Document:

Exhibit
10.1

Heska
Corporation

1997 Stock Incentive Plan

(As Amended March 6, 2007 and May 5, 2009,

Amended and Restated on February 22, 2012,

Further Amended on March 25, 2014

And Further Amended and Restated on May 6, 2014)

Table
of Contents

	ARTICLE 1. INTRODUCTION	1
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 2. ADMINISTRATION	1 
	2.1	Committee
Composition	 1  
	2.2	Committee
Responsibilities	 2
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 3. SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANTS	2
	3.1	Basic
Limitation	 2
	3.2	Annual
Increase in Shares	 2
	3.3	Additional
Shares	 3
	3.4	One
Time Increase	 3
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 4. ELIGIBILITY	 3
	4.1	Nonstatutory
Stock Options and Restricted Shares	 3
	4.2	Incentive
Stock Options	 3
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 5. OPTIONS	3
	5.1	Stock Option Agreement	3
	5.2	Number of Shares	3
	5.3	Exercise Price	4
	5.4	Exercisability and Term	4
	5.5	Effect
of Change in Control	4
	5.6	Modification
or Assumption of Options	4
	5.7	Buyout
Provisions	4
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 6. PAYMENT FOR OPTION SHARES	5
	6.1	General
Rule	5
	6.2	Surrender
of Stock	5
	6.3	Exercise/Sale	5
	6.4	Exercise/Pledge	5
	6.5	Promissory
Note	5
	6.6	Other
Forms of Payment	5
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 7. [RESERVED]	6
	 	 	
	ARTICLE 8. RESTRICTED SHARES	6
	8.1 
	Time,
Amount and Form of Awards	6
	8.2	Payment
for Awards	6
	8.3	Vesting
Conditions	6
	8.4	Voting
and Dividend Rights	6

 

    	 

    	 

    

	8.5	Section 162(m) Performance Restrictions	6
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 9. PROTECTION AGAINST DILUTION	9
	9.1	Adjustments	9
	9.2	Dissolution
or Liquidation	9
	9.3	Reorganizations	9
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 10. AWARDS UNDER OTHER PLANS	10
		 	 
	ARTICLE 11. LIMITATION ON RIGHTS	10
	11.1	Retention
Rights	10
	11.2	Stockholders’
Rights	10
	11.3	Regulatory
Requirements	10
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 12. WITHHOLDING TAXES	10
	12.1	General	10
	12.2	Share Withholding	10
	12.3	Section 280G	11
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 13. FUTURE OF THE PLAN	11
	13.1	Term
of the Plan	11
	13.2	Amendment
or Termination	11
	 	 	
	ARTICLE 14. DEFINITIONS	11
	14.1	Affiliate	11
	14.2	Award	12
	14.3	Board	12
	14.4	Change in Control	12
	14.5	Code	12
	14.6	Committee 
	12
	14.7	Common Share	12
	14.8	Company	13
	14.9	Consultant	13
	14.10	Employee	13
	14.11
	Exchange Act	13
	14.12	Exercise Price	13
	14.13	Fair Market Value	13
	14.14	ISO	13
	14.15	NQO	13
	14.16	Option	13
	14.17	Optionee	13
	14.18	Outside Director	13
	14.19	Parent	13
	14.20	Participant	13
	14.21	Plan	13
	14.22	Predecessor
Plans	14
	14.23	Restricted
Share	14
	14.24	Reverse
Stock Split	14
	14.25	Stock
Award Agreement	14

 

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	14.26	Stock
Option Agreement	14
	14.27	Subsidiary	14
	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 15. EXECUTION	14
	 	 
	 	 
	 	 

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HESKA
CORPORATION

1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

(As
Amended March 6, 2007 and May 5, 2009

and Amended and Restated on February 22, 2012,

Further
Amended on March 25, 2014

and Further Amended and Restated on May 6, 2014)

ARTICLE 1.

Introduction

The Plan was adopted by the Board effective
March 15, 1997, and was subsequently amended on each of March 6, 2007 and May 5, 2009. In connection with completion of the Company’s
1-for-10 Reverse Stock Split on December 30, 2010, pursuant to Article 9 the Compensation Committee of the Board approved adjustments
to the Plan to reduce by a factor of ten the number of Options and Restricted Shares, and related underlying Common Shares, available
for issuance under the Plan. On February 22, 2012, the Board approved, subject to stockholder approval, further amendments to the
Plan to increase the aggregate number of Common Shares available for issuance under the Plan. On ________, 2014, the Board approved,
subject to stockholder approval, further amendments to the Plan to increase the aggregate number of Common Shares available for
issuance under the Plan, and adding provisions permitting the Committee to make Awards under the Plan that will meet the performance-based
compensation exception to Code Section 162(m).

The purpose of the Plan is to promote
the long-term success of the Company and the creation of stockholder value by (a) encouraging Employees, Outside Directors and
Consultants to focus on critical long-range objectives, (b) encouraging the attraction and retention of Employees, Outside Directors
and Consultants with exceptional qualifications and (c) linking Employees, Outside Directors and Consultants directly to stockholder
interests through increased stock ownership. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Restricted
Shares or Options (which may constitute incentive stock options or nonstatutory stock options).

The Plan shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Colorado (except its choice-of-law provisions).

ARTICLE 2.

ADMINISTRATION.

		2.1	Committee Composition. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.
The Committee shall consist exclusively of two or more directors of the Company, who shall be appointed by the Board. In addition,
the composition of the Committee shall satisfy:

		(a)	Such requirements as the Securities and Exchange Commission may establish for administrators acting under plans intended to
qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3 (or its successor) under the Exchange Act; and

		(b)	Such requirements as the Internal Revenue Service may establish for outside directors acting under plans intended to qualify
for exemption under section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.

The Board may also appoint one or more separate
committees of the Board, each composed of one or more directors of the Company who need not satisfy the foregoing requirements,

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who may administer the Plan with respect to Employees
and Consultants who are not considered officers or directors of the Company under section 16 of the Exchange Act, may grant Awards
under the Plan to such Employees and Consultants and may determine all terms of such Awards.

		2.2	Committee Responsibilities. The Committee shall (a) select the
Employees, Outside Directors and Consultants who are to receive Awards under the Plan, (b) determine the type, number, vesting
requirements and other features and conditions of such Awards, (c) interpret the Plan and (d) make all other decisions relating
to the operation of the Plan. The Committee may adopt such rules or guidelines as it deems appropriate to implement the Plan. The
Committee’s determinations under the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons.

ARTICLE 3.

SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANTS.

		3.1	Basic Limitation. Common Shares issued pursuant to the Plan may
be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. Prior to December 30, 2010, the effective date of the Reverse Stock Split,
the aggregate number of Options and Restricted Shares awarded under the Plan were not to exceed: (a) 1,350,000; plus (b) the aggregate
number of Common Shares remaining available for grants under the Predecessor Plans on March 15, 1997; plus (c) the additional Common
Shares described in Sections 3.2(a) and 3.3; less (d) 250,000. From and after the effective date of the Reverse Stock Split, the
aggregate number of Options and Restricted Shares available for award under the Plan were reduced (pursuant to Article 9) by a
factor of ten as follows: (a) 135,000; plus (b) 10% of the aggregate number of Common Shares that remained available for grants
under the Predecessor Plans on March 15, 1997; plus (c) the additional Common Shares described in Sections 3.2(b) and 3.3 plus
10% of the additional Common Shares described in Section 3.2(a); less (d) 25,000. Subject to stockholder approval, from and after
the effective date of this amended and restated Plan, the aggregate number of Options and Restricted Shares that may be awarded
under the Plan shall be increased by 250,000. No additional grants have been or are permitted to be made under the Predecessor
Plans after March 15, 1997. The limitation of this Section 3.1 shall be further subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 9.

		3.2	Annual Increase in Shares.

		(a)	As of January 1 of each year, commencing with the year 1998 and continuing through January 1, 2007, the aggregate number of
Options and Restricted Shares that may be awarded under the Plan shall be increased by a number of Common Shares equal to the lesser
of (i) 5% of the total number of Common Shares outstanding as of the next preceding December 31 or (ii) 1,500,000. After the annual
increase on January 1, 2007, there shall be no further annual increases under the Plan pursuant to this Section 3.2(a) unless and
until stockholder approval of such increase has been obtained.

		(b)	Subject to stockholder approval, as of the Company’s Annual meeting of stockholders of each given year, commencing with
the Company’s Annual meeting of stockholders in 2012 and continuing through the Company’s Annual meeting of stockholders
in 2016, the aggregate number of Options and Restricted Shares that may be awarded under the Plan shall be increased by a number
of Common Shares

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equal to the lesser of (A) 45,000 and (B) the product
of 5,000 multiplied by the number of non-employee directors serving on the Board as of the Company’s Annual meeting of stockholders
in the particular year of determination. After the annual increase as of the Company’s Annual meeting of stockholders in
2016, there shall be no further annual increases under the Plan pursuant to this Section 3.2(b) unless and until stockholder approval
of such increase has been obtained.

		3.3	Additional Shares. If Options granted under this Plan or under
the Predecessor Plans are forfeited or terminate for any other reason before being exercised, then the corresponding Common Shares
shall become available for the grant of Options and Restricted Shares under this Plan. If Restricted Shares are forfeited, then
the corresponding Common Shares shall again become available for the grant of NQOs and Restricted Shares under the Plan. The aggregate
number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Plan upon the exercise of ISOs shall not be increased when Restricted Shares
are forfeited.

		3.4	One Time Increase. As of May 6, 2014, the aggregate number of Options
and Restricted Shares that may be awarded under the Plan is increased by 130,000 Common Shares. Following their initial grant,
such Common Shares will not again be available for grant under this Plan to the extent they are forfeited under the terms of the
corresponding Options and/or Restricted Shares.

ARTICLE 4.

ELIGIBILITY.

		4.1	Nonstatutory Stock Options and Restricted Shares. Only Employees,
Outside Directors and Consultants shall be eligible for the grant of NQOs and Restricted Shares.

		4.2	Incentive Stock Options. Only Employees who are common-law employees
of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs. In addition, an Employee who owns more than 10%
of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company or any of its Parents or Subsidiaries shall
not be eligible for the grant of an ISO unless the requirements set forth in section 422(c)(6) of the Code are satisfied.

ARTICLE 5.

OPTIONS.

		5.1	Stock Option Agreement. Each grant of an Option under the Plan
shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Such Option shall be subject to all applicable
terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The Stock Option Agreement shall
specify whether the Option is an ISO or an NQO. The provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements entered into under the Plan
need not be identical. Options may be granted in consideration of a cash payment or in consideration of a reduction in the Optionee’s
other compensation. A Stock Option Agreement may provide that a new Option will be granted automatically to the Optionee when he
or she exercises a prior Option and pays the Exercise Price in the form described in Section 6.2.

		5.2	Number of Shares. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the
number of Common Shares subject to the Option and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in

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accordance with Article 9. Options granted to any
Optionee in a single fiscal year of the Company shall not cover more than 50,000 Common Shares, except that Options granted to
a new Employee in the fiscal year of the Company in which his or her service as an Employee first commences shall not cover more
than 100,000 Common Shares. The limitations set forth in the preceding sentence shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with
Article 9.

		5.3	Exercise Price. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the Exercise
Price; provided that the Exercise Price under an ISO shall in no event be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Common Share
on the date of grant and the Exercise Price under an NQO shall in no event be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of a Common
Share on the date of grant. In the case of an NQO, a Stock Option Agreement may specify an Exercise Price that varies in accordance
with a predetermined formula while the NQO is outstanding.

		5.4	Exercisability and Term. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify
the date when all or any installment of the Option is to become exercisable. The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify the
term of the Option; provided that the term of an ISO shall in no event exceed 10 years from the date of grant. A Stock Option Agreement
may provide for accelerated exercisability in the event of the Optionee’s death, disability or retirement or other events
and may provide for expiration prior to the end of its term in the event of the termination of the Optionee’s service. NQOs
may also be awarded in combination with Restricted Shares, and such an Award may provide that the NQOs will not be exercisable
unless the related Restricted Shares are forfeited.

		5.5	Effect of Change in Control. The Committee may determine, at the
time of granting an Option or thereafter, that such Option shall become exercisable as to all or part of the Common Shares subject
to such Option in the event that a Change in Control occurs with respect to the Company, subject to the following limitations:

		(a)	In the case of an ISO, the acceleration of exercisability shall not occur without the Optionee’s written consent.

		(b)	If the Company and the other party to the transaction constituting a Change in Control agree that such transaction is to be
treated as a “pooling of interests” for financial reporting purposes, and if such transaction in fact is so treated,
then the acceleration of exercisability shall not occur to the extent that the surviving entity’s independent public accountants
determine in good faith that such acceleration would preclude the use of “pooling of interests” accounting.

		5.6	Modification or Assumption of Options. Within the limitations of
the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or assume outstanding options or may accept the cancellation of outstanding options
(whether granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new options for the same or a different number
of shares and at the same or a different exercise price. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of an Option shall, without
the consent of the Optionee, alter or impair his or her rights or obligations under such Option.

		5.7	Buyout Provisions. The Committee may at any time (a) offer to buy
out for a payment in cash or cash equivalents an Option previously granted or (b) authorize an Optionee to elect to

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cash out an Option previously granted, in either
case at such time and based upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish.

ARTICLE 6.

PAYMENT FOR OPTION SHARES.

		6.1	General Rule. The entire Exercise Price of Common Shares issued
upon exercise of Options shall be payable in cash or cash equivalents at the time when such Common Shares are purchased, except
as follows:

		(a)	In the case of an ISO granted under the Plan, payment shall be made only pursuant to the express provisions of the applicable
Stock Option Agreement. The Stock Option Agreement may specify that payment may be made in any form(s) described in this Article
6.

		(b)	In the case of an NQO, the Committee may at any time accept payment in any form(s) described in this Article 6.

		6.2	Surrender of Stock. To the extent that this Section 6.2 is applicable,
all or any part of the Exercise Price may be paid by surrendering, Common Shares that are already owned by the Optionee. Such Common
Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date when the new Common Shares are purchased under the Plan. The Optionee
shall not surrender Common Shares in payment of the Exercise Price if such action would cause the Company to recognize compensation
expense (or additional compensation expense) with respect to the Option for financial reporting purposes.

		6.3	Exercise/Sale. To the extent that this Section 6.3 is applicable,
all or any part of the Exercise Price and any withholding taxes may be paid by delivering (on a form prescribed by the Company)
an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell all or part of the Common Shares being purchased
under the Plan and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company.

		6.4	Exercise/Pledge. To the extent that this Section 6.4 is applicable,
all or any part of the Exercise Price and any withholding taxes may be paid by delivering (on a form prescribed by the Company)
an irrevocable direction to pledge all or part of the Common Shares being purchased under the Plan to a securities broker or lender
approved by the Company, as security for a loan, and to deliver all or part of the loan proceeds to the Company.

		6.5	Promissory Note. To the extent that this Section 6.5 is applicable,
all or any part of the Exercise Price and any withholding taxes may be paid by delivering (on a form prescribed by the Company)
a full-recourse promissory note; provided that the par value of the Common Shares being purchased under the Plan shall be paid
in cash or cash equivalents.

		6.6	Other Forms of Payment. To the extent that this Section 6.6 is
applicable, all or any part of the Exercise Price and any withholding taxes may be paid in any other form that is consistent with
applicable laws, regulations and rules.

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article 7.

[Reserved]

ARTICLE 8.

RESTRICTED SHARES.

		8.1	Time, Amount and Form of Awards. Awards under the Plan may be granted
in the form of Restricted Shares. Restricted Shares may also be awarded in combination with NQOs, and such an Award may provide
that the Restricted Shares will be forfeited in the event that the related NQOs are exercised. The maximum aggregate number of
Common Shares that may be granted in the form of Restricted Shares in any one calendar year to any one Participant is 45,000, except:
(a) with respect to the Restricted Shares granted in 2014 pursuant to Section 3.4, for which the annual limit is 130,000,
and (b) a new Employee may receive a grant of up to 75,000 Restricted Shares in the fiscal year of the Company in which his
or her service with the Company begins.

		8.2	Payment for Awards. To the extent that an Award is granted in the
form of newly issued Restricted Shares, the Award recipient, as a condition to the grant of such Award, shall be required to pay
the Company in cash, cash equivalents or any other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Company, including but not limited
to future services, an amount equal to the par value of such Restricted Shares. To the extent that an Award is granted in the form
of Restricted Shares from the Company’s treasury, no cash consideration shall be required of the Award recipients. Any amount
not paid in cash may be paid with a full recourse promissory note.

		8.3	Vesting Conditionse. Each Award of Restricted Shares may or may
not be subject to vesting. Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the
Stock Award Agreement. A Stock Award Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting in the event of the Participant’s death,
disability or retirement or other events. The Committee may determine, at the time of granting Restricted Shares or thereafter,
that all or part of such Restricted Shares shall become vested in the event that a Change in Control occurs with respect to the
Company, except as provided in the next following sentence. If the Company and the other party to the transaction constituting
a Change in Control agree that such transaction is to be treated as a “pooling of interests” for financial reporting
purposes, and if such transaction in fact is so treated, then the acceleration of vesting shall not occur to the extent that the
surviving entity’s independent public accountants determine in good faith that such acceleration would preclude the use of
“pooling of interests” accounting.

		8.4	Voting and Dividend Rights. The holders of Restricted Shares awarded
under the Plan shall have the same voting, dividend and other rights as the Company’s other stockholders. A Stock Award Agreement,
however, may require that the holders of Restricted Shares invest any cash dividends received in additional Restricted Shares.
Such additional Restricted Shares shall be subject to the same conditions and restrictions as the Award with respect to which the
dividends were paid.

		8.5	Section 162(m) Performance Restrictions.

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		(a)	In General. For purposes of qualifying grants of Restricted Shares as “performance-based compensation”
under Code Section 162(m), the Committee, in its discretion, may make Restricted Shares subject to vesting based on the achievement
of performance goals, in which case the Committee will specify in writing, by resolution or otherwise, the Participants eligible
to receive such an Award (which may be expressed in terms of a class of individuals) and the performance goals applicable to such
Awards within 90 days after the commencement of the period to which the performance goals relate, or such earlier time as required
to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code. No such Award shall be payable unless the Committee certifies in writing, by resolution
or otherwise, that the performance goals applicable to the Award were satisfied. In no case may the Committee increase the value
of an Award granted under this Section 8.5 above the maximum value determined under the performance formula by the attainment of
the applicable performance goals, but the Committee retains the discretion to reduce the value below such maximum.

		(b)	Performance Goals. Unless and until the Committee proposes for stockholder vote and the stockholders approve
a change in the general performance measures applicable to Awards, the performance goals upon which the payment or vesting of an
Award that is intended to qualify as performance based compensation are limited to the following Performance Measures:

		(1)	operating income;

		(2)	net earnings or net income (before or after taxes);

		(3)	basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes);

		(4)	revenue, revenues, net revenue, net revenues, net revenue growth or net revenue growth;

		(5)	gross revenue or gross revenues;

		(6)	gross profit or gross profit growth;

		(7)	net operating profit (before or after taxes);

		(8)	return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity or sales;

		(9)	cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and cash flow return on capital);

		(10)	earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization;

		(11)	gross or operating margins;

		(12)	improvements in capital structure;

		(13)	budget and expense management;

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		(14)	productivity targets;

		(15)	economic value added or other value added measurements;

		(16)	share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return);

		(17)	expense targets;

		(18)	margins;

		(19)	operating efficiency;

		(20)	working capital targets;

		(21)	enterprise value;

		(22)	safety record;

		(23)	completion of business acquisition, divestment or expansion;

		(24)	operating cash flow;

		(25)	book value;

		(26)	tangible book value;

		(27)	pretax income;

		(28)	net income plus deferred taxes;

		(29)	cash position;

		(30)	total shareholder return;

		(31)	contract or other development of relationship with identified suppliers, distributors or other business partners; or

		(32)	new product development (including but not limited to third-party collaborations or contracts, and with milestones that may
include but are not limited to contract execution, proof of concept, regulatory approval, product launch and targets such as unit
volume and revenue following product launch).

Any performance measures may be
used to measure the performance of the Company as a whole and/or any one or more regional operations and/or Affiliates of the Company
or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, and any performance measures may be used in comparison to the
performance of a group of peer companies, or a published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
The Committee also has the authority to provide in an

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Award for accelerated vesting of an Award based on
the achievement of performance goals.

The Committee may provide in any
Award that any evaluation of attainment of a performance goal may include or exclude any of the following events that occurs during
the relevant period: (a) asset write downs; (b) litigation judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting
principles, or other laws or regulations affecting reported results; (d) any reorganization or restructuring transactions; (e)
extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion
and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
applicable year; and (f) significant acquisitions or divestitures.

In the event that applicable tax
and/or securities laws change to permit discretion by the Committee to alter the governing performance measures without obtaining
stockholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining stockholder
approval. In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant Awards that do not qualify as performance
based compensation, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code

ARTICLE 9.

PROTECTION AGAINST DILUTION.

		9.1	Adjustments. In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Common
Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in Common Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in a form other than Common Shares
in an amount that has a material effect on the price of Common Shares, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Common
Shares (by reclassification or otherwise) into a lesser number of Common Shares, a recapitalization, a spin-off or a similar occurrence,
the Committee shall make such adjustments as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate in one or more of (a) the number of
Options and Restricted Shares available for future Awards under Article 3, (b) the limitations set forth in Section 5.2, (c) the
number of Common Shares covered by each outstanding Option or (d) the Exercise Price under each outstanding Option. Except as provided
in this Article 9, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of any issue by the Company of stock of any class or securities
convertible into stock of any class, any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any stock
dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class.

		9.2	Dissolution or Liquidation. To the extent not previously exercised,
Options shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

		9.3	Reorganizations. In the event that the Company is a party to a
merger or other reorganization, outstanding Options and Restricted Shares shall be subject to the agreement of merger or reorganization.
Such agreement may provide, without limitation, for the continuation of outstanding Awards by the Company (if the Company is a
surviving corporation), for their assumption by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary, for the substitution by
the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary of its own awards for

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such Awards, for accelerated vesting and accelerated
expiration, or for settlement in cash or cash equivalents.

ARTICLE 10.

AWARDS UNDER OTHER PLANS.

The Company may grant awards under
other plans or programs. Such awards may be settled in the form of Common Shares issued under this Plan. Such Common Shares shall
be treated for all purposes under the Plan like Restricted Shares and shall, when issued, reduce the number of Common Shares available
under Article 3.

ARTICLE 11.

LIMITATION ON RIGHTS.

		11.1	Retention Rights. Neither the Plan nor any Award granted under
the Plan shall be deemed to give any individual a right to remain an Employee, Outside Director or Consultant. The Company and
its Parents, Subsidiaries and Affiliates reserve the right to terminate the service of any Employee, Outside Director or Consultant
at any time, with or without cause, subject to applicable laws, the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and
a written employment agreement (if any).

		11.2	Stockholders’ Rights. A Participant shall have no dividend
rights, voting rights or other rights as a stockholder with respect to any Common Shares covered by his or her Award prior to the
time when a stock certificate for such Common Shares is issued or, in the case of an Option, the time when he or she becomes entitled
to receive such Common Shares by filing a notice of exercise and paying the Exercise Price. No adjustment shall be made for cash
dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to such time, except as expressly provided in the Plan.

		11.3	Regulatory Requirements. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding,
the obligation of the Company to issue Common Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations
and such approval by any regulatory body as may be required. The Company reserves the right to restrict, in whole or in part, the
delivery of Common Shares pursuant to any Award prior to the satisfaction of all legal requirements relating to the issuance of
such Common Shares, to their registration, qualification or listing or to an exemption from registration, qualification or listing.

ARTICLE 12.

WITHHOLDING TAXES.

		12.1	General. To the extent required by applicable federal, state, local
or foreign law, a Participant or his or her successor shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the satisfaction
of any withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with the Plan. The Company shall not be required to issue any Common
Shares or make any cash payment under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.

		12.2	Share Withholding. The Committee may permit a Participant to satisfy
all or part of his or her withholding or income tax obligations by having the Company withhold all or a portion of any Common Shares
that otherwise would be issued to him or her or by surrendering all or a portion of any Common Shares that he or she previously
acquired. Such

    	10

    	 

    

Common Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market
Value on the date when taxes otherwise would be withheld in cash.

		12.3	Section 280G. To the extent that any of the payments and benefits
provided for under the Plan or any other agreement or arrangement between the Company or its Affiliates and a Participant (collectively,
the “Payments”) (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Code Section 280G and (ii) but
for this paragraph would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then the Payments shall be payable either
(i) in full or (ii) as to such lesser amount which would result in no portion of such Payments being subject to excise tax under
Section 4999 of the Code (determined in accordance with the reduction of payments and benefits paragraph set forth below); whichever
of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the excise tax imposed by
Section 4999, results in the participant’s receipt on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits under this Plan,
notwithstanding that all or some portion of such benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. Any determination required
under this provision will be made by accountants chosen by the Company, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding upon
the participant and the Company for all purposes.

Except to the extent, if any,
otherwise agreed in writing between a participant and the Company, reduction of payments and benefits hereunder, if applicable,
will be made by reducing, first, payments or benefits to be paid in cash in the order in which such payment or benefit would be
paid or provided (beginning with such payment or benefit that would be made last in time and continuing, to the extent necessary,
through to such payment or benefit that would be made first in time) and, then, reducing any benefit to be provided in-kind hereunder
in a similar order; provided, however, that any reduction or elimination of accelerated vesting of any equity award will first
be accomplished by reducing or eliminating the vesting of such awards that are valued in full for purposes of Section 280G of the
Code, then the reduction or elimination of vesting of other equity awards.

ARTICLE 13.

FUTURE OF THE PLAN.

		13.1	Term of the Plan. The Plan, as set forth herein, shall become effective
on March 14, 1997. The Plan shall remain in effect until it is terminated under Section 13.2, except that no ISOs shall be granted
after May 8, 2022.

		13.2	Amendment or Termination. The Board may, at any time and for any
reason, amend or terminate the Plan. An amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders
only to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations or rules. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the termination
thereof. The termination of the Plan, or any amendment thereof, shall not affect any Award previously granted under the Plan.

ARTICLE 14.

DEFINITIONS. 

		14.1	Affiliate means any entity other than a Subsidiary, if the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries own not less
than 50% of such entity.

    	11

    	 

    

		14.2	Award means any award of an Option or a Restricted Share under the Plan.

		14.3	Board means the Company’s Board of Directors, as constituted from time to time.

		14.4	Change in Control shall mean:

		(a)	The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization,
if more than 50% of the combined voting power of the continuing or surviving entity’s securities outstanding immediately
after such merger, consolidation or other reorganization is owned by persons who were not stockholders of the Company immediately
prior to such merger, consolidation or other reorganization;

		(b)	The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets;

		(c)	A change in the composition of the Board, a result of which fewer than 50% of the incumbent directors are directors who either
(i) had been directors of the Company on the date 24 months prior to the date of the event that may constitute a Change in Control
(the “original directors”) or (ii) were elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes
of at least a majority of the aggregate of the original directors who were still in office at the time of the election or nomination
and the directors whose election or nomination was previously so approved; or

		(d)	Any transaction as a result of which any person is the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing at least 30% of the total voting power represented by the
Company’s then outstanding voting securities. For purposes of this Paragraph (d), the term “person” shall have
the same meaning as when used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act but shall exclude (i) any person, or person affiliated
with said person, who, on March 15, 1997,is the beneficial owner of securities of the Company representing at least 20% of the
total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities (11,607,764), (ii) a trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Parent or Subsidiary and (iii) a corporation
owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the
common stock of the Company.

A transaction shall not constitute a Change in
Control if its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation or to create a holding company that will
be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

		14.5	Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

		14.6	Committee means a committee of the Board, as described in Article 2.

		14.7	Common Share means, as may be applicable, one share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company
to the extent any remains outstanding at the time of determination,

    	12

    	 

    

or one share of Public Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of the Company, to the extent any remains outstanding at the time of determination.

		14.8	Company means either (a) Heska Corporation, a California corporation (prior to the formation of Heska Corporation,
a Delaware corporation), or (b) Heska Corporation, a Delaware corporation (following its formation).

		14.9	Consultant means a consultant or adviser who provides bona fide services to the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary
or an Affiliate as an independent contractor. Service as a Consultant shall be considered employment for all purposes of the Plan,
except as provided in Section 4.2.

		14.10	Employee means a common-law employee of the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate.

		14.11	Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

		14.12	Exercise Price means the amount for which one Common Share may be purchased upon exercise of such Option, as
specified in the applicable Stock Option Agreement.

		14.13	Fair Market Value means the market price of Common Shares, determined by the Committee in good faith on such
basis as it deems appropriate. Whenever possible, the determination of Fair Market Value by the Committee shall be based on the
prices reported in The Wall Street Journal. Such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

		14.14	ISO means an incentive stock option described in section 422(b) of the Code.

		14.15	NQO means a stock option not described in sections 422 or 423 of the Code.

		14.16	Option means an ISO or NQO granted under the Plan and entitling the holder to purchase Common Shares.

		14.17	Optionee means an individual or estate who holds an Option.

		14.18	Outside Director shall mean a member of the Board who is not an Employee. Service as an Outside Director shall
be considered employment for all purposes of the Plan, except as provided in Section 4.2.

		14.19	Parent means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company,
if each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Parent on a date after
the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date.

		14.20	Participant means an individual or estate who holds an Award.

		14.21	Plan means this Heska Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

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		14.22	Predecessor Plans means (a) the 1988 Heska Corporation Stock Plan and (b) the Heska Corporation 1994 Key Executive
Stock Plan.

		14.23	Restricted Share means a Common Share awarded under the Plan.

		14.24	Reverse Stock Split means the Company’s 1-for-10 reverse stock split of its then outstanding Common Shares,
which was approved by the Company’s stockholders and consummated and made effective December 30, 2010.

		14.25	Stock Award Agreement means the agreement between the Company and the recipient of a Restricted Share that contains
the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Restricted Share.

		14.26	Stock Option Agreement means the agreement between the Company and an Optionee that contains the terms, conditions
and restrictions pertaining to his or her Option.

		14.27	Subsidiary means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with
the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more
of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains
the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as of such date.

ARTICLE 15.

EXECUTION.

To record the adoption of the Plan
by the Board, the Company has caused its duly authorized officer to execute this document in the name of the Company.

 

 

	 	HESKA CORPORATION
	 	 
	 	 
	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Jason A. Napolitano
	 	 	Executive
    Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

 

 

    	14Exhibit 10.a

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment
Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into on November 7, 2014 (the "Effective Date"), by
and between First Bancorp (the "Company"), and Eric P. Credle ("Employee"). References to the Company
herein shall be deemed to refer to the Company and its subsidiaries, including First Bank, unless the context requires or the
Agreement provides otherwise.

The
Company desires to continue to employ Employee and Employee desires to accept such continued employment on the terms set forth
below.

In consideration
of the mutual promises set forth below and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the parties
acknowledge, the Company and Employee agree as follows:

1.     EMPLOYMENT.
Employee's employment shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

2.     NATURE
OF EMPLOYMENT/DUTIES. Employee shall serve as Chief Financial Officer/Executive Vice President of First Bank and shall
have such responsibilities and authority as the Company may designate from time to time consistent with his title and position.
As Chief Financial Officer/Executive Vice President, he will be primarily responsible for the financial matters affecting the company,
as well as having shared responsibilities with the CEO and other senior executives as to all enterprise activities.

2.1     Employee
shall perform all duties and exercise all authority in accordance with, and otherwise comply with, all Company policies, procedures,
practices and directions.

2.2     Employee
shall devote substantially all working time, best efforts, knowledge and experience to perform successfully his duties and advance
the Company's interests. During his employment, Employee shall not engage in any other business activities of any nature whatsoever
(including board memberships) for which he receives compensation without the Company's prior written consent; provided, however,
this provision does not prohibit him from personally owning and trading in stocks, bonds, securities, real estate, commodities
or other investment properties for his own benefit which do not create actual or potential conflicts of interest with the Company.

3.     COMPENSATION.

3.1     Base
Salary. Employee's annual base salary for all services rendered shall be Three Hundred Twenty Five Thousand and 00/100
Dollars ($325,000) (less applicable taxes and withholdings) payable in accordance with the Company's customary payroll practices
as they may exist from time to time ("Base Salary").

 

    	 

    	 

    

3.2     Benefits.
Employee may participate in all medical, dental, disability, insurance, 401(k), vacation, leave, and other employee benefit plans
and programs which may be made available from time to time to Company employees at Employee's level; provided, however, that Employee's
participation is subject to the applicable terms, conditions and eligibility requirements of these plans and programs as they may
exist from time to time. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Company to create, continue or refrain from amending, modifying,
revising or revoking any of its group plans, programs or benefits that are offered to employees. Employee acknowledges that the
Company, in its sole discretion, may amend, modify, revise or revoke any such group plans, programs or benefits and any amendments,
modifications, revisions and revocations of these plans, programs and benefits shall apply to Employee.

3.3     Business
Expenses. Employee shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred by him in performing services
under this Agreement in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Company reimbursement policies,
procedures and practices as they may exist from time to time. All such reimbursements shall be made no later than March 15 of the
year following the year in which Employee incurred the expense.

3.4     Clawback.
Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement to the contrary, any incentive-based compensation, or any other compensation,
paid to Employee pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement with the Company which is subject to recovery
under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, including, but not limited to, the Dodd-Frank Wall
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and implementing rules and regulations of that Act, will be subject to such deductions,
recovery, and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement
(or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement). Employee
shall, upon written demand by the Company, promptly repay any such incentive-based compensation or other compensation or take such
other action as the Company may require for compliance with this Section.

4.     TERM
OF EMPLOYMENT AND TERMINATION . The initial term of this Agreement and Employee's employment hereunder shall be
the one-year period commencing on the Effective Date and terminating on the first anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Initial
Term"), provided that, on such anniversary of the Effective Date and on each annual anniversary thereafter, this Agreement
shall automatically renew for successive one year periods on the same terms and conditions set forth herein unless: (a) earlier
terminated or amended as provided herein or (b) either party gives the other written notice of non-renewal at least sixty (60)
days prior to the end of the Initial Term or any renewal term of this Agreement. The Initial Term and all applicable renewals thereof
are referred to herein as the "Term."

4.1     Without
Cause, Upon Notice. Either the Company or Employee may terminate Employee's employment and this Agreement without Cause
at any time upon giving the other party thirty (30) days written notice.

    	 

    	 

    

4.2    For
Cause. The Company may terminate Employee's employment and this Agreement immediately without notice at any time for "Cause,"
which shall mean the following: (i) Employee's demonstrated gross negligence or willful misconduct in the execution of his duties;
(ii) Employee's refusal to comply with the Company's policies, procedures, practices or directions, after notice and opportunity
to cure within fifteen (15) days after such notice; (iii) Employee's commission of an act of dishonesty or moral turpitude; (iv)
Employee's being convicted of a felony; or (v) Employee's breach of this Agreement.

4.3     By
Death or Disability. Employee's employment and this Agreement shall terminate upon Employee's Disability or death. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean Employee's physical or mental inability to perform substantially
all of Employee's duties, with or without reasonable accommodation, for a period of ninety (90) days, whether or not consecutive,
during any 365-day period, as determined in the Company's reasonable discretion and in accordance with any applicable law. The
Company shall give Employee written notice of termination for Disability and the termination shall be effective as of the date
specified in such notice.

4.4     Following
a Change in Control, by Employee for Good Reason. Following a Change in Control, as defined herein, Employee may terminate
his employment and this Agreement if he has "Good Reason" to do so.

For purposes of
this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean: (i) a material diminution in Employee's authority, duties, or responsibilities
from such immediately prior to the Change in Control; (ii) a material change in the geographic location at which Employee must
perform his services under this Agreement; and (iii) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company
of this Agreement. Provided that, in order for Employee to be able to terminate for Good Reason, Employee must first provide notice
to the Company of the condition Employee contends constitutes Good Reason within thirty (30) days of the initial existence of such
condition, and the Company must have thirty (30) days in which to remedy the condition, and further, if the condition is not remedied,
Employee must terminate his employment within thirty (30) days of the end of the Company's thirty (30) day remedy period.

4.5     Survival.
Section 6 (Confidential Information, Company Property and Competitive Business Activities) of this Agreement shall survive the
termination of Employee's employment and/or the termination of this Agreement, regardless of the reasons for such termination.

5.     COMPENSATION
AND BENEFITS UPON TERMINATION.

5.1      By the Company for
Cause or by Employee by Notice of Non-Renewal or Without Cause. If Employee's employment and this Agreement are terminated
by the Company for Cause or by Employee by notice of non-renewal or pursuant to Section 4.1 (Without Cause, Upon Notice), then
the Company's obligation to compensate Employee ceases on the effective termination date except as to amounts of Base Salary earned,
but unpaid as of the effective termination date.

    	 

    	 

    

5.2      By the Company Without
Cause, by Notice of Non-Renewal, or for Disability. If the Company terminates Employee's employment and this Agreement
without Cause, by notice of Non-Renewal, or for Disability, then the Company shall:

	 	(i)	pay Employee any earned, but unpaid compensation due as of the effective termination date; and

	 	(ii)	pay Employee a lump sum amount equal to the greater of his then-current Base Salary for six (6) months or the then remaining
period of the Term (less applicable taxes and withholdings). Said lump sum payment shall be made on the date immediately
following the date on which the release of claims required by Section 5.4 becomes effective. Said payment is subject to the conditions
set forth in Section 5.4 below.

5.3     Following a Change in
Control, by the Company Without Cause or by Notice of Non-Renewal or by Employee for Good Reason. If the Company terminates
Employee's employment and this Agreement without Cause or by notice of non-renewal or if Employee terminates for Good Reason within
twelve (12) months following a Change in Control (as defined below), then Employee shall be entitled to receive:

		(i)	any earned, but unpaid compensation due as of the effective termination date; and

		(ii)	a lump sum payment equal to 2.99 times his then current Base Salary (less applicable taxes and
withholdings); and, if Employee timely and properly elects continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation
Act of 1985 ("COBRA"), the Company shall reimburse Employee for the monthly COBRA premiums paid by Employee for himself
and his dependents. Such reimbursement shall be paid to Employee by the 15th day of the month immediately following the month in
which Employee timely remits the premium payment. Employee shall be eligible to receive such reimbursement until the earliest of:
(i) the twelve (12) month anniversary of the date his employment with the Company terminated; (ii) the date Employee is no longer
eligible to receive COBRA continuation coverage; and (iii) the date on which Employee becomes eligible to receive substantially
similar coverage from another employer. Said lump sum payment shall be made on the date immediately following the date on which
the release of claims required by Section 5.4 becomes effective. Said payment and reimbursements are subject to the conditions
set forth in Section 5.4 below.

For purposes of
this Agreement, a "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred on:

		(i)	the date on which any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Section
13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than the Company or any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of
the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company's common stock, becomes the beneficial owner
(as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of shares representing more than 40% of the combined voting power
of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company; or

    	 

    	 

    

		(ii)	the date on which (i) the Company merges with any other entity, (ii) the Company enters into a
statutory share exchange with another entity, or (iii) the Company conveys, transfers or leases all or substantially all of its
assets to any person; provided, however, that in the case of subclauses (i) and (ii), a Change of Control shall not be deemed to
have occurred if the shareholders of the Company immediately before such transaction own, directly or indirectly immediately following
such transaction, more than 60% of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of the corporation resulting from such
transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of securities immediately before such transaction.

For purposes of
this definition of Change in Control, references to the Company shall be deemed to refer to First Bancorp only and not to its subsidiaries,
including First Bank.

5.4     Required
Release. The Company's obligation to provide any payment or reimbursement under Sections 5.2(ii) or 5.3(ii), is conditioned
upon Employee's execution of an enforceable release of all claims and his compliance with Section 6 of this Agreement. If Employee
chooses not to execute such a release or fails to comply with that Section, then the Company's obligation to compensate him ceases
on the effective termination date except as to amounts due at that time. The release of claims shall be provided to Employee within
seven (7) days of his separation from service and Employee must execute it within the time period specified in the release (which
shall not be longer than forty-five (45) days from the date of receipt). Such release shall not be effective until any applicable
revocation period has expired. Any payments subject to the release, shall be made or commence, as applicable, within sixty (60)
days of Employee's separation from service with the Company and, if the sixty (60) day period begins in one taxable year and ends
in another taxable year, no payment shall be made until the beginning of the second taxable year.

5.5     Benefits
in lieu of Other Severance. Employee is not entitled to receive any compensation or benefits upon his termination except
as: (i) set forth in this Agreement; (ii) otherwise required by law; or (iii) otherwise required by any employee benefit plan in
which he participates with the following exception. The benefits afforded Employee under this Agreement are in lieu of any severance
benefits to which he otherwise might be entitled pursuant to a severance plan, policy and practice. Nothing in this Agreement,
however, is intended to waive or supplant any death, disability, retirement, 401(k) pension benefits, or group health continuation
rights, if any, to which he may be entitled under employee benefit plans in which he participates.

    	 

    	 

    

6.     TRADE SECRETS.
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. COMPANY PROPERTY AND COMPETITIVE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. Employee acknowledges that: (i) by virtue
of his senior management and key leadership position with the Company, Employee has had and will continue to have access to Trade
Secrets and Confidential Information, as defined below; (ii) the Company has business operations in multiple states and is engaged
in the business of providing financial services and products in retail, commercial, and corporate banking (the "Business");
and (iii) the provisions set forth in this Confidential Information, Company Property and Competitive Business Activities Section
are reasonably necessary to protect the Company's legitimate business interests, are reasonable as to time, territory and scope
of activities which are restricted, do not interfere with public policy or public interest and are described with sufficient accuracy
and definiteness to enable him to understand the scope of the restrictions imposed upon him.

6.1     Trade
Secrets and Confidential Information. Employee acknowledges that: (i) the Company will disclose to him certain Trade Secrets
and Confidential Information; (ii) Trade Secrets and Confidential Information are the sole and exclusive property of the Company
(or a third party providing such information to the Company) and the Company or such third party owns all worldwide rights therein
under patent, copyright, trade secret, confidential information, or other property right; and (iii) the disclosure of Trade Secrets
and Confidential Information to Employee does not confer upon him any license, interest or rights of any kind in or to the Trade
Secrets or Confidential Information.

6.1.1
Employee may use the Trade Secrets and Confidential Information only in accordance with applicable Company policies and procedures
and solely for the Company's benefit while he is employed or otherwise retained by the Company. Except as authorized in the performance
of services for the Company, Employee will hold in confidence and not directly or indirectly, in any form, by any means, or for
any purpose, disclose, reproduce, distribute, transmit, or transfer Trade Secrets or Confidential Information or any portion thereof.
Upon the Company's request, Employee shall return Trade Secrets and Confidential Information and all related materials.

6.1.2
If Employee is required to disclose Trade Secrets or Confidential Information pursuant to a court order or other government process
or such disclosure is necessary to comply with applicable law or defend against claims, he shall: (i) notify the Company promptly
before any such disclosure is made; (ii) at the Company's request and expense take all reasonably necessary steps to defend against
such disclosure, including defending against the enforcement of the court order, other government process or claims; and (iii)
permit the Company to participate with counsel of its choice in any proceeding relating to any such court order, other government
process or claims.

6.1.3 Employee's
obligations with regard to Trade Secrets shall remain in effect for as long as such information shall remain a trade secret under
applicable law.

6.1.4 Employee's
obligations with regard to Confidential Information shall remain in effect while he is employed or otherwise retained by the Company
and for five (5) years thereafter.

    	 

    	 

    

6.1.5 As used in
this Agreement, "Trade Secrets" means information of the Company, suppliers, customers, or prospective customers, including,
but not limited to, data, formulas, patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques, processes, financial data,
financial plans, product plans, or lists of actual or potential customers or suppliers, which: (i) derives independent actual or
potential commercial value, from not being generally known to or readily ascertainable through independent development by persons
or entities who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under
the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.

6.1.6 As used
in this Agreement, "Confidential Information" means information other than Trade Secrets, that is of value to its owner
and is treated as confidential, including, but not limited to, future business plans, marketing campaigns, and information regarding
employees, provided, however, Confidential Information shall not include information which is in the public domain or becomes public
knowledge through no fault of Employee.

6.2     Company
Property. Upon the termination of his employment or upon Company's earlier request, Employee shall: (i) deliver to the
Company all records, memoranda, data, documents and other property of any description which refer or relate in any way to Trade
Secrets or Confidential Information, including all copies thereof, which are in his possession, custody or control; (ii) deliver
to the Company all Company property (including, but not limited to, keys, credit cards, customer files, contracts, proposals, work
in process, manuals, forms, computer-stored work in process and other computer data, research materials, other items of business
information concerning any Company customer, or Company business or business methods, including all copies thereof) which is in
his possession, custody or control; (iii) bring all such records, files and other materials up to date before returning them; and
(iv) fully cooperate with the Company in winding up his work and transferring that work to other individuals designated by the
Company.

6.3     Competitive
Business Activities. Employee agrees that during the Term of this Agreement and for a period of time ending on the date
occurring six months (6) months after the later of the date his employment terminates and/or this Agreement terminates (irrespective
of the circumstances of such termination) (the "Non-Competition Period"), Employee will not engage in the following activities:

(a)     on Employee's
own or another's behalf, whether as an officer, director, stockholder, partner, associate, owner, employee, consultant or otherwise:

(i)     compete
with the Company in the Company' s Business;

(ii)     solicit
or do business which is the same, similar to or otherwise in competition with the Company' s Business, from or with persons or
entities : (a) who are customers of the Company; (b) who Employee or someone for whom he was responsible solicited, negotiated,
contracted, serviced or had contact with on the Company's behalf; or (c) who were customers of the Company at any time during the
last year of Employee's employment with the Company; or

    	 

    	 

    

(iii)      offer employment
to or otherwise solicit for employment any employee or other person who had been employed by the Company during the last year of
Employee's employment with the Company;

(b)     be employed
(or otherwise engaged) in (i) a management capacity, (ii) other capacity providing the same or similar services which Employee
provided to the Company, or (iii) any capacity connected with competitive business activities, by any person or entity that engages
in the same, similar or otherwise competitive business as the Company's Business; or

(c)     directly or
indirectly take any action, which is materially detrimental, or

otherwise intended to be adverse to the Company's goodwill, name, business relations, prospects and operations.

6.3.1 The
restrictions set forth in Section 6.3(a)(i) apply to the following geographical areas: (i) within a 60-mile radius of the location
of Company's headquarters during Employee's employment with the Company; (ii) and within a 25-mile radius of the location of any
bank branch.

6.3.2 Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Employee's ownership, directly or indirectly, of not more than one percent of the issued and outstanding stock of
a corporation the shares of which are regularly traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market shall
not violate Section 6.3.

6.4     Remedies.
Employee acknowledges that his failure to abide by the Confidential Information, Company Property or Competitive Business Activities
provisions of this Agreement would cause irreparable harm to the Company for which legal remedies would be inadequate. Therefore,
in addition to any legal or other relief to which the Company may be entitled by virtue of Employee's failure to abide by these
provisions; the Company may seek legal and equitable relief, including, but not limited to, preliminary and permanent injunctive
relief, for Employee's actual or threatened failure to abide by these provisions without the necessity of posting any bond, and
Employee will indemnify the Company for all expenses including attorneys' fees in seeking to enforce these provisions.

6.5     Tolling.
The period during which Employee must refrain from the activities set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.3 shall be tolled during any
period in which he fails to abide by these provisions.

6.6     Other
Agreements. Nothing in this Agreement shall terminate, revoke or diminish Employee's obligations or the Company's rights
and remedies under law or any agreements relating to trade secrets, confidential information, non-competition and intellectual
property which Employee has executed in the past, or may execute in the future or contemporaneously with this Agreement.

7.     EXECUTIVE
REPRESENTATION. Employee represents and warrants that his employment and obligations under this Agreement will not (i)
breach any duty or obligation he owes to another or (ii) violate any law, recognized ethics standard or recognized business custom.

    	 

    	 

    

8.     RESIGNATION
OF ALL OTHER POSITIONS. Upon termination of Employee's employment hereunder, for any reason, Employee shall be deemed to
have resigned from all positions that Employee holds as an officer or member of the Board of Directors of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries or affiliates.

9.     WAIVER
OF BREACH. The Company's or Employee's waiver of any breach of a provision of this Agreement shall not waive any subsequent
breach by the other party.

10.     ENTIRE
AGREEMENT. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement: (i) supersedes and cancels all other understandings
and agreements, oral or written, with respect to Employee's employment with the Company including any prior employment agreement;
(ii) supersedes all other understandings and agreements, oral or written, between the parties with respect to the subject matter
of this Agreement; and (iii) constitutes the sole agreement between the parties with respect to this subject matter. Each party
acknowledges that: (i) no representations, inducements, promises or agreements, oral or written, have been made by any party or
by anyone acting on behalf of any party, which are not embodied in this Agreement; and (ii) no agreement, statement or promise
not contained in this Agreement shall be valid. No change or modification of this Agreement shall be valid or binding upon the
parties unless such change or modification is in writing and is signed by the parties.

11.     SEVERABILITY.
If a court of competent jurisdiction holds that any provision or sub-part thereof contained in this Agreement is invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, that invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision in this Agreement. Additionally,
if any of the provisions, clauses or phrases in Section 6, Trade Secrets, Confidential Information, Company Property and Competitive
Business Activities, are held unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the parties desire that such provision,
clause, or phrase be "blue-penciled" or rewritten by the court to the extent necessary to render it enforceable.

12.     PARTIES
BOUND. The terms, provisions, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement shall apply to, be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Company's successors and assigns. Employee may not assign this Agreement.

13.     REMEDIES.
Employee acknowledges that his breach of this Agreement would cause the Company irreparable harm for which damages would be difficult,
if not impossible, to ascertain and legal remedies would be inadequate. Therefore, in addition to any legal or other relief to
which the Company may be entitled by virtue of the Employee's breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, the Company may seek
equitable relief, including but not limited to preliminary and injunctive relief, and such other available remedies.

14.     GOVERNING
LAW. This Agreement and the employment relationship created by it shall be governed by North Carolina law.

    	 

    	 

    

 

15.    SECTION
409A OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

15.1      Parties'
Intent. The parties intend that the provisions of this Agreement comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and the regulations thereunder (collectively, "Section 409A") and all provisions
of this Agreement shall be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section
409A. If any provision of this Agreement (or of any award of compensation, including equity compensation or benefits) would cause
Employee to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A, the Company shall, upon the specific request of Employee,
use its reasonable business efforts to in good faith reform such provision to comply with Code Section 409A; provided, that
to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent and economic benefit to Employee and the Company of the applicable provision
shall be maintained, and the Company shall have no obligation to make any changes that could create any additional economic cost
or loss of benefit to the Company. The Company shall timely use its reasonable business efforts to amend any plan or program in
which Employee participates to bring it in compliance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have
no liability with regard to any failure to comply with Section 409A so long as it has acted in good faith with regard to compliance
therewith.

15.2     Separation
from Service. A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement
providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination also
constitutes a "Separation from Service" within the meaning of Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of
this Agreement, references to a "termination," "termination of employment," "separation from service"
or like terms shall mean "Separation from Service."

15.3      Separate
Payments. Each installment payment required under this Agreement shall be considered a separate payment for purposes of
Section 409A.

15.4      Delayed
Distribution to Key Employees. If the Company determines in accordance with Sections 409A and 416(i) of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder, in the Company's sole discretion, that the Employee is a Key Employee of the Company on the
date his employment with the Company terminates and that a delay in benefits provided under this Agreement is necessary to comply
with Code Section 409A(A)(2)(B)(i), then any severance payments and any continuation of benefits or reimbursement of benefit costs
provided by this Agreement, and not otherwise exempt from Section 409A, shall be delayed for a period of six (6) months following
the date of termination of the Employee's employment (the "409A Delay Period"). In such event, any severance payments
and the cost of any continuation of benefits provided under this Agreement that would otherwise be due and payable to the Employee
during the 409A Delay Period shall be paid to the Employee in a lump sum cash amount in the month following the end of the 409A
Delay Period. For purposes of this Agreement, "Key Employee" shall mean an employee who, on an Identification Date ("Identification
Date" shall mean each December 31) is a key employee as defined in Section 416(i) of the Code without regard to paragraph
(5) thereof. If the Employee is identified as a Key Employee on an Identification Date, then Employee shall be considered a Key
Employee for purposes of this Agreement during the period beginning on the first April 1 following the Identification Date and
ending on the following March 31.

    	 

    	 

    

16.     Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures
affixed thereto were upon the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties have entered into this Agreement on the day and year first written above.

 

	 	EMPLOYEE
	 	 
	 	By:  /s/ Eric P. Credle 
	 	 
	 	Name: Eric P. Credle 
	 	 
	 	 
	 	 
	 	 
	 	FIRST BANCORP
	 	 
	 	By:   /s/ Richard H. Moore
	 	 
	 	Name:   Richard H. Moore
	 	Title:      Chief Executive Officer/President

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