option or SAR pursuant to the first sentence of this Section. 


6.    Adjustments.    If the Shares are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or securities, as the
result of any one or more reorganizations, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends or similar events, an appropriate adjustment shall be made in
the number and kind of shares or other securities subject to the Option or SAR and the price for each share or other unit of any securities subject to this Agreement, in accordance with the terms of
the Plan. No fractional interests shall be issued or transferred on account of any such adjustment unless the Committee specifically determines to the contrary; provided, however, that in lieu of
fractional interests, the Optionee, upon the exercise of the Option in whole or part, shall receive cash in an amount equal to the amount by which the fair market value of such fractional interests
exceeds the Exercise Price attributable to such fractional interests. In addition, each such adjustment shall be made in such manner as not to constitute a "modification" within the meaning of
Section 424(h)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Any such adjustment made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon the Optionee, the Company and all interested
persons.

 


7.    Exercise of the Option.    Prior to a Conversion Event and to the expiration of the Option, the Optionee may exercise the
vested portion of the Option from time to time in whole or in part. Upon electing to exercise the Option, the Optionee shall deliver to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company a written and signed
notice of such election setting forth the number of Option Shares the Optionee has elected to acquire. Within three days of such election, unless otherwise instructed by the Committee (as defined in
the Plan) as described herein, the Optionee shall tender cash (by wire transfer or otherwise) or a cashier's or certified bank check payable to the order of NV for the full Exercise Price of such
Option Shares and any amount required pursuant to Section 16 (the "Section 16 Amount"). The Committee may, within two days of receiving the Optionee's election to exercise the Option,
send written notice to the Optionee instructing the Optionee either (a) to pay the entire Exercise Price and Section 16 Amount directly to NV or directly to the Company or (b) to
pay a portion of the Exercise Price and Section 16 Amount directly to NV and the remainder of such Exercise Price and Section 16 Amount directly to the Company. Within two days of
receiving such written instructions, the Optionee shall comply with such instructions by tendering cash (by wire transfer or otherwise) or a cashier's check or certified bank check to the appropriate
recipient(s) designated in such instructions. No Option Shares shall be issued or transferred to the Optionee until the full amount due from the Optionee is paid as described above. 


        The
Committee further may, in its discretion, permit payment of the Exercise Price and the Section 16 Amount in such form or in such manner as may be permissible under the Plan
and under any applicable law. 


8.    Exercise of the SAR.    Vested SARs may be exercised quarterly during the third month after the close of the fiscal quarter.
Results for such quarter will be determined by management and communicated to the SAR holders by the last day of the second month after the close of the fiscal quarter. Upon exercise, the holder of
the SAR will be entitled to receive a sum of cash equal to the difference between the (i) the Exercise Date SAR Value ("V2"), minus (ii) the Grant Date SAR Value
("V1") multiplied by the number of SARs exercised, minus any applicable Section 16 Amount. 


Grant
Date SAR Value shall be determined by applying the following formula: 



	 
	 	 
	 
	 
	 	 

	 	 	A × B
 C	+	D × E
 C	 	  = V1
	 	 	
	 	 
	 	 	2	 	 





Where:



A
is the Comparator Enterprise Value/EBITA Ratio as of the date of grant of the options that have converted into SARs; 


B
is NV's EBITA for the twelve months ending at the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter preceding the date of grant of the options that have converted into SARs; 


C
is the number of shares of NV outstanding on the date of grant; 


D
is the Comparator Price/Earnings Ratio as of the date of grant of the options that have converted into SARs; and 


E
is NV's net income for the twelve months ending at the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter preceding the date of grant of the options that have converted into SARs; 


as
each may be determined by the Remuneration Committee or its designee.

 




Exercise
Date SAR Value shall be determined by applying the following formula: 



	 
	 	 
	 
	 
	 	 

	 	 	A × B
 C	+	D × E
 C	 	  = V2
	 	 	
	 	 
	 	 	2	 	 





Where:



A
is the Comparator Enterprise Value/EBITA Ratio as of the date of exercise of the SARs; 


B
is NV's EBITA for the twelve months ending at the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter preceding the date of exercise of the SARs; 


C
is the number of shares of NV outstanding on the date of exercise; 


D
is the Comparator Price/Earnings Ratio as of the date of exercise of the SARs; and 



E
is NV's net income for the twelve months ending at the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter preceding the date of exercise of the SARs; 


as
each may be determined by the Remuneration Committee or its designee. 




        Upon
electing to exercise the SAR, the Optionee shall deliver to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company a written and signed notice of such election setting forth the number of SARs
the Optionee has elected to exercise. Within 30 days of receipt of such notice of election, the Company shall send to the Optionee, at the address listed below, the sum to which the Optionee is
entitled upon the exercise of such number of SARs as are indicated in the Optionee's notice of election. 



9.    Restrictions on Transfers of Shares Issuable Upon Exercise.    Subject to compliance with applicable laws, the Option Shares
shall be freely transferable. 


10.  Compliance with Legal Requirements.  



	(a)
	No
Option Shares shall be issued or transferred pursuant to this Agreement unless and until all legal requirements applicable to such issuance or transfer have, in the reasonable
opinion of counsel to the Company, been satisfied. Such requirements may include, but are not limited to: (i) registering or qualifying such Option Shares under Italian, Dutch or United States
national, state or local law; (ii) satisfying any applicable law relating to the transfer of unregistered securities or demonstrating the availability of an exemption from applicable laws;
(iii) placing a legend on the Shares to the effect that they were issued or transferred in reliance upon an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
or similar law of other jurisdictions, and may not be transferred other than in reliance upon Rule 144 or Rule 701 promulgated under the Act, if available, or upon another exemption from
the Act or similar law of other jurisdictions; or (iv) obtaining the consent or approval of any Governmental Authority.



	(b)
	The
Optionee hereby represents and warrants that, unless a registration statement under the Act is effective as to Option Shares, such Option Shares will be acquired for the
Optionee's (or the Optionee's permitted transferee's) personal account and not with a view to distribution. 

 







11.  No Interest in Shares Subject to Option.    Neither the Optionee (individually or as a member of a group) nor any beneficiary
or other Person claiming under or through the Optionee shall have any right, title, interest or privilege in or to any Shares or other securities allocated or reserved for the purpose of the Plan or
subject to this Agreement except as to such Option Shares, if any, as shall have been issued or transferred to such Person upon exercise of this Option, except as otherwise provided herein. 


12.  Plan Controls and Amendments.    Options and SARs hereby granted by this Agreement are subject to, and the Company and the
Optionee agree to be bound by, all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof. The Supervisory Board (and its Remuneration
Committee) shall have the right to amend the terms set forth in this Agreement, or in any option plan or agreement, as it may in its discretion deem necessary or appropriate; provided, however,
amendments resulting in economic rights materially less favorable than those contained in this Agreement shall require the consent of the Optionee, such consent to be in writing. Without limiting the
foregoing, the Supervisory Board (and its Remuneration Committee) may elect at any time to replace the SARs with alternative mechanisms (such as option puts) where deemed desirable to enhance the tax
efficiency of the option plan in any particular jurisdiction. 


13.  Independent Advisors.    In making any determination, including but not limited to the determination of a Grant Date SAR
Value or an Exercise Date SAR Value, the Remuneration Committee shall be entitled to rely on such independent advisors as the Remuneration Committee shall select in its discretion. 



14.  Not an Employment Contract.    Nothing in the Plan, this Agreement or any other instrument executed pursuant thereto shall
confer upon the Optionee any right to employment with the Company, NV or any Affiliate or shall affect the right of the Company, NV or any Affiliate to terminate the employment of the Optionee for
Cause or Not For Cause. 


15.  Governing Law.    All terms of and rights under this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law
of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. 


16.  Taxes.    Whenever Shares are to be issued or transferred with respect to the exercise of Options, or whenever cash is paid
upon the exercise of SARs, the Remuneration Committee in its discretion may require the Optionee to remit to the Company, prior to the issuance or transfer of such Shares or cash, all or any part of
the amount determined in the Remuneration Committee's discretion to be sufficient to satisfy any tax obligations or, to the extent legally permissible, national insurance and other social security
contributions (whether employees' or employer's), that the Company or its counsel determines may arise with respect to such exercise, issuance, transfer or payment. Pursuant to a procedure established
by the Remuneration Committee or as set forth in the stock option Plan or any agreement, the Optionee may (a) request the Company to withhold delivery of a sufficient number of Shares or a
sufficient amount of the Optionee's compensation or (b) deliver a sufficient number of previously issued Shares or a sufficient amount of cash to satisfy the withholding obligation. 



17.  Notices.    All notices, requests, demands and other communications pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall
be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered, telexed or telecopied to, or, if mailed, when received by, the other party. Notices to the Company shall be sent to the attention of the
Chief Financial Officer at the Company's registered address. Notices to the Optionee shall be sent to the address set forth below the Optionee's signature on the final page hereof or, if no address is
indicated thereon, to the address indicated in the Company's employment records.

 


18.  Entire Agreement.    This Agreement, together with the Plan, sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the
parties as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral and written and all contemporaneous oral discussions, agreements and understandings of any kind or nature. 


19.  Severability.    In the event that any provision of this Agreement is declared to be illegal, invalid or otherwise
unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be reformed, if possible, to the extent necessary to render it legal, valid and enforceable, or otherwise deleted, and the
remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected except to the extent necessary to reform or delete such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision. 


20.  Headings.    The headings preceding the text of the sections hereof are inserted solely for convenience of reference and
shall not constitute a part of this Agreement, nor shall they affect its meaning, construction or effect. 


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


22.  Further Assurances.    Each party shall cooperate and take such action as may be reasonably requested by another party in
order to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Agreement. 


23.  Remedies.    In the event of a breach by any party to this Agreement of its obligations under this Agreement, any party
injured by such breach, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, shall be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this
Agreement. This Agreement shall be specifically enforceable, it being agreed by the parties that the remedy at law, including monetary damages, for breach of any such provision will be inadequate
compensation for any loss and that any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is hereby waived. 


24.  Binding Effect.    This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective
permitted successors and assigns. 


25.  Arbitration.    The parties shall endeavor to settle all disputes by amicable negotiations. Any claim, dispute, disagreement
or controversy that arises among the parties relating to this Agreement that is not amicably settled shall be resolved by arbitration, as follows: 



	(a)
	Any
such arbitration shall be heard in New York, New York, before a panel consisting of one to three arbitrators, each of whom shall be impartial. Upon the written request for
arbitration of either party hereto to commence arbitration hereunder, the parties shall attempt to agree on the number and identity of the arbitrators within 30 days of such request. If the
parties fail to agree, the number of arbitrators shall be determined and their appointment shall be made by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of
the American Arbitration Association. In determining the number and appropriate background of the arbitrators, the American Arbitration Association shall give due consideration to the issues to be
resolved, but the decision as to the number of arbitrators and their identity shall be final.



	(b)
	An
arbitration may be commenced by any party to this Agreement by the service of a written request for arbitration upon the other affected parties. Such request for arbitration shall
summarize the controversy or claim to be arbitrated.



	(c)
	All
attorneys' fees and costs of the arbitration shall in the first instance be borne by the respective party incurring such costs and fees, but the arbitrators shall have the
discretion to award costs and/or attorneys' fees as they deem appropriate under the circumstances. The parties hereby expressly waive punitive damages, and under no circumstances shall an award
contain any amount that in any way reflects punitive damages. 

 



	(d)
	Judgment
on the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.



	(e)
	It
is intended that controversies or claims submitted to arbitration under this Section 25 shall remain confidential, and to that end it is agreed by the parties that neither
the facts disclosed in the arbitration, the issues arbitrated nor the views or opinions of any persons concerning them shall be disclosed to third persons at any time, except to the extent necessary
to enforce an award or judgment or as required by law or in response to legal process or in connection with such arbitration.



	(f)
	Any
arbitration under this Section 25 shall be conducted pursuant to the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. 




26.  Special Provisions for U.S. Taxpayers.    The Optionee acknowledges that, to the extent that (1) the exercise price
for each Option granted hereunder is less than 100% of the fair market value of the Shares on the date such Option is granted; (2) if an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Participant who
on the date of grant is treated under Section 424(d) of the Code as owning stock (not including stock acquirable under outstanding options) possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting
power of all classes of the Company's stock, its parent corporation's stock, and its subsidiary corporations' stock, the exercise price is less than 110% of the fair market value of the Shares on the
date such Incentive Stock Option is granted; or (3) the aggregate fair market value of stock with respect to which "incentive stock options"
(within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, but without regard to Section 422(d) of the Code), including the Option, are exercisable for the first time by the Optionee during any
calendar year (under the Plan and all other incentive stock option plans of the Company, NV or any subsidiary of NV) exceeds $100,000, such options shall not qualify under Section 422 of the
Code and shall be taxed as non-qualified options. The Optionee further acknowledges that the rule set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied by taking options into account in the
order in which they were granted. For purposes of these rules, the fair market value of the shares shall be determined at the time the option with respect to such shares is granted. The Optionee
further understands and acknowledges that, in order for the Option to be eligible for tax treatment as an incentive stock option under the Code, among other things, the Optionee must be an employee of
the Company and may not dispose of the Option Shares within the later of (i) two years after the Grant Date or (ii) one year after the date on which such Option Shares were acquired by
the Optionee. "Grant Date" means, for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, the Effective Date. "Code" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 


IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above. 



	 	 	«COMPANY_NAME»
	

 	
 	
By:	

 
	 	 	 	

	 	 	Name:

Title:
	



	
 	

 	

 
	 	 	
 Optionee:
	



	
 	

 	

 
	 	 	Name: «Optionee»

Number of Option Shares: «Shares»

Exercise Price: $«Price»




 

	



	
 	

 	

 





	 	 	Address:	

	

 	
 	

 	


	

 	
 	

 	







ACKNOWLEDGED
AND AGREED TO: 



	GUCCI GROUP N.V.	 	 
	
By:	

 	
 	

 
	 	
	 	 
	Name: Domenico De Sole

Title: Chairman of the Management Board	 	 














QuickLinks



Exhibit 4.18


Share Option and Share Appreciation Right Agreement