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EXHIBIT 10.1




NEWPARK RESOURCES, INC.

2004 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS’ STOCK OPTION PLAN

(ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON MARCH 10, 2004 AND

AMENDED BY THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2006 AND

SEPTEMBER 15, 2006)





	 	1.	 	Purpose.





          This Newpark Resources, Inc., 2004 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan (this “Plan”) is
intended to promote the best interests of Newpark Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“Newpark”), and its stockholders by providing to each member of Newpark’s Board of Directors (the
“Board”) who is a Non-Employee Director (as defined in paragraph 3 herein) of Newpark with an
opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in Newpark by receiving options (each a “Stock
Option”) to purchase Newpark’s common stock, $.01 par value (“Common Stock”), as herein provided.
It is intended that this Plan will promote an increased incentive and personal interest in the
welfare of Newpark by those individuals who are primarily responsible for shaping the long-range
plans of Newpark. In addition, Newpark seeks both to attract and retain on its Board persons of
exceptional competence and to provide a further incentive to serve as a director of Newpark.





	 	2.	 	Administration.





          2.1 This Plan shall be administered by the Board or by a duly authorized committee of the
Board. At such times as the Board is administering this Plan, all references in this Plan to the
“Committee” shall mean the Board.




          2.2 In addition to the automatic grants of Stock Options provided for in paragraph 4 of this
Plan, the Committee shall have full and complete authority, in its discretion: to grant Stock
Options to one or more Non-Employee Directors; to determine the number of Stock Options to be
granted to a Non-Employee Director; to determine the time or times at which Stock Options shall be
granted; to establish the exercise price and the other terms and conditions upon which Stock
Options may be exercised; to remove or adjust any restrictions and conditions upon Stock Options;
to specify, at the time of grant, provisions relating to the exercisability of Stock Options and to
accelerate or otherwise modify the exercisability of any Stock Options; and to adopt such rules and
regulations and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or desirable for the
administration of this Plan. All interpretations and constructions of this Plan by the Committee,
and all of its actions hereunder, shall be binding and conclusive on all persons for all purposes.




          2.3 Newpark shall indemnify and hold harmless each Committee member and each director of
Newpark, and the estate and heirs of such Committee member or director, against all claims,
liabilities, expenses, penalties, damages or other pecuniary losses, including legal fees, which
such Committee member or director, his or her estate or his or her heirs may suffer as a result of
his or her responsibilities, obligations or duties in connection with this Plan, to the extent that
insurance, if any, does not cover the payment of such items.




 









 









	 	3.	 	Eligibility.





          Each member of the Board who is not an employee or executive officer of Newpark or any of its
Subsidiaries (as herein defined) or of any parent corporation of Newpark (a “Non-Employee
Director”) shall be eligible to be granted Stock Options under this Plan. Eligibility shall be
determined: (i) with respect to each director serving on the Board on the date this Plan was
adopted by the Board (i.e., March 10, 2004) on that date; and (ii) with respect to each director
elected after this Plan was adopted by the Board, on the date such director is so elected. A Stock
Option, once granted to a Non-Employee Director, shall remain in effect in accordance with its
terms even if the optionee later enters the employ of Newpark or a Subsidiary or parent.
“Subsidiary” shall mean each corporation which is a “subsidiary corporation” of Newpark within the
definition contained in Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”).





	 	4.	 	Grants.





          4.1 Subject to stockholder approval of this Plan, each Non-Employee Director who is first
elected a director after March 10, 2004, will be granted a Stock Option to purchase 10,000 shares
of Common Stock automatically on the date of such election.




          4.2 Subject to stockholder approval of this Plan, each Non-Employee Director (whether in
office on March 10, 2004, or subsequently elected) shall be granted a Stock Option to purchase
10,000 shares of Common Stock automatically on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders (or
stockholder action in lieu thereof by which the Board of Directors is elected) at which such
Non-Employee Director is re-elected, commencing with the annual meeting in 2004. If no annual
meeting of stockholders (or stockholder action in lieu thereof by which the Board of Directors is
elected) occurs in a calendar year, and such Non-Employee Director continues in office as a
Non-Employee Director at the end of such calendar year, then such Non-Employee Director
automatically shall be granted such Stock Option pursuant to this Section 4.2 on the last business
day of such calendar year, subject to the terms and conditions of the 2004 Plan.




          4.3 Subject to the provisions of paragraph 11 of this Plan, the number of shares of Common
Stock issued and issuable upon the exercise of Stock Options granted under this Plan shall not
exceed 1,000,000.





	 	5.	 	Purchase Price.





          The purchase price (the “Exercise Price”) of shares of Common Stock subject to each Stock
Option (“Option Shares”) granted pursuant to paragraph 4 shall equal the fair market value (“Fair
Market Value”) of such shares on the date of grant (the “Date of Grant”) of such Stock Option. The
Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on any date shall be equal to the closing price of the
Common Stock on such Date of Grant, or, if such Date of Grant is not a trading day, on the trading
day immediately preceding such date, and the method for determining the closing price shall be
determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Exercise Price of shares of Common
Stock subject to each Stock Option granted at the discretion of the Committee pursuant to paragraph
2.2 shall be determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion, and may be less than
the fair market value of the Option Shares on the date of grant, but shall not be less than $1.00
per share.




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	 	6.	 	Option Period.





          The term of each Stock Option shall commence on the Date of Grant of the Stock Option and
shall be ten years. Subject to the other provisions of this Plan, (i) each Stock Option granted
pursuant to paragraph 4.1 shall be exercisable during its term as to 20% of the Option Shares
during the twelve months beginning on the first anniversary of the Date of Grant; 20% of the Option
Shares during the twelve months beginning on the second anniversary of the Date of Grant; 20%
during the twelve months beginning on the third anniversary of the Date of Grant; 20% during the
twelve months beginning on the fourth anniversary of the Date of Grant; and 20% during the twelve
months beginning on the fifth anniversary of the Date of Grant; and (ii) each Stock Option granted
pursuant to paragraph 4.2 shall be exercisable during its term as to one-third of the Option Shares
during the twelve months beginning on the first anniversary of the Date of Grant; one-third of the
Option Shares during the twelve months beginning on the second anniversary of the date of grant;
and one-third of the Option Shares during the twelve months beginning on the third anniversary of
the date of grant; provided, however, that no Stock Option granted pursuant to this Plan shall be
exercisable unless and until stockholder approval of the Plan has been obtained. If an optionee
shall not in any period purchase all of the Option Shares which the optionee is entitled to
purchase in such period, the optionee may purchase all or any part of such Option Shares at any
time after the end of such period and prior to the expiration of the Option.





	 	7.	 	Exercise of Options.





          7.1 Each Stock Option may be exercised in whole or in part (but not as to fractional shares)
by delivering it for surrender or endorsement to Newpark, attention of the Corporate Secretary, at
Newpark’s principal office, together with payment of the Exercise Price and an executed Notice and
Agreement of Exercise in the form prescribed by paragraph 7.2. Payment may be made in cash, by
cashier’s or certified check, or by surrender of previously owned shares of Common Stock valued
pursuant to paragraph 5 (if the Committee authorizes payment in stock).




          7.2 Exercise of each Stock Option is conditioned upon the agreement of the Non-Employee
Director to the terms and conditions of this Plan and of such Stock Option as evidenced by the
Non-Employee Director’s execution and delivery of a Notice and Agreement of Exercise in a form to
be determined by the Committee in its discretion. Such Notice and Agreement of Exercise shall set
forth the agreement of the Non-Employee Director that: (a) no Option Shares will be sold or
otherwise distributed in violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”), or any other applicable federal or state securities laws; (b) each Option Share certificate
may be imprinted with legends reflecting any applicable federal and state securities law
restrictions and conditions; (c) Newpark may comply with said securities law restrictions and issue
“stop transfer” instructions to its Transfer Agent and Registrar without liability; (d) each
Non-Employee Director will furnish to Newpark a copy of each Form 4 or Form 5 filed by said
Non-Employee Director under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”), and will timely file all reports required under federal securities laws; and (e)
each Non-Employee Director will report all sales of Option Shares to Newpark in writing on a form
prescribed by Newpark.




          7.3 No Stock Option shall be exercisable unless and until any applicable registration or
qualification requirements of federal and state securities laws, and all other legal




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requirements, have been fully complied with. Newpark will use reasonable efforts to maintain
the effectiveness of a Registration Statement under the Securities Act for the issuance of Stock
Options and shares acquired thereunder, but there may be times when no such Registration Statement
will be currently effective. The exercise of Stock Options may be temporarily suspended without
liability to Newpark during times when no such Registration Statement is currently effective, or
during times when, in the reasonable opinion of the Committee, such suspension is necessary to
preclude violation of any requirements of applicable law or regulatory bodies having jurisdiction
over Newpark. If any Stock Option would expire for any reason except the end of its term during
such a suspension, then, if exercise of such Stock Option is duly tendered before its expiration,
such Stock Option shall be exercisable and exercised (unless the attempted exercise is withdrawn)
as of the first day after the end of such suspension. Newpark shall have no obligation to file any
Registration Statement covering resales of Option Shares.





	 	8.	 	Continuous Directorship.





          Except as provided in paragraph 10 below, a Non-Employee Director may not exercise a Stock
Option unless from the Date of Grant to the date of exercise such Non-Employee Director
continuously serves as a director of Newpark.





	 	9.	 	Restrictions on Transfer.





          Stock Options granted under this Plan may contain terms specifically authorized by the
Committee, in its sole discretion, which (i) permit transfer of all or any portion of such Stock
Options by an optionee to (a) the spouse, children (including step-children and adopted children)
or grandchildren of the optionee (“Immediate Family Members”), (b) a trust or trusts for the
exclusive benefit of Immediate Family Members, (c) a corporation, partnership, limited partnership
or limited liability company in which no persons or entities other than such optionee and Immediate
Family Members have beneficial interests, or (d) such other persons or entities as the Committee
may specifically approve, on a case-by-case basis, and (ii) permit the exercise of such Stock
Options by such transferees. Unless the Committee shall determine otherwise in its sole discretion,
transferred Stock Options may not be further transferred by the transferees thereof except by will
or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order.
Notwithstanding any transfer permitted in accordance with the foregoing provisions, transferred
Stock Options shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable
immediately before such transfer (other than permitting such Stock Options to be exercised by a
permitted transferee), including but not limited to the provisions of this Plan and option
agreements governing (x) the exercise of Stock Options, (y) the termination of Stock Options at the
expiration of their term or following termination of the directorship of the Non-Employee Director
to which the Stock Options were issued and (z) the payment of withholding taxes. No interest under
this Plan of any Non-Employee Director or transferee shall be subject to attachment, execution,
garnishment, sequestration, the laws of bankruptcy or any other legal or equitable process. Except
as otherwise specifically provided by the Committee in accordance with this paragraph 9, each Stock
Option granted under this Plan may not be transferred except by will or the laws of descent and
distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order and shall be exercisable during a
Non-Employee Director’s lifetime only by such Non-Employee Director or by such Non-Employee
Director’s legal representative.




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	 	10.	 	Termination of Service.





          10.1 Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, upon termination of
the directorship of a Non-Employee Director by reason of death, all outstanding Stock Options to
the extent exercisable on the date of death of the Non-Employee Director shall remain in full force
and effect and may be exercised pursuant to the provisions thereof at any time prior to expiration
at the end of the fixed term thereof. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole
discretion, upon termination of the directorship of a Non-Employee Director by reason of
Disability, all outstanding Stock Options to the extent exercisable on the date of termination of
directorship may be exercised pursuant to the provisions thereof at any time until the earlier of
(a) the end of the fixed term of such Stock Options and (b) the later of the expiration of (i)
twelve months following termination of the Non-Employee Director’s directorship and (ii) a number
of months (but not more than eighteen months) following termination of the Non-Employee Director’s
directorship equal to one month for each full year of such Non-Employee Director’s continuous
service as a Non-Employee Director. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole
discretion, all Stock Options to the extent not outstanding and presently exercisable by such
Non-Employee Director at the date of death or termination of directorship by reason of Disability,
shall terminate as of the date of death or such termination of directorship and shall not be
exercisable thereafter.




          10.2 Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, upon the
termination of the directorship of a Non-Employee Director for any reason other than the reasons
set forth in paragraph 10.1, all outstanding Stock Options to the extent exercisable on the date of
termination of directorship may be exercised pursuant to the provisions thereof at any time until
the earlier of (a) the end of the fixed term of such Stock Options and (b) the later of the
expiration of (i) three months following termination of the Non-Employee Director’s directorship
and (ii) a number of months (but not more than eighteen months) following termination of the
Non-Employee Director’s directorship equal to one month for each full year of such Non-Employee
Director’s service as a Non-Employee Director. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in
its sole discretion, all Stock Options to the extent not then outstanding and presently exercisable
by such Non-Employee Director at the date of termination of directorship shall terminate as of the
date of such termination of directorship and shall not be exercisable thereafter.




          10.3 For purposes of this Plan, “Disability” shall mean total and permanent incapacity of a
Non-Employee Director, due to physical impairment or legally established mental incompetence, to
perform the usual duties of a director, which disability shall be determined: (i) on medical
evidence by a licensed physician designated by the Committee, or (ii) on evidence that the
Non-Employee Director has become entitled to receive primary benefits as a disabled employee under
the Social Security Act in effect on the date of such disability.





	 	11.	 	Adjustments Upon Change in Capitalization.





          11.1 The number and class of shares subject to each Stock Option outstanding from time to
time, the Exercise Price thereof (but not the total price), the maximum number of Stock Options
that may be granted under this Plan, and the minimum number of shares as to which a Stock Option
may be exercised at any one time, shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any increase or
decrease in the number of the issued shares of Common Stock which results from a split-up or
consolidation of shares, payment of a stock dividend or dividends




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exceeding a total of two and one-half percent (2.5%) for which the record dates occur in any
one fiscal year, a recapitalization (other than the conversion of convertible securities according
to their terms), a combination of shares or other like capital adjustment (a “Capital Adjustment”),
so that upon exercise of the Stock Option, the Non-Employee Director shall receive the number and
class of shares such Non-Employee Director would have received had such Non-Employee Director been
the holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which the Stock Option is being exercised
upon the date of such Capital Adjustment. A similar adjustment shall be made to the number of
Option Shares for which Stock Options shall be granted automatically to Non-Employee Directors
after March 10, 2004, as contemplated by paragraph 4 of this Plan, as a result of any Capital
Adjustment occurring after March 10, 2004.




          11.2 Upon a reorganization, merger or consolidation of Newpark with one or more corporations
as a result of which Newpark is not the surviving corporation or in which Newpark survives as a
subsidiary of another corporation, or upon a sale of all or substantially all of the property of
Newpark to another corporation, or any dividend or distribution to stockholders of more than ten
percent (10%) of Newpark’s assets, adequate adjustment or other provisions shall be made by Newpark
or other party to such transaction so that there shall remain and/or be substituted for the Option
Shares provided for herein, the shares, securities or assets which would have been issuable or
payable in respect of or in exchange for such Option Shares then remaining, as if the Non-Employee
Director had been the owner of such shares as of the applicable date. Any securities so
substituted shall be subject to similar successive adjustments.




          11.3 Subject to paragraph 19, in the event of a change in control (“Change in Control”) of
Newpark, all outstanding Stock Options shall immediately become and shall thereafter be exercisable
in full until expiration at the end of the fixed term thereof or until earlier terminated in
accordance with paragraph 10 or paragraph 16. A Change in Control of Newpark shall be deemed to
have occurred (a) on the date Newpark first has actual knowledge that any person (as such term is
used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any amendment or replacement of such
sections) has become the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13(d)-3 under the Exchange Act or any
amendment or replacement of such Rule), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing forty percent (40%) or more of the combined voting power of Newpark’s then outstanding
securities or (b) on the date the stockholders of Newpark approve (i) a merger of Newpark with or
into any other corporation in which Newpark is not the surviving corporation or in which Newpark
survives as a subsidiary of another corporation, (ii) a consolidation of Newpark with any other
corporation, or (iii) the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of Newpark’s assets or a
plan of complete liquidation.





	 	12.	 	Withholding Taxes.





          Newpark shall have the right at the time of grant, vesting or exercise of any Stock Option to
make adequate provision for any federal, state, local or foreign taxes which it reasonably believes
are or may be required by law to be withheld with respect to such grant, vesting or exercise (“Tax
Liability”), to ensure the payment of any such Tax Liability. Newpark may provide for the payment
of any Tax Liability by any of the following means or a combination of such means, as determined by
the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion in the particular case: (i) by requiring the
Non-Employee Director to tender a cash payment to Newpark, (ii) by withholding from the
Non-Employee Director’s cash compensation, (iii) by withholding from the Option Shares which would
otherwise be issuable upon exercise of the Stock Option that number of Option Shares having an
aggregate fair market value (determined in

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the manner prescribed by paragraph 5) as of the date the withholding tax obligation arises in an
amount which is equal to the Non-Employee Director’s Tax Liability or (iv) by any other method
deemed appropriate by the Committee. Satisfaction of the Tax Liability of a Non-Employee Director
may be made by the method of payment specified in clause (iii) above upon the satisfaction of such
additional conditions as the Committee shall deem in its sole and absolute discretion as
appropriate in order for such withholding of Option Shares to qualify for the exemption provided
for in Section 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.





	 	13.	 	Amendments and Termination.





          The Board of Directors may at any time suspend, amend or terminate this Plan. No amendment or
modification of this Plan may be adopted, except subject to stockholder approval, which would: (a)
materially increase the benefits accruing to Non-Employee Directors under this Plan, (b) materially
increase the maximum number of Option Shares which may be issued under this Plan (except for
adjustments pursuant to paragraph 11), or (c) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility
for participation in this Plan.





	 	14.	 	Successors in Interest.





          The provisions of this Plan and the actions of the Committee shall be binding upon all heirs,
successors and assigns of Newpark and of Non-Employee Directors.





	 	15.	 	Other Documents.





          All documents prepared, executed or delivered in connection with this Plan shall be, in
substance and form, as established and modified by the Committee or by persons under its direction
and supervision; provided, however, that all such documents shall be subject in every respect to
the provisions of this Plan, and in the event of any conflict between the terms of any such
document and this Plan, the provisions of this Plan shall prevail.





	 	16.	 	Misconduct of a Non-Employee Director.





          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, all unexercised Stock Options held by a
Non-Employee Director shall automatically terminate as of the date his or her directorship is
terminated, if such directorship is terminated on account of any act of fraud, embezzlement,
misappropriation or conversion of assets or opportunities of Newpark, or if the Non-Employee
Director takes any other action materially inimical to the best interests of Newpark, as determined
by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion. Upon termination of such Stock Options, such
Non-Employee Director shall forfeit all rights and benefits under this Plan.





	 	17.	 	Term of Plan.





          This Plan was adopted by the Board effective as of March 10, 2004. No Stock Options may be
granted under this Plan after March 9, 2014.





	 	18.	 	Governing Law.





          This Plan shall be construed in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the State of
Delaware.




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	 	19.	 	Stockholder Approval of Plan.





          No Stock Option granted pursuant to this Plan shall be exercisable unless and until the
stockholders of Newpark have approved this Plan, and all other legal requirements have been fully
complied with. If stockholder approval of this Plan is not obtained on or before March 9, 2005,
this Plan shall be null and void and of no further force or effect.





	 	20.	 	Privileges of Stock Ownership.





          The holder of a Stock Option shall not be entitled to the privileges of stock ownership as to
any shares of Common Stock not actually issued to such holder.




     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Plan been executed as of March 10, 2004.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	NEWPARK RESOURCES, INC.

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/
DAVID P. HUNT	 
	 	 	David P. Hunt,
 Chairman of the Board 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 




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