Exhibit








Exhibit 4.1


NATIONAL SECURITY GROUP, INC.
2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


		
	1.
	Purpose.  The purpose of the National Security Group, Inc.’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan is to further corporate profitability and growth in share value of National Security Group, Inc. (the “Company”) by offering proprietary interests in the Company to those key officers, employees, consultants and directors who will be largely responsible for such growth, and to enhance the Company’s ability to recruit and retain qualified executives and key employees through long-term incentive compensation in the form of proprietary interests in the Company.




		
	2.
	Definitions.


“Award” shall mean any grant or award under the Plan.
 
“Award Notice” shall mean a document or other record, in such form as the Committee prescribes from time to time, setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award. Award Notices may be in the form of individual award notices, agreements or certificates or a program document describing the terms and provisions of Awards or series of Awards under the Plan. An Award Notice and the acceptance thereof by a Participant shall be in a written document unless the Committee, in its discretion, provides for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Notices, and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by a Participant.


 “Award Period” shall mean the period of one or more calendar years fixed by the Committee with respect to Awards of Performance Shares with the same Date of Grant (but no more than five years) commencing with each Date of Grant, except that the Award Period for a recently hired employee may be for such lesser period (but not less than one calendar year) as determined by the Committee.


 “Beneficial Ownership” is used as such term is used within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.


 “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.


 "Business Days" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any holiday observed by banks in the United States.


“Cause” shall mean (i) the Participant has been convicted in a federal or state court of a crime classified as a felony; (ii) action or inaction by the Participant (A) that constitutes embezzlement, theft, misappropriation or conversion of assets of the Company or a Subsidiary which, alone or together with related actions or inactions, involve assets of more than a  de minimis  amount, or that constitutes intentional fraud, gross malfeasance of duty, or grossly inappropriate conduct, and (B) such action or inaction has adversely affected or is likely to adversely affect the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or has resulted or is intended to result in direct or indirect gain or personal enrichment of the Participant to the detriment of the Company and its Subsidiaries; or (iii) the Participant has been grossly inattentive to, or in a grossly negligent manner failed to competently perform, Participant’s job duties and the failure was not cured within 45 days after written notice from the Company.


“Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following events during the term of this Plan: (i) a change in the ownership of the Company as defined in the regulations under Code Section 409A; or (ii) a change in the effective control of the Company as defined in the regulations under Code Section 409A; or (iii) a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company as defined in the regulations under Code Section 409A.


“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.


“Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board (or such other committee of the Board that the Board shall designate from time to time) or any subcommittee thereof comprised of two or more directors each of whom shall be determined by the Board to be independent in accordance with the requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Exchange and a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, as promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.


“Common Stock” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.













“Company” shall mean National Security Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.


“Consultant” shall mean any natural person engaged by the Company to provide services as a consultant or advisor, if such consultant or advisor provides bona fide services to the Company that are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.


 “Date of Grant” shall mean with respect to an Award under the Plan the date specified by the Board or if no date of grant is specified, the date that the Board or the Committee takes action or is deemed to take action to grant such Award; provided that the Board or the Committee may specify that the date of grant for an Award of Performance Shares, Restricted Stock or Restricted Units made within the first 90 days of a calendar year shall be January 1 of such calendar year.


“Director” shall mean a person who is elected and is currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company or a Subsidiary.


“Disability” means that the Participant is (i) unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or (ii) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under the disability insurance, if any, covering employees of the Companies, or (iii) determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration.


"Dividend Equivalent" means an amount equal to any dividends paid by the Company with respect to a share of Common Stock during the Award Period or Interim Period in the case of Performance Shares or during the Restricted Period in the case of Restricted Stock and Restricted Units.


 “Employee” shall mean any natural person (including any officer) employed by the Company or a Subsidiary in a continuous and regular salaried employment relationship, which shall include (unless the Committee otherwise determines) periods of vacation, approved leaves of absence, and any salary continuation or severance pay period.


“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


"Executive Officer” shall mean the Corporation’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, all Section 16(b) officers, and all other senior officers whose compensation is individually reviewed by the Corporation’s Compensation Committee.


“Fair Market Value” on any date shall mean (i) if the Shares are actively traded on any national securities exchange or reported on NASDAQ/NMS on a basis which reports closing prices, the closing sales price of the Shares on the day the value is to be determined or, if such exchange was not open for trading on such date, the next preceding day on which it was open; (ii) if the Shares are not traded on any national securities exchange, the average of the closing high bid and low asked prices of the Shares on the over-the-counter market on the day such value is to be determined, or in the absence of closing bids on such day, the closing bid on the next preceding day on which there were bids; or (iii) if the Shares also are not traded on the over-the-counter market, the Fair Market Value as determined  by the Committee by the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method that takes into consideration all available information material to the value in accordance with Section 409A.


“Freestanding SAR” means a SAR that is granted independently of any Options as described in Section 8 herein.


“Good Reason” (or a similar term denoting constructive termination) has the meaning, if any, assigned such term in the employment, severance or similar agreement, if any, between a Participant and the Company or a Subsidiary; provided, however, that if there is no such employment, severance or similar agreement in which such term is defined, “Good Reason” shall have the meaning, if any, given such term in the applicable Award Notice. If not defined in any such document, the term “Good Reason” as used herein shall not apply to a particular Award.


“Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option which is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422.













“Interim Period” shall mean a period of calendar months (which must be for at least one year) fixed by the Committee with respect to Awards of Performance Shares with the same Date of Grant, which period is less than the full Award Period commencing on the Date of Grant.


“Nonqualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option which is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.


“Normal Retirement” shall mean retirement at or after the Participant reaches the later of either (i) sixty (60) years of age or (ii) the earliest age at which the Participant may retire and receive a retirement benefit without penalty under any qualified retirement plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in which such Participant participates.


“Option” shall mean the right to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock specified by the Committee, at a price and for the term fixed by the Committee granted in accordance with Section 7 hereof and subject to any other limitations and restrictions imposed by the Plan or the Committee.


“Other Stock-Based Awards” shall mean an Award granted under Section 10 hereof.


“Participant” shall mean an Employee, Consultant or Director who is selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan as herein provided.


“Performance Share” shall mean the equivalent of one share of Common Stock granted under Section 6 which becomes vested and nonforfeitable upon the attainment, in whole or in part, of performance objectives determined by the Committee. References to Performance Shares shall include Qualified Performance Shares where no distinction is required.


“Plan” shall mean the National Security Group, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan as set forth herein and as may be amended from time to time.


 “Restricted Period” shall mean the period during which the transfer of Restricted Stock or Restricted Units is limited in some way (based upon the passage of time, the achievement of performance objectives, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee) and the Restricted Stock or Restricted Units are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.


“Restricted Stock” shall mean any Award of Common Stock granted under Section 9 which does not become vested and nonforfeitable, in whole or in part, until the satisfaction of such conditions as shall be determined by the Committee.


“Restricted Unit” shall mean any Award of a contractual right granted under Section 9 to receive Common Stock (or, at the discretion of the Committee, cash based on the Fair Market Value of a Share of the Common Stock) which becomes vested and nonforfeitable, in whole or in part, upon the satisfaction of such conditions as shall be determined by the Committee.


“Section 16 Reporting Person” shall mean any person who is an officer or director of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.


“Section 409A” shall mean Code Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder.


“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


“Shares” shall mean shares of the Common Stock of the Company reserved under Section 4 hereof for Awards under the Plan, or such other securities as may become subject to Awards pursuant to an adjustment pursuant to Section 13 of the Plan.


“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” shall mean any Award of a contractual right granted under Section 8 to receive cash, Common Stock or a combination thereof.


 “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation of which the Company possesses directly or indirectly eighty percent (80%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of such corporation and any other business 











organization, regardless of form, in which the Company possesses directly or indirectly eighty percent (80%) or more of the total combined equity interests in such organization.


 “Tandem SAR” means an SAR that is granted in connection with a related Option pursuant to Section 8 herein, the exercise of which shall require forfeiture of the right to purchase a Share under the related Option (and when a Share is purchased under the related Option, the Tandem SAR shall be similarly cancelled).


 “Termination” shall mean, except with respect to Performance Shares, the end of a Participant’s relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary as an Employee, Consultant or Director if at such time the Participant has no other relationship as an Employee, Consultant or Director of the Company or a Subsidiary; with respect to Performance Shares, “Termination” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14(c) of the Plan.


"Whole Month" shall mean a calendar month in which the Participant was an Employee for at least 10 Business Days.


 “2 1⁄2 Month Period” shall mean the period ending on the later of either the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Participant’s first taxable year in which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s first taxable year in which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture; Performance Shares, if earned, shall be considered no longer subject to a risk of forfeiture on the last day of the Award Period or Interim Period for which they are earned.


 
		
	3.
	Administration of the Plan.


The Plan shall be administered by the Committee which, subject to the provisions of the Plan, shall have the authority
 
(a) to select the Participants in the Plan;
 
(b) to determine the Awards to be made to each Participant selected to participate in the Plan;
 
(c) to determine the conditions subject to which Awards will become payable under the Plan;
 
(d) to determine whether and to what extent and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price may be paid in cash, Common Stock, other Awards, or other property;
 
(e) to prescribe the form of each Award Notice, which need not be identical for each Participant;
 
(f) to make all decisions and determinations that may be required under the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan; and
 
(g) to amend the Plan or any Award Notice as provided herein.
 
The Committee shall have full power to administer and interpret the Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations, guidelines and procedures consistent with the terms of the Plan as the Committee deems necessary or advisable in order to carry out the provisions of the Plan. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the Committee’s interpretation and construction of the Plan and its determination of any conditions applicable to Awards or the granting of Awards to specific Participants shall be conclusive and binding on all Participants.
 
The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers of the Company or a Subsidiary or to one or more agents or advisors such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, and the Committee or any individuals to whom it has delegated duties or powers as aforesaid may employ such legal counsel, consultants and agents (including counsel or agents who are employees of the Company or a Subsidiary) to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or such individuals may have under the Plan, and may rely upon any opinion received from any such counsel, consultant or agent and any computation received from any such consultant or agent. All expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan, including, without limitation, for the engagement of any counsel, consultant or agent, shall be paid by the Company. No member or former member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in connection with the Plan other than as a result of such individual’s willful misconduct.


Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Notice.  Each Award Notice shall include such provisions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as may be specified by the Committee.











 
		
	4.
	Maximum Amount of Shares Available for Awards.


(a)     Maximum Number of Shares.  The number of Shares that may be distributed as Awards under the Plan shall be a total of 200,000 shares of Common Stock subject to adjustment under Section 13 of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to the provisions of Section 13, the maximum number of Shares which may be subject to Awards granted to a Participant in any calendar year shall be 50,000 shares of Common Stock.
 
(b)     Shares Available for Issuance.  Shares may be made available from the authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, from shares of Common Stock held in the Company’s treasury and not reserved for another purpose, or from shares of Common Stock purchased on the open market. If any Award is payable solely in cash, no shares shall be deducted from the number of shares available for issuance under Section 4(a) by reason of such Award except in the case of the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right. If any Award in respect of Shares is cancelled or forfeited for any reason without delivery of the Shares (with the exception of the termination of a Tandem SAR upon exercise of the related Option or the termination of the related Option upon exercise of the corresponding Tandem SAR), the Shares subject to such Award shall thereafter again be available for an Award pursuant to the Plan. Whenever Shares are received by the Company in connection with the exercise of or payment for any Award granted under the Plan, only the net number of shares actually issued shall be counted against the limit in Section 4(a) hereof and the Shares not issued shall be treated in the same manner as Shares subject to cancelled or forfeited Awards.
 
		
	5.
	Eligibility and Participation.


 
(a)     Eligibility.  Persons eligible to participate in this Plan include all Employees, Consultants and Directors; provided that Directors and Consultants shall not be eligible to receive Performance Shares under the Plan.
 
(b)     Participation.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from all eligible Employees, Consultants and Directors, Participants to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature of such Awards. Selection of Participants may be made individually or by group or class of similarly situated persons who are eligible to participate in the Plan. The Committee shall select Participants, who in the judgment of the Committee, have an opportunity to influence the long-term profitability of the Company.
 
		
	6.
	Performance Shares.


 
(a)     Performance Share Awards.  The Committee shall have the authority to grant Awards of Performance Shares to Employees on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee. Performance Shares shall be deemed to be received by an Employee as of the Date of Grant in the year the related Performance Share Award is granted. At the time of grant of each Performance Share Award, the Committee shall decide the Award Period and whether there will be an Interim Period. Any Employee may be granted more than one Performance Share Award under the Plan.
 
No Participant shall be entitled to receive any dividends or dividend equivalents on Performance Shares; with respect to any Performance Shares, no Participant shall have any voting or any other rights of a Company stockholder; and no Participant shall have any interest in or right to receive any Shares prior to the time the Committee determines the form of payment of Performance Shares pursuant to this Section 6.  The Committee may determine at the Date of Grant whether and to what extent to credit to the account of a recipient of Performance Shares, an amount equal to the Dividend Equivalent on a number of Shares corresponding to the Performance Shares subject to an Award, in which event the credit for the Dividend Equivalent shall be paid at the time of payment of the Award as provided in Section 6(c) hereof.
 
(b)    Performance Goals.  The Committee shall establish performance goals for Performance Shares which may be based on any criteria selected by the Committee. Such performance goals may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or in terms of objectives that relate to the performance of the Participant, a Subsidiary or a division, region, department or function within the Company or a Subsidiary and may relate to relative performance as compared to an outside reference or peer group. Performance goals may be specified in absolute terms, in percentages, or in terms of growth from period to period or growth rates over time, as well as measured relative to the performance of a group of peer companies, or a published or special index, or a stock market index, that the Committee deems appropriate. Performance goals need not be based upon an increase or positive result under a business criterion and could include, for example, the maintenance of the status quo or the limitation of economic losses (measured, in each case, by reference to a specific business criterion).  If the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company or the manner in which the Company or an Affiliate conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render performance goals to be unsuitable, the Committee may modify such performance goals in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate. If a Participant is promoted, demoted or transferred to a different business unit or function during a performance period, the Committee may determine that the performance goals or performance period are no longer appropriate and may (i) adjust, change or eliminate the performance goals or the applicable 











performance period as it deems appropriate to make such goals and period comparable to the initial goals and period, or (ii) make a cash payment to the participant in an amount determined by the Committee. 
 
     In determining whether a performance goal has been satisfied, the Committee shall include a credit or allowance for dividends declared during an Award Period.  In addition, the Committee may provide in any Award of Performance Shares that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following described events that occur during an Award Period: (i) changes in capital structure as described in Section 13 hereof; (ii) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles or other laws and provisions affecting reported results; or (iii) acquisitions or divestitures. 
 
 (c)    Payment of Performance Share Awards.  Each Participant who is granted an Award of Performance Shares shall be entitled to payment of the Award if and after the Committee has determined that the conditions for payment of the Award set by the Committee have been satisfied during the Award Period. If the Committee determines that there shall be an Interim Period for the Award to any Participant, each such Participant granted a Performance Share Award with an Interim Period shall be entitled to partial payment on account thereof as of the close of the Interim Period, but only if and after the Committee has determined that the conditions for partial payment of the Award set by the Committee have been satisfied. Performance Shares paid to a Participant for an Interim Period may be retained by the Participant and shall not be repaid to the Company, notwithstanding that based on the conditions set for payment at the end of the Award Period such Participant would not have been entitled to payment of some or any of the Award; provided that all Awards to Executives shall be subject to the Executive Officer Recoupment Policy set forth in Section 14(h) hereof.  Any Performance Shares paid to a Participant for the Interim Period during an Award Period shall be deducted from the Performance Shares to which such Participant is entitled at the end of the Award Period.
 
Except for payment of Awards of Performance Shares under subparagraphs (d) or (e) of this Section 6 or in Section 11 hereof, payment of Awards of Performance Shares shall be made to the Participant (or his or her personal representative), as promptly as possible, by the Company after the determination by the Committee that payment has been earned, but in no event later than the end of the 2 1⁄2 Month Period; provided that in the event of either  voluntary Termination by a Participant without Good Reason or involuntary Termination of a Participant for Cause after the close of the Award Period, any portion of an Award of Performance Shares that has not been paid on or before the date of Termination shall be forfeited and cancelled automatically and all rights of the Participant with respect to such cancelled Awards of Performance Shares shall terminate.  Unless otherwise directed by the Committee, all payments on Awards of Performance Shares to Participants shall be made partly in Shares and partly in cash, with the cash portion being approximately equal to the amount of federal, state, and local taxes which the Participant's employer is required to withhold on account of such payment.  The payment for the Dividend Equivalent, if any, shall be added to any cash payment to be made to a Participant with respect to the subject Performance Shares.  There shall be deducted from the cash payment for Performance Shares, all taxes to be withheld with respect to the Performance Shares. 


For payment of each Performance Share Award, the number of Shares to be distributed to the Participant shall equal the Fair Market Value of the total Performance Shares determined by the Committee to have been earned by the Participant less the portion of the Award that was paid in cash, divided by the Fair Market Value of a Performance Share.  Unless otherwise provided in subparagraphs (d) or (e) of this Section 6 or in Section 11 hereof, the Fair Market Value shall be determined on the date specified by the Committee which must be on or after the date of the Committee's determination of the Award and prior to the payment date for the Award.
 
(d)     Termination Upon Death or Disability.  Upon Termination by reason of death or Disability of a Participant prior to the close of an Award Period, outstanding Awards of Performance Shares and Dividend Equivalents thereon, if any, shall be deemed to be earned at the target level and payment of such Performance Shares and Dividend Equivalents thereon, if any, shall be made on the first regularly scheduled payroll payment date following the expiration of a thirty (30) day period commencing on the date of death or the date of the determination of Disability, whichever is applicable.  For purposes of this Section 6(d), the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the date of death or the date of the determination of Disability.  
 
(e)     Termination Upon Retirement or For Good Reason.  Upon Termination of a Participant, prior to the close of an Award Period, by reason of his or her (i) Normal Retirement, or (ii) early retirement before the Normal Retirement age with the consent of the Committee, or (iii) resignation for Good Reason, then, payment of such Performance Shares and Dividend Equivalents thereon, if any, shall be made on the first regularly scheduled payroll payment date following the expiration of the thirty (30) day period commencing on the date of Termination, and the number of Performance Shares for each Award to be paid shall be computed by (x) determining the number of Performance Shares that would have been paid if the subject Award Period had ended on the December 31 immediately preceding the date of Termination (based on the conditions set by the Committee for payment of Performance Share Awards for the subject Award Period); (y) multiplying the number determined pursuant to clause (x) by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Whole Months during the subject Award Period that the Participant was an active Employee, and the denominator of which is the number of Whole Months in the Award Period; provided that in the event such computation results in a fractional share of a Performance Share, such fractional share shall be eliminated and not paid.  For 











purposes of this Section 6(e), the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the date of Termination.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Performance Shares awarded to a Participant in the same year that the Participant's Termination occurs for the reasons set forth in this Section 6(e) and Dividend Equivalents thereon, if any, shall be automatically cancelled and all rights of Participant with respect to the cancelled Performance Shares shall forthwith terminate. 


(f)     Other Termination.  In the event of Termination of a Participant prior to the close of an Award Period for any reason other than those described in subparagraph (d) or (e) of this Section 6, then, unless the Committee shall otherwise determine at the Date of Grant or pursuant to Section 11 hereof, all outstanding Awards of Performance Shares that have not been paid on or before the date of Termination shall be automatically cancelled and all rights of the Participant with respect to such cancelled Awards of Performance Shares and Dividend Equivalents thereon, if any, shall forthwith terminate. 


 
		
	7.
	Stock Options.


(a)     Grant.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to grant Awards of Options to Participants and to determine (i) the number of Shares to be covered by each Option, (ii) the exercise price therefor and (iii) the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option. The Committee shall have the authority to grant Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options; provided that Incentive Stock Options may not be granted to any Participant who is not an Employee at the time of grant. In the case of Incentive Stock Options, the terms and conditions of such grants shall be subject to and comply with Section 422 of the Code.
 
(b)     Option Price.  The Committee shall establish the exercise price at the time each Option is granted, which price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share at the Date of Grant.
 
(c)     Exercise.  Each Option may be exercised at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify on Date of Grant; provided, however, that if the Committee does not establish a different exercise schedule at the Date of Grant of an Option, such Option shall become exercisable in five (5) equal installments on each of the first five anniversaries of the Date of Grant of the Option. The Committee may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options as it shall deem appropriate, including, without limitation, any conditions relating to the application of federal or state securities laws; provided that Options shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the Date of Grant.


An Option shall be exercised by (i) notice of exercise with respect to a specified number of Shares to be delivered in such form and in such manner as may be directed by the Committee, and (ii) payment to the Company of the exercise price for such number of Shares as herein provided; provided that in the absence of direction by the Committee the notice of exercise shall be in writing and delivered to the Secretary of the Company at the principal office of the Company. The date of exercise shall be as determined by the Committee; provided that in the absence of a determination by the Committee the date of exercise shall be the date the notice of exercise is received in the form required herein.
 
The exercise price is to be paid in full in cash upon the exercise of the Option and the Company shall not be required to deliver the Shares purchased until such payment has been made; provided, however, that in lieu of cash, all or any portion of the exercise price may be paid by exchanging shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant (which are not the subject of any pledge or security interest), or by authorization to the Company to withhold Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option, in each case to be credited against the exercise price at the Fair Market Value of such shares on the date of exercise. No fractional shares may be so transferred in payment of the exercise price, and the Company shall not be obligated to make any cash payments in consideration of any excess of the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares transferred over the aggregate exercise price.
 
In addition to and at the time of payment of the exercise price, the Participant shall pay to the Company in cash the full amount of any federal, state, and local income, employment, or other withholding taxes applicable to the taxable income of such Participant resulting from such exercise; provided, however, that in the discretion of the Committee, all or any portion of such tax obligations, together with additional taxes not exceeding the actual additional taxes to be owed by the Participant as a result of such exercise, may, upon the irrevocable election of the Participant, be paid by exchanging whole shares of Common Stock duly endorsed for transfer and owned by the Participant, or by authorization to the Company to withhold Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option, in either case in that number of shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the amount of such taxes thereby being paid.
 
(d)     Termination on Death or Disability.  In the event of Termination of a Participant by reason of his or her death or Disability, then, unless the Committee shall otherwise determine at the Date of Grant, all Options held by such Participant at the time of such Termination shall be fully exercisable, and such Participant (or the Participant’s beneficiary or legal representative) may exercise any of such Options for a period of 180 days after the date of Termination (or such greater or lesser period as the Committee shall determine at the Date of Grant), but in no event after the date the Option otherwise expires. .











 
(e)    Termination on Retirement or For Good Reason.  In the event of Termination of a Participant by reason of his or her (i) Normal Retirement, or (ii) early retirement before the Normal Retirement age with the consent of the Committee, or (iii) resignation for Good Reason, then, unless the Committee shall otherwise determine at the Date of Grant, all Options held by such Participant at the time of such Termination shall be fully exercisable, and such Participant may exercise any of such Options for a period of 180 days after the date of Termination (or such greater or lesser period as the Committee shall determine at the Date of Grant), but in no event after the date the Option otherwise expires.
 
(f)    Other Termination.  In the event of Termination of a Participant for any reason other than those described in subparagraphs (d) and (e) of this Section 7, then, unless the Committee shall otherwise determine at the Date of Grant or pursuant to Section 11 hereof, all vested and unvested Options then held by such Participant, whether or not exercisable at the time of such Termination, shall be automatically cancelled and all rights of the Participant with respect to such cancelled Options shall forthwith terminate.


     (g)    Nontransferability of Options.  No Option granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, all Options granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant.
 
      
		
	8.
	Stock Appreciation Rights.


(a)    Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may grant Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants at such times and in such amounts and subject to such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as it shall determine. The Committee may grant Awards of Freestanding SARS or Tandem SARS or any combination thereof. Tandem SARS may be granted either at the same time the Option is granted or at a later time. Freestanding SARS shall have a base price that is not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on Date of Grant. Tandem SARS shall have a base price equal to the option price of the related Option.
 
(b)    Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights.  A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the Participant to receive from the Company an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right over the base price thereof. Each Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe on the Date of Grant; provided, however, that Tandem SARS shall be exercisable only at the same time or times as the related Option is exercisable upon surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent number of Shares subject to the related Option; and provided further that unless the Committee shall establish a different exercise schedule at the Date of Grant, Freestanding SARS shall become exercisable in five (5) equal installments on each of the first five (5) anniversaries of the Date of Grant. Stock Appreciation Rights shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date of grant.
 
A Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised by (i) notice of exercise with respect to the specified number of Stock Appreciation Rights to be delivered in such form and in such manner as may be directed by the Committee at the Date of Grant; provided that in the absence of direction by the Committee, the notice of exercise shall be in writing and delivered to the Secretary of the Company at its principal office. The date of exercise shall be at such time as may be determined by the Committee; provided that in the absence of a determination by the Committee, the date of exercise shall be the date the notice is received by the Company in the form required herein. The Committee shall determine at the Date of Grant whether a Stock Appreciation Right shall be settled in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares. At the time of exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant shall pay to the Company in cash the full amount of any federal, state and local income, employment or other withholding taxes applicable to the taxable income of the Participant resulting from such exercise; provided that in the discretion of the Committee, the amount of taxes to be paid by the Participant may be withheld from the cash payment due to Participant on exercise or at the irrevocable election of Participant, the taxes to be paid by Participant may be paid by authorization to the Company to withhold Shares otherwise issuable upon the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the amount of the taxes thereby being paid.
 
(c)    Termination on Death or Disability.  In the event of Termination of a Participant by reason of his or her death or Disability, then, unless the Committee shall otherwise determine at the Date of Grant, all SARs held by such Participant at the time of such Termination shall be fully exercisable, and such Participant (or the Participant’s beneficiary or legal representative) may exercise any of such SARs for a period of 180 days after the date of Termination (or such greater or lesser period as the Committee shall determine at the Date of Grant), but in no event after the date the SAR otherwise expires. .
 
(d)    Termination on Retirement or For Good Reason.  In the event of Termination of a Participant by reason of his or her (i) Normal Retirement, or (ii) early retirement before the Normal Retirement age with the consent of the Committee, or (iii) 











resignation for Good Reason, then, unless the Committee shall otherwise determine at the Date of Grant, all SARs held by such Participant at the time of such Termination shall be fully exercisable, and such Participant may exercise any such SARs for a period of 180 days after the date of Termination (or such greater or lesser period as the Committee shall determine at the Date of Grant), but in no event after the date the SAR otherwise expires.
 
(e)    Other Termination.  In the event of Termination of a Participant for any reason other than those described in subparagraphs (c) and (d) of this Section 8, then, unless the Committee shall otherwise determine at the Date of Grant or pursuant to Section 11 hereof, all vested and unvested SARs then held by such Participant, whether or not exercisable at the time of such Termination, shall be automatically cancelled and all rights of the Participant with respect to such cancelled SARs shall forthwith terminate.
 
(f)    Nontransferability of Stock Appreciation Rights.  No Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  Further, all Stock Appreciation Rights granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant.
 
		
	9.
	Restricted Stock and Restricted Units.


 
(a)    Grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Units.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may grant Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Units to Participants at such times and in such amounts, and subject to such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan, as it shall determine. Each grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Units shall be evidenced by an Award Notice setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to the Award. Unless the Committee provides otherwise at the Date of Grant, any shares of Restricted Stock so granted shall be held in the custody of the Company, as provided in Section 9(f) in certificated or book entry form until the Restricted Period lapses, and, as a condition to the grant of any Award of shares of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have delivered to the Secretary of the Company a certificate or stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Shares covered by such Award.
 
(b)    Termination upon Death or Disability.  Upon Termination by reason of death or Disability of a Participant prior to the close of a Restricted Period, any restrictions and conditions on outstanding Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Units shall lapse and be deemed to be satisfied and payment of such Restricted Stock and Restricted Units shall be made as promptly as practicable after the date of death or the date of the determination of Disability, whichever is applicable, but in no event shall payment of the Restricted Stock or Restricted Units be later than the end of the 2 1⁄2 Month Period.  For purposes of this Section 9(b), the Fair Market Value of Shares shall be determined as of the date of death or date of determination of Disability.


(c)    Termination for Good Reason.  Upon Termination prior to the close of a Restricted Period by reason of resignation for Good Reason, any restrictions and conditions on outstanding Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Units shall lapse and be deemed to be satisfied with respect to a portion of the Restricted Stock or Restricted Units included in such Award with such portion to be computed by multiplying the number of shares of Restricted Stock or the number of Restricted Units by a fraction in which the numerator is the number of Whole Months during the subject Restricted Period that the Participant was an Employee and the denominator is the number of Whole Months in the subject Restricted Period; provided that in the event such computation results in a fractional share of Restricted Stock or a Restricted Unit, such fractional share shall be eliminated and not paid.  Payment of such Restricted Stock or Restricted Units shall be made as promptly as practicable after the date of Termination, but in no event shall payment of the Restricted Stock or Restricted Units be later than the end of the 2 1⁄2 Month Period.  For purposes of this Section 9(c), the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Award shall be determined as of the date of Termination.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Restricted Stock or Restricted Unit awarded in the same year as the date of Termination shall be automatically cancelled and all rights of a Participant with respect to such cancelled Restricted Stock or Restricted Units shall forthwith terminate.


(d)    Other Termination.  In the event of Termination of a Participant for any reason other than those described in subparagraphs (b) or (c) of this Section 9, then, unless the Committee otherwise determines at the Date of Grant or pursuant to Section 11 hereof, all of such Participant's Restricted Stock and Restricted Units that are subject to restrictions and/or conditions on date of Termination shall automatically be cancelled and all rights of the Participant with respect to the cancelled Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Units shall forthwith terminate.


(e)    Payment of Restricted Stock and Restricted Units.  Payment of Restricted Stock shall be made by the Company in Shares.  Payment of Restricted Units may be made in Shares, cash or in any combination as determined by the Committee.
  
Unless otherwise provided in subparagraph (b) or (c) of this Section 9 or in Section 11 hereof, payment of Restricted Stock and Restricted Units shall be made to the Participant (or his or her personal representative), as promptly as practicable, after 











the Committee determines that that any restrictions and conditions on outstanding Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Units have lapsed and that payment is due to the Participant, but in no event shall payment of the Restricted Stock or Restricted Units be later than the end of the 2 1⁄2 Month Period; provided that in the event of either voluntary Termination by a Participant without Good Reason or involuntary Termination of a Participant for Cause after the close of the Restricted Period, any portion of an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Units that has not been paid on or before the date of Termination shall be forfeited and cancelled automatically and all rights of the Participant with respect to such cancelled Awards of Restricted Stock or restricted Units shall terminate.  For payment of each Award of Restricted Units, the number of Shares to be distributed to the Participant, if any, shall be determined by dividing (i) the amount by which the Fair Market Value of the total Restricted Units earned by the Participant exceeds the portion of the Award to be paid in cash by (ii) the Fair Market Value of a Restricted Unit.  Unless otherwise provided in subparagraph (b) or (c) of this Section 9 or in Section 11 hereof, the Fair Market Value of Restricted Stock and Restricted Units shall be determined at the on the date specified by the Committee which must be on or after the date of the Committee's determination of the Award and prior to the payment date for the Award.  


At the time of payment of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall either pay to the Company in cash the full amount of any federal, state and local income, employment or other withholding taxes applicable to the payment of the Award of Restricted Stock or authorize the Company to withhold a number of Shares subject to the Award of Restricted Stock having a Fair Market Value on the valuation date that is equal to the amount of taxes to be withheld and paid by the Company with respect to such Award.  At the time of payment of Restricted Units, the Company shall deduct from the payment for Restricted Units the amount to be withheld for the payment of federal, state and local income, employment or other withholding taxes applicable to the payment of the Restricted Units.


(f)    Restricted Period; Restrictions on Transferability during Restricted Period.  Restricted Stock or Restricted Units may not be sold, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered, except as herein provided, during the Restricted Period.  Any certificates issued during the Restricted Period in respect of Restricted Stock shall be registered in the name of the Participant and deposited by such Participant with the Company, and Shares issued in book entry form during the Restricted Period in respect to Restricted Stock shall be held for the account of the Participant in an account controlled by the Company.  Upon the expiration or termination of the Restricted Period and the satisfaction (as determined by the Committee) of any other conditions established by the Committee, the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock or Restricted Units shall lapse. The Shares issued in respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Units as to which the restrictions have lapsed shall be delivered to the Participant or the Participant's beneficiary or estate, as the case may be, in certificated or book entry form, free of all such restrictions, except any that may be imposed under Section 14(e) hereof or by law.
  
(g)    Rights as a Stockholder; Dividend Equivalents.  A Participant will be the beneficial owner of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan.  The Participant will have the right to direct the Company as to the voting of Restricted Stock held for the Participant, and the Participant will be entitled to all communications addressed by the Company to its stockholders.  Dividends and other distributions paid on Restricted Stock during the Restricted Period shall be accrued for the account of the Participant subject to forfeiture and restrictions on transferability as apply to the Restricted Stock on which the dividends are paid.  Dividends on Restricted Stock that are not forfeited shall be payable in cash at the time of payment of the Restricted Stock pursuant to Section 9(e) hereof, except that dividends paid in Shares or other property (other than cash) shall be paid in kind at the time of payment of the Restricted Stock.


A Participant shall have no voting or other rights of a Company stockholder with respect to Restricted Units, nor shall a Participant be entitled to receive any dividends or other distribution with respect to Restricted Units; and no Participant shall have any interest or right to receive Shares prior to the time the Committee determines the form of payment of Restricted Units in accordance with this Section 9.  The Committee may determine at the Date of Grant whether and to what extent to credit to the account of a recipient of Restricted Units, with an amount equal to the Dividend Equivalent on a number of Shares corresponding to the Restricted Units subject to an Award.  Dividend Equivalents on Restricted Units shall be subject to forfeiture and restrictions on transferability as apply to the Restricted Units with respect to which Dividend Equivalents are credited.  Dividend Equivalents on Restricted Units that are not forfeited shall be payable in cash at the time of delivery of the payment for the Restricted Units in accordance with Section 9(e) hereof.


 
		
	10.
	Other Stock-Based Awards.


 
The Committee is authorized to grant to Participants Other Stock-Based Awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares), as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Other Stock-Based Awards. Shares or other securities delivered pursuant to a purchase right granted under this Section 10 shall be purchased for such consideration, which may be paid 











by such method or methods and in such form or forms, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property, or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee shall determine and shall provide in the Award Notice.


		
	11.
	Change in Control.  


The provisions of this Section 11 shall apply in the case of a Change in Control, unless otherwise provided in the Award Notice or separate agreement with a Participant governing an Award.
 
(a)    Acceleration of Awards.  Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, (i) outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall become fully exercisable, and (ii) time-based vesting restrictions on outstanding Awards shall lapse, and (iii) outstanding Performance Shares shall be deemed to be earned at the target level and, subject to Section 14(c) hereof, Awards of Performance Shares, Restricted Stock, Restricted Units and Dividends or Dividend Equivalents credited thereon shall be paid to Participants within thirty (30) days following the Change in Control (or, if later, the first date that such payment may be made without causing a violation of Section 409A of the Code). Any Awards of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall thereafter continue or lapse in accordance with the other provisions of the Plan and the Award Notice.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide that upon acceleration of an Award under this Section 11: (A) that the Award will expire after a designated period of time after such acceleration to the extent not then exercised, (B) that the Award will be settled in cash rather than Shares, (C) that the Award will be assumed by the surviving entity or otherwise be equitably converted or substituted in connection with such transaction as provided in Section 11(b) below, (D) that the Award may be settled by payment in cash or cash equivalents equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares and Dividends or Dividend Equivalents credited thereon, as of a specified date associated with the transaction, over the exercise price of the Award, or (E) any combination of the foregoing. The Committee’s determination need not be uniform and may be different for different Participants whether or not such Participants are similarly situated. To the extent that this provision causes Incentive Stock Options to exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Code Section 422(d), the excess Options shall be deemed to be Nonqualified Stock Options.
 
(b)    Awards Assumed or Substituted in a Change of Control.  Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, any Awards (other than Performance Shares) may be assumed by the surviving entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with the Change in Control in a manner approved by the Committee or the Board. With respect to Awards assumed by the surviving entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with a Change in Control, (i) all of that Participant’s outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall become fully exercisable, and (ii) all time-based vesting restrictions on his or her outstanding Awards shall lapse. Awards so assumed, converted or substituted shall be payable to the Participants in accordance with the provisions of Section 11(a) above. To the extent that such acceleration causes Incentive Stock Options to exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Code Section 422(d), the excess Options shall be deemed to be Nonqualified Stock Options.
 
		
	12.
	Term of the Plan.


 
(a)    Effective Date.  The Plan shall be effective upon approval by the stockholders at the May 17, 2019 Annual Meeting (“Effective Date”).
 
(b)    Termination of the Plan.  The Plan shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date unless sooner terminated as provided herein. The termination of the Plan on such date shall not affect the validity of any Award outstanding on date of termination of the Plan, and any such outstanding Award shall continue to be governed by the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten (10) years after the Effective Date.
 
		
	13.
	Changes in Capital Structure.


 
(a)    Mandatory Adjustments.  In the event of a corporate transaction between the Company and its stockholders that causes the per-share value of the Shares to change (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering, or large special cash dividend), the authorization limits under Section 4 shall be adjusted proportionately, and the Committee shall make such adjustments to the Plan and Awards as it deems necessary, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights immediately resulting from such transaction. Action by the Committee may include: (i) adjustment of the number and kind of shares that may be delivered under the Plan; (ii) adjustment of the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) adjustment of the exercise of base price of outstanding Awards or the measure to be used to determine the amount of the benefit payable on an Award; and (iv) any other adjustments that the Committee determines to be equitable. Without limiting the foregoing, in the event of a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (stock-split), a declaration of a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, or a combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a lesser number of shares, the authorization limits under Section 4 shall automatically be adjusted proportionately, and the 











Shares then subject to each Award shall automatically, without the necessity for any additional action by the Committee, be adjusted proportionately without any change in the aggregate purchase price therefore.
 
(b)    Discretionary Adjustments.  Upon the occurrence or in anticipation of any corporate event or transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any merger, reorganization, recapitalization, combination or exchange of shares, or any transaction described in Section 13(a) above), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide (i) that Awards will be settled in cash rather than Shares, (ii) that Options will become immediately vested and exercisable and will expire after a designated period of time to the extent not then exercised, (iii) that Awards will be assumed by another party to a transaction or otherwise be equitably converted or substituted in connection with such transaction in accordance with Section 11(b), or (iv) that outstanding Awards may be settled by payment in cash or cash equivalents equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares, as of a specified date associated with the transaction, over the exercise price of the Award. 
 
(c)    General.  Any discretionary adjustments made pursuant to this Section 13 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 14(l) hereof. To the extent that any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 13 cause Incentive Stock Options to cease to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, such Options shall be deemed to be Nonqualified Stock Options.


(d)    Restrictions on Adjustments.  In no event shall the adjustments described above, whether mandatory or discretionary, be made so as to change the time or form of payment under an Award that provides for deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder.


 
		
	14.
	General Provisions.  


(a)    Withholding.  The Company shall have the right to deduct from all amounts paid to a Participant in cash (whether under the Plan or otherwise) any taxes required by law to be withheld in respect of Awards under the Plan. In the case of any Award satisfied in the form of Shares, no Shares shall be issued unless and until arrangements shall have been made to satisfy any withholding tax obligations applicable with respect to such Award in accordance with the Plan and otherwise satisfactory to the Committee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may impose, the Company shall have the right to retain, or the Committee may, subject to such terms and conditions as it may establish from time to time, permit Participants to elect to tender, shares of Common Stock (including Shares issuable pursuant to an Award) to satisfy, in whole or in part, the amount required to be withheld.


(b)    Award Notices.  Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced in an Award Notice. The Award Notice shall be delivered to the Participant and specify the terms and conditions thereof and any rules applicable thereto.  The terms of the Plan shall be incorporated into each Award Notice and the terms of the Plan shall govern any conflicts between the provisions of the Award Notice and the provisions of the Plan.


(c)    Compliance with Section 409A.  It is intended that this Plan, as written and in operation, will be exempt from Section 409A. For purposes of determining whether Awards may be payable to a Participant in compliance with Section 409A, the Participant’s Termination will be considered as having occurred for purposes of the Plan if the parties reasonably anticipate either (i) that Participant will no longer perform any services for the Company or a Subsidiary or (ii) that the level of bona fide services performed for the Company or a Subsidiary (whether as an Employee, Consultant or Director ) will permanently decrease to no more than 20% of the average level of bona fide services performed by Participant over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or the full period of services if Participant has been providing services to the Company and its Subsidiaries for less than 36 months). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if payment of any Award is deemed to be “nonqualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A, and if the Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(b)(i), the payment schedule for Awards shall be modified or adjusted to provide that no payments shall be made until the expiration of six (6) months following the date of Termination or Change in Control. In the event that payments are so delayed, a lump sum payment of the accumulated unpaid amounts attributable to the six (6) month period shall be made to Participant on the first day of the seventh month following the date of Termination or Change in Control. This six month delay shall not apply to any Awards which are not subject to the requirements of Section 409A by reason of their being separation pay upon an involuntary separation from service and their meeting the requirements and limitations of the regulations under the above referenced Code section. In no event shall the aggregate amount of Awards be reduced as a result of such modification or adjustment.


Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall not be granted and shall not exercise any discretion otherwise provided under the Plan to change the time of payments to Participants with respect to Awards that provide for deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder.  The terms of the Plan and any related Award Notices with respect to Awards that provide for deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder shall be interpreted by the Committee as necessary to comply with Section 409A.











(d)    Investment Representation.  All Shares paid pursuant to the Plan are to be taken subject to an investment representation by the Participant or other recipient that any such Shares are acquired for investment and not with a view to distribution and that such shares shall not be transferred or sold until registered in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933 or unless an exemption therefrom is available in the opinion of legal counsel satisfactory to the Company.


(e)    Restrictions on Share Transferability.  The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to an Award as it may deem advisable, including without limitation, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which the Shares are then listed and/or traded, and under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to the Shares.


(f)    Designation of Beneficiary.  Each Participant may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries (which beneficiary may be an entity other than a natural person) to receive any payments which may be made or to exercise any Options or Stock Appreciation Rights following the Participant’s death. Such designation may be changed or canceled at any time without the consent of any such beneficiary. Any such designation, change or cancellation must be made in a form approved by the Committee and shall not be effective until received by the Company. If no beneficiary has been named, or the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries shall have predeceased the Participant, the beneficiary shall be the Participant’s spouse or, if no spouse survives the Participant, the Participant’s estate. If a Participant designates more than one beneficiary, the rights of such beneficiaries shall be payable in equal shares, unless the Participant has designated otherwise.


(g)    Vesting and Holding Period.  All Awards shall be subject to a minimum required vesting period of one year from the Date of Grant subject to acceleration as herein provided upon death, Disability or a Change in Control or upon Termination by a Participant for Good Reason or upon Normal Retirement.  All Executive Officers must agree in writing to hold any Shares issued in respect of an Award for a minimum term of one year from the date of payment of the Award or exercise of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right., whichever is applicable.


(h)    Executive Officer Recoupment Policy.  In the event that any Award is made to an Executive Officer that is based on financial results that subsequently require a restatement to the Corporation’s financial statements, the payment of any erroneously-awarded Award and any profit resulting from the sale of such Award shall be recouped by the Corporation pursuant to the Policy Regarding the Recoupment of Certain Performance-Based Compensation Payments.  


(i)    Employment Rights.  An Award made under the Plan shall not confer any right on the Participant to continue in the employ of the Company or any subsidiary or limit in any way the right of the Participant’s employer to terminate his or her employment at any time.


(j)    Expenses.  The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company.


(k)    No Rights to Awards, No Shareholder Rights.  No Employee, Consultant or Director shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation of uniformity of treatment of Employees, Consultants and Directors. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award, no person shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be issued under the Plan prior to the issuance thereof.


(l)    Construction of the Plan.  The validity, construction, interpretation, administration and effect of the Plan and of its rules and regulations, and rights relating to the Plan, shall be determined solely in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.


(m)    Legend. To the extent any stock certificate is issued to a Participant in respect of shares of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan prior to the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period, such certificate shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear the following (or similar) legend:


“The shares of stock represented by this certificate are subject to the terms and conditions contained in the National Security Group, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and the Award Agreement, dated as of _____________, between the Company and the Participant, and may not be sold, pledged, transferred, assigned, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered in any manner (except as provided in the Plan or in such Award Agreement) until __________.” 


Upon the lapse of the Restricted Period with respect to any such shares of Restricted Stock, the Company shall issue or have issued new share certificates without the legend described herein in exchange for those previously issued.











(n)    Amendment of Plan.  The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, provided that no amendment shall be made without stockholder approval if such amendment would constitute a material change or revision that requires stockholder approval to comply with any of the following:
(i)     the corporate governance rules for listed companies on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, including without limitation, IM 4350-5 of the  Marketplace Rules; or 
 
(ii)     the exemption from Section 16 of Exchange Act provided by SEC Rule 16b-3.


Without the written consent of an affected Participant, no termination, suspension or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect any right of such Participant under the terms of an Award granted before the date of such termination, suspension or modification.
 
(l)    Amendment of Awards.  The Committee shall have the authority to amend any Award to include any provision which, at the time of such amendment, is authorized under the terms of the Plan; provided, however, that (i) no outstanding Award may be revoked or altered in a manner unfavorable to the Participant without the written consent of the Participant, (ii) no Performance Share shall be altered in a manner to increase the amount of compensation that would otherwise be due upon the attainment of the performance criteria, (iii) no outstanding Option may be altered in a manner that reduces the exercise price (except as provided in Section 13 hereof), (iv) no outstanding Stock Appreciation Right may be altered in a manner that reduces the base price (except as provided in Section 13 hereof), and (v) no award may be amended in any manner that would result in a violation of Section 409A.
 
(m)    Application of Proceeds.  The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Shares under the Plan will be used for general corporate purposes.
 
(n)    Compliance with Legal and Exchange Requirements.  The Plan, the grant and exercise of Awards hereunder, and the other obligations of the Company under the Plan, shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any regulatory or governmental agency as may be required. The Company, in its discretion, may (i) postpone the exercise of Awards, the issuance or delivery of Shares under any Award or any other action under the Plan to permit the Company, with reasonable diligence, to complete such stock exchange listing or registration or qualification of such Common Stock or other required action under any federal or state law, rule, or regulation, (ii) require any Participant to make such representations and furnish such information as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Shares in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and (iii) pay the Participant, in lieu of Shares, cash in an amount based upon the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the date Shares would otherwise be issuable with respect to an Award. The Company shall not be obligated to recognize the exercise of any Award or to otherwise sell or issue Common Stock in violation of any such laws, rules, and regulations. Any postponement of the exercise or settlement of any Award under this Section 14(q) shall not extend the term of such Award, and the Company, its officers and employees, the Board and the Committee shall have no obligation or liability to a Participant with respect to any Award (or Shares issuable thereunder) because of any actions taken pursuant to the provisions of this Section 14(q).
 
(o)    Gender and Number.  Except when otherwise indicated by the context, words in the masculine gender used in the Plan shall include the feminine gender, the singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular.