Exhibit



Exhibit  10.26



i3 VERTICALS, INC.
2018 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT 
 
i3 Verticals, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to its 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (“Participant”) an option (the “Option”) to purchase the number of shares of Class A common stock of the Company (“Shares”) set forth below. The Option is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Notice of Stock Option Grant (the “Grant Notice”), the Stock Option Award Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Agreement”) and the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in the Grant Notice and the Agreement.
	
		
	Participant:
	 

	 
	 

	Grant Date:
	 

	 
	 

	Exercise Price per Share:
	$

	 
	 

	Total Number of Shares Subject to the Option:
	shares

	 
	 

	Expiration Date:
	 

	 
	 

	Vesting Schedule:
	 

	 
	 

	Type of Option:
	[Non-Qualified Stock Option][Incentive Stock Option]




 
By accepting (whether in writing, electronically or otherwise) the Option, Participant acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Agreement and the Grant Notice.  Participant has reviewed the Agreement, the Plan and the Grant Notice in their entirety and fully understands all provisions thereof. Participant understands that Participant’s employment or consulting relationship with the Company (or an Affiliate) is for an unspecified duration, can be terminated at any time (i.e., is “at-will”), except where otherwise prohibited by applicable law, and that nothing in this Grant Notice, the Agreement or the Plan changes the nature of that relationship. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan, the Grant Notice or the Agreement.
 
	
					
	i3 VERTICALS, INC.
	PARTICIPANT

	 
	 

	 
	 

	By:
	 
	 
	By:
	 

	

Its:
	 
	 
	Print Name:
	 











EXHIBIT A


i3 VERTICALS, INC.
STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT
 
Unless otherwise defined in this Stock Option Award Agreement (this “Agreement”), any capitalized terms used herein will have the meaning ascribed to them in the i3 Verticals, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”). Participant has been granted an option to purchase Shares (the “Option”) of i3 Verticals, Inc. (the “Company”), subject to the terms, restrictions and conditions of the Plan, the Notice of Stock Option Grant (the “Notice”) and this Agreement.
 
ARTICLE I
GENERAL


The Option is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Grant Notice and the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference.  In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.
 
ARTICLE II 
GRANT OF OPTION
 
2.1    Grant of Option. In consideration of Participant’s past and/or continued employment with or service to the Company or a Subsidiary and for other good and valuable consideration, effective as of the grant date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Grant Date”), the Company has granted to Participant the Option to purchase any part or all of an aggregate of the number of Shares set forth in the Grant Notice, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice, the Plan and this Agreement, subject to adjustments as provided in Section 4.2 of the Plan. If the Grant Notice indicates that the Option is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option”, the provisions of the plan applicable to Incentive Stock Options shall apply.
 
2.2    Exercise Price. The Exercise Price shall be as set forth in the Grant Notice.
 
2.3    Consideration to the Company. In consideration of the grant of the Option by the Company, Participant agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or any Subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement shall confer upon Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or a Subsidiary and Participant.
 







ARTICLE III
PERIOD OF EXERCISABILITY
 
3.1    Commencement of Exercisability. Subject to the provisions of Article III, the Option shall become vested and exercisable in such amounts and at such times as are set forth in the Grant Notice. The Option shall not be exercisable prior to the applicable vesting date.


(a)    Participant acknowledges that the vesting of the Option pursuant to this Agreement and the Grant Notice is subject to Participant’s continuing Service Relationship. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.1, Participant’s right to vest in the Option will terminate as of the date on which Participant’s Service Relationship is terminated.


(b)    Notwithstanding Section 3.1(a), upon the termination of the Participant’s Service Relationship with the Company on account of the Participant’s death or Disability, one hundred percent (100%) of the Option that has not yet vested shall vest and be exercisable at such time as set forth in the Grant Notice and this Article III.


(c)    Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control in which this Option is not continued or assumed, or with respect to which a substituted award is not issued to the Participant, in each case under the terms and conditions set forth in Section 12.1(a) or (b) of the Plan, this Option shall become vested with respect to one hundred percent of the Shares covered hereby (to the extent not previously forfeited or canceled) and to the extent not exercised prior to the effective time of the Change in Control transaction, shall be canceled in exchange for a payment with respect to each Share covered by this Option in (i) cash, (ii) stock of the Company or of a corporation or other business entity a party to the Change in Control, or (iii) other property which, in any such case, shall be in an amount having a Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per Share in the Change in Control, reduced by the exercise price per Share covered by this Option (which payment may, for the avoidance of doubt, be $0, in the event the per share exercise price of the Option is greater than the per share consideration in connection with the Change in Control). The Committee may provide that Options whose vesting will be accelerated pursuant to this Section 3.1(c) may be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Committee prior to the effective time of the Change in Control.


3.2    Duration of Exercisability. The Option shall remain vested and exercisable until it becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof.  Participant is responsible for keeping track of these exercise periods following Participant’s termination of its Service Relationship for any reason. The Company will not provide further notice of such periods.
 
3.3    Expiration of Option. The Option may not be exercised to any extent by anyone after the first to occur of the following events:


(a)    The expiration date set forth in the Grant Notice;
 





(b)    Except as the Committee may otherwise approve, in the event the Participant’s Service Relationship is terminated other than for Cause or by reason of Participant’s death or Disability, the expiration of three (3) months from the date of the termination of the Participant’s Service Relationship;


(c)    Except as the Committee may otherwise approve, the expiration of one (1) year from the date of the termination of the Participant’s Service Relationship by reason of Participant’s death or Disability; or


(d)    Except as the Committee may otherwise approve, on the date of the termination of the Participant’s Service Relationship by the Company for Cause, or if earlier, the date on which the basis for a termination for Cause existed; or


(e)    The Option is cancelled pursuant to Section 3.1(c).


In the case of (a) or (b) above, the period of time over which this Option may be exercised shall be automatically extended if on the scheduled expiration of the Option, the Participant’s exercise of such Option would violate applicable securities law; provided, however, that during the extended exercise period the Option may only be exercised to the extent the Option was exercisable in accordance with its terms immediately prior to such scheduled expiration date; and provided further, that such extended exercise period shall end not later than thirty (30) days after the exercise of such Option first would no longer violate such laws.
 
 
ARTICLE IV
EXERCISE OF OPTION
 
4.1    Person Eligible to Exercise. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in its sole discretion, during the lifetime of Participant, only Participant may exercise the Option or any portion thereof. After the death of Participant, the Option may, prior to the time when the Option becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof, be exercised by Participant’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.
 
4.2    Manner of Exercise. The Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, at the times set forth in Article III solely by delivery to the Secretary of the Company (or any other person or entity designated by the Company), during regular business hours in person, by mail, via electronic mail or facsimile or by other authorized method of all of the following prior to the time when the Option or such portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof:
 
(a)    An exercise notice in a form specified by the Committee, stating that the Option or portion thereof is thereby exercised and complying with all applicable rules established by the Committee;
 





(b)    The receipt by the Company of full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option or portion thereof is exercised, in such form of consideration permitted under Section 4.3 hereof that is acceptable to the Committee;


(c)    The payment of any applicable withholding tax in accordance with Section 4.4;


(d)    Any other written representations or documents as may be required in the Committee’s sole discretion to effect compliance with applicable law; and


(e)    In the event the Option or portion thereof shall be exercised pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof by any person or persons other than Participant, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Committee shall have the right to specify all conditions of the manner of exercise, which conditions may vary by Participant and which may be subject to change from time to time.


4.3    Method of Payment. Payment of the exercise price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof:


(a)    Cash or check;


(b)    With the consent of the Committee, surrender of Shares (including, without limitation, Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option that are withheld by the Company) held for such period of time as may be required by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting consequences and having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof;


(c)    With the consent of the Committee and subject to Section 5.17, through the delivery of a notice that Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker designated by the Company with respect to the Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option Exercise Price; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company at such time as may be required by the Committee, but in any event not later than the settlement of such sale; or


(d)    Any other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Committee.
 
4.4    Tax Withholding.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:
 
(a)    The Company and its Subsidiaries have the authority to deduct or withhold, or require Participant to remit to the Company or the applicable Subsidiary, an amount sufficient to satisfy applicable federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the employee portion of any FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising pursuant to this Agreement. The Company and its Subsidiaries may withhold or Participant may make such payment in one or more of the forms specified below:





 
(i)    by cash or check made payable to the Company or the Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises;
 
(ii)    by the deduction of such amount from other cash compensation payable to Participant;


(iii)    with the consent of the Committee, by requesting that the Company withhold a net number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Option having a then current Fair Market Value not exceeding the amount necessary to satisfy the withholding obligation of the Company and its Subsidiaries based on a rate not to exceed the maximum applicable statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes;


(iv)    with the consent of the Committee, by tendering to the Company Shares having a then current Fair Market Value not exceeding the amount necessary to satisfy the withholding obligation of the Company and its Subsidiaries due upon the exercise of the Option based on a rate not to exceed the maximum applicable statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes;
 
(v)    with the consent of the Committee, through the delivery of a notice that Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker designated by the Company with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company or the Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises in satisfaction of such withholding taxes; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company or the applicable Subsidiary at such time as may be required by the Committee, but in any event not later than the settlement of such sale; or
 
(vi)    in any combination of the foregoing.
 
(b)    With respect to any withholding taxes arising in connection with the Option, in the event Participant fails to provide timely payment of all sums required pursuant to Section 4.4(a), the Company shall have the right and option, but not the obligation, to treat such failure as an election by Participant to satisfy all or any portion of Participant’s required payment obligation pursuant to Section 4.4(a)(ii) or Section 4.4(a)(iii) above, or any combination of the foregoing as the Company may determine to be appropriate. The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any certificate representing Shares issuable with respect to the exercise of the Option to Participant or his or her legal representative unless and until Participant or his or her legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all federal, state, local and foreign taxes applicable with respect to the taxable income of Participant resulting from the exercise of the Option or any other taxable event related to the Option.


(c)    Participant is ultimately liable and responsible for all taxes owed in connection with the Option, regardless of any action the Company or any Subsidiary takes with respect to any tax withholding obligations that arise in connection with the Option.  Neither the 





Company nor any Subsidiary makes any representation or undertaking regarding the treatment of any tax withholding in connection with the awarding, vesting or exercise of the Option or the subsequent sale of Shares.  The Company and the Subsidiaries do not commit, and are under no obligation, to structure the Option to reduce or eliminate Participant’s tax liability.


4.5    Conditions to Issuance of Stock. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any Shares purchased upon the exercise of the Option or portion thereof prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions: (A) the admission of such Shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which such Shares are then listed, (B) the completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal law or under rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or other governmental regulatory body, that the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable, (C) the obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency that the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable, (D) the receipt by the Company of full payment for such shares of Stock, which may be in one or more of the forms of consideration permitted under Section 4.3 hereof, and (E) the receipt of full payment of any applicable withholding tax in accordance with Section 4.4 by the Company or its Subsidiary with respect to which the applicable withholding obligation arises.


4.6    Rights as Stockholder. Neither Participant nor any person claiming under or through Participant will have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any shares of Stock purchasable upon the exercise of any part of the Option unless and until certificates representing such shares of Stock (which may be in book-entry form) will have been issued and recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars and delivered to Participant (including through electronic delivery to a brokerage account). No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of such issuance, recordation and delivery, except as provided in Section 4.2 of the Plan.


 
ARTICLE V
OTHER PROVISIONS
 
5.1    Administration. The Committee shall have the power to interpret the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee will be final and binding upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. To the extent allowable pursuant to applicable law, no member of the Committee or the Board will be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made with respect to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement.


5.2    Whole Shares. The Option may be exercised only for whole shares of Stock.


5.3    Option Not Transferable. Subject to Section 4.1 hereof, the Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and 





distribution, unless and until the shares of Stock underlying the Option have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such shares of Stock have lapsed. Neither the Option nor any interest or right therein or part thereof shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence.


5.4    Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of certain events relating to the Shares contemplated by Section 4.2 of the Plan (including, without limitation, an extraordinary cash dividend on such Shares), the Committee shall make such adjustments as the Committee deems appropriate in the number of Shares subject to the Option, the exercise price of the Option and the kind of securities that may be issued upon exercise of the Option. Participant acknowledges that the Option is subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and Section 4.2 of the Plan.


5.5    Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to Participant shall be addressed to Participant at Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 5.5, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice that is required to be given to Participant shall, if Participant is then deceased, be given to the person entitled to exercise the Option pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof by written notice under this Section 5.5. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.


5.6    Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.


5.7    Governing Law. The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.


5.8    Conformity to Securities Laws. Participant acknowledges that the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all applicable laws, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities laws and regulations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the Option is granted and may be exercised, only in such a manner as to conform to applicable law. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law.







5.9    Amendment, Suspension and Termination. To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Committee or the Board, provided that, except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the Option in any material way without the prior written consent of Participant.


5.10    Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 5.3 and the Plan, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.


5.11    Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, the Option, the Grant Notice and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.


5.12    Entire Agreement. The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including any exhibit hereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.


5.13    Section 409A. This Award is not intended to constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, “Section 409A”). However, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, if at any time the Committee determines that this Award (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the Committee shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate for this Award either to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A. Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall be construed to make the Company liable to Participant for any tax, interest, or penalties that Participant might owe as a result of the grant, holding, vesting, exercise, or payment of this Option or any Stock related thereto.


5.14    Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision of the Grant Notice or this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of the Grant Notice or this Agreement.







5.15    Limitation on Participant’s Rights. Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust. Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the Option, and rights no greater than the right to receive the Stock as a general unsecured creditor with respect to options, as and when exercised pursuant to the terms hereof.


5.16    Counterparts. The Grant Notice may be executed in one or more counterparts, including by way of any electronic signature, subject to applicable law, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.


5.17    Broker-Assisted Sales. In the event of any broker-assisted sale of shares of Stock in connection with the payment of the exercise price as provided in Section 4.4(c) or withholding taxes as provided in Section 4.4(a)(v) or Section 4.4(c) : (A) any Shares to be sold through a broker-assisted sale will be sold on the day the tax withholding obligation or exercise of the Option, as applicable, occurs or arises, or as soon thereafter as practicable; (B) such Shares may be sold as part of a block trade with other participants in the Plan in which all participants receive an average price; (C) Participant will be responsible for all broker’s fees and other costs of sale, and Participant agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any losses, costs, damages, or expenses relating to any such sale; (D) to the extent the proceeds of such sale exceed the applicable tax withholding obligation or exercise price, the Company agrees to pay such excess in cash to Participant as soon as reasonably practicable; (E) Participant acknowledges that the Company or its designee is under no obligation to arrange for such sale at any particular price, and that the proceeds of any such sale may not be sufficient to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligation or exercise price; and (F) in the event the proceeds of such sale are insufficient to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligation, Participant agrees to pay immediately upon demand to the Company or its Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises, an amount sufficient to satisfy any remaining portion of the Company’s or the applicable Subsidiary’s withholding obligation.


5.18    Award Subject to Company Clawback or Recoupment. The Option shall be subject to clawback or recoupment pursuant to any compensation clawback or recoupment policy adopted by the Board or required by law during the term of Participant’s Service Relationship that is applicable to Participant. In addition to any other remedies available under such policy, applicable law may require the cancellation of Participant’s Option (whether vested or unvested) and the recoupment of any gains realized with respect to Participant’s Option.