Document:

Employment Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2004

 Exhibit 10.24 
  
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
  
 This Employment Agreement, dated as of the 8th day of September, 2004, between James G. Binch (the “Executive”) and Memry Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). 
  
 W I T N E S S E T H, 
  
 WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive were party to an Employment Agreement, dated as of September 24, 1993 and to an Employment Agreement, dated as of
January 1, 2000 (collectively, the “Prior Employment Agreements”), by which the Executive was previously employed as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer; and 
  
 WHEREAS, the Prior Employment Agreements have expired; and 
  
 WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to enter into a revised
employment agreement on the terms and conditions set forth below (this “Agreement”); 
  
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties agree as follows: 
  
 1. Employment and Duties. 
  
 (a) The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts employment, upon the
terms and conditions set forth herein. During the period during which he is employed hereunder (the “Period of Employment”), the Executive shall diligently and faithfully serve the Company in the capacity of President and Chief Executive
Officer, or in such other and/or lesser executive capacity or capacities as the Board of Directors and the Executive may, from time to time, agree, in return for the compensation set forth herein (and no additional compensation). 
  
 (b) During the term hereof, the Executive shall, at the
request of the Company, serve as an officer and/or director of direct and indirect subsidiaries, and other affiliates, of the Company as the Company, acting through its Board of Directors, shall request from time to time. 
  
 (c) The Executive shall devote his best efforts and
substantially all of his business time, services and attention to the advancement of the Company’s business and interests. The restrictions in this Section 1 shall in no way prevent the Executive from serving as President and Chief Executive
Officer of Harbour Investment Corporation, the managing general partner of Harbour Holdings Limited Partnership, or any successor entity thereto (but only for so long as such entity’s business is limited to the management, holding and eventual
liquidation of its current portfolio), nor will it prevent the Executive from serving as an outside director of those corporations listed on Schedule A hereto or (except as set forth in the immediately succeeding sentence) pursuing other activities,
so long as all of such other activities do not, in the aggregate, materially interfere with the Executive’s duties hereunder (including his obligation to devote substantially all of his business time, services and attention to the Company).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, the Executive shall not accept any future outside directorships without the prior consent of the Company’s Board of Directors. 
  

 (d) The Executive shall, at all times during the Period of Employment, diligently and
faithfully carry out the policies, programs and directions of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Executive shall comply with the directions and instructions made or given by or under the authority of the Company’s Board of Directors and
whenever requested to do so shall give an account of all transactions, matters and things related to the Company and its affiliates and their affairs with which the Executive is entrusted. 
  
 2. Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall commence on
the date hereof, and shall terminate on December 31, 2005. Thereafter, the term of this Agreement shall be automatically renewed for successive one-year periods, each commencing on January 1 in the appropriate year and terminating on December 31 in
such year, unless either party notifies the other in writing of such party’s intention not to renew at least ninety (90) days prior to the date on which the term of this Agreement would otherwise terminate. The Initial Term and such other
periods for which the term hereof has been extended as aforesaid is collectively referred to herein as the “Term.” In the event the Company elects not to renew this Agreement at the end of any Term, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive the compensation the Executive would receive if the Company terminates the Term other than for cause pursuant to Section 9(e) below; provided, however, that such payment shall not be paid by the Company if such non-renewal is “for
cause” (as defined below). 
  
 3. Compensation.
In consideration of the services rendered and to be rendered by the Executive, the Company agrees to compensate the Executive as follows during the Period of Employment: 
  
 (a) From the date hereof the Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary of $300,000, payable
in equal installments every two weeks. 
  
 (b)
The Executive shall also be entitled to receive additional compensation in the form of an annual bonus determined by and in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company. Such bonus may be made pursuant to any bonus programs that may
be established by the Company, including without limitation the Company’s current incentive plans; provided, however, that (1) nothing set forth in this sentence will in any way limit the Board of Directors discretion to approve or reject any
bonus that the Executive would otherwise be due under any such plans (2) any bonus for any partial year of employment shall be pro-rated except as specifically provided in Section 9 hereof. 
  
 (c) The Executive shall receive the following revisions to
certain existing option agreements: 
  
 (i) The
outstanding and unexercised options currently held by the Executive that are not “incentive stock options” (as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) are hereby amended to provide that in the event of a
termination of employment by the Company for any reason other than cause, each vested option shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant of such option (it being agreed and understood that any unvested options will, by their terms,
terminate). 
  

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 (ii) In the event of the termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company
for any reason other than cause, each outstanding and unexercised option currently held by the Executive that is an “incentive stock option” (as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), shall be amended to
provide that each such vested option shall be deemed to no longer be an incentive stock option but shall not terminate until the tenth anniversary of the date of grant of such option (it being agreed and understood that any unvested options will, by
their terms, terminate). 
  
 (d) The Executive
shall be entitled to an automobile allowance of $500 per month, to be paid in accordance with the Company’s policy for paying automobile allowances as in effect from time to time. 
  
 (e) The Executive shall also be entitled to receive up to $7,500 per calendar quarter (or portion thereof)
during the Term from the Company towards retirement and/or deferred compensation benefits. Said amount may be used for split dollar life insurance, a retirement plan, a rabbi trust or such other method or methods as may be selected by the Executive
subject to the consent of the Company’s Board of Directors (not to be unreasonably withheld). The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has received this benefit for the quarter ended June 30, 2004. 
  
 (f) The Executive shall be entitled to other fringe benefits
comparable to the benefits afforded to other executive employees of the Company, including but not limited to reasonable sick leave and coverage under any health, accident, hospitalization, disability, retirement, life insurance, 401(k), and annuity
plans, programs or policies maintained by the Company. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall provide the Executive with the following: 
  
 (i) twenty working days of vacation per calendar year, no more than thirty of which (in the aggregate) may
be carried over from one year to the next; and 
  
 (ii) reimbursement of all dues payable by the Executive to one executive association of the Executive’s choice (subject to the reasonable approval of the Company’s Board of Directors). 
  
 (g) The Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement, in
accordance with Company policy, of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses which he incurs on behalf of the Company in the course of performing his duties hereunder, subject to furnishing appropriate documentation of such expenses to the
Company’s Chief Financial Officer. If the Company’s Chief Financial Officer does not believe that some or all of such expenses should be approved, a representative of the Compensation Committee shall be asked to make the final
determination as to whether or not the Executive is entitled to reimbursement for such item. 
  
 4. Health and Life Insurance. 
  
 (a) During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to continued health and dental insurance benefits (subject to the terms and conditions applicable to active employees of the Company from time to time, including
the payment of a portion of the premiums). In addition, the Executive’s wife shall be entitled to continued health and dental insurance benefits 

  

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(subject to the terms and conditions applicable to active employees of the Company from time to time, including the payment of a portion of the premiums).
Subsequent to the end of the Term (but subject to the immediately following sentence), until such time of the Executive and his wife, respectively, reach the age of 65, the Company, at its discretion, shall either (i) continue such insurance
(subject to the same terms and conditions) on each such person until such person reaches age 65, or (ii) at the Company’s option, reimburse the Executive up to $15,000 per annum for the Executive to purchase comparable insurance directly (with
the Company having the right to confirm that any policy so privately purchased is in fact comparable). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the benefits set forth in this Section 4(a) shall cease immediately in the event of (1) the Executive’s
termination of employment by the Company for cause, (2) the Executive breaching any of the provisions of Sections 5, 6, 8 or 12 hereof (as determined by the Board in good faith and in its sole discretion), or (3) the Executive failing to execute or
revoking the release contemplated in Section 10 (if applicable). 
  
 (b) Upon the execution and delivery hereof, the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to locate and purchase a term life insurance policy on the Executive’s life with a face value of $1,000,000, such policy to
terminate upon the Executive reaching age 65. The Company shall, both during and subsequent to the Term, pay directly to such insurer the premiums for such policy as the same shall become due; provided, however, that the obligations of the Company
under this Section 4(b) shall cease immediately in the event of (1) the Executive’s termination of employment by the Company for cause, (2) the Executive breaching any of the provisions of Sections 5, 6, 8 or 12 hereof (as determined by the
Board in good faith and in its sole discretion), or (3) the Executive failing to execute or revoking the release contemplated in Section 10 (if applicable). If the Company is unable to obtain such a policy after using such efforts, the Company shall
have no further obligation under this Section 4(b). 
  
 5.
Covenant Not to Compete; Nonsolicitation. 
  
 (a) Except as specifically set forth in this Section 5, from the date hereof through the second anniversary of the end of the Term (the “Restriction Period”), the Executive will not engage, directly or
indirectly, anywhere in the United States (including its territories, possessions and commonwealths) or Canada in any business which competes or could reasonably be expected to compete with the Company and/or its affiliates as of the date of
termination; provided, however, that (i) the ownership by the Executive of less than 2% of the outstanding stock of any publicly traded corporation shall not be deemed solely by reason thereof to cause the Executive to be engaged in any businesses
being conducted by such publicly traded corporation. If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Section 5(a) is invalid or unenforceable, the parties agree that the court making the
determination of invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power to reduce the scope, duration, or area of the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or
provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified after the expiration of the time within which the
judgment may be appealed. 
  
 (b) During the
Restriction Period, the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, either for himself or for any other person or entity (i) solicit (A) any employee of the Company 

  

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or any affiliate of the Company to terminate his or her employment with the Company or such affiliate during his or her employment with the Company or such
affiliate or (B) any former employee of the Company or an affiliate of the Company for a period of one year after such individual terminates his or his employment with the Company or such affiliate, (ii) solicit any customer or client of the Company
or any such affiliate (or any prospective customer or client of the Company or such affiliate) as of the termination of the Period of Employment to terminate its relationship with the Company or such affiliate, or do business with any third parties,
or (iii) take any action that is reasonably likely to cause injury to the relationships between the Company or any such affiliate or any of their respective employees and any lessor, lessee, vendor, supplier, customer, distributor, employee,
consultant or other business associate of the Company or any such affiliate as such relationship relates to the Company’s or such affiliate’s conduct of its business. 
  
 6. Covenant Not to Disclose Information. The Executive agrees that during the Period of Employment and
thereafter, he will not use or disclose, other than to another employee of the Company, qualified by the Company to receive that information in the normal course of business, any confidential information or trade secrets of the Company or any
affiliate of the Company which were made known to him by the Company, its officers or employees or affiliates, or learned by him while in the Company’s employ, without the prior written consent of the Company, and that upon termination of his
employment for any reason, he will promptly return to the Company any and all properties, records, figures, calculations, letters, papers, drawings, schematics or copies thereof or other confidential information of the Company and its affiliates of
any type or description. It is understood that the term “trade secrets” as used in this Agreement is deemed to include, without limitation, lists of the Company’s and its affiliates’ respective customers, information relating to
their practices, know-how, processes and inventions, and any other information of whatever nature which gives the Company or any affiliate an opportunity to obtain an advantage over its competitors who do not have access to such information.

  
 7. Remedy at Law Inadequate. The Executive
acknowledges that any remedy at law for breach of any of the restrictive covenants (Sections 5 and 6) contained in this Agreement would be inadequate and the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief in the event of any such breach. 

 
 8. Inventions and Improvements. With respect to any and all
inventions (as defined in Section 8(e) below) made or conceived by the Executive, whether or not during his hours of employment, either solely or jointly with others, during the Period of Employment, without additional consideration: 
  
 (a) The Executive shall promptly inform the Company of any
such invention. 
  
 (b) Any such invention,
whether patentable or not, shall be the property of the Company, and the Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company all his rights to any such invention, and to any United States and/or foreign letters patent granted upon any such
invention or any application therefor. 
  

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 (c) The Executive shall apply, at the Company’s request and expense, for United
States and/or foreign letters patent either in the Executive’s name or otherwise as the Company may desire. 
  
 (d) The Executive shall acknowledge and deliver promptly to the Company, without charge to the Company but at its expense, all sketches,
drawings, models and figures and other information and shall perform such other acts, such as giving testimony in support of his inventorship, as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to obtain and maintain United States and/or foreign
letters patent and to vest the entire right and title thereto in the Company. 
  
 (e) For purposes of this Section, the term “invention” shall be deemed to mean any discovery, concept or idea (whether patentable or not), including but not limited to processes, methods, formulas,
techniques, hardware developments and software developments, as well as improvements thereof or know-how related thereto, (i) concerning any present or prospective activities of the Company and its affiliates and (ii) (A) which the Executive becomes
acquainted with as a result of his employment by the Company, (B) which results from any work he may do for, or at the request of, the Company or any of its affiliates, (C) which relate to the Company’s or any affiliates’ business or
actual or demonstrably anticipated research and development, or (D) which are developed in any part by use of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secrets. 
  
 The parties hereto agree that the covenants and agreements contained in this
Section 7 are, taken as a whole, reasonable in their scope and duration, and no party shall raise any issue of the reasonableness of the scope or duration of any such covenants in any proceeding to enforce any such covenants. 
  
 9. Termination of Employment. 
  
 (a) The Executive’s Period of Employment hereunder may
not be terminated prior to the expiration of the Term except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9. 
  
 (b) The Executive’s Period of Employment may be terminated by the Company for cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “for
cause” means that termination occurs in connection with a determination, made at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which the Executive (and, at the Executive’s option, his counsel) shall have had a right to participate, that the
Executive has (i) committed an act of gross negligence or willful misconduct, or a gross dereliction of duty, that has materially and adversely affected the overall performance of his duties hereunder; (ii) committed fraud upon the Company in his
capacity as an employee hereunder; (iii) been convicted of, or pled guilty (or nolo contendere) to, a felony that the Board of Directors, acting in good faith, determines is or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the
business, operations, reputation, integrity, financial condition or prospects of the Company; (iv) any material breach by the Executive of the terms hereof; (v) failure to follow instructions from a person authorized to give them pursuant to Section
1(d) above that is lawful and not inconsistent with the terms hereof; (vi) the Executive’s habitual drunkenness or habitual substance abuse; or (vii) civil or criminal violation of any state or federal government statute or regulation
(including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), or of any state or federal law relating to the workplace environment (including without 

  

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limitation laws relating to sexual harassment or age, sex or other prohibited discrimination), or any violation of any Company policy adopted in respect of
any of the foregoing. “For cause” termination must be accompanied by a written notice to that effect. If the Executive is terminated for cause, the Executive shall be paid through the date of his termination. 
  
 (c) If the Executive dies, the Period of Employment shall
terminate effective at the time of his death; provided, however, that such termination shall not result in the loss of any benefit or rights which the Executive may have accrued through the date of his death. If the Period of Employment is
terminated prior to the expiration of the Term due to the Executive’s death, the Company shall make a severance payment to the Executive or his legal representatives equal to the Executive’s regular salary payments through the end of the
month in which such death occurs. In addition, the Company shall make a severance payment to the Executive or his legal representative equal to the Executive’s target bonus described in Section 3(b), pro rated for the portion of such fiscal
year completed prior to the Executive’s death; provided, however, that such pro rated portion of the Executive’s target bonus shall be paid to the Executive following the completion of such fiscal year at the time similar bonuses are paid
to other employees of the Company. 
  
 (d) If the
Executive becomes disabled, the Period of Employment may be terminated, at the Company’s option, at the end of the calendar month during which his disability is determined; provided, however, that such termination shall not result in the loss
of any benefits or rights which the Executive may have accrued through the date of his disability. If the Period of Employment is terminated prior to the expiration of the Term due to the Executive’s disability, the Company shall make a
severance payment to the Executive or his legal representative equal to the Executive’s regular salary payments for a period of six (6) months from the date of such termination or, if sooner, until payments begin under any disability insurance
policy maintained by the Company for the benefit of the Executive (subject to the effectiveness of the release set forth in Section 10). For the purposes of this section, the definition of “disability” shall be the same as the definition
of a “permanent disability” contained in any long-term disability insurance policy maintained by the Company in effect at the time of the purported disability, or last in effect, if no policy is then in effect. 
  
 (e) If the Executive’s Period of Employment is
terminated by the Executive for “Good Reason,” as hereinafter defined, or is terminated by the Company without cause (and the Company may terminate the Period of Employment without cause at any time), including by the Company determining
not to extend the Period of Employment at a time that cause does not exist then, in addition to the other rights to which the Executive is entitled upon a termination as provided for herein (but subject to the effectiveness of the release set forth
in Section 10), the Executive shall also be entitled to (1) bi-weekly payments equal to the Executive’s bi-weekly base salary payments (as in effect on the date of termination) for two years from the date of termination (the “Severance
Period”), (2) bonuses for the fiscal years ending during the Severance Period equal in each year to fifty percent (50%) of the sum of the annual bonuses received by the Executive with respect to the two immediately prior fiscal years to the
date of termination, and (3) continued payments pursuant to Section 3(f) for the calendar years ending during the Severance Period. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Good Reason” shall mean: (i) the failure by the Company to
observe or comply with any of the provisions of this Agreement if such failure has not been cured within thirty (30) days after written notice thereof 

  

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has been given by the Executive to the Company; or (ii) at the election of the Executive, upon a Change in Control of the Company, as defined in Section
13(f) (which election can be made at any time upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice given during the Period of Employment following the date on which the Change in Control of the Company occurred) if, subsequent to such Change in Control,
there is a material diminution in the position, duties and/or responsibilities of the Executive. 
  
 10. Effect of Termination. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason whatsoever, all rights and obligations of the
parties under this Agreement shall cease, except that (1) the Executive shall continue to be bound by the covenants set forth in Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 hereof, (2) the Company shall be bound to pay to the Executive accrued compensation, including
salary and other benefits, to the date of termination, and (3) subject to the Executive’s execution of the Company’s standard form of release of all employment-related claims, the Company shall be bound to provide any severance payments
which may be owed under the provisions of Section 9 hereof and to provide the benefits set forth in Section 4. 
  
 11. Legal Fees. Upon the presentation of proper invoices, the Company will reimburse the Executive for up to $2,500 for legal fees and
disbursements incurred by the Executive in connection with the review and negotiation of this Agreement. 
  
 12. Miscellaneous. 
  
 (a) This Agreement may not be assigned by the Executive. The Company may assign this Agreement in connection with a Sale of the Company.

  
 (b) In the event that any provision of this
Agreement is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be, and shall be deemed to be, modified so as to become valid and enforceable, and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be
affected. 
  
 (c) This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut without regard to conflict of law principles. 
  
 (d) No modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless in a writing executed by both parties. 
  
 (e) This Agreement and the existing option agreements by and
between the Executive and the Company constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supercede all prior agreements, representations and promises by either party or between the parties, including
without limitation, the Prior Employment Agreements. 
  
 (f) For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control of the Company” shall mean: (i) any merger or consolidation or other corporate reorganization of the Company in which the Company is not the surviving entity; or (ii) any sale
of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, in either a single transaction or a series of transactions; or (iii) a liquidation of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; or (iv) a change within one twelve-month period of
a majority of the directors constituting the Company’s Board of Directors at the beginning of such twelve-month period; or (v) if a single person or entity, or a related group of persons or 

  

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entities, at any time beneficially owns 25% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting securities; unless, with respect to any event described in
clauses (i) through (v), the Executive agrees in writing, prior to the consummation of the event giving rise to the Change in Control of the Company, that such event or events does not for purposes of this Agreement constitute a Change in Control of
the Company or, as a director, votes in favor of the matter that would otherwise cause the Change in Control of the Company and unless, with respect to clause (iv), the change of directors is approved by the Board of Directors as constituted prior
to such change. 
  
 * * * * 
  

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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

  

					
	 MEMRY CORPORATION

		
	By:	 	 /s/ Robert Belcher

	 	 	 Name:
	 	 Robert Belcher

	 	 	 Title:
	 	 SVP & CFO

  

	
	
	 /s/ James G. Binch

	 James G. Binch
 9/8/04

  

 10 

 Schedule A 
  
 Visual Technologies Ltd.Non-Employee Directors Stock Compensation Plan, as amended

 Exhibit 10.1 
  
 NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY 
 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN 
  
 January 1, 1989 
  

	 Northwest Natural Gas Company 
	 The Company 

 an
Oregon corporation 
 220 NW Second Avenue 
 Portland, OR 97209

  
 The Company believes it desirable that members of its board of
directors, who represent the Company’s shareholders, be themselves shareholders. To supplement the efforts of the directors towards this end, the Company wishes to increase the ownership interest of non-employee directors through awards of
Company Common Stock. The Company, however, recognizes that a director may believe that he or she has a sufficient ownership interest in Company Common Stock, and therefore permits directors to receive awards under the plan in the form of deferred
cash rather than stock. 
  
 The following plan is therefore
adopted: 
  
 1. Administration. 
  
 Unless otherwise determined pursuant to this section, this plan shall be
administered by the corporate secretary of the Company (the Administrator), who may delegate all or part of that authority and responsibility. The Administrator shall interpret the plan, arrange for the purchase and delivery of shares, determine
forfeitures, and otherwise assume general responsibility for administration of the plan. Any decision by the Administrator shall be final and bind all parties. The Administrator may be replaced from time to time in the discretion of the chief
executive officer of the Company. 
  
 2. Awards.

  
 2.1 Each non-employee director of the Company, including
those directors who have been employees of the Company in the past but are not employees at the time of any award under this plan, shall receive awards under this plan as of the following award dates: 
  
 (a) January 1, 1989; or 
  
 (b) In the case of (i) directors elected after January 1, 1989 and (ii)
persons who become non-employee directors after January 1, 1989 by ceasing to be employees of the Company, the date on which such director is first elected, whether by the shareholders or board of directors of the Company, or ceases to be an
employee of the Company, as the case may be; and 

 (c) On January 1 of each year thereafter, commencing with January 1, 1998; 
  
 provided, however, that this plan shall terminate as to new awards on, and no award shall be
made under this plan on or after, January 1, 2005. 
  
 2.2 As of
each award date, a participant shall receive an award calculated in the following manner. The “Number of Award Months” shall be determined by subtracting the number of full or partial calendar months remaining until all, if any, previous
awards to the participant under this plan will be vested from the number of full or partial calendar months remaining until the fifth year end after the award date; provided, however, that if, assuming the participant were reelected, a
participant’s term as a director would end because of age before the fifth year end after the award date, the “Number of Award Months” shall be determined by subtracting the number of full or partial calendar months remaining until
all, if any, previous awards to the participant under this plan will be vested from the number of full or partial calendar months remaining until the participant’s term will end because of age. The amount awarded shall then be calculated by
multiplying the Number of Award Months by an amount that, effective as of October 1, 2002, shall be $1,666.67. For purposes of this plan, “full or partial calendar months remaining” for any period includes the calendar month in which the
award date falls and the calendar month in which the last day of the period falls and all calendar months in between. 
  
 2.3 As of each award date, the dollar amount calculated under 2.2 shall be awarded to the participant as follows: 
  
 (a) With respect to award dates after February 26, 2004, each participant
may elect at any time prior to an award date to receive the entire amount to be awarded on that date in deferred cash rather than in Company Common Stock. No partial elections shall be permitted. Any such election must be in writing delivered to the
Administrator prior to the award date. If such an election is made, the dollar amount calculated under 2.2 shall be credited to the participant’s Cash Account under the Company’s Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the “DDCP”)
effective as of the award date. The deferred cash amounts shall be subject to vesting under 3, but any interest credited with respect to these amounts under the DDCP shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable at all times. The deferred cash amounts
shall otherwise be subject to all of the terms and conditions of the DDCP. 
  
 (b) If a participant does not timely elect to receive an award in deferred cash, the dollar amount calculated under 2.2 shall be awarded to the participant in Common Stock as follows: 
  
 (i) As soon as practicable after the award date, the Administrator shall
deliver cash in the amount of the award and applicable commissions to one or more brokers or other persons with instructions to purchase Company Common Stock in the open market. It is understood that market conditions or regulations affecting the
purchases by a corporation of its own shares may extend the period of purchase over several days or weeks. 
  

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 (ii) When several participants have the same award date, all of the stock shall be purchased and then
divided among the participants in proportion to their respective awards, regardless of any changes in price that occur while purchases are being carried out. 
  
 (iii) When all of the stock has been purchased with respect to any award date, certificates in the names of the participants for their respective shares
shall be delivered to the Administrator. Each participant shall deliver to the Administrator a blank stock power duly executed in a form satisfactory to the Administrator for each certificate for shares issued in the participant’s name.

  
 (iv) The Administrator shall hold the certificates and stock
powers until the shares are vested and released as provided in 3.4. 
  
 2.4 Upon any amendment of this plan to increase the dollar amount of awards set forth in 2.2, each participant shall receive an additional award in accordance with the procedures set forth in 2.3. The amount of the additional award for each
participant shall be determined by multiplying the amount of the increase in the award amount by the number of full or partial calendar months remaining until the participant’s most recent prior award under this plan will be fully vested. The
resulting dollar amount shall then be either used to purchase Common Stock for the participant or credited under the DDCP as set forth in 2.3. 
  
 3. Vesting; Delivery of Shares; Forfeitures. 
  
 3.1 For each award under 2.2 and 2.3, the number of awarded shares or the amount of awarded cash, as applicable, that will vest per month shall be
determined by dividing the number of awarded shares or the amount of awarded cash by the Number of Award Months. This monthly amount shall vest as of the first day of each calendar month commencing with the later of the month in which the award is
made or the first month after all previous awards to the participant under this plan shall have vested. If an award is made other than on the first day of a month, the award date shall be considered the first day of that month for purposes of 3.1
and 3.2. 
  
 3.2 For each award under 2.3 and 2.4, the number of
awarded shares or the amount of awarded cash, as applicable, that will vest per month shall be determined by dividing the number of awarded shares or the amount of awarded cash by the number of full or partial calendar months remaining until the
participant’s most recent prior award under 2.2 and 2.3 will be fully vested. This monthly amount shall vest as of the first day of each calendar month commencing with the month in which the award is made. 
  
 3.3 Notwithstanding 3.1 and 3.2, all awarded shares and awarded cash shall
vest upon a change in control of the Company. For purposes of this plan, a “change in control” of the Company shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events: 
  
 (a) The approval by the shareholders of the Company of: 
  
 (1) any consolidation, merger or plan of share exchange involving the Company (a “Merger”) as a
result of which the holders of outstanding securities of the Company ordinarily having the right to vote for the election of directors (“Voting Securities”) immediately prior to the Merger do not continue to hold at least 50% of the
combined voting power of the outstanding Voting Securities of the surviving corporation or a parent corporation of the surviving corporation immediately after the Merger, disregarding any Voting Securities issued to or retained by such holders in
respect of securities of any other party to the Merger; 
  
  

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 (2) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of
related transactions) of all, or substantially all, the assets of the Company; or 
  
 (3) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; 
  
 (b) At any time during a period of two consecutive years, individuals who at
the beginning of such period constituted the board of directors of the Company (“Incumbent Directors”) shall cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; provided, however, that the term “Incumbent Director”
shall also include each new director elected during such two-year period whose nomination or election was approved by two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then in office; or 
  
 (c) Any person (as such term is used in Section 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, other than the Company or any
employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company) shall, as a result of a tender or exchange offer, open market purchases or privately negotiated purchases from anyone other than the Company, have become the beneficial owner (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of Voting Securities representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding Voting Securities. 
  
 3.4 The certificate and stock power for vested shares shall be delivered to
the participant or in accordance with 5.2 as soon as practicable after the participant ceases to be a director of the Company or, if earlier, as soon as practicable after a change in control of the Company. Payment of vested deferred cash shall be
governed by the terms of the DDCP. 
  
 3.5 If a participant ceases
to be a director (other than pursuant to a simultaneous change in control of the Company), awarded shares and awarded cash remaining unvested shall be forfeited. The Administrator, acting for the participant pursuant to the executed stock power,
shall transfer the unvested shares to the Company, and these shares shall be cancelled. The participant or the participant’s representative shall execute any documents reasonably requested by the Administrator to facilitate the transfer. The
participant’s Cash Account under the DDCP shall be reduced by the amount of unvested cash that is forfeited. 
  

 4 

 4. Status Before Full Vesting; Transfer of Shares. 
  
 4.1 Each participant shall be a shareholder of record with respect to all
shares awarded, whether or not vested, and shall be entitled to all of the rights of such a holder, except that a participant’s share certificates shall be held by the Administrator until delivered in accordance with 3.4. 
  
 4.2 Any dividends or communications to shareholders received by the
Administrator with respect to shares held by the Administrator shall promptly be transmitted to the participant. 
  
 4.3 No participant may transfer any interest in unvested shares to any person other than the Company. 
  
 4.4 No participant may transfer any interest in any shares awarded under this
plan, whether vested or not, until he or she ceases to be a director of the Company. 
  
 4.5 Notwithstanding 2.3(b)(iv), 3.4, 4.1, 4.3 and 4.4, if a participant in the DDCP elects under the DDCP to defer shares of Company Common Stock awarded to the participant under this plan, promptly after the deferral
election becomes irrevocable the Administrator shall cause the Common Stock subject to such irrevocable deferral to be transferred to the trustee of the Northwest Natural Gas Company Umbrella TrustTM For Directors. The Common Stock so transferred shall nevertheless remain subject to
forfeiture under 3.5 if the participant ceases to be a director prior to vesting of the shares. 
  
 5. Death of a Participant. 
  
 5.1 Any vested shares held by the Administrator for a participant who has died shall be delivered as soon as practicable to the participant’s death
beneficiary under 5.2. 
  
 5.2 Any vested shares to be delivered
on death of a participant under 5.1 shall go to a participant’s beneficiary in the following order of priority: 
  
 (a) To the surviving beneficiary designated by the participant in writing to the Administrator; 
  
 (b) To the participant’s surviving spouse; or 
  
 (c) To the participant’s estate. 
  
 6. Amendment or Termination; Miscellaneous. 
  
 6.1 The board of directors of the Company may amend or terminate this plan
at any time. No amendment or termination shall adversely affect any outstanding award. 
  

 5 

 6.2 Subject to the rights of amendment and termination in 6.1, this plan shall continue indefinitely and
future awards will be made in accordance with 2.1. 
  
 6.3 Nothing
in this plan shall create any obligation on the part of the board of directors of the Company to nominate any director for reelection by the shareholders or the board of directors. 
  
 Adopted by the board of directors of Northwest Natural Gas Company on November 17, 1988, effective January 1, 1989. Amended
by the board of directors of Northwest Natural Gas Company on May 23, 1991, effective July 1, 1991. Amended by the board of directors of Northwest Natural Gas Company on July 24, 1997, effective July 1, 1997. Amended by the board of directors of
Northwest Natural Gas Company on December 18, 1997, effective January 1, 1998. Amended by the board of directors of Northwest Natural Gas Company on September 26, 2002, effective October 1, 2002. Amended by the board of directors of Northwest
Natural Gas Company on February 26, 2004, effective February 26, 2004. Amended by the board of directors of Northwest Natural Gas Company on September 23, 2004, effective January 1, 2005. 
  

 6

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