2014 Equity Compensation Plan


EXHIBIT 10.1



















CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.




2014 Equity Compensation Plan












































China Natural Resources, Inc.




2014 Equity Incentive Plan







ARTICLE I




1.  

Purpose; Definitions.




1.1

Purpose.  The purpose of the China Natural Resources, Inc. 2014 Equity Compensation Plan is to enable the Company to offer to its employees, officers, directors and consultants whose past, present and/or potential contributions to the Company and its Subsidiaries have been, are or will be important to the success of the Company, an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company.  The various types of long-term incentive awards that may be provided under the Plan will enable the Company to respond to changes in compensation practices, tax laws, accounting regulations and the size and diversity of its businesses.




1.2

Definitions.  For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:




(a)

“Agreement” means the agreement between the Company and the Holder setting forth the terms and conditions of an award under the Plan.




(b)

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.




(c)

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.




(d)

“Committee” means the Equity Incentive Committee of the Board or any other committee of the Board that the Board may designate to administer the Plan or any portion thereof.  If no Committee is so designated, then all references in this Plan to “Committee” shall mean the Board.




(e)

“Common Shares” means the Common Shares of the Company, without par value.




(f)

“Company” means China Natural Resources, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands.




(g)

“Deferred Stock” means Common Shares to be received under an award made pursuant to Section 8, below, at the end of a specified deferral period.




(h)

“Disability” means physical or mental impairment as determined under procedures established by the Committee for purposes of the Plan.




(i)

“Effective Date” means the date set forth in Section 12.1, below.









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(j)

“Fair Market Value”, unless otherwise required by any applicable provision of the Code or any regulations issued thereunder, means, as of any given date:  (i) if the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, the last sale price of the Common Shares in the principal trading market for the Common Shares on such date, as reported by the exchange or Nasdaq, as the case may be; (ii) if the Common Shares are not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market or Nasdaq SmallCap Market, but is traded in the over-the-counter market, the closing bid price for the Common Shares on such date, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board or the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or similar publisher of such quotations; and (iii) if the fair market value of the Common Shares cannot be determined pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, such price as the Committee shall determine, in good faith.




(k)

“Holder” means a person who has received an award under the Plan.




(l)

“Incentive Stock Option” means any Stock Option intended to be and designated as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.  




(m)

“Nonqualified Stock Option” means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.




(n)

“Normal Retirement” means retirement from active employment with the Company or any Subsidiary on or after age 65.




(o)

“Other Stock-Based Award” means an award under Section 9, below, that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is otherwise based upon, Common Shares.




(p)

“Parent” means any present or future “parent corporation” of the Company, as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.




(q)

“Plan” means the China Natural Resources, Inc. 2014 Equity Compensation Plan, as hereinafter amended from time to time.




(r)

“Repurchase Value” shall mean the Fair Market Value in the event the award to be repurchased under Section 10.2 is comprised of shares of Common Shares and the difference between Fair Market Value and the Exercise Price (if lower than Fair Market Value) in the event the award is a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right; in each case, multiplied by the number of shares subject to the award.




(s)

“Restricted Stock” means Common Shares received under an award made pursuant to Section 7, below, that is subject to restrictions under said Section 7.




(t)

“SAR Value” means the excess of the Fair Market Value (on the exercise date) over the exercise price that the participant would have otherwise had to pay to exercise the related Stock Option, multiplied by the number of shares for which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.




(u)

“Stock Appreciation Right” means the right to receive from the Company, on surrender of all or part of the related Stock Option, without a cash payment to the Company, a number of shares of Common Shares equal to the SAR Value divided by the Fair Market Value (on the exercise date).




(v)

“Stock Option” or “Option” means any option to purchase Common Shares granted pursuant to the Plan.






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(w)

“Stock Reload Option” means any option granted under Section 5.3 of the Plan.




(x)

“Subsidiary” means any present or future “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as such term is defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.




ARTICLE II




2.

Administration.




2.1

Committee Membership.  The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a Committee. If the Board administers the Plan, the Committee shall refer to the Board. Committee members shall serve for such term as the Board may in each case determine, and shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board.  The Committee members, to the extent possible and deemed to be appropriate by the Board, shall be “non-employee directors” as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. If required, members of the Committee shall be “independent” within the meaning of the applicable standards of a national securities exchange.




2.2

Powers of Committee.  The Committee shall have full authority to award, pursuant to the terms of the Plan:  (i) Stock Options, (ii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iii) Restricted Stock, (iv) Deferred Stock, (v) Stock Reload Options and/or (vi) Other Stock-Based Awards. For purposes of illustration and not of limitation, the Committee shall have the authority (subject to the express provisions of this Plan):




(a)

To select the officers, employees, directors and consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary to whom Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock, Reload Stock Options and/or Other Stock-Based Awards may from time to time be awarded hereunder;




(b)

To determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, number of shares, share exercise price or types of consideration paid upon exercise of such options, such as other securities of the Company or other property, any restrictions or limitations, and any vesting, exchange, surrender, cancellation, acceleration, termination, exercise or forfeiture provisions, as the Committee shall determine);




(c)

To determine any specified performance goals or such other factors or criteria which need to be attained for the vesting of an award granted hereunder;




(d)

To determine the terms and conditions under which awards granted hereunder are to operate on a tandem basis and/or in conjunction with or apart from other equity awarded under this Plan and cash awards made by the Company or any Subsidiary outside of this Plan;




(e)

To permit a Holder to elect to defer a payment under the Plan under such rules and procedures as the Committee may establish, including the crediting of interest on deferred amounts denominated in cash and of dividend equivalents on deferred amounts denominated in Common Shares;




(f)

To determine the extent and circumstances under which Common Shares and other amounts payable with respect to an award hereunder shall be deferred that may be either automatic or at the election of the Holder; and









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(g)

To substitute (i) new Stock Options for previously granted Stock Options, which previously granted Stock Options have higher option exercise prices and/or contain other less favorable terms, and (ii) new awards of any other type for previously granted awards of the same type, which previously granted awards are upon less favorable terms.




2.3

Interpretation of Plan.




(a)

Committee Authority.  Subject to Section 11, below, the Committee shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable, to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any award under the Plan (and to determine the form and substance of all Agreements relating thereto), and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.  Subject to Section 11, below, all decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be made in the Committee’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding upon all persons, including the Company, its Subsidiaries and Holders.




(b)

Incentive Stock Options.  Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term or provision of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options (including but limited to Stock Reload Options or Stock Appreciation rights granted in conjunction with an Incentive Stock Option) or any Agreement providing for Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be so exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan under Section 422 of the Code, or, without the consent of the Holder(s) affected, to disqualify any Incentive Stock Option under such Section 422.




ARTICLE III




3.

Stock Subject to Plan.




3.1

Number of Shares.  The total number of Common Shares reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be such number of shares as is equal to 20% of the total number of Common Shares outstanding from time-to-time.  No award under the Plan shall be invalidated by reason of a decrease in the number of outstanding Common Shares; provided that the award was made from shares validly available under the Plan at the time the award is made.




Common Shares under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.  If any Common Shares that have been granted pursuant to a Stock Option cease to be subject to a Stock Option, or if any Common Shares that are subject to any Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock award, Reload Stock Option or Other Stock-Based Award granted hereunder are forfeited or any such award otherwise terminates without a payment being made to the Holder in the form of Common Shares, such shares shall again be available for issuance in connection with future grants and awards under the Plan.  If a Holder pays the exercise price of a Stock Option by surrendering any previously owned shares and/or arranges to have the appropriate number of shares otherwise issuable upon exercise withheld to cover the withholding tax liability associated with the Stock Option exercise, then the number of shares available under the Plan shall be increased by the lesser of (i) the number of such surrendered shares and shares used to pay taxes; and (ii) the number of shares purchased under such Stock Option.









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3.2

Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization, Etc.  In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, dividend (other than a cash dividend) payable on Common Shares, stock split, reverse stock split, combination or exchange of shares, or other extraordinary or unusual event occurring after the grant of an award which results in a change in the Common Shares of the Company as a whole, the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether such change equitably requires an adjustment in the terms of any award or the aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan.  Any such adjustments will be made by the Committee, whose determination will be final, binding and conclusive.




ARTICLE IV




4.

Eligibility.




Awards may be made or granted to employees, officers, directors and consultants who are deemed to have rendered or to be able to render significant services to the Company or its Subsidiaries and who are deemed to have contributed or to have the potential to contribute to the success of the Company.  No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any person who is not an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary at the time of grant.




ARTICLE V




5.

Stock Options.




5.1

Grant and Exercise.  Stock Options granted under the Plan may be of two types:  (i) Incentive Stock Options and (ii) Nonqualified Stock Options.  Any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall contain such terms, not inconsistent with this Plan, or with respect to Incentive Stock Options, not inconsistent with the Plan and the Code, as the Committee may from time to time approve.  The Committee shall have the authority to grant Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options, or both types of Stock Options which may be granted alone or in addition to other awards granted under the Plan.  To the extent that any Stock Option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option does not so qualify, it shall constitute a separate Nonqualified Stock Option.




5.2

Terms and Conditions.  Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:




(a)

Option Term.  The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee; provided, however, that an Incentive Stock Option may be granted only within the ten-year period commencing from the Effective Date and may only be exercised within ten years of the date of grant.




(b)

Exercise Price.  The exercise price per Common Shares purchasable under a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant and may not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the day of grant.




(c)

Exercisability.  Stock Options shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee and as set forth in Section 10, below.  If the Committee provides, in its discretion, that any Stock Option is exercisable only in installments, i.e., that it vests over time, the Committee may waive such installment exercise provisions at any time at or after the time of grant, in whole or in part, based upon such factors as the Committee shall determine.









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(d)

Method of Exercise.  Subject to whatever installment, exercise and waiting period provisions are applicable in a particular case, Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the term of the Option, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of Common Shares to be purchased.  Such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price, which shall be in cash or, if provided in the Agreement, either in Common Shares (including Restricted Stock and other contingent awards under this Plan) or partly in cash and partly in such Common Shares, or such other means which the Committee determines are consistent with the Plan’s purpose and applicable law.  Cash payments shall be made by wire transfer, certified or bank check or personal check, in each case payable to the order of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to deliver certificates for Common Shares with respect to which an Option is exercised until the Company has confirmed the receipt of good and available funds in payment of the purchase price thereof. Payments in the form of Common Shares shall be valued at the Fair Market Value on the date prior to the date of exercise.  Such payments shall be made by delivery of stock certificates in negotiable form that are effective to transfer good and valid title thereto to the Company, free of any liens or encumbrances.  Subject to the terms of the Agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, at the request of the Holder, deliver upon the exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option a combination of shares of Deferred Stock and Common Shares; provided that, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8 of the Plan, such Deferred Stock shall be fully vested and not subject to forfeiture.  A Holder shall have none of the rights of a Stockholder with respect to the shares subject to the Option until such shares shall be transferred to the Holder upon the exercise of the Option.




(e)

Transferability.  Except as may be set forth in the Agreement, no Stock Option shall be transferable by the Holder other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the Holder’s lifetime, only by the Holder (or, to the extent of legal incapacity or incompetency, the Holder’s guardian or legal representative).




(f)

Termination by Reason of Death.  If a Holder’s employment by the Company or a Subsidiary terminates by reason of death, any Stock Option held by such Holder, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant and set forth in the Agreement, shall thereupon automatically terminate, except that the portion of such Stock Option that has vested on the date of death may thereafter be exercised by the legal representative of the estate or by the legatee of the Holder under the will of the Holder, for a period of one year (or such other greater or lesser period as the Committee may specify at grant) from the date of such death or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is the shorter.




(g)

Termination by Reason of Disability.  If a Holder’s employment by the Company or any Subsidiary terminates by reason of Disability, any Stock Option held by such Holder, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant and set forth in the Agreement, shall thereupon automatically terminate, except that the portion of such Stock Option that has vested on the date of termination may thereafter be exercised by the Holder for a period of one year (or such other greater or lesser period as the Committee may specify at the time of grant) from the date of such termination of employment or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is the shorter. 




(h)

Other Termination.  Subject to the provisions of Section 13.3, below, and unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant and set forth in the Agreement, if a Holder is an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary at the time of grant and if such Holder’s employment by the Company or any Subsidiary terminates for any reason other than death or Disability, the Stock Option shall thereupon automatically terminate.









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(i)

Additional Incentive Stock Option Limitation.  In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of grant of the Option) with respect to which Incentive Stock Options become exercisable for the first time by a Holder during any calendar year (under all such plans of the Company and its Parent and Subsidiary) shall not exceed $100,000.




(j)

Buyout and Settlement Provisions.  The Committee may at any time, in its sole discretion, offer to repurchase a Stock Option previously granted, based upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish and communicate to the Holder at the time that such offer is made.




5.3

Stock Reload Option.  If a Holder tenders Common Shares to pay the exercise price of a Stock Option (“Underlying Option”), and/or arranges to have a portion of the shares otherwise issuable upon exercise withheld to pay the applicable withholding taxes, the Holder may receive, at the discretion of the Committee, a new Stock Reload Option to purchase that number of Common Shares equal to the number of shares tendered to pay the exercise price and the withholding taxes (but only if such shares were held by the Holder for at least six months).  Stock Reload Options may be any type of option permitted under the Code and will be granted subject to such terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations as may be determined by the Committee, from time to time.  Such Stock Reload Option shall have an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise of the Underlying Option.  Unless the Committee determines otherwise, a Stock Reload Option may be exercised commencing one year after it is granted and shall expire on the date of expiration of the Underlying Option to which the Reload Option is related.




ARTICLE VI




6.

Stock Appreciation Rights.




6.1

Grant and Exercise.  The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to participants who have been, or are being granted, Stock Options under the Plan as a means of allowing such participants to exercise their Stock Options without the need to pay the exercise price in cash.  In the case of a Nonqualified Stock Option, a Stock Appreciation Right may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Nonqualified Stock Option.  In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, a Stock Appreciation Right may be granted only at the time of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option.




6.2

Terms and Conditions.  Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:




(a)

Exercisability.  Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Agreement, subject to the limitations, if any, imposed by the Code, with respect to related Incentive Stock Options.




(b)

Termination.  A Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate and shall no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related Stock Option.




(c)

Method of Exercise.  Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable upon such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Agreement and by surrendering the applicable portion of the related Stock Option.  Upon such exercise and surrender, the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Common Shares equal to the SAR Value divided by the Fair Market Value on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.









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(d)

Shares Affected Upon Plan.  The granting of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not affect the number of Common Shares available under for awards under the Plan.  The number of shares available for awards under the Plan will, however, be reduced by the number of Common Shares acquirable upon exercise of the Stock Option to which such Stock Appreciation Right relates.




ARTICLE VII




7.

Restricted Stock.




7.1

Grant.  Shares of Restricted Stock may be awarded either alone or in addition to other awards granted under the Plan.  The Committee shall determine the eligible persons to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Restricted Stock will be awarded, the number of shares to be awarded, the price (if any) to be paid by the Holder, the time or times within which such awards may be subject to forfeiture (“Restriction Period”), the vesting schedule and rights to acceleration thereof, and all other terms and conditions of the awards.




7.2

Terms and Conditions.  Each Restricted Stock award shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:




(a)

Certificates.  Restricted Stock, when issued, will be represented by a stock certificate or certificates registered in the name of the Holder to whom such Restricted Stock shall have been awarded.  During the Restriction Period, certificates representing the Restricted Stock and any securities constituting Retained Distributions (as defined below) shall bear a legend to the effect that ownership of the Restricted Stock (and such Retained Distributions), and the enjoyment of all rights appurtenant thereto, are subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions provided in the Plan and the Agreement. Such certificates shall be deposited by the Holder with the Company, together with stock powers or other instruments of assignment, each endorsed in blank, which will permit transfer to the Company of all or any portion of the Restricted Stock and any securities constituting Retained Distributions that shall be forfeited or that shall not become vested in accordance with the Plan and the Agreement.




(b)

Rights of Holder.  Restricted Stock shall constitute issued and outstanding Common Shares for all corporate purposes.  The Holder will have the right to vote such Restricted Stock, to receive and retain all regular cash dividends and other cash equivalent distributions as the Board may in its sole discretion designate, pay or distribute on such Restricted Stock and to exercise all other rights, powers and privileges of a holder of Common Shares with respect to such Restricted Stock, with the exceptions that (i) the Holder will not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate or certificates representing such Restricted Stock until the Restriction Period shall have expired and unless all other vesting requirements with respect thereto shall have been fulfilled; (ii) the Company will retain custody of the stock certificate or certificates representing the Restricted Stock during the Restriction Period; (iii) other than regular cash dividends and other cash equivalent distributions as the Board may in its sole discretion designate, pay or distribute, the Company will retain custody of all distributions (“Retained Distributions”) made or declared with respect to the Restricted Stock (and such Retained Distributions will be subject to the same restrictions, terms and conditions as are applicable to the Restricted Stock) until such time, if ever, as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Retained Distributions shall have been made, paid or declared shall have become vested and with respect to which the Restriction Period shall have expired; (iv) a breach of any of the restrictions, terms or conditions contained in this Plan or the Agreement or otherwise established by the Committee with respect to any Restricted Stock or Retained Distributions will cause a forfeiture of such Restricted Stock and any Retained Distributions with respect thereto.









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(c)

Vesting; Forfeiture.  Upon the expiration of the Restriction Period with respect to each award of Restricted Stock and the satisfaction of any other applicable restrictions, terms and conditions (i) all or part of such Restricted Stock shall become vested in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, subject to Section 10, below, and (ii) any Retained Distributions with respect to such Restricted Stock shall become vested to the extent that the Restricted Stock related thereto shall have become vested, subject to Section 10, below. Any such Restricted Stock and Retained Distributions that do not vest shall be forfeited to the Company and the Holder shall not thereafter have any rights with respect to such Restricted Stock and Retained Distributions that shall have been so forfeited.




ARTICLE VIII




8.

Deferred Stock.




8.1

Grant.  Shares of Deferred Stock may be awarded either alone or in addition to other awards granted under the Plan. The Committee shall determine the eligible persons to whom and the time or times at which grants of Deferred Stock will be awarded, the number of shares of Deferred Stock to be awarded to any person, the duration of the period (“Deferral Period”) during which, and the conditions under which, receipt of the shares will be deferred, and all the other terms and conditions of the awards.




8.2

Terms and Conditions.  Each Deferred Stock award shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:




(a)

Certificates.  At the expiration of the Deferral Period [or the Additional Deferral Period referred to in Section 8.2 (d) below, where applicable], share certificates shall be issued and delivered to the Holder, or his legal representative, representing the number equal to the shares covered by the Deferred Stock award.




(b)

Rights of Holder.   A person entitled to receive Deferred Stock shall not have any rights of a Stockholder by virtue of such award until the expiration of the applicable Deferral Period and the issuance and delivery of the certificates representing such Common Shares.  The Common Shares issuable upon expiration of the Deferral Period shall not be deemed outstanding by the Company until the expiration of such Deferral Period and the issuance and delivery of such Common Shares to the Holder.




(c)

Vesting; Forfeiture.  Upon the expiration of the Deferral Period with respect to each award of Deferred Stock and the satisfaction of any other applicable restrictions, terms and conditions all or part of such Deferred Stock shall become vested in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, subject to Section 10, below.  Any such Deferred Stock that does not vest shall be forfeited to the Company and the Holder shall not thereafter have any rights with respect to such Deferred Stock.









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(d)

Additional Deferral Period.  A Holder may request to, and the Committee may at any time, defer the receipt of an award (or an installment of an award) for an additional specified period or until a specified event (“Additional Deferral Period”).  Subject to any exceptions adopted by the Committee, such request must generally be made at least one year prior to expiration of the Deferral Period for such Deferred Stock award (or such installment).




ARTICLE IX




9.

Other Stock-Based Awards.




Other Stock-Based Awards may be awarded, subject to limitations under applicable law, that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Common Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including, without limitation, purchase rights, Common Shares awarded which are not subject to any restrictions or conditions, convertible or exchangeable debentures, or other rights convertible into Common Shares and awards valued by reference to the value of securities of or the performance of specified Subsidiaries.  Other Stock-Based Awards may be awarded either alone or in addition to or in tandem with any other awards under this Plan or any other plan of the Company.  Each other Stock-Based Award shall be subject to such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee.




ARTICLE X




10.

Accelerated Vesting and Exercisability.




10.1

Non-Approved Transactions.  If any “person” [as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”)], is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as referred in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 10% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities in one or more transactions, and the Board does not authorize or otherwise approve such acquisition, then the vesting periods of any and all Stock Options and other awards granted and outstanding under the Plan shall be accelerated and all such Stock Options and awards will immediately and entirely vest, and the respective holders thereof will have the immediate right to purchase and/or receive any and all Common Shares subject to such Stock Options and awards on the terms set forth in this Plan and the respective agreements respecting such Stock Options and awards.  




10.2

Approved Transactions.  The Committee may, in the event of an acquisition of substantially all of the Company’s assets or at least 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities in one or more transactions (including by way of merger or reorganization) which has been approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, (i) accelerate the vesting of any and all Stock Options and other awards granted and outstanding under the Plan, and (ii) require a Holder of any award granted under this Plan to relinquish such award to the Company upon the tender by the Company to Holder of cash in an amount equal to the Repurchase Value of such award.




ARTICLE XI




11.

Amendment and Termination.




The Board may at any time, and from time to time, amend alter, suspend or discontinue any of the provisions of the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, suspension or discontinuance shall be made that would impair the rights of a Holder under any Agreement theretofore entered into hereunder, without the Holder’s consent.






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ARTICLE XII




12.

Term of Plan.




12.1

Effective Date.  The Plan shall become effective at such time as it has been approved by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Effective Date”), provided that (a) no option granted under the Plan may be exercised prior to the Plan being approved by holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (“Stockholder Approval”) and (b) in the event Stockholder Approval is not be obtained within twelve (12) months of the Effective Date, the Plan shall be unwound and all outstanding options shall be cancelled.




12.2

Termination Date.  Unless terminated by the Board, this Plan shall continue to remain effective for a period of ten (10) years from the Effective Date.  







ARTICLE XIII




13.

General Provisions.




13.1

Written Agreements.  Each award granted under the Plan shall be confirmed by, and shall be subject to the terms, of the Agreement executed by the Company and the Holder.  The Committee may terminate any award made under the Plan if the Agreement relating thereto is not executed and returned to the Company within ten (10) days after the Agreement has been delivered to the Holder for his or her execution.




13.2

Unfunded Status of Plan.  The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Holder by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Holder any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company.




13.3

Employees.




(a)

Engaging in Competition With the Company; Disclosure of Confidential Information.  If a Holder’s employment with the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated for any reason whatsoever, and within three months after the date thereof such Holder either (i) accepts employment with any competitor of, or otherwise engages in competition with, the Company or (ii) discloses to anyone outside the Company or uses any confidential information or material of the Company in violation of the Company’s policies or any agreement between the Holder and the Company, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may require such Holder to return to the Company the economic value of any award that was realized or obtained by such Holder at any time during the period beginning on that date that is six months prior to the date such Holder’s employment with the Company is terminated.




(b)

Termination for Cause.  The Committee may, if a Holder’s employment with the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated for cause, annul any award granted under this Plan to such employee and, in such event, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may require such Holder to return to the Company the economic value of any award that was realized or obtained by such Holder at any time during the period beginning on that date that is six months prior to the date such Holder’s employment with the Company is terminated.









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(c)

No Right of Employment.  Nothing contained in the Plan or in any award hereunder shall be deemed to confer upon any Holder who is an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary any right to continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any Holder who is an employee at any time.




13.4

Investment Representations; Company Policy.  The Committee may require each person acquiring Common Shares pursuant to a Stock Option or other award under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the Holder is acquiring the shares for investment purposes, without a view to the distribution thereof.  Each person acquiring Common Shares pursuant to a Stock Option or other award under the Plan shall be required to abide by all policies of the Company in effect at the time of such acquisition and thereafter with respect to the ownership and trading of the Company’s securities.




13.5

Additional Incentive Arrangements.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting such other or additional incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, but not limited to, the granting of Stock Options and the awarding of Common Shares and cash otherwise than under the Plan; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.




13.6

Withholding Taxes.  Not later than the date as of which an amount must first be included in the gross income of the Holder for Federal income tax purposes with respect to any option or other award under the Plan, the Holder shall pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding the payment of, any Federal, state and local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld or paid with respect to such amount.  If permitted by the Committee, tax withholding or payment obligations may be settled with Common Shares, including Common Shares that are part of the award that gives rise to the withholding requirement.  The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditioned upon such payment or arrangements and the Company or the Holder’s employer (if not the Company) shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Holder from the Company or any Subsidiary.




13.7

Governing Law.  The Plan and all awards made and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the British Virgin Islands.




13.8

Other Benefit Plans.  Any award granted under the Plan shall not be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits under any retirement plan of the Company or any Subsidiary and shall not affect any benefits under any other benefit plan now or subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to the level of compensation (unless required by specific reference in any such other plan to awards under this Plan).




13.9

Non-Transferability.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or the Agreement, no right or benefit under the Plan may be alienated, sold, assigned, hypothecated, pledged, exchanged, transferred, encumbered or charged, and any attempt to alienate, sell, assign, hypothecate, pledge, exchange, transfer, encumber or charge the same shall be void.




13.10

Applicable Laws.  The obligations of the Company with respect to all Stock Options and awards under the Plan shall be subject to (i) all applicable laws, rules and regulations and such approvals by any governmental agencies as may be required, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (ii) the rules and regulations of any securities exchange on which the Common Shares may be listed.









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13.11

Conflicts.  If any of the terms or provisions of the Plan or an Agreement conflict with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, then such terms or provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent they so conflict with such requirements.  Additionally, if this Plan or any Agreement does not contain any provision required to be included herein under Section 422 of the Code, such provision shall be deemed incorporated herein and therein with the same force and effect as if such provision had been set out at length herein and therein.  If any of the terms or provisions of any Agreement conflict with any terms or provisions of the Plan, then such terms or provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent they so conflict with the requirements of the Plan.  Additionally, if any Agreement does not contain any provision required to be included therein under the Plan, such provision shall be deemed incorporated therein with the same force and effect as if such provision had been set out at length therein.




13.12

Non-Registered Stock.  The Common Shares to be issued under this Plan have not been, as of the Effective Date, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable state or foreign securities laws and the Company has no obligation to any Holder to register the Common Shares or to assist the Holder in obtaining an exemption from the various registration requirements, or to list the Common Shares on a national securities exchange or any other trading or quotation system.






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Initial Plan







Date Plan Approved by Board of Directors:

June 20, 2014




Date Plan Approved by Stockholders:

__________________










Plan Amendments







				
	Date

Amendment

Approved by

Board of

Directors

	Date

Amendment

Approved by

Stockholders, if

Necessary

	Section

Amended

	Description of Amendment


	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 











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