Exhibit 10.4

ARKO CORP.

2020 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

 

 

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

FOR

ARIE KOTLER

1. Grant of Option. ARKO CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) hereby grants, as of ________________, 20     (“Date of Grant”), to ARIE KOTLER (the “Optionee”) an option (the “Options”) to purchase up to [●] Shares of the Company at an exercise price per share equal to $[●] (the “Exercise Price”). The Options shall be subject to the terms, provisions and restrictions set forth in this Agreement and the Arko Corp. 2020 Incentive Compensation Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”), which is incorporated herein for all purposes. As a condition to entering into this Agreement, and to the issuance of any Shares, the Optionee agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions herein and in the Plan. Unless otherwise provided herein, terms used herein that are defined in the Plan and not defined herein shall have the meanings attributed thereto in the Plan. The Option is a Non-Qualified Stock Option and not an Incentive Stock Option.

2. Vesting Schedule. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5 or 8 of this Agreement or in the Plan, the Option shall vest and become exercisable in installments as set forth in the following table based upon the Optionee’s Continuous Service with the Company and its Related Entities through each of the following Vesting Dates:

 

Percentage of Options

 

Vesting Date

33 1/3%

  January 1, 2022

33 1/3%

33 1/3%

 

January 1, 2023

December 22, 2023

There shall be no proportionate or partial vesting of the Options in or during the months, days or periods prior to each Vesting Date, and except as otherwise provided in Section 8 hereof, all vesting shall occur only on the applicable Vesting Date provided the conditions set forth in this Section 2 are satisfied. Except as specified in this Agreement, upon the termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Service with the Company and its Related Entities, any unvested portion of the Options shall terminate and be null and void.

3. Method of Exercise. The vested portion of this Option shall be exercisable in whole or in part in accordance with the exercise schedule set forth in Section 2 hereof by written notice which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised, and such other representations and agreements as to the holder’s investment intent with respect to such Shares as may be required by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. Such written notice shall be signed by the Optionee and shall be delivered in person, by confirmed e-mail or by certified mail to the Secretary of the Company. The written notice shall be accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised after both (a) receipt by the Company of such written notice accompanied by the Exercise Price and (b) arrangements that are satisfactory to the Committee in

 

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its sole discretion have been made for Optionee’s payment to the Company of the amount, if any, that is necessary to be withheld in accordance with applicable Federal or state withholding requirements. No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the Option unless and until such issuance and such exercise shall comply with all relevant provisions of applicable law, including the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares then may be traded.

4. Method of Payment. Payment of the Exercise Price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee: (a) cash; (b) check; (c) to the extent permitted by the Committee, with Shares owned by the Optionee, or the withholding of Shares that otherwise would be delivered to the Optionee as a result of the exercise of the Option; (d) pursuant to a “cashless exercise” procedure, by delivery of a properly executed notice together with such other documentation, and subject to such guidelines, as the Committee shall require to effect an exercise of the Option and delivery to the Company by a licensed broker acceptable to the Company of proceeds from the sale of the Shares, or (e) such other consideration or in such other manner as may be determined by the Committee in its absolute discretion.

5. Termination of Option.

(a) General. Any unexercised portion of the Options shall automatically and without notice terminate and become null and void at the time of the earliest to occur of the following:

(i) three (3) months after the date on which the Optionee’s Continuous Service is terminated other than by reason of (A) by the Company or a Related Entity for Cause, (B) a Disability of the Optionee as determined by a medical doctor satisfactory to the Committee, or (C) the death of the Optionee;

(ii) immediately upon the termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Service by the Company or a Related Entity for Cause;

(iii) twelve (12) months after the date on which the Optionee’s Continuous Service is terminated by reason of a Disability;

(iv) twelve (12) months after the date of termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Service by reason of the death of the Optionee;

(v) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date as of which the Option is granted.

(b) Cancellation. To the extent not previously exercised, (i) the Option shall terminate immediately in the event of (A) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (B) any reorganization, merger, consolidation or other form of corporate transaction in which the Company does not survive or the Shares are exchanged for or converted into securities issued by another entity, or an affiliate of such successor or acquiring entity, unless the successor or acquiring entity, or an affiliate thereof, assumes the Option or substitutes an equivalent option or right pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Plan, and (ii) the Committee in its sole discretion may by written notice (“cancellation notice”) cancel, effective upon the consummation of any transaction that constitutes a Change in Control, the Option (or portion thereof) that remains unexercised on such date. The Committee shall give written notice of any proposed transaction referred to in this Section 5(b) a reasonable period of time prior to the closing date for such transaction (which notice may be given either before or after approval of such transaction), in order that the Optionee may have a reasonable period of time prior to the closing date of such transaction within which to exercise the Option if and to the extent that it then is exercisable (including any portion of the Option that may become exercisable upon the closing date of such transaction). The Optionee may condition his exercise of the Option upon the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 5(b).

 

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6. Transferability. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Option granted hereby is not transferable otherwise than by will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of the Optionee, the Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee, or the Optionee’s guardian or legal representative. In addition, the Option shall not be assigned, negotiated, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise), and the Option shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, negotiate, pledge or hypothecate the Option, or in the event of any levy upon the Option by reason of any execution, attachment or similar process contrary to the provisions hereof, the Option shall immediately become null and void. The terms of this Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.

7. No Rights of Stockholders. Neither the Optionee nor any personal representative (or beneficiary) shall be nor shall have any of the rights and privileges of, a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares purchasable or issuable upon the exercise of the Option, in whole or in part, prior to the date on which the Shares are issued.

8. Acceleration of Exercisability of Option.

(a) Acceleration Upon Certain Terminations or Cancellations of Option. This Option shall become immediately fully exercisable in the event that either (i) the Optionee’s Continuous Service is terminated either by the Company and its Related Entities without Cause or by the Optionee for Good Reason, or (ii) prior to the termination of the Option pursuant to Section 5 hereof, either the Option is terminated pursuant to Section 5(b)(i) hereof, or the Company exercises its discretion to provide a cancellation notice with respect to the Option pursuant to Section 5(b)(ii) hereof.

(b) Acceleration Upon Change in Control. This Option shall become immediately fully exercisable in the event that, prior to the termination of the Option pursuant to Section 5 hereof, and during the Optionee’s Continuous Service, there is a “Change in Control,” as defined in Section 9(b) of the Plan.

(c) Acceleration Upon Death or Disability of Optionee. In the event of the termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Service due to the Optionee’s death or Disability, then a pro rata portion of the then unvested Options (based on the number of days the Optionee was employed with the Company and its Related Entities during the Vesting Schedule as provided in Section 2 hereof, ceasing as of the date of termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Service), will accelerate and become immediately exercisable as of such termination date.

9. Amendment, Modification & Assignment. This Agreement may only be modified or amended in a writing signed by the parties hereto. No promises, assurances, commitments, agreements, undertakings or representations, whether oral, written, electronic or otherwise, and whether express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof, have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. Unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Company, in its sole discretion, this Agreement (and the Optionee’s rights hereunder) may not be assigned, and the obligations of the Optionee hereunder may not be delegated, in whole or in part. The rights and obligations created hereunder shall be binding on the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee and on the successors and assigns of the Company.

 

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10. Complete Agreement. This Agreement (together with those agreements and documents expressly referred to herein, for the purposes referred to herein) embody the complete and entire agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede any and all prior promises, assurances, commitments, agreements, undertakings or representations, whether oral, written, electronic or otherwise, and whether express or implied, which may relate to the subject matter hereof in any way.

11. Interpretation / Provisions of Plan Control. This Agreement is subject to all the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, including, without limitation, the amendment provisions thereof, and to such rules, regulations and interpretations relating to the Plan adopted by the Committee as may be in effect from time to time. If and to the extent that this Agreement conflicts or is inconsistent with the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, the Plan shall control, and this Agreement shall be deemed to be modified accordingly. The Optionee accepts the Option subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement. The undersigned Optionee hereby accepts as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan and this Agreement, unless shown to have been made in an arbitrary and capricious manner.

12. Miscellaneous.

(a) No Right to (Continued) Employment or Service. This Agreement and the grant of Options hereunder shall not confer, or be construed to confer, upon the Optionee any right to employment or service, or continued employment or service, with the Company or any Related Entity.

(b) No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall preclude the Company or any Related Entity from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation plans, agreements or arrangements, and any such plans, agreements and arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases or to specific persons.

(c) Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or under any applicable law, rule or regulation, then such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable law (or if such provision cannot be so construed or deemed amended without materially altering the purpose or intent of this Agreement and the grant of Options hereunder, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction and the remainder of this Agreement and the award hereunder shall remain in full force and effect).

(d) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither this Agreement nor the grant of Options hereunder shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Related Entity and the Optionee or any other person. To the extent that the Optionee or any other person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Related Entity pursuant to this Agreement, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

(e) Law Governing. The validity, construction and effect of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws, and applicable federal law.

(f) Interpretation. The Optionee accepts this award of Options subject to all of the terms, provisions and restrictions of this Agreement and the Plan. The Optionee hereby accepts as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under this Agreement or the Plan.

 

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(g) Headings. Section, paragraph and other headings and captions are provided solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings and captions shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction, meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any term or provision hereof.

(h) Notices. Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally, by overnight courier, or by United States mail, registered, postage prepaid, and addressed, in the case of the Company, to the Company’s General Counsel at 8565 Magellan Parkway, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23227, or to the General Counsel’s then current e-mail address, or if the Company should move its principal office, to such principal office, and, in the case of the Recipient, to the Recipient’s last permanent address as shown on the Company’s records, subject to the right of either party to designate some other address at any time hereafter in a notice satisfying the requirements of this Section 12(h).

(i) Non-Waiver of Breach. The waiver by any party hereto of the other party’s prompt and complete performance, or breach or violation, of any term or provision of this Agreement shall be effected solely in a writing signed by such party, and shall not operate nor be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or violation, and the waiver by any party hereto to exercise any right or remedy which he or it may possess shall not operate nor be construed as the waiver of such right or remedy by such party, or as a bar to the exercise of such right or remedy by such party, upon the occurrence of any subsequent breach or violation.

(j) Clawback. The Company may (i) cause the cancellation of the Options, (ii) require reimbursement of any benefit conferred under the Options to the Optionee or Beneficiary, and (iii) effect any other right of recoupment of equity or other compensation provided under the Plan or otherwise in accordance with any Company policies that currently exist or that may from time to time be adopted or modified in the future by the Company and/or applicable law (each, a “Clawback Policy”). In addition, the Optionee may be required to repay to the Company certain previously paid compensation, whether provided under the Plan or an Award Agreement or otherwise, in accordance with any Clawback Policy. By accepting this Award, the Optionee agrees to be bound by any existing or future Clawback Policy adopted by the Company, or any amendments that may from time to time be made to the Clawback Policy in the future by the Company in its discretion (including without limitation any Clawback Policy adopted or amended to comply with applicable laws or stock exchange requirements) and further agrees that all of the Optionee’s Award Agreements may be unilaterally amended by the Company, without the Optionee’s consent, to the extent that the Company in its discretion determines to be necessary or appropriate to comply with any Clawback Policy.

(k) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more separate counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the ____ day of _____________________, 2021.

 

COMPANY:
ARKO CORP.
By:  

                          

Name: Don Bassell
Title: Chief Financial Officer
By:  

 

Name: Maury Bricks
Title: General Counsel and Secretary

The Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and represents that he or she has reviewed the provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement in their entirety, is familiar with and understands their terms and provisions, and hereby accepts this Option subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan and the Option Agreement. The Optionee further represents that he or she has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option Agreement.

 

Dated:                                                                       OPTIONEE:
    By: