Document:

usws-ex106_201.htm

Exhibit 10.6

U.S. WELL SERVICES, INC.
GRANT NOTICE FOR 2018 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
PERFORMANCE AWARD (POOL B)

FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, U.S. Well Services, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby grants to the Participant named below the Performance Award (Pool B) (the “Award”) which represent the right to receive cash or shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), as specified below (the “Award”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Grant Notice, the U.S. Well Services, Inc. Amended and Restated 2018 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Terms and Conditions for Performance Award (Pool B) attached hereto (the “Terms and Conditions”) promulgated under such Plan, each as amended from time to time. This Award is granted pursuant to the Plan and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by the Terms and Conditions.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the right of the Participant to receive shares of Common Stock in payment of the Award is conditioned upon the Company receiving stockholder approval of certain amendments to the Plan as may be required in order to permit the transactions contemplated by the Award and similar awards granted to other Company personnel.

	
Name of Participant:
	
 

	
Grant Date:
	
November [___], 2020

	
Vesting Effective Date
	
January 1, 2020

	
Performance Award:
	
The Award has a cash value, as of the Grant Date, of $[___], which value will increase by 12.00% per annum until May 24, 2021 and 16.00% per annum thereafter, compounding quarterly on March 31st, June 30th, September  30th and December 31st of each applicable calendar year (the “Award Value”); provided, however, that if in connection with any Change in Control all outstanding shares of the Company’s Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), are redeemed by the Company at a price which is less than the Redemption Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designations for the Series B Preferred Stock), the Award Value shall be reduced by multiplying the amount of the Award Value as then-in-effect by a fraction equal to the amount paid in redemption of each share of Series B Preferred Stock over the per share Redemption Price.

The Award Value will be paid in cash or Common Stock upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. 

 

 

 

	
Restricted Periods:
	
One (1) year from the Vesting Effective Date with respect to one-third (1/3) of the Award (“First Restricted Period” or a “Restricted Period”);

Two (2) years from the Vesting Effective Date with respect to one-third (1/3) of the Award (“Second Restricted Period” or a “Restricted Period”); and

Three (3) years from the Vesting Effective Date with respect to one-third (1/3) of the Award (“Third Restricted Period” or a “Restricted Period” and, together with the First Restricted Period and the Second Restricted Period, the “Full Restricted Period”).

Subject to the Participant’s Continuous Service, the First Restricted Period, Second Restricted Period and Third Restricted Period shall lapse on each of the first (1st), second (2nd) and third (3rd) anniversary of the Vesting Effective Date, respectively.

	
Subject to the Participant’s Continuous Service through a Change in Control, the Full Restricted Period shall fully lapse immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control.

	
Upon a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service due to the Participant’s death or Disability during any of the First Restricted Period, Second Restricted Period or Third Restricted Period, such Restricted Period shall fully lapse.

Upon a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service due to the Participant’s Retirement during either the Second Restricted Period or Third Restricted Period, such Restricted Period shall fully lapse.  “Retirement” shall refer to a termination of Continuous Service by the Participant on or after the date on which the Participant has become entitled to receive full retirement benefits pursuant to the U.S. Social Security Act.

Upon a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service by the Company for Cause, the entire Award, whether or not then vested, shall be immediately forfeited and canceled as of the date of such termination of Continuous Service.

Upon a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service for any other reason (other than due to the Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement or by the Company for Cause) prior to the lapse of the applicable Restricted Period, the portion of the Award that has not vested as of the date of termination shall be forfeited and canceled as of such date.

 

 

 

 

	
Payment Criteria:
	
No payment shall be made, whether in cash, shares of Common Stock or otherwise, to the Participant in respect of any portion of the Award prior to the date on which such portion of the Award becomes vested and the applicable Restricted Period with respect to such portion of the Award lapses, in accordance with the terms hereof.

The Award, to the extent vested, will be payable to the Participant on the earlier of the following dates and otherwise only as follows:

1.Upon the consummation of a Change in Control, either:

(a)If shares of Series B Preferred Stock receive consideration in connection with such Change in Control either in exchange or redemption thereof, then in the same consideration received on or with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock, in a lump sum as if the Participant held as of immediately prior to such Change in Control shares of Series B Preferred Stock with an aggregate Redemption Price equal to the applicable Award Value; or 

(b)If subsection (a) above is not applicable, then:

(i)In a lump sum cash payment, upon a Change in Control wherein the holders of Common Stock receive either (1) only cash in exchange for their shares of Common Stock, (2) consideration other than securities or a combination of cash and securities in exchange for their shares of Common Stock, or (3) no consideration, in a lump sum cash payment equal to the greater of (A) the amount of the applicable Award Value and (B) the Fair Market Value of that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of the applicable Award Value and $0.308; or

(ii)Upon a Change in Control wherein the holders of Common Stock receive either securities or a combination of cash and securities in exchange for their shares of Common Stock, in a lump sum in a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of the applicable Award Value and $0.308 (with such issuance to be deemed as of immediately prior to such Change in Control); provided, however, that if the Company 

is prohibited from issuing additional shares of Common Stock under the Plan as required to satisfy its obligations under this subsection (ii), then the Company shall, in lieu of the issuance and delivery of any such shares of Common Stock, make a lump sum cash payment to the Participant equal to the sum of the Fair Market Value of each such unissued share of Common Stock.

2.Upon the Fixed Payment Date (defined below), at the Company’s election, subject to the terms below, either: 

(a)In a lump sum cash payment equal to the greater of:

(i)The amount of the applicable Award Value; and  

(ii)The Fair Market Value of that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of the applicable Award Value and $0.308; or

(b)In a lump sum in a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of the applicable Award Value and $0.308; 

provided, however, that if the Company is prohibited from issuing additional shares of Common Stock under the Plan as required to satisfy in full its obligations under subsection 2(b), then the Company shall satisfy the Award in cash in accordance with subsection 2(a).

Notwithstanding the above, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock during any period when the Company determines that the delivery of shares of Common Stock hereunder would violate any federal, state or other applicable laws.

 

 

	
Fixed Payment Date
	
The “Fixed Payment Date” for the Award is the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Grant Date; provided, however, that the Company may, in accordance with Code Section 409A and prior to the fourth (4th) anniversary of the Grant Date, with respect to (a) if a Grant Date Control Change has not occurred, 100% of the Award Value, and (b) otherwise, two-thirds (2/3) of the Award Value, elect to:

1.Divide such amount of the Award Value into two (2) or more installment payments (each, an “Award Installment”), each representing a designated portion of the Award Value; and 

2.Defer the “Fixed Payment Date” for each Award Installment, provided that the new 

“Fixed Payment Date” for the commencement of any applicable Award Installment shall be a date not less than five (5) years from, nor more than six (6) years after, the original Fixed Payment Date. 

For clarification, the election provided herein for a later payment date for payment in installments rather than a lump sum shall only apply to payment upon the Fixed Payment Date and shall not apply to or effect payment upon a Change in Control.

 

[Signature page to follow]

 

 

 

By accepting this Grant Notice, Participant acknowledges that he or she has received and read, and agrees that this Award shall be subject to, the terms of this Grant Notice, the Plan and the Terms and Conditions.

 

U.S. WELL SERVICES, INC.

 

 

By:

Name:

Title:

 

PARTICIPANT:

 

 

 

 

Address (please print):

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. WELL SERVICES, INC.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
PERFORMANCE AWARD (POOL B)

These Terms and Conditions apply to the award of Performance Award (Pool B) (the “Award”) which represent the right to receive shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 (the “Common Stock”), or cash as set forth in the Grant Notice provided herewith (the “Grant Notice”) and granted pursuant to the U.S. Well Services, Inc. 2018 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). In addition to these Terms and Conditions, the Award shall be subject to the terms of the Plan, which are incorporated into these Terms and Conditions by this reference. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

1.TERMS OF PERFORMANCE AWARD

U.S. Well Services, Inc. (the “Company”), has granted the Award to the Participant named in the Grant Notice. The Award is subject to the conditions set forth in the Grant Notice, these Terms and Conditions, and the Plan, each as amended from time to time. For purposes of these Terms and Conditions and the Grant Notice, any reference to the Company shall include a reference to its subsidiaries.

2.VESTING OF PERFORMANCE AWARD

The Award shall not be vested as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice and shall be forfeitable unless and until the applicable Restricted Period lapses pursuant to the terms of the Grant Notice and these Terms and Conditions. 

3.NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER

The Award granted pursuant to the Grant Notice does not and shall not entitle Participant to any rights of a holder of Common Stock prior to the date that shares of Common Stock are issued to Participant in payment of the Award. Participant’s rights with respect to the Award shall remain forfeitable at all times prior to the date on which rights become vested and the restrictions with respect to the Award lapse in accordance with the Grant Notice. 

4.CHANGE IN CONTROL

For the purposes of the Award, “Change in Control” shall not have the meaning provided in the Plan, but rather, “Change in Control” shall mean: 

(a)  the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than a transaction in which 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;

(b)  the Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; 

(c)  the consummation of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; 

(d)  the acquisition by any Person (excluding any Existing Major Holder (as defined below)) of Beneficial Ownership of more than 50% (on a fully diluted basis) of either (i) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, taking into account as outstanding for this 

 

 

purpose such Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants, the conversion of convertible stock or debt, and the exercise of any similar right to acquire such Common Stock (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Plan, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition by the Company or any Affiliate, (B) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary, (C) any acquisition which complies with clauses, (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (e) of this definition or (D) in respect of an Award held by a particular Participant, any acquisition by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant (or any entity controlled by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant); 

(e)   the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company that requires the approval of the Company’s shareholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “Business Combination”), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (i) more than 50% of the total voting power of  (A) the entity resulting from such Business Combination (the “Surviving Company”), or (B) if applicable, the ultimate parent entity that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of sufficient voting securities eligible to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Surviving Company (the “Parent Company”), is represented by the Outstanding Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which the Outstanding Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Business Combination; (ii) no Person (other than any Existing Major Holder or any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Company or the Parent Company) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect members of the board of directors of the Parent Company (or the analogous governing body) (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company); and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Parent Company (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination; or

(f) the consummation of any sale of shares of Common Stock of the Company or any options, warrants, stock or debt convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock of the Company by any Person which as of the Grant Date has Beneficial Ownership of more than thirty-five percent (35%) (on a fully diluted basis) of the Outstanding Company Common Stock which results in such Person having both (a) Beneficial Ownership of less than twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) (on a fully diluted basis) of the Outstanding Company Common Stock held by such Person as of the Grant Date and (b) Beneficial Ownership of less than five (5%) (on a fully diluted basis) of the Outstanding Company Common Stock at the time of such sale.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Company’s initial business combination or the transactions occurring in connection therewith constitute a Change in Control and, with respect to any Award (or portion of any Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, an event shall not be considered to be a Change in Control under the Plan for purposes of payment of such Award (or portion thereof) unless such event is also a “change in ownership,” a “change in effective control” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

For the purposes hereof, an “Existing Major Holder” shall mean any Person which as of the Grant 

 

 

Date has Beneficial Ownership of more than 10% (on a fully diluted basis) of the Outstanding Company Common Stock.

5.NO FRACTIONAL SHARES

Fractional shares of Common Stock shall not be delivered upon the payment of the Award. 

6.TAXES

If applicable, the Company shall not deliver shares of Common Stock in respect of the payment of the Award unless and until the Participant has made arrangements satisfactory to the Company to satisfy applicable withholding tax obligations.  Subject to the discretion of the Committee, the Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the acquisition of Common Stock under the Award, if applicable, by any of the following means (in addition to the Company’s right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (a) tendering a cash payment; (b) authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Award, provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the maximum amount of tax required to be withheld by law; or (c) delivering to the Company previously owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock of the Company.

The Participant has been advised and the Participant hereby acknowledges that he has been advised to obtain independent legal and tax advice regarding this Award, grant of the Award, the vesting and payment, including, without limitation, under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and the applicable notices, rules, and regulation thereunder (the “Code”).  The Participant acknowledges that none of the Company, its Affiliates, the Committee or any of their officers, directors, employees or agents guarantees or are otherwise responsible for any tax consequences to the Participant in connection with this Award, the Award, or the vesting or disposition of shares under any federal, state, local domestic or foreign law, including, without limitation, any income or excise taxes or interest or penalties under Code Section 409A.

The intent of the parties is that this Award comply with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder to the extent it is applicable and, accordingly, this Award shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith, and to the extent required the defined terms herein shall have the meaning required of such term under Code Section 409A, and any provision that would result in a violation of Code Section 409A shall be null and void.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Award, payments under this Award that are subject to Code Section 409A and are to be made hereunder upon a termination of employment shall only be made upon a "separation from service" (as defined in Treasury Regulation § 1.409A 1(h)) and, if the Participant is deemed on the date of termination to be a "specified employee" within the meaning of that term under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B), then with regard to any payment that constitutes "nonqualified deferred compensation" subject to Code Section 409A, such payment or benefit shall be made or provided at the date which is the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date after the date of such "separation from service" of the Participant, and (B) the date of the Participant’s death (the “Delay Period”).  Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this provision (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or reimbursed to the Participant in a lump sum, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Award shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.  Whenever a payment under this Award may be paid within a specified period, the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.  In no event may the Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under this Award.

 

 

Any subsequent deferral of a Fixed Payment Date and election to pay in installments rather than a lump sum shall be at the Company’s election and shall be made subject to Code Section 409A, including the requirements that (i) such change not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the election is made by the Company; (ii) the change of a specified payment election and payment form must result in payment being deferred for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date such payment would otherwise have been paid (or in the case of a life annuity or installment payments treated as a single payment five (5) years from the date the first amount was scheduled to be made); and (iii) the Company must make the election not less than twelve (12) months before the date the payment is scheduled to be paid, and all elections shall be in writing.  

Any installment payments shall be treated as a series of separate payments in accordance with Treasury Regulation 1.409A-2(b)(iii).

This grant of Award is subject to all applicable federal, state and local taxes and withholding requirements. 

7.OTHER AGREEMENTS SUPERSEDED

The Grant Notice, these Terms and Conditions and the Plan constitute the entire understanding between the Participant and the Company regarding the Award. Except as may otherwise be specifically set forth in any employment or severance agreement between the Participant and the Company, any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the Award are superseded.

8.LIMITATION OF INTEREST IN SHARES SUBJECT TO PERFORMANCE AWARD

Neither the Participant (individually or as a member of a group) nor any beneficiary or other person claiming under or through the Participant shall have any right, title, interest, or privilege in or to any shares of Common Stock allocated or reserved for the purpose of the Plan or subject to the Grant Notice or these Terms and Conditions except as to such shares of Common Stock, if any, as shall have been issued to such person in connection with the Award. 

Nothing in the Plan, in the Grant Notice, these Terms and Conditions or any other instrument executed pursuant to the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate the employment of the Participant with or without notice and with or without Cause. 

	
9.
	
SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE
	
 

No shares of Common Stock shall be purchased or sold thereunder unless and until (a) any then applicable requirements of state or federal laws and regulatory agencies have been fully complied with to the satisfaction of the Company and its counsel and (b) if required to do so by the Company, the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company a letter of investment intent in such form and containing such provisions as the Committee may require. 

10.GENERAL

(a)In the event that any provision of these Terms and Conditions is declared to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be reformed, if possible, to the extent necessary to render it legal, valid and enforceable, or otherwise deleted, and the remainder of these Terms and Conditions shall not be affected except to the extent necessary to reform or delete such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision.

(b)The headings preceding the text of the sections hereof are inserted solely for convenience 

 

 

of reference, and shall not constitute a part of these Terms and Conditions, nor shall they affect its meaning, construction or effect.

(c)These Terms and Conditions shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective permitted heirs, beneficiaries, successors and assigns.

(d)These Terms and Conditions shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.

(e)In the event of any conflict between the Grant Notice, these Terms and Conditions and the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Terms and Conditions shall control. In the event of any conflict between the Grant Notice and these Terms and Conditions, the Grant Notice shall control.

(f)All questions arising under the Plan, the Grant Notice or under these Terms and Conditions shall be decided by the Committee in its total and absolute discretion.

11.ELECTRONIC DELIVERY

By executing the Grant Notice, the Participant hereby consents to the delivery of information (including, without limitation, information required to be delivered to the Participant pursuant to applicable securities laws) regarding the Company and its subsidiaries, the Plan, and the Award via Company web site or other electronic delivery.usws-ex107_327.htm

Exhibit 10.7

AMENDED AND RESTATED

U.S. WELL SERVICES, INC.

2018 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

	
1.
	
Establishment; Purpose; Eligibility.

 

1.1Establishment.   The name of this plan is the Amended and Restated U.S. Well Services, Inc. 2018 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).  U.S. Well Services, Inc. established the U.S. Well Services, Inc. 2018 Stock Incentive Plan which was approved by the Company’s shareholders effective as of November 2, 2018, and the Board has authorized, approved and adopted the amendment and restatement of the U.S. Well Services, Inc. 2018 Stock Incentive Plan, effective September 21, 2020 (the “Effective Date”) to increase the number of shares of Common Stock available for grants for Awards under the Plan and to provide such other changes as provided herein, subject, with respect to the increase in the number of shares of Common Stock available for grants for Awards under the Plan, to the approval of the Company’s shareholders on the earlier of the next shareholder’s meeting following the Effective Date or within twelve (12) months following the Effective Date.  The Plan shall not extend the term of any Award granted prior to the Effective Date.

 

1.2Purpose.  The purposes of the Plan are to (a) enable U.S. Well Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and any Affiliate to attract and retain the types of Employees, Consultants and Directors who will contribute to the Company’s long range success; (b) provide incentives that align the interests of Employees, Consultants and Directors with those of the shareholders of the Company; and (c) promote the success of the Company’s business.

 

1.3Eligible Award Recipients.   The persons eligible to receive Awards are the Employees, Consultants and Directors of the Company and its Affiliates and such other individuals designated by the Committee who are reasonably expected to become Employees, Consultants and Directors after the receipt of Awards.

 

1.4Available Awards.   Awards that may be granted under the Plan include: (a) Incentive Stock Options, (b) Non-qualified Stock Options, (c) Stock Appreciation Rights, (d) Restricted Awards, (e) Performance Awards, and (f) Other Equity-Based Awards.

 

	
2.
	
Definitions.

 

“Affiliate” means a corporation or other entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company.

 

“Applicable Laws” means the requirements related to or implicated by the administration of the Plan under applicable state corporate law, United States federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or quoted, and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan.

 

 

 

“Award” means any right granted under the Plan, including an Incentive Stock Option, a Non-qualified Stock Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Restricted Award, a Performance Award, or an Other Equity-Based Award.

 

“Award Agreement” means a written agreement, contract, certificate or other instrument or document evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award granted under the Plan which may, in the discretion of the Company, be transmitted electronically to any Participant. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

“Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular Person, such Person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such Person has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted at any time.

 

“Cause” means:

 

(a)   with respect to any Employee or Consultant, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise:, (i) if the Employee or Consultant is a party to an employment or service agreement with the Company or its Affiliates and such agreement provides for a definition of Cause, the definition contained therein; or (ii) if no such agreement exists, or if such agreement does not define Cause: (A) the Employee’s or Consultant’s failure or refusal to perform specific directives from the Company or any of its Affiliates that are consistent with the scope and nature of the Employee’s or Consultant’s duties and responsibilities; (B) fraud committed against the Company or any of its Affiliates, or embezzlement of the funds of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (C) use of drugs or other substances, which (x) is unlawful or (y) otherwise interferes with the performance of the Employee’s or Consultant’s duties and obligations; (D) commission of or pleading guilty or no contest to a felony or to any crime involving dishonesty or fraud; or (E) any gross or willful misconduct of the Employee or Consultant resulting in loss to the Company or any of its Affiliates or damages to the reputation of the Company or any of its Affiliates. 

 

(b)   with respect to any Director, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, a determination by a majority of the disinterested Board members that the Director has engaged in any of the following: (i) malfeasance in office; (ii) gross misconduct or neglect; (iii) false or fraudulent misrepresentation inducing the director’s appointment; (iv) willful conversion of corporate funds; or (v) repeated failure to participate in Board meetings on a regular basis despite having received proper notice of the meetings in advance. 

 

The Committee, in its absolute discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to whether a Participant has been discharged for Cause. 

 

“Change in Control” means: 

 

 

 

(a)   the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than a transaction 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; 

 

(b)   the Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; 

 

(c)   the consummation of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; 

 

(d)   the acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership of more than 50% (on a fully diluted basis) of either (i) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, taking into account as outstanding for this purpose such Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants, the conversion of convertible stock or debt, and the exercise of any similar right to acquire such Common Stock (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Plan, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition by the Company or any Affiliate, (B) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary, (C) any acquisition which complies with clauses, (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (e) of this definition or (D) in respect of an Award held by a particular Participant, any acquisition by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant (or any entity controlled by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant); or 

 

(e)   the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company that requires the approval of the Company’s shareholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “Business Combination”), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (i) more than 50% of the total voting power of  (A) the entity resulting from such Business Combination (the “Surviving Company”), or (B) if applicable, the ultimate parent entity that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of sufficient voting securities eligible to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Surviving Company (the “Parent Company”), is represented by the Outstanding Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which the Outstanding Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Business Combination; (ii) no Person (other than any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Company or the Parent Company) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 

 

 

50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect members of the board of directors of the Parent Company (or the analogous governing body) (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company); and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Parent Company (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination. 

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Company’s initial business combination or the transactions occurring in connection therewith constitute a Change in Control and, with respect to any Award (or portion of any Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, an event shall not be considered to be a Change in Control under the Plan for purposes of payment of such Award (or portion thereof) unless such event is also a “change in ownership,” a “change in effective control” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. 

 

“Clawback Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.2.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time. Any reference to a section of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any regulations promulgated thereunder. 

 

“Committee” means a committee of one or more members of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 3.3 and Section 3.4; provided, however, that if the Board has not appointed such a committee to administer the Plan, references herein to “Committee” shall mean the Board. 

 

“Common Stock” means the Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company, or such other securities of the Company as may be designated by the Committee from time to time in substitution thereof. 

“Company” means U.S. Well Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto. 

 

“Consultant” means any individual or entity which performs bona fide services to the Company or an Affiliate, other than as an Employee or Director, and who may be offered securities registerable pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act. 

 

“Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Consultant or Director, is not interrupted or terminated. The Participant’s Continuous Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service; provided further that if any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, this sentence shall only be given effect to the extent consistent with Section 409A of the Code. For example, a change in status from an Employee of the Company to a Director of an Affiliate will not constitute an 

 

 

interruption of Continuous Service. The Committee or its delegate, in its sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal or family leave of absence. The Committee or its delegate, in its sole discretion, may determine whether a Company transaction, such as a sale or spin-off of a division or subsidiary that employs a Participant, shall be deemed to result in a termination of Continuous Service for purposes of affected Awards, and such decision shall be final, conclusive and binding. 

 

“Deferred Stock Units (DSUs)” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(b)(ii) hereof. 

 

“Director” means a member of the Board. 

 

“Disability” means, unless the applicable Award Agreement says otherwise, that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment; provided, however, for purposes of determining the term of an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to Section 6.9 hereof, the term Disability shall have the meaning ascribed to it under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. The determination of whether an individual has a Disability shall be determined under procedures established by the Committee. Except in situations where the Committee is determining Disability for purposes of the term of an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to Section 6.9 hereof within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, the Committee may rely on any determination that a Participant is disabled for purposes of benefits under any long-term disability plan maintained by the Company or any Affiliate in which a Participant participates. 

 

“Disqualifying Disposition” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.11. 

 

“Dividend Equivalents” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(b)(ii).

 

“Employee” means any person, including an Officer or Director, employed by the Company or an Affiliate; provided, that, for purposes of determining eligibility to receive Incentive Stock Options, an Employee shall mean an employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code. Mere service as a Director or payment of a director’s fee by the Company or an Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company or an Affiliate. 

 

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

 

“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock as determined below. If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation, the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market, the Fair Market Value shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (or if no sales were reported the closing price on the date immediately preceding such date) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in the Wall Street Journal. In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee and such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons. 

 

 

 

“Fiscal Year” means the Company’s fiscal year. 

 

“Free Standing Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a). 

 

“Grant Date” means the date on which the Committee adopts a resolution, or takes other appropriate action, expressly granting an Award to a Participant that specifies the key terms and conditions of the Award or, if a later date is set forth in such resolution, then such date as is set forth in such resolution. 

 

“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is designated by the Committee as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and that meets the requirements set out in the Plan. 

 

“Incumbent Directors” means individuals who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board, provided that any individual becoming a Director subsequent to such date whose election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director. No individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director. 

 

“ISO Limit” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

 

“Non-Employee Director” means a Director who is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3. 

 

“Non-qualified Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. 

 

“Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. 

 

“Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-qualified Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan. 

 

“Optionholder” means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option. 

 

“Option Exercise Price” means the price at which a share of Common Stock may be purchased upon the exercise of an Option.

 

“Other Equity-Based Award” means an Award that is not an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, or Performance Award that is granted under 

 

 

Section 7.4 and is payable by delivery of Common Stock and/or which is measured by reference to the value of Common Stock. 

 

“Participant” means an eligible person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Award. 

 

“Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon business criteria or other performance measures determined by the Committee in its discretion. 

 

“Performance Period” means one or more periods of time (which shall not be less than one year), as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to and the payment of a Performance Award. 

 

“Performance Award” means any Award granted pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof. 

 

“Performance Share” means the grant of a right to receive a number of actual shares of Common Stock or share units based upon the performance of the Company during a Performance Period, as determined by the Committee. 

 

“Permitted Transferee” means: (a) a member of the Optionholder’s immediate family (child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships), any person sharing the Optionholder’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Optionholder) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Optionholder) own more than 50% of the voting interests; (b) third parties designated by the Committee in connection with a program established and approved by the Committee pursuant to which Participants may receive a cash payment or other consideration in consideration for the transfer of a Non-qualified Stock Option; and (c) such other transferees as may be permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion. 

 

“Person” means a person as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act. 

 

“Plan” means this Amended and Restated U.S. Well Services, Inc. 2018 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and/or amended and restated from time to time. 

 

“Related Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a). 

 

“Restricted Award” means any Award granted pursuant to Section 7.2(a). 

 

“Restricted Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a). 

 

“Restricted Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).

 

 

 

“Restricted Stock Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).

 

“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time. 

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 

 

“Stock Appreciation Right” means the right pursuant to an Award granted under Section 7.1 to receive, upon exercise, an amount payable in cash or shares equal to the number of shares subject to the Stock Appreciation Right that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of  (a) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Award is exercised, over (b) the exercise price specified in the Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement. 

 

“Stock for Stock Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3. 

 

“Substitute Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5. 

 

“Ten Percent Shareholder” means a person who owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Affiliates. 

 

“Total Share Reserve” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1. 

 

“Vested Unit” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(e).

 

	
3.
	
Administration.

 

3.1Authority of Committee.   The Plan shall be administered by the Committee or, in the Board’s sole discretion, by the Board. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee’s charter and Applicable Laws, and in addition to other express powers and authorization conferred by the Plan, the Committee or the Board, as applicable, shall have the authority: 

 

(a)to construe and interpret the Plan and apply its provisions; 

 

(b)to promulgate, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of the Plan; 

 

(c)to authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan; 

 

(d)to delegate its authority to one or more Officers of the Company with respect to Awards that do not involve “insiders” within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act; 

 

(e)to determine when Awards are to be granted under the Plan and the applicable Grant Date; 

 

 

 

(f)from time to time to select, subject to the limitations set forth in this Plan, those eligible Award recipients to whom Awards shall be granted; 

 

(g)to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be made subject to each Award; 

 

(h)to determine whether each Option is to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-qualified Stock Option; 

 

(i)to prescribe the terms and conditions of each Award, including, without limitation, the exercise price and medium of payment and vesting provisions, and to specify the provisions of the Award Agreement relating to such grant; 

 

(j)to determine the target number of Performance Shares to be granted or the amount of cash payable pursuant to a Performance Award, the performance measures that will be used to establish the Performance Goals, the Performance Period(s) and the number of Performance Shares or the amount of cash payments earned by a Participant; 

 

(k)to amend any outstanding Awards, including for the purpose of modifying the time or manner of vesting, or the term of any outstanding Award; provided, however, that if any such amendment impairs a Participant’s rights or increases a Participant’s obligations under his or her Award or creates or increases a Participant’s federal income tax liability with respect to an Award, such amendment shall also be subject to the Participant’s consent; 

 

(l)to determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absences which may be granted to a Participant without constituting termination of their employment for purposes of the Plan, which periods shall be no shorter than the periods generally applicable to Employees under the Company’s employment policies; 

 

(m)to make decisions with respect to outstanding Awards that may become necessary upon a change in corporate control or an event that triggers anti-dilution adjustments; 

 

(n)to interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan; and 

 

(o)to exercise discretion to make any and all other determinations which it determines to be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. 

 

(p)The Committee or the Board, as applicable, also may modify the purchase price or the exercise price of any outstanding Award, provided that if the modification effects a repricing, shareholder approval shall be required before the repricing is effective. Except as provided in Sections 6.2 or 12, the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or to cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, other Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or other 

 

 

Awards with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights without shareholder approval. 

 

3.2Committee Decisions Final.   All decisions made by the Committee or the Board, as applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participants, unless such decisions are determined by a court having jurisdiction to be arbitrary and capricious. 

 

3.3Delegation.   The Committee or, if no Committee has been appointed, the Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a committee or committees of one or more members of the Board, and the term “Committee” shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated. The Committee shall have the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board or the Committee shall thereafter be to the committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board. From time to time, the Board may increase or decrease the size of the Committee, add additional members to, remove members (with or without cause) from, appoint new members in substitution therefor, and fill vacancies, however caused, in the Committee. The Committee shall act pursuant to a vote of the majority of its members or, in the case of a Committee comprised of only two members, the unanimous consent of its members, whether present or not, or by the written consent of the majority of its members and minutes shall be kept of all of its meetings and copies thereof shall be provided to the Board. Subject to the limitations prescribed by the Plan and the Board, the Committee may establish and follow such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it may determine to be advisable. 

 

3.4Committee Composition.   Except as otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors. The Board shall have discretion to determine whether or not it intends to comply with the exemption requirements of Rule 16b-3. However, if the Board intends to satisfy such exemption requirements, with respect to any insider subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Committee shall be a compensation committee of the Board that at all times consists solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors. Within the scope of such authority, the Board or the Committee may delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not Non-Employee Directors the authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Nothing herein shall create an inference that an Award is not validly granted under the Plan in the event Awards are granted under the Plan by a compensation committee of the Board that does not at all times consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors. 

 

3.5Indemnification.   In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as Directors or members of the Committee, and to the extent allowed by Applicable Laws, the Committee shall be indemnified by the Company against the reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding or in connection with any appeal therein, to which the Committee may be party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan, and against 

 

 

all amounts paid by the Committee in settlement thereof  (provided, however, that the settlement has been approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) or paid by the Committee in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such Committee did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company, or in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reason to believe that the conduct complained of was unlawful; provided, however, that within 60 days after the institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, such Committee shall, in writing, offer the Company the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend such action, suit or proceeding. 

 

	
4.
	
Shares Subject to the Plan. 

 

4.1Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11, no more than 8,160,500 shares of Common Stock or, upon the approval of the Company’s shareholders with respect to such increase in the number of shares of Common Stock available for grants for Awards under the Plan, no more than 18,949,674 shares of Common Stock, shall be available for the grant of Awards under the Plan (as applicable, the “Total Share Reserve”), and such number shall also be the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued in the aggregate pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options (the “ISO Limit”). During the terms of the Awards, the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock required to satisfy such Awards. 

 

4.2Shares of Common Stock available for distribution under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares, treasury shares or shares reacquired by the Company in any manner. 

 

4.3The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards granted during a single Fiscal Year to any Director, together with any cash Awards or fees paid to such Director during the Fiscal Year shall not exceed a total value of  $500,000 (calculating the value of any Awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes). 

 

4.4Any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award that expires or is canceled, forfeited, or terminated without issuance of the full number of shares of Common Stock to which the Award related will again be available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: shares subject to an Award under the Plan shall not again be made available for issuance or delivery under the Plan if such shares are (a) shares tendered or withheld in payment of an Option, (b) shares delivered or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation, or (c) shares covered by a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right or other Awards that were not issued upon the settlement of the Award. 

 

4.5Awards may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (“Substitute Awards”). Substitute Awards shall not be counted against the Total Share Reserve; provided, that, Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options shall be counted against the ISO limit. Subject to applicable stock 

 

 

exchange requirements, available shares under a shareholder-approved plan of an entity directly or indirectly acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (as appropriately adjusted to reflect such acquisition or transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not count toward the Total Share Limit. 

 

4.6Awards that by their terms are to be settled solely in cash shall not be counted against the number of shares of Common Stock available for the issuance of Awards under the Plan.

 

	
5.
	
Eligibility. 

 

5.1Eligibility for Specific Awards.   Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Consultants and Directors and those individuals whom the Committee determines are reasonably expected to become Employees, Consultants and Directors following the Grant Date. 

 

5.2Ten Percent Shareholders.   A Ten Percent Shareholder shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the Option Exercise Price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the Grant Date. 

 

5.3Option Provisions.   Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Option so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 6, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Non-qualified Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no liability to any Participant or any other person if an Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option fails to qualify as such at any time or if an Option is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the terms of such Option do not satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The provisions of separate Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the provisions set forth in Section 6. 

 

	
6
	
Provisions for Options.

 

6.1Term.   Subject to the provisions of Section 5.2 regarding Ten Percent Shareholders, no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the Grant Date. The term of a Non-qualified Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, no Non-qualified Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the Grant Date. 

 

6.2Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option.   Subject to the provisions of Section 5.2 regarding Ten Percent Shareholders and Incentive Stock Options, the Option Exercise 

 

 

Price of each Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be granted with an Option Exercise Price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) and/or Section 409A of the Code. 

 

6.3Consideration.   The Option Exercise Price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations, either (a) in cash or by certified or bank check at the time the Option is exercised or (b) in the discretion of the Committee, upon such terms as the Committee shall approve, the Option Exercise Price may be paid: (i) by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company, with a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the Option Exercise Price (or portion thereof) due for the number of shares being acquired, or by means of attestation whereby the Participant identifies for delivery specific shares of Common Stock that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of attestation equal to the Option Exercise Price (or portion thereof) and receives a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the difference between the number of shares thereby purchased and the number of identified attestation shares of Common Stock (a “Stock for Stock Exchange”); (ii) a “cashless” exercise program established with a broker; (iii) by reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of such Option with a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Option Exercise Price at the time of exercise; (iv) by any combination of the foregoing methods; or (v) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee. Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Option, the exercise price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option that is paid by delivery (or attestation) to the Company of other Common Stock acquired, directly or indirectly from the Company, shall be paid only by shares of the Common Stock of the Company that have been held for more than six months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes). Notwithstanding the foregoing, during any period for which the Common Stock is publicly traded (i.e., the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system) an exercise by a Director or Officer that involves or may involve a direct or indirect extension of credit or arrangement of an extension of credit by the Company, directly or indirectly, in violation of Section 402(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 shall be prohibited with respect to any Award under this Plan. 

 

6.4Transferability of an Incentive Stock Option.   An Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option. 

 

6.5Transferability of a Non-qualified Stock Option.   A Non-qualified Stock Option may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be transferable to a Permitted Transferee, upon written approval by the Committee to the extent provided in the Award Agreement. If the Non-qualified Stock Option does not provide for transferability, then the Non-qualified Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the 

 

 

foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option. 

 

6.6Vesting of Options.   Each Option may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Committee may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. No Option may be exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting and exercisability in the terms of any Award Agreement upon the occurrence of a specified event. 

 

6.7Termination of Continuous Service.   Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or in an employment agreement the terms of which have been approved by the Committee, in the event an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder’s death or Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a) the date three months following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that, if the termination of Continuous Service is by the Company for Cause, all outstanding Options (whether or not vested) shall immediately terminate and cease to be exercisable. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate. 

 

6.8Extension of Termination Date.   An Optionholder’s Award Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service for any reason would be prohibited at any time because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act or any other state or federal securities law or the rules of any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (a)  the expiration of the term of the Option in accordance with Section 6.1 or (b) the expiration of a period after termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service that is three months after the end of the period during which the exercise of the Option would be in violation of such registration or other securities law requirements. 

 

6.9Disability of Optionholder.   Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, in the event that an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s Disability, the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a)  the date 12 months following such termination or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein or in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate. 

 

 

 

6.10Death of Optionholder.   Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, in the event an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s death, then the Option may be exercised (to the extent the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of death) by the Optionholder’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the Option upon the Optionholder’s death, but only within the period ending on the earlier of  (a) the date 12 months following the date of death or (b) the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after the Optionholder’s death, the Option is not exercised within the time specified herein or in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate. 

 

6.11Incentive Stock Option $100,000 Limitation.   To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds $100,000, the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Non-qualified Stock Options. 

 

	
7
	
Provisions of Awards Other Than Options. 

 

7.1Stock Appreciation Rights. 

 

(a)Each Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7.1, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted alone (“Free Standing Rights”) or in tandem with an Option granted under the Plan (“Related Rights”). 

 

(b)Any Related Right that relates to a Non-qualified Stock Option may be granted at the same time the Option is granted or at any time thereafter but before the exercise or expiration of the Option. Any Related Right that relates to an Incentive Stock Option must be granted at the same time the Incentive Stock Option is granted. 

 

(c)The term of a Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, no Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date. 

 

(d)Each Stock Appreciation Right may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Stock Appreciation Right may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised as the Committee may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Stock Appreciation Rights may vary. No Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting and exercisability in the terms of any Stock Appreciation Right upon the occurrence of a specified event. 

 

 

 

(e)Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the holder shall be entitled to receive from the Company an amount equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of  (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Award is exercised, over (ii) the exercise price specified in the Stock Appreciation Right or related Option. Payment with respect to the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be made on the date of exercise. Payment shall be made in the form of shares of Common Stock (with or without restrictions as to substantial risk of forfeiture and transferability, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion), cash or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. 

 

(f)The exercise price of a Free Standing Right shall be determined by the Committee, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date of such Stock Appreciation Right. A Related Right granted simultaneously with or subsequent to the grant of an Option and in conjunction therewith or in the alternative thereto shall have the same exercise price as the related Option, shall be transferable only upon the same terms and conditions as the related Option, and shall be exercisable only to the same extent as the related Option; provided, however, that a Stock Appreciation Right, by its terms, shall be exercisable only when the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right and related Option exceeds the exercise price per share thereof and no Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with an Option unless the Committee determines that the requirements of Section 7.1(b) are satisfied. 

 

(g)Upon any exercise of a Related Right, the number of shares of Common Stock for which any related Option shall be exercisable shall be reduced by the number of shares for which the Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised. The number of shares of Common Stock for which a Related Right shall be exercisable shall be reduced upon any exercise of any related Option by the number of shares of Common Stock for which such Option has been exercised.

 

7.2Restricted Awards. 

 

(a)A Restricted Award is an Award of actual shares of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”) or hypothetical Common Stock units (“Restricted Stock Units”) having a value equal to the Fair Market Value of an identical number of shares of Common Stock, which may, but need not, provide that such Restricted Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of, pledged or hypothecated as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of any obligation or for any other purpose for such period (the “Restricted Period”) as the Committee shall determine. Each Restricted Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Restricted Award so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7.2, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. 

 

(b)Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.

 

(i)Each Participant granted Restricted Stock shall execute and deliver to the Company an Award Agreement with respect to the Restricted Stock setting forth the restrictions and other terms and conditions applicable to such Restricted Stock. If the 

 

 

Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (A) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, if applicable and (B) the appropriate blank stock power with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement. If a Participant fails to execute an agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and stock power, the Award shall be null and void. Subject to the restrictions set forth in the Award, the Participant generally shall have the rights and privileges of a shareholder as to such Restricted Stock, including the right to vote such Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends; provided that, an Award Agreement may provide that any cash dividends and stock dividends with respect to the Restricted Stock shall be withheld by the Company for the Participant’s account, and interest may be credited on the amount of the cash dividends withheld at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee. The cash dividends or stock dividends so withheld by the Committee and attributable to any particular share of Restricted Stock (and earnings thereon, if applicable) shall be distributed to the Participant in cash or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, if applicable, upon the release of restrictions on such share and, if such share is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividends. 

 

(ii)The terms and conditions of a grant of Restricted Stock Units shall be reflected in an Award Agreement. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued at the time a Restricted Stock Unit is granted, and the Company will not be required to set aside funds for the payment of any such Award. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder. The Committee may also grant Restricted Stock Units with a deferral feature, whereby settlement is deferred beyond the vesting date until the occurrence of a future payment date or event set forth in an Award Agreement (“Deferred Stock Units”). At the discretion of the Committee, each Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit (representing one share of Common Stock) may be credited with an amount equal to the cash and stock dividends paid by the Company in respect of one share of Common Stock (“Dividend Equivalents”). An Award Agreement may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid currently (and in no case later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividend is paid to the holders of the Common Stock or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date the dividend is paid to holders of the Common Stock). Alternatively, an Award Agreement may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be withheld by the Company and credited to the Participant’s account, and interest may be credited on the amount of cash Dividend Equivalents credited to the Participant’s account at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee. Dividend Equivalents credited to a Participant’s account and attributable to any particular Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit (and earnings thereon, if applicable) shall be distributed in cash or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such Dividend Equivalents and earnings, if applicable, to the Participant upon settlement of such Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit and, if such Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such Dividend Equivalents. 

 

 

 

(c)Restrictions. 

 

(i)Restricted Stock awarded to a Participant shall be subject to the following restrictions until the expiration of the Restricted Period, and to such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement: (A) if an escrow arrangement is used, the Participant shall not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate; (B) the shares shall be subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in the Award Agreement; (C) the shares shall be subject to forfeiture to the extent provided in the applicable Award Agreement; and (D) to the extent such shares are forfeited, the stock certificates shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such shares and as a shareholder with respect to such shares shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company. 

 

(ii)Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units awarded to any Participant shall be subject to (A) forfeiture until the expiration of the Restricted Period, and satisfaction of any applicable Performance Goals during such period, to the extent provided in the applicable Award Agreement, and to the extent such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are forfeited, all rights of the Participant to such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company and (B) such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. 

 

(iii)The Committee shall have the authority to remove any or all of the restrictions on the Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units whenever it may determine that, by reason of changes in Applicable Laws or other changes in circumstances arising after the date the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are granted, such action is appropriate. 

 

(d)With respect to Restricted Awards, the Restricted Period shall commence on the Grant Date and end at the time or times set forth on a schedule established by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement. No Restricted Award may be granted or settled for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting in the terms of any Award Agreement upon the occurrence of a specified event. 

 

(e)Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any shares of Restricted Stock, the restrictions set forth in Section 7.2(c) and the applicable Award Agreement shall be of no further force or effect with respect to such shares, except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. If an escrow arrangement is used, upon such expiration, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his or her beneficiary, without charge, the stock certificate evidencing the shares of Restricted Stock which have not then been forfeited and with respect to which the Restricted Period has expired (to the nearest full share) and any cash dividends or stock dividends credited to the Participant’s account with respect to such Restricted Stock and the interest thereon, if any. Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any outstanding Restricted Stock Units, or at the expiration of the deferral period with respect to any outstanding Deferred Stock Units, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his or her beneficiary, without charge, one 

 

 

share of Common Stock for each such outstanding vested Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit (“Vested Unit”) and cash equal to any Dividend Equivalents credited with respect to each such Vested Unit in accordance with Section 7.2(b)(ii) hereof and the interest thereon or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to such Dividend Equivalents and the interest thereon, if any; provided, however, that, if explicitly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to pay cash or part cash and part Common Stock in lieu of delivering only shares of Common Stock for Vested Units. If a cash payment is made in lieu of delivering shares of Common Stock, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the date on which the Restricted Period lapsed in the case of Restricted Stock Units, or the delivery date in the case of Deferred Stock Units, with respect to each Vested Unit. 

 

(f)Each certificate representing Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan shall bear a legend in such form as the Company deems appropriate. 

 

7.3Performance Awards. 

 

(a)Performance Awards may be granted by the Committee in its sole discretion awarding cash or Performance Shares or a combination thereof based upon the achievement of goals as determined by the Committee. Each Performance Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Performance Award so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7.3, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. The Committee shall have the discretion to determine: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock or stock-denominated units subject to a Performance Award granted to any Participant; (ii) the amount of cash subject to a Performance Award granted to any Participant; (iii) the Performance Period applicable to any Award; (iv) the conditions that must be satisfied for a Participant to earn an Award; and (v) the other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award. 

 

(b)The number of Performance Shares earned by a Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance goals established by the Committee are attained within the applicable Performance Period, as determined by the Committee. 

 

(c)Performance Awards may be paid in shares of Common Stock, cash or other consideration or a combination thereof related to such shares, in a single payment or in installments on such dates as determined by the Committee, all as specified in the Award Agreement.

 

7.4Other Equity-Based Awards.   The Committee may grant Other Equity-Based Awards, either alone or in tandem with other Awards, in such amounts and subject to such conditions as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. Each Other Equity-Based Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and shall be subject to such conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement.    

 

8.Securities Law Compliance.   Each Award Agreement shall provide that no shares of Common Stock shall be purchased or sold thereunder unless and until (a) any then applicable requirements of state or federal laws and regulatory agencies have been fully complied with to the 

 

 

satisfaction of the Company and its counsel and (b) if required to do so by the Company, the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company a letter of investment intent in such form and containing such provisions as the Committee may require. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Awards; provided, however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Awards unless and until such authority is obtained.

 

9.Use of Proceeds from Stock.   Proceeds from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Awards, or upon exercise thereof, shall constitute general funds of the Company. 

 

10.Miscellaneous. 

 

10.1Acceleration of Exercisability and Vesting.   The Committee shall have the power to accelerate the time at which an Award may first be exercised or the time during which an Award or any part thereof will vest in accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Award stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest. 

 

10.2Shareholder Rights.   Except as provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement, no Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Award unless and until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Award pursuant to its terms and no adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions of other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Common Stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 11 hereof. 

 

10.3No Employment or Other Service Rights.   Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (a) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without Cause or (b) the service of a Director pursuant to the By-laws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be. 

 

10.4Transfer; Approved Leave of Absence.   For purposes of the Plan, no termination of employment by an Employee shall be deemed to result from either (a) a transfer of employment to the Company from an Affiliate or from the Company to an Affiliate, or from one Affiliate to another, or (b) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the Employee’s right to reemployment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted 

 

 

or if the Committee otherwise so provides in writing, in either case, except to the extent inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code if the applicable Award is subject thereto. 

 

10.5Withholding Obligations.   To the extent provided by the terms of an Award Agreement and subject to the discretion of the Committee, the Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under an Award by any of the following means (in addition to the Company’s right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (a) tendering a cash payment; (b)  authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Award, provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the maximum amount of tax required to be withheld by law; or (c) delivering to the Company previously owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock of the Company. 

 

11.Adjustments Upon Changes in Stock.   In the event of changes in the outstanding Common Stock or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of any stock or extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, an extraordinary corporate transaction such as any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange, or other relevant change in capitalization occurring after the Grant Date of any Award, Awards granted under the Plan and any Award Agreements, the exercise price of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the Performance Goals to which Performance Awards are subject, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to all Awards stated in Section 4 will be equitably adjusted or substituted, as to the number, price or kind of a share of Common Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards to the extent necessary to preserve the economic intent of such Award. In the case of adjustments made pursuant to this Section 11, unless the Committee specifically determines that such adjustment is in the best interests of the Company or its Affiliates, the Committee shall, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, ensure that any adjustments under this Section 11 will not constitute a modification, extension or renewal of the Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code and in the case of Non-qualified Stock Options, ensure that any adjustments under this Section 11 will not constitute a modification of such Non-qualified Stock Options within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any adjustments made under this Section 11 shall be made in a manner which does not adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The Company shall give each Participant notice of an adjustment hereunder and, upon notice, such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes. 

 

12.Effect of Change in Control. 

 

12.1In the event of a Change in Control, the Committee, on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions that the Committee determines to be appropriate with respect to any Award, which may vary among individual Participants and which may vary among Awards held by any individual Participant: 

 

(a)Provide for the cancellation of such Award in exchange for either an amount of cash or other property with a value equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the 

 

 

exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights under the vested portion of such Award, as applicable; provided that, if the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, in any case, is equal to or less than zero, then the Award may be terminated without payment; 

 

(b)Terminate an outstanding and unexercised Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Other Equity-Based Award that provides for a Participant elected exercise, effective as of the date of the Change in Control, by delivering notice of termination to the Participant at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of consummation of the Change in Control, in which case during the period from the date on which such notice of termination is delivered to the consummation of the Change in Control the Participant shall have the right to exercise in full such Participant’s Award (without regard to any limitations on exercisability otherwise contained in the Award Agreement), but any such exercise shall be contingent on the occurrence of the Change in Control; provided that, if the Change in Control does not occur within a specified period after giving such notice for any reason whatsoever, the notice and exercise pursuant thereto shall be null and void; 

 

(c)Provide that: 

 

(i)an outstanding Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Other Equity-Based Award shall become immediately exercisable with respect to 100% of the shares subject to such Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Other Equity-Based Award, and/or the Restricted Period shall expire immediately with respect to 100% of the outstanding shares of an award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement; 

 

(ii)with respect to a Performance Award, (A) any incomplete Performance Period in respect of such Award in effect on the date the Change in Control occurs shall end on the date of such change and the Committee shall (i) determine the extent to which Performance Goals with respect to such Performance Period have been met based upon such audited or unaudited financial information then available as it deems relevant and (ii) cause to be paid to the Participant an amount based upon the Committee’s determination of the degree of attainment of the Performance Goals, or (B) all Performance Goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels and all other terms and conditions will be deemed met. 

 

(iii)Provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by 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/or applicable exercise or purchase price, in all cases, as determined by the Committee to provide substantially equivalent value, in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder, and Treasury Regulation Section 1.424-1, to the extent applicable. 

 

(iv)To the extent applicable and practicable, any actions taken by the Committee under the immediately preceding clauses shall occur in a manner and at a time which allows affected 

 

 

Participants the ability to participate in the Change in Control with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to their Awards. 

 

12.2The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to all or substantially all of the assets and business of the Company and its Affiliates, taken as a whole. 

 

	
13.
	
Amendment of the Plan and Awards. 

 

13.1Amendment of Plan.   The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend or terminate the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 11 relating to adjustments upon changes in Common Stock and Section 13.3, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders of the Company to the extent shareholder approval is necessary to satisfy any Applicable Laws. At the time of such amendment, the Board shall determine, upon advice from counsel, whether such amendment will be contingent on shareholder approval. 

 

13.2Shareholder Approval.   The Board may, in its sole discretion, submit any other amendment to the Plan for shareholder approval. 

 

13.3Contemplated Amendments.   It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees, Consultants and Directors with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options or to the nonqualified deferred compensation provisions of Section 409A of the Code and/or to bring the Plan and/or Awards granted under it into compliance therewith. 

 

13.4No Impairment of Rights.   Rights under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (a) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (b) the Participant consents in writing. 

 

13.5Amendment of Awards.   The Committee at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Awards; provided, however, that the Committee may not affect any amendment which would otherwise constitute an impairment of the rights under any Award unless (a) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (b) the Participant consents in writing. 

 

	
14.
	
General Provisions. 

 

14.1Forfeiture Events.   The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain events, in addition to applicable vesting conditions of an Award. Such events may include, without limitation, breach of non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that are contained in the Award Agreement or otherwise applicable to the Participant, a termination of the 

 

 

Participant’s Continuous Service for Cause, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company and/or its Affiliates.

 

14.2Clawback.   Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan, the Company may cancel any Award, require reimbursement of any Award by a Participant, and effect any other right of recoupment of equity or other compensation provided under the Plan in accordance with any Company policies that may be adopted and/or modified from time to time (“Clawback Policy”). In addition, a Participant may be required to repay to the Company previously paid compensation, whether provided pursuant to the Plan or an Award Agreement, in accordance with the Clawback Policy. By accepting an Award, the Participant is agreeing to be bound by the Clawback Policy, as in effect or as may be adopted and/or modified from time to time by the Company in its discretion (including, without limitation, to comply with applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements). 

 

14.3Other Compensation Arrangements.   Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. 

 

14.4Sub-Plans.   The Committee may from time to time establish sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying securities, tax or other laws of various jurisdictions in which the Company intends to grant Awards. Any sub-plans shall contain such limitations and other terms and conditions as the Committee determines are necessary or desirable. All sub-plans shall be deemed a part of the Plan, but each sub-plan shall apply only to the Participants in the jurisdiction for which the sub-plan was designed. 

 

14.5Unfunded Plan.   The Plan shall be unfunded. Neither the Company, the Board nor the Committee shall be required to establish any special or separate fund or to segregate any assets to assure the performance of its obligations under the Plan. 

 

14.6Recapitalizations.   Each Award Agreement shall contain provisions required to reflect the provisions of Section 11. 

 

14.7Delivery.   Upon exercise of a right granted under this Plan, the Company shall issue Common Stock or pay any amounts due within a reasonable period of time thereafter. Subject to any statutory or regulatory obligations the Company may otherwise have, for purposes of this Plan, 30 days shall be considered a reasonable period of time. 

 

14.8No Fractional Shares.   No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan. The Committee shall determine whether cash, additional Awards or other securities or property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or whether any fractional shares should be rounded, forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

14.9Other Provisions.   The Award Agreements authorized under the Plan may contain such other provisions not inconsistent with this Plan, including, without limitation, restrictions upon the exercise of Awards, as the Committee may deem advisable.

 

 

 

14.10Section 409A.   The Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short-term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Laws require otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six (6) month period immediately following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service shall instead be paid on the first payroll date after the six-month anniversary of the Participant’s separation from service (or the Participant’s death, if earlier). Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor the Committee shall have any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any additional tax or penalty on any Participant under Section 409A of the Code and neither the Company nor the Committee will have any liability to any Participant for such tax or penalty. 

 

14.11Disqualifying Dispositions.   Any Participant who shall make a “disposition” (as defined in Section 424 of the Code) of all or any portion of shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within two years from the Grant Date of such Incentive Stock Option or within one year after the issuance of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of such Incentive Stock Option (a “Disqualifying Disposition”) shall be required to immediately advise the Company in writing as to the occurrence of the sale and the price realized upon the sale of such shares of Common Stock. 

 

14.12Section 16.   It is the intent of the Company that the Plan satisfy, and be interpreted in a manner that satisfies, the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 as promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act so that Participants will be entitled to the benefit of Rule 16b-3, or any other rule promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and will not be subject to short-swing liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, if the operation of any provision of the Plan would conflict with the intent expressed in this Section 14.12, such provision to the extent possible shall be interpreted and/or deemed amended so as to avoid such conflict.

 

14.13Beneficiary Designation.   Each Participant under the Plan may from time to time name any beneficiary or beneficiaries by whom any right under the Plan is to be exercised in case of such Participant’s death. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form reasonably prescribed by the Committee and shall be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime.

 

14.14Expenses.   The costs of administering the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

 

14.15Severability.   If any of the provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, whether in whole or in part, such provision shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby. 

 

 

 

14.16Plan Headings.   The headings in the Plan are for purposes of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the construction of the provisions hereof. 

 

14.17Non-Uniform Treatment.   The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who are eligible to receive, or actually receive, Awards. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled to make non-uniform and selective determinations, amendments and adjustments, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements.

 

15.Effective Date of Plan.   The Plan shall become effective upon the Effective Date, provided that the increase in the Total Share Reserve to occur upon the approval of the Company’s shareholders as provided under Section 4.1 hereof, shall not become effective until such approval is received.

 

16.Termination or Suspension of the Plan.   The Plan shall terminate automatically on the tenth anniversary of the earlier of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or the date that the Company’s shareholders approve the Plan. No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan after such date, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any earlier date pursuant to Section 13.1 hereof. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

 

17.Choice of Law.   The law of the State of Delaware shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s conflict of law rules. 

 

18.Subordination.  Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, if a proposed cash payment under any Award Agreement or this Plan would require approvals under, or conflict with, the terms of (i) the Senior Secured Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated May 7, 2019, by and among the Company, USWS Holdings, LLC, U.S. Well Services, LLC, the guarantors and lenders party thereto and CLMG Corp., as administrative agent and collateral agent, as amended,  (ii) the ABL Credit Agreement dated as of May 7, 2019 among the Company, USWS Holdings, LLC, U.S. Well Services, LLC, the lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other parties thereto, as amended, or (iii) any other financing agreement to which the Company is subject from time to time, then such payment shall in all cases be limited, delayed or otherwise restricted under this Plan so as to cause the Company to comply in all respects with the foregoing financing agreements and to not require the Company to obtain any approvals under such financing agreements.

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