Exhibit 10.5


 





PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.


RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT


 


 


THIS RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
dated and effective as of __________ (the “Grant Date”) by and between Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the “Company”), and «First_Name» «Last_Name» (“Employee”) is entered into as follows:


 


WHEREAS, the Company has established the Pacific
Ethanol, Inc. 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), a copy of which has previously been provided to Employee or is
provided with this Agreement; and


 


WHEREAS, the Compensation Committee of the Board
of Directors of the Company (the “Committee”) has determined that Employee be granted shares of the Company’s
$.001 par value per share Common Stock (the “Restricted Stock”) subject to the restrictions stated below.


 


Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Plan. References herein to the Company shall also include, where
and as applicable, any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company in the same manner used in the Plan.


 


NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as
follows:


 


1.       Grant
of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Plan, the Company hereby grants to
Employee «First_Name» «Last_Name», «Total_of_Shares_in_Words» («Total_of_Shares»)
shares of Restricted Stock. As soon as practicable, the Company shall cause the shares of Restricted Stock to be issued in Employee’s
name. During the Restriction Period (as defined below), the Restricted Stock shall be held in the custody of the Company or its
designee for Employee’s account. The Restricted Stock shall be subject to, and shall bear appropriate legends with respect
to, the restrictions described herein.


 


2.       Vesting
Schedule.


 


(a)       The
interest of Employee in the Restricted Stock shall vest as follows: 33% of the shares of Restricted Stock shall vest on April 1,
2017, 33% of the shares of Restricted Stock shall vest on April 1, 2018 and 34% of the shares of Restricted Stock shall vest on
April 1, 2019; provided, that Employee remains continuously employed by the Company on a full-time basis from the Grant Date through
the applicable vesting date. If a vesting date falls on a weekend or any other day on which the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”)
is not open, vesting of the corresponding Restricted Stock shall occur on the next following NASDAQ trading day. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the interest of Employee in the Restricted Stock may vest as to one hundred percent (100%) of the then unvested
shares of Restricted Stock upon a Change in Control but only in accordance with the Plan.


 


 


 






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(b)       Upon
termination of the Restriction Period, the Company shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, deliver to Employee a certificate
representing the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which such restrictions have lapsed. Employee may instruct the Company
in writing to deliver vested shares of Restricted Stock to Employee’s broker or other designee; provided that Employee communicates
such instruction in writing to the Chief Financial Officer or other designated officer of the Company as to the applicable vesting
amount not more than thirty (30) business days and not less than five (5) business days prior to the applicable vesting date. If
Employee does not timely provide such instructions, the Company may deliver the vested shares of Restricted Stock to Employee personally
or to Employee’s home or other address as set forth in the Company’s books and records.


 


3.       Restrictions.


 


(a)       No
portion of the Restricted Stock or rights granted hereunder may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered
or disposed of by Employee until such portion of the Restricted Stock becomes vested in accordance with Section 2 of this
Agreement. The period of time between the date hereof and the date shares of Restricted Stock vest is referred to herein as the
“Restriction Period” as to those shares of Restricted Stock. In addition, none of the Restricted Stock, even if vested,
may be sold or transferred in contravention of (i) any market blackout periods the Company may impose from time to time, or (ii)
the Company’s insider trading policies to the extent applicable to Employee from time to time.


 


(b)       The
vesting schedule requires Employee’s continued service as a full-time employee of the Company during the applicable vesting
periods as a condition to the vesting of the Restricted Stock and the rights and benefits under this Agreement. If Employee’s
employment with the Company is terminated for any reason, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, the balance of the Restricted Stock
subject to the provisions of this Agreement which has not vested at the time of Employee’s termination of employment shall
be forfeited by Employee without payment of any consideration by the Company and neither Employee nor any successor, heir, assign
or personal representative of Employee shall have any right, title or interest in or to the forfeited shares of Restricted Stock
or the certificates evidencing them, and the Company shall direct its transfer agent of the Common Stock to make the appropriate
entries in its records showing the cancellation of the certificate or certificates for such Restricted Stock. Service as an employee
for only a portion of a vesting period, even if a substantial portion, will not entitle Employee to any proportionate vesting of
the Restricted Stock allocated to that period or avoid or mitigate the forfeiture of Employee’s Restricted Stock that will
occur upon the cessation of Employee’s service as an employee of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
may, by written agreement with the Employee, expressly agree to provisions different from those set forth above with respect to
severance benefits as to the Restricted Stock.


 


4.       Shareholder
Rights. During the Restriction Period, Employee shall have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted
Stock except for the right to transfer the Restricted Stock, as set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement. Accordingly, Employee
shall have the right to vote the Restricted Stock and to receive any cash dividends paid to or made with respect to the Restricted
Stock; provided, however, that dividends paid, if any, with respect to that Restricted Stock which has not vested at the time of
the dividend payment shall be held in the custody of the Company and shall be subject to the same restrictions that apply to the
corresponding Restricted Stock.


 


 


 






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5.       Changes
in Common Stock. If any change is made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Company’s
receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made by the Plan Administrator to (i) the maximum number and/or class
of securities issuable under the Plan, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be granted
Awards under the Plan per calendar year, (iii) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise or base price per share (or
any other cash consideration payable per share) in effect under each outstanding Award under the Discretionary Grant Program, and
(iv) the number and/or class of securities subject to each outstanding Award under the Stock Issuance Program and the cash consideration
(if any) payable per share thereunder. To the extent such adjustments are to be made to outstanding Awards, those adjustments shall
be effected in a manner that shall preclude the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under those Awards. The adjustments
determined by the Plan Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive.


 


 6.       Taxes.




 


(a)       Employee
will recognize ordinary income for federal income tax purposes on each date the Restricted Stock subject to Employee’s award
vests, whether pursuant to the normal vesting schedule above, the acceleration provisions of this Agreement that may apply or otherwise.
The amount of Employee’s taxable income on each such vesting date will equal the fair market value per share of Common Stock
on the date of vesting times the number of shares of Restricted Stock which vest on that date.


 


(b)       Employee
shall be liable for any and all taxes, including any withholding taxes, arising out of this grant or the vesting of Restricted
Stock hereunder. Employee may elect to satisfy such withholding tax obligation by (i) having the Company retain Restricted Stock
having a fair market value equal to the Company’s minimum withholding obligation, or (ii) making a cash payment to the Company
in an amount equal to the Company’s minimum withholding obligation; provided, that Employee make and communicate such election
in writing in the attached Notice of Election to the Chief Financial Officer or other designated officer of the Company as to the
applicable vesting amount not more than thirty (30) business days and not less than five (5) business days prior to the applicable
vesting date. If Employee elects to pay the applicable minimum withholding amount in cash, then Employee shall make such payment
within two (2) business days following the applicable vesting date. If Employee (A) fails to make and communicate such election
in writing in the attached Notice of Election to the Chief Financial Officer or other designated officer of the Company within
the applicable time period, or (B) elects to make a cash payment of the minimum withholding amount and Employee fails to make such
payment within two (2) business days following the applicable vesting date, then the Company’s minimum withholding tax obligations
shall be satisfied by the Company withholding a number of shares of Restricted Stock that would otherwise vest and be delivered
to Employee under this Agreement that the Company determines has a fair market value sufficient to meet such obligations. The Company
shall not be required to deliver any Restricted Stock or to recognize any purported transfer of shares of the Restricted Stock
until such withholding obligations are satisfied. Employee is ultimately liable and responsible for all taxes owed by Employee
in connection with Employee’s Restricted Stock, regardless of any action the Company takes with respect to any tax withholding
obligations that arise in connection with the Restricted Stock. The Company makes no representation or undertaking regarding the
treatment of any tax withholding in connection with the grant, issuance, vesting or settlement of the Restricted Stock or the subsequent
sale of any of the shares of Restricted Stock. The Company does not commit and is under no obligation to structure the Restricted
Stock award or program to reduce or eliminate Employee’s tax liability. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver
to Employee fractional shares of Restricted Stock upon withholding of any shares of Restricted Stock to cover the minimum withholding
tax, or otherwise, and any fractional share amounts shall be paid to Employee by the Company solely in cash based on the pro rata
fair market value of such fractional share amounts on the date of vesting.


 


 


 






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7.       Securities
Law Compliance. The Company will use its reasonable commercial efforts to assure that all Restricted Stock issued pursuant
to this Agreement is registered under the federal securities laws. However, no Restricted Stock will be issued pursuant to Employee’s
award if such issuance would otherwise constitute a violation of any applicable federal or state securities laws or regulations
or the requirements of The NASDAQ Capital Market and any stock exchange or other market on which the Common Stock is then quoted
or listed for trading. The inability of the Company to obtain approval from any regulatory body having authority deemed by the
Company to be necessary to the lawful issuance of any Restricted Stock hereunder shall defer the Company’s obligation with
respect to the issuance of such Restricted Stock until such approval has been obtained.


 


8.       Miscellaneous.


 


(a)       The
grant of Restricted Stock or another award to Employee in any one year, or at any time, does not obligate the Company to make a
grant in any future year or in any given amount and should not create an expectation that the Company might make a grant in any
future year or in any given amount.


 


(b)       The
Company shall not be required (i) to transfer on its books any shares of Restricted Stock which shall have been sold or transferred
in violation of any of the provisions set forth in this Agreement, or (ii) to treat as owner of such shares or to accord the right
to vote as such owner or to pay dividends to any transferee to whom such shares shall have been so transferred.


 


(c)       The
parties agree to execute such further instruments and to take such action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent
of this Agreement.


 


(d)       Any
notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon delivery to Employee
at Employee’s address then on file with the Company.


 


 


 






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(e)       This
Agreement shall not be construed so as to grant Employee any right to remain in the employ of the Company.


 


(f)       The
parties agree that neither the Company nor any of its affiliates shall have any further obligation to Employee relating to the
grant of stock or other incentive compensation except as stated herein.


 


(g)       This
Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement
may not be amended except with the consent of the Committee and by a written instrument duly executed by the Company and Employee.


 


(h)       This
Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and to their heirs, personal representatives,
successors and assigns. The terms of this Agreement shall in all respects be subject to the terms of the Plan. Employee hereby
agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions and interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising
under the Plan or this Agreement.


 


(i)       The
interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without resort
to that State’s conflicts-of-laws rules.


 


(j)       This
Agreement shall not in any way affect the right of the Company to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise make changes in its
capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business
or assets.


 


 


 






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9.       Mandatory
Arbitration. ANY AND ALL DISPUTES OR CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN EMPLOYEE AND THE COMPANY OR BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND EMPLOYEE
ARISING OUT OF, RELATING TO OR OTHERWISE CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK EVIDENCED HEREBY OR THE
VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE OR TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE SETTLED EXCLUSIVELY BY BINDING ARBITRATION TO BE
HELD IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. THE ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY (I) THE NATIONAL RULES FOR THE RESOLUTION
OF EMPLOYMENT DISPUTES THEN IN EFFECT OF THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION, AND (II) THE FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT. THE ARBITRATOR
SHALL HAVE THE SAME, BUT NO GREATER, REMEDIAL AUTHORITY AS WOULD A COURT HEARING THE SAME DISPUTE. THE DECISION OF THE ARBITRATOR
SHALL BE FINAL, CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING ON THE PARTIES TO THE ARBITRATION AND SHALL BE IN LIEU OF THE RIGHTS THOSE PARTIES MAY OTHERWISE
HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH DECISION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO CORRECTION, CONFIRMATION OR VACATION IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE PROVISIONS AND STANDARDS OF APPLICABLE LAW GOVERNING THE JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ARBITRATION AWARDS. THE ARBITRATOR SHALL ISSUE
A WRITTEN DECISION THAT REVEALS THE ESSENTIAL FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS ON WHICH THE DECISION IS BASED, AND THE ARBITRATOR’S
DECISION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO SUCH JUDICIAL REVIEW AS IS PROVIDED BY LAW. THE COMPANY SHALL PAY ANY ARBITRATION FILING FEE, AND
WILL BEAR ALL OTHER COSTS OF ARBITRATION, INCLUDING FEES FOR THE SERVICES OF THE ARBITRATOR AND ANY COURT REPORTER ORDERED BY THE
ARBITRATOR. EACH PARTY SHALL BEAR ITS, HIS OR HER OWN COSTS OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, IF ANY PARTY PREVAILS ON
A CLAIM ENTITLING THE PREVAILING PARTY TO ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND/OR COSTS PURSUANT TO ANY APPLICABLE EMPLOYMENT OR CIVIL RIGHTS
STATUTE, THE ARBITRATOR MAY AWARD REASONABLE FEES AND/OR COSTS TO THE PREVAILING PARTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH CLAIM. JUDGMENT
SHALL BE ENTERED ON THE ARBITRATOR’S DECISION IN ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER OF SUCH DISPUTE OR
CONTROVERSY. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, EITHER PARTY MAY IN AN APPROPRIATE MATTER APPLY TO A COURT PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA CODE
OF CIVIL PROCEDURE SECTION 1281.8, OR ANY COMPARABLE STATUTORY PROVISION OR COMMON LAW PRINCIPLE, FOR PROVISIONAL RELIEF, INCLUDING
A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER OR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PROCEEDINGS AND RESULTS, INCLUDING
THE ARBITRATOR’S DECISION, SHALL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.


 


10.       Remaining
Terms. The remaining terms and conditions of Employee’s award are governed by the Plan, and Employee’s award
is also subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules, regulations and decisions that may from time to time exist, be adopted
or made under and pursuant to the Plan. The General Plan Description, which is the official prospectus summarizing the principal
features of the Plan, has previously been provided to Employee or is provided with this Agreement.


 


(Signature Page Follows)


 




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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed
this Agreement effective on the date first set above.


 


 


	COMPANY:	PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.,
	 	a Delaware corporation
	 	 
	 	 
	 	By:  _________________________________
	 	        Edward Baker
	 	        Vice President, Human Resources


 


I, the undersigned Employee, hereby acknowledge
receiving, reading and understanding the General Plan Description, which is the official prospectus summarizing the principal features
of the Plan, this Agreement and the Plan itself. I further acknowledge and accept the foregoing terms and conditions of the Restricted
Stock award evidenced hereby. I also acknowledge and agree that the foregoing sets forth the entire understanding between the Company
and me regarding my entitlement to receive the shares of the Company’s Common Stock subject to such award and supersedes
all prior oral and written agreements on that subject.


 


 


	EMPLOYEE:	_______________________________________
	 	«First_Name» «Last_Name»


 


 


 




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NOTICE OF ELECTION


 


 


Chief Financial Officer


Pacific Ethanol, Inc.


 


Re: Notice of Election as to Manner of Payment
of Minimum Withholding Tax


 


	1.		The undersigned Employee has been granted shares of Restricted Stock of Pacific Ethanol,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).





 


	2.		The undersigned Employee hereby elects to (check one):



 


	_____		pay the minimum withholding tax in cash with respect to shares of Restricted Stock;
or



 


	_____		have shares of Restricted Stock withheld by the Company to cover the minimum withholding
tax.



 


	3.		The foregoing election is with respect to the following Grant Date or vesting date(check
one):



 


_____ April 1, 2017


_____ April 1, 2018


_____ April 1, 2019


 


	4.		If the undersigned Employee has elected to pay to the Company the minimum withholding
tax in cash with respect to shares of Restricted Stock, the undersigned Employee shall make such payment to the Company within
two (2) business days following the applicable vesting date. If the undersigned Employee fails to make payment within such period,
then the Company’s minimum withholding tax obligations may be satisfied by the Company withholding a number of shares of
Restricted Stock that would otherwise vest and be delivered to Employee that the Company determines has a fair market value sufficient
to meet such obligations.





 


	5.		The terms and conditions of Company’s grant of Restricted Stock are governed
solely by the Restricted Stock Agreement and the Plan.





 


	Dated:  __________________________	EMPLOYEE
	 	 
	 	 
	 	____________________________________
	 	«First_Name» «Last_Name»


 


 






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