Document:

Exhibit 4.1

EXCEL BANK CORPORATION

1998 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1. 

DEFINITIONS

As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

(a)

“Committee” shall mean a Committee of two or more directors who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board.  If the Company’s securities are registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, then, to the extent necessary for compliance with Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, each of the members of the Committee shall be a “non-employee director.”  Solely for the purposes of this Section 1(a), “non-employee director” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Rule 16-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(b)

The “Company” shall mean Excel Bank Corporation, a Minnesota corporation.

(c)

“Fair Market Value” as of any day shall mean (i) if such stock is reported by the Nasdaq National Market or Nasdaq SmallCap Market or is listed upon an established stock exchange or exchanges, the reported closing price of such stock by the Nasdaq National Market or Nasdaq SmallCap Market or on such stock exchange or exchanges on such date or, if no sale of such stock shall have occurred on such date, on the next preceding day on which there was a sale of stock; (ii) if such stock is not so reported by the Nasdaq National Market or Nasdaq SmallCap Market or listed upon an established stock exchange, the average of the closing “bid” and “asked” prices quoted by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc. (or any comparable reporting service) on such date or, there are no quoted “bid” and “asked” prices on such date, on the next preceding date for which there are such quotes; or (iii) if such stock is not publicly traded of such date, the per share value as determined by the Board, or the Committee, in its sole discretion by applying principles of valuation with respect to the Company’s Common Stock.

(d)

The “Internal Revenue Code” is the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

(e)

“Non-Employee Director” shall mean members of the Board who are not employees of the Company or any Subsidiary.

(f)

The “Participant” means (i) an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary to whom an incentive stock option has been granted pursuant to Section 9, (ii) a consultant or advisor to or director (including a Non-Employee Director), employee or officer of the Company or any Subsidiary to whom a nonqualified stock option has been granted pursuant to Section 10, or (iii) an employee or officer or any Subsidiary to whom a restricted stock award has been granted pursuant to Section 11.

(g)

“Parent” shall mean any corporation which owns, directly or indirectly in an unbroken chain, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of the Company’s outstanding stock.

(h)

The “Plan” means the Excel Bank Corporation 1998 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended hereafter from time to time, including the form of Option Agreements as they may be modified by the Board from time to time.

(i)

“Stock” shall mean Common Stock of the Company (subject to adjustment as described in Section 12) reserved for incentive and nonqualified stock options and restricted stock awards pursuant to this Plan.

(j)

A “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation of which fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of outstanding stock is owned, directly or indirectly in an unbroken chain, by the Company. 

SECTION 2. 

PURPOSE

The Plan has been established to promote the interests of the Company, its Subsidiaries and its stockholders by (i) attracting and retaining exceptional employees and directors; (ii) motivating such employees and directors by means of performance-related incentives to achieve long-range performance goals; (iii) enabling such employees and directors to participate in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company.

It is the intention of the Company to carry out the Plan through the granting of stock options which will qualify as “incentive stock options” under the provisions of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision, pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan, through the granting of restricted stock awards pursuant to Section  11 of this Plan.  Adoption of this Plan shall be and is expressly subject to the condition of approval by the shareholders of the Company within 12 months before or after the adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors.  Any incentive stock options granted after adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors shall be treated as nonqualified stock options if shareholder approval is not obtained with such 12-month period.

SECTION 3. 

EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

The Plan shall be effective as of the date of adoption by the Board of Directors, subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company as required in Section 2.

SECTION 4. 

ADMINISTRATION

The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (hereinafter referred to as the “Board”) or by a Committee which may be appointed by the Board from time to time (collectively referred to as the “Administrator”).  The Administrator shall have all of the powers vested in it under the provisions of the Plan, including but not limited to exclusive 

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authority (where applicable and within the limitations described in the Plan) to determine, in its sole discretion, whether an incentive stock option, nonqualified stock option or restricted stock award shall be granted, the individuals to whom, the time or times at which, options or awards shall be granted, the number of shares subject to each option or award, the option price, and terms and conditions of each option or award.  The Administrator shall have full power and authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make and amend rules, regulations and guidelines for administering the Plan, to prescribe the form and conditions of the respective stock option and restricted stock option agreements (which may vary from Participant to Participant) evidencing each option or award and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.  The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, and all actions taken and determinations made by the Administrator pursuant to the power vested in it hereunder, shall be conclusive and binding on all parties concerned.

No member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or determination made in good faith in connection with the administration of the Plan.  In the event the Board appoints a Committee as provided hereunder, any action of the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken pursuant to a majority vote of the Committee members or pursuant to the written resolution of all Committee members.

SECTION 5. 

PARTICIPANTS

The Administration shall from time to time, at its discretion and without approval of the shareholders, designate those employees to whom incentive stock options shall be granted pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan, those employees, officers, directors (including Non-Employee Directors), consultants, and advisors of the Company or of any Subsidiary to whom nonqualified stock options shall be granted pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan, and those employees or officers to whom restricted stock awards shall be granted pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan; provided, however, that consultants or advisors shall not be eligible to receive stock options hereunder unless such consultant or advisor renders bona fide services to the Company or Subsidiary and such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction.  The Administrator may grant additional incentive stock options, nonqualified options and restricted stock awards under this Plan to some or all Participants then holding options or may grant options solely or partially to new Participants.  In designating Participants, the Administrator shall also determine the number of shares to be optioned to each such Participant.  The Board may from time to time designate individuals as being ineligible to participate in the Plan.  

SECTION 6. 

STOCK

The Stock to be optioned under this Plan shall consist of authorized but unissued shares of Stock.  Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand (750,000) shares of Stock shall be reserved and available for stock options and restricted stock awards under the Plan; provided, however, that the total number of shares of Stock reserved for options under this Plan shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12 of the Plan.  In the event that any outstanding stock option or restricted stock award under the Plan for any reason expires or is terminated prior to the 

3

exercise thereof, the shares of Stock allocable to such portion of the option or award shall continue to be reserved for stock options and restricted stock awards under the Plan and may be optioned or awarded hereunder.

SECTION 7. 

DURATION OF PLAN

Incentive stock options may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time during a period of ten (10) years from the effective date as defined in Section 3.  Nonqualified stock options and restricted stock awards may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time after the effective date of the Plan and until the Plan is discontinued or terminated by the Board.  Any incentive stock option granted during such ten-year period and any nonqualified stock option or restricted stock award granted prior to the termination of the Plan by the Board shall remain in full force and effect until the expiration of the option or award as specified in the written stock option or restricted stock agreement and shall remain subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.

SECTION 8. 

PAYMENT

Participants may pay for shares upon exercise of stock options granted pursuant to this Plan with cash, personal check, certified check, Common Stock of the Company valued at such Stock’s then Fair Market Value, or such other form of payment as may be authorized by the Administrator.  The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, limit the forms of payment available to the Participant and may exercise such discretion any time prior to the termination of the option granted to the Participant or upon any exercise of the option by the Participant.

With respect to payment in the form of Common Stock of the Company, the Administrator may require advance approval or adopt such rules as it deems necessary to assure compliance with Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable.

SECTION 9. 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS

Each incentive stock option granted pursuant to this Section 9 shall be evidenced by a written stock option agreement (the “Option Agreement”).  The Option Agreement shall be in such form as may be approved form time to time by the Administrator and may vary from Participant to Participant; provided, however, that each Participant and each Option Agreement shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

(a)

Number of Shares and Option Price.  The Option Agreement shall state the total number of shares covered by the incentive stock option.  To the extent required to qualify the Option as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision, the option price per share shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock per share on the date the Administrator grants the option; provided, however, that if a Participant owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined 

4

voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Parent or any Subsidiary, the option price per share of an incentive stock option granted to such participant shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock per share on the date of the grant of the option.  The Administrator shall have full authority and discretion in establishing the option price and shall be fully protected in so doing.

(b)

Term and Exercisability of Incentive Stock Option.  The term during which any incentive stock option granted under the Plan may be exercised shall be established in each case by the Administrator.  To the extent required to qualify the Option as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision, in no event shall any incentive stock option be exercisable during a term of more than 10 years after the date on which it is granted; provided, however, that if a Participant owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its parent or any Subsidiary, the incentive stock option granted to such Participant shall be exercisable during a term of not more than five years after the date on which it is granted.

The Option Agreement shall state when the incentive stock option becomes exercisable and shall also state the maximum term during which the option may be exercised.  In the event an incentive stock option is exercisable immediately, the manner of exercise of the option in the event it is not exercised in full immediately shall be specified in the Option Agreement.  The Administrator may accelerate the exercisability of any incentive stock option granted hereunder which is not immediately exercisable as of the date of grant.

(c)

Nontransferability.  No incentive stock option shall be transferable, in whole or in part, by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  During the Participant’s lifetime, the incentive stock option may be exercised only by the Participant.  If the Participant shall attempt any transfer of any incentive stock option granted under the Plan during the Participant’s lifetime, such transfer shall be void and the incentive stock option, to the extent not fully exercised, shall terminate.  

(d)

No Rights as Shareholder.  A Participant (or the Participant’s successor or successors) shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by an incentive stock option until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate evidencing such shares.  No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property), distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is actually issued (except as otherwise provided in Section 12 of the Plan).  

(e)

Other Provisions.  The Option Agreement authorized under this Section 9 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.  Any such Option Agreement shall contain such limitations and restrictions upon the exercise of the option as shall be necessary to ensure that such option will be considered an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code or to conform to any change therein.  

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SECTION 10. 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS

Each nonqualified stock option granted pursuant to this Section 10 shall be evidenced by a written Option Agreement.  The Option Agreement shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Administrator and may vary from Participant to Participant; provided, however, that each Participant and each Option Agreement shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:  

(a)

Number of Shares and Option Price.  The Option Agreement shall state the total number of shares covered by the nonqualified stock option.  Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the option price per share shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock per share on the date the Administrator grants the option; provided, however, that the option price may not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock per share on the date of grant.  

(b)

Term and Exercisability of Nonqualified Stock Option.  The term during which any nonqualified stock option granted under the Plan may be exercised shall be established in each case by the Administrator.  The Option Agreement shall state when the nonqualified stock option becomes exercisable and shall also state the maximum term during which the option may be exercised.  In the event a nonqualified stock option is exercisable immediately, the manner of exercise of the option in the event it is not exercised in full immediately shall be specified in the Option Agreement.  The Administrator may accelerate the exercisability of any nonqualified stock option granted hereunder which is not immediately exercisable as of the date of grant.  

(c)

Withholding.  The Company or its Subsidiary shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from future wages of the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s exercise of a nonqualified stock option.  In the event the Participant is required under the Option Agreement to pay the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its discretion and pursuant to such rules as it may adopt, permit the Participant to satisfy such obligation, in whole or in part, by electing to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the option’s exercise equal to the amount required to be withheld for tax purposes.  Any stock elected to be withheld shall be valued at its Fair Market Value, as of the date the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law.  The Participant’s election to have shares withheld for this purpose shall be made on or before the date the option is exercised or, if later, the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law.  Such election shall be approved by the Administrator and otherwise comply with such rules as the Administrator may adopt to assure compliance with Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable.  

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(d)

Transferability.  The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit the Participant to transfer any or all nonqualified stock options to any member of the Participant’s “immediate family” as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any successor provision, or to one or more trusts whose beneficiaries are members of such Participant’s “immediate family” or partnerships in which such family members are the only partners; provided, however, that the Participant cannot receive any consideration for the transfer and such transferred nonqualified stock option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such nonqualified stock option immediately prior to its transfer.  

(e)

No Rights as Shareholder.  A Participant (or the Participant’s successor or successors) shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by a nonqualified stock option until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate evidencing such shares.  No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property), distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is actually issued (except as otherwise provided in Section 12 of the Plan).  

(f)

Other Provisions.  The Option Agreement authorized under this Section 10 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.  

SECTION 11. 

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

Each restricted stock aware granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by a written restricted stock agreement (the “Restricted Stock Agreement”).  The Restricted Stock Agreement shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Administrator and may vary from Participant to Participant; provided, however, that each Participant and each Restricted Stock Agreement shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

(a)

Number of Shares.  The Restricted Stock Agreement shall state the total number of shares of Stock covered by the restricted stock award.  

(b)

Risks of Forfeiture.  The Restricted Stock Agreement shall set forth the risks of forfeiture which shall apply to the shares of Stock covered by the restricted stock award, and shall specify the manner in which such risks of forfeiture shall lapse.  The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, modify the manner in which such risks of forfeiture shall lapse but only with respect to those shares of Stock which are restricted as of the effective date of the modification.  

(c)

Issuance of Restricted Shares.  The Company shall cause to be issued a stock certificate representing such shares of Stock in the Participant’s name, and shall deliver such certificate to the Participant; provided, however, that the Company shall place a legend on such certificate describing the risks of forfeiture and other transfer restrictions set forth in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Agreement and providing for the cancellation and return of such certificate if the shares of Stock subject to the restricted stock award are forfeited.  

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(d)

Rights as Shareholder.  Until the risks of forfeiture have lapsed or the shares subject to such restricted stock award have been forfeited, the Participant shall be entitled to vote the shares of Stock represented by such stock certificates and shall receive all dividends attributable to such shares, but the Participant shall not have any other rights as a shareholder with respect to such shares.  

(e)

Withholding Taxes.  The Company or its Subsidiary shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from future wages of the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s restricted stock award.  In the event the Participant is required under the Restricted Stock Agreement to pay the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its discretion and pursuant to such rules as it may adopt, permit the Participant to satisfy such obligation, in whole or in part, by delivering previously-acquired shares of Common Stock, including shares of Stock received pursuant to a restricted stock award on which the risks of forfeiture have lapsed.  Any shares of Common Stock so delivered shall have a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding obligations determined as of the date the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law.  The Participant’s election to deliver shares of Common Stock for this purpose shall be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law.  Such election shall be approved by the Administrator and otherwise comply with such rules as the Administrator may adopt to assure compliance with Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable.  

(f)

Nontransferability.  No restricted stock award shall be transferable, in whole or in part, by the Participant, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, prior to the date the risks of forfeiture described in the restricted stock agreement have lapsed.  If the Participant shall attempt any transfer of any restricted stock award granted under the Plan prior to such date, such transfer shall be void and the restricted stock award shall terminate.  

(g)

Other Provisions.  The Restricted Stock Agreement authorized under this Section 11 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.  

SECTION 12. 

RECAPITALIZATION, SALE, MERGER, EXCHANGE

OR LIQUIDATION

In the event of an increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares or the payment of a stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, the number of shares of Stock reserved under Section 6 hereof and the number of shares of Stock covered by each outstanding stock option or restricted stock award and the price per share thereof shall be adjusted by the Board to reflect such change.  Additional shares which may be credited pursuant to such adjustment shall be subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to the shares with respect to which the adjustment relates.  

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Unless otherwise provided in the Option or Restricted Stock Agreement, in the event of an acquisition of the Company through the sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets and the consequent discontinuance of its business or through a merger, consolidation, exchange, reorganization, reclassification, extraordinary dividend, divestiture or liquidation of the Company (collectively referred to as a “transaction”), all outstanding stock options shall become immediately exercisable, whether or not such options had become exercisable prior to the transaction, and all restrictions on restricted stock awards shall lapse; provided, however, that if the acquiring party seeks to have the transaction accounted for on a “pooling of interests” basis and, in the opinion of the Company’s independent certified public accountants, the acceleration of the exercisability of such options or lapsing of the restrictions on such restricted stock awards would preclude a pooling of interests under generally accepted accounting principles, the exercisability of such options shall not accelerate and the restrictions on the restricted awards shall not lapse.  In addition to the foregoing, or in the event a pooling of interests transaction precludes the acceleration of the exercisability of outstanding options or the lapsing of the restrictions on restricted stock awards, the Board may provide for one or more of the following:

(a)

the complete termination of this Plan, the cancellation of outstanding options not exercised prior to a date specified by the Board (which date shall give Participants a reasonable period of time in which to exercise the options prior to the effectiveness of such transaction) and the cancellation of any restricted stock awards for which the risks of forfeiture have not lapsed;

(b)

that Participants holding outstanding stock options shall receive, with respect to each share of Stock subject to such options, as of the effective date of any such transaction, cash in an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of such Stock on the date immediately preceding the effective date of such transaction over the option price per share of such options; provided that the Board may, in lieu of such cash payment, distribute to such Participants shares of stock of the Company or shares of stock of any corporation succeeding the Company by reason of such transaction, such shares having a value equal to the cash payment herein;

(c)

that Participants holding outstanding restricted stock awards shall receive, with respect to each share of Stock subject to such awards, as of the effective date of any such transaction, cash in an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of such Stock on the date immediately preceding the effective date of such transaction; provided that the Board may, in lieu of such cash payment, distribute to such Participants shares of stock of the Company or shares of stock of any corporation succeeding the Company by reason of such transaction, such shares having a value equal to the cash payment herein;

(d)

the continuance of the Plan with respect to the exercise of options which were outstanding as of the date of adoption by the Board of such plan for such transaction and provide to Participants holding such options the right to exercise their respective options as to an equivalent number of shares of stock of the corporation succeeding the Company by reason of such transaction.

(e)

the continuance of the Plan with respect to restricted stock awards for which the risks of forfeiture have not lapsed as of the date of adoption by the Board of 

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such plan for such transaction and provide to Participants holding such awards the right to receive an equivalent number of shares of stock of the corporation succeeding the Company by reason of such transaction.

The Board may restrict the rights of or the applicability of this Section 12 to the extent necessary to comply with Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Internal Revenue Code or any other applicable law or regulation.  The grant of an option or award pursuant to the Plan shall not limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, exchange or consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

SECTION 13. 

SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE

No shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to the Plan unless and until there has been compliance, in the opinion of Company’s counsel, with all applicable legal requirements, including without limitation, those relating to securities laws and stock exchange listing requirements.  As a condition to the issuance of Stock to Participant, the Administrator may require Participant to (i) represent that the shares of Stock are being acquired for investment and not resale and to make such other representations as the Administrator shall deem necessary or appropriate to qualify the issuance of the shares as exempt from the Securities Act of 1933 and any other applicable securities laws, and (ii) represent that Participant shall not dispose of the shares of Stock in violation of the Securities Act of 1933 or any other applicable securities laws.

As a further condition to the grant of any stock option or restricted stock award or the issuance of Stock to Participant, Participant agrees to the following:

(a)

In the event the Company advises Participant that it plans an underwritten public offering of its Common Stock in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the underwriter(s) seek to impose restrictions under which certain shareholders may not sell or contract to sell or grant any option to buy or otherwise dispose of part or all of their stock purchase rights of the underlying Common Stock, Participant will not, for a period not to exceed 180 days from the prospectus, sell or contract to sell or grant an option to buy or otherwise dispose of any stock option or restricted stock award granted to Participant pursuant to the Plan or any of the underlying shares of Common Stock without the prior written consent of the underwriter(s) or its representative(s).

(b)

In the event the Company makes any public offering of its securities and determines in its sole discretion that it is necessary to reduce the number of issued but unexercised stock purchase rights so as to comply with any states securities or Blue Sky law limitations with respect thereto, the Board of Directors of the Company shall have the right (i) to accelerate the exercisability of any stock option and the date on which such option must be exercised, provided that the Company gives Participant prior written 

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notice of such acceleration, and (ii) to cancel any options or portions thereof which Participant does not exercise prior to or contemporaneously with such public offering.

(c)

In the event of a transaction (as defined in Section 12 of the Plan) which is treated as a “pooling of interests” under generally accepted accounting principles, Participant will comply with Rule 145 of the Securities Act of 1933 and any other restrictions imposed under other applicable legal or accounting principles if Participant is an “affiliate” (as defined in such applicable legal and accounting principles) at the time of the transaction, and Participant will execute any documents necessary to ensure compliance with such rules.

The Company reserves the right to place a legend on any stock certificate issued upon exercise of an option granted or upon the grant of a restricted stock award pursuant to the Plan to assure compliance with this Section 13.

SECTION 14. 

AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

The Board may from time to time, insofar as permitted by law, suspend or discontinue the Plan or revise or amend it in any respect; provided, however, that no such revision or amendment, except as is authorized in Section 12, shall impair the terms and conditions of any stock option or restricted stock award which is outstanding on the date of such revision or amendment to the material detriment of the Participant without the consent of the Participant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such revision or amendment shall (i) materially increase the number of shares subject to the Plan except as provided in Section 12 hereof, (ii) change the designation of the class of employees eligible to receive stock options or restricted stock awards, (iii) decrease the price at which options may be granted, or (iv) materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the plan without the approval of the shareholders of the Company if such approval is required for compliance with the requirements of any applicable law or regulation.  Furthermore, the Plan may not, without the approval of the shareholders, be amended in any manner that will cause incentive stock options to fail to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.

SECTION 15. 

NO OBLIGATION TO EXERCISE OPTION

The granting of a stock option shall impose no obligation upon the Participant to exercise such option.  Further, the granting of a stock option or restricted stock award hereunder shall not impose upon the Company or any Subsidiary any obligation to retain the Participant in its employ for any period.

SECTION 16. 

MISCELLANEOUS

This Plan shall be administered in accordance with all applicable federal or state laws, regulations and policies, including but not limited to regulations or policies issued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  In the event any provision of this Plan, any Option Agreement or any Restricted Stock Agreement conflicts with or is invalid under any such law, regulation or 

11

policy, such provision shall be amended to the extent necessary to make such provision enforceable under such law, regulation or policy, and shall be enforced as amended.  All other provisions shall remain enforceable according to their terms.

12Exhibit 4.2

EXCEL BANK CORPORATION

2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1.

Purpose.  The purpose of the Excel Bank Corporation 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by providing key personnel of the Company and its Affiliates with an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and reward them for achieving a high level of performance and thereby develop a stronger incentive to put forth maximum effort for the continued success and growth of the Company and its Affiliates.  In addition, the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company will aid in attracting and retaining key personnel of outstanding ability.  The Plan is also intended to aid in attracting and retaining Outside Directors, to compensate Outside Directors for their contributions to the Company and to provide Outside Directors with an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company.

2.

Definitions.

2.1

The capitalized terms used elsewhere in the Plan have the meanings set forth below.  

(a)

“Affiliate” means any entity that is a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as those terms are defined in Code Sections 424(e) and (f), or any successor provisions.

(b)

“Agreement” means a written contract (i) consistent with the terms of the Plan entered into between the Company or an Affiliate and a Participant and (ii) containing the terms and conditions of an Award in such form and not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall approve from time to time, together with all amendments thereto, which amendments may be unilaterally made by the Company (with the approval of the Committee) unless such amendments are deemed by the Committee to be materially adverse to the Participant and not required as a matter of law.

(c)

“Award” or “Awards” means a grant made under the Plan in the form of Restricted Stock, Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units, Stock or any other stock-based award.

(d)

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

 

(e)

“Change in Control” means:

(i)

a majority of the directors of the Company shall be persons other than persons

(A)

for whose election proxies shall have been solicited by the Board, or

(B)

who are then serving as directors appointed by the Board to fill vacancies on the Board caused by death or resignation (but not by removal) or to fill newly created directorships;

(ii)

35% or more of the (1) combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (“Outstanding Company Voting Securities”) or (2) the then-outstanding Shares of Stock (“Outstanding Company Common Stock”) is directly or indirectly acquired or beneficially owned (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule thereto) by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), provided, however, that none of the following acquisitions and beneficial ownership shall constitute a Change in Control pursuant to this paragraph 2.1(e)(ii):

(A)

any acquisition or beneficial ownership by the Company or a Subsidiary, 

(B)

any acquisition or beneficial ownership by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries,

(C)

any acquisition or beneficial ownership by the Participant or any group that includes the Participant, 

(D)

any acquisition or beneficial ownership by a Parent or its wholly owned subsidiaries, as long as they shall remain wholly owned subsidiaries, of 100% of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities as a result of a merger or statutory share exchange that complies with paragraph 2.1(e)(iii)(A)(2) or the exception in paragraph 2.1(e)(iii)(B) hereof in all respects, or

(E)

any acquisition or beneficial ownership by:

(x)

Shirley A. Bentdahl, the Elray E. Bentdahl Revocable Trust, the Bentdahl Family 2004 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust, the Craig E. Bentdahl Revocable Trust, the Ann Bentdahl-Wessels Revocable Trust, the E.E. Bentdahl Irrevocable Trust FBO Craig Bentdahl, or the E.E. Bentdahl Irrevocable Trust FBO Ann Bentdahl-Wessels,

(y)

any other trust created by Elray E. Bentdahl, Shirley A. Bentdahl, Craig E. Bentdahl, or Ann Bentdahl-Wessels, or

(z)

any trustee or beneficiary of any of the trusts named or described in clauses (x) and (y) above;

(iii)

any of the following transactions is consummated:

(A)

a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than (1) a merger or consolidation with a Subsidiary or (2) a merger in which:

(w)

the Company is the surviving corporation,

(x)

no Outstanding Company Voting Securities or Outstanding Company Common Stock (other than fractional shares) held by shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the merger is converted into cash, securities, or other property (except (I) voting stock of a Parent owning directly or indirectly through wholly owned subsidiaries, both beneficially and of record 100% of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately after the merger or (II) cash upon the exercise by holders of Outstanding Company Voting Securities of statutory dissenters’ rights),

(y)

the persons who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities and Outstanding Company Common Stock immediately prior to such merger beneficially own, directly or indirectly, immediately after the merger, more than 70% of, respectively, the then-outstanding common stock and the voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the surviving corporation or its Parent entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, and

(z)

if voting securities of the Parent are exchanged for Outstanding Company Voting Securities in the merger, all holders of any class or series of Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to the merger have the right to receive substantially the same per-share consideration in exchange for their Outstanding Company Voting Securities as all other holders of such class or series),

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(B)

an exchange, pursuant to a statutory share exchange, of Outstanding Company Voting Securities of any one or more classes or series held by shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the exchange for cash, securities or other property, except for (a) voting stock of a Parent owning directly, or indirectly through wholly owned subsidiaries, both beneficially and of record 100% of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately after the statutory share exchange if (I) the persons who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities and Outstanding Company Common Stock immediately prior to such statutory share exchange own, directly or indirectly, immediately after the statutory share exchange more than 70% of, respectively, the then-outstanding common stock and the voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such Parent entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, and (II) all holders of any class or series of Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to the statutory share exchange have the right to receive substantially the same per-share consideration in exchange for their Outstanding Company Voting Securities as all other holders of such class or series or (b) cash with respect to fractional shares of Outstanding Company Voting Securities or payable as a result of the exercise by holders of Outstanding Company Voting Securities of statutory dissenters’ rights,

(C)

a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (in one transaction or a series of transactions), or

(D)

a liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

except that it shall not constitute a Change in Control with respect to any Participant if a majority of the voting stock (or the voting equity interest) of the surviving corporation or its parent corporation or of any corporation (or other entity) acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (in the case of a merger, consolidation or disposition of assets) or the Company or its Parent (in the case of a statutory share exchange) is, immediately following the merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or disposition of assets, beneficially owned by the Participant or a group of persons, including the Participant, acting in concert.

(f) 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time or any successor statute.

(g)

“Committee” means two or more Non-Employee Directors designated by the Board to administer the Plan under Section 3.1 of the Plan and constituted so as to permit grants thereby to comply with Exchange Act Rule 16b-3 and Code Section 162(m).

(h)

“Company” means Excel Bank Corporation, a Minnesota corporation, or any successor to all or substantially all of its businesses by merger, consolidation, purchase of assets or otherwise.

(i)

“Effective Date” means the date specified in Section 12.1 of the Plan.

(j)

“Employee” means an employee (including an officer or director who is also an employee) of the Company or an Affiliate.

(k)

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time or any successor statute.

(l)

“Exchange Act Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, as now in force and in effect from time to time or any successor regulation.

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(m)

“Fair Market Value” as of any date means, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan:

(i)

the closing sale price of a Share on the date of grant, or, if no sale of Shares shall have occurred on that date, on the next preceding day on which a sale of Shares occurred

(A)

on the composite tape for New York Stock Exchange listed shares, or

(B)

if the Shares are not quoted on the composite tape for New York Stock Exchange listed shares, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under the Exchange Act on which the Shares are listed, or

(C)

if the Shares are not listed on any such exchange, on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations National Market System or any system then in use, or

(ii)

if clause (i) is inapplicable, the mean between the closing “bid” and the closing “asked” quotation of a Share on the date immediately preceding that date, or, if no closing bid or asked quotation is made on that date, on the next preceding day on which a closing bid and asked quotation is made, on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System or any system then in use, or

(iii)

if clauses (i) and (ii) are inapplicable, what the Committee determines in good faith to be 100% of the fair market value of a Share on that date, using such criteria as it shall determine, in its sole discretion, to be appropriate for valuation.

However, if the applicable securities exchange or system has closed for the day at the time the event occurs that triggers a determination of Fair Market Value, whether the grant of an Award, the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or otherwise, all references in this paragraph to the “date immediately preceding that date” shall be deemed to be references to “that date.”  In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, if this determination of Fair Market Value is not consistent with the then current regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury, Fair Market Value shall be determined in accordance with those regulations.  The determination of Fair Market Value shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 16 of the Plan.

(n)

“Fundamental Change” means a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, a sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other corporation, regardless of whether the Company is the surviving corporation, or a statutory share exchange involving capital stock of the Company.

(o)

“Incentive Stock Option” means any Option designated as such and granted in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 422 or any successor provision.

(p)

“Insider” as of a particular date means any person who, as of that date is an officer of the Company as defined under Exchange Act Rule 16a-1(f) or its successor provision.

(q)

“Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is considered a non-employee director within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 16b-3(b)(3) or its successor provision and an outside director for purposes of Code Section 162(m).

(r)

“Non-Statutory Stock Option” means an Option other than an Incentive Stock Option.

(s)

“Option” means a right to purchase Stock, including both Non-Statutory Stock Options and Incentive Stock Options.

(t)

“Parent” means a “parent corporation,” as that term is defined in Code Section 424(e) or any successor provisions.

(u)

“Outside Director” means a director who is not an Employee.

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(v)

“Participant” means a person or entity to whom an Award is or has been made in accordance with the Plan.

(w)

“Performance Cycle” means the period of time as specified in an Agreement over which Performance Units are to be earned.

(x)

“Performance Units” means an Award made pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.

(y)

“Plan” means this Excel Bank Corporation 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended and in effect from time to time.

(z)

“Restricted Stock” means Stock granted under Section 7 of the Plan so long as such Stock remains subject to one or more restrictions.

(aa)

“Section 16” or “Section 16(b)” means Section 16 or Section 16(b), respectively, of the Exchange Act or any successor statute and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder as in effect and as amended from time to time.

(bb)

“Share” means a share of Stock.

(cc)

“Stock” means the Common Stock, no par value, of the Company.

(dd)

“Stock Appreciation Right” means a right, the value of which is determined in relation to the appreciation in value of Shares pursuant to an Award granted under Section 10 of the Plan.

(ee)

“Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” as that term is defined in Code Section 424(f) or any successor provision.

(ff)

“Successor” with respect to a Participant means the legal representative of an incompetent Participant, and if the Participant is deceased the estate of the Participant or the person or persons who may, by bequest or inheritance, or pursuant to the terms of an Award, acquire the right to exercise an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or to receive cash and/or Shares issuable in satisfaction of an Award in the event of the Participant’s death.

(gg)

“Term” means the period during which an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised or the period during which the restrictions or terms and conditions placed on Restricted Stock or any other Award are in effect.

(hh)

“Transferee” means any member of the Participant’s immediate family (i.e., his or her children, step-children, grandchildren and spouse) or one or more trusts for the benefit of such family members or partnerships in which such family members are the only partners. 

2.2

Gender and Number.  Except when otherwise indicated by the context, reference to the masculine gender shall include, when used, the feminine gender and any term used in the singular shall also include the plural.

3.

Administration and Indemnification.

3.1

Administration.

(a)

The Committee shall administer the Plan.  The Committee shall have exclusive power to (i) make Awards, (ii) determine when and to whom Awards will be granted, the form of each Award, the amount of each Award, and any other terms or conditions of each Award consistent with the Plan, and (iii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances, Awards may be settled, paid or exercised in cash, Shares or other Awards, or other property or canceled, forfeited or suspended.  Each Award shall be subject to an Agreement authorized by the Committee.  A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of the Committee, and acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present or the acts unanimously approved in writing by all members of the Committee shall be the acts of the Committee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall have the sole and exclusive power to administer the Plan with respect to Awards granted to Outside Directors and, except to the extent that the grant or exercise of such authority would cause any Award or transaction to become subject to (or lose an exemption under) the short-swing profit 

5

recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Board may, at any time and from time to time, without any further action of the Committee, exercise the powers and duties of the Committee under the Plan.  To the extent that any permitted action taken by the Board conflicts with action taken by the Committee, the Board action will control.

(b)

Solely for purposes of determining and administering Awards to Participants who are not (i) Insiders, or (ii) at the time of the grant of an Award, or during the term of the award anticipated to become, “covered employees” as defined in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, the Committee may delegate all or any portion of its authority under the Plan to one or more persons who are not Non-Employee Directors.

(c)

To the extent within its discretion and subject to Sections 15 and 16 of the Plan, other than price, the Committee may amend the terms and conditions of any outstanding Award.

(d)

It is the intent that the Plan and all Awards granted pursuant to it shall be administered by the Committee so as to permit the Plan and Awards to comply with Exchange Act Rule 16b-3, except in such instances as the Committee, in its discretion, may so provide.  If any provision of the Plan or of any Award would otherwise frustrate or conflict with the intent expressed in this Section 3.1(d), that provision to the extent possible shall be interpreted and deemed amended in the manner determined by the Committee so as to avoid the conflict.  To the extent of any remaining irreconcilable conflict with this intent, the provision shall be deemed void as applicable to Insiders to the extent permitted by law and in the manner deemed advisable by the Committee.

(e)

The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan and of any Award or Agreement made under the Plan and all related decisions or resolutions of the Board or Committee shall be final and binding on all parties with an interest therein.  Consistent with its terms, the Committee shall have the power to establish, amend or waive regulations to administer the Plan.  In carrying out any of its responsibilities, the Committee shall have discretionary authority to construe the terms of the Plan and any Award or Agreement made under the Plan.

3.2

Indemnification.  Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, and any other person to whom the Committee delegates authority under the Plan, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company, to the extent permitted by law, against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which such person may be a party or in which such person may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act, made in good faith, under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by such person in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by such person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such person, provided such person shall give the Company an opportunity, at the Company’s expense, to handle and defend the same before such person undertakes to handle and defend it on such person’s own behalf.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such person or persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

4.

Shares Available Under the Plan.

(a)

The number of Shares available for distribution under the Plan shall not exceed 850,000 (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 4(b) below and Section 16 of the Plan).

(b)

Any unexercised or undistributed portion of any terminated, expired, exchanged, or forfeited Award, or any Award settled in cash in lieu of Shares shall be available for further Awards, subject to Section 4(f) below.

(c)

For the purposes of computing the total number of Shares granted under the Plan, the following rules shall apply:

(i)

each Share that is subject to an Award of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against the Shares available for distribution under this Plan as one Share;

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(ii)

each Share (or security that is convertible into, or equivalent to, a Share) that is subject to any Award other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against the Shares available for distribution under this Plan as 1.7 Shares;

(iii)

where the number of Shares available under the Award is variable on the date it is granted, the number of Shares subject to the Award shall be deemed to be the maximum number of Shares (computed in accordance with Sections 4(c)(i) and (ii) based on the nature of the Award) that could be received under that particular Award; 

(iv)

where two or more types of Awards are granted to a Participant in tandem with each other, such that the exercise of one type of Award with respect to a number of Shares cancels at least an equal number of Shares of the other, each such joint Award shall be deemed to be the equivalent of the maximum number of Shares available under the largest single Award (computed in accordance with Sections 4(c)(i) and (ii) based on the nature of the Award); and

(v) 

with respect to the grant of Performance Units denominated in dollars, the number of Shares counted against the Shares available for distribution under this Plan shall be equal to the result of dividing (A) the dollar amount for which the Performance Unit is denominated by (B) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date the Performance Unit is granted.

Additional rules for determining the number of Shares granted under the Plan may be made by the Committee as it deems necessary or desirable.

(d)

No fractional Shares may be issued under the Plan; however, cash shall be paid in lieu of any fractional Share in settlement of an Award.

(e)

The maximum number of Shares that may be awarded to a Participant in any calendar year in the form of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights is 150,000.

(f)

Any Shares that again become available for grant pursuant to this Section 4 shall be added back as one Share if such Shares were subject to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan, and as 1.7 Shares if such Shares were subject to Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan.

(g) 

Any Shares granted pursuant to Section 19 of the Plan shall not reduce the number of Shares available for distribution under the Plan.

5.

Eligibility.  Participation in the Plan shall be limited to Employees and to individuals or entities who are not Employees but who provide services to the Company or an Affiliate,  including services provided in the capacity of a consultant, advisor or director.  The granting of Awards is solely at the discretion of the Committee, except that Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Employees.  References herein to “employed,” “employment” or similar terms (except “Employee”) shall include the providing of services in any capacity or as a director or director emeritus. Neither the transfer of employment of a Participant between any of the Company or its Affiliates, nor a leave of absence granted to such Participant and approved by the Committee, shall be deemed a termination of employment for purposes of the Plan.

6.

General Terms of Awards.

6.1

Amount of Award.  Each Agreement shall set forth the number of Shares of Restricted Stock, Stock or Performance Units subject to the Agreement, or the number of Shares to which the Option subject to the Agreement applies or with respect to which payment upon the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right subject to the Agreement is to be determined, as the case may be, together with such other terms and conditions applicable to the Award as determined by the Committee acting in its sole discretion.

6.2

Term.  Each Agreement, other than those relating solely to Awards of Shares without restrictions, shall set forth the Term of the Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock or other Award or the Performance Cycle for the Performance Units, as the case may be.  Acceleration of the expiration of the applicable Term is permitted, upon such terms and conditions as shall be set forth in the

7

Agreement, which may, but need not, include, without limitation, acceleration in the event of the Participant’s death or retirement.  Acceleration of the Performance Cycle of the Performance Units will be subject to Section 11.2 of the Plan.

6.3

Transferability.  Except as provided in this Section, during the lifetime of a Participant to whom an Award is granted, only that Participant (or that Participant’s legal representative) may exercise an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or receive payment with respect to Performance Units or any other Award.  No Award of Restricted Stock (before the expiration of the restrictions), Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units or other Award may be sold, assigned, transferred, exchanged or otherwise encumbered other than to a Successor in the event of a Participant’s death or, except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or Title 1 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or the rules thereunder; any attempted transfer in violation of this Section 6.3 shall be of no effect.  Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the Committee, in an Agreement or otherwise at its discretion, may provide that the Award (other than Incentive Stock Options) may be transferable to a Transferee if the Participant does not receive any consideration for the transfer.  Any Award held by a Transferee shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions that were applicable to that Award immediately before the transfer thereof to the Transferee.  For purposes of any provision of the Plan relating to notice to a Participant or to acceleration or termination of an Award upon the death, disability or termination of employment of a Participant, the references to “Participant” shall mean the original grantee of an Award and not any Transferee.

6.4

Termination of Employment.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee or provided by the Committee in an Agreement, in case of a Participant’s termination of employment, the following provisions shall apply:

(a)

Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.

(i)

If a Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company and its Affiliates terminates because of the Participant’s death, then any Option or Stock Appreciation Right that has not expired or been terminated shall remain exercisable for one year after Participant’s death, but, unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, only to the extent that such Option or Stock Appreciation Right was exercisable immediately prior to Participant’s death.

(ii)

If a Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company and its Affiliates terminates because the Participant is disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), then any Option or Stock Appreciation Right that has not expired or been terminated shall remain exercisable for one year after Participant’s termination of employment resulting from Participant’s disability, but, unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, only to the extent that such Option or Stock Appreciation Right was exercisable immediately prior to such Participant’s termination of employment resulting from Participant’s disability.

(iii)

If a Participant’s employment terminates for any reason other than death or disability, then any Option or Stock Appreciation Right that has not expired or been terminated shall remain exercisable for three months after termination of the Participant’s employment or Participant’s cessation of service as an Outside Director or director emeritus, whichever occurs later, but, unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, only to the extent that such Option or Stock Appreciation Right was exercisable immediately prior to such Participant’s termination of employment or ceasing to be an Outside Director or director emeritus.

(iv)

Notwithstanding Sections 6.4(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) of the Plan, in no event shall an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right be exercisable after the expiration of the Term of such Award.  Any Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is not exercised within the periods set forth in Sections 6.4 (i), (ii) and (iii) of the Plan, except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the Agreement, shall terminate as of the end of the periods described in such Sections.

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(b)

Performance Units.  If a Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company and its Affiliates terminates during a Performance Cycle because of death or disability, or under other circumstances provided by the Committee in its discretion in the Agreement or otherwise, the Participant, unless the Committee shall otherwise provide in the Agreement, shall be entitled to a payment with respect to the Performance Units at the end of the Performance Cycle based upon the extent to which achievement of performance targets was satisfied at the end of such period (as determined at the end of the Performance Cycle) and prorated for the portion of the Performance Cycle during which the Participant was employed by the Company or its Affiliates.  Except as provided in this Section 6.4(b) or in the Agreement, if a Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company and its Affiliates terminates during a Performance Cycle, then such Participant shall not be entitled to any payment with respect to that Performance Cycle.

(c)

Restricted Stock Awards.  Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, in case of a Participant’s death or disability, the Participant shall be entitled to receive a number of Shares of Restricted Stock under outstanding Awards that has been prorated for the portion of the Term of the Awards during which the Participant was employed by the Company and its Affiliates, and, with respect to such Shares, all restrictions shall lapse.  Any Shares of Restricted Stock as to which restrictions do not lapse under the preceding sentence shall terminate at the date of the Participant’s termination of employment and such Shares of Restricted Stock shall be forfeited to the Company.  

6.5

Rights as Shareholder.  Each Agreement shall provide that a Participant shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any securities covered by an Award unless and until the date the Participant becomes the holder of record of the Stock, if any, to which the Award relates.

7.

Restricted Stock Awards.

(a)

An Award of Restricted Stock under the Plan shall consist of Shares subject to restrictions on transfer and conditions of forfeiture, which restrictions and conditions shall be included in the applicable Agreement.  The Committee may provide for the lapse or waiver of any such restriction or condition based on such factors or criteria as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine.

(b)

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Agreement, each Stock certificate issued with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock shall either be deposited with the Company or its designee, together with an assignment separate from the certificate, in blank, signed by the Participant, or bear such legends with respect to the restricted nature of the Restricted Stock evidenced thereby as shall be provided for in the applicable Agreement.

(c)

The Agreement shall describe the terms and conditions by which the restrictions and conditions of forfeiture upon awarded Restricted Stock shall lapse.  Upon the lapse of the restrictions and conditions, Shares free of restrictive legends, if any, relating to such restrictions shall be issued to the Participant or a Successor or Transferee.

(d)

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Agreement, a Participant or a Transferee with a Restricted Stock Award shall have all the other rights of a shareholder including, but not limited to, the right to receive dividends and the right to vote the Shares of Restricted Stock.

(e)

No more than 380,000 of the total number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan shall be issued during the term of the Plan as Restricted Stock.  This limitation shall be calculated pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 4 and 16 of the Plan.

8.

Other Awards.  The Committee may from time to time grant Stock and other Awards under the Plan including, without limitation, those Awards pursuant to which Shares are or may in the future be acquired, Awards denominated in Stock units, securities convertible into Stock and phantom securities.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards provided that such Awards shall not be inconsistent with the terms and purposes of the Plan.  The Committee may, at its sole discretion, direct the Company to issue Shares subject to restrictive legends and/or stop transfer instructions that are consistent with the terms and conditions of the Award to which the Shares relate.  No more than 250,000 of the total number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan shall be issued during the term of the Plan in the form of Stock without restrictions.

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9.

Stock Options.

9.1

Terms of All Options.

(a)

An Option shall be granted pursuant to an Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Statutory Stock Option.  The purchase price of each Share subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Agreement, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the date the Option is granted (except as provided in Sections 9.2 and 19 of the Plan or as otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion).  No Option may be exercised more than 10 years after the date of grant.  Other than pursuant to Section 16, the Committee shall not without the approval of the Company’s shareholders (a) lower the option price per Share of an Option after it is granted, (b) cancel an Option when the option price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares in exchange for another Award, and (c) take any other action with respect to an Option that may be treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Stock Market (or such other principal securities market on which the Shares are traded).

(b)

The purchase price of the Shares with respect to which an Option is exercised shall be payable in full at the time of exercise, provided that to the extent permitted by law, the Agreement may permit some or all Participants to simultaneously exercise Options and sell the Shares thereby acquired pursuant to a brokerage or similar relationship and use the proceeds from the sale as payment of the purchase price of the Shares.  The purchase price may be payable in cash, by delivery or tender of Shares having a Fair Market Value as of the date the Option is exercised equal to the purchase price of the Shares being purchased pursuant to the Option, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee, but no fractional Shares will be issued or accepted.  A Participant exercising a stock option shall not be permitted to pay any portion of the purchase price with Shares if, in the opinion of the Committee, payment in such manner is undesirable. 

(c)

Each Option shall be exercisable in whole or in part on the terms provided in the Agreement.  In no event shall any Option be exercisable at any time after the expiration of its Term.  When an Option is no longer exercisable, it shall be deemed to have lapsed or terminated.

9.2

Incentive Stock Options.  In addition to the other terms and conditions applicable to all Options:

(a)

the purchase price of each Share subject to an Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted if this limitation is necessary to qualify the Option as an Incentive Stock Option (except as provided in Section 19 of the Plan);

(b)

the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date the Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options held by an individual first become exercisable in any calendar year (under the Plan and all other incentive stock option plans of the Company and its Affiliates) shall not exceed $100,000 (or such other limit as may be required by the Code) if this limitation is necessary to qualify the Option as an Incentive Stock Option and to the extent any Option granted to a Participant exceeds this limit the Option shall be treated as a Non-Statutory Stock Option;

(c)

an Incentive Stock Option shall not be exercisable more than 10 years after the date of grant (or such other limit as may be required by the Code) if this limitation is necessary to qualify the Option as an Incentive Stock Option;

(d)

the Agreement covering an Incentive Stock Option shall contain such other terms and provisions that the Committee determines necessary to qualify this Option as an Incentive Stock Option; and

(e)

notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant may receive an Incentive Stock Option under the Plan if, at the time the Award is granted, the Participant owns (after application of the rules contained in Code Section 424(d), or its successor provision), Shares possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of 

10

stock of the Company or its Subsidiaries, unless (i) the option price for that Incentive Stock Option is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to that Incentive Stock Option on the date of grant and (ii) that Option is not exercisable after the date five years from the date that Incentive Stock Option is granted.

10.

Stock Appreciation Rights.  An Award of a Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the Participant (or a Successor or Transferee), subject to terms and conditions determined by the Committee, to receive upon exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right all or a portion of the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares as of the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right over (ii) a specified price that shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Shares as of the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right.  No Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised more than 10 years after the date of grant.  A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted in connection with part or all of, in addition to, or completely independent of an Option or any other Award under the Plan.  If issued in connection with a previously or contemporaneously granted Option, the Committee may impose a condition that exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right cancels a pro rata portion of the Option with which it is connected and vice versa.  Each Stock Appreciation Right may be exercisable in whole or in part on the terms provided in the Agreement.  No Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable at any time after the expiration of its Term.  When a Stock Appreciation Right is no longer exercisable, it shall be deemed to have lapsed or terminated.  Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, payment to the Participant or a Successor or Transferee shall be made at such time or times as shall be provided in the Agreement in the form of cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares as determined by the Committee.  The Agreement may provide for a limitation upon the amount or percentage of the total appreciation on which payment (whether in cash and/or Shares) may be made in the event of the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right.

11.

Performance Units.

11.1

Initial Award.

(a)

An Award of Performance Units under the Plan shall entitle the Participant or a Successor or Transferee to future payments of cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares, as determined by the Committee, based upon the achievement of pre-established performance targets.  These performance targets may, but need not, include, without limitation, targets relating to one or more of the Company’s or a group’s, unit’s, Affiliate’s or an individual’s performance.  The Agreement may establish that a portion of a Participant’s Award will be paid for performance that exceeds the minimum target but falls below the maximum target applicable to the Award.  The Agreement shall also provide for the timing of the payment.

(b)

Following the conclusion or acceleration of each Performance Cycle, the Committee shall determine the extent to which (i) performance targets have been attained, (ii) any other terms and conditions with respect to an Award relating to the Performance Cycle have been satisfied and (iii) payment is due with respect to an Award of Performance Units.

11.2

Acceleration and Adjustment.  The Agreement may permit an acceleration of the Performance Cycle and an adjustment of performance targets and payments with respect to some or all of the Performance Units awarded to a Participant, upon the occurrence of certain events, which may, but need not include, without limitation, a Change in Control, a Fundamental Change, a recapitalization, a change in the accounting practices of the Company, a change in the Participant’s title or employment responsibilities, the Participant’s death or retirement or, with respect to payments in Shares with respect to Performance Units, a reclassification, stock dividend, stock split or stock combination as provided in Plan Section 16.  The Agreement also may provide for a limitation on the value of an Award of Performance Units that a Participant may receive.

12.

Effective Date and Duration of the Plan.

12.1

Effective Date.  Upon its adoption by the Board, the Plan shall be submitted for approval by the shareholders of the Company and shall be effective as of the date of such approval.

12.2

Duration of the Plan.  The Plan shall remain in effect until all Stock subject to it shall be distributed, all Awards have expired or lapsed, the Plan is terminated pursuant to Section 15 of the Plan or the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Termination Date”); provided, however, that Awards made before the Termination Date may be exercised, vested or otherwise effectuated beyond the Termination Date unless limited in the Agreement or otherwise.  No Award of an Incentive Stock Option shall be made 

11

more than 10 years after the Effective Date (or such other limit as may be required by the Code) if this limitation is necessary to qualify the Option as an Incentive Stock Option.  The date and time of approval by the Committee of the granting of an Award shall be considered the date and time at which the Award is made or granted.

13.

Plan Does Not Affect Employment Status.

(a)

Status as an eligible Employee shall not be construed as a commitment that any Award will be made under the Plan to that eligible Employee or to eligible Employees generally.

(b)

Nothing in the Plan or in any Agreement or related documents shall confer upon any Employee or Participant any right to continue in the employment of the Company or any Affiliate or constitute any contract of employment or affect any right that the Company or any Affiliate may have to change such person’s compensation, other benefits, job responsibilities, or title, or to terminate the employment of such person with or without cause.

14.

Tax Withholding.  The Company shall have the right to withhold from any cash payment under the Plan to a Participant or other person (including a Successor or a Transferee) an amount sufficient to cover any required withholding taxes.  The Company shall have the right to require a Participant or other person receiving Shares under the Plan to pay the Company a cash amount sufficient to cover any required withholding taxes before actual receipt of those Shares.  In lieu of all or any part of a cash payment from a person receiving Shares under the Plan, the Committee may permit the individual to cover all or any part of the required withholdings through a reduction of the number of Shares delivered or delivery or tender return to the Company of Shares held by the Participant or other person, in each case valued in the same manner as used in computing the withholding taxes under the applicable laws, and in the minimum number of Shares required to cover such withholdings.

15.

Amendment, Modification and Termination of the Plan.

(a)

The Board may at any time and from time to time terminate, suspend or modify the Plan, subject to shareholder approval required to comply with applicable laws or any securities exchange on which the Shares are listed by the Company.  Except as limited in (b) below, the Committee may at any time alter or amend any or all Agreements under the Plan to the extent permitted by law.

(b)

No termination, suspension, or modification of the Plan will materially and adversely affect any right acquired by any Participant or Successor or Transferee under an Award granted before the date of termination, suspension, or modification, unless otherwise agreed to by the Participant in the Agreement or otherwise, or required as a matter of law; but it will be conclusively presumed that any adjustment for changes in capitalization provided for in Section 16 of the Plan does not adversely affect these rights.

16.

Adjustment for Changes in Capitalization.  Subject to any required action by the Company’s shareholders, appropriate adjustments, so as to prevent enlargement of rights or inappropriate dilution — (i) in the aggregate number and type of Shares available for Awards under the Plan, (ii) in the limitations on the number of Shares that may be issued to an individual Participant as an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right in any calendar year or that may be issued in the form of Restricted Stock or Shares without restrictions, (iii) in the number and type of Shares and amount of cash subject to Awards then outstanding, and (iv) in the Option price as to any outstanding Options may be made by the Committee in its sole discretion to give effect to adjustments made in the number or type of Shares through a Fundamental Change (subject to Section 17 of the Plan), recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other relevant change, provided that fractional Shares shall be rounded to the nearest whole Share.

17.

Fundamental Change.  In the event of a proposed Fundamental Change, the Committee may, but shall not be obligated to:

(a)

if the Fundamental Change is a merger or consolidation or statutory share exchange, make appropriate provision for the protection of the outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights by the substitution of options, stock appreciation rights and appropriate voting common stock of the corporation surviving any merger or consolidation or, if appropriate, the parent corporation of the Company or such surviving corporation; 

12

(b)

provide that any or all of the restrictions on transfer or conditions of forfeiture to which any Award of Restricted Stock is subject shall terminate at the time of, or immediately before, the occurrence of the Fundamental Change; or

(c)

at least ten days before the occurrence of the Fundamental Change, declare, and provide written notice to each holder of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right of the declaration, that each outstanding Option and Stock Appreciation Right, whether or not then exercisable, shall be canceled at the time of, or immediately before, the occurrence of the Fundamental Change in exchange for payment to each holder of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, within ten days after the Fundamental Change, of cash equal to (i) for each Share covered by the canceled Option, the amount, if any, by which the Fair Market Value (as defined in this Section) per Share exceeds the exercise price per Share covered by such Option or (ii) for each Stock Appreciation Right, the price determined pursuant to Section 10, except that Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right, as used in clause (i) of Section 10 of the Plan, shall be deemed to mean Fair Market Value for each Share with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is calculated determined in the manner hereinafter referred to in this Section.  At the time of the declaration provided for in the immediately preceding sentence, each Stock Appreciation Right and each Option shall immediately become exercisable in full and each person holding an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right shall have the right, during the period preceding the time of cancellation of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, to exercise the Option as to all or any part of the Shares covered thereby or the Stock Appreciation Right in whole or in part, as the case may be.  In the event of a declaration pursuant to this Section 17(b), each outstanding Option and Stock Appreciation Right granted pursuant to the Plan that shall not have been exercised before the Fundamental Change shall be canceled at the time of, or immediately before, the Fundamental Change, as provided in the declaration.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no person holding an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right shall be entitled to the payment provided for in this Section 17(b) if such Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall have terminated, expired or been cancelled.  For purposes of this Section only, “Fair Market Value” per Share means the cash plus the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Committee, of the non-cash consideration to be received per Share by the shareholders of the Company upon the occurrence of the Fundamental Change.

18.

Forfeitures.  An Agreement may provide that if a Participant has received or been entitled to payment of cash, delivery of Shares, or a combination thereof pursuant to an Award within six months before the Participant’s termination of employment with the Company and its Affiliates, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may require the Participant to return or forfeit the cash and/or Shares received with respect to the Award (or its economic value as of (i) the date of the exercise of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, (ii) the date of, and immediately following, the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock or the receipt of Shares without restrictions or (iii) the date on which the right of the Participant to payment with respect to Performance Units vests, as the case may be) in the event of certain occurrences specified in the Agreement.  The Committee’s right to require forfeiture must be exercised within 90 days after discovery of such an occurrence but in no event later than 15 months after the Participant’s termination of employment with the Company and its Affiliates.  The occurrences may, but need not, include competition with the Company or any Affiliate, unauthorized disclosure of material proprietary information of the Company or any Affiliate, a violation of applicable business ethics policies of the Company or Affiliate or any other occurrence specified in the Agreement within the period or periods of time specified in the Agreement.

19.

Corporate Mergers, Acquisitions, Etc.  The Committee may also grant Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock or other Awards under the Plan in substitution for, or in connection with the assumption of, existing options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or other award granted, awarded or issued by another corporation and assumed or otherwise agreed to be provided for by the Company pursuant to or by reason of a transaction involving a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or liquidation to which the Company or a Subsidiary is a party.  The terms and conditions of the substitute Awards may vary from the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan to the extent as the Board at the time of the grant may deem appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the provisions of the awards in substitution for which they are granted.

20.

Unfunded Plan.  The Plan shall be unfunded and the Company shall not be required to segregate any assets that may at any time be represented by Awards under the Plan.  Neither the Company, its Affiliates, the 

13

Committee, nor the Board of Directors shall be deemed to be a trustee of any amounts to be paid under the Plan nor shall anything contained in the Plan or any action taken pursuant to its provisions create or be construed to create a fiduciary relationship between the Company and/or its Affiliates, and a Participant or Successor or Transferee.   To the extent any person acquires a right to receive an Award under the Plan, this right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.

21.

Limits of Liability.

(a)

Any liability of the Company to any Participant with respect to an Award shall be based solely upon contractual obligations created by the Plan and the Award Agreement.

(b)

Except as may be required by law, neither the Company nor any member of the Board of Directors or of the Committee, nor any other person participating in any determination of any question under the Plan, or in the interpretation, administration or application of the Plan, shall have any liability to any party for any action taken, or not taken, in good faith under the Plan.

22.

Compliance with Applicable Legal Requirements.  No certificate for Shares distributable pursuant to the Plan shall be issued and delivered unless the issuance of the certificate complies with all applicable legal requirements including, without limitation, compliance with the provisions of applicable state securities laws, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and in effect from time to time or any successor statute, the Exchange Act and the requirements of the exchanges on which the Company’s Shares may, at the time, be listed.

23.

Deferrals and Settlements.  The Committee may require or permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance of Shares or the settlement of Awards in cash under such rules and procedures as it may establish under the Plan.  It may also provide that deferred settlements include the payment or crediting of interest on the deferral amounts.

24.

Other Benefit and Compensation Programs.  Payments and other benefits received by a Participant under an Award made pursuant to the Plan shall not be deemed a part of a Participant’s regular, recurring compensation for purposes of the termination, indemnity or severance pay laws of any country and shall not be included in, nor have any effect on, the determination of benefits under any other employee benefit plan, contract or similar arrangement provided by the Company or an Affiliate unless expressly so provided by such other plan, contract or arrangement, or unless the Committee expressly determines that an Award or portion of an Award should be included to accurately reflect competitive compensation practices or to recognize that an Award has been made in lieu of a portion of competitive cash compensation.

25.

Beneficiary Upon Participant’s Death.  To the extent that the transfer of a Participant’s Award at his or her death is permitted under an Agreement, a Participant’s Award shall be transferable at death to the estate or to the person who acquires the right to succeed to the Award by bequest or inheritance.

26.

Requirements of Law.

(a)

To the extent that federal laws do not otherwise control, the Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant to the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota without regard to its conflicts-of-law principles and shall be construed accordingly.

(b)

If any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not effect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

14

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