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Exhibit 10.4    
  

        EXECUTION COPY

 
 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT    
  

        THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of this 31st day of January, 2003, by and among EPIQ
SYSTEMS, INC., a Missouri corporation (the "Company"), BANKRUPTCY SERVICES, LLC, a New York limited liability company
(the "Employer"), and RON JACOBS (the "Employee"). 

WITNESSETH: 

        WHEREAS,
the Employer is a limited liability company which is wholly-owned by EPIQ Systems Acquisition, Inc. which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; 

        WHEREAS,
as of January 31, 2003, the Employee has executed an employment agreement by and among Employee, the Company and the Employer (the "Employment Agreement") pursuant to
which the Employee will be employed by the Employer; 

        WHEREAS,
as an inducement for the Employee to enter into the Employment Agreement, the Company has agreed to grant to the Employee the right and option to purchase up to One Hundred
Thousand (100,000) shares of common stock, one cent ($.01) par value of the Company (the "Stock"); and 

        WHEREAS,
the Employee desires to accept the aforementioned option to purchase the Stock in accordance with the provisions of the terms and conditions of this Agreement as set forth
herein. 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows: 

SECTION 1. GRANT OF OPTION  

        The Company hereby grants as of the date hereof (the "Grant Date") to the Employee the right and option (the "Option") to purchase all or any part of an aggregate
of One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shares of the Stock (the "Option Shares") (such number being subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 hereof) on the terms and conditions set forth
herein. The parties acknowledge and agree that this Option is intended to qualify as a nonstatutory or nonqualified stock option ("NSO") and not as an incentive stock option under Section 422
of Internal Revenue Codes of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). 

SECTION 2. PURCHASE PRICE  

        The per share purchase or exercise price of the Option Shares shall be the closing bid price of one (1) share of Stock as reported on the NASDAQ National
Market as of the close of trading on the last business day prior to the Grant Date. The purchase price is subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 hereof. 

SECTION 3. MEDIUM OF PAYMENT  

        The parties agree that full payment of the purchase price for the Option Shares shall be payable in either (a) United States Dollars by cash, certified or
cashier's check, personal check, money order or wire transfer; or (b) in any combination of cash or check as described in subsection (a) and/or shares of Stock already owned by the
Employee which are surrendered in good form for transfer. Such shares of Stock shall be valued at their fair market value on the date the Option is exercised in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. 

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SECTION 4. OPTION TERM AND TERMINATION  

	(a)
	No
part of the Option shall be exercised after ten (10) years from the date hereof.

	(b)
	All
rights to exercise the Option hereunder shall be terminated in accordance with the following provisions:

	(i)
	If
the Employee's employment with the Employer, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company terminates for any reason other than death, disability, or for cause (as defined in the
Employment Agreement), the Employee shall be entitled to exercise the Option, to the extent it is exercisable, in whole or in part, within thirty (30) days after the date Employee's employment
terminates, but in no event later than the date on which the Option would have expired if Employee's employment had not terminated.

	(ii)
	If
the Employee's employment with the Employer, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company terminates on account of disability, consistent with Section 3(b)i of the Employment
Agreement, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, which determination shall be conclusive, the Employee may exercise the Option, to the extent it is exercisable, in whole or in part,
within one (1) year after the date on which the Employee's employment terminates, but in no event later than the date on which the Option would have expired if the Employee had not become
disabled.

	(iii)
	If
the Employee's employment with the Employer, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company terminates on account of death, the estate of the Employee or any person who acquires the
right to exercise the Option by will or the laws of descent or distribution or by reason of the Employee's death may exercise the Option, to the extent it is exercisable, in whole or in part, within
one (1) year after the Employee's date of death, but in no event later than the date on which the Option would have expired if the Employee had not died.

	(iv)
	If
the Employee's employment with the Employer, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company terminates for cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement), he shall forfeit any and all
outstanding rights under the Option and such rights shall be deemed to have lapsed for purposes hereof as of the date of such termination of employment for cause. 

	(c)
	For
purposes of this Agreement, an "Affiliate of the Company" shall mean any business entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the
Company. For purposes of this definition, "controlling", "controlled by" or "under common control with" means a more than fifty percent (50%) voting, equity and profits interest. 

SECTION 5. TIME OF EXERCISE  

	(a)
	
	(i)
	On
the Grant Date (i.e., January 31, 2003) through January 30, 2004, the Option may be exercised
with respect to twenty percent (20%) of the total number of Option Shares.

	(ii)
	On
the first anniversary of the Grant Date (i.e., January 31, 2004) through January 30, 2005, the Option may be exercised as to an additional twenty percent (20%) but
not more than forty percent (40%) of the total number of Option Shares.

	(iii)
	On
the second anniversary of the Grant Date (i.e., January 31, 2005) through January 30, 2006, the Option may be exercised as to an additional twenty percent (20%) but
not more than sixty percent (60%) of the total number of Option Shares.

	(iv)
	On
the third anniversary of the Grant Date (i.e., January 31, 2006) through January 30, 2007, the Option may be exercised as to an additional twenty percent (20%) but
not more than eighty percent (80%) of the total number of Option Shares. 

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	(v)
	On
the fourth anniversary of the Grant Date (i.e., January 31, 2007) and until the Option expires or otherwise terminates in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the
Option may be exercised up to one hundred percent (100%) of the total number of Option Shares. 

	(b)
	The
Option or any installment of the Option, as described in subsection 5(a) above, which has become exercisable, may be exercised at any time and from time to time (so long as the
term of the Option or such installment thereof has not expired), as to all or any part of any installment thereof; provided, that the Option may not be exercised for a fractional share of Stock. 

SECTION 6. METHOD OF EXERCISE AND ISSUANCE OF SHARES  

	(a)
	Each
exercise of the Option, or all or any portion of an installment thereof, in accordance with the provision of Section 5 of this Agreement, shall be by written notice of
exercise delivered to the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company at the Company's principal place of business specifying the number of shares of Stock to be purchased and
accompanied by payment in the manner elected in Section 3 hereof.

	(b)
	As
soon as practicable after any such exercise in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the Company shall deliver certificate(s) to the Employee representing the Stock which
relates to such exercise. 

SECTION 7. NONTRANSFERABILITY  

        The Option, and all rights and privileges hereunder, shall be nonassignable and nontransferable by the Employee, either voluntarily or by operation of law (except
by will or by operation of the laws of descent and distribution), nor shall they be pledged or hypothecated in any way, and shall be exercisable only by the Employee during his lifetime, except as
provided in Section 4(b)(iii) of this Agreement. 

SECTION 8. SHARE AUTHORIZATIONS, CONSENTS, ETC.  

        The Company, during the term of the Option, will have a sufficient number of shares of Stock authorized to satisfy this Option. The Company will seek to obtain
from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction, such authority as may be required to issue and sell Stock to satisfy the Option. The inability of the Company to obtain from any such
regulatory commission or agency authority, which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of the Stock to satisfy the Option, shall relieve the Company from any
liability for failure to issue and sell Stock to satisfy the Option until such time as such authority is obtained. 

SECTION 9. INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS  

        The Employee may be required, if it is deemed necessary in the opinion of counsel of the Company, to represent to the Company at the time of exercise that it is
his intention to acquire the Stock for his private investment only and not for resale or distribution to the public. The Company may stamp any
certificate representing such Stock with a legend to the effect that such Stock has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and that it may not be sold or transferred until
so registered, or until an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company is received to the effect that such registration is not necessary. In the event any Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement is
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, then the investment representations and restrictions imposed pursuant to federal securities law shall automatically be inoperative with respect
to such Stock. Whenever the Company next files a registration statement on Form S-8, Company will include in that registration statement all of the Option Shares. 

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SECTION 10. RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER  

        The Employee shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any Stock issuable pursuant to this Option until the certificate(s) representing such Stock
shall have been issued and delivered to him. No adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Stock certificate(s) is delivered to the
Employee. 

SECTION 11. CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE  

	(a)
	The
Option granted hereunder shall be subject to adjustment by the Board of Directors of the Company as to the number and price of shares subject to such Option in the event of
changes in the outstanding shares of Stock by reason of stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations, exchanges, or other relevant changes
in capitalization occurring after the Grant Date of the Option. In the event of any such change in the outstanding shares of Stock, the aggregate number of Option Shares, which remain outstanding, and
the exercise price thereof, under this Agreement shall be approximately adjusted by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be conclusive.

	(b)
	Except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, the issuance by the Company of shares of its capital stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of capital stock of any
class, either in connection with a direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares
or other securities, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or exercise price of the Option Shares which remain outstanding.

	(c)
	Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Option granted hereunder shall not affect in any manner the right or power of the Company to make, authorize or consummate
(i) any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Company's capital structure or its business; (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Company;
(iii) any issue by the Company of debt securities, or preferred or preference stock that would rank above the shares of Stock subject to Option; (iv) the dissolution or liquidation of
the Company; (v) any sale, transfer or assignment of all or any part of the assets or business of the Company; or (vi) any other corporate act or proceedings, whether of a similar
character or otherwise. 

SECTION 12. CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYMENT  

        Nothing herein shall confer upon the Employee any right to continued employment, or interfere with the right of the Employer, the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company, whichever is serving as the employer of the Employee, to terminate his employment at any time, for any reason. 

SECTION 13. TAX TREATMENT AND WITHHOLDING TAXES  

        The Company intends that the Option will be considered a nonstatutory or nonqualified stock option under the Code. The Employee, the Company or an Affiliate of
the Company, whichever is serving as the employer of the Employee, has the right to require the Employee or Employee's permitted successor in interest to pay to the Employer, the Company or an
Affiliate of the Company, whichever is serving as the employer of the Employee, the amount of any taxes which said employer may be required to withhold with respect to such Option Shares. If permitted
by law, the Company has the right to issue or transfer Option Shares net of the number of shares of Stock sufficient to satisfy tax withholding requirements. For withholding tax purposes, the Option
Shares to be withheld shall be the fair market value on the date of the withholding obligation. 

        The
foregoing is not intended as tax advice to Employee. Furthermore, neither the Company nor the Employer make any representation or warranty concerning the tax consequences to the
Employee 

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upon grant or exercise of the Option, the receipt of the Option Shares upon the exercise in whole or in part of the Option, or the subsequent sale of the Option Shares acquired pursuant to the
exercise, in whole or in part, of the Option. The Employee should consult his or her own tax advisor. 

SECTION 14. FAIR MARKET VALUE  

        As used herein, except with respect to the exercise price set forth in Section 2, the fair market value shall be the closing price at which the Stock is
traded on the applicable date. For this purpose, the
closing price of the Stock on any business day shall be (i) if such Stock is listed or admitted for trading on any United States national securities exchange, or if actual transactions are
otherwise reported on a consolidated transaction reporting system, the last reported sale price of the Stock on such exchange or reporting system, as reported in any newspaper of general circulation,
(ii) if the Stock is quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System ("NASDAQ"), or any similar system of automated dissemination of quotations of
securities prices in common use, the closing bid quotation for such day of the Stock on such system, or (iii) if neither clause (i) or (ii) is applicable, the mean between the
high bid and low ask quotations for the Stock as reported by the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated if at least two securities dealers have inserted both bid and ask quotations for the Stock on
at least 5 of the 10 preceding days. 

SECTION 15. GOVERNING LAW  

        This Agreement shall be subject to, and governed by, the Laws of the State of Missouri irrespective of the fact that one or more of the parties now is, or may
become, a resident of a different state. 

SECTION 16. MISCELLANEOUS  

        The Option shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company or a Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board of Directors or
Committee of the Board of Directors shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Administrator"). The parties hereby acknowledge and agree that the Administrator shall have the authority, consistent with
this Agreement, to interpret this Agreement, to promulgate such rules, policies and procedures to administer the Option and the exercise thereof, to delegate ministerial responsibilities relating to
the Option to appropriate persons and to make all other determinations necessary or desirable for the administration of this Agreement. All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the
Administrator shall be binding on the parties. Neither the Company, the Employer, nor any Affiliate of the Company is under any obligation to repurchase the Option Shares acquired pursuant to the
exercise of the Option. The proceeds received by the Company from the exercise of this Option shall be used for any purposes as the Company shall determine in its sole and absolute discretion. If any
provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal for any reason, such a determination shall not affect the validity, enforceability, or legality of the remaining
provisions hereof. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is determined to be vague or ambiguous, the parties agree that such provision should not be disregarded or eliminated, but
construed in accordance with the intent of the parties. To the extent applicable and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the transactions contemplated under this Agreement are intended
to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to the extent any provision of this
Agreement or action by any party hereunder is inconsistent with the foregoing requirements, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent required by law The failure of any party to enforce any of
the provisions of this Agreement in any single instance, shall not prevent the enforcement thereof in any other instance, and no provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived or
modified unless such waiver or modification shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with
regard 

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to the matters contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether or not in writing, between the parties with respect to these matters. This Agreement may be amended or
modified only by the written agreement of the parties hereto. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal representatives,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns. 

THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.  

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Employer have caused this Stock Option Agreement to be duly executed by its duly authorized officers or members, as the case may be, and the
Employee has executed this instrument, all as of the day and year first above written. 

	EPIQ SYSTEMS, INC.	 	 
	
"Company"	
 	

"Employee"
	

By:	

/s/  CHRISTOPHER E. OLOFSON      
	
 	

/s/  RON JACOBS      

	Name:	Christopher E. Olofson	 	Ron Jacobs
	Title:	President and Chief Operating Officer	 	 
	
BANKRUPTCY SERVICES, LLC	
 	

 
	
"Employee"	
 	

 
	

By:	

/s/  CHRISTOPHER E. OLOFSON      
	
 	

 
	Name:	Christopher E. Olofson	 	 
	Title:	President and Chief Operating Officer	 	 

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Exhibit 10.4

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Exhibit 10.21  

 
 

UNITED ONLINE, INC.
  FISCAL 2003 MANAGEMENT BONUS PLAN    
  

I.    PURPOSES OF THE PLAN  

        1.01     The
United Online, Inc. ("Company") Fiscal 2003 Management Bonus Plan ("Plan") is established to promote the interests of the Company by creating
an incentive program to (i) attract and retain employees who will strive for excellence, and (ii) motivate those individuals to set and achieve above-average objectives by providing them
with rewards for contributions to the financial performance of the Company. 

II.    ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN  

        2.01     The
Plan is hereby adopted by the Company's Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee"), and shall be administered by the Committee
pursuant to the powers provided to the Committee by the Board of Directors of the Company. 

        2.02     The
interpretation and construction of the Plan and the adoption of rules and regulations for administering the Plan shall be made by the Committee.
Decisions of the Committee shall be final and binding on all parties who have an interest in the Plan. 

III.  DETERMINATION OF PARTICIPANTS  

        3.01     The
following individuals will participate in the Plan: Mark R. Goldston, Charles Hilliard, Frederic A. Randall, Jr., Brian Woods,
Jerry Popek, Jon Fetveit and Rusty Taragan. An individual shall be eligible to participate in the Plan if employed by the Company or any of its participating subsidiaries on June 30, 2003. If
an individual is not employed by the Company or a participating subsidiary on such date, he will not be eligible to receive a bonus under the Plan. However, an individual who is on a leave of absence
or whose employment terminates and is then re-hired in the same fiscal year may remain eligible at the discretion of the Committee, and the Committee may provide a pro rata bonus. In the event of
termination of an individual's employment as a result of death or disability, the Committee shall provide the individual or the individual's estate with a pro rata bonus. 

        3.02     For
purposes of the Plan: 

        A.    An
individual shall be considered an employee for so long as such individual remains employed by the Company or one or more subsidiary corporations. 

        B.    Each
corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company shall be considered to be a subsidiary of the Company, provided
each such corporation (other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain) owns, at the time of determination, stock possessing more than fifty percent of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. 

IV.  BONUS AWARDS  

        4.01     No
eligible employee shall earn any portion of a bonus award made hereunder for any fiscal year until June 30, 2003. 

        4.02     The
individual bonus awards payable to the participants in the Plan for the 2003 Fiscal Year shall be based upon the Company's success in achieving a
specified EBITDA target (that is, a target tied to the Company's earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses) 

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determined by the Committee for that fiscal year ("EBITDA Target"). In determining whether the Company has achieved the EBITDA Target, EBITDA will be determined consistent with the Company's
historical methodology for calculating EBITDA for financial reporting purposes; provided, however, (1) EBITDA shall be calculated before restructuring and merger related expenses, (2) in
determining whether the Company has achieved in excess of 100% of the EBITDA Target, any bonus amounts to be accrued under this Plan shall be excluded from EBITDA, (3) any adjustments to EBITDA
attributable to a change in accounting principles shall be excluded and (4) all items of gain, loss or expense for such fiscal year determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or
infrequent in occurrence, or related to the disposal of a segment of a business, shall be excluded from EBITDA. In the event the Company acquires other companies or businesses during the 2003 fiscal
year, the Committee shall use its discretion to determine the impact, if any, such acquisitions should have on the EBITDA Target (it being hereby determined that the proposed acquisition of assets
from BlueLight will not have an impact on the EBITDA Target). While the bonuses shall be granted if the Company achieves the EBITDA Target, the Committee may use its discretion to award bonuses based
on criteria other than the EBITDA Target if the Committee determines it to be appropriate based on executive performance and other facts and circumstances, with the goal being to reward performance
based upon the Company's objectives. 

        4.03     The
bonuses shall be based on a percentage of each individual's base salary for fiscal 2003. For Mark Goldston, he will receive a bonus equal to 40%, 50%,
60%, 75% or 100% of base if the Company achieves, respectively, 80%, 90%, 100%, 110% or greater than 120% of the EBITDA Target. For the other eligible participants, each will receive 30%, 40%, 50%,
60% or 75% of his base if the Company achieves, respectively, 80%, 90%, 100%, 110% or greater than 120% of the EBITDA Target. 

        4.04     Following
completion of the bonus calculation referenced above, the Committee shall issue a written report containing the final calculation. 

V.    PAYMENT OF BONUS AWARDS  

        5.01     Bonuses
shall be paid no later than September 15, 2003. All payments under the Plan shall be subject to the Company's collection of all applicable
federal, state and local income and employment withholding taxes. 

VI.  GENERAL PROVISIONS  

        6.01     The
Plan shall become effective when adopted by the Compensation Committee. The Committee may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the Plan, provided
such action is effected by written resolution and does not adversely affect rights and interests of Plan participants. 

        6.03     No
amounts awarded or accrued under this Plan shall actually be funded, set aside or otherwise segregated prior to payment. The obligation to pay the
bonuses awarded hereunder shall at all times be an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company. Plan participants shall have the status of general creditors and shall look solely to the general
assets of the Company for the payment of their bonus awards. 

        6.04     No
Plan participant shall have the right to alienate, pledge or encumber his/her interest in this Plan, and such interest shall not (to the extent
permitted by law) be subject in any way to the claims of the employee's creditors or to attachment, execution or other process of law. 

        6.05     Neither
the action of the Company in establishing the Plan, nor any action taken under the Plan by the Committee, nor any provision of the Plan, shall be
construed so as to grant any person the right to remain in the employ of the Company or its subsidiaries for any period of specific duration. Rather, each employee will be employed "at-will," which
means that either such employee or the 

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Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time for any reason, with or without cause, subject in each case to any employment agreement between such person and the Company. 

        6.06     This
is the full and complete agreement between the eligible employees and the Company with respect to incentive bonus compensation for the 2003 fiscal
year. This Plan does not supersede, but is supplemental to, any provisions of any employment agreement to which any of the employees eligible under this Plan may be party. With respect to references
to Annual Bonuses in the Employment Agreements for Mssrs. Goldston, Hilliard, Randall and Woods, for the purposes of such Agreements the references to Annual Bonuses shall be deemed to be the bonus
each of such executives would be entitled to receive hereunder assuming the Company achieves 100% of the EBITDA Target. 

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UNITED ONLINE, INC. FISCAL 2003 MANAGEMENT BONUS PLAN

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