Document:

alamoex101.htm

Exhibit 10.1

ALAMO ENERGY CORP.

2011 STOCK OPTION PLAN

APPROVED BY BOARD ON: December 21, 2011

APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: ___________, 201_

TERMINATION DATE: December 21, 2021

	
1.  

	
General

	
(a)  

	
Plan Adoption. This Plan was adopted by the Board on the Adoption Date to be effective as provided in Section 11 on the Effective Date.

	
(b)  

	
Eligible Award Recipients. The persons eligible to receive Awards are Employees, Directors and Consultants.

	
(c)  

	
Available Awards. The Plan provides for the grant of the following Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory Stock Options, (iii) Restricted Stock Awards, (iv) Restricted Stock Unit Awards, (v) Stock Appreciation Rights, (vi) Performance Stock Awards, (vii) Performance Cash Awards, and (viii) Other Stock Awards.

	
(d)  

	
General Purpose. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to secure and retain the services of the group of persons eligible to receive Awards as set forth in Section 1(b), to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and any Affiliate and to provide a means by which such eligible recipients may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of Stock Awards.

	
2.  

	
Administration

	
(a)  

	
Administration by Board. The Board shall administer the Plan unless and until the Board delegates administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees, as provided in Section 2(c).

	
(b)  

	
Powers of Board. The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

	
(i)  

	
To determine from time to time (A) which of the persons eligible under the Plan shall be granted Awards; (B) when and how each Award shall be granted; (C) what type or combination of types of Award shall be granted; (D) the provisions of each Award granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times when a person shall be permitted to receive cash or Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Award; and (E) the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which a Stock Award shall be granted to each such person.

	
(ii)  

	
To construe and interpret the Plan and Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Award Agreement or in the written terms of a Performance Cash Award, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan or Award fully effective.

	
(iii)  

	
To settle all controversies regarding the Plan and Awards granted under it.

	
(iv)  

	
To accelerate the time at which a Stock 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.

 

  

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(v)  

	
To suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Suspension or termination of the Plan shall not impair rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the affected Participant.

 

	
(vi)  

	
To amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable, including, without limitation, relating to Incentive Stock Options and certain nonqualified deferred compensation under 409A of the Code and/or to bring the Plan or Stock Awards granted under the Plan into compliance therewith, subject to the limitations, if any, of applicable law. However, except as provided in Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment of the Plan that either (i) materially increases the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan, (ii) materially expands the class of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, (iii) materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan or materially reduces the price at which shares of Common Stock may be issued or purchased under the Plan, (iv) materially extends the term of the Plan, or (v) expands the types of Awards available for issuance under the Plan, but only to the extent required by applicable law or listing requirements. Except as provided herein, rights under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (ii) such Participant consents in writing.

 

	
(vii)  

	
To submit any amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of (i) Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate deductibility of compensation paid to Covered Employees, (ii) Section 422 of the Code regarding Incentive Stock Options or (iii) Rule 16b-3.

 

	
(viii)  

	
To approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan and to amend the terms of any one or more Awards, including, but not limited to, amendments to provide terms more favorable than previously provided in the Award Agreement, subject to any specified limits in the Plan that are not subject to Board discretion; provided however, that, the rights under any Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (ii) such Participant consents in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the limitations of applicable law, if any, and without the affected Participant’s consent, the Board may amend the terms of any one or more Awards if necessary to maintain the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option or to bring the Award into compliance with Code Section 409A and the related guidance thereunder.

 

	
(ix)  

	
Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and that are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan or Awards.

 

	
(x)  

	
To adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Employees, Directors or Consultants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States.

 

	
(c)  

	
Delegation to Committee.

 

	
(i)  

	
General. The Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees. If administration of the Plan is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board that have been delegated to the Committee, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee of the Committee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board 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 retain the authority to concurrently administer the Plan with the Committee and may, at any time, revest in the Board some or all of the powers previously delegated.

 

	
(ii)  

	
Section 162(m) and Rule 16b-3 Compliance. In the sole discretion of the Board, the Committee may consist solely of two or more Outside Directors, in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code, or solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3. In addition, the Board or the Committee, in its sole discretion, may (A) delegate to a Committee of Directors who need not be Outside Directors the authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are either (I) not then Covered Employees and are not expected to be Covered Employees at the time of recognition of income resulting from such Stock Award, or (II) not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, or (B) delegate to a Committee of Directors who need not be Non-Employee Directors the authority to grant Stock Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

  

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(d)  

	
Delegation to an Officer. The Board may delegate to one or more Officers the authority to do one or both of the following (i) designate Employees who are not Officers to be recipients of Options (and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, other Stock Awards) and the terms thereof, and (ii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to such Stock Awards granted to such Employees; provided, however, that the Board resolutions regarding such delegation shall specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to the Stock Awards granted by such Officer and that such Officer may not grant a Stock Award to himself or herself. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2(d), the Board may not delegate to an Officer authority to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock pursuant to Section 13(v)(ii) below.

 

	
(e)  

	
Effect of Board’s Decision. All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board in good faith shall not be subject to review by any person and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.

 

	
(f)  

	
Cancellation and Re-Grant of Stock Awards. Neither the Board nor any Committee shall have the authority to: (i) reprice any outstanding Stock Awards under the Plan, or (ii) cancel and re-grant any outstanding Stock Awards under the Plan, unless the stockholders of the Company have approved such an action within twelve (12) months prior to such an event.

 

	
(g)  

	
Arbitration. Any dispute or claim concerning any Stock Awards granted (or not granted) pursuant to the Plan or any disputes or claims relating to or arising out of the Plan shall be fully, finally and exclusively resolved by binding and confidential arbitration conducted pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association in Washoe County, Nevada. The Company and the Participant shall each pay 50% of the arbitration fees. In addition to any other relief, the arbitrator may award to the prevailing party recovery of its attorneys’ fees and costs. By accepting a Stock Award, Participants and the Company waive their respective rights to have any such disputes or claims tried by a judge or jury.

	
3.  

	
Shares Subject to the Plan.

	
(a)  

	
Share Reserve. Subject to the provisions of Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards after the Effective Date shall consist of the sum of (i) Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand (7,500,000) shares to be approved by the stockholders at the 2011 Annual Meeting as part of the approval of this Plan and (ii) the number of shares added to the reserve pursuant to Section 3(b) (the “Share Reserve”). For clarity, the limitation in this subsection 3(a) is a limitation in the number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan. Accordingly, this subsection 3(a) does not limit the granting of Stock Awards except as provided in subsection 7(a). Shares may be issued in connection with a merger or acquisition as permitted by NASD Rule 4350(i)(1)(A)(iii) or, if applicable, NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08, or AMEX Company Guide Section 711 and such issuance shall not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan. Furthermore, if a Stock Award (i) expires or otherwise terminates without having been exercised in full or (ii) is settled in cash (i.e., the holder of the Stock Award receives cash rather than stock), such expiration, termination or settlement shall not reduce (or otherwise offset) the number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan.

 

	
(b)  

	
Additions to the Share Reserve. The share reserve under the Plan also shall be increased from time to time by a number of shares equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that (i) are issuable pursuant to options or stock awards outstanding as of the Effective Date of the Plan.

	
(c)  

	
Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve. If any shares of common stock issued pursuant to a Stock Award are forfeited back to the Company because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required to vest such shares in the Participant, then the shares which are forfeited shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. Also, any shares reacquired by the Company pursuant to subsection 8(g) or as consideration for the exercise of an Option shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection 3(c), any such shares shall not be subsequently issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options.

 

  

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(d)  

	
Incentive Stock Option Limit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3(d), subject to the provisions of Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall be the number of shares of Common Stock in the Share Reserve.

 

	
(e)  

	
Section 162(m) Limitation on Annual Grants. Subject to the provisions of Section 9(a) relating  to Capitalization Adjustments, at such time as the Company may be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, no Employee shall be eligible to be granted during any calendar year Stock Awards whose value is determined by reference to an increase over an exercise or strike price of at least one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Stock Award is granted covering more than One Million (1,000,000) shares of Common Stock.

 

	
(f)  

	
Source of Shares. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Company on the market or otherwise.

	
4.  

	
Eligibility.

	
(a)  

	
Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or a parent corporation or subsidiary corporation (as such terms are defined in Code Sections 424(e) and (f)). Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants.

	
(b)  

	
Ten Percent Stockholders. A Ten Percent Stockholder shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price of such Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant.

	
(c)  

	
Consultants. A Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of a Stock Award only if, at the time of grant, a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act (“Form  S-8”) is not available to register either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such Consultant because of the nature of the services that the Consultant is providing to the Company, because the Consultant is not a natural person, or because of any other rule governing the use of Form  S-8.

	
5.  

	
Option Provisions.

Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates shall be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. If an Option is not specifically designated as an Incentive Stock Option, then the Option shall be a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The provisions of separate Options need not be identical; provided, however, that each Option Agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

	
(a)  

	
Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant or such shorter period specified in the Option Agreement.

 

	
(b)  

	
Exercise Price. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise price of each Option shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be granted with an exercise price lower than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code (whether or not such options are Incentive Stock Options).

 

  

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(c)  

	
Consideration. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable law and as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, by any combination of the methods of payment set forth below. The Board shall have the authority to grant Options that do not permit all of the following methods of payment (or otherwise restrict the ability to use certain methods) and to grant Options that require the consent of the Company to utilize a particular method of payment. The methods of payment permitted by this Section 5(c) are:

	
(i)  

	
by cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company;

 

	
(ii)  

	
pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of the stock subject to the Option, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds;

 

	
(iii)  

	
by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock;

 

	
(iv)  

	
by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Company shall accept a cash or other payment from the Participant to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued; provided, further, that shares of Common Stock will no longer be outstanding under an Option and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that (A) shares are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” (B) shares are delivered to the Participant as a result of such exercise, and (C) shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations; or

 

	
(v)  

	
in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board.

 

	
(d)  

	
Transferability of Options. The Board may, in its sole discretion, impose such limitations on the transferability of Options as the Board shall determine. In the absence of such a determination by the Board to the contrary, the following restrictions on the transferability of Options shall apply:

	
(i)  

	
Restrictions on Transfer. An 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; provided, however, that the Board may, in its sole discretion, permit transfer of the Option in a manner consistent with applicable tax and securities laws upon the Optionholder’s request.

 

	
(ii)  

	
Domestic Relations Orders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order, provided, however, that an Incentive Stock Option may be deemed to be a Nonqualified Stock Option as a result of such transfer.

 

	
(iii)  

	
Beneficiary Designation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form provided by or otherwise 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.

	
(e)  

	
Vesting Generally. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option may vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may or may not be equal. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may or may not be exercised (which may be based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals or other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. The provisions of this Section 5(e) are subject to any Option provisions governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option may be exercised.

 

  

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(f)  

	
Termination of Continuous Service. Unless explicitly provided otherwise in the applicable Option Agreement or other agreement between the Optionholder and the Company, in the event that an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates (other than for Cause or 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 of Continuous Service) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date three (3) months following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein or in the Option Agreement (as applicable), the Option shall terminate.

 

	
(g)  

	
Disability of Optionholder. Unless explicitly provided otherwise in the applicable Option Agreement or other agreement between the Optionholder and the Company, 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 of Continuous Service), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12) months following such termination of Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein or in the Option Agreement (as applicable), the Option shall terminate.

 

	
(h)  

	
Death of Optionholder. Unless explicitly provided otherwise in the applicable Option Agreement or other agreement between the Optionholder and the Company, in the event that (i) an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s death, or (ii) the Optionholder dies within the period (if any) specified in the Option Agreement after the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service for a reason other than 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 (i) the date twelve (12) months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after the Optionholder’s death, the Option is not exercised within the time specified herein or in the Option Agreement (as applicable), the Option shall terminate.

 

	
(i)  

	
Extension of Termination Date. Unless explicitly provided otherwise in the applicable Option Agreement or other agreement between the Optionholder and the Company, if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a period equal to the post-termination exercise period described in Section 5(f), 5(g) or 5(h) above after the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration requirements, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. In addition, unless otherwise provided in an Optionholder’s Option Agreement, if the sale of the Common Stock received upon exercise of an Option following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause) would violate the Company’s insider trading policy, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a period equal to the post-termination exercise period described in Section 5(f), 5(g) or 5(h) above after the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of the Company’s insider trading policy, (ii) the 15th day of the third month after the date on which the Option would cease to be exercisable but for this Section 5(i), or such longer period as would not cause the Option to become subject to Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code; or (iii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement.

 

	
(j)  

	
Termination for Cause. Unless explicitly provided otherwise in an Optionholder’s Option Agreement or other agreement between the Optionholder and the Company, in the event that an Optionholder’s Continuous Service is terminated for Cause, the Option shall terminate upon the termination date of such Optionholder’s Continuous Service, and the Optionholder shall be prohibited from exercising his or her Option from and after the time of such termination of Continuous Service.

 

  

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(k)  

	
Non-Exempt Employees. No Option granted to an Employee that is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act shall be first exercisable for any shares of Common Stock until at least six months following the date of grant of the Option. The foregoing provision is intended to operate so that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise or vesting of an Option will be exempt from his or her regular rate of pay.

 

	
6.  

	
Provisions of Stock Awards other than Options.

 

	
(a)  

	
Restricted Stock Awards. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. To the extent consistent with the Company’s Bylaws, at the Board’s election, shares of Common Stock may be (i) held in book entry form subject to the Company’s instructions until any restrictions relating to the Restricted Stock Award lapse; or (ii) evidenced by a certificate, which certificate shall be held in such form and manner as determined by the Board. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Award Agreements need not be identical, provided, however, that each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

	
(i)  

	
Consideration. A Restricted Stock Award may be awarded in consideration for (A) past or future services actually rendered to the Company or an Affiliate, or (B) any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its sole discretion and permissible under applicable law.

 

	
(ii)  

	
Vesting. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement may be subject to forfeiture to the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board.

 

	
(iii)  

	
Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. In the event a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may receive via a forfeiture condition, any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant which have not vested as of the date of termination of Continuous Service under the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

	
(iv)  

	
Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall be transferable by the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, as the Board shall determine in its sole discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement remains subject to the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

 

	
(b)  

	
Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements need not be identical, provided, however, that each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

	
(i)  

	
Consideration. At the time of grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. The consideration to be paid (if any) by the Participant for each share of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award may be paid in any form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its sole discretion and permissible under applicable law.

 

	
(ii)  

	
Vesting. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit Award as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 

  

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(iii)  

	
Payment. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be settled by the delivery of shares of Common Stock, their cash equivalent, any combination thereof or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.

 

	
(iv)  

	
Additional Restrictions. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board, as it deems appropriate, may impose such restrictions or conditions that delay the delivery of the shares of Common Stock (or their cash equivalent) subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award to a time after the vesting of such Restricted Stock Unit Award.

 

	
(v)  

	
Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares of Common Stock covered by a Restricted Stock Unit Award, as determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. At the sole discretion of the Board, such dividend equivalents may be converted into additional shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award in such manner as determined by the Board. Any additional shares covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award credited by reason of such dividend equivalents will be subject to all the terms and conditions of the underlying Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement to which they relate.

 

	
(vi)  

	
Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, such portion of the Restricted Stock Unit Award that has not vested will be forfeited upon the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service.

 

	
(vii)  

	
Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any Restricted Stock Unit Award granted under the Plan that is not exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code shall contain such provisions so that such Restricted Stock Unit Award will comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Such restrictions, if any, shall be determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement evidencing such Restricted Stock Unit Award. For example, such restrictions may include, without limitation, a requirement that any Common Stock that is to be issued in a year following the year in which the Restricted Stock Unit Award vests must be issued in accordance with a fixed pre-determined schedule.

 

	
(c)  

	
Stock Appreciation Rights. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted as stand-alone Stock Awards or in tandem with other Stock Awards. The terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Right Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Stock Appreciation Right Agreements need not be identical; provided, however, that each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

	
(i)  

	
Term. No Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant or such shorter period specified in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement.

 

	
(ii)  

	
Strike Price. Each Stock Appreciation Right will be denominated in shares of Common Stock equivalents. The strike price of each Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock equivalents subject to the Stock Appreciation Right on the date of grant.

 

	
(iii)  

	
Calculation of Appreciation. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right will be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right) of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of share of Common Stock equivalents in which the Participant is vested under such Stock Appreciation Right, and with respect to which the Participant is exercising the Stock Appreciation Right on such date, over (B) the strike price that will be determined by the Board at the time of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right.

 

	
(iv)  

	
Vesting. At the time of the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Board may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of such Stock Appreciation Right as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 

  

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(v)  

	
Exercise. To exercise any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant must provide written notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the provisions of the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right.

 

	
(vi)  

	
Payment. The appreciation distribution in respect to a Stock Appreciation Right may be paid in Common Stock, in cash, in any combination of the two or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right.

 

	
(vii)  

	
Termination of Continuous Service. In the event that a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates (other than for Cause), the Participant may exercise his or her Stock Appreciation Right (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Stock Appreciation Right as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (A) the date three (3) months following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement), or (B) the expiration of the term of the Stock Appreciation Right as set forth in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. If, after termination, the Participant does not exercise his or her Stock Appreciation Right within the time specified herein or in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement (as applicable), the Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate.

 

	
(viii)  

	
Extension of Termination Date. Unless otherwise provided in a Participant’s Stock Appreciation Right Agreement, if the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a period equal to the post-termination exercise period described in Section 6(c)(vii) above after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right would not be in violation of such registration requirements, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Stock Appreciation Right as set forth in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. In addition, unless otherwise provided in a Participant’s Stock Appreciation Right Agreement, if the sale of the Common Stock received upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause) would violate the Company’s insider trading policy, then the Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a period equal to the post-termination exercise period described in Section 6(c)(vii) above after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right would not be in violation of the Company’s insider trading policy, (ii) the 15th day of the third month after the date on which the Stock Appreciation Right would cease to be exercisable but for this Section 6(c)(viii), or such longer period as would not cause the Stock Appreciation Right to become subject to Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code; or (iii) the expiration of the term of the Stock Appreciation Right as set forth in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement.

 

	
(ix)  

	
Termination for Cause. Except as explicitly provided otherwise in an Participant’s Stock Appreciation Right Agreement, in the event that a Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated for Cause, the Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate upon the termination date of such Participant’s Continuous Service, and the Participant shall be prohibited from exercising his or her Stock Appreciation Right from and after the time of such termination of Continuous Service.

 

	
(x)  

	
Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan that are not exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code shall contain such provisions so that such Stock Appreciation Rights will comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Such restrictions, if any, shall be determined by the Board and contained in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right. For example, such restrictions may include, without limitation, a requirement that a Stock Appreciation Right that is to be paid wholly or partly in cash must be exercised and paid in accordance with a fixed pre-determined schedule.

 

  

9

  

	
(d)  

	
Performance Awards.

	
(i)  

	
Performance Stock Awards. A Performance Stock Award is a Stock Award that may be granted, may vest, or may be exercised based upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Stock Award may, but need not, require the completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. The length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained shall be conclusively determined by the Committee or the Board in its sole discretion. The maximum number of shares that may be granted to any Participant in a calendar year attributable to Stock Awards described in this Section 6(d)(i) shall not exceed the value of Five Hundred Thousand dollars ($500,000) of Common Stock, priced at the time of issue. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the applicable Award Agreement, the Board may determine that cash may be used in payment of Performance Stock Awards.

 

	
(ii)  

	
Performance Cash Awards. A Performance Cash Award is a cash award that may be granted upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Cash Award may also require the completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. The length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained shall be conclusively determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The maximum value that may be granted to any Participant in a calendar year attributable to cash awards described in this Section 6(d)(ii) shall not exceed Five Hundred Thousand dollars ($500,000). The Board may provide for or, subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify, may permit a Participant to elect for, the payment of any Performance Cash Award to be deferred to a specified date or event. The Committee or the Board may specify the form of payment of Performance Cash Awards, which may be cash or other property, or may provide for a Participant to have the option for his or her Performance Cash Award, or such portion thereof as the Board may specify, to be paid in whole or in part in cash or other property. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the applicable Award Agreement, the Board may determine that Common Stock authorized under this Plan may be used in payment of Performance Cash Awards, including additional shares in excess of the Performance Cash Award as an inducement to hold shares of Common Stock.

	
(e)  

	
Other Stock Awards. Other forms of Stock Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock may be granted either alone or in addition to Stock Awards provided for under Section 5 and the preceding provisions of this Section 6. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other Stock Awards will be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock (or the cash equivalent thereof) to be granted pursuant to such Other Stock Awards and all other terms and conditions of such Other Stock Awards.

	
7.  

	
Covenants of the Company.

	
(a)  

	
Availability of Shares. During the terms of the Stock Awards, the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock required to satisfy such Stock Awards.

 

	
(b)  

	
Securities Law Compliance. The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Stock Awards; provided, however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Stock Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority that 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 Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained.

 

	
(c)  

	
No Obligation to Notify. The Company shall have no duty or obligation to any holder of a Stock Award to advise such holder as to the time or manner of exercising such Stock Award. Furthermore, the Company shall have no duty or obligation to warn or otherwise advise such holder of a pending termination or expiration of a Stock Award or a possible period in which the Stock Award may not be exercised. The Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences of a Stock Award to the holder of such Stock Award.

  

10

  

	
8.  

	
Miscellaneous.

 

	
(a)  

	
Use of Proceeds from Sales of Common Stock. Proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall constitute general funds of the Company.

	
(b)  

	
Corporate Action Constituting Grant of Stock Awards. Corporate action constituting a grant by the Company of a Stock Award to any Participant shall be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action, unless otherwise determined by the Board, regardless of when the instrument, certificate, or letter evidencing the Stock Award is communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the Participant.

 

	
(c)  

	
Stockholder Rights. 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 Stock Award unless and until such Participant has exercised the Stock Award pursuant to its terms and the Participant shall not be deemed to be a stockholder of record until the issuance of the Common Stock pursuant to such exercise has been entered into the books and records of the Company.

	
(d)  

	
No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan, any Stock Award Agreement or other instrument executed thereunder or in connection with any Award granted pursuant to the Plan 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 Stock Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultant’s agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the Bylaws 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.

 

	
(e)  

	
Incentive 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 any Affiliates) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the applicable Option Agreement(s).

	
(f)  

	
Investment Assurances. The Company may require a Participant, as a condition of exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Stock Award, (i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participant’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial and business matters and that he or she is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Stock Award; and (ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring Common Stock subject to the Stock Award for the Participant’s own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the Common Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (i) the issuance of the shares upon the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award has been registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (ii) as to any particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the Common Stock.

	
(g)  

	
Withholding Obligations. Unless prohibited by the terms of a Stock Award Agreement, the Company may, in its sole discretion, satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to 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: (i) causing the Participant to tender a cash payment; (ii) withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to the Participant in connection with the Award; (iii) withholding cash from an Award settled in cash; or (iv) by such other method as may be set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

  

11

  

	
(h)  

	
Electronic Delivery. Any reference herein to a “written” agreement or document shall include any agreement or document delivered electronically, or posted on the Company’s intranet.

	
(i)  

	
Deferrals. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board, in its sole discretion, may determine that the delivery of Common Stock or the payment of cash, upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of all or a portion of any Award may be deferred and may establish programs and procedures for deferral elections to be made by Participants. Deferrals by Participants will be made in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Consistent with Section 409A of the Code, the Board may provide for distributions while a Participant is still an employee. The Board is authorized to make deferrals of Stock Awards and determine when, and in what annual percentages, Participants may receive payments, including lump sum payments, following the Participant’s termination of employment or retirement, and implement such other terms and conditions consistent with the provisions of the Plan and in accordance with applicable law.

 

	
(j)  

	
Compliance with 409A. To the extent that the Board determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences specified in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued or amended after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date the Board determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance as may be issued after the Effective Date), the Board may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Board determines are necessary or appropriate to (1) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (2) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance.

	
9.  

	
Adjustments upon Changes in Common Stock; Other Corporate Events.

 

	
(a)  

	
Capitalization Adjustments. In the event of a Capitalization Adjustment, the Board shall appropriately adjust: (i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Section 3(a), (ii) the class(es) and maximum number of securities that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 3(d), (iii) the class(es) and maximum number of securities that may be awarded to any person pursuant to Section 3(e) and 6(d)(i), and (iv) the class(es) and number of securities and price per share of stock subject to outstanding Stock Awards. The Board shall make such adjustments, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

	
(b)  

	
Corporate Transaction. The following provisions shall apply to Stock Awards in the event of a Corporate Transaction unless otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing the Stock Award or any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the holder of the Stock Award or unless otherwise expressly provided by the Board at the time of grant of a Stock Award.

	
(i)  

	
Stock Awards May Be Assumed. Except as otherwise stated in the Stock Award Agreement, in the event of a Corporate Transaction, any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company) may assume or continue any or all Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or may substitute similar stock awards for Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan (including but not limited to, awards to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Corporate Transaction), and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of Common Stock issued pursuant to Stock Awards may be assigned by the Company to the successor of the Company (or the successor’s parent company, if any), in connection with such Corporate Transaction. A surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or its parent) may choose to assume or continue only a portion of a Stock Award or substitute a similar stock award for only a portion of a Stock Award. The terms of any assumption, continuation or substitution shall be set by the Board in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.

 

  

12

  

 

	
(ii)  

	
Stock Awards Held by Current Participants. Except as otherwise stated in the Stock Award Agreement, in the event of a Corporate Transaction in which the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) does not assume or continue such outstanding Stock Awards or substitute similar stock awards for such outstanding Stock Awards, then with respect to Stock Awards that have not been assumed, continued or substituted and that are held by Participants whose Continuous Service has not terminated prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction (referred to as the “Current Participants” ), the vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time at which such Stock Awards may be exercised) shall (contingent upon the effectiveness of the Corporate Transaction) be accelerated in full to a date prior to the effective time of such Corporate Transaction as the Board shall determine (or, if the Board shall not determine such a date, to the date that is five (5) days prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction), and such Stock Awards shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction, and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to such Stock Awards shall lapse (contingent upon the effectiveness of the Corporate Transaction).

 

	
(iii)  

	
Stock Awards Held by Persons other than Current Participants. Except as otherwise stated in the Stock Award Agreement, in the event of a Corporate Transaction in which the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) does not assume or continue such outstanding Stock Awards or substitute similar stock awards for such outstanding Stock Awards, then with respect to Stock Awards that have not been assumed, continued or substituted and that are held by persons other than Current Participants, the vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time at which such Stock Award may be exercised) shall not be accelerated and such Stock Awards (other than a Stock Award consisting of vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock not subject to the Company’s right of repurchase) shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable) prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction; provided, however, that any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to such Stock Awards shall not terminate and may continue to be exercised notwithstanding the Corporate Transaction.

 

	
(iv)  

	
Payment for Stock Awards in Lieu of Exercise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a Stock Award will terminate if not exercised prior to the effective time of a Corporate Transaction, the Board may provide, in its sole discretion, that the holder of such Stock Award may not exercise such Stock Award but will receive a payment, in such form as may be determined by the Board, equal in value to the excess, if any, of (A) the value of the property the holder of the Stock Award would have received upon the exercise of the Stock Award, over (B) any exercise price payable by such holder in connection with such exercise.

 

	
(c)  

	
Change in Control. Except as specifically provided otherwise in the Stock Award Agreement covering a Stock Award or other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant and notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan to the contrary, if (i) a Change in Control occurs and (ii) within the period beginning six (6) months before such Change in Control and ending twelve (12) months after the effective date of such Change in Control a Participant’s Continuous Service (including service with a successor to the Company or an Affiliate) terminates due to an involuntary termination (not including death or Disability) without Cause or due to a voluntary termination for Good Reason, then, as of the date of such termination, (x) each Stock Award held by such Participant shall automatically become fully vested (and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to such acceleration shall lapse in full, as appropriate) and, if applicable, each such Stock Award shall become immediately exercisable in full, and (y) the Participant may exercise his or her Option or Stock Appreciation Right until the earlier of (i) the date one (1) year following such termination, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. In addition, a Stock Award may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after a Change in Control as may be provided in the Stock Award Agreement for such Stock Award or as may be provided in any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant.

 

  

13

  

	
(d)  

	
Potential Reduction of Parachute Payments.

	
(i)  

	
If the acceleration of the vesting and exercisability of Stock Awards provided for in Sections 9(b) and 9(c), together with payments and other benefits of a Participant (collectively, the “Payment”) (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, or any comparable successor provisions, and (ii) but for this Section 9(d) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or any comparable successor provisions (the “Excise Tax” ), then such Payment shall be either (1) provided to such Participant in full, or (2) provided to such Participant as to such lesser extent that would result in no portion of such Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, when taking into account applicable federal, state, local and foreign income and employment taxes, the Excise Tax, and any other applicable taxes, results in the receipt by such Participant, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of the Payment, notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax.

 

	
(ii)  

	
The Company shall appoint a nationally recognized independent accounting firm or consulting firm (the “Accountant”) to make the determinations required hereunder, which accounting firm shall not then be serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group that effected the Change in Control. The Company shall bear all costs and expenses with respect to the determinations the Accountant may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 9(d).

	
(iii)  

	
Unless the Company and such Participant otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this Section 9(d) shall be made in writing in good faith by the Accountant. If a reduction in the Payment is to be made as provided above, reductions shall occur in the following order unless the Participant elects in writing a different order (provided, however, that such election shall be subject to Company approval if made on or after the date that triggers the Payment or a portion thereof): (A) reduction of cash payments; (B) cancellation of accelerated vesting of Options and other Stock Awards; and (C) reduction of other benefits paid to the Participant. If acceleration of vesting of Stock Awards is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of date of grant of the Stock Awards (i.e., the earliest granted Stock Award cancelled last) unless the Participant elects in writing a different order for cancellation.

 

	
(iv)  

	
For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 9(d), the Accountant may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of the Code and other applicable legal authority. The Company and the Participant shall furnish to the Accountant such information and documents as the Accountant may reasonably request in order to make such a determination.

 

	
(v)  

	
If, notwithstanding any reduction described above, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) determines that the Participant is liable for the Excise Tax as a result of the Payment, then the Participant shall be obligated to pay back to the Company, within thirty (30) days after a final IRS determination or, in the event that the Participant challenges the final IRS determination, a final judicial determination, a portion of the Payment (the “Repayment Amount”). The Repayment Amount with respect to the Payment shall be the smallest such amount, if any, as shall be required to be paid to the Company so that the Participant’s net after-tax proceeds with respect to the Payment (after taking into account the payment of the Excise Tax and all other applicable taxes imposed on the Payment) shall be maximized. The Repayment Amount with respect to the Payment shall be zero if a Repayment Amount of more than zero would not result in the Participant’s net after-tax proceeds with respect to the Payment being maximized. If the Excise Tax is not eliminated pursuant to this paragraph, the Participant shall pay the Excise Tax.

 

	
(vi)  

	
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 9(d), if (A) there is a reduction in the Payment as described above, (B) the IRS later determines that the Participant is liable for the Excise Tax, the payment of which would result in the maximization of the Participant’s net after-tax proceeds of the Payment (calculated as if the Payment had not previously been reduced), and (C) the Participant pays the Excise Tax, then the Company shall pay or otherwise provide to the Participant that portion of the Payment that was reduced pursuant to this Section 9(d) contemporaneously or as soon as administratively possible after the Participant pays the Excise Tax so that the Participant’s net after-tax proceeds with respect to the Payment are maximized.

If the Participant either (A) brings any action to enforce rights pursuant to this Section 9(d), or (B) defends any legal challenge to his or her rights under this Section 9(d), the Participant shall be entitled to recover attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in connection with such action, regardless of the outcome of such action; provided, however, that if such action is commenced by the Participant, the court finds that the action was brought in good faith.

  

14

  

	
10.  

	
Termination or Suspension of the Plan.

	
(a)  

	
Plan Term. Unless sooner terminated by the Board pursuant to Section 3, the Plan shall automatically terminate on the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or approved by the stockholders of the Company, whichever is earlier. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

 

	
(b)  

	
No Impairment of Rights. Termination of the Plan shall not impair rights and obligations under any Award granted while the Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the affected Participant.

	
11.  

	
Effective Date of Plan.

      This Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date. If the Plan has not been approved by the stockholders of the Company by the first anniversary of the Adoption Date, the adoption of the Plan shall be null and void.

	
12.  

	
Choice of Law.

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

	
13.  

	
Definitions.

 

      As used in the Plan, the definitions contained in this Section 13 shall apply to the capitalized terms indicated below:

	
(a)  

	
“Adoption Date” means December 21, 2011, the date the Plan was adopted by the Board.

	
  

	
 

	
(b)  

	
“Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “subsidiary” as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. The Board shall have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent” or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition.

	
  

	
 

	
(c)  

	
“Award” means a Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award.

	
  

	
 

	
(d)  

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

	
(e)  

	
“Capitalization Adjustment” means any change that is made in, or other events that occur with respect to, the Common Stock subject to the Plan or subject to any Stock Award after the Effective Date without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as a transaction “without receipt of consideration” by the Company.

	
(f)  

	
“Cause” means with respect to a Participant, the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) such Participant’s commission of any felony or any crime involving fraud or moral turpitude under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (ii) such Participant’s attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) such Participant’s intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between the Participant and the Company or of any statutory duty owed to the Company; (iv) such Participant’s intentional unauthorized use or intentional disclosure of the Company’s confidential information or trade secrets; or (v) such Participant’s gross misconduct. The determination that a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service is either for Cause or without Cause shall be made by the Company in good faith in its sole discretion. Any determination by the Company that the Continuous Service of a Participant was terminated by reason of dismissal without Cause for the purposes of outstanding Awards held by such Participant shall have no effect upon any determination of the rights or obligations of the Company or such Participant for any other purpose.

  

15

  

	
(g)  

	
“Change In Control,” with respect to Awards granted on or after the Effective Date, will be deemed to have occurred upon the first to occur of an event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs:

 

	
(i)  

	
the acquisition (other than from the Company, by any person (as such term is defined in Section 13(c) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”)) of beneficial Ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act) of thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities;

	
  

	 

	
(ii)  

	
the individuals who, as of the Effective Date, are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, unless the election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Board, and such new director shall, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; or

	
  

	
 

	
(iii)  

	
the closing of:

 

	
(1)  

	
a merger or consolidation involving the Company if the stockholders of the Company, immediately before such merger or consolidation, do not, as a result of such merger or consolidation, Own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as their Ownership of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately before such merger or consolidation; or

	
  

	
 

	
(2)  

	
a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or an agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

	
  

	 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities is acquired by (i) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under one or more employee benefit plans maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) any corporation which, immediately prior to such acquisition, is Owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in the same proportion as their Ownership of stock in the Company immediately prior to such acquisition.

	
  

	 

For the avoidance of doubt, the term Change in Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company.

	
  

	 

Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Plan, the definition of Change in Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant shall supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Awards subject to such agreement; provided, however, that if no definition of Change in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition shall apply.

	
  

	 

In the event that a Change in Control affects any Award that is deferred on or after January 1, 2005, then to the extent necessary to avoid the adverse tax treatment contained in Code Section 409A(a)(1), the term “Change in Control” shall conform to the definition of Change of Control under Section 409A of the Code, as amended, and the Treasury Department or Internal Revenue Service Regulations or Guidance issued thereunder.

	
(h)  

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

	
(i)  

	
“Committee” means a committee of one (1) or more Directors to whom authority has been delegated by the Board in accordance with Section 2(c).

	
(j)  

	
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

	
(k)  

	
“Company” means Alamo Energy Corp., a Nevada corporation.

 

  

16

  

	
(l)  

	
“Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, who is (i) engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and is compensated for such services, or (ii) serving as a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate and is compensated for such services. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such service, shall not cause a Director to be considered a “Consultant” for purposes of the Plan.

	
(m)  

	
“Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. 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 service with the Company or an Affiliate, shall not terminate a Participant’s Continuous Service. For example, a change in status from an employee of the Company to a consultant to an Affiliate or to a Director shall not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. To the extent permitted by law, the Board, or the President, or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, in that party’s 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 leave. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence shall be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in a Stock Award only to such extent as may be provided in the Company’s leave of absence policy, in the written terms of any leave of absence agreement or policy applicable to the Participant, or as otherwise required by law.

	
(n)  

	
“Corporate Transaction” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:

	
(i)  

	
a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

	
  

	
 

	
(ii)  

	
a sale or other disposition of at least ninety percent (90%) of the outstanding securities of the Company;

	
(iii)  

	
the consummation of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or

	
(iv)  

	
the consummation of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger, consolidation or similar transaction are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger, consolidation or similar transaction into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise.

 

	
(o)  

	
“Covered Employee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

	
(p)  

	
“Director” means a member of the Board.

	
(q)  

	
“Disability” means, with respect to a Participant, the inability of such Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as provided in Section 22(e)(3) and 409A(a)(2)(c)(i) of the Code.

	
(r)  

	
“Effective Date” means the effective date of this Plan document, which is the date of the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, provided this Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders at such meeting.

	
(s)  

	
“Employee” means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such services, shall not cause a Director to be considered an “Employee” for purposes of the Plan.

 

  

17

  

	
(t)  

	
“Entity” means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity.

	
(u)  

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

	
(v)  

	
“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows:

 

	
(i)  

	
If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on the Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the date of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if there is no closing sales price (or closing bid if no sales were reported) for the Common Stock on the date of determination, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price (or closing bid if no sales were reported) on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

	
  

	
 

	
(ii)  

	
In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board in good faith.

 

	
(w)  

	
“Good Reason” means, with respect to a particular Participant, the occurrence of any of the following events, conditions or actions taken by the Company without Cause and without such Participant’s consent: (i) Participant’s duties or responsibilities are materially diminished (and not simply a change in title or reporting relationships); provided, however, that the Participant shall not have “Good Reason” to terminate if the Company is retained as a separate legal entity or business unit following the effective date of a Change of Control and the Participant holds the same position in such legal entity or business unit as the eligible employee held before the effective date of such Change of Control, (ii) any reduction in such Participant’s level of base salary (except for salary decreases generally applicable to the Company’s other similarly-situated employees), (iii) any significant reduction, in the aggregate, in the employee benefit programs made available to the Participant other than a reduction in such employee benefit programs affecting all employees of the Company substantially equally, or (iv) an increase in the Participant’s one-way driving distance from the Participant’s principal personal residence to the principal office or business location at which the Participant is required to perform services of more than 20 miles, except for required travel for the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with the Participant’s prior business travel obligations;.

	
  

	
 

	
(x)  

	
“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to be, and qualifies as, an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

	
(y)  

	
“Non-Employee Director” means a Director who either (i) is not a current employee or officer of the Company or an Affiliate, does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, from the Company or an Affiliate for services rendered as a consultant, or in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation  S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (“Regulation  S-K”)), does not possess an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation  S-K, and is not engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule  16b-3.

	
(z)  

	
“Nonstatutory Stock Option” means any Option that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

	
  

	
 

	
(aa)  

	
“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.

	
(bb)  

	
“Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the Plan.

	
  

	
 

	
(cc)  

	
“Option Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of an Option grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

  

18

  

	
(dd)  

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

	
(ee)  

	
“Other Stock Award” means an award based in whole or in part by reference to the Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(d).

	
  

	 

	
(ff)  

	
“Other Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of an Other Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an Other Stock Award grant. Each Other Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

	
(gg)  

	
“Outside Director” means a Director who either (i) is not a current employee of the Company or an “affiliated corporation” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code), is not a former employee of the Company or an “affiliated corporation” who receives compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan) during the taxable year, has not been an officer of the Company or an “affiliated corporation,” and does not receive remuneration from the Company or an “affiliated corporation,” either directly or indirectly, in any capacity other than as a Director, or (ii) is otherwise considered an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

	
(hh)  

	
“Own,” “Owned,” “Owner,” “Ownership” A person or Entity shall be deemed to “Own,” to have “Owned,” to be the “Owner” of, or to have acquired “Ownership” of securities if such person or Entity, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such securities.

	
(ii)  

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

	
  

	
 

	
(jj)  

	
“Performance Cash Award” means an award of cash granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(d)(ii).

	
  

	
 

	
(kk)  

	
“Performance Criteria” means the one or more criteria that the Board shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goals for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that shall be used to establish such Performance Goals may be based on any one of, or combination of, the following: (i) earnings per share; (ii) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (iii) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (iv) total stockholder return; (v) return on equity; (vi) return on assets, investment, or capital employed; (vii) operating margin; (viii) gross margin; (ix) operating income; (x) net income (before or after taxes); (xi) net operating income; (xii) net operating income after tax; (xiii) pre-tax profit; (xiv) operating cash flow; (xv) sales or revenue targets; (xvi) increases in revenue or product revenue; (xvii) expenses and cost reduction goals; (xviii) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (xix) economic value added (or an equivalent metric); (xx) market share; (xxi) cash flow; (xxii) cash flow per share; (xxiii) share price performance; (xxiv) debt reduction; (xxv) implementation or completion of projects or processes; (xxvi) customer satisfaction; (xxvii) stockholders’ equity; and (xxviii) to the extent that an Award is not intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, other measures of performance selected by the Board. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in the payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the Stock Award Agreement or the written terms of a Performance Cash Award. The Board shall, in its sole discretion, define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period.

	
  

	
 

	
(ll)  

	
“Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Board for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria. Performance Goals may be based on a Company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, Affiliates, or business segments, and in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant indices. At the time of the grant of any Award, the Board is authorized to determine whether, when calculating the attainment of Performance Goals for a Performance Period: (i) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (ii) to exclude exchange rate effects, as applicable, for non-U.S. dollar denominated net sales and operating earnings; (iii) to exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting standards required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board; (iv) to exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments to corporate tax rates; and (v) to exclude the effects of any “extraordinary items” as determined under generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, the Board retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment of Performance Goals.

 

  

19

  

	
(mm)  

	
“Performance Period” means the period of time selected by the Board 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 Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award. Performance Periods may be of varying and overlapping duration, at the sole discretion of the Board.

	
  

	
 

	
(nn)  

	
“Performance Stock Award” means a Stock Award granted under the terms and conditions of Section 6(d)(i).

	
  

	
 

	
(oo)  

	
“Plan” means this Alamo Energy Corp. 2011 Stock Option Plan.

	
  

	
 

	
(pp)  

	
“Restricted Stock Award” means an award of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(a).

	
  

	
 

	
(qq)  

	
“Restricted Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

	
  

	
 

	
(rr)  

	
“Restricted Stock Unit Award” means a right to receive shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(b).

	
  

	
 

	
(ss)  

	
“Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Unit Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Unit Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

	
  

	
 

	
(tt)  

	
“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.

	
  

	
 

	
(uu)  

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

	
  

	
 

	
(vv)  

	
“Stock Appreciation Right” means a right to receive the appreciation on Common Stock that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(c).

	
(ww)  

	
“Stock Appreciation Right Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Appreciation Right evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Appreciation Right grant. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

	
(xx)  

	
“Stock Award” means any right to receive Common Stock granted under the Plan, including an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a Restricted Stock Award, a Restricted Stock Unit Award, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Performance Stock Award or any Other Stock Award.

	
  

	
 

	
(yy)  

	
“Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

	
  

	
 

	
(zz)  

	
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Owned by the Company, and (ii) any partnership in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than fifty percent (50%).

	
  

	
 

	
(aaa)  

	
“Ten Percent Stockholder” means a person who Owns (or is deemed to Own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

 

20nano_ex43.htm

EXHIBIT 4.3

 

NATURALNANO, INC.

2012 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

Section 1. Purpose. The purposes of this NaturalNano, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") are to encourage selected employees, officers, directors and consultants of, and other individuals providing services to, NaturalNano, Inc. (together with any successor thereto, the "Company") and its Affiliates (as defined below) to acquire a proprietary interest in the growth and performance of the Company, to generate an increased incentive to contribute to the Company's future success and prosperity thus enhancing the value of the Company for the benefit of its stockholders, and to enhance the ability of the Company and its Affiliates to attract and retain exceptionally qualified individuals upon whom, in large measure, the sustained progress, growth and profitability of the Company depend.

Section 2. Definitions. As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

"Affiliate" shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, as determined by the Board.

"Award" shall mean any Restricted Security granted under the Plan.

"Award Agreement" shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted under the Plan.

"Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

"Cause", as used in connection with the termination of a Participant's employment or a Participant's consulting relationship, as the case may be, shall mean (i) with respect to any Participant employed under a written employment agreement or otherwise providing services to the Company pursuant to a written agreement with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company which agreement includes a definition of "cause," "cause" as defined in such agreement or, if such agreement contains no such definition, a material breach by the Participant of such agreement, or (ii) with respect to any other Participant, the failure to perform adequately in carrying out such Participant's employment or consulting responsibilities, as the case may be, including any directives from the Board, or engaging in such behavior in his personal or business life as to lead the Board in its reasonable judgment to determine that it is in the best interests of the Company to terminate his employment or consulting relationship, as the case may be.

"Common Stock" shall mean the common stock of the Company.

"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

"Common Shares" shall mean any or all, as applicable, of the Common Stock and such other securities or property as may become the subject of Awards, or become subject to Awards, pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 4(b) of the Plan and any other securities of the Company or any Affiliate or any successor that may be so designated by the Board.

 

  

1

  

"Employee" shall mean any employee, agent, consultant or representative of the Company or of any Affiliate.

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

 

"Fair Market Value" shall mean (A) with respect to any property other than the Common Shares, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Board; and (B) with respect to the Common Shares, the last sale price regular way on the date of reference, or, in case no sale takes place on such date, the average of the high bid and low asked prices, in either case on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Shares are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Common Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last sale price reported on the National

 

Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") on such date, or the last sale price in the over-the-counter market reported on the NASD OTC Bulletin Board on such date, whichever is applicable, or if there are no such prices reported on the NASD OTC Bulletin Board on such date, as furnished to the Board by any New York Stock Exchange member selected from time to time by the Board for such purpose. If there is no bid or asked price reported on any such date, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board in accordance with the regulations promulgated under Section 2031 of the Code, or by any other appropriate method selected by the Board.

"Good Reason", as used in connection with the termination of a Participant's employment or consulting relationship, as the case may be, shall mean (i) with respect to any Participant employed under a written employment agreement or otherwise providing services to the Company pursuant to a written agreement with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, "good reason" as defined in such written agreement or, if such agreement contains no such definition, a material breach by the Company of such agreement, or (ii) with respect to any other Participant, a failure by the Company to pay such Participant any amount otherwise vested and due and a continuation of such failure for 30 business days following notice to the Company thereof.

"Participant" shall mean any individual granted an Award under the Plan.

"Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or government or political subdivision thereof.

"Released Securities" shall mean securities that were Restricted Securities but with respect to which all applicable restrictions have expired, lapsed or been waived in accordance with the terms of the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement.

"Restricted Securities" shall mean any Common Shares granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan, any right granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that is denominated in Common Shares or any other Award under which issued and outstanding Common Shares are held subject to certain restrictions.

"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

  

2

  

Section 3. Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Board. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Board by the Plan, the Board shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to an eligible Employee or other individual under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of Common Shares to be covered by Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised, or canceled, forfeited or suspended, and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited or suspended; (vi) determine requirements for the vesting of Awards or performance criteria to be achieved in order for Awards to vest; (vii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Common Shares payable with respect to an Award under the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Board; (viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; (ix) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Board deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Board, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, any stockholder and any Employee. No Awards under this Plan shall be granted after June 1, 2021.

 

Section 4. Common Shares Available for Awards.

(a)   Common Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b):

 

(i) Calculation of Number of Common Shares Available. The number of Common Shares available for granting Awards under the Plan shall be 30,000,000, any or all of which may be or may be based on Common Stock, any other security which becomes the subject of Awards, or any combination thereof. Initially 30,000,000 shares of Common Stock shall be reserved for Awards hereunder. Further, if, after the date of the Plan, any Common Shares covered by an Award granted under the Plan or to which such an Award, are forfeited, or if an Award otherwise terminates or is canceled without the delivery of Common Shares, then the Common Shares covered by such Award or to which such Award relates, or the number of Common Shares otherwise counted against the aggregate number of Common Shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture, termination or cancellation, shall again be, or shall become, available for granting Awards under the Plan.

 

(ii) Sources of Common Shares Deliverable Under Awards. Any Common Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Common Shares or of treasury Common Shares.

                                    

(b) Adjustments. In the event that the Board shall determine that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Common Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Common Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Board to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Board shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and kind of Common Shares (or other securities or property) which thereafter may be made the subject of Awards, (ii) the number and kind of Common Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and (iii) the grant or exercise price with respect to any Award or, if deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award; provided, however, that the number of Common Shares subject to any Award denominated in Common Shares shall always be a whole number.

 

  

3

  

Section 5. Eligibility. Any Employee, including any officer or employee-director of the Company or of any Affiliate, and any consultant of, or other individual providing services to, the Company or any Affiliate shall be eligible to be designated a Participant.

Section 6. Awards.

(a) Restricted Securities.

(i) Issuance. The Board is hereby authorized to grant to eligible Employees "Restricted Securities" which shall consist of the right to receive, by purchase or otherwise, Common Shares which may be subject to such restrictions as the Board may impose (including, without limitation, any limitation on the right to vote such Common Shares or the right to receive any dividend or other right or property), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or otherwise, as the Board may deem appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company registers this Plan or the Restricted Securities which may be issued hereunder, the Securities shall have no transfer restrictions thereon

(ii) Registration. Restricted Securities granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Board may deem appropriate, including, without limitation, book-entry registration or issuance of a stock certificates or certificates. In the event any stock certificate is issued in respect of Restricted Securities granted under the Plan, such certificate shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Securities.

 

(iii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Board, upon termination of a Participant's employment or a Participant's consulting relationship, as the  case may be, for any reason during the applicable restriction period, all of such Participant's Restricted Securities which had not become Released Securities by the date of termination of employment or consulting relationship shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided, however, that the Board may, when it finds that a waiver would be in the best interests of the Company, waive in whole or in part any or all remaining restrictions with respect to such Participant's Restricted Securities. Unrestricted Common Shares, evidenced in such manner as the Board shall deem appropriate, shall be issued to the holder of Restricted Securities promptly after such Restricted Securities become Released Securities.

 

(b) General.

(i) Limits on Transfer of Awards.

(A) No Award (other than Released Securities), and no right under any such Award, may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution (or, in the case of Restricted Securities, to the Company) and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale or other transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.

(B) Each Award, and each right under any Award, shall be exercisable, during the Participant's lifetime only by the Participant or if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant's guardian or legal representative.

 

  

4

  

(ii) Terms of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Board.

(iii) Common Share Certificates. All certificates for Common Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Board may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which such Common Shares are then listed, and any applicable Federal or state securities laws, and the Board may cause a legend or legends  to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

(v) Delivery of Common Shares or Other Securities and Payment by Participant of Consideration. No Common Shares or other securities shall be delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement is received by the Company. Such payment may be made by such method or methods and in such form or forms as the Board shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Common Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or any combination thereof; provided that the combined value, as determined by the Board, of all cash and cash equivalents and the Fair Market Value of any such Common Shares or other property so tendered to the Company, as of the date of such tender, is at least equal to the full amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement to the Company.

 

Section 7. Amendments. Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law:

(a) Amendments to the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan without the consent of any stockholder, Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award, or other Person; provided, however, that any amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation, or termination that would impair the rights of any Participant, or any other holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted, shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of such Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award, as the case may be.

(b) Amendments to Awards. The Board may amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided, however, that any amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation, cancellation or termination that would impair the rights of any Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted, shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of such Participant or holder or beneficiary of an Award, as the case may be.

                  Section 8. General Provisions.

(a) No Right to Awards. No Employee or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Employees, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

(b) Correction of Defects, Omissions, and Inconsistencies. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to carry the Plan into effect.

(c) Withholding. The Company or any Affiliate shall be authorized to withhold from any Award granted, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Common Shares, other securities, other Awards, or other property) of withholding taxes due in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under such Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company or Affiliate to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes.

 

  

5

  

(d) No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate. Further, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment, free from any liability, or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement.

(e) Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada and applicable Federal law.

 

(f) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award under any law deemed applicable by the Board, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Board, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(g) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

(h) No Fractional Common Shares. No fractional Common Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Board shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Common Shares or whether such fractional Common Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.

(i) Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

 

Section 9. Adoption, Approval and Effective Date of the Plan. The Plan was adopted by the Board effective November 22, 2011.

 

  

6

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