Document

EXHIBIT 10.1

ECHOSTAR CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


This Stock Option Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into effective as of the Grant Date set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement (the “Grant Date”), by and between EchoStar Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and [Participant Name] (“Grantee”).


RECITAL


WHEREAS, the Company, pursuant to its 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”) desires to grant this stock option to Grantee, and Grantee desires to accept such stock option, each under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and


WHEREAS, the Option (as defined below) is intended to be consideration in exchange for the covenants herein contained and not in exchange for any right with respect to continuance of employment with or service to the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries.


AGREEMENT


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the mutual covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:


1.Grant of Option


The Company hereby grants to Grantee, as of the Grant Date, the right and option (hereinafter called the “Option”) to purchase all or any part of the number of shares of the Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Shares”) set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement, at the price per share set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement, which price is equal to or greater than the fair market value of a Common Share on the Grant Date (or the last trading day prior to the Grant Date, if the Grant Date was not a trading day) (the “Option Price”), and on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The Option Price is subject to adjustment as provided in this Agreement and the Plan. The Option is intended to be an incentive stock option (an “ISO”) within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder (the “Code”) to the full extent permitted under the provisions of the Code; provided that any portion of the Option that is not eligible to be an ISO under the Code shall be a non-statutory stock option that does not qualify as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of the Code.  Grantee understands, acknowledges, agrees and hereby stipulates that to the extent that the aggregate fair market value (as determined by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion for any reason or no reason at any time and from time to time as of the Grant Date) of the Common Shares with respect to which all ISOs are exercisable for the first time by Grantee during any calendar year exceeds one-hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), in accordance with Section 422(d) of the Code, such ISOs, including without limitation, all or a portion of the Option, shall be treated as options that do not qualify as ISOs.


Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, this Agreement and the Option granted hereunder shall be null and void and of no further force and effect unless and until the Grantee shall have accepted and acknowledged this Agreement within thirty (30) days after the Grant Date by following the current procedures implemented by the Company’s administrator for the Plan (the “Administrator”), as such Administrator and procedures are designated by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion for any reason or no reason from time to time.


2.Duration and Exercisability


(a)Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan, and Grantee being an employee of the Company or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, if any, on each applicable vesting date, the Option shall vest on, and may be exercised by Grantee on the vesting dates, and in accordance with the vesting schedule, set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement.


Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement, vesting of the Option shall immediately cease upon the occurrence of any of the events provided for in Sections 3(a)-(d), as applicable.


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(b)Except as permitted pursuant to the Plan, (i) during the lifetime of Grantee, the Option shall be exercisable only by Grantee or, if permissible under applicable law, by Grantee’s guardian or legal representative, (ii) the Option shall not be assignable or transferable by Grantee, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules promulgated thereunder, and (iii) the Option may not be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of, or pledged, alienated, attached, hypothecated, or otherwise encumbered in any manner (whether by operation of law or otherwise), and will not be subject to execution, attachment or other process. Any purported sale, assignment, transfer, pledge, alienation, attachment or encumbrance in violation of the terms of this Agreement or the Plan shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Any sale, assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation, or other disposition of the Option or any attempt to make any such levy of execution, attachment or other encumbrance will cause the Option to terminate immediately, unless the Board of Directors of the Company or the Committee (as defined in the Plan), in their sole and absolute discretion for any reason or no reason at any time and from time to time, specifically waives applicability of this provision.


(c)Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement or the Plan, the Option shall expire and terminate, and shall cease to be exercisable, on the expiration date set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement (the “Expiration Date”).


(d)The Company assumes no responsibility for individual income taxes, penalties or interest related to the grant, vesting, forfeiture, termination, recoupment, adjustment or exercise of the Option or any subsequent disposition of Common Shares. Additionally, the Company assumes no responsibility in the event that the Option or any portion thereof is ultimately determined to not be an ISO or the tax treatment therefore is ultimately determined to be other than the tax treatment afforded for ISOs, whether such other treatment is the result of changes in the tax laws, a disqualifying disposition by Grantee, or for any other reason. Grantee should consult with Grantee’s personal tax advisor regarding the tax ramifications, if any, which result from the grant, vesting, adjustment, forfeiture, termination, recoupment or exercise of the Option, and any subsequent disposition of Common Shares. If, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion for any reason or no reason at any time and from time to time, it is necessary or appropriate to collect or withhold federal, state or local taxes in connection with the grant, vesting, forfeiture, termination, recoupment, adjustment or exercise of any portion of the Option and/or any subsequent disposition of Common Shares, the Company shall be entitled to require the payment of such amounts as a condition to exercise. Prior to any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, Grantee shall pay or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company to satisfy all withholding obligations. In furtherance and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Grantee (on its own behalf and on behalf of each and every other proper party as described in Section 2(b) and/or Section 3(c) of this Agreement) hereby authorizes the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion for any reason or no reason at any time and from time to time (including without limitation, pursuant to the then-current procedures implemented by the Administrator, as  such Administrator and procedures are designated by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion for any reason or no reason at any time and from time to time), to satisfy all withholding and all other obligations with regard to any individual income taxes, penalties or interest related to the grant, vesting, forfeiture, termination, recoupment, adjustment or exercise of the Option and/or any subsequent disposition of Common Shares by one or a combination of the following:


i.withholding from any wages or other cash or equity compensation payable to Grantee by the Company;


ii.withholding Common Shares that are otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option;


iii.arranging for the sale of Common Shares that are otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option, including, without limitation, selling Common Shares as part of a block trade with other grantees under the Plan or otherwise; and/or


iv.withholding from the proceeds of the sale of Common Shares issued upon exercise of the Option or other Common Shares issuable to the Grantee.


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(e)In accepting the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Option and in considering the exercise of the Option, Grantee understands, acknowledges, agrees and hereby stipulates that he or she has used and shall use the same independent investment judgment that Grantee would use in making other investments in corporate securities. Among other things, stock prices will fluctuate over any reasonable period of time and the price of the Common Shares may go down as well as up. No guarantees are made as to the future prospects of the Company or the Common Shares, or that any market for sale of the Common Shares will exist in the future. No representations are made by the Company except as may be contained in any active registration statement on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) relating to the Plan at the time of the applicable exercise of the Option.


3.Effect of Termination of Employment; Violation of Covenants; Covenants Found Unenforceable; Death or Disability; Demotion


(f)In the event that Grantee shall cease to be employed by the Company and/or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, if any, for any reason other than as a result of or in connection with Grantee’s serious misconduct or violation of the covenants set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement or other circumstances as described in Section 3(b) of this Agreement or Grantee’s death or disability (as described in Section 3(c) of this Agreement), Grantee shall have the right to exercise the Option at any time within one month after such cessation of employment (the “One Month Period”), but only to the extent of the full number of vested Common Shares that Grantee was entitled to exercise under the Option on the date of such cessation of employment, subject to the conditions that (i) any vested or exercisable portion of the Option not exercised within the One Month Period shall be automatically exercised pursuant to the Expiration Exercise Procedures set forth in Section 4(c) below, (ii) any portion of the Option not vested or otherwise not exercisable as of the date of such cessation of employment shall be deemed to have terminated and  cannot be exercised as or after such date, and (iii) no portion of the Option shall be exercisable (whether vested or unvested) after the Expiration Date. The termination of the Option by reason of this Section 3(a) shall be without prejudice to any right or remedy which the Company may have against the Grantee or other holder of the Option or any Common Shares issued or issuable upon exercise of the Option.


(g)In the event that (i) Grantee shall cease to be employed by the Company and/or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, if any, by reason of Grantee’s serious misconduct during the course of employment, including without limitation wrongful appropriation of the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ funds, theft of the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ property or other reasons as determined by the Company, (ii) Grantee violates any one or more of the covenants set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement as determined by the Company, or (iii) any one or more of the covenants set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable against the Grantee to any extent by the final non-appealable resolution of any litigation or other legal proceeding stemming from an actual, threatened, or attempted violation of any such covenants by Grantee, then the entire Option (both vested and unvested) shall be deemed to have terminated and cannot be exercised and no Common Shares shall be issuable in connection therewith as of the date of the earliest to occur of: (A) the serious misconduct or cessation of employment, in all cases as the Company may select and as determined by the Company; (B) any violation of the covenants set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement as determined by the Company; or (C) any finding of unenforceability against the Grantee of any one or more of the covenants set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement to any extent by the final non-appealable resolution of any litigation or other legal proceeding stemming from an actual, threatened or attempted violation of any such covenants by Grantee.  The termination of the Option by reason of this Section 3(b) shall be without prejudice to any right or remedy which the Company may have against the Grantee or other holder of the Option or any Common Shares issued or issuable upon exercise of the Option.  For clarification purposes, with respect to interpreting any and all violation(s) (or other logical formulation thereof such as “violates”) of the covenants set forth in this Agreement (including without limitation, the covenants in Section 5 of this Agreement), such violation(s) shall include, but is not limited to, any actual, threatened or attempted violation of any such covenants by the Grantee that may result in, among other things, the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries having to seek a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or other similar relief against the Grantee to attempt to prevent any such actual, threatened or attempted violation.  


(h)In the event that Grantee shall die while in the employ of the Company or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, if any, or within the One Month Period, or if Grantee’s employment with the Company and/or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, if any, is terminated because Grantee has become disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code and regulations thereunder) while in the 
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employ of the Company or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, if any, and Grantee shall not have exercised the Option to the extent of the full number of vested Common Shares that Grantee was entitled to exercise under the Option as of the date of such death or termination on account of disability, as applicable, then such Option may be exercised at any time within twelve months after the date of such death or termination on account of disability (the “Death or Disability Post-Termination Exercise Period”), as applicable, by Grantee or the personal representatives or administrators, executor or guardians of Grantee, as applicable, or by any person or persons to whom the Option is transferred by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution, but only to the extent of the full number of vested Common Shares that Grantee was entitled to exercise under the Option on the date of such death or termination on account of disability, as applicable, subject to the conditions that (i) any vested or exercisable portion of the Option not exercised within the Death or Disability Post-Termination Exercise Period shall be automatically exercised pursuant to the Expiration Exercise Procedures set forth in Section 4(c) below, (ii) any portion of the Option not vested or otherwise not exercisable as of the date of such death or termination on account of disability, as applicable, shall be deemed to have terminated and cannot be exercised as or after such date, and (iii) no portion of the Option shall be exercisable (whether vested or unvested) after the Expiration Date. The termination of the Option by reason of this Section 3(c) shall be without prejudice to any right or remedy which the Company may have against the Grantee or other holder of the Option or any Common Shares issued or issuable upon exercise of the Option.


(i)In the event that Grantee is demoted (but remains employed) by the Company or its direct and indirect subsidiaries, if any, from Grantee’s current level (e.g., chairman, chief executive officer, president, executive vice president, senior vice president, vice president, director, manager, or other level held by Grantee on the date of this Agreement), the Option shall continue in force, unless otherwise terminated, but only to the extent of the full number of vested Common Shares that Grantee was entitled to exercise under the Option on the date of such demotion (the “Remaining Vested Options Following Demotion”), subject to the conditions that (i) any portion of the Option not vested or otherwise not exercisable as of the date of such demotion shall be deemed to have terminated and cannot be exercised as of the date of demotion, and (ii) no portion of the Option shall be exercisable (whether vested or unvested) after the Expiration Date.  The termination of the Option by reason of this Section 3(d) shall be without prejudice to any right or remedy which the Company may have against the Grantee or other holder of the Option or any Common Shares issued or issuable upon exercise of the Option.


(j)Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement or the Plan or any termination or expiration of the Option, the covenants set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement shall continue in force in accordance with their terms unless otherwise terminated by the Company.


4.Manner of Exercise


(k)The Option can be exercised only by Grantee or other proper party as described in Section 2(b), Section 3(c) and/or Section 4(c) of this Agreement, in whole Common Shares, upon meeting the applicable vesting requirements for the Option represented by this Agreement and by following, prior to the earlier of any forfeiture or termination or the Expiration Date, the then-current procedures implemented by the Administrator, as such Administrator and procedures are designated by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion for any reason or no reason at any time and from time to time. The instruction to exercise the Option must be made by a person entitled to exercise the Option and shall (i) include, among other things, the number of Common Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, (ii) contain a representation and agreement as to Grantee’s investment intent with respect to the Common Shares in a form satisfactory to the Company (unless a Prospectus meeting applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), is in effect for the Common Shares being purchased pursuant to exercise of the Option), and (iii) be accompanied by payment in full of the Option Price for all Common Shares designated in the instruction. The instruction to exercise shall be sent as set forth in Section 7(n) of this Agreement or in such other manner pursuant to the then-applicable procedures implemented by the Administrator.


(l)Except as otherwise provided for by the then-current procedures implemented by the Administrator or as otherwise specified in Section 4(c) of this Agreement, Grantee shall pay the Option Price for the Common Shares purchased in cash or by certified or bank cashier’s check.


(m)If, upon the close of trading on the NASDAQ Stock Market (or, in the event that the Common Shares are no longer listed and traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market, such other stock 
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exchange on which the Common Shares are then listed and traded) (the “Market Close”) (i) in the event of a termination of the Grantee’s employment as contemplated by Section 3(a) of this Agreement, on the earlier of (x) the last day of the One Month Period, and (y) the Expiration Date, (ii) in the event of a termination of the Grantee’s employment as contemplated by Section 3(c) of this Agreement, on the earlier of (x) the last day of the Death or Disability Post-Termination Exercise Period, and (y) the Expiration Date, and (iii) in any other circumstance where all or any portion of the Option is then outstanding and exercisable on the Expiration Date, on the Expiration Date (the dates in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), as applicable (or the last trading day prior to any such date (if such date is not a trading day)), the “Expiration Exercise Date”), all or any portion of the Option is vested and exercisable, then the vested and exercisable portion of the Option shall be automatically exercised upon the Market Close on the Expiration Exercise Date without any further action by Grantee (or any other proper party as described in Section 2(b) and/or Section 3(c) of this Agreement) pursuant to the applicable then-current procedures implemented by the Administrator (the “Expiration Exercise Procedures”), as such Administrator and Expiration Exercise Procedures are designated by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion for any reason or no reason at any time and from time to time.


Pursuant to the Expiration Exercise Procedures:  (i) the following costs and expenses will be satisfied by withholding otherwise deliverable Common Shares to be issued upon the automatic exercise of the Option: (A) the Option Price for the full number of vested Common Shares that are automatically exercised under the Option pursuant to this Section 4(c); (B) the Administrator’s fees and commissions, if any; (C) other brokerage fees and commissions, if any; and (D) all withholding and all other obligations with regard to any individual income taxes (which Grantee understands, acknowledges, agrees and hereby stipulates may be withheld at the highest then-current tax rate), penalties or interest related to the grant, vesting, forfeiture, termination, recoupment, adjustment or exercise of the Option and/or any subsequent disposition of Common Shares in connection with the Expiration Exercise Procedures or otherwise; and (ii) the number of whole Common Shares, if any, remaining after completion of all withholding as described in subsection (i) of these Expiration Exercise Procedures shall be issued to Grantee. Without limitation of the generality of Section 2(d) of this Agreement, in the event that the amounts withheld pursuant to the Expiration Exercise Procedures are insufficient to satisfy Grantee’s actual individual income tax, penalty and/or interest obligations, Grantee understands, acknowledges, agrees and hereby stipulates that Grantee, and not the Company, shall be solely responsible and liable for payment of any deficiencies. Only an Option that is “in-the-money” at Market Close on the Expiration Exercise Date shall be automatically exercised pursuant to this Section 4(c). An Option shall be considered “in-the-money” for purposes of this Section 4(c) if the fair market value of a Common Share upon the Market Close on the Expiration Exercise Date is at least one percent (1%) greater than the Option Price. Furthermore, and without limitation of the generality of the preceding sentence, any exercise of the Option that would result in the issuance of less than one whole Common Share to Grantee pursuant to the Expiration Exercise Procedures shall not be automatically exercised pursuant to this Section 4(c). Grantee (on its own behalf and on behalf of each and every other proper party as described in Section 2(b) and/or Section 3(c) of this Agreement) hereby expressly authorizes and agrees to the automatic exercise of the Option as provided in this Section 4(c) (and shall be deemed to have given all instructions and representations required under Section 4(a) of this Agreement in connection with the automatic exercise of the Option as provided in this Section 4(c)), and neither the approval of the Administrator, nor the consent of Grantee (or any other proper party as described in Section 2(b) and/or Section 3(c) of this Agreement) shall be required at the time of the automatic exercise of the Option pursuant to this Section 4(c). For the avoidance of doubt, Grantee may exercise any vested and exercisable portion of the Option prior to Market Close on the Expiration Exercise Date. Grantee understands, acknowledges,  agrees and hereby stipulates that the automatic exercise procedure pursuant to this Section 4(c) is provided solely as a convenience to Grantee as protection against Grantee’s inadvertent failure to exercise all or any portion of an “in-the-money” Option that is vested and exercisable before such Option expires under this Agreement. Because any exercise of all or any portion of the Option is solely Grantee’s responsibility, Grantee hereby waives and releases and agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from and against any and all claims of any kind whatsoever against the Company and/or any other party (including without limitation, the Administrator and the Company’s Grantees and agents) arising out of or relating to the automatic exercise procedure pursuant to this Section 4(c) (or any failure thereof), including without limitation any resulting individual income tax, penalty and/or interest liability and/or any other liability if the automatic exercise of the Option does occur, or does not occur for any reason or no reason whatsoever and/or the Option actually expires.


(n)Unless notified by the Company or the Administrator to the contrary, the Common Shares issuable on exercise of the Option shall be deemed issued on the date specified by the Company 
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within five (5) business days following the date that the Company determines that all requirements for issuance of the Common Shares have been properly completed, including, without limitation, payment of all applicable withholding taxes. The Company shall have no obligation to issue the Common Shares upon the exercise of any portion of the Option until it has confirmed to its satisfaction that all requirements for the issuance have been accomplished. Any notice of exercise shall be void and of no effect if all requisite events have not been accomplished.


(o)Unless the Company waives applicability of this provision, the certificate or certificates for the Common Shares, if any, as to which the Option shall be exercised or the book entries, as applicable, may be registered only in the name of Grantee (or if Grantee so requests in the notice of exercise of the Option, jointly in the name of Grantee and with a member of Grantee’s family, with the right of survivorship, or in the event of the death of Grantee, in the name of such survivor of Grantee as the person with the right to exercise the Option shall designate).


5.[Intentionally omitted]; Protection of Confidential Information and Trade Secrets


(p)Grantee shall serve the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” for purposes of this Section 5), loyally and in good faith and use Grantee’s best efforts to promote the Company’s interests. Grantee hereby [intentionally omitted], and agrees to protect from disclosure (for clarification purposes, such agreement to protect from disclosure shall include, without limitation, an agreement not to use) Confidential Information and Trade Secrets (as defined in Section 5(e) of this Agreement) [intentionally omitted].


(q)[Intentionally omitted].


(r)[Intentionally omitted].


(s)[Intentionally omitted].


(t)Non-Disclosure and Non-Use of Confidential Information and Trade Secrets. Grantee further agrees to hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company any and all proprietary and confidential information, knowledge, ideas and data, including, without limitation, customer lists and the Company’s trade secrets, products, processes and programs (“Confidential Information and Trade Secrets”), relating in any way to the present or future business or activities of the Company for as long as such Confidential Information and Trade Secrets remain confidential (for clarification purposes, this restriction shall include, but not be limited to, the obligation of and agreement by Grantee not to (i) disclose to, or use to or for the benefit of, any person or entity other than the Company any Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, and/or (ii) take a position where Grantee may use and/or disclose any Confidential Information and Trade Secrets). Such Confidential Information and Trade Secrets include but are not limited to:  (i) the Company’s financial and business information, such as capital structure, operating results, strategies and plans for future business, pending projects and proposals and potential acquisitions or divestitures; (ii) product and technical information, such as product formulations, new and innovative product ideas, proprietary credit scoring models and approaches, credit policies, new business developments, plans, designs, compilation methods, processes, procedures, program devices, data processing programs, software, software codes, hardware, firmware and research and development products; (iii) marketing information, such as new marketing ideas, mailing lists, the identity and number of the Company’s customers and prospects, their names and addresses and sales and marketing plans; (iv) information about the Company’s third-party agreements and any confidential or protected information disclosed to the Company by a third-party; (v) the Company’s suppliers, partners, customers and prospect lists; and (vi) personnel information, such as the identity and number of  the Company’s other  employees, their  salaries,  bonuses, benefits, skills, qualifications and abilities. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “trade secrets” shall mean items of Confidential Information and Trade Secrets that meet the requirements of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, as adopted in the state of Maryland and as amended from time to time or under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. §1833, et seq.  Under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Grantee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (x) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (y) is made to Grantee’s attorney in relation to a lawsuit for retaliation against Grantee for reporting a suspected violation of law; or (z) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.  Nothing in this Agreement prohibits 
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or restricts Grantee (or Grantee’s attorney) from initiating communications directly with, responding to an inquiry from, or providing testimony before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), any other self-regulatory organization, or any other federal or state regulatory authority regarding a possible securities law violation.  All Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, together with all copies thereof and notes and other references thereto, shall remain the sole property of the Company. To the extent that Grantee possesses any Confidential Information and Trade Secrets or equipment belonging to the Company, Grantee agrees to deliver to the Company, immediately upon termination of employment and at any time and from time to time as the Company requests: (i) any and all documents, files, notes, memoranda, databases, computer files, and/or other computer programs reflecting any Confidential Information and Trade Secrets; and (ii) any and all computer equipment, home office equipment, automobile, or other business equipment belonging to the Company that Grantee may then possess or have under his or her control. For any equipment or devices owned by Grantee on which proprietary information of the Company is stored or accessible, Grantee shall, immediately upon or prior to termination of employment, deliver such equipment or devices to the Company so that any proprietary information may be deleted or removed.  Grantee expressly authorizes the Company’s designated representatives to access such equipment or devices for this limited purpose and shall provide any passwords and/or passcodes necessary to accomplish this task. Grantee acknowledges that all Confidential Information and Trade Secrets is essential to the Company’s present and future business and activities, and is therefore deemed trade secrets and is considered proprietary to, and treated as confidential by, the Company.  This obligation of confidentiality is intended to supplement, and is not intended to supersede or limit, the obligations of confidentiality Grantee has to the Company by agreement, law or otherwise.


(u)Remedies.  Grantee understands, acknowledges, agrees and hereby stipulates that any and all actual, threatened or attempted violations of any and all covenants in this Agreement (including, without limitation, covenants in this Section 5), challenges of or to the enforceability of any such covenants and/or findings of unenforceability of any such covenants against the Grantee to any extent by the final non-appealable resolution of any litigation or other legal proceeding stemming from a threatened or attempted violation of any such covenants by Grantee, may cause the Company irreparable harm, which may not be compensated for by monetary damages alone.   


(v)Tolling. Grantee further agrees that, while the duration of the covenants contained in this Section 5 will be determined generally in accordance with the terms of each respective covenant, if Grantee violates or threatens to violate any of those covenants, or it is necessary for the Company to seek to enforce any of those covenants, Grantee agrees to an extension of the duration of such covenant on the same terms and conditions for an additional period of time equal to the time that elapses from the commencement of such violation or threat of violation to the later: of (i) the termination of such violation or threat of violation; or (ii) the final non-appealable resolution of any litigation or other legal proceeding stemming from such violation or threatened or attempted violation.


(w)No Waiver. In addition to (and without limitation of) the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, the failure of the Company to insist upon strict performance of any provision of any agreement between the Company, on the one hand, and another grantee, employee, person or entity, on the other hand, shall not be construed as a waiver of the Company’s right to insist upon strict performance of each and every representation, warranty, covenant, duty and obligation of Grantee hereunder. In addition to (and without limitation of) the foregoing, the election of certain remedies by the Company with respect to the breach or default by another grantee, employee, person or entity of any agreement between the Company, on the one hand, and such other grantee, employee, person or entity, on the other hand, shall not be deemed to prejudice any rights or remedies that the Company may have at law, in equity, under contract (including without limitation this Agreement) or otherwise with respect to a similar or different breach or default hereunder by Grantee (all of which are hereby expressly reserved).


(x)Recoupment. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Plan to the contrary, Grantee’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to the Option (whether vested or unvested) shall be subject to deduction, reduction, cancellation, recovery, recoupment, forfeiture and/or “clawback”  as may be required to be made pursuant to the provisions of any applicable law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement as well as any policies of the Company that may be in effect from time to time pursuant to any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement. In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Plan to the contrary, Grantee’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to the Option (whether vested or unvested) shall be subject to 
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deduction, reduction, cancellation, recovery, recoupment, forfeiture and/or “clawback” if: (i) Grantee ceases or has ceased to be employed by the Company or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, if any, by reason of Grantee’s serious misconduct during the course of employment, including without limitation, wrongful appropriation of the Company’s funds or theft of Company property; (ii) Grantee violates or has violated any of the covenants set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement as determined by the Company; or (iii) any of the covenants set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement are or were found to be unenforceable against the Grantee to any extent by the final non-appealable resolution of any litigation or other legal proceeding stemming from an actual, threatened, or attempted violation of any such covenants by Grantee.


6.Dispute Resolution


(y)Grantee and the Company mutually agree that any claim, controversy and/or dispute between them, arising out of, relating to, or in connection with: (i) Grantee’s application for employment, employment and/or termination of employment, including without limitation claims for wages and other compensation, breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets or unfair competition, violation of public policy, wrongful termination, tort claims, claims for unlawful retaliation, discrimination and/or harassment; and claims for violation of any federal, state, or other government law, statute, regulation, or ordinance, such as, for example, claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (as amended), the Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended); Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended); the Equal Pay Act (as amended); the Fair Credit Reporting Act (as amended); the Fair Labor Standards Act (as amended); the Family and Medical Leave Act (as amended); the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (as amended); the Rehabilitation Act (as amended); Section 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code (as amended); and the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (as amended); and/or (ii) this Agreement (including, without limitation, an actual, threatened or attempted violation of any of the covenants set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement) (“Options Disputes”) ((i) or (ii) each, a “Claim” and (i) and (ii) collectively, “Claims”), whenever and wherever brought shall be exclusively governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within the State of Maryland by residents of the State of Maryland, without giving any effect to its conflict of law provisions, and Grantee and the Company consent to and submit to the in personam jurisdiction of the appropriate State Court located in Montgomery County, State of Maryland and the United States District Court for the District of Maryland for the purposes set forth in this section, and WAIVE, FULLY AND COMPLETELY, ANY OBJECTION TO VENUE AND RIGHT TO DISMISS AND/OR TRANSFER ANY ACTION PURSUANT TO TITLE 28 U.S.C. SECTION 1404 OR 1406 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR STATUTE).


(z)The parties agree that each party to any court proceeding contemplated by this Section 6 shall be responsible for its own attorneys’ fees and costs; provided, however, that unless otherwise required by applicable law or this Agreement, the prevailing party in any court proceeding contemplated by this Section 6 shall be entitled to reimbursement of its, his or her reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.


(aa)To the maximum extent allowed by applicable law, (i) Grantee and the Company agree to bring any Claim on an individual basis only, and not as a class, multi-plaintiff, representative, or collective action, (ii) Grantee and the Company waive any right for a Claim to be brought, heard, or decided as a class, multi-plaintiff, representative, or collective action (“Class Action Waiver”).  This Class Action Waiver, however, does not prevent Grantee from joining, opting into or participating in a pending class or collective action to which Grantee is a current or purported class member as of the Grant Date.  To the maximum extent allowed by applicable law, Grantee and the Company waive (“Representative Action Waiver”) any right for a Claim to be brought, heard or decided as a Private Attorney General Representative Action on behalf of other grantees (“Representative Action”).  The Representative Action Waiver, however, does not apply to a Claim that Grantee brings as a private attorney general solely on his/her own behalf.


(ab)In addition, each of Grantee and the Company shall have the right to seek temporary restraining orders, preliminary and/or permanent injunctions or other like emergency relief from a court where such relief is required to permit the dispute to proceed without such party incurring irreparable harm that may not be remedied monetarily, for example, to prevent violation of: (i) non-competition agreements or obligations; (ii) non-solicitation agreements or obligations; (iii) intellectual property 
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EXHIBIT 10.1

rights, including, but not limited to, copyrights, patent rights, trade secrets and/or proprietary business know-how; or (iv) confidential information obligations.


(ac)For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 6 does not supersede or render void any prior agreement(s) to arbitrate between the Company and/or any of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Grantee, on the other hand with respect to any and all stock options, restricted stock units or other equity awards other than the Options Disputes for the specific Option granted under this Agreement.


(a)Other than potential rights to a trial, a jury trial, and common law claims for punitive and/or exemplary damages, nothing in this Agreement limits any statutory remedy to which Grantee or the Company may be entitled under law.  The parties acknowledge that this Agreement shall not alter the at-will nature of their employment relationship MEANING THAT GRANTEE MAY TERMINATE GRANTEE’S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY AND/OR ANY OF ITS DIRECT AND INDIRECT SUBSIDIARIES AT ANY TIME WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE, AND WITH OR WITHOUT NOTICE, AND THE COMPANY AND/OR ANY OF ITS DIRECT AND INDIRECT SUBSIDIARIES RESERVE THE SAME RIGHTS TO TERMINATE GRANTEE’S EMPLOYMENT AND/OR DEMOTE GRANTEE.


(g)For purposes of this Section 6, the Company shall be defined to include EchoStar Corporation, its predecessors, direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates (except DISH Network Corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, which are not parties to this agreement to arbitrate), its and their officers, directors, shareholders, members, owners, employees, managers, agents, and attorneys, and all successors and assigns of each of the foregoing persons and entities.


7.Miscellaneous


(b)Option Subject to the Plan. The Option is issued pursuant to the Plan and is subject to its terms and conditions. The terms and conditions of the Plan are available for inspection during normal business hours at the principal offices of the Company. The Committee has final authority to decide, interpret, determine and calculate any and all aspects of the Plan in its sole and absolute discretion for any reason or no reason at any time and from time to time.


(c)No Right to Continued Employment; No Rights as Shareholder. This Agreement shall not confer upon Grantee any right with respect to continuance of employment with the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries to terminate such employment or to demote or remove Grantee for any reason or no reason at any time and from time to time. The holder of the Option will not have any right to dividends or any other rights of a shareholder with respect to Common Shares subject to the Option until such Common Shares shall have been issued to Grantee upon valid exercise of the Option in accordance with this Agreement and the Plan (as evidenced by the records of the transfer agent of the Company).


(d)Changes in Capital Structure. If there shall be any change in the Common Shares of the Company through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, dividend in the form of stock (of whatever amount), stock split or other change in the corporate structure of the Company, then appropriate adjustments may be made by the Company, as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Committee for any reason or no reason at any time and from time to time, to all or any portion of the Option that shall have not yet vested or been exercised and not yet been terminated or expired, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Grantee’s rights under the Option. Such adjustments may include, where appropriate, changes in the number of shares of Common Shares and the price per share subject to the outstanding Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no action that would modify the treatment of the Option under the Code shall be effective unless agreed to in writing by both parties.


(e)Assigns and Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company’s assigns and successors and its and their direct and indirect subsidiaries.


(f)Compliance with Law; Legal Requirements. The Company shall at all times during the term of the Option reserve and keep available such number of Common Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Agreement. The exercise of all or any part of the Option shall only be effective at such time that the issuance and sale of Common Shares pursuant to such exercise will not 
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EXHIBIT 10.1

violate any federal or state securities or other laws. The Company may suspend Grantee’s or any holder’s of the Option right to exercise the Option and shall not issue or deliver the Common Shares underlying the Option unless it is satisfied in its judgment that the issuance and sale of Common Shares will not violate any of the provisions of the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), any rules or regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, or the requirements of applicable state law relating to authorization, issuance or sale of securities, other applicable laws, rules and regulations or any applicable stock exchange, or any other applicable laws, rules or regulations, or until there has been compliance with the provisions of such acts, laws and rules. If the Company in its sole and absolute discretion so elects, it may register the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Option under the Securities Act and list the Common Shares on any securities exchange.  In the absence thereof, Grantee understands that neither the Option nor the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise thereof will be registered under the Securities Act, or tradeable on any securities exchange, and Grantee represents that the Option is being acquired, and that such Common Shares that will be acquired pursuant to exercise of the Option, if any, will be acquired, by Grantee for investment and not with a view to distribution thereof.  In the absence of an effective registration statement meeting the requirements of the Securities Act, upon any sale or transfer of the Common Shares issued pursuant to the Option, Grantee shall deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company to the effect that the sale or transfer of the Common Shares does not violate any provision of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.  Grantee understands that the Company is under no obligation to register or qualify the Common Shares with the SEC, any state securities commission or any stock exchange to effect such compliance and that Grantee will have no recourse to or claim against the Company if the Company determines pursuant to this Section 7 that it is unable to deliver the Common Shares upon exercise of the Option. Regardless of whether the offering and sale of the Common Shares have been registered under the Securities Act, or have been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any state, the Company in its sole and absolute discretion for any reason or no reason at any time and from time to time may impose restrictions upon the sale, pledge or other transfer of such Common Shares (including the placement of appropriate legends on certificates or the imposition of stop-transfer instructions on the certificates or book entries, as applicable) if, in the judgment of the Company, such restrictions are necessary or desirable in order to achieve compliance with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction or any other applicable laws, rules and regulations or any applicable stock exchange rules or regulations.


(g)Notice of Disposal of Common Shares; Withholding. To the extent the Option is an ISO, if Grantee shall dispose of any of the Common Shares of the Company acquired by Grantee pursuant to the exercise of such portion of the Option that is an ISO within two years from the Grant Date or within one year after the transfer of any such shares to Grantee upon exercise of such portion of the Option, then, in order to provide the Company with the opportunity to claim the benefit of any income tax deduction (if any) which may be available to it under the circumstances, Grantee shall promptly notify the Company of the dates of acquisition and disposition of such shares, the number of shares so disposed of, and the consideration, if any, received for such shares. In order to comply with all applicable federal or state income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to insure:  (i) notice to the Company of any disposition of the Common Shares of the Company within the time periods described above; and (ii) that, if necessary, all applicable federal or state payroll, withholding, income or other taxes are withheld or collected from Grantee.


(h)Confidential Treatment of Option. Grantee agrees to treat with confidentiality the existence, terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Option except to the extent specifically disclosed by the Company pursuant to applicable law, and agrees that failure to do so may result in immediate termination of the Option.


(i)Obligations Unaffected. Except as expressly set forth to the contrary in Section 6 of this Agreement, the obligations of Grantee under this Agreement shall be independent of, and unaffected by, and shall not affect, other agreements, if any, binding Grantee which apply to Grantee’s business activities during and/or subsequent to Grantee’s employment by the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates.


(j)Survival. Any provision of this Agreement which logically would be expected to survive termination or expiration, shall survive for a reasonable time period under the circumstances, whether or not specifically provided in this Agreement. Except as set forth to the contrary in this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 6 of this Agreement), the obligations under this Agreement also shall survive any changes made in the future to the employment terms and conditions of 
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EXHIBIT 10.1

Grantee, including without limitation changes in salary, benefits, bonus plans, job or position title and job responsibilities.


(k)Complete Agreement; No Waiver. This Agreement constitutes the entire, final and complete understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and, except as specifically set forth in this Agreement, supersedes and replaces all previous understandings or agreements, written, oral, or implied, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement made or existing before the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided by this Agreement, no waiver or modification of any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by both parties. The failure of any party to insist upon strict performance of any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or similar nature.


(l)Severability. Each provision of this Agreement shall be construed as separable and divisible from every other provision, and the enforceability of any one provision shall not limit the enforceability, in whole or in part, of any other provision. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, in the event that a court, arbitrator or other body of competent jurisdiction holds any provision of this Agreement to be invalid, illegal, void or less than fully enforceable as to time, scope or otherwise, the parties agree that such provision shall be construed by limiting and reducing it to the minimum extent necessary to render such provision valid, legal and enforceable while preserving to the greatest extent permissible the original intent of the parties; the remaining terms and conditions of this Agreement shall not be affected by such alteration and shall remain in full force and effect.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any one or more of the covenants set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement are found to be unenforceable against the Grantee to any extent by the final non-appealable resolution of any litigation or other legal proceeding stemming from an actual, threatened, or attempted violation of such covenants by Grantee, then the entire Option (both vested and unvested) shall be deemed to have terminated and the Option (both vested and unvested) shall not be exercisable and no Common Shares shall be issuable in connection therewith as of the date of such finding.


(m)Summary Information. In the event that the Company provides Grantee (or anyone acting on behalf of Grantee) with summary or other information concerning, including or otherwise relating to Grantee’s rights or benefits under this Agreement (including without limitation the Option, and any vesting thereof), such summary or other information shall in all cases be qualified in its entirety by this Agreement and the Plan, and, unless it explicitly states otherwise and is signed by an officer of the Company, shall not constitute an amendment or other modification hereto.


(n)Grantee Acknowledgements


(i)Grantee understands, acknowledges, agrees and hereby stipulates that he or she is executing this Agreement voluntarily and without any duress or undue influence by the Company or anyone else.


(ii)Grantee understands, acknowledges, agrees and hereby stipulates that he or she has carefully read, considered and understands all of the provisions of this Agreement, the Plan and the Company’s policies reflected in this Agreement.


(iii)Grantee understands, acknowledges, agrees and hereby stipulates that he or she has asked any questions needed for him or her to understand the terms, consequences and binding effect of this Agreement and the Plan and Grantee fully understands them, including, without limitation, that he or she is waiving the right to a trial, a trial by jury, and common law claims for punitive and/or exemplary damages.


(iv)Grantee understands, acknowledges, agrees and hereby stipulates that he or she was provided an opportunity to seek the advice of an attorney and/or tax professional of his or her choice before accepting this Agreement.


(v)Grantee understands, acknowledges, agrees and hereby stipulates that the obligations and restrictions set forth in this Agreement are consistent with Grantee’s right to sell his or her labor, the public’s interest in unimpeded trade, are fair and reasonable, and are no broader than are reasonably required to protect the Company’s interests.


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EXHIBIT 10.1

(vi)Grantee understands, acknowledges, agrees and hereby stipulates that it is the Company’s policy to seek legal recourse to the fullest extent possible for actual, threatened or attempted violation of, or challenges to the enforceability of, this Agreement. Grantee understands that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for such actual, threatened or attempted violation or challenges to enforceability, including, without limitation, the recovery of damages from Grantee. Grantee further agrees that, if he or she violates, threatens or attempts to violate, or challenges the enforceability of, this Agreement, it would be difficult to determine the damages and lost profits which the Company would suffer as a result thereof including, but not limited to, losses attributable to lost or misappropriated Confidential Information and Trade Secrets and losses stemming from violations of the non-disclosure, non-compete and/or non-solicitation obligations set forth above. Accordingly, Grantee agrees that if he or she violates, threatens or attempts to violate or challenges the enforceability of this Agreement, then the Company shall be entitled to an order for injunctive relief and/or for specific performance, or their equivalent, in addition to money damages and any other remedies otherwise available to it at law or equity. Such injunctive relief includes but is not limited to requirements that Grantee take action or refrain from taking action to avoid competing with the Company, to avoid soliciting the Company’s employees or customers, to preserve the secrecy of Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, to not use Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, to avoid conflicts of interest and to protect the Company from irreparable harm. Grantee expressly agrees that the Company does not need to post a bond to obtain an injunction and Grantee waives the right to require such a bond.


(a)Notice. All notices to the Company shall be addressed to:  EchoStar Corporation, 100 Inverness Terrace East, Englewood, Colorado, 80112, Attn: Corporate Secretary, or to such other address or person as the Company may notify Grantee from time to time. All notices to Grantee or other person or persons then entitled to exercise the Option shall be addressed to Grantee or such other person(s) at Grantee’s address on file with the Company, or to such other address as Grantee or such person(s) may notify the Company or its administrator for the Option in writing from time to time.


[SIGNATURES APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
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EXHIBIT 10.1

Upon Grantee’s acceptance of the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement through the electronic grant process available through the Administrator, this Agreement shall become effective between the parties as of the Grant Date.




ECHOSTAR CORPORATION




GRANTEE – [Participant Name]
Accepted on [Acceptance Date]


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EXHIBIT 10.1

Exhibit A to Employee Stock Option Agreement




Grant Date:  ___________




Number of Common Shares subject to the Option:  __________




Option Price:  $__________




Vesting Schedule:  __________




Expiration Date:  ___________




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