Document:

EX-4.5

EXHIBIT
4.5

BROADPOINT GLEACHER SECURITIES GROUP, INC.

2007 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

(As Amended and Restated Through June 16, 2009)

     1. Purpose of the Plan

     The purpose of this 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to advance the interests
of the Broadpoint Gleacher Securities Group, Inc., a New York corporation (the “Company”), and its
shareholders by providing a means (a) to attract, retain, and reward officers, other employees, and
persons who provide services to the Company and its subsidiaries, (b) to link compensation to
measures of the Company’s performance in order to provide additional incentives, including
stock-based incentives and cash-based annual incentives, to such persons for the creation of
shareholder value, and (c) to enable such persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in
the Company in order to promote a closer identity of interests between such persons and the
Company’s shareholders. The Plan is intended to qualify certain compensation awarded under the
Plan as “performance-based” compensation under Code Section 162(m) to the extent deemed appropriate
by the Committee which administers the Plan.

     2. Definitions

     The definitions of awards under the Plan, including Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Deferred
Stock, Stock granted as a bonus or in lieu of other awards, and Other Stock-Based Awards, are set
forth in Section 6, and the definition of Performance Awards, including Annual Incentive Awards, is
set forth in Section 8. Such awards, together with any other right or interest granted to a
Participant under the Plan, are termed “Awards.” In addition to such terms and the terms defined in
Section 1, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

     2.1 “Annual Incentive Award” means a conditional right granted to a Participant under Section
8.3 to receive a cash payment, Shares or other Awards based on performance during all or part of a
specified fiscal year.

     2.2 “Beneficiary” means the person(s) or trust(s) which have been designated by a Participant
in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the Committee to receive the
benefits specified under the Plan upon such Participant’s death. If, upon a Participant’s death,
there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary
means the person(s) or trust(s) entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive
such benefits.

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

     2.4 “Cause,” unless defined otherwise in the terms and conditions of a Participant’s Award,
means (i) the Participant’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or “no contest” to, any felony; (ii)
Participant’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or “no contest” to, a violation of criminal law
involving the Company and its business; (iii) the Participant’s commission of an act of fraud or
theft, or material dishonesty in connection with his performance of duties to Company and its
affiliates; or (iv) the Participant’s willful refusal or gross neglect by the Participant to
perform the duties reasonably assigned to him and consistent with his position with Company and its
affiliates or otherwise to comply with the material terms of any employment agreement between the
Company or any of its affiliates and the Participant, which refusal or gross neglect continues for
more than fifteen (15) days after the Participant receives written notice thereof

 

 

from the Company providing reasonable detail of the asserted refusal or gross neglect (and
which is not due to a physical or mental impairment).

     2.5 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including regulations
thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.

     2.6 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, and the term “Committee” shall
refer to the full Board in any case in which it is performing any function of the Committee under
the Plan. A member of the Committee is not required by the terms of the Plan to be a Qualified
Member at the time of appointment or during his or her term of service on the Committee.

     2.7 “Company” has the meaning set forth in Section 1 above.

     2.8 “Covered Employee” has the meaning as defined in Section 8.5 of the Plan.

     2.9 “Effective Date” means the date on which the Plan takes effect, as set forth in Section
9.14 of the Plan.

     2.10 “Fair Market Value,” means, with respect to Shares, Awards, or other property, the fair
market value of such Shares, Awards, or other property determined by such reasonable methods or
procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee in compliance with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code. At any time while Shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global
Market, the Fair Market Value of a Share as of any given date means the closing sales price of a
Share in composite trading of NASDAQ Global Market-listed securities for that date or, if no sale
occurred on that date, on the latest preceding day on which a sale occurred, as reported by a
reliable reporting service.

     2.11 “Participant” means an individual who has been granted an Award under the Plan, for so
long as the Company has any obligation under the Plan with respect to such Award or such Award
remains subject to any restriction under the Plan.

     2.12 “Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 1 above.

     2.13 “Preexisting Plans” mean the Company’s 1989 Stock Incentive Plan, 1999 Long-Term
Incentive Plan, 2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan and Restricted Stock Inducement Plan for Descap
Employees, each as amended.

     2.14 “Qualified Member” means a member of the Committee who is a “Non-Employee Director”
within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and an “outside
director” within the meaning of Regulation 1.162-27 under Code Section 162(m).

     2.15 “Retirement,” unless defined otherwise in the terms and conditions of a Participant’s
Award, means a Participant’s termination of employment with the Company and all of its affiliates
for reasons other than Cause on or after (i) having completed at least five years of service and
(ii) reaching any age, that, when added to service with the Company and its affiliates (in each
case, expressed as completed years and completed months), equals at least 60.

     2.16 “Shares” means shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company and such
other securities as may be substituted or resubstituted for Shares pursuant to Section 5.3.

     3. Administration

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     3.1 Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The
Committee shall have full and final authority to take the following actions, in each case subject
to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan:

     (a) to select persons to whom Awards may be granted;

     (b) to determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;

     (c) to determine the number of Awards to be granted, the number of Shares to which an Award
will relate, the cash amount payable in settlement of an Annual Incentive Award and the performance
conditions applicable thereto, all other terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan
(including, but not limited to, any exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any restriction
or condition, any schedule or performance conditions for the lapse of restrictions or conditions
relating to transferability, forfeiture, exercisability, or settlement of an Award, and
accelerations or modifications thereof, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee
shall determine), and all other matters to be determined in connection with an Award;

     (d) to determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be
settled, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid, in cash, Shares, other Awards, or other
property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;

     (e) to determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other
Awards, or other property payable with respect to an Award will be deferred either automatically,
at the election of the Committee, or at the election of the Participant;

     (f) to prescribe the form of each Award agreement, which need not be identical for each
Participant;

     (g) to adopt, amend, suspend, and rescind such rules and regulations and appoint such agents
as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

     (h) to correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan
and to construe and interpret the Plan and any Award, rules and regulations, Award agreement, or
other instrument hereunder; and

     (i) to make all other decisions and determinations as may be required under the terms of the
Plan or as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

     3.2 Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority. Any action of the Committee with respect to
the Plan shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, including the Company,
subsidiaries of the Company, Participants, any person claiming any rights under the Plan from or
through any Participant, and shareholders. The express grant of any specific power to the
Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any
power or authority of the Committee. At any time that a member of the Committee is not a Qualified
Member, (i) any action of the Committee relating to an Award intended by the Committee to qualify
as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations
thereunder may be taken by a subcommittee, designated by the Committee or the Board, composed
solely of two or more Qualified Members, and (ii) any action relating to an Award granted or to be
granted to a Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
in respect of the Company may be taken either by such a subcommittee or by the Committee but with
each such member who is not a Qualified Member abstaining or recusing himself or herself from such
action, provided that, upon such abstention

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or recusal, the Committee remains composed of two or more Qualified Members. Such action,
authorized by such a subcommittee or by the Committee upon the abstention or recusal of such
non-Qualified Member(s), shall be the action of the Committee for purposes of the Plan. The
Committee may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company the
authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform functions designated
by the Committee, to the extent that such delegation is permitted under applicable laws. Other
provisions of the Plan notwithstanding, the Board may perform any function of the Committee under
the Plan, in order to ensure that transactions under the Plan are exempt under Rule 16b-3 or for
any other reason; provided, however , that authority specifically reserved to the Board under the
terms of the Plan, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws, or applicable law shall
be exercised by the Board and not by the Committee.

     3.3 Limitation of Liability. Each member of the Committee shall be entitled to, in good
faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him by any officer or other
employee of the Company or any subsidiary, the Company’s independent certified public accountants,
or any executive compensation consultant, legal counsel, or other professional retained by the
Company to assist in the administration of the Plan. No member of the Committee, nor any officer
or employee of the Company acting on behalf of the Committee, shall be personally liable for any
action, determination, or interpretation taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and
all members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company acting on behalf of the
Committee or members thereof shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and
protected by the Company with respect to any such action, determination, or interpretation.

     4. Eligibility

     Persons who are eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan include (i) any executive officer
and other officer or employee of the Company or any subsidiary, including any such person who may
also be a director of the Company, (ii) any other person who provides substantial personal services
to the Company or any subsidiary not solely in the capacity as a director, and (iii) any person who
has agreed to become an employee of the Company or a subsidiary provided that no such person may
receive any payment or exercise any right relating to an Award until such person has commenced
employment.

     5. Limitation on Shares Available for Awards; Per-Person Limitations; Adjustments

     5.1 Aggregate Number of Shares Available for Awards.

     (a) Evergreen Share Reservation. Awards relating to Shares may be granted if, at the time of
grant of each Award, the aggregate number of Shares subject to outstanding Awards and outstanding
awards under the Preexisting Plans plus the number of Shares subject to the Award being granted do
not exceed the sum of (x) 15,675,000 Shares (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.3) plus
(y) 25% of the number of Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the grant of such
Award. For purposes of this Section 5.1(a), an Option or SAR is “outstanding” until it is
exercised and any other Award is “outstanding” in the calendar year in which it is granted and for
so long thereafter as it remains subject to any vesting condition requiring continued employment,
and options and other awards under each of the Preexisting Plans are treated as “outstanding” in
accordance with the terms of each such Preexisting Plan. The foregoing notwithstanding, the
maximum number of shares that may be subject to ISOs granted under the Plan shall be 2.5 million,
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.3.

     (b) Type of Shares Deliverable. The Shares delivered in connection with Awards may consist,
in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares, treasury Shares or Shares acquired in the
market for the account of a Participant.

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     5.2 Annual Per-Person Limitations. In each calendar year during any part of which the Plan is
in effect, a Participant may be granted Awards under Section 6 (including Performance Awards under
Section 8 based on Awards authorized under Section 6) relating to up to his or her Annual Limit,
which consists of an Annual Share Award Limit and an Annual Performance Award Limit. A
Participant’s Annual Share Award Limit, in any year during any part of which the Participant is
then eligible under the Plan, shall equal two million Shares plus the amount of the Participant’s
unused Annual Share Award Limit relating to the same type of Award as of the close of the previous
year, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.3. With respect to Annual Incentive Awards
pursuant to Section 8, a Participant’s Annual Incentive Award limit relating to a given fiscal year
shall be (i), in the case of the Chief Executive Officer or any other executive officer principally
having Company-wide responsibilities, the greater of 25% of Company profits after taxes but before
payment of bonuses to all employees or 10% of Company revenue, and (ii), in the case of an
executive officer or other person principally having responsibilities for one or more specific
business units, the greatest of 30% of the net income of such business unit(s), 10% of the revenues
of such business unit(s), or 25% of the economic value created (“EVC”, as defined in Section 8.2(b)
below) of such business unit(s). With respect to Performance Awards pursuant to Section 8, other
than Annual Incentive Awards, which Performance Awards are payable solely in cash, a Participant
may not be granted Awards authorizing the earning during any calendar year of an amount that
exceeds the Participant’s Annual Performance Award Limit, which for this purpose shall equal $3.0
million plus the amount of the Participant’s unused cash Annual Performance Award Limit as of the
close of the previous year. For this purpose, (i) “earning” means satisfying performance
conditions so that an amount becomes payable, without regard to whether it is to be paid currently
or on a deferred basis or continues to be subject to any service requirement or other
non-performance condition, and (ii) a Participant’s Annual Performance Award Limit is used to the
extent a cash amount or number of shares may be potentially earned or paid under an Award,
regardless of whether such amount or shares are in fact earned or paid. The per-person limitations
on Awards under Section 6, Annual Incentive Awards, and other Performance Awards are each separate
from one another.

     5.3 Adjustments. In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares after the Effective
Date by reason of any Share dividend or split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of Shares, repurchase, liquidation, dissolution or
other corporate exchange, any large, special and non-recurring dividend or distribution to
shareholders, or other similar corporate transaction, the Committee may make such substitution or
adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable and in order to preserve, without enlarging, the
rights of Participants, as to (i) the number and kind of Shares which may be delivered in
connection with Awards granted thereafter, including the number of shares reserved for incentive
stock options under Section 5.1(a), (ii) the number and kind of Shares by which annual per-person
Award limitations are measured under Section 5.2, (iii) the number and kind of Shares subject to or
deliverable in respect of outstanding Awards, and (iv) the exercise price, grant price or purchase
price relating to any Award and/or make provision for payment of cash, other Awards or other
property in respect of any outstanding Award. In addition, the Committee is authorized to make
adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards (including
Performance Awards, Annual Incentive Awards, and the performance goals relating thereto) in
recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including events described in the preceding
sentence, as well as acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets) affecting the Company,
any subsidiary or any business unit, or the financial statements of the Company or any subsidiary,
or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, tax rates and
regulations or business conditions or in view of the Committee’s assessment of the business
strategy of the Company, any subsidiary or business unit thereof, performance of comparable
organizations, economic and business conditions, personal performance of a Participant, and any
other circumstances deemed relevant; provided that no such adjustment shall be authorized or made
if and to the extent that such authority or the making of such adjustment would cause Options,
SARs, Performance Awards granted under Section 8.2 hereof, or Annual Incentive Awards granted under
Section 8.3 hereof to Participants designated by the Committee

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as Covered Employees and intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code
Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder otherwise to fail to qualify as “performance-based
compensation” under Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder.

     6. Specific Terms of Awards

     6.1 General. Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6.
In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to
Section 9.5), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the
Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event
of termination of employment or service by the Participant or upon the occurrence of other events
(including, without limitation, the existence of Cause). The Committee may require payment of
consideration in connection with any Award, including for purposes of complying with requirements
of applicable state corporation law.

     6.2 Options. The Committee is authorized to grant options to purchase Shares (“Options”) to
Participants on the following terms and conditions:

     (a) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be
determined by the Committee; provided, however, that such exercise price shall be not less than the
Fair Market Value of a share on the date of grant of such Option.

     (b) Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an
Option may be exercised in whole or in part, the methods by which such exercise price may be paid
or deemed to be paid, the form of such payment, including cash, Shares, other Awards or awards
granted under other Company plans, or other property (including notes or other contractual
obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis, or through broker-assisted
“cashless exercise” arrangements, to the extent permitted by applicable law), and the methods by
which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants.

     (c) Incentive Stock Options. The terms of any incentive stock option (“ISO”) granted under
the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code, including but
not limited to the requirement that no ISO shall be granted more than ten years after the Effective
Date. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to ISOs
shall be interpreted, amended, or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the
Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either the Plan or any ISO under Section 422 of the Code,
unless the Participant has first requested such disqualification.

     6.3 Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee is authorized to grant stock appreciation rights
(“SARs”) to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

     (a) Right to Payment. An SAR shall confer on the Participant to whom it is granted a right to
receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of
exercise, over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the Committee as of the date of
grant of the SAR, which shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of
grant.

     (b) Other Terms. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an SAR may be
exercised in whole or in part, the method of exercise, method of settlement, whether cash or Shares
shall be payable to the Participant upon exercise, the method by which Shares will be delivered or
deemed to be delivered to Participants, whether or not an SAR shall be in tandem with any other
Award, and any other terms and conditions of an SAR.

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     6.4 Restricted Stock. The Committee is authorized to grant Awards, in the form of Shares
issued at or shortly after grant of the Award subject to restrictions (“Restricted Stock”), to
Participants on the following terms and conditions:

     (a) Grant and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on
transferability and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose, which restrictions may
lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances, in such installments,
or otherwise as the Committee may determine. Except to the extent restricted under the terms of
the Plan and any Award agreement relating to the Restricted Stock, a Participant granted Restricted
Stock shall have all of the rights of a shareholder including the right to vote Restricted Stock or
the right to receive dividends thereon.

     (b) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of
employment or service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at that
time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided, however ,
that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award agreement, or may determine
in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock
will lapse in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes
(including, without limitation, Retirement or termination by the Company without Cause), provided
that the payment or settlement of any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code may be accelerated
only to the extent, and only upon the occurrence of events or causes, permitted under such Section.

     (c) Certificates for Shares. Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such
manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Stock are
registered in the name of the Participant, such certificates shall bear an appropriate legend
referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, the
Company shall retain physical possession of the certificate, and the Participant shall have
delivered a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.

     (d) Dividends and Distributions. As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock,
the Committee may require that any cash dividends paid on a share of Restricted Stock be
automatically reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock or applied to the purchase of
additional Awards under the Plan. The dates and terms upon which such reinvestment or purchases
occur shall be within the discretion of the Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee, and subject to applicable law, Shares distributed in connection with a stock split or
stock dividend, and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and
a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Shares
or other property has been distributed.

     6.5 Deferred Stock. The Committee is authorized to grant Awards in the form of Shares to be
delivered at a specified future date (“Deferred Stock”) to Participants, subject to the following
terms and conditions:

     (a) Award and Restrictions. Issuance of Shares will occur upon expiration of the deferral
period specified for an Award of Deferred Stock by the Committee (or, if permitted by the
Committee, as elected by the Participant either (i) before the year in which such Award is made, or
(ii) at least one year before such deferral period otherwise would have expired, provided that such
election shall not be effective for one year and must extend such deferral period at least five
years). In addition, Deferred Stock shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may
impose, if any, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at earlier
specified times, separately or in combination, under such circumstances, in such installments, or
otherwise as the Committee may determine.

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     (b) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of
employment or service during the applicable deferral period or portion thereof to which forfeiture
conditions apply (as provided in the Award agreement evidencing the Deferred Stock), all Deferred
Stock that is at that time subject to such risk of forfeiture shall be forfeited; provided,
however, that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award agreement, or may
determine in any individual case, in each case subject to applicable law, that restrictions or
forfeiture conditions relating to Deferred Stock will lapse in whole or in part in the event of
terminations upon specified causes or events (including, without limitation, Retirement or
termination by the Company without Cause), provided that the lapse of restrictions or conditions
relating to any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code may be accelerated only to the extent,
and only upon the occurrence of events or causes, permitted under such Section.

Deferred Stock which is subject to a risk of forfeiture may be denominated as “restricted stock
units.”

     (c) Dividend Equivalents. The Committee may provide that payments in the form of dividend
equivalents will be credited in respect of Deferred Stock, which amounts shall be paid or
distributed upon expiration of the deferral period specified for such Award of Deferred Stock.

     6.6 Bonus Shares and Awards in Lieu of Cash Obligations. The Committee is authorized to grant
Shares as a bonus, or to grant Shares or other Awards in lieu of Company obligations to pay cash or
grant other awards under other plans or compensatory arrangements. Shares or Awards granted
hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as shall be determined by the Committee.

     6.7 Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under
applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in,
valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares and
factors that may influence the value of Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with
the purposes of the Plan, including convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights
convertible or exchangeable into Shares, purchase rights for Shares, Awards with value and payment
contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee, and
Awards valued by reference to the book value of Shares or the value of securities of or the
performance of specified subsidiaries. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of
such Awards. Shares issued pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under
this Section 6.7 shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such
methods, and in such forms, including cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, as the
Committee shall determine. Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other Award under
the Plan, may be granted pursuant to this Section 6.7.

     7. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards

     7.1 Deferral of Cash Compensation into Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Awards in
lieu of cash compensation or upon the deferral of cash compensation payable by the Company or any
subsidiary, including cash amounts payable under other plans. In such case, the Committee shall
determine the value of the Awards to be granted in lieu of or upon deferral of such cash
compensation, and may provide for a discount in such valuation in order to promote the purposes of
the Plan.

     7.2 Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by
the Committee; provided, however, that in no event shall the term of any ISO or an SAR granted in
tandem therewith exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant (or such shorter period as
may be applicable under Section 422 of the Code).

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     7.3 Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals. Subject to the terms of the Plan and
any applicable Award agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a subsidiary upon the
exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the
Committee shall determine, including cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, and may be made
in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis. The vesting of any Award
may be accelerated, in the discretion of the Committee or upon the occurrence of one or more
specified events or causes (including, without limitation, Retirement or termination by the Company
without Cause). The settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Shares in
connection with such settlement, in the discretion of the Committee or upon the occurrence of one
or more specified events or causes, provided that the payment or settlement of any Award subject to
Section 409A of the Code may be accelerated only to the extent, and only upon the occurrence of
events or causes, permitted under such Section. The foregoing notwithstanding, no Award specified
as settleable in Shares may be settled otherwise than by delivery of Shares if the Award agreement
does not specify such alternative form of settlement and the authorization of alternative forms of
settlement would preclude fixed accounting for the compensation expense relating to such Award
under accounting rules then applicable to the Company prior to the determination or event which
causes settlement to be in a form other than Shares. Installment or deferred payments may be
required by the Committee (subject to Section 9.5 of the Plan, including the consent provisions
thereof in the case of any deferral of an outstanding Award not provided for in the original Award
agreement) or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by
the Committee. Payments may include provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest
on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of dividend equivalents or other
amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Shares.

     7.4 Cancellation and Rescission of Awards. Unless the Award agreement specifies otherwise,
the Committee may cancel any unexpired, unpaid, or deferred Awards at any time, and, unless
otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company shall have the additional rights set forth in
subsection (d) below, if the Participant is not in compliance with all applicable material
provisions of the Award agreement and the Plan, including the following conditions:

     (a) A Participant shall not render services for any organization or engage directly or
indirectly in any business which, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or
other senior executive officer designated by the Committee, is or becomes competitive with the
Company. For Participants whose employment has terminated, the judgment of the Chief Executive
Officer or other senior officer designated by the Committee shall be based on the Participant’s
post-employment responsibilities and position with the other organization or business, the extent
of past, current and potential competition or conflict between the Company and the other
organization or business, the effect on the Company’s shareholders, customers, suppliers and
competitors of the Participant assuming the post-employment responsibilities and such other
considerations as are deemed relevant given the applicable facts and circumstances. A Participant
who has terminated employment shall be free, however, to purchase as an investment or otherwise,
stock or other securities of such organization or business so long as they are listed upon a
recognized securities exchange or traded over-the-counter, and such investment does not represent a
greater than five percent equity interest in the organization or business.

     (b) A Participant shall not, without prior written authorization from the Company, disclose to
anyone outside the Company or use in other than the Company’s business any confidential information
or material relating to the business of the Company which is acquired by the Participant either
during or after employment with the Company.

     (c) A Participant shall disclose promptly and assign to the Company all right, title, and
interest in any invention or idea, patentable or not, made or conceived by the Participant during

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employment by the Company, relating in any manner to the actual or anticipated business,
research, or development work of the Company and shall do anything reasonably necessary to enable
the Company to secure a patent where appropriate in the United States and in foreign countries.

     (d) Upon exercise, settlement, payment, or delivery pursuant to an Award, the Participant
shall certify on a form acceptable to the Committee that he or she is in compliance with the terms
and conditions of this Section 7.4. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Section 7.4
prior to, or during the six months after, any exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to an Award
shall cause such exercise, payment or delivery to be rescinded. The Company shall notify the
Participant in writing of any such rescission within two years after such exercise, payment, or
delivery. Within ten days after receiving such a notice from the Company, the Participant shall
pay to the Company the amount of any gain realized or payment received as a result of the rescinded
exercise, payment, or delivery pursuant to an Award. Such payment shall be made either in cash or
by returning to the Company the number of Shares that the Participant received in connection with
the rescinded exercise, payment, or delivery, in which case the Company shall promptly repay the
lesser of the exercise price or the then-Fair Market Value of the Shares returned.

     The Committee may modify the conditions imposed under this Section 7.4 with respect to any
Award. If the terms of this Section 7.4 would require that the accounting expense for an Award
that otherwise could be measured at the date of grant or other measurement date cannot be so
measured until a later time, but such measurement would be permissible if the forfeiture of the
Award were in connection with a termination of the Participant’s employment, then the cancellation
of the Award will occur at the later of the time of the Committee’s determination or the
Participant’s termination of employment.

     7.5 Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards. Awards granted under the Plan
may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with,
or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the
Company, any subsidiary, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or a subsidiary, any
other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company or any subsidiary. Such
additional, tandem, and substituted or exchanged Awards may be granted at any time. Subject to
Section 11.5, the Committee may determine that, in granting a new Award, the intrinsic value of any
surrendered Award or award may be applied to reduce the exercise price of any Option, grant price
of any SAR, or purchase price of any other Award.

     8. Performance and Annual Incentive Awards

     8.1 Performance Conditions. The right of a Participant to exercise or receive a grant or
settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as
may be specified by the Committee. The Committee may use such business criteria and measures of
performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing performance conditions, and may exercise its
discretion to reduce or increase the amounts payable under any Award subject to performance
conditions, except as limited under Sections 8.2 and 8.3 hereof in the case of a Performance Award
or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m).

     8.2 Performance Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees. If the Committee determines
that a Performance Award to be granted to an eligible person who is designated by the Committee as
likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of
Code Section 162(m), the grant, exercise, and/or settlement of such Performance Award shall be
contingent upon achievement of preestablished performance goals and other terms set forth in this
Section 8.2.

10

 

     (a) Performance Goals Generally. The performance goals for such Performance Awards shall
consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect
to each such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 8.2. Performance
goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and
regulations thereunder (including Regulation 1.162-27 and successor regulations thereto), including
the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the
achievement of performance goals being “substantially uncertain.” The Committee may determine that
such Performance Awards shall be granted, exercised, and/or settled upon achievement of any one
performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to
grant, exercise, and/or settlement of such Performance Awards. Performance goals may differ for
Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.

     (b) Business Criteria. One or more of the following business criteria for the Company, on a
consolidated basis, and/or for specified subsidiaries, divisions, or other business units of the
Company (where the criteria are applicable), shall be used by the Committee in establishing
performance goals for such Performance Awards: (1) earnings per share; (2) revenues; (3) cash flow;
(4) cash flow return on investment; (5) return on net assets, return on assets, return on
investment, return on capital, return on equity; profitability; (6) economic value created (“EVC”.
as defined below); (7) operating margins or profit margins; (8) income or earnings before or after
taxes; pretax earnings; pretax earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization; operating
earnings; pretax operating earnings, before or after interest expense and before or after
incentives, service fees, and extraordinary or special items; net income; (9) total shareholder
return or stock price; (10) book value per share; (11) expense management; improvements in capital
structure; working capital; costs; and (12) any of the above goals as compared to the performance
of a published or special index deemed applicable by the Committee including, but not limited to,
the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index or a group of comparator companies. “EVC” means the amount
by which a business unit’s income exceeds the cost of the capital used by the business unit during
the performance period, as determined by the Committee. Income of a business unit may be before
payment of bonuses, capital charges, non-recurring or extraordinary income or expense, and general
and administrative expenses for the performance period, if so specified by the Committee. One or
more of the foregoing business criteria shall also be exclusively used in establishing performance
goals for Annual Incentive Awards granted to a Covered Employee under Section 8.3 hereof.

     (c) Performance Period; Timing for Establishing Performance Award Terms. Achievement of
performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured over a performance period
of up to ten years, as specified by the Committee. Performance goals, amounts payable upon
achievement of such goals, and other material terms of Performance Awards shall be established by
the Committee (i) while the performance outcome for that performance period is substantially
uncertain and (ii) no more than 90 days after the commencement of the performance period to which
the performance goal relates or, if less, the number of days which is equal to 25 percent of the
relevant performance period. In all cases, the maximum amount payable in respect of a Performance
Award to any Participant shall be subject to the limitation set forth in Section 5.2 hereof.

     (d) Performance Award Pool. The Committee may establish a Performance Award pool, which shall
be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring performance of the Company in connection with
Performance Awards. The amount of such Performance Award pool shall be based upon the achievement
of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section
8.2(b) hereof during the given performance period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with
Section 8.2(c) hereof. The Committee may specify the amount of the Performance Award pool as a
percentage of any of such business criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount,
or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such business
criteria. In such

11

 

case, Performance Awards may be granted as rights to payment of a specified portion of the
Award pool; such grants shall be subject to the requirements of Section 8.2(c).

     (e) Settlement of Performance Awards; Other Terms. Settlement of such Performance Awards
shall be in cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The
Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in
connection with such Performance Awards, but may not exercise discretion to increase any such
amount payable to a Covered Employee in respect of a Performance Award subject to this Section 8.2.
The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance Awards shall be paid or
forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end of a
performance period or settlement of Performance Awards, provided that the payment or settlement of
any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code may be accelerated only to the extent, and only upon
the occurrence of events or causes, permitted under such Section.

     8.3 Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees. If the Committee
determines that an Annual Incentive Award to be granted to an eligible person who is designated by
the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation”
for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the grant, exercise, and/or settlement of such Annual
Incentive Award shall be contingent upon achievement of preestablished performance goals and other
terms set forth in this Section 8.3.

     (a) Potential Annual Incentive Awards. Not later than the deadline specified in Section
8.2(c) above, the Committee shall determine the eligible persons who will potentially receive
Annual Incentive Awards, and the amounts potentially payable thereunder, for that fiscal year,
either out of an Annual Incentive Award pool established by such date under Section 8.3(b) hereof
or as individual Annual Incentive Awards. In the case of individual Annual Incentive Awards
intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), the amount potentially payable shall be based upon
the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set
forth in Section 8.2(b) hereof in the given performance year, as specified by the Committee; in
other cases, such amount shall be based on such criteria as shall be established by the Committee.
In all cases, the maximum Annual Incentive Award of any Participant shall be subject to the
limitation set forth in Section 5.2 hereof.

     (b) Annual Incentive Award Pool. The Committee may establish an Annual Incentive Award pool,
which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring performance of the Company in connection
with Annual Incentive Awards. The amount of such Annual Incentive Award pool shall be based upon
the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set
forth in Section 8.2(b) hereof during the given performance period, as specified by the Committee
in accordance with Section 8.2(c) hereof. The Committee may specify the amount of the Annual
Incentive Award pool as a percentage of any of such business criteria, a percentage thereof in
excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical
relationship to such business criteria.

     (c) Payout of Annual Incentive Awards. After the end of each fiscal year, the Committee shall
determine the amount, if any, of the potential Annual Incentive Award payable to each Participant
eligible therefor and, if applicable, the amount of any Annual Incentive Award pool. The Committee
may, in its discretion, determine that the amount payable to any Participant as a final Annual
Incentive Award shall be increased or reduced from the amount of his or her potential Annual
Incentive Award, including a determination to make no final Award whatsoever, but may not exercise
discretion to increase any such amount in the case of an Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify
under Code Section 162(m). The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which an Annual
Incentive Award shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the
Participant prior to the end of a fiscal

12

 

year or prior to settlement of such Annual Incentive Award, provided that the payment or
settlement of any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code may be accelerated only to the extent,
and only upon the occurrence of events or causes, permitted under such Section.

     8.4 Written Determinations. Determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of
performance goals, the amount potentially payable in respect of Performance Awards and Annual
Incentive Awards, the achievement of performance goals relating to Performance Awards and Annual
Incentive Awards, and the amount of any final Performance Award and Annual Incentive Award shall be
recorded in writing, except that the Committee may determine that this requirement shall not apply
in the case of Performance Awards not intended to qualify under Section 162(m). Specifically, the
Committee shall certify in writing, in a manner conforming to applicable regulations under Section
162(m), prior to settlement of each such Award granted to a Covered Employee, that the performance
goals and other material terms of the Award upon which settlement of the Award was conditioned have
been satisfied. The Committee may not delegate any responsibility relating to such Performance
Awards or Annual Incentive Awards, and the Board shall not perform such functions at any time that
the Committee is composed solely of Qualified Members.

     8.5 Status of Section 8.2 and Section 8.3 Awards under Code Section 162(m). It is the intent
of the Company that Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards under Sections 8.2 and 8.3
hereof granted to persons who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered Employees
within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder (including Regulation 1.162-27
and successor regulations thereto) shall, if so designated by the Committee, constitute
“performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations
thereunder. Accordingly, the terms of Sections 8.2, 8.3, 8.4 and 8.5, including the definitions of
Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with
Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the
Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a given Participant will be a Covered Employee
with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term “Covered Employee” as used
herein shall mean only a person designated by the Committee, at the time of grant of a Performance
Award or Annual Incentive Award, as likely to be a Covered Employee with respect to a specified
fiscal year. If any provision of the Plan as in effect on the date of adoption of any agreements
relating to Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards that are designated as intended to comply
with Code Section 162(m) does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of Code Section
162(m) or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent
necessary to conform to such requirements.

     9. General Provisions

     9.1 Compliance with Laws and Obligations. The Company shall not be obligated to issue or
deliver Shares in connection with any Award or take any other action under the Plan in a
transaction subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
any other federal or state securities law, any requirement under any listing agreement between the
Company and any national securities exchange or automated quotation system, or any other law,
regulation, or contractual obligation of the Company, until the Company is satisfied that such
laws, regulations, and other obligations of the Company have been complied with in full.
Certificates representing Shares issued under the Plan will be subject to such stop-transfer orders
and other restrictions as may be applicable under such laws, regulations, and other obligations of
the Company, including any requirement that a legend or legends be placed thereon.

     9.2 Limitations on Transferability. Awards and other rights under the Plan will not be
transferable by a Participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution (or to a
designated Beneficiary in the event of the Participant’s death), and, if exercisable, shall be
exercisable during the

13

 

lifetime of a Participant only by such Participant or his guardian or legal representative;
provided, however, that such Awards and other rights (other than ISOs and SARs in tandem therewith)
may be transferred during the lifetime of the Participant, for purposes of the Participant’s estate
planning or other purposes consistent with the purposes of the Plan (as determined by the
Committee), and may be exercised by such transferees in accordance with the terms of such Award,
but only if and to the extent permitted by the Committee. Awards and other rights under the Plan
may not be pledged, mortgaged, hypothecated, or otherwise encumbered, and shall not be subject to
the claims of creditors. A Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights under the
Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and
any Award agreement applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise determined by the
Committee, and to any additional terms and conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the
Committee.

     9.3 No Right to Continued Employment; Leaves of Absence. Neither the Plan, the grant of any
Award, nor any other action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any employee, consultant,
director, or other person the right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries to terminate any person’s employment or service at any time.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Award agreement, an approved leave of absence shall
not be considered a termination of employment or service for purposes of an Award under the Plan.

     9.4 Taxes. The Company and any subsidiary is authorized to withhold from any Award granted or
to be settled, any delivery of Shares in connection with an Award, any other payment relating to an
Award, or any payroll or other payment to a Participant amounts of withholding and other taxes due
or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such
other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy
obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award.
This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Shares or other property and to make
cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant’s tax obligations.

     9.5 Changes to the Plan and Awards. The Board may amend, suspend, discontinue, or terminate
the Plan or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards under the Plan without the consent of
shareholders or Participants, except that any amendment shall be subject to the approval of the
Company’s shareholders at or before the next annual meeting of shareholders for which the record
date is after the date of such Board action if such shareholder approval is required by any federal
or state law or regulation or the rules of the NASDAQ Global Market, and the Board may otherwise,
in its discretion, determine to submit other such amendments to shareholders for approval;
provided, however , that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such action may
materially impair the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted. The
Committee may amend, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any Award theretofore granted and any Award
agreement relating thereto; provided, however, that no such amendment may provide for Award terms
that the Plan would not then permit for a newly granted Award; and provided further, that, without
the consent of an affected Participant, no such action may materially impair the rights of such
Participant under such Award. Other provisions of the Plan notwithstanding, without the prior
approval of shareholders, the Committee shall not take any action (including the repricing of
outstanding Options) for the which the approval of the shareholders of the Company is required
under Rule 4350-5 of the NASDAQ Company Manual unless such approval has been obtained.

     9.6 No Rights to Awards; No Shareholder Rights. No Participant or other person shall have any
claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of
treatment of Participants, employees, consultants, or directors. No Award shall confer on any
Participant any of the

14

 

rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until Shares are duly issued or transferred
and delivered to the Participant in accordance with the terms of the Award or, in the case of an
Option, the Option is duly exercised.

     9.7 International Participants. With respect to Participants who reside or work outside the
United States of America, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan
with respect to such Participants or grant Awards not conforming to the terms of the Plan to such
Participants in order that such Awards conform to the requirements of local law and customary
employment practices in such locations and in order that such Awards shall serve the purposes of
the Plan in light of such local laws and customary employment practices.

     9.8 Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts. The Plan is intended to constitute an
“unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made
to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any
such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company;
provided, however, that the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or make other
arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations under the Plan to deliver cash, Shares, other
Awards, or other property pursuant to any Award, which trusts or other arrangements shall be
consistent with the “unfunded” status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with
the consent of each affected Participant.

     9.9 Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its
submission or the submission of any amendment to shareholders for approval shall be construed as
creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other compensatory arrangements as
it may deem desirable, including the granting of awards otherwise than under the Plan, and such
arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

     9.10 Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares. Unless otherwise determined by
the Committee, in the event of a forfeiture of an Award with respect to which a Participant paid
cash consideration, the Participant shall be repaid the amount of such cash consideration. No
fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award (although
fractional share units may be credited in connection with any Award if so authorized by the
Committee). The Committee shall determine whether and in what manner cash, other Awards, or other
property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional Shares or whether such fractional
Shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

     9.11 Successors and Assigns. The Plan shall be binding on all successors and assigns of the
Company and a Participant, including any permitted transferee of a Participant, the Beneficiary or
estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate, or any
receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or representative of the Participant’s creditors.

     9.12 Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan, any rules and
regulations under the Plan, and any Award agreement will be determined in accordance with the laws
(including those governing contracts) of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles
of conflicts of laws, and applicable federal law.

     9.13 Preexisting Plans. Upon shareholder approval of the Plan as provided under Section 9.14,
no further grants of awards will be made under each of the Preexisting Plans, but awards previously
granted thereunder will remain outstanding in accordance with the applicable award agreement and
other applicable terms of each such Preexisting Plan.

15

 

     9.14 Effective Date, Shareholder Approval, and Plan Termination. The Plan as amended and
restated shall become effective if and at the time that such amendment and restatement is approved
by the shareholders of the Company. Unless earlier terminated by action of the Board, the Plan
shall terminate on the day before the tenth anniversary of the effectiveness of the Plan. Upon any
such termination of the Plan, no new authorizations of grants of Awards may be made, but
then-outstanding Awards shall remain outstanding in accordance with their terms, and the Committee
otherwise shall retain its full powers under the Plan with respect to such Awards.

16ex101.htm

    NewCardio,
Inc.

     

    2009
Equity Compensation Plan

     

     

    1.    Purposes.

     

    (a)    Eligible Stock Award
Recipients.  The persons eligible to receive Stock Awards are
the Employees, Directors and Consultants of the Company and its
Affiliates.

     

    (b)    Available Stock
Awards.  The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which
eligible recipients of Stock Awards may be given an opportunity to benefit from
increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of the following
Stock Awards: (i) Stock Options, (iii) Common Stock,
(iv) Restricted Stock, and (v) Restricted Stock Units.

     

    (c)    General
Purpose.  The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain
the services of the group of persons eligible to receive Stock Awards, to secure
and retain the services of new members of this group and to provide incentives
for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its
Affiliates.

     

    2.    Definitions.

     

    (a)    “Affiliate”
means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, whether
now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e)
and (f), respectively, of the Code.

     

    (b)    “Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Company.

    

    (c)           “Cause”
for termination of Continuous Service means there exists (i) a reasonable and
good faith finding by the Company as determined by it in its sole discretion, of
a material and repeated failure of the Participant to provide his or her full
business time and attention to his reasonably assigned duties for the Company
(including, without limitation, unexcused failure to report for work) for
reasons other than the Participant’s death or disability, or the Participant's
gross negligence or willful misconduct; which failure or deficiency remains
uncured (if curable) for a period of thirty (30) days following written notice
by the Company to the Participant which specifies the reasons for the potential
cause determination; (ii) the material breach by the Participant of any of the
provisions of his or her  employment agreement (if the Participant has
an employment agreement with the Company) for reasons other than the
Participant’s death or disability, which breach remains uncured (if curable) for
a period of thirty (30) days following written notice by the Company to the
Participant which specifies the reasons for the potential cause determination;
(iii) the conviction of the Participant of, or the entry of a pleading of guilty
or nolo contendere by the
Participant to, any felony; (iv) the Participant having committed any theft,
embezzlement, fraud or other intentional act of dishonesty involving the
business of the Company; or (v) any adjudication in any civil suit, or written
acknowledgment by the Participant in any agreement or stipulation of the
commission of any theft, embezzlement, fraud or other intentional act of
dishonesty involving any other person.

    

    (d)           “Change of
Control” an
event or series of events resulting in the current holders of more than 50% of
the Common Stock of the Company (inclusive of their affiliates) thereafter
holding less than 50% of the Common Stock of the Company.

     

    (e)    “Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Reference to a
specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder shall include such section
or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and any
comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending,
supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

     

    (f)    “Committee”
means a committee of one or more members of the Board appointed by the Board in
accordance with subsection 3(c).

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

     

     

    (g)    “Common
Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

     

    (h)    “Company”
means NewCardio, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

      

    (i)    “Consultant”
means any person, including an advisor, (i) engaged by the Company or an
Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and who is compensated for
such services or(ii) who is a member of the Board of Directors of an
Affiliate.  However, the term “Consultant” shall not include either
Directors who are not compensated by the Company for their services as Directors
or Directors who are merely paid a director’s fee by the Company for their
services as Directors.

     

    (j)    “Continuous
Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an
Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or
terminated.  The Participant’s Continuous Service shall not be deemed
to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the
Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee,
Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant
renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of
the Participant’s Continuous Service.  For example, a change in status
from an Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or a Director
will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service.  The Board
or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that party’s sole discretion,
may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the
case of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave,
military leave or any other personal leave.

     

    (k)    “Covered
Employee” means the chief executive officer and the four (4) other
highest compensated officers of the Company for whom total compensation is
required to be reported to stockholders under the Exchange Act, as determined
for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

     

    (l)    “Director”
means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

     

    (m)    “Disability”
means the permanent and total disability of a person within the meaning of
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

     

    (n)    “Employee”
means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate.  Mere
service as a Director or payment of a director’s fee by the Company or an
Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company or
an Affiliate.

     

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

     

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

     

    (i)    If the Common Stock is
listed on any established stock exchange or traded on a NASDAQ Market or quoted
on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board, the Fair Market Value of a share of
Common Stock shall be the closing sales price (last trade) for such stock as
quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest
volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the last market trading day prior to
the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or
such other source as the Board deems reliable.

     

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

    

    (q)           “Good
Reason” means, without the
written consent of the Participant, (i) a material reduction by the Company in
the Participant's duties or position, (ii) a reduction of the Participant's
compensation or benefits as set forth in the Company’s benefits policies as of
the date hereof or in Participant’s employment agreement, (iii) the relocation
of the Participant’s principal place of employment by more than 50 miles, or
(iv) any material breach by the Company of the Participant’s employment
agreement, if any.  Prior to a termination of Continuous Service with
good reason, the Company shall have thirty (30) days to cure the deficiency or
deficiencies related to the potential good reason determination.

     

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
        1

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    (r)                Not
used.

     

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

     

    (t)    “Non-statutory
Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive
Stock Option.

     

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

     

    (v)    “Option”
means a  Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

     

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

     

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

     

    (y)    “Outside
Director” means a Director who either (i) is not a current employee
of the Company or an “affiliated corporation” (within the meaning of Treasury
Regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code), is not a former
employee of the Company or an “affiliated corporation” receiving compensation
for prior services (other than benefits under a tax-qualified pension plan), was
not an officer of the Company or an “affiliated corporation” at any time and is
not currently receiving direct or indirect remuneration from the Company or an
“affiliated corporation” for services in any capacity other than as a Director
or (ii) is otherwise considered an “outside director” for purposes of
Section 162(m) of the Code.

     

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

     

    (aa)    “Plan”
means this NewCardio, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan.

     

    (bb)   “Restricted
Stock” means shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock
award under Section 7(b) of the Plan.

     

    (cc)   “Restricted Stock
Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair
Market Value of one share of Common Stock, granted pursuant to Section
7(c).  Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured
obligation of the Company.

     

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

     

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

     

    (ff)    “Stock
Award” means any equity grant under the Plan, including any grant of an
Option, a Restricted Stock Unit, Common Stock, or Restricted Stock.

     

    (gg)   “Stock Award
Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of
a Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Stock Award
grant.  Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan.  In the case of a Stock Award consisting of
Restricted Stock, it shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a
Participant evidencing the terms and restrictions applying to an individual
grant of Restricted Stock, and in the case of a Stock Award consisting of
Restricted Stock Units, it shall mean a written agreement between the Company
and a Participant evidencing the terms and restrictions applying to an
individual grant of Restricted Stock Units.

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    (hh)   “Stock
Award
Transfer Program” means any program instituted by the Board which would
permit Participants the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Stock Awards to
a financial institution or other person or entity approved by the
Board.

     

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

      

    3.    Administration.

     

    (a)    Administration by
Board.  The Board shall administer the Plan unless and until
the Board delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in
subsection 3(c).

     

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

     

    (i)                     To
determine the Fair Market Value;

     

    (ii)                    To
select the persons to whom Stock Awards may be granted hereunder;

     

    (iii)                          To
determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Stock Award
granted hereunder;

     

    (iv)                    To
approve forms of Stock Award Agreements for use under the Plan;

     

    (v)                     To
determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan,
of any Stock Award granted hereunder.  Such terms and conditions
include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when
Stock Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any
vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction
or limitation regarding any Stock Award or the shares of Common Stock relating
thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Board will
determine;

     

    (vi)                    To
determine the terms and conditions of any, and to institute any, Stock Award
Transfer Program in accordance with Section 10(b);

     

    (vii)                          To
construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Stock Awards granted pursuant
to the Plan;

     

    (viii)                         To
prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan,
including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the
purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws;

     

    (ix)                    To
modify or amend each Stock Award (subject to Section 13(e) of the Plan),
including but not limited to the discretionary authority to extend the
post-termination exercisability period of Stock Awards and to extend the maximum
term of an Option (subject to Section 6(a) regarding Incentive Stock
Options);

     

    (x)                           To
allow Participants to satisfy withholding tax obligations in such manner as
prescribed in Section 11(f);

     

    (xi)                           To
authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required
to effect the grant of a Stock Award previously granted by the
Board;

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    (xii)                           To
allow a Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery
of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be due to such Participant under
a Stock Award pursuant to such procedures as the Board may determine;
and

      

    (xiii)                         To
make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering
the Plan.

     

    (c)    Delegation to
Committee.

     

    (i)    General.  The
Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees of
one (1) or more members of the Board, and the term “Committee” shall apply to
any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated.  If
administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in
connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed
by the Board, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the
administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in
this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee),
subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of
the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board.  The Board
may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration
of the Plan.

     

    (ii)    Committee
Composition.  In the discretion of the Board, a Committee may
consist solely of two or more Outside Directors, in accordance with
Section 162(m) of the Code, and/or solely of two or more Non-Employee
Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3.  Within the scope of
such authority, the Board or the Committee may (1) delegate to a committee
of one or more members of the Board who are not Outside Directors the authority
to grant Stock Awards to eligible persons who are either (a) not then
Covered Employees and are not expected to be Covered Employees at the time of
recognition of income resulting from such Stock Award or (b) not persons
with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of
the Code and/or) (2) delegate to a committee of one or more members of the
Board who are not Non-Employee Directors the authority to grant Stock Awards to
eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange
Act.

     

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

     

    4.    Shares
Subject To The Plan.

     

    (a)    Share
Reserve.  Subject to the provisions of Section 12 relating
to adjustments upon changes in Common Stock, the total number of shares of
Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards shall not exceed in the
aggregate of 8 million shares plus a number of shares annually as of April
15th
of each year as shall equal ten (10%) percent of the issued and outstanding
Common Stock, on a fully diluted basis (the “Reserved
Shares”).

     

    (b)    Reversion of Shares to the
Share Reserve.  Subject to the provisions of 4(a) above, if any
Stock Award shall for any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in
part, without having been exercised in full, the shares of Common Stock not
acquired under such Stock Award shall revert to and again become available for
issuance under the Plan.

     

    (c)                Source
of Shares.  The shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan may
be unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or
otherwise. 

     

    5.    Eligibility.

     

    (a)    Not
used.

     

    (b)    Not
used

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    (c)    Section 162(m)
Limitation.  Subject to the provisions of Section 12
relating to adjustments upon changes in the shares of Common Stock, no Employee
shall be eligible to be granted Options covering more than five million
(5,000,000) shares of Common Stock during any calendar year, and no Employee
shall be eligible to be granted, in the aggregate, Restricted Stock and
Restricted Stock Units covering more than two million (2,000,000) shares of
Common Stock, during any calendar year.  This subsection 5(c)
shall not apply until (i) the earliest of: (1) the first material
modification of the Plan (including any increase in the number of shares of
Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan in accordance with
Section 4); (2) the issuance of all of the shares of Common Stock
reserved for issuance under the Plan; (3) the expiration of the Plan; or
(4) the first meeting of stockholders at which Directors are to be elected
that occurs after the close of the first calendar year following the calendar
year in which occurred the first registration of an equity security under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act or the date the Company becomes publicly
held in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder; or (ii) such other date required by
Section 162(m) of the Code and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.

     

    (d)    Consultants.

     

    (i)    A Consultant shall not
be eligible for the grant of a Stock Award if, at the time of grant, either the
offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such Consultant is not exempt
under Rule 701 of the Securities Act (“Rule 701”) because of the
nature of the services that the Consultant is providing to the Company, or
because the Consultant is not a natural person, or as otherwise provided by
Rule 701, unless the Company determines that such grant need not comply
with the requirements of Rule 701 and will satisfy another exemption under
the Securities Act as well as comply with the securities laws of all other
relevant jurisdictions.

     

    (ii)   A Consultant
shall not be eligible for the grant of a Stock Award if, at the time of grant, a
Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act (“Form S-8”) is not
available to register either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities
to such Consultant because of the nature of the services that the Consultant is
providing to the Company, or because the Consultant is not a natural person, or
as otherwise provided by the rules governing the use of Form S-8, unless the
Company determines both (i) that such grant (A) shall be registered in
another manner under the Securities Act (e.g., on a Form S-3 Registration
Statement) or (B) does not require registration under the Securities Act in
order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, if applicable, and
(ii) that such grant complies with the securities laws of all other
relevant jurisdictions.

    

    (iii)         
Rule 701 and Form S-8 generally are available to consultants and
advisors only if (i) they are natural persons; (ii) they provide bona
fide services to the issuer, its parents, its majority-owned subsidiaries or
majority-owned subsidiaries of the issuer’s parent; and (iii) the services
are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising
transaction, and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for
the issuer’s securities.

     

    6.    Option
Provisions.

     

    Each
Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the
Board shall deem appropriate.  All Options shall be non-statutory
Stock Options at the time of grant.  The provisions of separate
Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the
substance of each of the following provisions:

     

    (a)    Term.  No
Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from
the date it was granted.

     

    (b)    Not
used.

     

    (c)    Exercise Price of a Stock
Option.  The exercise price of each Stock Option shall be not
less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is
granted.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Stock Option may be granted
with an exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if
such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another
option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the
Code.

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    (d)    Consideration.  The
purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option shall be paid, to
the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations, either (i) in
cash at the time the Option is exercised or (ii) at the discretion of the
Board at the time of the grant of the Option (or subsequently in the case of a
Non-statutory Stock Option) (1) by delivery to the Company of other Common
Stock, (2) according to a deferred payment or other similar arrangement
with the Optionholder or (3) in any other form of legal consideration that
may be acceptable to the Board (which includes a cashless exercise
election).  Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Option, the
purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option that is paid by
delivery to the Company of other Common Stock acquired, directly or indirectly
from the Company, shall be paid only by shares of the Common Stock of the
Company that have been held for more than six (6) months (or such longer or
shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial
accounting purposes).  At any time that the Company is incorporated in
Delaware, payment of the Common Stock’s “par value,” as defined in the Delaware
General Corporation Law, shall not be made by deferred payment.

     

    In the
case of any deferred payment arrangement, interest shall be compounded at least
annually and shall be charged at the market rate of interest necessary to avoid
a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes.

     

    In the
case of a cashless exercise, the following formula will be used:

     

    If
elected by the Holder, the Holder shall be entitled to receive a certificate for
the number of Option Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B)
(X)] by (A), where:

     

                                     (A)
= the closing stock price (trade) on the Trading Day immediatelypreceding the
date of such election;

     

     

    (B) = the Exercise Price of this
Option, as adjusted; and

     

     

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (X)
      =  the number of Option Shares issuable upon exercise of
      this Option in accordance with the terms of this Option by means of a
      cash exercise rather than a cashless
exercise.

            

    

     

    Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, on the Termination Date, unexercised vested Options shall be
automatically exercised via cashless exercise pursuant to this Section
6(d).

     

     

    (e)    Vesting.  The
total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option may, but need not,
vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may, but
need not, be equal.  The Option may be subject to such other terms and
conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on
performance or other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate.  The
vesting provisions of individual Options may vary.  The provisions of
this subsection 6(e) are subject to any Option provisions governing the
minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option may be
exercised.

    

    (f)    Termination of Continuous
Service.  In the event an Optionholder’s Continuous Service
terminates, the Optionholder (or the Optionholder’s heirs, executor or
successors) may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder
was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination) but only
within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date six (6)
months following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service (or
such longer period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the
expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option
Agreement.  If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise
his or her Option within the time specified in the Option Agreement, the Option
shall be exercised on a cashless basis per section 6(d) or
terminate.

     

    (g)    Extension of Termination
Date.  An Optionholder’s Option Agreement may also provide that
if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionholder’s
Employment and/or Continuous Service would be prohibited at any time solely
because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration
requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option shall terminate on the
earlier of (i) the expiration of the term of the Option set forth in
Section 6(a) or (ii) the expiration of a period of six (6) months
after the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service during which the
exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration
requirements.

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
        6

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    (h)   Not
used.

      

    (i)    Not used..

     

    (j)    Early
Exercise.  The Option may, but need not, include a provision
whereby the Optionholder may elect at any time before the Optionholder’s
Continuous Service terminates to exercise the Option as to any part or all of
the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option prior to the full vesting of
the Option.  

     

    7.    Provisions
of Stock Awards other than Options.

     

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

     

    (i)    Consideration.  A
Stock Award of Common Stock may be awarded in consideration for past services
actually rendered to the Company or an Affiliate for its benefit.

      

    (ii)   Vesting.  Stock
Awards other than Options shall vest in accordance with the schedule determined
by the Board, which shall be set forth in the applicable Stock Award
Agreement.

     

    (iii)          Termination
of Participant’s Continuous Service.  In the event a
Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may reacquire any or
all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant which have not vested
as of the date of termination under the terms of the Stock Award
Agreement.

     

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

     

    (i)   Transferability.  Except
as provided in this Section 7(b) or Section 10, shares of Restricted Stock may
not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or
hypothecated until such time as the shares of Restricted Stock have
vested.

     

    (ii)           Other
Restrictions.  The Board, in its sole discretion, may impose
such other restrictions on shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable
or appropriate.

     

    (iii)   Removal of
Restrictions.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section
7(b), shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made
under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the
date the shares of Restricted Stock vest or at such other time as the Board may
determine.  The Board, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at
which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.

     

    (iv)    Voting
Rights.  During the period in which the shares of Restricted
Stock are not transferable, Participants holding shares of Restricted Stock
granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares,
unless the Board determines otherwise.

     

    (v)   Dividends and Other
Distributions.  During the period in which the shares of
Restricted Stock are not transferable, Participants holding shares of Restricted
Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid
with respect to such shares, unless the Board provides otherwise.  If
any such dividends or distributions are paid in shares, the shares will be
subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the
shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
        7

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    (vi)   Return of Restricted Stock to the
Company.  On the date set forth in the Stock Award Agreement,
the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will revert to the
Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan.

     

    (c)    Restricted Stock
Units.  Restricted Stock Units may be granted at any time and
from time to time as determined by the Board.  After the Board
determines that it will grant Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, it shall
advise the Participant in a Stock Award Agreement for Restricted Stock Units of
the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, including the
number of Restricted Stock Units.

     

    (i)    Vesting Criteria and Other
Terms.  The Board shall set vesting criteria in its discretion,
which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the
number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the
Participant.  The Board may set vesting criteria based upon the
achievement of Company-wide, business unit, or individual goals (including, but
not limited to, continued employment), or any other basis determined by the
Board in its discretion.

     

    (ii)                  Settlement of Restricted Stock
Units.  Restricted Stock Units shall be settled within 10
business days after vesting, either by delivery to the Participant of shares of
Common Stock (with appropriate Securities Act restrictive legends) or, at the
election of the Company, by delivery to the Participant of a cash payment based
upon the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of vesting
for each Restricted Stock Unit vested.  

     

    8.    Covenants
of the Company.

     

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

     

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

     

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    9.    Use
of Proceeds from Stock

     

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

     

    10.   Transferability
of Awards.

     

    (a)    General.  Unless
determined otherwise by the Board, a Stock Award may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will, by the laws of descent or distribution, to a revocable trust, or as
permitted by Rule 701, and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the
Participant, only by the Participant.  If the Board makes a Stock
Award transferable, such Stock Award will contain such additional terms and
conditions as the Board deems appropriate.

     

    (b)    Stock Award Transfer
Program.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan,
the Board shall have all discretion and authority to determine and implement the
terms and conditions of any Stock Award Transfer Program instituted pursuant to
this Section 10(b) and shall have the authority to amend the terms of any Stock
Award participating, or otherwise eligible to participate in, the Stock Award
Transfer Program, including (but not limited to) the authority to (i) amend
(including to extend) the expiration date, post-termination exercise period
and/or forfeiture conditions of any such Stock Award, (ii) amend or remove any
provisions of the Stock Award relating to the Stock Award holder’s continued
service to the Company, (iii) amend the permissible payment methods with respect
to the exercise or purchase of any such Stock Award, (iv) amend the adjustments
to be implemented in the event of changes in the capitalization and other
similar events with respect to such Stock Award, and (v) make such other changes
to the terms of such Stock Award as the Board deems necessary or appropriate in
its sole discretion.

     

    11.   Miscellaneous.

     

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

     

    (b)    Stockholder
Rights.  Except to the limited extent provided in Section 7(b),
no Participant (nor any beneficiary) shall have any of the rights or privileges
of a stockholder of the Company with respect to any shares of Common Stock
issuable pursuant to a Stock Award (or exercise thereof), unless and until
certificates representing such shares shall have been issued, recorded on the
records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to
the Participant (or beneficiary).

     

    (c)    No Employment or other Service
Rights.  Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or
Stock Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant any right
to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at
the time the Stock Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or
an Affiliate to terminate (i) the employment of an Employee with or without
notice and with or without cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant
to the terms of such Consultant’s agreement with the Company or an Affiliate or
(iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company or an
Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in
which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may
be.

      

    (d)    Not
used.

     

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

     

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

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
        9

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

     

    (g)    Information
Obligation.  To the extent required by applicable state law,
the Company shall deliver financial statements to Participants at least
annually.  This subsection 10(g) shall not apply to key Employees
whose duties in connection with the Company assure them access to equivalent
information.

     

    12.   Adjustments
upon Changes in Stock.

     

    (a)    Capitalization
Adjustments.  If any change is made in the Common Stock subject
to the Plan, or subject to any Stock Award, without the receipt of consideration
by the Company (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization,
reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock
split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change
in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of
consideration by the Company), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the
class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to
Section 4(a) and the maximum number of securities subject to award to any
person pursuant to Section 5(c), and the outstanding Stock Awards will be
appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and number of securities and price per
share of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards.  The
Board shall make such adjustments, and its determination shall be final, binding
and conclusive.  (The conversion of any convertible securities of the
Company shall not be treated as a transaction “without receipt of consideration”
by the Company.)

     

    (b)    Dissolution or
Liquidation.  In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of
the Company, then all outstanding Stock Awards shall terminate immediately prior
to such event.

     

    (c)    Asset Sale, Merger,
Consolidation or Reverse Merger.  In the event of (i) a
sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company, (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the
surviving corporation or (iii) a reverse merger in which the Company is the
surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property,
whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise (individually, a “Corporate
Transaction”), then any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation shall
assume any Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or shall substitute similar
stock awards (including an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the
stockholders in the Corporate Transaction) for those outstanding under the
Plan.  In the event any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation
refuses to assume such Stock Awards or to substitute similar stock awards for
those outstanding under the Plan, then with respect to Stock Awards held by
Participants whose Continuous Service has not terminated, the vesting of such
Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time during which such Stock Awards may be
exercised) shall be accelerated in full, and the Stock Awards shall terminate if
not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the Corporate
Transaction.  With respect to any other Stock Awards outstanding under
the Plan, such Stock Awards shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable)
prior to the Corporate Transaction.  Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this paragraph, Participants shall be allowed not less than six
(6) months to exercise Stock Awards so vested.

     

    13.   Amendment
of the Plan and Stock Awards.

     

    (a)    Amendment of
Plan.  The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend
the Plan.  However, except as provided in Section 12 relating to
adjustments upon changes in Common Stock, no amendment shall be effective unless
approved by the stockholders of the Company to the extent stockholder approval
is necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code,
Rule 16b-3 or any NASDAQ or securities exchange listing
requirements.

     

    (b)    Stockholder
Approval.  The Board may, in its sole discretion, submit any
other amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited
to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of
Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder regarding the
exclusion of performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate
deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive officers.

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
        10

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    (c)    Contemplated
Amendments.  It is expressly contemplated that the Board may
amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide
eligible Employees with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under
the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating
to Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring the Plan and/or Incentive Stock
Options granted under it into compliance therewith.

     

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

     

    (e)    Amendment of Stock
Awards.  The Board at any time, and from time to time, may
amend the terms of any one or more Stock Awards; provided, however, that the
rights under any Stock Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless
(i) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (ii) the
Participant consents in writing.

     

    14.   Termination
or Suspension of the Plan.

     

    (a)    Plan
Term.  The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any
time.  Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on the day
before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the
Board.  No Stock Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan
is suspended or after it is terminated.

     

    (b)    No Impairment of
Rights.  Suspension or termination of the Plan shall not impair
rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the Plan is in effect
except with the written consent of the Participant.

      

    15.   Effective
Date of Plan.

     

    The Plan
shall become effective as of the date of approval by the Board (April 15,
2009).

     

    16.   Choice
of Law.

     

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

     

    IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, by its duly authorized officer, has executed this
Plan on the date indicated below.

     

    
      	 
      	
              NEWCARDIO,
      INC. 

            
	 
      	 
      
	
              Dated:
      April 15, 2009 

            	
              /s/ Branislav
      Vajdic                                               
       

            
	 
      	
              Branislav
      Vajdic                                              
       

            
	 
      	
              Title:
      Chief Executive Officer

            

    

     

    

     

    
11

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