Document:

Exhibit 10.5

 

ATHLON ENERGY INC.
 2013 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

 

ARTICLE 1.

 

PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Athlon Energy Inc. 2013 Incentive Award Plan (as it may be amended or restated from time to time, the “Plan”) is to promote the success and enhance the value of Athlon Energy Inc. (the “Company”) by linking the individual interests of the members of the Board, Employees, and Consultants to those of Company stockholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to Company stockholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of members of the Board, Employees, and Consultants upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation is largely dependent.

 

ARTICLE 2.

 

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

 

Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.

 

2.1                                           “Administrator” shall mean the entity that conducts the general administration of the Plan as provided in Article 11. With reference to the duties of the Committee under the Plan which have been delegated to one or more persons pursuant to Section 11.6, or as to which the Board has assumed, the term “Administrator” shall refer to such person(s) unless the Committee or the Board has revoked such delegation or the Board has terminated the assumption of such duties.

 

2.2                                           “Applicable Accounting Standards” shall mean Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States, International Financial Reporting Standards or such other accounting principles or standards as may apply to the Company’s financial statements under United States federal securities laws from time to time.

 

2.3                                           “Applicable Law” shall mean any applicable law, including without limitation: (i) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (ii) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign; and (iii) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.

 

2.4                               “Automatic Exercise Date” shall mean, with respect to an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right, the last business day of the applicable Option Term or Stock Appreciation Right Term that was established by the Administrator for such Option or Stock Appreciation Right (e.g., the last business day prior to the tenth anniversary of the date of grant of such

 

 

Option or Stock Appreciation Right if the Option or Stock Appreciation Right initially had a ten-year Option Term or Stock Appreciation Right Term, as applicable); provided that with respect to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that has been amended pursuant to this Plan so as to alter the applicable Option Term or Stock Appreciation Right Term, “Automatic Exercise Date” shall mean the last business day of the applicable Option Term or Stock Appreciation Right Term that was established by the Administrator for such Option or Stock Appreciation Right as amended.

 

2.5                                           “Award” shall mean an Option, a Restricted Stock award, a Restricted Stock Unit award, a Performance Award, a Dividend Equivalents award, a Stock Payment award or a Stock Appreciation Right, which may be awarded or granted under the Plan (collectively, “Awards”).

 

2.6                                           “Award Agreement” shall mean any written notice, agreement, terms and conditions, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium, which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Administrator shall determine consistent with the Plan.

 

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

 

2.8                                           “Change in Control” shall mean and includes each of the following:

 

(a)                                 A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Common Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or

 

(b)                                 During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 2.8(a) or Section 2.8(c)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

 

(c)                                  The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related

 

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transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:

 

(i)                                     which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and

 

(ii)                                  after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 2.8(c)(ii) as beneficially owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or

 

(d)                                 The Company’s stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

In addition, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any portion of an Award that provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the transaction or event described in subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) must also constitute a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Section 409A.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, no event or occurrence shall constitute a Change in Control if such event or occurrence results in a Permitted Holder beneficially owning voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company or its successor.

 

The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control of the Company has occurred pursuant to the above definition, and the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.

 

2.9                               “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together with the regulations and official guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

2.10                                    “Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, or another committee or subcommittee of the Board or the Compensation Committee, appointed as provided in Section 11.1.

 

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2.11                                    “Common Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

2.12                                    “Company” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 1.

 

2.13                                    “Consultant” shall mean any consultant or adviser engaged to provide services to the Company or any Subsidiary that qualifies as a consultant under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares on a Form S-8 Registration Statement.

 

2.14                                    “Director” shall mean a member of the Board, as constituted from time to time.

 

2.15                                    “Dividend Equivalent” shall mean a right to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares, awarded under Section 8.2.

 

2.16                                    “DRO” shall mean a domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, or the rules thereunder.

 

2.17                                    “Effective Date” shall mean the day prior to the Public Trading Date.

 

2.18                                    “Eligible Individual” shall mean any person who is an Employee, a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director, as determined by the Committee.

 

2.19                                    “Employee” shall mean any officer or other employee (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code) of the Company or of any Subsidiary.

 

2.20                                    “Equity Restructuring” shall mean a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of Shares (or other securities of the Company) or the share price of Common Stock (or other securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the Common Stock underlying outstanding Awards.

 

2.21                                    “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

2.22                                    “Expiration Date” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 12.1.

 

2.23                                    “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as of any given date, the value of a Share determined as follows:

 

(a)                                 If the Common Stock is listed on any (i) established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market and the NASDAQ Global Select Market), (ii) national market system or (iii) automated quotation system, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange or system for such date or, if there is no closing sales price for a Share on the date in question, the closing sales

 

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price for a Share on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

(b)                                 If the Common Stock is not listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, but the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for such date or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for a Share on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for a Share on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

 

(c)                                  If the Common Stock is neither listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system nor regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be established by the Administrator in good faith.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award granted after the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement relating to its initial public offering and prior to the Public Trading Date, the Fair Market Value shall mean the initial public offering price of a Share as set forth in the Company’s final prospectus relating to its initial public offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

2.24                                    “Greater Than 10% Stockholder” shall mean an individual then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary corporation (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) or parent corporation thereof (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code).

 

2.25                                    “Holder” shall mean a person who has been granted an Award.

 

2.26                                    “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option and conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

 

2.27                                    “Management Group” shall mean the group consisting of the directors, executive officers and other management personnel of the Company on the Effective Date, together with (1) any new directors whose election to the Board or whose nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of a majority of the members of the Board then still in office who were either directors on the Effective Date or whose election or nomination was previously so approved and (2) executive officers and other management personnel of the Company hired at a time when the directors on the Effective Date together with the directors so approved constituted a majority of the members of the Board.

 

2.28                                    “Non-Employee Director” shall mean a Director of the Company who is not an Employee.

 

2.29                                    “Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5.

 

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2.30                                    “Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2.31                                    “Option” shall mean a right to purchase Shares at a specified exercise price, granted under Article 5. An Option shall be either a Non-Qualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option; provided, however, that Options granted to Non-Employee Directors and Consultants shall only be Non-Qualified Stock Options.

 

2.32                                    “Option Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.6.

 

2.33                                    “Parent” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities ending with the Company if each of the entities other than the Company beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

 

2.34                                    “Performance Award” shall mean a cash bonus award, stock bonus award, performance award or other incentive award that is paid in cash, Shares or a combination of both, awarded under Section 8.1.

 

2.35                                    “Performance Criteria” shall mean the criteria (and adjustments) that the Committee selects for an Award for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a Performance Period, determined as follows:

 

(a)                                 The Performance Criteria that shall be used to establish Performance Goals may include but are not limited to: (i) net earnings (either before or after one or more of (A) interest, (B) taxes, (C) depreciation and (D) amortization); (ii) gross or net sales or revenue; (iii) net income (either before or after taxes); (iv) adjusted net income; (v) operating earnings or profit or one or more operating ratios; (vi) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow); (vii) return on assets; (viii) return on capital; (ix) return on stockholders’ equity; (x) stock price or total stockholder return; (xi) return on sales; (xii) gross or net profit or operating margin; (xiii) costs; (xiv) expenses; (xv) working capital; (xvi) earnings per share; (xvii) adjusted earnings per share; (xviii) price per share; (xix) regulatory body approval for commercialization of a product; (xx) implementation, completion or attainment of objectives relating to research, development, regulatory, commercial, or strategic milestones or developments; (xxi) market share; (xxii) economic value; (xxiii) revenue, (xxiv) revenue growth, (xxv) capital expenditures, (xxvi) net borrowing, debt leverage levels, credit quality or debt ratings, (xxvii) the accomplishment of mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, public or private offerings or other financial transactions or similar extraordinary business transactions, (xxviii) net asset value per share, (xxix) economic value added, (xxx) individual business objectives, (xxxi) growth in production, (xxxii) added reserves, (xxxiii) growth in reserves per share, (xxxiv) inventory growth, (xxxv) environmental, health and safety performance, (xxxvi) effectiveness of hedging programs, (xxxvii) improvements in internal controls and policies and procedures, and (xxxviii) retention and recruitment of employees, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or decrease or as compared to results of a peer group or to market performance indicators or indices.

 

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(b)                                 The Administrator, in its discretion, may adjust the Performance Criteria for any Performance Period for such factors as the Administrator may determine, including, without limitation, in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company or changes in Applicable Law or Applicable Accounting Standards.

 

2.36                                    “Performance Goals” shall mean, for a Performance Period, one or more goals established in writing by the Administrator for the Performance Period based upon one or more Performance Criteria. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish Performance Goals, Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a Subsidiary, division, business unit, or an individual. The achievement of each Performance Goal shall be determined, to the extent applicable, with reference to Applicable Accounting Standards.

 

2.37                                    “Performance Period” shall mean one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Administrator may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Holder’s right to, and the payment of, an Award.

 

2.38                                    “Performance Stock Unit” shall mean a Performance Award awarded under Section 8.1 which is denominated in units of value including dollar value of Shares.

 

2.39                                    “Permitted Holder” shall mean each of (i) the Sponsors, (ii) the Management Group, (iii) any person that has no material assets other than the capital stock of the Company and, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires 100% of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company, and of which no other person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than any of the other Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting stock thereof and (iv) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include any of the Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above and that, directly or indirectly, hold or acquire beneficial ownership of the voting stock of the Company (a “Permitted Holder Group”), so long as (1) each member of the Permitted Holder Group has voting rights proportional to the percentage of ownership interests held or acquired by such member and (2) no person or other ‘‘group’’ (other than Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above) beneficially owns more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the voting stock held by the Permitted Holder Group.

 

2.40                                    “Permitted Transferee” shall mean, with respect to a Holder, any “family member” of the Holder, as defined in the instructions to use the Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act, or any other transferee specifically approved by the Administrator after taking into account Applicable Law.

 

2.41                                    “Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 1.

 

2.42                                    “Public Trading Date” shall mean the first date upon which Common Stock is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on any securities exchange or designated

 

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(or approved for designation) upon notice of issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system.

 

2.43                                    “Restricted Stock” shall mean Common Stock awarded under Article 6 that is subject to certain restrictions and may be subject to risk of forfeiture or repurchase.

 

2.44                                    “Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean the right to receive Shares awarded under Article 7.

 

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

 

2.46                                    “Shares” shall mean shares of Common Stock.

 

2.47                                    “Sponsors” shall mean (i) the Apollo Investment Fund VII, L.P. and its parallel funds, Apollo Global Management, LLC and any of their respective affiliates other than any portfolio companies (collectively, the “Equity Investor”) and (ii) any person that forms a group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) with the Equity Investor; provided that the Equity Investor (x) owns a majority of the voting power and (y) controls a majority of the Board.

 

2.48                                    “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean a stock appreciation right granted under Article 9.

 

2.49                                    “Stock Appreciation Right Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.4.

 

2.50                                    “Stock Payment” shall mean (a) a payment in the form of Shares, or (b) an option or other right to purchase Shares, as part of a bonus, deferred compensation or other arrangement, awarded under Section 8.3.

 

2.51                                    “Subsidiary” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

 

2.52                                    “Substitute Award” shall mean an Award granted under the Plan upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding equity awards granted by a company or other entity in connection with a corporate transaction, such as a merger, combination, consolidation or acquisition of property or stock; provided, however, that in no event shall the term “Substitute Award” be construed to refer to an award made in connection with the cancellation and repricing of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

2.53                                    “Termination of Service” shall mean:

 

(a)                                 As to a Consultant, the time when the engagement of a Holder as a Consultant to the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, with or without cause, including, without limitation, by resignation, discharge, death, disability or retirement, but

 

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excluding terminations where the Consultant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(b)                                 As to a Non-Employee Director, the time when a Holder who is a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a Director for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, failure to be elected, death, disability or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Holder simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(c)                                  As to an Employee, the time when the employee-employer relationship between a Holder and the Company or any Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability or retirement; but excluding terminations where the Holder simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

The Administrator, in its discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to any Termination of Service, including, without limitation, the question of whether a Termination of Service resulted from a discharge for cause and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute a Termination of Service; provided, however, that, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, unless the Administrator otherwise provides in the terms of the Award Agreement or otherwise, or as otherwise required by Applicable Law, a leave of absence, change in status from an employee to an independent contractor or other change in the employee-employer relationship shall constitute a Termination of Service only if, and to the extent that, such leave of absence, change in status or other change interrupts employment for the purposes of Section 422(a)(2) of the Code. For purposes of the Plan, a Holder’s employee-employer relationship or consultancy relations shall be deemed to be terminated in the event that the Subsidiary employing or contracting with such Holder ceases to remain an Subsidiary following any merger, sale of stock or other corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a spin-off).

 

ARTICLE 3.

 

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

3.1                               Number of Shares.

 

(a)                                 Subject to Sections 3.1(b) and 12.2, the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards under the Plan is the sum of: (i)             , and (ii) an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning January 1, 2014 and ending on and including the last January 1 prior to the Expiration Date, equal to the lesser of (A)                Shares, (B) 4% of the Shares outstanding (on an as-converted basis) on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (C) such smaller number of Shares as determined by the Board; provided, however, no more than               Shares may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options.

 

(b)                                 To the extent all or a portion of an Award is forfeited, expires, lapses for any reason, or is settled for cash without the delivery of Shares to the Holder, any Shares subject

 

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to such Award or portion thereof shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration, lapse or cash settlement, again be available for the grant of an Award under the Plan. Any Shares repurchased by or surrendered to the Company under Section 6.4 so that such Shares are returned to the Company shall again be available for the grant of an Award under the Plan. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

 

(c)                                  To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan.

 

3.2                                           Stock Distributed. Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Common Stock, treasury Common Stock or Common Stock purchased on the open market.

 

3.3                                           Limitation on Awards to Non-Employee Directors. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to Section 12.2, for any one year no Non-Employee Director shall be granted Awards that have a grant date fair value, as determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto, in excess of $700,000.

 

ARTICLE 4.

 

GRANTING OF AWARDS

 

4.1                                           Participation. The Administrator may, from time to time, select from among all Eligible Individuals, those to whom an Award shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award, which shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of the Plan. Except as provided in Section 4.5 regarding the grant of Awards pursuant to the Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy, no Eligible Individual shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.

 

4.2                                           Award Agreement. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that sets forth the terms, conditions and limitations for such Award, which may include the term of the Award, the provisions applicable in the event of the Holder’s Termination of Service, and the Company’s authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind an Award. Award Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

 

4.3                                           Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and any amendments thereto) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or

 

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awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

 

4.4                                           At-Will Employment; Voluntary Participation. Nothing in the Plan or Award Agreement shall confer upon any Holder any right to continue in the employ of, or as a Director or Consultant for, the Company or any Subsidiary, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and any Subsidiary, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge any Holder at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, and with or without notice, or to terminate or change all other terms and conditions of employment or engagement, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Holder and the Company or any Subsidiary. Participation by each Holder in the Plan shall be voluntary and nothing in the Plan shall be construed as mandating that any Eligible Individual shall participate in the Plan.

 

4.5                                           Non-Employee Director Awards. The Administrator, in its discretion, may provide that Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors shall be granted pursuant to a written nondiscretionary formula established by the Administrator (the “Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy”), subject to the limitations of the Plan. The Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy shall set forth the type of Award(s) to be granted to Non-Employee Directors, the number of Shares to be subject to Non-Employee Director Awards, the conditions on which such Awards shall be granted, become exercisable and/or payable and expire, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine in its discretion. The Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy may be modified by the Administrator from time to time in its discretion.

 

4.6                                           Stand-Alone and Tandem Awards. Awards granted pursuant to the Plan may, in the discretion of the Administrator, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted pursuant to the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.

 

ARTICLE 5.

 

OPTIONS

 

5.1                                           Granting of Options to Eligible Individuals. The Administrator is authorized to grant Options to Eligible Individuals from time to time, in its discretion, on such terms and conditions as it may determine, which shall not be inconsistent with the Plan.

 

5.2                                           Option Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share subject to each Option shall be set by the Administrator, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted (or, as to Incentive Stock Options, on the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code) unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. In addition, in the case of Incentive Stock Options granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, such price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted (or the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code).

 

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5.3              Option Vesting.

 

(a)           The period during which the right to exercise, in whole or in part, an Option vests in the Holder shall be set by the Administrator and the Administrator may determine that an Option may not be exercised in whole or in part for a specified period after it is granted. Such vesting may be based on service with the Company or any Subsidiary or any other criteria selected by the Administrator, including Performance Goals or Performance Criteria. At any time after the grant of an Option, the Administrator, in its discretion and subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects, may accelerate the period during which an Option vests.

 

(b)           No portion of an Option which is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable, except as may be otherwise provided by the Administrator either in the Award Agreement evidencing the grant of an Option or by action of the Administrator following the grant of the Option. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in the Award Agreement or by action of the Administrator following the grant of the Option, the portion of an Option that is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service shall automatically expire thirty (30) days following such Termination of Service.

 

5.4              Manner of Exercise.  All or a portion of an exercisable Option shall be deemed exercised upon delivery of all of the following to the Secretary of the Company, the stock administrator of the Company or such other person or entity designated by the Administrator, or his, her or its office, as applicable:

 

(a)           A written or electronic notice complying with the applicable rules established by the Administrator stating that the Option, or a portion thereof, is exercised. The notice shall be signed by the Holder or other person then entitled to exercise the Option or such portion of the Option.

 

(b)           Such representations and documents as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems necessary or advisable to effect compliance with Applicable Law.  The Administrator may, in its discretion, also take whatever additional actions it deems appropriate to effect such compliance including, without limitation, placing legends on share certificates and issuing stop-transfer notices to agents and registrars.

 

(c)           In the event that the Option shall be exercised by any person or persons other than the Holder, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option, as determined in the discretion of the Administrator.

 

(d)           Full payment of the exercise price and applicable withholding taxes for the shares with respect to which the Option, or portion thereof, is exercised, in a manner permitted by Section 10.1 and Section 10.2.

 

5.5              Partial Exercise. An exercisable Option may be exercised in whole or in part. However, an Option shall not be exercisable with respect to fractional Shares unless otherwise determined by the Administrator and the Administrator may require that, by the terms of the Option, a partial exercise must be with respect to a minimum number of shares.

 

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5.6             Option Term.  The term of each Option (the “Option Term”) shall be set by the Administrator in its discretion; provided, however, that the Option Term shall not be more than ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted, or five (5) years from the date an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder.  The Administrator shall determine the time period, including the time period following a Termination of Service, during which the Holder has the right to exercise the vested Options, which time period may not extend beyond the last day of the Option Term.  Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or the first sentence of this Section 5.6, the Administrator may extend the Option Term of any outstanding Option, and may extend the time period during which vested Options may be exercised, in connection with any Termination of Service of the Holder, and may amend, subject to Section 12.1, any other term or condition of such Option relating to such a Termination of Service.

 

5.7              Expiration of Option Term: Automatic Exercise of In-The-Money Options. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator (in an Award Agreement or otherwise) or as otherwise directed by an Option Holder in writing to the Company, each Option outstanding on the Automatic Exercise Date with an exercise price per share that is less than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock as of such date shall automatically and without further action by the Option Holder or the Company be exercised on the Automatic Exercise Date. In the discretion of the Administrator, payment of the exercise price of any such Option shall be made pursuant to Section 10.1(b) or Section 10.1(c) and the Company or any Subsidiary shall deduct or withhold an amount sufficient to satisfy all taxes associated with such exercise in accordance with Section 10.2. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, this Section 5.7 shall not apply to an Option if the Holder of such Option incurs a Termination of Service on or before the Automatic Exercise Date. For the avoidance of doubt, no Option with an exercise price per share that is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Automatic Exercise Date shall be exercised pursuant to this Section 5.7.

 

5.8              Notification Regarding Disposition. The Holder shall give the Company prompt written or electronic notice of any disposition of Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option which occurs within (a) two years from the date of granting (including the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code) such Option to such Holder, or (b) one year after the transfer of such Shares to such Holder.

 

ARTICLE 6.

 

RESTRICTED STOCK

 

6.1          Award of Restricted Stock.

 

(a)           The Administrator is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Individuals, and shall determine the terms and conditions, including the restrictions applicable to each award of Restricted Stock, which terms and conditions shall not be inconsistent with the Plan, and may impose such conditions on the issuance of such Restricted Stock as it deems appropriate.

 

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(b)           The Administrator shall establish the purchase price, if any, and form of payment for Restricted Stock; provided, however, that if a purchase price is charged, such purchase price shall be no less than the par value, if any, of the Shares to be purchased, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law. In all cases, legal consideration shall be required for each issuance of Restricted Stock.

 

6.2              Rights as Stockholders. Subject to Section 6.4, upon issuance of Restricted Stock, the Holder shall have, unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, all the rights of a stockholder with respect to said Shares, subject to the restrictions in each individual Award Agreement, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares; provided, however, that, in the discretion of the Administrator, any extraordinary distributions with respect to the Shares shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6.3.

 

6.3              Restrictions. All shares of Restricted Stock (including any shares received by Holders thereof with respect to shares of Restricted Stock as a result of stock dividends, stock splits or any other form of recapitalization) shall, in the terms of each individual Award Agreement, be subject to such restrictions and vesting requirements as the Administrator shall provide. Such restrictions may include, without limitation, restrictions concerning voting rights and transferability and such restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times and pursuant to such circumstances or based on such criteria as selected by the Administrator, including, without limitation, criteria based on the Holder’s duration of employment, directorship or consultancy with the Company, Performance Goals, Performance Criteria, Company performance, individual performance or other criteria selected by the Administrator. By action taken after the Restricted Stock is issued, the Administrator may, on such terms and conditions as it may determine to be appropriate, accelerate the vesting of such Restricted Stock by removing any or all of the restrictions imposed by the terms of the applicable Award Agreement. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, Restricted Stock may not be sold or encumbered until all restrictions are terminated or expire.

 

6.4              Repurchase or Forfeiture of Restricted Stock. Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, (a) if no price was paid by the Holder for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, the Holder’s rights in unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions shall lapse, and such Restricted Stock shall be surrendered to the Company and cancelled without consideration, and (b) if a price was paid by the Holder for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, the Company shall have the right to repurchase from the Holder the unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions at a cash price per share equal to the price paid by the Holder for such Restricted Stock or such other amount as may be specified in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

6.5              Certificates for Restricted Stock. Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator shall determine. Certificates or book entries evidencing shares of Restricted Stock shall include an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. The Company, in its discretion, may (a) retain physical possession of any stock certificate evidencing shares of Restricted Stock until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and/or (b) require that the stock

 

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certificates evidencing shares of Restricted Stock be held in custody by a designated escrow agent (which may but need not be the Company) until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and that the Holder deliver a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to such Restricted Stock.

 

6.6              Section 83(b) Election. If a Holder makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which the Holder would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, the Holder shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service.

 

ARTICLE 7.

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

7.1              Grant of Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator is authorized to grant Awards of Restricted Stock Units to any Eligible Individual selected by the Administrator in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator.

 

7.2              Purchase Price. The Administrator shall specify the purchase price, if any, to be paid by the Holder to the Company with respect to any Restricted Stock Unit award; provided, however, that value of the consideration shall not be less than the par value of a Share, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law.

 

7.3              Vesting of Restricted Stock Units. At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, vesting based upon the Holder’s duration of service to the Company or any Subsidiary, Company performance, individual performance or other specific criteria, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods, as determined by the Administrator.

 

7.4              Maturity and Payment. At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the maturity date applicable to each grant of Restricted Stock Units, which shall be no earlier than the vesting date or dates of the Award and may be determined at the election of the Holder (if permitted by the applicable Award Agreement); provided that, except as otherwise set forth in an applicable Award Agreement, the maturity date relating to each Restricted Stock Unit shall not occur following the later of (a) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the calendar year in which the applicable portion of the Restricted Stock Unit vests; or (b) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the applicable portion of the Restricted Stock Unit vests. On the maturity date, the Company shall, subject to Section 10.4, transfer to the Holder one unrestricted, fully transferable Share for each Restricted Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited, or in the discretion of the Administrator, an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the maturity date or a combination of cash and Common Stock as determined by the Administrator.

 

7.5              No Rights as a Stockholder. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, a Holder of Restricted Stock Units shall possess no incidents of ownership with respect to the

 

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Shares represented by such Restricted Stock Units, unless and until such Shares are transferred to the Holder pursuant to the terms of this Plan and the Award Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 8.

 

PERFORMANCE AWARDS, DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS, STOCK PAYMENTS

 

8.1              Performance Awards. The Administrator is authorized to grant Performance Awards, including Awards of Performance Stock Units and other Awards determined in the Administrator’s discretion from time to time, to any Eligible Individual. The value of Performance Awards, including Performance Stock Units, may be linked to the attainment of the Performance Goals or other specific criteria, whether or not objective, determined by the Administrator, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods and in such amounts as may be determined by the Administrator.

 

8.2              Dividend Equivalents.

 

(a)           Dividend Equivalents may be granted by the Administrator based on dividends declared on the Common Stock, to be credited as of dividend payment dates with respect to dividends with record dates that occur during the period between the date an Award is granted to a Holder and the date such Award vests, is exercised, is distributed or expires, as determined by the Administrator. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such restrictions and limitations as may be determined by the Administrator.

 

8.3              Stock Payments. The Administrator is authorized to make Stock Payments to any Eligible Individual. The number or value of Shares of any Stock Payment shall be determined by the Administrator and may be based upon one or more Performance Goals or any other specific criteria, including service to the Company or any Subsidiary, determined by the Administrator. Shares underlying a Stock Payment which is subject to a vesting schedule or other conditions or criteria set by the Administrator shall not be issued until those conditions have been satisfied. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, a Holder of a Stock Payment shall have no rights as a Company stockholder with respect to such Stock Payment until such time as the Stock Payment has vested and the Shares underlying the Award have been issued to the Holder. Stock Payments may, but are not required to, be made in lieu of base salary, bonus, fees or other cash compensation otherwise payable to such Eligible Individual.

 

8.4              Purchase Price. The Administrator may establish the purchase price of a Performance Award or Shares distributed as a Stock Payment award; provided, however, that value of the consideration shall not be less than the par value of a Share, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law.

 

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ARTICLE 9.

 

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

9.1              Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(a)           The Administrator is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals from time to time, in its discretion, on such terms and conditions as it may determine, which shall not be inconsistent with the Plan.

 

(b)           A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the Holder (or other person entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion of the Stock Appreciation Right (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by subtracting the exercise price per share of the Stock Appreciation Right from the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right by the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations the Administrator may impose. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the exercise price per Share subject to each Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Administrator, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted.

 

9.2              Stock Appreciation Right Vesting.

 

(a)           The period during which the right to exercise, in whole or in part, a Stock Appreciation Right vests in the Holder shall be set by the Administrator, and the Administrator may determine that a Stock Appreciation Right may not be exercised in whole or in part for a specified period after it is granted. Such vesting may be based on service with the Company or any Subsidiary, Performance Criteria, Performance Goals or any other criteria selected by the Administrator. At any time after grant of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Administrator, in its discretion and subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects, may accelerate the period during which a Stock Appreciation Right vests.

 

(b)           No portion of a Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable, except as may be otherwise provided by the Administrator in an Award Agreement or by action of the Administrator following the grant of the Stock Appreciation Right. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in the Award Agreement or by action of the Administrator following the grant of the Stock Appreciation Right, the portion of a Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service shall automatically expire thirty (30) days following such Termination of Service.

 

9.3              Manner of Exercise. All or a portion of an exercisable Stock Appreciation Right shall be deemed exercised upon delivery of all of the following to the Secretary of the Company, the stock administrator of the Company, or such other person or entity designated by the Administrator, or his, her or its office, as applicable:

 

(a)           A written or electronic notice complying with the applicable rules established by the Administrator stating that the Stock Appreciation Right, or a portion thereof, is exercised. The notice shall be signed by the Holder or other person then entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right or such portion of the Stock Appreciation Right.

 

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(b)           Such representations and documents as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems necessary or advisable to effect compliance with Applicable Law. The Administrator, in its discretion, may also take whatever additional actions it deems appropriate to effect such compliance, including, without limitation, placing legends on share certificates and issuing stop-transfer notices to agents and registrars.

 

(c)          In the event that the Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised by any person or persons other than the Holder, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right, as determined in the discretion of the Administrator.

 

(d)           Full payment of the exercise price and applicable withholding taxes for the Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right, or portion thereof, is exercised, in a manner permitted by Section 10.1 and Section 10.2.

 

9.4              Stock Appreciation Right Term. The term of each Stock Appreciation Right (the “Stock Appreciation Right Term”) shall be set by the Administrator in its discretion; provided, however, that the Stock Appreciation Right Term shall not be more than ten (10) years from the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted. The Administrator shall determine the time period, including the time period following a Termination of Service, during which the Holder has the right to exercise the vested Stock Appreciation Rights, which time period may not extend beyond the last day of the Stock Appreciation Right Term applicable to such Stock Appreciation Right. Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or the first sentence of this Section 9.4, the Administrator may extend the Stock Appreciation Right Term of any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, and may extend the time period during which vested Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised, in connection with any Termination of Service of the Holder, and may amend, subject to Section 14.1, any other term or condition of such Stock Appreciation Right relating to such a Termination of Service.

 

9.5              Payment. Payment of the amounts payable with respect to Stock Appreciation Rights pursuant to this Article 9 shall be in cash, Shares (based on Fair Market Value as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised), or a combination of both, as determined by the Administrator.

 

9.6              Expiration of Stock Appreciation Right Term: Automatic Exercise of In-The-Money Stock Appreciation Rights. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator (in an Award Agreement or otherwise) or as otherwise directed by a Stock Appreciation Right Holder in writing to the Company, each Stock Appreciation Right outstanding on the Automatic Exercise Date with an exercise price per share that is less than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock as of such date shall automatically and without further action by the Stock Appreciation Right Holder or the Company be exercised on the Automatic Exercise Date. In the discretion of the Administrator, the Company or any Subsidiary shall deduct or withhold an amount sufficient to satisfy all taxes associated with such exercise in accordance with Section 10.2. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, this Section 9.6 shall not apply to a Stock Appreciation Right if the Holder of such Stock Appreciation Right incurs a Termination of Service on or before the Automatic Exercise Date. For the avoidance of doubt, no Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price per share that is equal to or greater than the Fair

 

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Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Automatic Exercise Date shall be exercised pursuant to this Section 9.6.

 

ARTICLE 10.

 

ADDITIONAL TERMS OF AWARDS

 

10.1            Payment. The Administrator shall determine the methods by which payments by any Holder with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan shall be made, including, without limitation: (a) cash or check, (b) Shares (including, in the case of payment of the exercise price of an Award, Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Award) held for such period of time as may be required by the Administrator in order to avoid adverse accounting consequences, in each case, having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate payments required, (c) delivery of a written or electronic notice that the Holder has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise or vesting of an Award, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the aggregate payments required; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale, or (d) any other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Administrator in its discretion. The Administrator shall also determine the methods by which Shares shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Holders. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Holder who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment, with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.

 

10.2            Tax Withholding. The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Holder to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the Holder’s FICA, employment tax or other social security contribution obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Holder arising as a result of the Plan. The Administrator, in its discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement, may withhold, or allow a Holder to elect to have the Company withhold, Shares otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the surrender of Shares). Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the number of Shares which may be so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of Shares which have a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income. The Administrator shall determine the fair market value of the Shares, consistent with applicable provisions of the Code, for tax withholding obligations due in connection with a broker-assisted cashless Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise involving the sale of Shares to pay the Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise price or any tax withholding obligation.

 

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10.3            Transferability of Awards.

 

(a)           Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.3(b):

 

(i)            No Award under the Plan may be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO, unless and until such Award has been exercised, or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed;

 

(ii)           No Award or interest or right therein shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the Holder or the Holder’s successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by Section 10.3(a)(i); and

 

(iii)          During the lifetime of the Holder, only the Holder may exercise an Award (or any portion thereof) granted to such Holder under the Plan, unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO; after the death of the Holder, any exercisable portion of an Award may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the Award Agreement, be exercised by the Holder’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Holder’s will or under the then-applicable laws of descent and distribution.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding Section 10.3(a), the Administrator, in its discretion, may determine to permit a Holder to transfer an Award other than an Incentive Stock Option to any one or more Permitted Transferees, subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall not be assignable or transferable by the Permitted Transferee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; (ii) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall continue to be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Award as applicable to the original Holder (other than the ability to further transfer the Award); and (iii) the Holder and the Permitted Transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Administrator, including, without limitation documents to (A) confirm the status of the transferee as a Permitted Transferee, (B) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under Applicable Law and (C) evidence the transfer.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding Section 10.3(a), a Holder may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Holder and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Holder’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to the Holder, except to the extent the Plan and Award Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If the Holder is married or a domestic partner in a domestic partnership qualified under Applicable Law and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Holder’s spouse or domestic

 

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partner, as applicable, as the Holder’s beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Holder’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written or electronic consent of the Holder’s spouse or domestic partner. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Holder, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Holder’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Holder at any time; provided that the change or revocation is filed with the Administrator prior to the Holder’s death.

 

10.4            Conditions to Issuance of Shares.

 

(a)           Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Shares issuable pursuant to any Award, unless and until the Board or the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such Shares is in compliance with Applicable Law and the Shares are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board or the Committee may require that a Holder make such reasonable covenants, agreements and representations as the Board or the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with Applicable Law.

 

(b)           All Share certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan and all Shares issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with Applicable Law. The Administrator may place legends on any Share certificate or book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares.

 

(c)           The Administrator shall have the right to require any Holder to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Administrator.

 

(d)           No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Administrator, in its discretion, shall determine whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding down.

 

(e)           Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by Applicable Law, the Company shall not deliver to any Holder certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).

 

10.5            Forfeiture and Claw-Back Provisions. Pursuant to its general authority to determine the terms and conditions applicable to Awards under the Plan, the Administrator shall have the right to provide, in an Award Agreement or otherwise, or to require a Holder to agree by separate written or electronic instrument, that:

 

(a)           (i) Any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by the Holder upon any receipt or exercise of the Award, or upon the

 

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receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award, shall be paid to the Company, and (ii) the Award shall terminate and any unexercised portion of the Award (whether or not vested) shall be forfeited, if (x) a Termination of Service occurs prior to a specified date, or within a specified time period following receipt or exercise of the Award, or (y) the Holder at any time, or during a specified time period, engages in any activity in competition with the Company, or which is inimical, contrary or harmful to the interests of the Company, as further defined by the Administrator or (z) the Holder incurs a Termination of Service for “cause” (as such term is defined in the discretion of the Administrator, or as set forth in a written agreement relating to such Award between the Company and the Holder); and

 

(b)           All Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by the Holder upon any receipt or exercise of any Award or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) shall be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy and/or in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

10.6            Repricing. Subject to Section 12.2, the Administrator shall have the authority, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, to amend any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce its price per share or cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award when the Option or Stock Appreciation Right price per share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares.

 

ARTICLE 11.

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

11.1            Administrator. The Committee (or another committee or a subcommittee of the Board assuming the functions of the Committee under the Plan) shall administer the Plan (except as otherwise permitted herein) and, unless otherwise determined by the Board, shall consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors appointed by and holding office at the pleasure of the Board, each of whom is intended to qualify as both a “non-employee director” as defined by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor rule and an “independent director” under the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership set forth in this Section 11.1 or otherwise provided in any charter of the Committee. Except as may otherwise be provided in any charter of the Committee, appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment. Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written or electronic notice to the Board. Vacancies in the Committee may only be filled by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the full Board, acting by a majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general administration of the Plan with respect to Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors and, with respect to such Awards, the terms “Administrator” and “Committee” as used in the Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board and (b) the Board or Committee may delegate its authority hereunder to the extent permitted by Section 11.6.

 

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11.2            Duties and Powers of Committee. It shall be the duty of the Committee to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with its provisions. The Committee shall have the power to interpret the Plan and Award Agreements, and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are not inconsistent therewith, to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules and to amend any Award Agreement; provided that the rights or obligations of the Holder of the Award that is the subject of any such Award Agreement are not affected adversely by such amendment, unless the consent of the Holder is obtained or such amendment is otherwise permitted under Section 10.5 or Section 12.10. Any such grant or award under the Plan need not be the same with respect to each Holder. Any such interpretations and rules with respect to Incentive Stock Options shall be consistent with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code. In its discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan except with respect to matters which under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor rule, or any regulations or rules issued thereunder, or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded are required to be determined in the discretion of the Committee.

 

11.3            Action by the Committee. Unless otherwise established by the Board or in any charter of the Committee, a majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by all members of the Committee in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Committee. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.

 

11.4            Authority of Administrator. Subject to the Company’s Bylaws, the Committee’s Charter and any specific designation in the Plan, the Administrator has the exclusive power, authority and sole discretion to:

 

(a)           Designate Eligible Individuals to receive Awards;

 

(b)           Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to Eligible Individuals;

 

(c)           Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;

 

(d)           Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, purchase price, any Performance Goals or Performance Criteria, any reload provision, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for vesting, lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, and any provisions related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Administrator in its sole discretion determines;

 

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(e)           Determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;

 

(f)            Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Holder;

 

(g)           Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;

 

(h)           Establish, adopt or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

 

(i)            Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan or any Award Agreement;

 

(j)            Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan; and

 

(k)           Accelerate wholly or partially the vesting or lapse of restrictions of any Award or portion thereof at any time after the grant of an Award, subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects and Section 12.2(d).

 

11.5            Decisions Binding. The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, and any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Administrator with respect to the Plan are final, binding and conclusive on all parties.

 

11.6            Delegation of Authority. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Board or Committee may from time to time delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board or one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant or amend Awards or to take other administrative actions pursuant to this Article 11; provided, however, that in no event shall an officer of the Company be delegated the authority to grant awards to, or amend awards held by, the following individuals: (a) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or (b) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided, further, that any delegation of administrative authority shall only be permitted to the extent it is permissible under Applicable Law. Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board or Committee specifies at the time of such delegation, and the Board may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee. At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 11.6 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board and the Committee.

 

ARTICLE 12.

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

12.1            Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 12.1, the Plan may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Board or the

 

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Committee. However, without approval of the Company’s stockholders given within twelve (12) months before or after the action by the Administrator, no action of the Administrator may, except as provided in Section 12.2, increase the limits imposed in Section 3.1 on the maximum number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan. Except as provided in Section 12.10, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the Holder, impair any rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted or awarded, unless the Award itself otherwise expressly so provides. No Awards may be granted or awarded during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan, and in no event may any Award be granted under the Plan after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the Plan is first adopted by the Board (the “Expiration Date”). Any Awards that are outstanding on the Expiration Date shall remain in force according to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

12.2            Changes in Common Stock or Assets of the Company, Acquisition or Liquidation of the Company and Other Corporate Events.

 

(a)           In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of the Company’s stock or the share price of the Company’s stock other than an Equity Restructuring, the Administrator may make equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change with respect to: (i) the aggregate number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Sections 3.1 and 3.3 on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued under the Plan); (ii) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) for which automatic grants are subsequently to be made to new and continuing Non-Employee Directors pursuant to Section 4.5; (iv) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (v) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan.

 

(b)           In the event of any transaction or event described in Section 12.2(a) or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, or of changes in Applicable Law or accounting principles, the Administrator, in its discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event and either automatically or upon the Holder’s request, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award under the Plan, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in laws, regulations or principles:

 

(i)            To provide for either (A) termination of any such Award in exchange for an amount of cash, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction or event described in this Section 12.2 the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the

 

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exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment) or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator, in its discretion, having an aggregate value not exceeding the amount that could have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights had such Award been currently exercisable or payable or fully vested;

 

(ii)           To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices;

 

(iii)          To make adjustments in the number and type of shares of the Company’s stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and in the number and kind of outstanding Restricted Stock and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards and Awards which may be granted in the future;

 

(iv)          To provide that such Award shall be exercisable or payable or fully vested with respect to all shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement; and

 

(v)           To provide that the Award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event.

 

(c)           In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 12.2(a) and 12.2(b), the Administrator shall equitably adjust each outstanding Award, which adjustments may include adjustments to the number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and/or the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable, the grant of new Awards to Participants, and/or the making of a cash payment to Participants, as the Administrator deems appropriate to reflect such Equity Restructuring. The adjustments provided under this Section 12.2(c) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected Holder and the Company; provided that whether an adjustment is equitable shall be determined in the discretion of the Administrator.

 

(d)           Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Award shall continue in effect or be assumed or an equivalent Award substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation.

 

(e)           In the event that the successor corporation in a Change in Control refuses to assume or substitute for an Award, the Administrator may cause all or any portion of such Award to become fully exercisable immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction and all forfeiture restrictions on all or any portion of such Award to lapse. If an Award is exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator shall notify the Holder that the Award shall be fully exercisable for a period of

 

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fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, contingent upon the occurrence of the Change in Control, and the Award shall terminate upon the expiration of such period.

 

(f)            For the purposes of this Section 12.2, an Award shall be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control was not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Award, for each Share subject to an Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to the per-share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control.

 

(g)           The Administrator, in its discretion, may include such further provisions and limitations in any Award, agreement or certificate, as it may deem equitable and in the best interests of the Company that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

 

(h)           No adjustment or action described in this Section 12.2 or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment or action would cause the Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the Code. Furthermore, no such adjustment or action shall be authorized to the extent such adjustment or action would result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 unless the Administrator determines that the Award is not to comply with such exemptive conditions.

 

(i)            The existence of the Plan, the Award Agreement and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the Common Stock or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

 

(j)            No action shall be taken under this Section 12.2 which shall cause an Award to fail to comply with Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable the Award.

 

(k)           In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the Shares or the share price of the Common Stock including any Equity Restructuring, for reasons of administrative convenience, the Company, in its discretion, may refuse to permit the exercise of

 

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any Award during a period of up to thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of any such transaction.

 

12.3            Approval of Plan by Stockholders. The Plan shall be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within twelve (12) months after the date of the Board’s initial adoption of the Plan.

 

12.4            No Stockholders Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein, a Holder shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Holder becomes the record owner of such Shares.

 

12.5            Paperless Administration. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Holder may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

 

12.6            Effect of Plan upon Other Compensation Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company or any Subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company or any Subsidiary: (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Employees, Directors or Consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (b) except as otherwise provided in the penultimate sentence of Section 3.1(a), to grant or assume options or other rights or awards otherwise than under the Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose including without limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the acquisition by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm or association.

 

12.7            Compliance with Laws. The Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under the Plan and the issuance and delivery of Shares and the payment of money under the Plan or under Awards granted or awarded hereunder are subject to compliance with all Applicable Law (including but not limited to state, federal and foreign securities law and margin requirements), and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such restrictions, and the person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to Applicable Law.

 

12.8            Titles and Headings, References to Sections of the Code or Exchange Act. The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control. References to sections of the Code or the Exchange Act shall include any amendment or successor thereto.

 

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12.9            Governing Law. The Plan and any agreements hereunder shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of laws thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

 

12.10          Section 409A. To the extent that the Administrator determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A of the Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan and any Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date the Administrator determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code (including Department of Treasury guidance as may be issued after the Effective Date), the Administrator may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and thereby avoid the application of any penalty taxes under such Section.

 

12.11          No Rights to Awards. No Eligible Individual or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Administrator is obligated to treat Eligible Individuals, Holders or any other persons uniformly.

 

12.12          Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Holder pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Holder any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

12.13          Indemnification. To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Law, each member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

12.14          Section 83(b) Election.  No Participant may make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to any Award under the Plan without the consent of the Company, which the Company may grant or withhold in its sole discretion.  If, with the consent of the Company, a Participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code, the Participant shall

 

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be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service.

 

12.15          Relationship to other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

 

12.16          Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

* * * * *

 

30Exhibit 10.9

 

FORM OF STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

 

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of                     , 2013, by and among ATHLON ENERGY INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and those stockholders of the Corporation listed on Schedule A hereto.

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation, the Apollo Entities (as defined below) and the Employee Stockholders (as defined below), as the holders of the majority shares of Stock (as defined below) owned by the stockholders of the Corporation listed on Schedule A hereto wish to enter into this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual consents and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1               Definitions; Interpretation.

 

(a)           Definitions.  As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

 

“Adoption” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit A.

 

“Affiliate” means (a) as to any Person, other than an individual, any other Person or entity who directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person and (b) as to any individual, in addition to any Person in clause (a), (i) any member of the immediate family of an individual Stockholder, including parents, siblings, spouse and children (including those by adoption), the parents, siblings, spouse, or children (including those by adoption) of such immediate family member, and, in any such case, any trust whose primary beneficiary is such individual Stockholder or one or more members of such immediate family and/or such Stockholder’s lineal descendants, (ii) the legal representative or guardian of such individual Stockholder or of any such immediate family member in the event such individual Stockholder or any such immediate family member becomes mentally incompetent and (iii) any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with a Stockholder; provided that the term “Affiliate” shall not include at any time any portfolio companies of Apollo. As used in this definition, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person.

 

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“Apollo” means, collectively, Apollo Investment Fund VII, L.P. and its parallel funds.

 

“Apollo Demand Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

 

“Apollo Entities” means Apollo, Apollo Athlon Holdings, L.P., AP Overseas VII (Athlon FC) Holdings, L.P. and each of their respective Affiliates.

 

 

“Apollo Registration Demand” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

 

“Apollo Stockholder” means any Apollo Entity that owns any shares of Stock in the Corporation.

 

“Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation.

 

“Business Day” means a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banking institutions in the city to which the notice or communication is to be sent are not required to be open.

 

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation and any stock into which such Stock may hereafter be changed or for which such Common Stock may be exchanged, and shall also include any Common Stock of the Corporation of any class hereafter authorized.

 

“Control Disposition” means a Disposition by the Apollo Entities that would have the effect of transferring to a Person or Group that is not an Affiliate of the Apollo Entities or a portfolio company of one or more Apollo Entities or Affiliates thereof a number of shares of Common Stock such that, following the consummation of such Disposition, such Person or Group possesses the voting power to elect a majority of the Board (whether by merger, consolidation, sale or transfer of Common Stock or otherwise) or a majority of the board of directors (or similar body) of any successor entity.

 

“Corporation” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“Corporation Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

 

“Corporation Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c)(i).

 

“Demand Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).

 

“Disposition” (including, with correlative meaning, the term “Dispose”) means (a) any direct or indirect transfer, assignment, sale, gift, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance, or any other disposition, of Common Stock (or any interest therein or right thereto) or of all or part of the voting power (other than the granting of a revocable proxy) associated with the Common Stock (or any interest therein) whatsoever, or any other transfer of beneficial ownership of Common Stock, whether voluntary or involuntary.

 

“Employee Stockholder” means each of the Stockholders who is executing this Agreement, who is at the time of such execution an employee of, or who serves at the time of such execution as a consultant to or director of, the Corporation or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates.

 

“Employee Stockholder Registration Demand” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

 

“Exchange Agreement” means that Exchange Agreement, dated                       , 2013, among the Partnership, the Corporation and certain holders of limited partner interests in the Partnership.

 

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“Group” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act.

 

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

 

“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

 

“IPO” means an initial public offering of the shares of Common Stock in a firm commitment underwriting effected by the Corporation pursuant to a Registration Statement.

 

“Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

 

“Partnership” means Athlon Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

 

“Person” means any natural person, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm, association, trust, government, governmental agency or other entity, whether acting in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.

 

“Registrable Securities” means shares of Common Stock and any shares of Common Stock which were acquired by a Stockholder as of the date of this Agreement; provided that any Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security when (a) a Registration Statement covering such Registrable Security has been declared effective by the SEC and such Registrable Security has been disposed of pursuant to such effective Registration Statement, (b) it is sold under circumstances in which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act are met or it is eligible for sale under such Rule 144, not taking into account any volume limitations or (c) it shall have been otherwise transferred and a new certificate for it not bearing a legend restricting further transfer under the Securities Act shall have been delivered by the Corporation; provided, further, that any security that has ceased to be a Registrable Security shall not thereafter become a Registrable Security and any security that is issued or distributed in respect of securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities is not a Registrable Security.

 

“Registration Expenses” means all expenses incurred by the Corporation in complying with Section 4, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, road show expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for the Corporation, fees and expenses (including counsel fees) incurred in connection with complying with state securities or “blue sky” laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., transfer taxes, fees of transfer agents and registrars, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the selling holders of Registrable Securities, but excluding any underwriting discounts and selling commissions only to the extent applicable on a per share basis to Registrable Securities of the selling holders.

 

“Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Corporation filed or to be filed with the SEC under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, including the related prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and including pre- and post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

“Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

 

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“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor governmental agency.

 

“Section 4(c) Sale Number” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c).

 

“Section 4(d) Sale Number” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(d).

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

 

“Securities Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

 

“Senior Management” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

 

“Stock” means (i) the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation, (ii) any additional shares of Common Stock of the Corporation that may be issued in the future and (iii) any shares of capital stock of the Corporation into which such shares may be converted or for which they may be exchanged.

 

“Stockholder Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

 

“Stockholders” means those Persons identified on the signature pages hereto as the Stockholders and shall include any other Person who agrees in writing with the parties hereto to be bound by and to comply with all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to a Stockholder, including any Person who becomes a party to this Agreement by executing an Adoption Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A or in such other form as is reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture or other legal entity of which such Person (either above or through or together with any other Subsidiary) owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the stock or other equity interests the holders of which are generally entitled to vote for the election of the board of directors or other governing body of such corporation or other legal entity.

 

“Underwritten Offering” means a sale of shares of Common Stock to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

 

Any capitalized term used in any Section of this Agreement that is not defined in this Section 1 shall have the meaning ascribed to it in such other Section.

 

(b)           Rules of Construction.  For all purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise expressly provided:

 

(i)            “own,” “ownership,” “held” and “holding” refer to ownership or holding as record holder or record owner;

 

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(ii)           the headings and captions of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not define, limit or otherwise affect any of the terms hereof; and

 

(iii)          whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, and the number of all words shall include the singular and plural.

 

Section 2               Securities Restrictions; Apollo Transfers.

 

(a)           Securities Restrictions.

 

(i)            Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no shares of Common Stock covered by this Agreement shall be transferable except upon the conditions specified in this Section 2(a), which conditions are intended to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.

 

(ii)           Each certificate or book-entry notation representing shares of Common Stock covered by this Agreement shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of paragraph (iv) of this Section 2(a)) be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the form provided in Section 12.

 

(iii)          The holder of any shares of Common Stock covered by this Agreement agrees, prior to any transfer of any such shares, to give written notice to the Corporation of such holder’s intention to effect such transfer and to comply in all other respects with the provisions of this Section 2(a).  Each such notice shall describe the manner and circumstances of the proposed transfer.  Upon request by the Corporation, the holder delivering such notice shall deliver a written opinion, addressed to the Corporation, of counsel for the holder of such shares, stating that in the opinion of such counsel (which opinion and counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation) such proposed transfer does not involve a transaction requiring registration or qualification of such shares under the Securities Act.  Such holder of such shares shall be entitled to transfer such shares in accordance with the terms of the notice delivered to the Corporation, if the Corporation does not reasonably object to such transfer and request such opinion within fourteen (14) Business Days after delivery of such notice, or, if it requests such opinion, does not reasonably object to such transfer within fourteen (14) Business Days after delivery of such opinion.  Subject to paragraph (iv) of this Section 2(a), each certificate or other instrument evidencing any such transferred shares of Common Stock shall bear the legend required by paragraph (ii) of this Section 2(a) unless (A) such opinion of counsel to the holder of such shares (which opinion and counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Corporation) states that registration of any future transfer is not required by the applicable provisions of the Securities Act or (B) the Corporation shall have waived the requirement of such legend, which waiver may or may not be given in the Corporation’s absolute discretion.

 

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(iv)          Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2(a), the restrictions imposed by this Section 2(a) upon the transferability of any shares of Common Stock covered by this Agreement shall cease and terminate when (A) any such shares are sold or otherwise disposed of pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act or (B) the holder of such shares has met the requirements for transfer of such shares pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.  Whenever the restrictions imposed by this Section 2(a) shall terminate, the holder of any shares as to which such restrictions have terminated shall be entitled to receive from the Corporation, without expense, a new certificate (or book-entry notation) not bearing the restrictive legend set forth in Section 12 and not containing any other reference to the restrictions imposed by this Section 2(a).

 

(b)           Apollo Transfers.  In the event that any Person that is an Affiliate of the Apollo Entities acquires shares of Common Stock from the Apollo Stockholders or any other Affiliate of the Apollo Entities, such Person shall be subject to and have the benefit of any and all rights, obligations and restrictions of the Apollo Entities hereunder, as if such Person were an Apollo Entity.

 

Section 3               Demand Registration Rights.

 

(a)           Apollo Registration Rights.  Subject to the provisions of this Section 3, at any time and from time to time after the date of this Agreement, Apollo may make one or more written demands (each, an “Apollo Registration Demand”) to the Corporation requiring the Corporation to register, under and in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, all or part of the Apollo Stockholders’ shares of Common Stock.  All Apollo Registration Demands made pursuant to this Section 3 will specify the aggregate amount of shares of Common Stock to be registered, the intended methods of disposition thereof (including whether the offering is to be an Underwritten Offering) and the registration procedures to be undertaken by the Corporation in connection therewith (an “Apollo Demand Notice”).  Subject to Section 3(b), promptly upon receipt of any such Apollo Demand Notice, the Corporation will file the applicable Registration Statement as soon as reasonably practicable and will use its best efforts to, in accordance with the terms set forth in the Apollo Demand Notice, effect within one hundred eighty (180) days of the filing of such Registration Statement the registration under the Securities Act (including, without limitation, appropriate qualification under applicable blue sky or other state securities laws and appropriate compliance with the applicable regulations promulgated under the Securities Act) of the shares of Common Stock that the Corporation has been so required to register.

 

(b)           Employee Stockholder Registration Rights.  Subject to the provisions of this Section 3 and the Contribution and Exchange Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2013, by and among the Class B limited partners of the Partnership and the Corporation, at any time and from time to time after the date of this Agreement, so long as the Employee Stockholders collectively own at least 1% of the outstanding Common Stock, the Employee Stockholders may make one or more written demands (each, an “Employee Stockholder Registration Demand” and, together with an Apollo Registration Demand, a 

 

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“Registration Demand”) to the Corporation requiring the Corporation to register, under and in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, all or part of the Employee Stockholders’ shares of Common Stock.  All Employee Stockholder Registration Demands made pursuant to this Section 3 will specify the aggregate amount of shares of Common Stock to be registered, the intended methods of disposition thereof (including whether the offering is to be an Underwritten Offering) and the registration procedures to be undertaken by the Corporation in connection therewith (an “Employee Stockholder Demand Notice” and, together with an Apollo Demand Notice, a “Demand Notice”).  Subject to Section 3(c), promptly upon receipt of any such Employee Stockholder Demand Notice, the Corporation will file the applicable Registration Statement as soon as reasonably practicable and will use its best efforts to, in accordance with the terms set forth in the Employee Stockholder Demand Notice, effect within one hundred eighty (180) days of the filing of such Registration Statement the registration under the Securities Act (including, without limitation, appropriate qualification under applicable blue sky or other state securities laws and appropriate compliance with the applicable regulations promulgated under the Securities Act) of the shares of Common Stock that the Corporation has been so required to register.

 

(c)           Registration Obligations and Procedures.

 

(i)            If the Corporation receives a Registration Demand and the Corporation furnishes to Apollo or the Employee Stockholders (each, a “Requesting Stockholder”) a copy of a resolution of the Board certified by the secretary of the Corporation stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be materially adverse to the Corporation for a Registration Statement to be filed on or before the date such filing would otherwise be required hereunder, the Corporation shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than sixty (60) days after receipt of the Demand Notice for such registration from the Requesting Stockholder. The Corporation shall not be permitted to provide such notice more than twice in any three hundred sixty (360) day period.  If the Corporation shall so postpone the filing of a Registration Statement, the Requesting Stockholder may withdraw the Registration Demand by so advising the Corporation in writing within thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice of postponement.  In addition, if the Corporation receives a Registration Demand and the Corporation is then in the process of preparing to engage in a public offering, the Corporation shall inform the Requesting Stockholder of the Corporation’s intent to engage in a public offering and may require the Requesting Stockholder to withdraw such Registration Demand for a period of up to one hundred twenty (120) days so that the Corporation may complete its public offering.  In the event that the Corporation ceases to pursue such public offering, it shall promptly inform the Requesting Stockholder, and the Requesting Stockholder shall be permitted to submit a new Registration Demand.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Requesting Stockholders shall have the right to participate in the Corporation’s public offering as provided in Section 4.

 

(ii)           Registrations under this Section 3 shall be on such appropriate registration form of the SEC (A) as shall be selected by the Corporation and as 

 

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shall be reasonably acceptable to the Requesting Stockholder, and (B) as shall permit the disposition of such shares in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition specified in the Demand Notice.  If, in connection with any registration under this Section 3 that is proposed by the Corporation to be on Form S-3 or any successor form, the managing underwriter, if any, shall advise the Corporation in writing that in its opinion the use of another permitted form is of material importance to the success of the offering, then such registration shall be on such other permitted form.

 

(iii)          The Corporation shall use its best efforts to keep any Registration Statement filed in response to a Registration Demand effective for as long as is necessary for the Requesting Stockholders to dispose of the covered securities.

 

(iv)          In the case of an Underwritten Offering in connection with a Registration Demand, the Requesting Stockholders shall select the underwriters, provided that the managing underwriter shall be a nationally recognized investment banking firm.  The Requesting Stockholders shall determine the pricing of the Registrable Securities offered pursuant to any such Registration Statement in connection with a Registration Demand, the applicable underwriting discount and other financial terms (including the material terms of the applicable underwriting agreement) and determine the timing of any such registration and sale, subject to Section 3(c)(i), and the Requesting Stockholders shall be solely responsible for all such discounts and fees payable to such underwriters in such Underwritten Offering.

 

(d)           No Inconsistent Agreements.  The Corporation represents and warrants that it has not granted and is not a party to any proxy, voting trust or other agreement that is inconsistent with or conflicts with this Section 3.  Other than the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the IPO, the Corporation shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with or conflicts with the rights granted under this Section 3.

 

Section 4               Piggyback Registration Rights.

 

(a)           Piggyback Rights.  Subject to Section 4(c), and except in connection with the IPO (for which this Section 4(a) shall not apply), if the Corporation at any time proposes to register any Stock for its own account (a “Corporation Registration”) or for the account of any Stockholder possessing demand rights (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with a Registration Demand) (a “Stockholder Registration”) under the Securities Act by registration on Form S-1 or Form S-3 or any successor or similar form(s) (except registrations on any such Form or similar form(s) solely for registration of securities in connection with an employee benefit plan, a dividend reinvestment plan or a merger or consolidation, or incidental to an issuance of securities under Rule 144A under the Securities Act), it will at such time give prompt written notice to the Stockholders of its intention to do so, including the anticipated filing date of the Registration Statement and, if known, the number of shares of Stock that are proposed to be included in such Registration Statement, and of the Stockholders’ rights under this 

 

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Section 4. Upon the written request of a Stockholder (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Stockholder and such other information as is reasonably required to effect the registration of such shares of Stock), made as promptly as practicable and in any event within fourteen (14) Business Days after the receipt of any such notice (five (5) Business Days if the Corporation states in such written notice or gives telephonic notice to such Stockholder, with written confirmation to follow promptly thereafter, stating that (i) such registration will be on Form S-3 and (ii) such shorter period of time is required because of a planned filing date), the Corporation, subject to Section 4(c), shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities which the Corporation has been so requested to register by the Stockholders; provided, however, that if, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any securities and prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in connection with such registration, the Corporation shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such securities, the Corporation shall give written notice of such determination to the Stockholders requesting registration under this Section 4 (which such Stockholders will hold in strict confidence) and (i) in the case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but not from any obligation of the Corporation to pay the Registration Expenses in connection therewith), and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any Registrable Securities, for the same period as the delay in registering such other securities.

 

(b)           Stockholder Withdrawal.  Each Stockholder shall have the right to withdraw its request for inclusion of its Registrable Securities in any Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 4 at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect thereto by giving written notice to the Corporation of its request to withdraw.

 

(c)           Corporation Registration Underwriters’ Cutback.  In the case of a Corporation Registration, if the managing underwriter of any underwritten offering shall inform the Corporation by letter of its belief that the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration pursuant to this Section 4, when added to the number of other securities to be offered in such registration by the Corporation, would materially adversely affect such offering, then the Corporation shall include in such registration, to the extent of the total number of securities which the Corporation is so advised can be sold in (or during the time of) such offering without so materially adversely affecting such offering (the “Section 4(c) Sale Number”), securities in the following priority:

 

(i)            First, all Common Stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Common Stock that the Corporation proposes to register for its own account (the “Corporation Securities”); and

 

(ii)           Second, to the extent that the number of Corporation Securities to be included is less than the Section 4(c) Sale Number, the Registrable Securities 

 

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requested to be included by the Stockholders; the securities requested to be included pursuant to this Section 4(c)(ii) shall be included on a pro rata basis based on the number of Registrable Securities subject to registration rights owned by each holder requesting inclusion in relation to the number of Registrable Securities then owned by all holders requesting inclusion, provided that the number of Registrable Securities owned by such Stockholders shall not include shares underlying any unvested options.

 

(d)           Stockholder Registration Underwriters’ Cutback.  In the case of a Stockholder Registration, if the managing underwriter of any underwritten offering shall inform the Corporation by letter of its belief that the number of shares of Common Stock and Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration would materially adversely affect such offering, then the Corporation shall include in such registration, to the extent of the total number of securities which the Corporation is so advised can be sold in (or during the time of) such offering without so materially adversely affecting such offering (subject to the last paragraph of this Section 4(d), the “Section 4(d) Sale Number”), securities in the following priority:

 

(i)            First, the Registrable Securities requested to be included by the Persons exercising demand rights in connection with such Stockholder Registration; and

 

(ii)           Second, to the extent that the number of securities to be included in the registration pursuant to Section 4(d)(i) is less than the Section 4(d) Sale Number, the Registrable Securities requested to be included by the Stockholders exercising piggyback rights pursuant to this Section 4; the securities requested to be included pursuant to this Section 4(d)(ii) shall be included on a pro rata basis based on the number of Registrable Securities subject to registration rights owned by each holder requesting inclusion in relation to the number of Registrable Securities then owned by all holders requesting inclusion, provided that the number of Registrable Securities owned by such Stockholders shall not include any shares underlying options.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 4(d), in connection with a Stockholder Registration pursuant to an Apollo Registration Demand, Apollo shall be entitled to determine, in its sole discretion, the Section 4(d) Sale Number applicable to such registration.

 

(e)           Participation in Underwritten Offerings.

 

(i)            Any participation by the Stockholders in a registration by the Corporation shall be in accordance with the plan of distribution of the Corporation (subject, in the case of a Stockholder Registration pursuant to an Apollo Registration Demand, to the rights of Apollo in Section 3(a)).  Except as provided in Section 3(c), in all Underwritten Offerings, the Corporation shall have sole discretion to select the underwriters.

 

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(ii)           If the Corporation at any time shall register shares of Stock for its own account under the Securities Act for sale to the public, no Employee Stockholder shall sell publicly, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of or otherwise dispose publicly of any capital stock of the Corporation without the prior written consent of the Corporation for the period of time in which the Apollo Stockholders have similarly agreed not to sell publicly, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of or otherwise dispose publicly of any capital stock of the Corporation.

 

(iii)          In connection with any proposed registered offering of securities of the Corporation in which any Stockholder has the right to include Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 4, such Stockholder agrees (A) to supply any information reasonably requested by the Corporation in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement and/or any other documents relating to such registered offering and (B) to execute and deliver any agreements and instruments being executed by all holders on substantially the same terms reasonably requested by the Corporation to effectuate such registered offering, including, without limitation, underwriting agreements, custody agreements, lock-ups, “hold back” agreements pursuant to which such Stockholder agrees not to sell or purchase any securities of the Corporation for the same period of time following the registered offering as is agreed to by the other participating holders, powers of attorney and questionnaires.

 

(iv)          If the Corporation requests that the Stockholders take any of the actions referred to in paragraph (iii) of this Section 4(e), the Stockholders shall take such action promptly but in any event within three (3) Business Days following the date of such request.  Furthermore, the Corporation agrees that it shall use commercially reasonably efforts to obtain any waivers to the restrictive sale and purchase provisions of any “hold back” agreement that are reasonably requested by a Stockholder.

 

(f)            Copies of Registration Statements.  The Corporation will, if requested, prior to filing any Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 4 or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish to the Stockholders, and thereafter furnish to the Stockholders, such number of copies of such Registration Statement, amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and the prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus) as the Stockholders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Stockholders.

 

(g)           Expenses.  The Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with a Corporation Registration or any Stockholder Registration, provided that each Stockholder shall pay all applicable underwriting fees, discounts and similar charges.

 

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Section 5               Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)           The Corporation agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Stockholder, its officers, directors, employees, controlling persons, fiduciaries, stockholders, and general or limited partners (and the officers, directors, employees and stockholders or general or limited partners thereof) and representatives from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) (“Losses”) caused by, arising out of, resulting from or related to (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Corporation shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided, however, that such indemnity shall not apply to that portion of such Losses caused by, or arising out of, any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement or any such omission or alleged omission, to the extent such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Corporation by or on behalf of such Stockholder expressly for use therein, and (ii) any violation by the Corporation of any federal, state or common law rule, regulation or law applicable to the Corporation and relating to action required of or inaction by the Corporation in connection with any registration or offering of securities. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission (x) made in any preliminary prospectus if (A) such selling Stockholder failed to deliver or cause to be delivered a copy of the prospectus to the Person asserting such Loss after the Corporation has furnished such selling Stockholder with a sufficient number of copies of the same and (B) the prospectus completely corrected in a timely manner such untrue statement or omission, or (y) in the prospectus, if such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission is completely corrected in an amendment or supplement to the prospectus and the selling Stockholder thereafter fails to deliver such prospectus as so amended or supplemented prior to or concurrently with the sale of the securities to the Person asserting such Loss after the Corporation had furnished such selling Stockholder with a sufficient number of copies of the same. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Stockholder or representative of such Stockholder and shall survive the transfer of securities by such Stockholder.

 

(b)           Each Stockholder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Corporation, its officers and directors and each Person (if any) that controls the Corporation within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act from and against any and all Losses caused by, arising out of, resulting from or related to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or prospectus relating to Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Corporation shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the

 

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statements therein not misleading, only to the extent such statement or omission (i) was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Stockholder expressly for use in any Registration Statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus and (ii) has not been corrected in a subsequent writing prior to or concurrently with the sale of the securities to the Person asserting such Loss. The selling Stockholders also will indemnify underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Corporation, its officers and directors and each Person (if any) that controls the Corporation, if requested.  The Corporation and the selling Stockholders shall be entitled to receive indemnities from underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, to the same extent as provided above with respect to information so furnished in writing by such Persons specifically for inclusion in any prospectus or Registration Statement.

 

(c)           In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 5(a) or Section 5(b), such Person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing (provided that the failure of the Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Section 5, except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure to give notice), and the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such proceeding and, unless in the reasonable opinion of outside counsel to the Indemnified Party a conflict of interest between the Indemnified Party and Indemnifying Party may exist in respect of such claim, to assume the defense thereof jointly with any other Indemnifying Party similarly notified, to the extent that it chooses, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, and after notice from the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party that it so chooses, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that (i) if the Indemnifying Party fails to take reasonable steps necessary to defend diligently the action or proceeding within twenty (20) days after receiving notice from such Indemnified Party that the Indemnified Party believes it has failed to do so, (ii) if such Indemnified Party who is a defendant in any action or proceeding which is also brought against the Indemnifying Party reasonably shall have concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available to such Indemnified Party which are not available to the Indemnifying Party or (iii) if representation of both parties by the same counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct then, in any such case, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to assume or continue its own defense as set forth above (but with no more than one firm of counsel for all Indemnified Parties in each jurisdiction, except to the extent any Indemnified Party or Parties reasonably shall have concluded that there may be legal defenses available to such party or parties which are not available to the other Indemnified Parties or to the extent representation of all Indemnified Parties by the

 

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same counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct) and the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for any expenses therefor. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (A) includes an unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (B) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

 

(d)           If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable to an Indemnified Party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities in respect of which indemnity is to be provided hereunder, then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall to the fullest extent permitted by law contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of such party in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Corporation (on the one hand) and a Stockholder (on the other hand) shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

(e)           The Corporation and each Stockholder agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 5(d).  The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in Section 5(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, no Stockholder shall be liable for indemnification or contribution pursuant to this Section 5 for any amount in excess of the net proceeds of the offering received by such Stockholder, less the amount of any damages which such Stockholder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

Section 6               Rule 144.

 

The Corporation covenants that so long as the Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b), Section 12(g) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, it will file any and all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act (or,

 

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if the Corporation is not required to file such reports, it will make publicly available such necessary information for so long as necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144, Rule 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act) and that it will take such further action as the Stockholders may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Stockholders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144, Rule 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the written request of any Stockholder, the Corporation will deliver to such Stockholder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

Section 7               Board of Directors.

 

(a)           Nomination of Directors.  The Apollo Entities shall have the right to nominate for election to the Board:

 

(i)            no fewer than that number of directors that would constitute a majority of the number of directors that the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies on the Board, so long as the Apollo Entities collectively beneficially own at least 50% of the outstanding Stock of the Corporation; provided that nothing in this paragraph (i) of this Section 7(a) shall be construed to limit the right of the Apollo Entities to nominate directors to a number of such directors that is less than the number directors the Apollo Entities would be entitled to nominate pursuant to applicable law and the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws;

 

(ii)           up to three (3) directors, so long as the Apollo Entities collectively beneficially own at least 30% of the outstanding Stock of the Corporation but less than 50% of the outstanding Stock of the Corporation;

 

(iii)          up to two (2) directors, so long as the Apollo Entities collectively beneficially own at least 20% of the outstanding Stock of the Corporation but less than 30% of the outstanding Stock of the Corporation; and

 

(iv)          up to one (1) directors, so long as the Apollo Entities collectively beneficially own at least 10% of the outstanding Stock of the Corporation but less than 20% of the outstanding Stock of the Corporation.

 

In the event the size of the Board is increased or decreased at any time to other than seven (7) directors, the Apollo Entities’ nomination rights under this Section 7(a) shall be proportionately increased or decreased, respectively, rounded up to the nearest whole number.

 

(b)           Election of Directors.  The Corporation shall take all action within its power to cause all nominees nominated pursuant to Section 7(a) to be included in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board to the Corporation’s stockholders for election as directors at each annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation (and/or in connection with any election by written consent) and the Corporation shall use

 

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all reasonable best efforts to cause the election of each such nominee, including soliciting proxies in favor of the election of such nominees.

 

(c)           Replacement of Directors.  In the event that a vacancy is created at any time by the death, disability, retirement, resignation or removal (with or without cause) of a director nominated pursuant to Section 7(a) or designated pursuant to this Section 7(c), or in the event of the failure of any such nominee to be elected, the Apollo Entities shall have the right to designate a replacement to fill such vacancy.  The Corporation shall take all action within its power to cause such vacancy to be filled by the replacement so designated, and the Board shall promptly elect such designee to the Board.  Upon the written request of the Apollo Entities, the Corporation shall take all actions necessary to remove, with or without cause, any director previously nominated pursuant to Section 7(a) or designated pursuant to this Section 7(c), and to elect any replacement director designated by the Apollo Entities as provided in the first sentence of this Section 7(c).

 

(d)           Committees.  So long as the Apollo Entities collectively beneficially own at least 30% of the outstanding Stock of the Corporation, the Corporation shall take all action within its power to cause any committee of the Board to include in its membership at least one of the Apollo Entities’ nominees, except to the extent that such membership would violate applicable securities laws or stock exchange or stock market rules.

 

(e)           No Limitation.  The provisions of this Section 7 are intended to provide the Apollo Entities with the minimum Board representation rights set forth herein.  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Corporation from having a greater number of nominees or designees of the Apollo Entities on the Board than otherwise provided herein.

 

(f)            Laws and Regulations.  Nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require that any party hereto, or any Affiliate thereof, act or be in violation of any applicable provision of law, regulation, legal duty or requirement or stock exchange or stock market rule.

 

Section 8               Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance.

 

The Corporation shall maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (including Side A coverage) covering the Corporation’s and its Subsidiaries’ directors and officers and issued by reputable insurers, with appropriate policy limits, terms and conditions (including “tail” insurance if necessary or appropriate).  The provisions of this Section 8 are intended to be for the benefit of, and will be enforceable by, each indemnified party, his or her heirs and his or her representatives and are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any such Person may have by contract or otherwise.

 

Section 9               Information.

 

For so long as the Apollo Entities collectively own 33 1/3% or greater of the outstanding Common Stock, Apollo will be entitled to the following contractual management rights with respect to the Corporation and its Subsidiaries:

 

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(a)           Apollo shall be entitled to routinely consult with and advise senior management of the Corporation (defined as the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President — Business Development and Land and above and, collectively, “Senior Management”) with respect to the Corporation’s business and financial matters, including management’s proposed annual operating plans, and, upon request, members of Senior Management will meet regularly (on a quarterly basis) during each year with representatives of Apollo (each such representative, a “Representative”) at the Corporation’s and/or its Subsidiaries’ facilities (or such other locations as the Corporation may designate) at mutually agreeable times for such consultation and advice, including to review progress in achieving said plans. The Corporation agrees to give due consideration to the advice given and any proposals made by Apollo;

 

(b)           Apollo may inspect all books and records and facilities and properties of the Corporation at reasonable times and intervals.  The Corporation shall furnish Apollo with such available financial and operating data and other information with respect to the business and properties of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries as Apollo may reasonably request and at Apollo’s expense.  The Corporation shall permit the Representatives to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries with, and to make proposals and furnish advice to, Senior Management; and

 

(c)           The Corporation shall, after receiving notice from Apollo as to the identity of any Representative:  (i) permit such Representative to attend all meetings of the Board as an observer, (ii) provide such Representative advance notice of each such meeting, including such meeting’s time and place, at the same time and in the same manner as such notice is provided to the members of the Board, (iii) provide, with Apollo’s consent, the Representative with copies of all materials, including notices, minutes, consents and regularly compiled financial and operating data distributed to the members of the Board at the same time as such materials are distributed to such Board, and shall permit the Representative to have the same access to information concerning the business and operations of the Corporation, and (iv) permit the Representative to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Corporation with, and to make proposals and furnish advice with respect thereto to, the Board, without voting, and the Board and the Corporation’s officers shall give due consideration thereto (recognizing that the ultimate discretion with respect to all such matters shall be retained by the Board).

 

The Corporation agrees to consider, in good faith, the recommendations of Apollo in connection with the matters on which it is consulted as described above, recognizing that the ultimate discretion with respect to all such matters shall be retained by the Corporation.

 

Section 10             Certain Actions.

 

(a)           Subject to the provisions of Section 10(b), without the approval of a majority the Board as provided for in the bylaws of the Corporation, which must include the approval of a majority of the directors nominated by Apollo Stockholders voting on such matter, the Corporation shall not, and (to the extent applicable) shall not permit any Subsidiary of the Corporation to:

 

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(i)            amend, modify or repeal any provision of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or similar organizational documents of the Corporation in a manner that adversely affects the Apollo Entities;

 

(ii)           issue additional equity interests of the Corporation, other than (A) any award under any stockholder approved equity compensation plan, (B) any intra-company issuance among the Corporation and its Subsidiaries or (C) any issuance of equity interests pursuant to the Exchange Agreement;

 

(iii)          merge or consolidate with or into any other entity, or transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise) all or substantially all of the Corporation’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets, taken as a whole, to another entity, or enter into or agree to undertake any transaction that would constitute a “Change of Control” as defined in the Corporation’s or its Subsidiaries’ principal credit facilities or note indentures;

 

(iv)          any (A) acquisition by the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the equity interests or assets of any Person, or the acquiring by the Corporation or any Subsidiary by any other manner of any business, properties, assets, or Persons, in one transaction or a series of related transactions or (B) disposition of assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary or the shares or other equity interests of any Subsidiary, in each case where the amount of consideration for any such acquisition or disposition exceeds $100 million in any single transaction, or an aggregate amount of $200 million in any series of transactions during a calendar year;

 

(v)           the incurrence of indebtedness for borrowed money (including through capital leases, the issuance of debt securities or the guarantee of indebtedness of another Person) that would result in the Company’s total net indebtedness to adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve month period exceeding 2.50:1.0;

 

(vi)          terminate the Chief Executive Officer or designate a new Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation; or

 

(vii)         change the size of the Board.

 

(b)           The approval rights set forth in Section 10(a) shall terminate at such time as the Apollo Stockholders no longer collectively beneficially own at least 33 1/3% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any time.

 

Section 11             Limitations.

 

Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Corporation’s obligations hereunder shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of any lending or financing agreements to which the Corporation is a party with third persons who are not Affiliates of the Corporation or the Apollo Entities, provided that such terms and provisions apply ratably to all Stockholders.

 

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Section 12             Legend on Stock Certificates.

 

Each certificate or book-entry notation representing shares of Stock owned by the Stockholders shall bear the following legend as and to the extent required under Section 2:

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS.  THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SAID ACT OR LAWS.  THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO A STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF                    , 2013, AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES AND THE OTHER PARTIES NAMED THEREIN.  THE TERMS OF SUCH STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT INCLUDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.  A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE SECRETARY OF ATHLON ENERGY INC.

 

Section 13             Duration of Agreement.

 

This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon:  (i) the dissolution of the Corporation (unless the Corporation continues to exist after such dissolution as a limited liability company or in another form, whether incorporated in Delaware or another jurisdiction) or (ii) the consummation of a Control Disposition; provided, however, that (A) for so long as the Apollo Stockholders collectively own any Registrable Securities, Sections 3 and 4 may not be terminated without the prior written consent of Apollo, (B) for so long as the Apollo Stockholders collectively own at least 33 1/3% of the outstanding Common Stock, Sections 7, 9 and 10 may not be terminated without the prior written consent of Apollo and (C) the indemnification provisions of Section 5 and the covenants in Section 9 shall survive any termination. Any Stockholder who disposes of all of his, her or its Common Stock in conformity with the terms of this Agreement shall cease to be a party to this Agreement and shall have no further rights hereunder.

 

Section 14             Severability.

 

If any provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be illegal and unenforceable by any court of law, the remaining provisions shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

Section 15             Governing Law; Jurisdiction.

 

(a)           This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its choice or conflict of law provisions or rules.

 

(b)           The parties to this Agreement agree that jurisdiction and venue in any action brought by any party hereto pursuant to this Agreement shall exclusively and properly lie in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and

 

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County of New York, Borough of Manhattan, or the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan.  By execution and delivery of this Agreement each party hereto irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts for himself and in respect of his property with respect to such action.  The parties hereto irrevocably agree that venue for such action would be proper in such court and hereby waive any objection that such court is an improper or inconvenient forum for the resolution of such action.  The parties further agree that the mailing by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, of any process required by any such court shall constitute valid and lawful service of process against them, without necessity for service by any other means provided by statute or rule of court.

 

Section 16             JURY TRIAL.

 

BECAUSE DISPUTES ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH COMPLEX FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS ARE MOST QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY RESOLVED BY AN EXPERIENCED AND EXPERT PERSON AND THE PARTIES WISH APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS TO APPLY (RATHER THAN ARBITRATION RULES), THE PARTIES DESIRE THAT THEIR DISPUTES BE RESOLVED BY A JUDGE APPLYING SUCH APPLICABLE LAWS.  THEREFORE, TO ACHIEVE THE BEST COMBINATION OF THE BENEFITS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND/OR ARBITRATION, THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHT OR REMEDIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENTS ENTERED INTO IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN.

 

Section 17             Stock Dividends, Etc.

 

The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to any and all shares of capital stock of the Corporation or any successor or assignee of the Corporation (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution for the shares of Stock, by reason of any stock dividend, split, reverse split, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or otherwise in such a manner and with such appropriate adjustments as to reflect the intent and meaning of the provisions hereof and so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to the capital stock of the Corporation as so changed.

 

Section 18             Benefits of Agreement.

 

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Corporation and its successors and assigns and each Stockholder and any spouse of each individual Employee Stockholder and their permitted assigns, legal representatives, heirs and beneficiaries.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, but subject to Section 2(b), the Apollo Entities may assign their rights or obligations, in whole or in part, under this Agreement to one or more of their Affiliates and may assign their registration rights and obligations under Sections 3 and 4, in whole or in part, to any party to whom they transfer any shares of Stock.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no Person not a party to this Agreement, as a

 

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third-party beneficiary or otherwise, shall be entitled to enforce any rights or remedies under this Agreement.

 

Section 19             Notices.

 

All notices or other communications which are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given if (a) personally delivered or sent by telecopier, (b) sent by nationally recognized overnight courier or (c) sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

 

(i)            If to the Corporation, to:

 

Athlon Energy Inc.
 420 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200 
 Fort Worth, Texas 76102
 Attention:  Robert C. Reeves
 Telecopier:  (817) 984-8217

 

with copies to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP
 811 Main Street, Suite 3700
 Houston, Texas 77002
 Attn:  Sean T. Wheeler 
 Fax:  (713) 546-5401

 

(ii)           If to Apollo, to:

 

Apollo Management VII, L.P.  
 9 West 57th Street 
 New York, New York 10019 
 Attn:  Rakesh Wilson and Laurie D. Medley
 Fax:  (212) 515-3251

 

with copies to:

 

(iii)          If to the Stockholders, to their respective addresses set forth on Schedule A or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to such other party in writing in accordance herewith.  Any such communication shall be deemed to have been received (a) when delivered, if personally delivered or sent by telecopier, (b) the next Business Day after delivery, if sent by nationally recognized, overnight courier and (c) on the third (3rd) Business Day following the date on which the piece of mail containing such communication is posted, if sent by first-class mail.

 

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Section 20             Modification; Waiver.

 

This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by a written instrument duly executed by (a) the Corporation and (b) (i) for so long as the Apollo Entities collectively own at least 33 1/3% of the Stock, the vote of the shares of Stock owned by the Apollo Entities, and (ii) only for matters that adversely affect the rights or obligations of the Employee Stockholders under this Agreement, a majority of the shares of Stock owned by the Employee Stockholders as of the date the vote is taken; provided that (A) for so long as the Apollo Stockholders own any Registrable Securities, Sections 3, 4 and 20 may not be amended without the prior written consent of Apollo, (B) Section 8 may not be amended without the prior written consent of Apollo and (iii) for so long as the Apollo Stockholders collectively own at least 33 1/3% of the outstanding Common Stock, Sections 7, 9 and 10 may not be amended without the prior written consent of Apollo. No course of dealing between the Corporation or its Subsidiaries and the Stockholders (or any of them) or any delay in exercising any rights hereunder will operate as a waiver of any rights of any party to this Agreement.  The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement will in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and will not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

Section 21             Entire Agreement.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings of the parties in connection therewith, from and after the completion of the IPO.  Unless otherwise provided herein, any consent required by the Corporation may be withheld by the Corporation in its sole discretion.

 

Section 22             Inconsistent Arrangements and Dispositions.

 

No Stockholder shall enter into any stockholder agreements or arrangements of any kind with any Person with respect to any Stock on terms inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement (whether or not such agreements or arrangements are with other Stockholders or with Persons that are not parties to this Agreement), including agreements or arrangements with respect to the acquisition or disposition of any Stock in a manner inconsistent with this Agreement.  Any Disposition or attempted Disposition in breach of this Agreement shall be void ab initio and of no effect.  In connection with any attempted Disposition in breach of this Agreement, the Corporation may hold and refuse to transfer any Stock or any certificate therefor, in addition to and without prejudice to any and all other rights or remedies which may be available to it or the Stockholders.  Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that a remedy at law for any breach or attempted breach of this Agreement will be inadequate, agrees that each other party to this Agreement shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive and other equitable relief in case of any such breach or attempted breach, and further agrees to waive (to the extent legally permissible) any legal conditions required to be met for the obtaining of any such injunctive or other equitable relief (including posting any bond in order to obtain equitable relief).

 

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Section 23             Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute but one agreement.  The failure of any Stockholder to execute this Agreement does not make it invalid as against any other Stockholder.

 

Section 24             Further Assurances.

 

Each party hereto shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and other documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 25             Director and Officer Actions.

 

No director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any Stockholder as a result of any acts or omissions taken under this Agreement in good faith.

 

Section 26             Certain Certificates.

 

Each Stockholder that is an entity that was formed for the sole purpose of acquiring shares of Stock or that has no substantial assets other than shares of Stock or interests in shares of Stock agrees that (i) certificates of shares of its common stock or other instruments reflecting equity interests in such entity (and the certificates for shares of common stock or other equity interests in any similar entities controlling such entity) will note the restrictions contained in this Agreement on the transfer of Stock as if such common stock or other equity interests were shares of Stock and (ii) no such shares of common stock or other equity interests may be transferred to any Person other than in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement as if such shares or equity interests were shares of Stock.

 

Section 27             Apollo Stockholder Parties.

 

In the event that any Apollo Entity that is not an Apollo Stockholder as of the time this Agreement becomes effective thereafter becomes an Apollo Stockholder, such Apollo Entity shall automatically become party to this Agreement and this Agreement shall be amended and restated to provide that the Apollo Entities or a designee of the Apollo Entities shall have all of the rights and obligations of the Apollo Entities hereunder.

 

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

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The parties have signed this agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	
 
    	
ATHLON   ENERGY INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Robert   C. Reeves
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Chief   Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
STOCKHOLDERS:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
APOLLO   ATHLON HOLDINGS, L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
Apollo   Advisors VII (APO DC), L.P.,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
its   general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
Apollo   Advisors VII (APO DC-GP), LLC,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
its   general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Laurie   D. Medley
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
AP   OVERSEAS VII (ATHLON FC) HOLDINGS, L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
Apollo   Advisors VII (APO DC), L.P.,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
its   general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
Apollo   Advisors VII (APO DC), LLC,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
its   general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Laurie   D. Medley
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    

 

 

The parties have signed this agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Robert   C. Reeves
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Nelson   K. Treadway
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Bud W.   Holmes
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Jennifer   L. Palko

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