Document:

aspen1006.htm

  

  

  

 

Exhibit 10.06

 ASPEN EXPLORATION CORPORATION

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”), effective July 27, 2010, is by and between the following parties:

 

Company:

 

Aspen Exploration Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and

 

Executive:

 

Rick D. Kasch, an individual resident of the state of Colorado.

 

Background

 

	
A.  

	
In order to induce Executive to serve as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Company desires to provide Executive with compensation and other benefits on the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.

 

	
B.  

	
Executive is willing to accept such employment and perform services for the Company on the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.

 

Agreement

 

In consideration of the mutual promises and consideration described below, the parties agree as follows:

 

	
1.  

	
Employment.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company and Executive agree to enter into an employment relationship whereby Executive will serve as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  Executive will report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.  Executive will have such responsibilities and authority as are consistent with the offices of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.  Executive is not required to devote all of his working time and efforts to the performance of services for the Company.  However, all Company performance will be to the best of Executive’s ability.

 

	
2.  

	
Term of Employment.  Executive’s term of employment under this Agreement will commence on July 27, 2010 and continue until June 30, 2013 (the “End Date”, and such period, the “Term”), unless otherwise terminated as described in Section 5 below.  There will not be any automatic renewal of this Agreement.  Should Executive continue to be employed following the expiration of the Term, unless Executive enters into another employment agreement, Executive acknowledges that he will at such time be considered an at-will employee.

 

 

  

1

  

 

	
3.  

	
Compensation.

 

	
a.  

	
Base Salary.  The Company will pay Executive during the Term an annual base salary in the amount of $180,000.00 (“Base Salary”).  At each and every July 1 during the Term, the Base Salary will be increased by not less than 5% of the Base Salary as of June 30 immediately preceding.  Base Salary will be payable in accordance with the ordinary payroll practices of the Company.

 

	
b.  

	
Bonus.  Executive will be eligible each year for a discretionary bonus in addition to Executive’s Base Salary, which will be awarded in such amounts as the Company’s board of directors will determine and based upon Executive’s individual performance and the Company’s financial performance; provided, however, that with the approval of the Company’s board of directors, the Company may establish a formula-based bonus for Executive calculated from Company’s financial performance.  Such bonus for any year, if any, will be paid during the 90-day period beginning February 1 of the year immediately after the year for which the bonus was earned.

 

	
c.  

	
Options.  Subject to and in accordance with the Company’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, the Company will grant to Executive an option to acquire 300,000 shares of Company common stock.  The exercise price will equal the closing price on the second business day following the filing of a Form 8-K that announces the completion of the transaction by which the Company acquired Dillco Fluid Service, Inc., which shall also be the grant date.  The option will expire five years from the date of grant.  The option will vest pursuant to the following schedule:

 

	
                     (i)  

	
100,000 immediately at the time of the grant;

 

	
                    (ii)  

	
100,000 on the first anniversary of the grant date; and

 

	
                  (iii)  

	
100,000 on the second anniversary of the grant date.

 

	
d.  

	
Withholding.  All payments to Executive under this Agreement will be subject to withholding as required by law.

 

	
4.  

	
Employee Benefits.

 

	
a.  

	
Benefit Plans.  During the Term, the Company will provide Executive with coverage under all employee benefit plans available to the Company’s senior executives to the extent permitted under any such employee benefit plan and in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

	
b.  

	
Automobile.  From and after the date hereof, Executive will have the right to continue using the 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche, which is owned by and registered in the name of Heat Waves Hot Oil Service LLC, a Colorado limited liability company and indirect subsidiary of the Company (the “Automobile”), and currently used by Executive.  At all times during the Term, Company will provide Executive with the Automobile or an automobile of similar quality and condition, or, in the alternative, an automobile allowance of not less than $1,000 per month.

 

 

  

2

  

 

	
c.  

	
Vacation.  During the term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement, Executive will be entitled to take four weeks of paid vacation per calendar year as well as sick leave consistent with the Company’s policy in effect at the time.  Vacation will be taken at times mutually satisfactory to the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive.  Executive will not take vacations at times or in amounts that would materially affect Executive’s ability to perform his work duties.  Up to 15 days of Executive’s paid vacation may be rolled-over each year.  Executive will be entitled to payment for any unused vacation days upon termination of Executive’s employment with Company.

 

	
d.  

	
Expenses.  Executive is authorized to incur reasonable expenses in carrying out his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.  The Company will reimburse Executive for such expenses upon presentation by Executive from time to time of appropriately itemized and approved accounts of such expenditures consistent with the Company’s policies and practices.

 

	
5.  

	
Termination of Employment.

 

	
a.  

	
Termination Without Cause.  If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company (other than for Cause), Executive will be entitled to all accrued and unpaid Base Salary and accrued benefits through the date of termination plus he will be entitled to receive the following severance benefits:

 

	
                    (i)  

	
Executive will be entitled to his remaining Base Salary through the Term, provided, however, if Executive is terminated without cause during the final 18 months of the Term, Executive will be entitled to a full 18 months of Base Salary from the date of termination, to be paid within 5 business days from the date of resignation; and

 

	
                   (ii)  

	
Company will provide Executive with the same or similar health care benefits (including life, dental and vision, if any) as provided to Executive at the time of termination, such health care benefits to be provided for a period of 18 months from the date of termination; and

 

	
                  (iii)  

	
All options as set forth in section 3.c. above will vest.

 

Upon termination of Executive’s employment without cause, except for the obligations set forth in this subsection a., the obligations of the Company to make any further payments or to provide any further benefits to Executive under this Agreement will cease and terminate.

 

	
b.  

	
Termination By Resignation.  Except as set forth below, if Executive resigns for any reason, Executive will be entitled to receive only accrued but unpaid Base Salary and accrued benefits (including vested options pursuant to subsection 3.c. above) through the effective date Executive’s resignation; provided, however, in the event that Executive resigns with an effective date not more than 90 days following a Management Change or Ownership Change, Executive will be entitled to the following severance benefits:

 

 

  

3

  

 

 

	
                     (i)  

	
Executive will be entitled to a lump sum amount equal to 18 months of Executive’s Base Salary, to be paid within 5 business days from the date of resignation; and

 

	
                   (ii)  

	
Company will provide Executive for a period of 18 months from the date of resignation with the same or similar health care benefits (including dental and vision, if any) as provided to Executive at the time of resignation; and

 

	
                   (iii)  

	
All options as set forth in section 3.c. above will vest.

 

For purposes of this subsection b., “Management Change” means a change in the senior management of the Company such that Employee no longer reports directly to Michael D. Herman, or Michael D. Herman is no longer Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company.  A “Change of Control” means any stock sale, stock exchange, stock issuance, merger or other transaction that results in another person or entity owning or controlling more shares of the Company than Michael D. Herman.  Upon termination of Executive’s employment by resignation, except for the obligations set forth in this subsection b., the obligations of the Company under this Agreement to make any further payments or to provide any further benefits to Executive will cease and terminate.

 

	
c.  

	
Termination For Cause.  The Company will have the right to terminate the employment of Executive for Cause.  In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, Executive will be entitled to receive only accrued but unpaid Base Salary and accrued benefits (including vested options granted pursuant to subsection 3.c above) through the date of termination.  Executive will not be entitled to any bonus payments or severance payments unless agreed to in writing by the Company.  Upon termination of Executive’s employment for Cause, except as set forth in this subsection c., the obligations of the Company under this Agreement to make any further payments or to provide any further benefits to Executive will cease and terminate. As used in this Agreement, the term “Cause” means as a result of (i) any breach of any written policy of the Company; (ii) conduct involving moral turpitude, including, but not limited to, misappropriation or conversion of assets of the Company (other than immaterial assets); (iii) Executive’s conviction of, or entry of a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony; and (iv) a material breach of this Agreement.

 

	
d.  

	
Permanent Disability.  If Executive is unable to engage in the activities required by Executive’s job by reason of any medically determined physical or mental impairment which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than three consecutive months (“Permanent Disability”), the Company or Executive may terminate Executive’s employment on written notice thereof, and Executive will receive accrued but unpaid Base Salary and accrued benefits (including vested options pursuant to subsection 3.c. above) through the date of termination and/or any payments under applicable employee benefit plans or programs.  Upon termination of Executive’s employment by Permanent Disability, except as set forth in this subsection d., the obligations of the Company under this Agreement to make any further payments or to provide any further benefits to Executive will cease and terminate.

 

 

  

4

  

 

 

	
e.  

	
Death.  In the event of Executive’s death during the Term, Executive’s estate or designated beneficiaries will receive or commence receiving, as soon as practicable, accrued but unpaid Base Salary through the date of death and any payments under applicable employee benefit plans or programs (including vested options pursuant to subsection 3.c. above).  Upon termination of Executive’s employment by death, except as set forth in this subsection e., the obligations of the Company under this Agreement to make any further payments or to provide any further benefits to Executive will cease and terminate.

 

	
6.  

	
Nondisclosure of Confidential Information.  During Executive’s employment, and for a period of two years thereafter, Executive will not, without the prior written consent of the Manager, use, divulge, disclose or make accessible to any other person, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity any Confidential Information pertaining to the business of the Company or any of its affiliates, except (a) while employed by the Company, in the business of and for the benefit of the Company, or (b) as required by law.  “Confidential Information” includes without limitation non-public information concerning the financial data, business plans, product development (or other proprietary product data), customer lists, marketing, acquisition and divestiture plans and other non-public, proprietary and confidential information of the Company.  Executive or his legal representatives, heirs or designated beneficiaries must return all Confidential Information within 15 days of the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason.  Executive acknowledges that this Section 6 survives the termination of Executive’s employment and is enforceable by the Company at anytime, regardless of whether the Executive continues to be employed by the Company.

 

	
7.  

	
Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.

 

	
a.  

	
From the date hereof through the End Date or, in the event Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 5.c. hereof, from the date hereof through the first anniversary of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company, Executive agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer, he will not (i) engage in or have any direct interest in, as an employee, officer, director, agent, subcontractor, consultant, security holder, partner, creditor or otherwise, any business in competition with the Company; (ii) cause or attempt to cause any person who is, or was at any time during the six months immediately preceding the time of the solicitation or hiring of Executive, an employee of the Company to leave the employment of the Company; or (iii) solicit, divert or take away, or attempt to take away, the business or patronage of any client, customer or account, or prospective client, customer or account, of the Company.

 

 

  

5

  

 

 

	
b.  

	
For purposes of this Section 7, a business will be deemed to be in competition with the Company if it is in the business of providing services to oil and/or gas production companies.

 

	
c.  

	
Executive acknowledges that this Section 7 survives the termination of Executive’s employment and is enforceable by the Company at anytime, regardless of whether the Executive continues to be employed by the Company.

 

	
d.  

	
Executive and the Company agree that this covenant not to compete is a reasonable covenant under the circumstances with respect to both scope and duration, and further agree that if in the opinion of any court of competent jurisdiction such restraint is not reasonable in any respect, such court will have the right, power and authority to excise or modify such provision or provisions of this covenant as to the court will appear not reasonable and to enforce the remainder of the covenant as so amended.

 

	
e.  

	
Executive agrees that any breach of the covenants contained in this Section 7 would irreparably injure the Company.  Accordingly, Executive agrees that the Company may, in addition to pursuing any other remedies it may have in equity, obtain an injunction against Executive from any court having jurisdiction over the matter restraining any further violation of this Agreement by Executive and cease making any payments otherwise required by this Agreement.

 

	
8.  

	
Ownership of Intellectual Property.  Executive acknowledges and agrees that all intellectual property created, acquired, adapted, modified or improved, in whole or in part, by or through the efforts of Executive during the course of his employment by the Company, including without limitation all copyrights, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade secrets, know-how or other work product in any way related to the Company’s operations and activities, are works for hire and are owned exclusively by the Company, and Executive hereby disclaims any right or interest in or to any such intellectual property.

 

	
9.  

	
Miscellaneous.

 

	
a.  

	
All notices and other communications required or to be given under this Agreement will be in writing and given either (i) by personal delivery against a receipted copy, (ii) by certified or registered United States mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) by facsimile, or (iv) by attachment to electronic mail in PDF or similar file format, at the addresses and numbers set forth on the signature page hereto or such other addresses and numbers as a party hereto may provide in accordance with this subsection a.  Notice will be deemed delivered when received if by personal delivery; three days after placement with the United States Postal Service if mailed; upon receipt of a confirmation that the transmission has been successfully sent if by facsimile; and when sent if sent by electronic mail.

 

 

  

6

  

 

 

	
b.  

	
This Agreement, along with any amendments from time to time made hereto, constitutes the full, entire and integrated agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

	
c.  

	
This contract will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs and representatives of Executive and the assigns and successors of the Company, but neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder will be assignable by Executive (except by will or by operation of the laws of intestate succession) or by the Company, except that the Company may assign this Agreement to any successor (whether by merger, purchase or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the stock, assets or businesses of the Company, if such successor expressly agrees to assume the obligations of the Company hereunder.

 

	
d.  

	
Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any clause or provision of this Agreement is held illegal, invalid or unenforceable then it is the intention of the parties hereto that the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected thereby.  It is also the intention of the parties to this Agreement that in lieu of each clause or provision of this Agreement that is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, there be added, as a part of this Agreement, a clause or provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable clause or provision as may be legal, valid and enforceable.

 

	
e.  

	
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder will survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the intended preservation of such rights and obligations.  The provisions of this subsection e. are in addition to the survivorship provisions of any other section of this Agreement.

 

	
f.  

	
No provision of this Agreement may be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the prior written consent of all of the parties hereto.

 

	
g.  

	
The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision or condition contained in this Agreement will not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or of any other conditions hereof.

 

	
h.  

	
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which together will be deemed to be one and the same instrument.

 

	
i.  

	
This Agreement was made in the state of Colorado, and will be governed by, construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the state of Colorado.

 

7

  

  

  

Signature Page

to Employment Agreement

 

The parties hereto have executed or caused to be executed this Employment Agreement effective as of the date first above written.

 

Company:

 

Aspen Exploration Corporation, a Delaware corporation

 

By:   ______________________________________                                                             

Name: _____________________________________                                                              

Its: _______________________________________                                                              

Executive:

 

 

__________________________________________

Rick D. Kaschaspen109.htm

Exhibit 10.9

	
 

 

 

 

 

ASPEN EXPLORATION CORPORATION

 

 

 

2010 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

  

Table of Contents

 

	
Section 1.

	
Purpose

	1
	 	 	 
	
Section 2.

	
Definitions

	1
	 	 	 
	
Section 3.

	
Administration

	4
	(a)	
Power and Authority of the Committee

	
4

	(b)	
Delegation

	
5

	(c)	
Power and Authority of the Board

	
5

	(d)	
Previouisly Granted Options

	
5

	 	 	 
	
Section 4.

	
Shares Available for Awards

	5
	(a)	
S

	
5

	(b)	
Accounting for Awards

	
6

	(c)	
Adjustments

	
6

	(d)	
Code Section 162(m) Award Limitations Under the Plan

	
7

	 	 	 
	
Section 5.

	
Eligibility

	7
	 	 	 
	
Section 6.

	
Awards

	7
	(a)	
Options

	
7

	(b)	
Stock Appreciation Rights

	
8

	(c)	
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

	
9

	(d)	
Performance Awards

	
9

	(e)	
Other Stock Grants

	
10

	(f)	
Other Stock-Based Awards

	
10

	(g)	
General

	
10

	 	 	 
	
Section 7.

	
Amendment and Termination; Adjustments

	12
	(a)	
Amendments to the Plan

	
12

	(b)	
Amendments to Awards

	
12

	(c)	
Correction of Defects, Omissions and Inconsistencies

	
12

	 	 	 
	
Section 8.

	
Income Tax Withholding

	12
	 	 	 
	
Section 9.

	
General Provisions

	13  
	(a)	
No Rights to Awards

	
13

	(b)	
Award Agreements

	
13

	(c)	
Plan Provisions Control

	
13

	(d)	
No Rights of Stockholders

	
13

	(e)	
No Limit on Other Compensation Agreements

	
13

	(f)	
No Right to Employment

	
13

	(g)	
Governing Law

	
14

	(h)	Severability	14 

 

 

 

ii

  

  

 

 

	(i)	
No Trust or Fund Created

	
14

	(j)	
Other Benefits

	
14

	(k)	
No Fractional Shares

	
14

	(l)	
Headings

	
14

	(m)	
Section 16 Compliance; Section 162(m) Administration

	
14

	(n)	
Conditions Precedent to Issuance of Shares

	
15

	(o)	
Agreement by Recipient Regarding Taxes

	
15

	 	 	 
	
Section 10.

	
Effective Date of the Plan

	15 
	 	 	 
	
Section 11.

	
Term of the Plan

	16
	  	  	  
	
Section 12.

	
Section 409A

	16
	(a)	
Time and Form of Payment

	16
	(b)	
Delay in Payment

	16
	(c)	
Key Definitions

	17
	(d)	
Amendments

	17
	 	 	 
	
Section 13.

	
Exhibits

	17 
	  	  	  

 

 

 

 

  

iii  

  

ASPEN EXPLORATION CORPORATION

 

2010 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Section 1.      Purpose

 

The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its stockholders by aiding the Company in attracting and retaining employees, officers, consultants, independent contractors and directors capable of assuring the future success of the Company, to offer such persons incentives to put forth maximum efforts for the success of the Company’s business and to afford such persons an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company.

 

Section 2.      Definitions

 

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

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

 

(b)     “Award” shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award, Other Stock Grant or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.

 

(c)     “Award Agreement” shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted under the Plan.  An Award Agreement may be in an electronic medium and need not be signed by a representative of the Company or the Participant.  Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and any other terms and conditions (not inconsistent with the Plan) determined by the Committee.

 

(d)     “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(e)     “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(f)     “Committee” shall mean a committee of Directors designated by the Board to administer the Plan, which shall initially be the Company’s compensation committee.  The Committee shall be comprised of not less than such number of Directors as shall be required to permit Awards granted under the Plan to qualify under Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m) of the Code, and each member of the Committee shall be a “Non-Employee Director.”  In the absence of any Committee of Non-Employee Directors, the term “Committee” when used herein shall refer to the entire Board.

 

(g)     “Company” shall mean Aspen Exploration Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporation.

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

(h)     “Director” shall mean a member of the Board, including any Non-Employee Director.

 

(i)     “Eligible Person” shall mean any employee, officer, consultant, independent contractor or director providing services to the Company or any Affiliate who the Committee determines to be an Eligible Person.

 

(j)     “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(k)     “Fair Market Value” shall mean, with respect to any property, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fair Market Value of a Share, as of a given date, shall be determined as follows:

 

(i)     If the Shares are listed on any established stock exchange or traded on a national market system, the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be the closing sale price for such share (or the closing bid, if no sale was reported) as quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Shares) on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable.  If there are no reported sales on such date, the closing sale price on the last preceding date on which sales were reported.

 

(ii)     In the absence of such markets for the Shares, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee using a reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method.

 

(l)     “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” in accordance with the terms of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.

 

(m)     “Non-Employee Director” shall mean any Director: (i) who is not also an employee of the Company or an Affiliate within the meaning of Rule 16b-3; and (ii) who is an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(n)     “Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(o)     “Option” shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

(p)     “Other Stock Grant” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(e) of the Plan.

 

(q)     “Other Stock-Based Award” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(f) of the Plan.

 

(r)     “Participant” shall mean an Eligible Person designated to be granted an Award under the Plan.

 

 

  

2

  

 

 

(s)     “Performance Award” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(d) of the Plan.

 

(t)     “Performance Goal” shall mean one or more of the following performance goals, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied on a corporate, subsidiary, division, business unit or line of business basis: sales, revenue, costs, expenses (including expense efficiency ratios and other expense measures), earnings (including one or more of net profit after tax, gross profit, operating profit, earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and net earnings), earnings per share, earnings per share from continuing operations, operating income, pre-tax income, operating income margin, net income, margins (including one or more of gross, operating and net income margins), returns (including one or more of return on actual or pro forma assets, net assets, equity, investment, capital and net capital employed), stockholder return (including total stockholder return relative to an index or peer group), stock price, economic value added, cash generation, cash flow, unit volume, working capital, market share, cost reductions and strategic plan development and implementation. Such goals may reflect absolute entity or business unit performance or a relative comparison to the performance of a peer group of entities or other external measure of the selected performance criteria. Pursuant to rules and conditions adopted by the Committee on or before the 90th day of the applicable performance period for which Performance Goals are established, the Committee may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under such goals to exclude the effect of certain events, including any of the following events: asset write-downs; litigation or claim judgments or settlements; changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results; severance, contract termination and other costs related to exiting certain business activities; and gains or losses from the disposition of businesses or assets or from the early extinguishment of debt.

 

(u)     “Person” shall mean any individual or entity, including a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or trust.

 

(v)     “Plan” shall mean the Aspen Exploration Corporation 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, the provisions of which are set forth herein.

 

(w)     “Restricted Stock” shall mean any Share granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan.

 

(x)     “Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean any unit granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan evidencing the right to receive a Share (or a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share) at some future date.

 

(y)     “Rule 16b-3” shall mean Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor rule or regulation.

 

(z)     “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(aa)     “Share” or “Shares” shall mean a share or shares of common stock, $0.005 par value per share, of the Company or such other securities or property as may become subject to Awards pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 4(c) of the Plan.

 

 

  

3

  

 

 

(bb)     “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(b) of the Plan.

 

Section 3.      Administration

 

(a)     Power and Authority of the Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and to applicable law, the Committee shall have full power and authority to:

 

(i)      designate Participants;

 

(ii)     determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant under the Plan;

 

(iii)    determine the number of Shares to be covered by (or the method by which payments or other rights are to be determined in connection with) each Award;

 

(iv)    determine the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement;

 

(v)     amend the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement and accelerate the exercisability of any Option or waive any restrictions relating to any Award;

 

(vi)    determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited or suspended;

 

(vii)   interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement, including an Award Agreement, relating to the Plan;

 

(viii)  establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan;

 

(ix)    make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan; and

 

(x)     adopt such modifications, rules, procedures, and subplans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of non-U.S. jurisdictions in which the Company or an Affiliate may operate, including, without limitation, establishing any special rules for Affiliates, Eligible Persons or Participants located in any particular country, in order to meet the objectives of the Plan and to ensure the viability of the intended benefits of Awards granted to Participants located in such non-United States jurisdictions.

 

 

  

4

  

 

 

Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan, any Award, or any Award Agreement shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon any Eligible Person and any holder or beneficiary of any Award.  The Company intends that Awards under the Plan shall avoid application of Section 409A of the Code and thereby avoid any adverse tax results thereunder.  The Committee shall administer and interpret the Plan and all Award Agreements in a manner consistent with this intent.  In this regard, if any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement would result in adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may amend that provision (or take any other action reasonably necessary) to avoid any adverse tax results and no action taken to comply with Section 409A of the Code shall be deemed to impair or otherwise adversely affect the rights of any holder of an Award or beneficiary thereof.

 

(b)     Delegation.  The Committee may delegate its powers and duties under the Plan to one or more Directors (including a Director who is also an officer of the Company) or a committee of Directors, subject to such terms, conditions and limitations as the Committee may establish in its sole discretion; provided, however, that the Committee shall not delegate its powers and duties under the Plan

 

(i)     with regard to officers or directors of the Company or any Affiliate who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or

 

(ii)    in such a manner as would cause the Plan not to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

In addition, the Committee may authorize one or more officers of the Company to grant Options under the Plan, subject to the foregoing and to the limitations of the laws of the state of Delaware.

 

               (c)     Power and Authority of the Board.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may, at any time and from time to time, without any further action of the Committee, exercise the powers and duties of the Committee under the Plan, unless the exercise of such powers and duties by the Board would cause the Plan not to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(d)     Previously Granted Options.  There are outstanding options for the purchase of Shares granted by the Company to Eligible Persons pursuant to the Company’s existing stock option plans (the “Pre-Existing Plan”).  Options which are outstanding under the Pre-Existing Plan as of the effective date of this Plan shall continue to be exercisable and shall be governed by and be subject to the terms of the Pre-Existing Plan and the stock option agreements evidencing their issuance.  The number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan shall not be reduced by (i) the number of Shares subject at such time to options granted and outstanding under the Pre-Existing Plan, or (ii) the number of Shares issued under the Pre-Existing Plan after the effective date of this Plan.

 

(e)     Actions Taken in Good Faith.  No member of the Committee or Board shall be liable for any action taken or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan.

 

 

  

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Section 4.      Shares Available for Awards

 

(a)     Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c) of the Plan, the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan through December 31, 2011, excluding shares issued under the Pre-Existing Plan, shall be 3,500,000.  (i) Beginning on January 1, 2012 and on January 1 of each subsequent year that the Plan is in effect, the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan shall be automatically adjusted to equal 15% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Shares, calculated as of 12:01 a.m. eastern time on January 1 of the respective year.  No adjustment shall decrease the number of shares issuable pursuant to the Plan below the number of Shares that have been issued pursuant to the Plan plus the number of Shares underlying outstanding awards.  (ii) Shares to be issued under the Plan may be either authorized but unissued Shares or Shares re-acquired and held in treasury. (iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) the number of Shares available for granting Incentive Stock Options under the Plan shall not exceed the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c) of the Plan and subject to the provisions of Section 422 or 424 of the Code or any successor provision and (B) the number of Shares available for granting Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall not exceed 2,000,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c) of the Plan. Shares tendered by Participants as full or partial payment to the Company upon exercise of an Award, and Shares withheld by or otherwise remitted to the Company to satisfy a Participant’s tax withholding obligations with respect to an Award, shall become available for issuance under the Plan.

 

(b)     Accounting for Awards.  For purposes of this Section 4, if an Award entitles the holder thereof to receive or purchase Shares, the number of Shares covered by such Award or to which such Award relates shall be counted on the date of grant of such Award against the aggregate number of Shares available for granting Awards under the Plan.  If any Shares covered by an Award or to which an Award relates are not purchased or are forfeited, or if an Award otherwise terminates without delivery of any Shares, then the number of Shares counted against the aggregate number of Shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture or termination, shall again be available for granting Awards under the Plan.  For Stock Appreciation Rights settled in Shares upon exercise, the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, rather than the number of Shares actually issued upon exercise, shall be counted against the number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan. Awards that do not entitle the holder thereof to receive or purchase Shares, and Awards that are denominated at the time of grant as payable only in cash and that are settled in cash, shall not be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan.

 

(c)     Adjustments.  In the event that the Committee shall determine that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of

 

 

  

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(i)     the number and type of Shares (or other securities or other property) that thereafter may be made the subject of Awards,

 

(ii)    the number and type of Shares (or other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards and

 

(iii)   the purchase price or exercise price with respect to any Award;

 

provided, however, that no such adjustment shall be made to any Award to the extent that it would, in the view of the Company, cause such Award to be subject to Section 409A of the Code, and the number of Shares covered by any Award or to which such Award relates shall always be a whole number.

 

(d)     Code Section 162(m) Award Limitations Under the Plan.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), no Participant may be granted (i) Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to more than 100,000 Shares per year or (ii) Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Unit Awards, Performance Awards and/or Other Share-Based Awards that are intended to comply with the performance-based exception under Code Section 162(m) and are denominated in Shares with respect to more than 100,000 Shares per year.

 

Section 5.                          Eligibility

 

Any Eligible Person shall be eligible to be designated a Participant.  In determining which Eligible Persons shall receive an Award and the terms of any Award, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective Eligible Persons, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company or such other factors as the Committee, in its discretion, shall deem relevant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may only be granted to full-time or part-time employees (which term as used herein includes, without limitation, officers and directors who are also employees), and an Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to an employee of an Affiliate unless such Affiliate is also a “subsidiary corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code or any successor provision.

 

Section 6.      Awards

 

(a)  Options.  The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Options to Eligible Persons with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine:

 

(i)     Exercise Price.  The purchase price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that such purchase price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option.

 

 

  

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(ii)    Option Term.  The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee at the time of grant.

 

(iii)   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 and the method or methods by which, and the form or forms (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the applicable exercise price) in which, payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made.

 

(iv)    Incentive Stock Options.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the following additional provisions shall apply to the grant of stock options which are intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options:

 

(A)     The Committee will not grant Incentive Stock Options in which the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under this Plan and all other plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds $100,000.

 

(B)     All Incentive Stock Options must be granted within ten years from the earlier of the date on which this Plan was adopted by the Board or the date this Plan was approved by the stockholders of the Company.

 

(C)     Unless sooner exercised, all Incentive Stock Options shall expire and no longer be exercisable no later than 10 years after the date of grant; provided, however, that in the case of a grant of an Incentive Stock Option to a Participant who, at the time such Option is granted, owns (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Affiliate, such Incentive Stock Option shall expire and no longer be exercisable no later than 5 years from the date of grant.

 

(D)     The purchase price per Share for an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of the Incentive Stock Option; provided, however, that, in the case of the grant of an Incentive Stock Option to a Participant who, at the time such Option is granted, owns (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Affiliate, the purchase price per Share purchasable under an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of the Inventive Stock Option.

 

(E)     Any Incentive Stock Option authorized under the Plan shall contain such other provisions as the Committee shall deem advisable, but shall in all events be consistent with and contain all provisions required in order to qualify the Option as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

 

  

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(b)     Stock Appreciation Rights.  The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Persons subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement.  Each Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall, upon exercise, confer on the holder the right to receive, as determined by the Committee, cash or a number of Shares equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise (or, if the Committee shall so determine, at any time during a specified period before or after the date of exercise) over (ii) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as determined by the Committee, which grant price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the grant price, term, methods of exercise, dates of exercise, methods of settlement and any other terms and conditions (including conditions or restrictions on the exercise thereof) of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be as determined by the Committee.

 

(c)     Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.  The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Persons with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine:

 

(i)     Restrictions.  Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, any limitation on the right to vote a Share of Restricted Stock,  or prohibition against the right to receive any dividend or other right or property with respect thereto), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or otherwise as the Committee may deem appropriate.

 

(ii)    Issuance and Delivery of Shares. Any Restricted Stock granted under the Plan shall be issued at the time such Awards are granted and may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may deem appropriate, including book-entry registration or issuance of a stock certificate or certificates, which certificate or certificates shall be held by the Company. Such certificate or certificates shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. Shares representing Restricted Stock that is no longer subject to restrictions shall be delivered to the Participant promptly after the applicable restrictions lapse or are waived. In the case of Restricted Stock Units, no Shares shall be issued at the time such Awards are granted. Upon the lapse or waiver of restrictions and the restricted period relating to Restricted Stock Units evidencing the right to receive Shares, such Shares shall be issued and delivered to the holder of the Restricted Stock.

 

(iii)   Forfeiture.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon a Participant’s termination of employment or resignation or removal as a Director (in either case as determined under criteria established by the Committee) during the applicable restriction period, all applicable Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units at such time subject to restriction shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may, when it finds that a waiver would be in the best interest of the Company, waive in whole or in part any or all remaining restrictions with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

 

 

  

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(d)     Performance Awards.  The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Performance Awards to Eligible Persons subject to the terms of the Plan.  A Performance Award granted under the Plan (i) may be denominated or payable in cash, Shares (including, without limitation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units), other securities, other Awards or other property and (ii) shall confer on the holder thereof the right to receive payments, in whole or in part, upon the achievement of such performance goals during such performance periods as the Committee shall establish.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the performance goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award granted, the amount of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award and any other terms and conditions of any Performance Award shall be determined by the Committee.  Performance Awards denominated in Shares (including, without limitation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units) that are granted to Eligible Persons who may be “covered employees” under Section 162(m) and that are intended to be “qualified performance based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m), to the extent required by Section 162(m), shall be conditioned solely on the achievement of one or more objective Performance Goals established by the Committee within the time prescribed by Section 162(m), and shall otherwise comply with the requirements of Section 162(m).

 

(e)     Other Stock Grants.  The Committee is hereby authorized, subject to the terms of the Plan, to grant to Eligible Persons Shares without restrictions thereon as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan.

 

(f)     Other Stock-Based Awards.  The Committee is hereby authorized to grant to Eligible Persons, subject to the terms of the Plan, such other Awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares), as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan.  Shares or other securities delivered pursuant to a purchase right granted under this Section 6(f) shall be purchased for such consideration, which may be paid by such method or methods and in such form or forms (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property or any combination thereof), as the Committee shall determine.

 

(g)     General

 

(i)     Consideration for Awards.  Awards may be granted for no cash consideration or for any cash or other consideration as determined by the Committee and required by applicable law.

 

(ii)    Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together.  Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with or in substitution for any other Award or any award granted under any plan of the Company or any Affiliate.  Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or in addition to or in tandem with awards granted under any such other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.

 

 

  

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(iii)   Forms of Payment under Awards.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments or transfers to be made by the Company or an Affiliate upon the grant, exercise or payment of an Award may be made in such form or forms as the Committee shall determine (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property or any combination thereof), and may be made in a single payment or transfer, or in installments, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee.  Such rules and procedures may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments.

 

(iv)    Limits on Transfer of Awards.  No Award (other than Other Stock Grants) and no right under any such Award shall be transferable by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and the Company shall not be required to recognize any attempted assignment of such rights by any Participant; provided, however, that, if so determined by the Committee, a Participant may, in the manner established by the Committee, designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise the rights of the Participant and receive any property distributable with respect to any Award upon the death of the Participant; provided, further, that, if so determined by the Committee, a Participant may transfer a Non-Qualified Stock Option to any “family member” (as such term is defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8 (or successor to such Instructions or such Form)) at any time that such Participant holds such Option, provided that the Participant may not receive any consideration for such transfer, the “family member” may not make any subsequent transfers other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and the Company receives written notice of such transfer, provided, further, that, if so determined by the Committee and except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, Awards may be transferable as determined by the Committee.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee (for Awards other than an Incentive Stock Option), each Award or right under any such Award shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee (for Awards other than an Incentive Stock Option), no Award or right under any such Award may be pledged, alienated, attached or otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation, attachment or other encumbrance thereof shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.

 

(v)      Term of Awards.  Subject to Section 6(a)(iv)(C), the term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee.

 

(vi)    Restrictions; Securities Exchange Listing.  All Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, applicable federal or state securities laws and regulatory requirements, and the Committee may direct appropriate stop transfer orders and cause other legends to be placed on the certificates for such Shares or other securities to reflect such restrictions.  If the Shares or other securities are traded on a securities exchange, the Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares or other securities covered by an Award unless and until such Shares or other securities have been admitted for trading on such securities exchange.

 

 

  

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(vii)   Prohibition on Repricing.  Except as provided in Section 4(c) hereof, no Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be amended to reduce its initial exercise price and no Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be canceled and replaced with an Option or Options or Stock Appreciation Right having a lower exercise price, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company or unless there would be no material adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements as prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

 

Section 7.      Amendment and Termination; Adjustments

 

(a)     Amendments to the Plan.  The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made that, absent such approval:

 

(i)     violates the rules or regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) or any other securities exchange that are applicable to the Company;

 

(ii)    causes the Company to be unable, under the Code, to grant Incentive Stock Options under the Plan;

 

(iii)   increases the number of shares authorized under the Plan as specified in Section 4(a);

 

(iv)    permits the award of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights at a price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as prohibited by Sections 6(a)(i) and 6(b) of the Plan or the repricing of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, as prohibited by Section 6(g)(vii) of the Plan; or

 

(v)     would prevent the grant of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that would qualify under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(b)     Amendments to Awards.  The Committee may waive any conditions of or rights of the Company under any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively.  Except as otherwise provided herein or in an Award Agreement, the Committee may not amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively, if such action would adversely affect the rights of the holder of such Award, without the consent of the Participant or holder or beneficiary thereof, except as provided under Section 12 of this Plan.

 

 

  

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

 

Section 8.      Income Tax Withholding

 

In order to comply with all applicable federal, state or local income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal, state,  local or foreign payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are the sole and absolute responsibility of a Participant, are withheld or collected from such Participant.  In order to assist a Participant in paying all or a portion of the applicable taxes to be withheld or collected upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) an Award, the Committee, in its discretion and subject to such additional terms and conditions as it may adopt, may permit the Participant to satisfy such tax obligation by (a) electing to have the Company withhold a portion of the Shares otherwise to be delivered upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes or (b) delivering to the Company Shares other than Shares issuable upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes.  The election, if any, must be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.

 

Section 9.      General Provisions

 

(a)     No Rights to Awards.  No Eligible Person 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 Eligible Persons or holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan.  The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to any Participant or with respect to different Participants.

 

(b)     Award Agreements.  No Participant will have rights under an Award granted to such Participant unless and until an Award Agreement shall have been duly executed on behalf of the Company and, if requested by the Company, signed by the Participant, or until such Award Agreement is delivered and, if required by the Committee, accepted through any electronic medium in accordance with procedures established by the Committee.

 

(c)     Plan Provisions Control.  In the event that any provision of an Award Agreement conflicts with or is inconsistent in any respect with the terms of the Plan as set forth herein or subsequently amended, the terms of the Plan shall control.

 

(d)     No Rights of Stockholders.  Except with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock as to which the Participant has been granted the right to vote, neither a Participant nor the Participant’s legal representative shall be, or have any of the rights and privileges of, a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares issuable to such Participant upon the exercise or payment of any Award, in whole or in part, unless and until such Shares have been issued in the name of such Participant or such Participant’s legal representative without restrictions thereto.

 

 

  

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(e)     No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation arrangements, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

(f)     No Right to Employment.  The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ, or as giving a Director of the Company or an Affiliate the right to continue as a Director or an Affiliate of the Company or any Affiliate, nor will it affect in any way the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate such employment at any time, with or without cause or remove a Director in accordance with applicable law.  In addition, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment, or terminate the term of a Director of the Company or an Affiliate, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan or any Award, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement.  Nothing in this Plan shall confer on any person any legal or equitable right against the Company or any Affiliate, directly or indirectly, or give rise to any cause of action at law or in equity against the Company or an Affiliate.  The Awards granted hereunder shall not form any part of the wages or salary of any Eligible Person for purposes of severance pay or termination indemnities, irrespective of the reason for termination of employment.  Under no circumstances shall any person ceasing to be an employee of the Company or any Affiliate be entitled to any compensation for any loss of any right or benefit under the Plan which such employee might otherwise have enjoyed but for termination of employment, whether such compensation is claimed by way of damages for wrongful or unfair dismissal, breach of contract or otherwise.  By participating in the Plan, each Participant shall be deemed to have accepted all the conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of any rules and regulations adopted by the Committee and shall be fully bound thereby.

 

(g)     Governing Law.  The validity, construction and effect of the Plan or any Award, and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan or any Award, shall be determined in accordance with the internal laws, and not the law of conflicts, of the state of Delaware.

 

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

 

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

 

 

  

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(j)     Other Benefits.  No compensation or benefit awarded to or realized by any Participant under the Plan shall be included for the purpose of computing such Participant’s compensation under any compensation-based retirement, disability, or similar plan of the Company unless required by law or otherwise provided by such other plan.

 

(k)     No Fractional Shares.  No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash shall be paid in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

 

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

 

(m)     Section 16 Compliance; Section 162(m) Administration.  The Plan is intended to comply in all respects with Rule 16b-3 or any successor provision, as in effect from time to time, and in all events the Plan shall be construed in accordance with the requirements of Rule 16b-3.  If any Plan provision does not comply with Rule 16b-3 as hereafter amended or interpreted, the provision shall be deemed inoperative.  The Board of Directors, in its absolute discretion, may bifurcate the Plan so as to restrict, limit or condition the use of any provision of the Plan with respect to persons who are officers or directors subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act without so restricting, limiting or conditioning the Plan with respect to other Eligible Persons.  The Company intends to have the Plan administered in accordance with the requirements for the award of “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(n)     Conditions Precedent to Issuance of Shares.  Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise or payment of the purchase price relating to an Award unless such exercise or payment and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the requirements of any applicable stock exchange and the laws of the state of Delaware.   As a condition to the exercise or payment of the purchase price relating to such Award, the Company may require that the person exercising or paying the purchase price represent and warrant that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation and warranty is required by law.

 

(o)     Agreement by Recipient Regarding Taxes.

 

(i)           By accepting an Award, each Participant agrees that the Company, to the extent permitted or required by law, shall have the right (but not the obligation) to deduct a sufficient number of shares or money due to the Participant upon exercise of an Option or an SAR or the grant of Restricted Stock or a Restricted Stock Unit to allow the Company to pay federal, provincial, state and local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld upon the exercise or payment of such Award from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant.  The Company shall not be obligated to advise any Participant of the existence of any tax or the amount which the Company will be so required to withhold.

 

 

  

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(ii)           By accepting an Award, each Participant acknowledges that the Company has advised such Participant to discuss the grant of such Award with the Recipient’s tax, legal, investment, and other advisors as the Participant and such advisors determine to be appropriate, and that such consultation shall include (to the extent determined by the Participant and such advisors to be appropriate or necessary) a discussion of the advisability of making an election under Section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 10.     Effective Date of the Plan

 

The Plan shall be effective upon its adoption by the Board, provided, however, that in the event the Plan is not approved by the stockholders of the Company within one year thereafter, no Option granted pursuant to this Plan shall qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

Section 11.    Term of the Plan

 

No Award shall be granted under the Plan after ten years from the earlier of the date of adoption of Plan by Board or the date of stockholder approval or any earlier date of discontinuation or termination established pursuant to Section 7(a) of the Plan.  However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award theretofore granted may extend beyond such date, and the authority of the Committee provided for hereunder with respect to the Plan and any Awards, and the authority of the Board to amend the Plan, shall extend beyond the termination of the Plan.

 

Section 12.    Section 409A

 

(a)     Time and Form of Payment.  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Plan or in a Award Agreement to the contrary, the time and form of payment of a Award that is subject to the limitations imposed by Section 409A of the Code, shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement on or before the time at which the Participant obtains a legally binding right to the Award (or such other time permitted under Section 409A of the Code) and such time and form of payment shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(b)     Delay in Payment.  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Plan or a Award Agreement to the contrary, if the Participant is deemed by the Company at the time of the Participant’s “separation from service” with the Company to be a “specified employee” as determined under Section 409A of the Code, any “nonqualified deferred compensation” to which the Participant is entitled in connection with such separation from service after taking into account all applicable exceptions from Section 409A, shall not be paid or commence payment until the date that is the first business day following the six month period after the Participant’s separation from service (or if earlier, the Participant’s death).  Such delay in payment shall only be effected with respect to each separate payment to the extent required to avoid adverse tax treatment to the Participant under Section 409A of the Code.  Any compensation which would have otherwise been paid during the delay period (whether in a lump sum or in installments) in the absence of this Section 12(b) shall be paid to the Participant (or his or her beneficiary or estate) in a lump sum payment on the first business day following the expiration of the delay period.

 

 

  

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(c)     Key Definitions.  For purposes of this Plan, the term “termination of employment” shall mean “separation from service” and the terms “separation from service,” “specified employee” and “nonqualified deferred compensation” shall have the meanings ascribed to the terms pursuant to Section 409A and other applicable guidance.

 

(d)     Amendments.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Plan and Awards granted under the Plan are intended to be eligible for certain regulatory exceptions to the limitations of, or to comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  The Committee, in the exercise of its sole discretion and without the consent of the Participant, may amend or modify the terms of a Award in any manner and delay the payment of any amounts payable pursuant to a Award to the minimum extent necessary to reasonably comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, provided that the Company shall not be required to assume any increased economic burden.  No action taken by the Committee with respect to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code shall be deemed to adversely affect a Participant’s rights with respect to a Award or to require the consent of such Participant.  The Committee reserves the right to make additional changes to the Plan and Awards from time to time to the extent it deems necessary with respect to Section 409A of the Code.

 

Section 13.    Exhibits

 

The exhibits attached hereto (being the Stock Option Agreement and the Subscription Agreement) are intended to be forms for use in connection with the Plan.  The Committee may amend the forms as the Committee believes necessary or appropriate to comply with the Plan and the legal requirements associated with the grant or exercise of Awards.

 

 

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