alye_ex104.htm

EXHIBIT 10.4
  
 ALY ENERGY SERVICES, INC. 
 2017 STOCK OPTION PLAN
  
 The purpose of the Aly Energy Services, Inc. 2017 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide designated employees of Aly Energy Services, Inc. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries with the opportunity to receive grants of stock options. The Company believes that the Plan will encourage the participants to contribute materially to the growth of the Company, thereby benefiting the Company’s shareholders, and will align the economic interests of the participants with those of the shareholders. 
  
 The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has approved the Plan on April 4, 2017. The Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is approved by a majority in interest of the Company’s shareholders. 
  
 1. Administration 
  
 (a) Committee. The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”). The Committee shall consist of two or more persons appointed by the Board, all of whom shall be “outside directors” as defined under section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and related Treasury regulations and may be “non-employee directors” as defined under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). To the extent that the Company has not constituted a Compensation Committee, references hereunder to the “Committee” shall mean the entire Board.
  
 (b) Committee Authority. The Committee shall have the sole authority to (i) determine the individuals to whom grants shall be made under the Plan, (ii) determine the type, size and terms of the grants to be made to each such individual, (iii) determine the time when the grants will be made and the duration of any applicable exercise or restriction period, including the criteria for exercisability and the acceleration of exercisability and (iv) deal with any other matters arising under the Plan. 
  
 (c) Committee Determinations. The Committee shall have full power and authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make factual determinations and to adopt or amend such rules, regulations, agreements and instruments for implementing the Plan and for the conduct of its business as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion. The Committee’s interpretations of the Plan and all determinations made by the Committee pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having any interest in the Plan or in any awards granted hereunder. All powers of the Committee shall be executed in its sole discretion, in the best interest of the Company, not as a fiduciary, and in keeping with the objectives of the Plan and need not be uniform as to similarly situated individuals. 
  
 2. Grants 
  
 Awards under the Plan may consist of grants (herein “Grants”) of incentive stock options as described in Section 5 (“Incentive Stock Options”) or nonqualified stock options as described in Section 5 (“Nonqualified Stock Options”) (Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options are collectively referred to as “Options”). All Grants shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and to such other terms and conditions consistent with this Plan as the Committee deems appropriate and as are specified in writing by the Committee to the individual in a grant instrument (the “Grant Instrument”) or an amendment to the Grant Instrument. The Committee shall approve the form and provisions of each Grant Instrument. Grants under a particular Section of the Plan need not be uniform as among the grantees. 
   	 
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 3. Shares Subject to the Plan 
  
 (a) Shares Authorized. Subject to the adjustment specified below, the aggregate number of shares of common stock of the Company (“Company Stock”) that may be issued or transferred under the Plan is 16,861,908 shares, and the maximum number of shares of Company Stock that may be delivered pursuant to Incentive Stock Options is 5,000,000 of those shares. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Company Stock that shall be subject to Grants made under the Plan to any individual during any calendar year shall be 5,200,000 shares. The shares may be authorized but unissued shares of Company Stock or reacquired shares of Company Stock, including shares purchased by the Company on the open market for purposes of the Plan. If and to the extent Options granted under the Plan terminate, expire, or are canceled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered without having been exercised, the shares subject to such Grants shall again be available for purposes of the Plan. 
  
 (b) Adjustments. If there is any change in the number or kind of shares of Company Stock outstanding (i) by reason of a stock dividend, spinoff, recapitalization, stock split, or combination or exchange of shares, (ii) by reason of a merger, reorganization or consolidation in which the Company is the surviving corporation, (iii) by reason of a reclassification or change in par value, or (iv) by reason of any other extraordinary or unusual event affecting the outstanding Company Stock as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, or if the value of outstanding shares of Company Stock is substantially reduced as a result of a spinoff or the Company’s payment of an extraordinary dividend or distribution, the maximum number of shares of Company Stock available for Grants, the maximum number of shares of Company Stock that any individual participating in the Plan may be granted in any year, the number of shares covered by outstanding Grants, the kind of shares issued under the Plan, and the price per share or the applicable market value of such Grants shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of, or change in the kind or value of, issued shares of Company Stock to 
 preclude, to the extent practicable, the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under such Grants; provided, however, that any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be eliminated. Any adjustments determined by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive. 
  
 4. Eligibility for Participation 
  
 (a) Eligible Persons. All employees of the Company and its subsidiaries (“Employees”) shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.
  
 (b) Selection of Grantees. The Committee shall select the Employees to receive Grants and shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock subject to a particular Grant in such manner as the Committee determines. Employees who receive Grants under this Plan shall hereinafter be referred to as “Grantees.” In no event shall Options be granted to any Grantee in substitution for, or upon cancellation of, previously granted Options to purchase Company Stock, or shall similar action be taken to effect the “repricing” of previously granted Options. 
  
 5. Granting of Options 
  
 (a) Number of Shares. The Committee shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock that will be subject to each Grant of Options to Employees.
  
 (b) Type of Option and Price. The Committee may grant Incentive Stock Options that are intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” within the meaning of section 422 of the Code or Nonqualified Stock Options that are not intended so to qualify or any combination of Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options, all in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein. The purchase price (the “Exercise Price”) of Company Stock subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee but in all cases shall be equal to, or greater than, the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock on the date the Option is granted; provided, however, that an Incentive Stock Option may not be granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company, unless the Exercise Price per share is not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of Company Stock on the date of grant. So long as the Company Stock is publicly traded, Fair Market Value per share shall be determined as follows:
  
 (x) if the principal trading market for the Company Stock is a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, the last reported sale price thereof on the relevant date or (if there were no trades on that date) the latest preceding date upon which a sale was reported; or
   	 
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 (y) if the Company Stock is not principally traded on such exchange or market, the mean between the last reported “bid” and “asked” prices of Company Stock on the relevant date, as reported on Nasdaq or, if not so reported, as reported in a customary financial reporting service, as applicable and as the Committee determines. If the Company Stock is not publicly traded or, if publicly traded, is not subject to reported transactions or “bid” or “asked” quotations as set forth above, the Fair Market Value per share shall be as determined by the Committee. 
  
 (c) Option Term. The Committee shall determine the term of each Option. The term of any Option shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant. However, an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any parent or subsidiary of the Company, may not have a term that exceeds five years from the date of grant. 
  
 (d) Exercisability of Options. Options shall become exercisable in accordance with such terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, as may be determined by the Committee and specified in the Grant Instrument or an amendment to the Grant Instrument. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding Options at any time for any reason. 
  
 (e) Termination of Employment, Disability or Death. 
  
 (i) Except as provided below, an Option may only be exercised while the Grantee is employed by the Company as an Employee. In the event that a Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company for any reason other than a “disability” or death, any Option which is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within 90 days after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Committee), but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option term. Any of the Grantee’s Options that are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company shall terminate as of such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, in the event a Grant issued under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, then, to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, a Grantee shall be considered to cease employment with the Company for any reason other than a disability or death, provided that such employment shall cease in accordance with the definition of “separation from service” provided for under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations or other guidance issued thereunder. 
  
 (ii) In the event the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company because the Grantee is “disabled”, any Option which is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within one year after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Committee), but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option term. Any of the Grantee’s Options which are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company shall terminate as of such date. 
  
 (iii) If the Grantee dies while employed by the Company or within 90 days after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed on account of a termination of employment specified in Section 5(e)(i) above (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Committee), any Option that is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within one year after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Committee), but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option term. Any of the Grantee’s Options that are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company shall terminate as of such date. 
   	 
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 (iv) For purposes of this Section 5(e): 
  
 (A) The term “Company” shall mean the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations. 
  
 (B) “Employed by the Company” shall mean employment or service as an Employee (so that, for purposes of exercising Options, a Grantee shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service until the Grantee ceases to be an Employee), unless the Committee determines otherwise. 
  
 (C) “Disability” shall mean a Grantee’s becoming disabled within the meaning of section 22(e)(3) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5(e)(iv)(C), in the event a Grant issued under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, then, in lieu of the foregoing definition and to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the definition of “disability” for purposes of such Grant shall be the definition of “disability” provided for under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations or other guidance issued thereunder. 
  
 (v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, (i) if upon the date of a Grantee’s termination of employment with the Company, the Grantee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and the delay of any amounts otherwise payable under this Plan as a result of the Grantee’s termination of employment is necessary in order to prevent any accelerated or additional tax to Grantee under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company will delay the payment of any such amounts hereunder until the date that is six (6) months following the date of Grantee’s termination of employment with the Company at which time any such delayed amounts will be paid to Grantee in a single lump sum. 
  
 (f) Exercise of Options. A Grantee may exercise an Option that has become exercisable, in whole or in part, by delivering a notice of exercise to the Company with payment of the Exercise Price. The Grantee shall pay the Exercise Price for an Option in cash or by such other method as the Committee may approve, including payment through a broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board. The Grantee shall pay the Exercise Price and the amount of any withholding tax due at the time of exercise. 
  
 (g) Limits on Incentive Stock Options. Each Incentive Stock Option shall provide that, if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the stock on the date of the grant with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year, under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company or a parent or subsidiary, exceeds $100,000, then the option, as to the excess, shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to any person who is not an Employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary (within the meaning of section 424(f) of the Code). 
  
 6. Withholding of Taxes 
  
 All Grants under the Plan shall be subject to applicable federal (including FICA), state and local tax withholding requirements. The Company shall have the right to deduct from all Grants paid in cash, or from other wages paid to the Grantee, any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such Grants. In the case of Options and other Grants paid in Company Stock, the Company may require the Grantee or other person receiving such shares to pay to the Company the amount of any such taxes that the Company is required to withhold with respect to such Grants, or the Company may deduct from other wages paid by the Company the amount of any withholding taxes due with respect to such Grants. 
   	 
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 7. Transferability of Grants 
  
 (a) Nontransferability of Grants. Except as provided below, only the Grantee may exercise rights under a Grant during the Grantee’s lifetime. A Grantee may not transfer those rights except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, with respect to Grants other than Incentive Stock Options, if permitted in any specific case by the Committee, pursuant to a domestic relations order (as defined under the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the regulations thereunder). When a Grantee dies, the personal representative or other person entitled to succeed to the rights of the Grantee (“Successor Grantee”) may exercise such rights. A Successor Grantee must furnish proof satisfactory to the Company of his or her right to receive the Grant under the Grantee’s will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution. 
  
 (b) Transfer of Nonqualified Stock Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide, in a Grant Instrument, that a Grantee may transfer Nonqualified Stock Options to family members or other persons or entities according to such terms as the Committee may determine; provided that the Grantee receives no consideration for the transfer of an Option and the transferred Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to the Option immediately before the transfer. 
  
 8. Change of Control of the Company 
  
 As used herein, a “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if: 
  
 (i) Any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 51% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; or 
  
 (ii) The shareholders of the Company approve (or, if shareholder approval is not required, the Board approves) an agreement providing for (i) the merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation where the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the merger or consolidation, will not beneficially own, immediately after the merger or consolidation, shares entitling such shareholders to 51% or more of all votes to which all shareholders of the surviving corporation would be entitled in the election of directors (without consideration of the rights of any class of stock to elect directors by a separate class vote), (ii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (iii) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company. 
  
 Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8, in the event a Grant issued under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, then, in lieu of the foregoing definition and to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the definition of “Change of Control” for purposes of such Grant shall be the definition provided for under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations or other guidance issued thereunder. 
  
 9. Consequences of a Change of Control 
  
 (a) Notice and Acceleration. Upon a Change of Control, unless the Committee determines otherwise, (i) the Company shall provide each Grantee with outstanding Grants written notice of such Change of Control and (ii) all outstanding Options shall automatically accelerate and become fully exercisable.
  
 (b) Assumption of Grants. Upon a Change of Control where the Company is not the surviving corporation (or survives only as a subsidiary of another corporation), unless the Committee determines otherwise, all outstanding Options that are not exercised shall be assumed by, or replaced with comparable options or rights by, the surviving corporation. 
   	 
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 (c) Other Alternatives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to subsection (d) below, in the event of a Change of Control, the Committee may take one or both of the following actions: the Committee may (i) require that Grantees surrender their outstanding Options in exchange for a payment by the Company, in cash or Company Stock as determined by the Committee, in an amount equal to the amount by which the then Fair Market Value of the shares of Company Stock subject to the Grantee’s unexercised Options exceeds the Exercise Price of the Options, or (ii) after giving Grantees an opportunity to exercise their outstanding Options, terminate any or all unexercised Options at such time as the Committee deems appropriate. Such surrender or termination shall take place as of the date of the Change of Control or such other date as the Committee may specify. 
  
 10. Amendment and Termination of the Plan 
  
 (a) Amendment. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that the Board shall not amend the Plan without shareholder approval if such approval is required by Sections 162(m), 421 and 422 of the Code. 
  
 (b) Termination of Plan. The Plan shall terminate on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of its effective date, unless the Plan is terminated earlier by the Board or is extended by the Board with the approval of the shareholders. 
  
 (c) Termination and Amendment of Outstanding Grants. A termination or amendment of the Plan that occurs after a Grant is made shall not materially impair the rights of a Grantee unless the Grantee consents. The termination of the Plan shall not impair the power and authority of the Committee with respect to an outstanding Grant. Whether or not the Plan has terminated, an outstanding Grant may be amended by agreement of the Company and the Grantee consistent with the Plan. 
  
 (d) Governing Document. The Plan shall be the controlling document. No other statements, representations, explanatory materials or examples, oral or written, may amend the Plan in any manner. The Plan shall be binding upon and enforceable against the Company and its successors and assigns. 
  
 11. Funding of the Plan 
  
 This Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure the payment of any Grants under this Plan. In no event shall interest be paid or accrued on any Grant, including unpaid installments of Grants. 
  
 12. Rights of Participants 
  
 Nothing in this Plan shall entitle any Employee or other person to any claim or right to be granted a Grant under this Plan. Neither this Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any rights to be retained by or in the employ of the Company or any other employment rights. 
  
 13. Grants in Connection with Corporate Transactions and Otherwise. 
  
 Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed to (i) limit the right of the Committee to make Grants under this Plan in connection with the acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business or assets of any corporation, firm or association, including Grants to employees thereof who become Employees of the Company, or for other proper corporate purposes, or (ii) limit the right of the Company to grant stock options or make other awards outside of this Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may make a Grant to an employee of another corporation who becomes an Employee by reason of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or property, reorganization or liquidation involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries in substitution for a stock option made by such corporation. The terms and conditions of the substitute grants may vary from the terms and conditions required by the Plan and from those of the substituted stock incentives. The Committee shall prescribe the provisions of the substitute grants. 
   	 
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 14. Compliance with Law. 
  
 The Plan, the exercise of Options and the obligations of the Company to issue or transfer shares of Company Stock under Grants shall be subject to all applicable laws and to approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required. With respect to persons subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the Company that the Plan and all transactions under the Plan comply with all applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act. The Committee may revoke any Grant if it is contrary to law or modify a Grant to bring it into compliance with any valid and mandatory government regulation. The Committee may also adopt rules regarding the withholding of taxes on payments to Grantees. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, agree to limit its authority under this Section. 
  
 15. Governing Law. 
  
 The validity, construction, interpretation and effect of the Plan and Grant Instruments issued under the Plan shall exclusively be governed by and determined in accordance with the law of State of Delaware.
  
 16. Section 409A. 
  
 To the extent this Plan provides for nonqualified deferred compensation, it is intended to satisfy the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and related regulations and Treasury pronouncements. If any provision herein results in the imposition of an excise tax on any Grantee under Section 409A of the Code, any such provision will be reformed to avoid any such imposition in such manner as the Committee determines is appropriate to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
   	 
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