Document:

Exhibit 10.22

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”), is made effective as of May 16, 2011, (the “Effective Date”) by and between ARTHUR TRETYAK (“Executive”), a resident of Illinois, and AUTOCASH INC. (“Company”), a Delaware corporation. Because Company desires to employ Executive and because Executive desires to be employed by Company, both parties, in consideration of the mutual and exchanged promises and agreements contained herein and of wages paid and services rendered hereunder, hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.  Employment.

 

(a)              Subject to the terms contained in this Agreement, Company hereby employs Executive and Executive hereby accepts such employment. Initially, Executive shall have the title of Senior Vice President of Operations of Company, though this position and title subsequently may be changed by Company as Company or its needs grow or change. Executive shall perform all duties assigned by the Chief Executive Officer of Company (“CEO”) the President of Company or their designee. Executive shall devote his full business time and best efforts exclusively to rendering services on behalf of Company. Executive may, however, participate in charitable activities, manage his personal investments and serve on boards of directors of companies that do not compete with Company provided that such activities do not interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and do not create any conflict of interest with Company or Executive’s duties hereunder (“Permitted Activities”). Executive agrees to perform faithfully, industriously, and to the best efforts of Executive’s experience and talent all of the duties that may be required by the express and implicit terms of this Agreement, to the reasonable satisfaction of Company. Such duties shall be provided at such place(s) and time(s) as Company may require.

 

(b)              The term of this Agreement (the “Term”) shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue for four (4) years from that date, unless terminated earlier as set forth in Section 4 (“Termination”) below. Upon expiration of the Term, no payments shall be due to Executive pursuant to Section 4 (“Termination”) and all obligations under this Agreement, except those in Sections 3(d), 6, 7, 8 and 9 (“Indemnification,” “Nondisclosure of Trade Secrets and Confidential Information,” “Nonsolicitation and Noncompetition,” “Nonrecruitment of Executives” and “Rights to Materials and Return of Materials,” respectively), which Sections expressly survive termination or expiration, shall expire and the parties shall no longer be bound by them.

 

(c)               Executive recognizes that he owes a duty of loyalty to Company and he agrees that, while he is employed by Company pursuant to this Agreement, he shall not be engaged in any other business, though he may engage in the Permitted Activities subject to the conditions set forth above. Executive shall provide Company with all information, suggestions and recommendations Executive conceives or learns relating to Company’s business or business plans that could be of benefit to Company. Executive shall refrain from any activity or action that creates a conflict of interest with Company, creates the appearance of a conflict of interest

 

 

with Company or reasonably could be expected to have a detrimental effect upon any aspect of Company’s performance or reputation or upon Executive’s ability to perform his duties.

 

Section 2.  Compensation.

 

(a)              Base Salary. Executive shall be paid salary, initially calculated at the monthly rate  of Forty-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty-Six Dollars and Sixty-Six Cents ($41,666.66), (approximately equal to a rate of $500,000.00 per year) less withholding for taxes and deductions for other appropriate items (“Base Salary”). Executive’s Base Salary shall be paid on a schedule in accordance with Company’s regular payroll schedule for management employees. Any salary increases shall be in the discretion of the CEO or his designee. Company shall not reduce Executive’s Base Salary rate without Executive’s express consent. All compensation payments will cease upon termination or expiration of this Agreement; provided, however, that Executive shall be paid for all time worked prior to the termination or expiration.

 

(b)              Short-Term Bonus Compensation. During Executive’s employment hereunder,  Executive will be eligible to receive an annual incentive payment calculated at a rate of Five Percent (5%) of Company’s consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) for the preceding fiscal year (the “Short-Term Bonus”). Company’s method of calculating EBITDA and the amount of the bonus shall be consistent with its calculation of EBITDA for other purposes and shall be determinative. A prerequisite to Executive’s eligibility to earn or receive the annual incentive payment shall be that he has remained actively and continuously employed hereunder from the Effective Date through the last day of the fiscal year for which the Short-Term Bonus is payable or through the expiration date of this Agreement, whichever is earlier, unless Executive dies, is terminated due to Disability, as defined below, or is terminated without Cause or terminates his employment for Good Reason during the Term of this Agreement, in which case, the Short-Term Bonus shall be payable on a pro rata basis, in accordance with a proration formula based upon the percentage that the number of calendar days elapsed during the fiscal year at the time Executive dies, receives a Disability Notice (as herein defined), is terminated without Cause or terminates for Good Reason represents of the 365 calendar days in the fiscal year. The Short-Term Bonus shall be calculated and paid prior to March 15 of the year following the fiscal year for which it is payable.

 

(c)               Long-Term Incentive Compensation. During Executive’s employment hereunder,  Executive will be eligible to receive awards pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Phantom Stock Plan (the “Phantom Stock Awards”), as it may be amended from time to time pursuant to the terms thereof. A prerequisite to Executive’s eligibility to earn or receive Phantom Stock Awards shall be that he is actively employed on the date of award and the date of vesting and that he has remained actively and continuously employed hereunder from the Effective Date through the date of award and the date of vesting.

 

(d)              Treatment of Other TMX Subsidiary Business Run on AutoCash Platform. TMX  Finance LLC (“TMX”) and the Company agree that on-line lending business shall be conducted through the Company but recognize that on-line activities (including but not limited to on-line

 

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advertising, website content, and e-mail) may drive customer traffic to TMX subsidiaries’ brick and mortar locations or otherwise. Any loan that is closed on-line through the internet-based loan processing system operated by the Company will be allocated to the Company and will be included in the Company’s receipts for determining EBITDA for purposes of this Agreement. Any loan that is not closed on-line through such process (whether via a physical closing in a TMX subsidiary’s brick and mortar location or otherwise, including any renewal of such loan or an additional loan to a TMX subsidiary customer) will not be so allocated to the Company, even if the customer’s initial contact was through the internet, via email, or by other electronic means; provided, however, that if the Company incurs costs or otherwise utilizes resources for any such excluded loans or loan renewals, there shall be an adjustment to EBITDA to reflect a carve out of the costs or resources expended with respect to such excluded loans or loan renewals. Furthermore, in the event an Affiliate of TMX, as a result of legislation, regulations or binding judicial precedent, decides to discontinue its loan or title pawn operations and to direct all of its customers to the Company, any transaction with a customer of such Affiliate shall not be allocated to the Company; provided, however, the Chief Executive Officer of TMX shall have the discretion to determine whether any allocation to the Company’s EBITDA for purposes of this Agreement, or any compensation shall be paid to Executive, in connection with any revenue generated by those transactions and, if so, what the structure and amount of that allocation or compensation will be.

 

Section 3.  Benefits.

 

(a)              Employee Benefit Plans. Executive shall be provided the opportunity to participate in employee benefit plans made available from time to time to the majority of Titlemax of Georgia, Inc.’s similarly -situated management employees, subject to the terms, conditions and eligibility requirements of each benefit plan.

 

(b)              Paid Time Off. Executive shall be eligible to participate in Company’s Paid Time Off (“PTO”) program, subject to the terms of the applicable PTO policy.

 

(c)               Business Expenses. Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement of all ordinary and necessary business expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred for business travel, communications, entertainment and meals in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement for the benefit of Company and subject to Company’s established policies for reimbursement of business expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such payments or reimbursements are includible in Executive’s federal gross taxable income, (i) the amount of such expenses reimbursable in any one calendar year shall not affect the amount reimbursable in any other calendar year, (ii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense must be made no later than December 31 of the year after the year in which the expense was incurred, and (iii) Executive’s rights pursuant to this Section 3(c) shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

(d)              Indemnification. Company agrees to abide by the indemnification provisions set forth in Exhibit A, which are incorporated herein by reference. To the extent that

 

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Company’s bylaws conflict with Exhibit A, Exhibit A shall control. Any applicable indemnification provisions in Company bylaws that do not conflict with Exhibit A shall control the indemnification issues to which they apply.

 

Section 4.  Termination.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time by either party in accordance with the following terms:

 

(a)              Death. In the event of Executive’s death, this Agreement shall terminate immediately and Company shall be obligated to Executive’s family or estate only for pro-rated Base Salary and pro-rated Short-Term Bonus accrued as of the date of Executive’s death. In addition, provided that Executive’s death occurs after the “Commercial Launch,” as defined in the Phantom Stock Plan, Executive’s Phantom Stock Awards outstanding as of the date of Executive’s death shall vest on a pro rata basis, as set forth in the applicable award agreement. Executive’s estate also shall be entitled to retain, subject to the terms of the Phantom Stock Plan, all of Executive’s outstanding Phantom Stock Awards which are vested as of the date of Executive’s death (including any that become vested as a result of such event).

 

(b)              Disability. The Company may terminate this Agreement if Executive shall suffer a  “Disability”. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Disability” shall mean Executive’s inability to perform the essential functions of his position, with or without reasonable accommodation, for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days or one hundred-eighty (180) days in any twelve-month period. In such event, Company shall have the option to terminate this Agreement, which option may be exercised by written notice from Company to Executive (a “Disability Notice”), and which Disability Notice shall be effective on the date of delivery. Upon termination due to Disability of Executive, Company shall be obligated to pay Executive pro-rated Base Salary and pro-rated Short-Term Bonus. In addition, provided that the date of the Disability Notice is after the Commercial Launch, Executive’s Phantom Stock Awards outstanding as of the date of the Disability Notice shall vest on a pro rata basis, as set forth in the applicable award agreement. Executive also shall be entitled to retain, subject to the terms of the Phantom Stock Plan, all of Executive’s outstanding Phantom Stock Awards which are vested as of the date of the Disability Notice (including any that become vested as a result of such event).

 

(c)               Termination Without Cause. Company may terminate Executive’s employment at  any time without Cause (as defined below) by providing Executive with written notice of the termination. If Company terminates Executive’s employment without Cause hereunder, Company shall be obligated to pay Executive’s pro-rated Base Salary and pro-rated Short-Term Bonus only through the actual effective date of termination. In addition, provided that the date of the termination of Executive’s employment without Cause is after the Commercial Launch, Executive’s Phantom Stock Awards outstanding as of the date of such termination shall vest on a pro rata basis, as set forth in the applicable award agreement. Executive shall also be entitled to retain, subject to the terms of the Phantom Stock Plan, all of Executive’s outstanding Phantom Stock  Awards which are vested as of  the effective date of termination of Executive’s

 

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employment without Cause. In addition, if Executive executes a separation agreement including a general release, reaffirmation of certain covenants in this Agreement, and other promises, in a form acceptable to Company, and Company terminates Executive’s employment without Cause hereunder, Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to six (6) months of Base Salary plus his pro -rated Short- Term bonus for the fiscal year in which his employment was terminated, if any, less withholding for taxes and deductions for other appropriate items, payable in equal installments over a six-month period in accordance with the Company’s usual payroll practices as exercised or amended from time to time. Any separation agreement required under this Section 4(b) must be executed and all revocation periods relating to a waiver or release of claims contained in such separation agreement must have expired within 60 days after the date of termination, failing which any severance payment shall be forfeited. Company may commence the severance period under this Section 4(b) at any time during such sixty (60)-day period. Company shall have no other payment obligation under this Agreement or otherwise. Allowing the Agreement to expire, giving notice of expiration or terminating Executive’s employment after expiration of the Agreement shall not be considered to be termination without Cause for purposes of this Agreement. Unless specifically required to be paid by law, other compensation and benefits, including accrued but unused vacation time, will not be provided or paid after termination. Each installment severance payment under this Section 4(b) shall be considered a separate payment, as described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-2(b)(2), for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(d)              Termination for Cause. Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time for Cause by providing Executive with written notice of the termination. “Cause” shall mean the following:

 

(i) any conduct by Executive involving moral turpitude or that could cause damage to the reputation of Company;

 

(ii) Executive’s commission or conviction of, or pleading guilty or nolo contendere (or any similar plea or admission) to, a felony or a criminal act involving dishonesty or other moral turpitude;

 

(iii) any misconduct on the part of Executive in complying with the terms of this Agreement, in connection with his employment or in connection with or affecting the business of the Company or any affiliate company of Company;

 

(iv) any dishonesty by Executive, including failure to report to Company the dishonesty of other employees or representatives of Company;

 

(v) any failure to abide by laws applicable to him in his capacity as an employee, officer or director of Company or applicable to Company or any of its affiliate companies;

 

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(vi) any failure or refusal on the part of Executive to perform his material duties under this Agreement;

 

(vii) any failure or refusal to obey lawful directives from the CEO, the President or either of their designees;

 

(viii) any disclosure or use of protected trade secrets of a prior employer, violation of any applicable restrictive covenant to which Executive is subject in connection with any prior employer, or violation of any applicable law in connection with use or disclosure of trade secrets, recruiting of employees of a prior employer, soliciting customers of prior employer or engaging in competition of a prior employer;

 

(ix) any violation of any policy or code of Company relating to equal employment opportunity, harassment, business conduct, ethics, legal compliance or conflict of interest;

 

(x) neglect of reasonably assigned duties;

 

(xi) use of illegal drugs, abuse of other controlled substances or working under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances; and

 

(xii) any breach by Executive of any obligation under this Agreement.

 

In the event that Company seeks to terminate Executive’s employment for Cause and that any of subsection (vi), subsection (vii), subsection (x) or subsection (xii) is the sole reason for termination for Cause, Executive shall have the following cure provisions and rights: the Company shall furnish to Executive in writing a notice of the subsection relied upon and describing the facts establishing Cause under that subsection. Executive shall then have a period of ten (10) days after receipt of such written notice of proposed termination by the Company in which to attempt to effect a cure of the specified Cause. If at the end of such ten (10) day period no such cure has been effected, then Executive’s employment shall be terminated as of the end of such ten (10) day period. The Company shall be obligated to provide to Executive only one such notice of proposed termination, and if subsequent to effecting a cure of specified deficiencies Executive is determined by the CEO to have committed Cause under any subsection above (including, without limitation, subsections (vi), (x) or (xii)), then his employment may be terminated immediately for Cause upon the Company’s giving of notice of termination to Executive. If Company terminates Executive’s employment for Cause hereunder, Company shall only be obligated to pay Executive’s prorated Base Salary through the actual effective date of termination and shall have no other payment obligation or other liability to Executive under this Agreement or otherwise, and Executive shall forfeit all Phantom Stock Awards under the Phantom Stock Plan, whether vested or unvested. Unless specifically required to be paid by law, other compensation and benefits will not be provided or paid after termination.

 

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(e)               Termination by Executive for Good Reason. The Executive may terminate his employment with Company at any time for Good Reason by providing Company with written notice of termination for “Good Reason”. The term “Good Reason” shall mean: (i) the Company requires Executive to move to a place of employment outside the Chicago, Illinois metropolitan area; and (ii) Company fails to pay Executive’s Base Salary, Short-Term Bonus or Phantom Stock Awards, excluding delays or failure to pay due to payroll mistakes, payroll processing difficulties, miscalculation of amounts due or withholding of payments due to good faith disputes over entitlement to payment or over calculation. In the event that Executive seeks to terminate his employment for Good Reason, Company shall have the following cure provisions and rights: Executive shall furnish to Company in writing a notice of the subsection relied upon and describing the facts establishing Good Reason under that subsection. Company shall then have a period of ten (10) days after receipt of such written notice of proposed termination by Executive in which to attempt to effect a cure of the specified Good Reason. If at the end of such ten (10) day period no such cure has been effected, then Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason as of the end of such ten (10) day period by providing written notice of the failure to cure and of the termination date. Executive shall be obligated to provide the Company only one such notice of proposed termination, and if subsequent to effecting a cure of specified Good Reason, the Company commits Good Reason again (excepting payroll mistakes, payroll processing difficulties, miscalculation of amounts due or withholding of payments due to good faith disputes over entitlement to payment or over calculation) then Executive may terminate his employment immediately for Good Reason upon giving notice of termination to the Company. If the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, the Company shall be obligated to pay Executive’s pro-rated Base Salary through Executive’s last date of employment. In addition, provided that the effective date of Executive’s termination of his employment for Good Reason is after the Commercial Launch, Executive’s Phantom Stock Awards outstanding as of the date of such termination shall vest on a pro rata basis, as set forth in the applicable award agreement. Executive shall also be entitled to retain, subject to the terms of the Phantom Stock Plan, all of Executive’s outstanding Phantom Stock Awards which are vested as of the effective date of the Executive’s termination of his employment for Good Reason. In addition, if Executive executes a separation agreement including a general release, reaffirmation of certain covenants in this Agreement, and other promises, in a form acceptable to Company, and Executive terminates his employment with Good Reason hereunder, Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to six (6) months of Base Salary plus his pro -rated Short-Term bonus for the fiscal year in which his employment was terminated, if any, less withholding for taxes and deductions for other appropriate items, payable in equal installments over a six-month period in accordance with the Company’s usual payroll practices as exercised or amended from time to time. Any separation agreement required under this Section 4(e) must be executed and all revocation periods relating to a waiver or release of claims contained in such separation agreement must have expired within 60 days after the date of termination, failing which any severance payment shall be forfeited. Company may commence the severance period under this Section 4(e) at any time during such sixty (60)-day period. Company shall have no other payment obligation under this Agreement or otherwise. Allowing the Agreement to expire, giving notice of expiration or terminating Executive’s employment after expiration of the Agreement shall not

 

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be considered to be termination without Cause for purposes of this Agreement. Unless specifically required to be paid by law, other compensation and benefits, including accrued but unused vacation time, will not be provided or paid after termination. Each installment severance payment under this Section 4(e) shall be considered a separate payment, as described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-2(b)(2), for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(f)               Removal from the Board and all Officer Positions. Termination of Executive’s employment for any reason shall constitute Executive’s resignation from the Board of Directors of the Company, and from all officer positions, to the extent that the Executive is a Director and/or officer at such time.

 

Section 5.  Conditions of Employment.

 

(a)              In accordance with the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986, Executive must provide Company with documents demonstrating his identity and authorization to work in the United States. If Executive fails to provide said documents to Company, the Company’s offer of employment and this Agreement will be null and void. Executive shall execute accurately and sign an I-9 form within the first three (3) working days of Executive’s employment.

 

(b)              Executive hereby warrants that he is not subject to any contract or other agreement with any other employer prohibiting or restricting his ability to work for Company or any other employer, to solicit any potential customer, or to recruit any potential employee or otherwise restricting in any way his right or ability to carry out fully any duties assigned to him as an employee of Company. Executive agrees that he will not breach any such covenant or agreement during his employment hereunder and Company acknowledges that it does not intend to expand Executive’s duties in such a way as to require him to violate any such covenant. The accuracy and making of this warranty and agreement is a prerequisite to Executive’s employment with Company and to the making of this Agreement. If this warranty is not accurate or is breached in any way by Executive, the Company’s offer or employment and this Agreement will be null and void.

 

(c)               Executive hereby warrants that he has not, prior to leaving the employ of such other employer, recruited any other employee of any other employer to leave that employer’s employment or to come to work with Company. The accuracy and making of this warranty is a prerequisite to Executive’s employment with Company and to the making of this Agreement. If this warranty is not accurate or is breached in any way by Executive, the Company’s offer or employment and this Agreement will be null and void.

 

(d)              Executive hereby warrants that he has not removed or retained any trade secrets or confidential information from any other employer and has not provided trade secrets or confidential information of any other employer to Company. The accuracy and making of this warranty is a prerequisite to Executive’s employment with Company and to the making of this

 

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Agreement. If this warranty is not accurate or is breached in any way by Executive, the Company’s offer or employment and this Agreement will be null and void.

 

(e)               Executive hereby warrants that he has not breached any contract or other agreement with any other employer. The accuracy and making of this warranty is a prerequisite to Executive’s employment with Company and to the making of this Agreement. If this warranty is not accurate or is breached in any way by Executive, the Company’s offer or employment and this Agreement will be null and void.

 

Section 6.  Nondisclosure of Trade Secrets and Confidential Information.

 

(a)              Trade Secrets Defined. As used in this Agreement, the term “Trade Secrets” shall mean all secret, proprietary or confidential information regarding Company or Company activities that fits within the definition of “trade secrets” under Illinois law. Without limiting the foregoing or any definition of Trade Secrets, Trade Secrets protected hereunder generally shall be defined as information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process that: (1) derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (2) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy. To the extent consistent with the Illinois law, and without limiting the foregoing, Trade Secrets shall include all source codes and object codes for Company software and all technical or non-technical data, project plans and information, compilations, programs and methods, techniques, drawings, processes, financial data, lists of actual customers and potential customers, customer preference information, information on customer needs, cards or lists containing the names, addresses, and/or business locations of past, present and prospective development targets and/or partners, business plans, reports, price lists, product formulae, methods and procedures relating to services to the extent that such information fits within the definition of trade secrets under Illinois law. Nothing in this Agreement is intended, or shall be construed, to limit or abrogate the protections of Illinois law or any other applicable law protecting trade secrets or other confidential information. “Trade Secrets” shall not include information that has become generally available to the public by the act of one who has the right to disclose such information without violating any right or privilege of Company. This definition shall not limit any definition of “trade secrets” or any equivalent term under the Illinois Trade Secrets Act or any other state, local or federal law.

 

(b)              Confidential Information Defined. As used in this Agreement, the term “Confidential Information” shall mean all information regarding Company, Company’s activities, Company’s business or Company’s clients that is not generally known to persons not employed (as employees or independent agents) by Company, that does not rise to the level of a Trade Secret, but that is not generally disclosed by Company practice or authority to persons not employed by Company and is the subject of reasonable efforts to keep it confidential. Confidential Information shall include, but not be limited to, project plans and information, customer preference information, information on customer needs, customer contact information, product concepts, production techniques, technical information regarding Company products or

 

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services, production processes and product/service development, operations techniques, product/service formulas, information concerning Company business plans, current and future development and expansion or contraction plans of Company, sale/acquisition plans and contacts, marketing plans and contacts, information concerning the legal affairs of Company and certain information concerning the strategy, tactics and financial affairs of Company. “Confidential Information” shall not include information that has become generally available to the public by the act of one who has the right to disclose such information without violating any right or privilege of Company. This definition shall not limit any definition of “confidential information” or any equivalent term under the Illinois Trade Secrets Act or any other state, local or federal law.

 

(c)               Nondisclosure of Confidential Information and Trade Secrets. During Executive’s  employment hereunder and for a period of two (2) years after Executive’s employment with Company terminates for any reason, Executive shall not directly or indirectly transmit or disclose any Confidential Information to any person, concern or entity, or make use of any such Confidential Information, directly or indirectly, for himself or for others, without the prior express written consent of the General Counsel of Company, unless compelled to do so by a valid subpoena or other order of a court of competent jurisdiction. During Executive’s employment hereunder and perpetually thereafter, for so long as the information remains a Trade Secret, Executive shall not directly or indirectly transmit or disclose any Trade Secrets to any person, concern or entity, or make use of any such Trade Secrets, directly or indirectly, for himself or for others, without the prior express written consent of the General Counsel of Company, unless compelled to do so by a valid subpoena or other order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Executive warrants that he has not disclosed or used for his own benefit or the benefit of anyone other than Company any Confidential Information or Trade Secrets prior to the execution of this Agreement. Nothing in this provision shall be construed to limit any right, remedy, or relief to which Company may be entitled under the Illinois Trade Secrets Act or any other local, state or federal law.

 

(d)              Enforceability of Covenants. Executive and Company agree that Executive’s  obligations under these nondisclosure covenants are separate and distinct from other provisions of this Agreement, and a failure or alleged failure of Company to perform their obligations under any provision of this Agreement or other agreements with Company shall not constitute a defense to the enforceability of these nondisclosure covenants. Nothing in this provision or this Agreement shall limit any rights or remedies otherwise available to Company under federal, state or local law. The provisions of this Section 6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.  Nonsolicitation and Noncompetition.

 

(a)              Nonsolicitation of Customers. Executive hereby agrees that, during employment with Company and for one (1) year after Executive’s employment terminates for any reason, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, on behalf of himself or of anyone other than Company, solicit or attempt to solicit for the purpose of engaging in the sale or making through the Internet of first or second lien title loans or pawn transactions secured by vehicles or otherwise

 

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performing the same or substantially the same functions Executive performed for Company (the “Business Activities”), any customer or client of Company whom Executive actively solicited, with whom Executive worked or with whom Executive otherwise had material contact in the course of Executive’s employment with Company within the two (2) years prior to termination of his employment with Company. Executive agrees to exercise his best efforts to prevent any of the activities listed in this Section 7 from occurring.

 

(b)              Noncompetition. Executive hereby agrees that, during employment with Company  and for one (1) year after Executive’s employment terminates for any reason, Executive shall not, within the Restricted Area, without the prior written consent of the CEO, which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the CEO, engage or participate in the Business Activities as a business executive, officer, manager, consultant for operations or management activities, sales executive, salesperson, or any other role or position that involves competing with Company, on his own behalf or for any business or enterprise that competes with Company. For purposes of this Section 7(b), the “Restricted Area” shall be the area where Executive is responsible for carrying out the Business Activities on behalf of Company, which consists of the following: all states in the United States of America in which the Company is qualified to do business. Executive agrees to exercise his best efforts to prevent any of the activities listed in this Section 7 from occurring.

 

(c)               Enforceability of Covenants. Executive acknowledges that the Company has a  present and future expectation of business within the geographic areas served by the Company and from the present and proposed customers of the Company. Executive acknowledges the reasonableness of the term, geographic area, scope of activities and other aspects of the scope of the covenants set forth in this Agreement, and agrees that he will not, in any action, suit or other proceeding, deny the reasonableness of, or assert the unreasonableness of, the premises, consideration or scope of the covenants set forth herein. Executive further acknowledges that complying with the provisions contained in this Agreement will not preclude him from engaging in a lawful profession, trade or business, or from becoming gainfully employed. Executive and Company agree that Executive’s obligations under the above covenant are separate and distinct under this Agreement, and the failure or alleged failure of Company to perform its obligations under any other provisions of this Agreement shall not constitute a defense to the enforceability of this covenant; provided, however, that the noncompete covenant contained in Section 7(b) shall not be enforceable if and while Company fails to pay compensation due to Executive pursuant to Section 2 or Section 4 of this Agreement, excepting payroll mistakes, payroll processing difficulties, miscalculation of amounts due or withholding of payments due to good faith disputes over entitlement to payment, over calculation of a payment or over the reason for termination or resignation, within thirty (30) days after receiving accurate written notice from Executive that Company has failed to make payment and demanding that such payment be made. Executive agrees that any breach of this covenant will result in irreparable damage and injury to Company and that Company will be entitled to injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction without the necessity of posting any bond. Executive also agrees that he shall be responsible for all damages incurred by Company due to any breach of the restrictive covenants

 

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contained in this Agreement and, if Company succeeds in enforcing any portion of any restrictive covenant or otherwise prevails in any action for enforcement or breach, that Company shall be entitled to have Executive pay all costs and attorneys’ fees incurred by Company in any such action for enforcement or breach. The provisions of this Section 7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 8.  Nonrecruitment of Employees.

 

(a)              Nonrecruitment of Employees. Executive hereby agrees that, during employment  with Company and for one (1) year after Executive’s employment terminates for any reason, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, on behalf of himself or of anyone other than Company, solicit or recruit for employment or encourage to leave employment with Company, any person with whom Executive worked during Executive’s employment, and who has not thereafter ceased to be employed by Company for a period of at least one (1) year. Executive agrees to exercise his best efforts to prevent any of the activities listed in this Section 8 from occurring.

 

(b)              Enforceability of Covenants. Executive and Company agree that Executive’s  obligations under this nonrecruitment covenant is separate and distinct from other provisions of this Agreement, and a failure or alleged failure of Company to perform their obligations under any provision of this Agreement or other agreements with Company shall not constitute a defense to the enforceability of these nondisclosure covenants. Nothing in this provision or this Agreement shall limit any rights or remedies otherwise available to Company under federal, state or local law. Executive agrees that any breach of this covenant will result in irreparable damage and injury to Company and that Company will be entitled to injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction without the necessity of posting any bond. Executive acknowledges the reasonableness of the term and scope of the covenant set forth in this Section, and agrees that he will not, in any action, suit or other proceeding, deny the reasonableness of, or assert the unreasonableness of, the premises, consideration or scope of the covenants set forth herein. Executive also agrees that he shall be responsible for all damages incurred by Company due to any breach of the restrictive covenants contained in this Agreement and, if Company succeeds in enforcing any portion of any restrictive covenant or otherwise prevails in any action for enforcement or breach, that Company shall be entitled to have Executive pay all costs and attorneys’ fees incurred by Company in any such action for enforcement or breach. The provisions of this Section 8 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.  Rights to Materials and Return of Materials.

 

All records, files, software, software code, memoranda, reports, price lists, customer lists, drawings, plans, sketches, documents, technical information, information on the use, development and integration of software, and the like (together with all copies of such documents and things) relating to the business of Company, which Executive shall use or prepare or come in contact with in the course of, or as a result of, Executive’s employment or other engagement by Company shall, as between the parties to this Agreement, remain the sole property of Company. Laptop computers, other computers, software and related data, information and things provided to Executive by Company or obtained by Executive, directly or indirectly, from Company, also

 

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shall remain the sole property of Company. Upon the termination of Executive’s employment or upon the prior demand of Company, Executive shall immediately return all such materials and things to Company and shall not retain or provide to others any copies, excerpts, summaries, abstracts or other representations thereof. Executive shall not remove or participate in removing any such materials or things from the premises of Company after termination or Company’s request for return. For purposes of this Section 9, “Company” shall include AutoCash Inc. and all other subsidiaries and affiliate companies of AutoCash Inc. The obligations in this Section shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.  Protected Works.

 

(a)              Protected Works. The term “Protected Works” as used in this Agreement means any and all ideas, inventions, formulas, source codes, object codes, techniques, processes, concepts, systems, programs, software, software integration techniques, hardware systems, schematics, flow charts, computer data bases, client lists, trademarks, service marks, brand names, trade names, compilations, documents, data, notes, designs, drawings, technical data and/or training materials, including improvements thereto or derivatives therefrom, whether or not patentable, or subject to copyright or trademark or trade secret protection, developed and produced by Executive pursuant to this Agreement or other agreements between Executive and Company and used or intended for use by or on behalf of Company, or Company’s clients.

 

(b)              Ownership and Assignment of Protected Works. Executive agrees that any and all Protected Works developed by Executive during his employment or other engagement with Company under this Agreement and during his employment with, or other engagement by Company prior to the execution of this Agreement (whether as employee or independent contractor) are the sole property of Company, and that no compensation in addition to the amounts set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement is due to Executive for development or transfer of such Protected Works. Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign all of his respective rights, title and interest in Protected Works, including all patents or patent applications, and all copyrights therein, to Company. Executive further agrees at Company’s request and without further consideration, but at the expense of Company, that Executive will communicate to Company any facts known to Executive and testify in any legal proceedings, sign all lawful papers, make all rightful oaths, execute all divisional, continuing, continuation-in-part, or reissue applications, all assignments, all registration applications and all other instruments or papers to carry into full force and effect, the assignment, transfer and conveyance hereby made or intended to be made and generally do everything possible for title to the Protected Works and all patents or copyrights or trademarks or service marks therein to be clearly and exclusively held by Company. Executive agrees that he will not apply for any state, federal, or other jurisdiction’s registration of rights in any of the Protected Works and that he will not oppose or object in any way to applications for registration of same by Company or others designated by Company. Executive agrees to exercise reasonable care to avoid making the Protected Works available to any third party. Executive also agrees that he shall be liable to Company for all damages, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses of litigation, if the Protected Works are

 

13

 

made available to third parties in any manner by Executive without the express written consent of Company.

 

(c)               Executive agrees to disclose and describe to Company, as soon as possible after their creation, (i) all copyrightable works, databases, data and other “Protected Works,” as defined in subsection (a) above, which are created by Executive, either alone or with others, during the term of Executive’s employment, or in connection with the formation of Company, and (ii) all Protected Works which are based in whole or in part upon Confidential Information or Trade Secrets and are created by Executive, either alone or with others, within one (1) year after Executive’s leaving Company’s employ.

 

(d)              There is no other contract or duty on Executive’s part now in existence to assign Protected Works to anyone other than Company. Executive will not disclose or induce Company to use any confidential information or material that Executive is now or shall become aware of which belongs to anyone other than Company. During Executive’s employment by Company, Executive will not engage in any employment, consulting or other activity in any business competitive with Company’s business as presently conducted or as conducted at any future time during Executive’s employment.

 

Section 11.  Works Made for Hire.

 

Company and Executive acknowledge that in the course of Executive’s employment by Company, Executive may from time to time create for Company copyrightable works. Such works may consist of manuals, pamphlets, instructional materials, computer programs, software, software integration techniques, software codes, and data, technical data, photographs, drawings, logos, designs, artwork or other copyrightable material, or portions thereof, and may be created within or without Company’s facilities and before, during or after normal business hours. All such works related to or useful in the business of Company are specifically intended to be works made by hire by Executive, and Executive shall cooperate with Company in the protection of Company’s copyrights in such works and, to the extent deemed desirable by Company, the registration of such copyrights.

 

Section 12.  Compliance with Policies and Laws.

 

(a)              Policies. Executive agrees to comply with any and all Company policies, work  rules and standards of conduct.

 

(b)              Laws. Executive agrees to abide by the laws of the United States and all other  applicable jurisdictions and to make his best efforts to act in the best interest of Company.

 

Section 13.  Miscellaneous.

 

(a)              Severability and Attorneys’ Fees. The covenants set forth in this Agreement shall be considered and construed as separate and independent covenants. Should any part or provision of any covenant be held invalid, void or unenforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, voidness or unenforceability shall not render invalid, void or

 

14

 

unenforceable any other part or provision of this Agreement. If any portion of the foregoing provisions is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction because of its duration, the territory, the definition of activities or the definition of information covered is invalid or unreasonable in scope, the invalid or unreasonable term shall be redefined, or a new enforceable term provided, such that the intent of Company and Executive in agreeing to the provisions of this Agreement will not be impaired and the provision in question shall be enforceable to the fullest extent of the applicable laws. The parties agree that, except with respect to Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of this Agreement, if either party brings an action to enforce any provision of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the non-prevailing party the prevailing party’s costs of such enforcement, including reasonable attorneys’ fees. For purposes of this section, the “prevailing party” shall be the party that is deemed by the judge in the action to have prevailed more substantially than the other party.

 

(b)              Waiver. The waiver by any party to this Agreement of a breach of any of the  provisions of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

 

(c)               Withholding of Taxes. Company may withhold from any amounts payable under  this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes and withholdings as shall be required pursuant to any applicable law, rule or regulation as well as any amounts owed by Executive to Company.

 

(d)              Notice. For purposes of this Agreement, all communications including, without  limitation, notices, consents, requests or approvals, provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or five (5) business days after having been mailed by United States registered mail or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to Company (to the attention of the Chief Officer, Tracy Young), with a copy to Company’s General Counsel, at his law firm office, located at Gray & Pannell LLP, 24 Drayton Street, Savannah, Georgia, 31401, or to Executive at his principal residence, or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing and in accordance herewith, except the notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

(e)               Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be made in and shall in all  respects be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois (without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof). No provision of this Agreement or any related documents shall be construed against, or interpreted to the disadvantage of, any party hereto by any court or any governmental or judicial authority by reason of such party having, or being deemed to have, structured or drafted such provision.

 

(f)               Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties hereto to be the final  expression of their agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and this is the complete and exclusive statement of the terms of their agreement, notwithstanding any representations, statements or agreements to the contrary heretofore made. This Agreement supersedes any

 

15

 

former agreements governing the same subject matter. Nothing in this Agreement, however, shall be deemed to supersede or limit Executive’s obligations under the Non-Disclosure and Non-Solicitation Agreement executed by Executive. This Agreement may be modified only by a written instrument signed by each of the parties hereto expressly stating that it is intended to amend this Agreement.

 

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

 

	
AUTOCASH   INC.
    	
 
    	
EXECUTIVE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   Tracy Young
    	
 
    	
/s/   Arthur Tretyak
    
	
 
    	
Tracy   Young, CEO
    	
 
    	
Arthur   Tretyak
    

 

TMX Finance, LLC hereby joins in the execution of this Agreement for the purpose of guaranteeing the payment of Company’s obligations under Sections 2, 3 and 4 of this Agreement.

 

	
 
    	
TMX   FINANCE, LLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Tracy Young
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Tracy   Young, Manager
    	
 
    

 

16

 

EXHIBIT A

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

1.             Right to Indemnification. Company shall, upon a request to do so pursuant to Section 2 of  this Exhibit A below, indemnify Executive if he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of Company or is or was serving at the request of Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding, to the maximum extent allowed by Title 8, Section 145 of the Delaware Code, upon the determination by Company that such indemnification is proper in accordance said Section 145.  Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit, or proceeding may be paid by Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit, or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of Executive to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by Company.

 

2.             Procedure. In order to obtain indemnification under Section 1 of this Exhibit A,  Executive shall request such indemnification of Company by notifying Company of the following:

 

(a)                                 an identification of the claimant and the substance and amount of the claim or claims alleged against him;

(b)                                 the forum in which such claims have been asserted;

(c)                                  the date or dates upon which such claims were asserted;

(d)                                 the defenses made or intended to be made to such claims;

(e)                                  the current status of such claims;

(f)                                   the date upon which, or the period within which, resolution of such claims can reasonably be expected; and

(g)                                  the anticipated amounts, or probable range of amounts, for which Company will be responsible upon any such indemnification.

 

Within sixty (60) days of its receipt of such notice, Company shall arrange for and make the determination as to whether indemnification is proper under the circumstances as provided in Title 8, Section 145 of the Delaware Code. If Company fails to take such action, Executive may call a special meeting of the shareholders of Company at the principal office of Company. Notice of the special meeting shall be given, and the special meeting shall be conducted in accordance with Article Three of Company’s Bylaws (or such successor provision as may be substituted from time to time). Executive shall provide a copy of the notice sent to Company requesting indemnification with his notice to the shareholders of the special meeting.

 

3.             Payment of Insurance Proceeds. If Company purchases and maintains insurance on behalf of Executive pursuant to this Article Seven of Company’s Bylaws, and if proceeds of such

 

17

 

insurance are paid to Executive in connection with the matters upon which he has sought indemnification, Company shall not indemnify Executive except to the extent that the amounts sought have not been paid by the proceeds of such insurance.

 

18Exhibit 10.23

 

 

AUTOCASH INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED

PHANTOM STOCK PLAN

 

 

 

AUTOCASH INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED

PHANTOM STOCK PLAN

 

	
ARTICLE 1
    	
PURPOSE
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
1.1
    	
General
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
1.2
    	
History
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 2  
    	
DEFINITIONS
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.1
    	
Definitions
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 3  
    	
EFFECTIVE DATE; TERMINATION OF PLAN; SPECIAL COVENANTS
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.1
    	
Effective Date
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.2
    	
Term of Plan
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.3
    	
Special Covenants
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 4  
    	
ADMINISTRATION
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.1
    	
Plan Administrator
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.2
    	
Actions and Interpretations by the Plan Administrator
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.3
    	
Authority of Plan Administrator
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 5  
    	
PHANTOM SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.1
    	
Number of Shares
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.2
    	
Share Counting
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 6  
    	
ELIGIBILITY
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
6.1
    	
General
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 7  
    	
PHANTOM STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
7.1
    	
Grant of Phantom Stock Appreciation Rights
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
7.2
    	
Vesting
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
7.3
    	
Forfeiture
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
7.4
    	
Automatic Exercise
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
7.5
    	
Form of Payment
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 8  
    	
PHANTOM STOCK UNITS
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
8.1
    	
Grant of Phantom Stock Units
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
8.2
    	
Vesting
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
8.3
    	
Forfeiture
    	
16
    

 

 

	
8.3
    	
Form of Payment of Phantom Stock Units
    	
16
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 9  
    	
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
9.1
    	
Limits on Transfer
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
9.2
    	
Beneficiaries
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 10  
    	
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
10.1
    	
Mandatory Adjustments
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
10.2
    	
Discretionary Adjustments
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
10.3
    	
General
    	
18
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 11  
    	
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION
    	
18
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
11.1
    	
Amendment, Modification and Termination
    	
18
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
11.2
    	
Awards Previously Granted
    	
18
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
11.3
    	
Compliance Amendments
    	
18
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 12  
    	
GENERAL PROVISIONS
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.1
    	
Rights of Participants
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.2
    	
Withholding
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.3
    	
Special Provisions Related to Section 409A of the Code
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.4
    	
Unfunded Status of Awards
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.5
    	
Relationship to Other Benefits
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.6
    	
Expenses
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.7
    	
Titles and Headings
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.8
    	
Gender and Number
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.9
    	
Severability
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.10
    	
No Limitations on Rights of Company
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.11
    	
Indemnification
    	
21
    

 

3

 

AUTOCASH INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED

PHANTOM STOCK PLAN

 

ARTICLE 1

PURPOSE

 

1.1.                            GENERAL.  The purpose of the AutoCash Inc. Amended and Restated Phantom Stock Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the success, and enhance the value, of AutoCash Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), by improving its ability to attract, retain, motivate and reward highly qualified employees, officers and directors, achieve improved Company and individual performance, and establish performance incentives that support the Company’s long-term business strategy.  Accordingly, the Plan permits the grant of incentive awards from time to time to selected employees, officers and directors of the Company and its Affiliates.

 

1.2.                            HISTORY.  The Plan was originally adopted by the Board on _April 29, 2011.  The Plan was amended and restated by the Board on June 17, 2011, to contemplate the default terms of Awards to be granted to certain Participants after the date of such amendment and restatement.

 

ARTICLE 2

DEFINITIONS

 

2.1.                            DEFINITIONS.  When a word or phrase appears in this Plan with the initial letter capitalized, and the word or phrase does not commence a sentence, the word or phrase shall generally be given the meaning ascribed to it in this Section or in Section 1.1 unless a clearly different meaning is required by the context.  The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)                                 “Affiliate” means (i) any Subsidiary or Parent, or (ii) an entity that directly or through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company, as determined by the Plan Administrator, or TMX, as determined by the board of directors of TMX, as the case may be.

 

(b)                                 “Award” means an award of Phantom Stock Appreciation Rights or Phantom Stock Units granted to a Participant under the Plan.

 

(c)                                  “Award Certificate” means a written document, in such form as the Plan Administrator prescribes from time to time, setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award.  Award Certificates may be in the form of individual award agreements or certificates or a program document describing the terms and provisions of an Award or series of Awards under the Plan.  The Plan Administrator may provide for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Certificates, and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by a Participant.

 

(d)                                 “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the 1934 Act.

 

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

 

4

 

(f)                                   “Cause” as a reason for a Participant’s termination of Continuous Service shall have the meaning assigned such term in the employment, severance or similar agreement, if any, between such Participant and the Company or an Affiliate; provided, however, that if there is no such employment, severance or similar agreement in which such term is defined, and unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Certificate, “Cause” shall mean any of the following acts by the Participant:

 

(i)                           any conduct by the Participant involving moral turpitude or that could cause damage to the reputation of Company or an Affiliate;

 

(ii)                        the Participant’s commission or conviction of, or pleading guilty or nolo  contendere (or any similar plea or admission) to, a felony or a criminal act involving dishonesty or other moral turpitude;

 

(iii)                     any misconduct on the part of the Participant in connection with his or her employment or in connection with or affecting the business of the Company or any Affiliate;

 

(iv)                    any dishonesty by the Participant, including failure to report to Company the dishonesty of other employees or representatives of Company;

 

(v)                       any failure to abide by laws applicable to the Participant in his or her capacity as an employee, officer or director of Company or an Affiliate or applicable to Company or an Affiliate;

 

(vi)                    any failure or refusal on the part of the Participant to perform his or her material duties;

 

(vii)                 any failure or refusal on the part of the Participant to obey lawful directives from the CEO of the Company, the President of the Company or either of their designees;

 

(viii)              any disclosure or use of protected trade secrets of a prior employer, violation of any applicable restrictive covenant to which the Participant is subject in connection with any prior employer, or violation of law in connection with use or disclosure of trade secrets, recruiting of employees of a prior employer, soliciting customers of a prior employer or engaging in competition of a prior employer;

 

(ix)                    any violation by the Participant of any policy or code of Company relating to equal employment opportunity, harassment, business conduct, ethics, legal compliance or conflict of interest;

 

(x)                       the Participant’s neglect of reasonably assigned duties;

 

(xi)                    the Participant’s use of illegal drugs, abuse of other controlled substances or working under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances; and

 

5

 

(xii)                 any breach by the Participant of any obligation under the employment, severance or similar agreement, if any, between such Participant and the Company or an Affiliate.

 

In the event that the Company seeks to terminate the Participant’s Continuous Service for Cause and that any of subsection (vi), subsection (vii), subsection (x) or subsection (xii) is the sole reason for termination for Cause, the Participant shall have the following cure provisions and rights: the Company shall furnish to the Participant in writing a notice of the subsection relied upon and describing the facts establishing Cause under that subsection.  The Participant shall then have a period of ten (10) days after receipt of such written notice of proposed termination by the Company in which to attempt to effect a cure of the specified Cause.  If at the end of such ten (10) day period no such cure has been effected, then the Participant’s Continuous Service shall be terminated as of the end of such ten (10) day period.  The Company shall be obligated to provide to the Participant only one such notice of proposed termination, and if subsequent to effecting a cure of specified deficiencies the Participant is determined by the CEO of the Company to have committed Cause under any subsection above (including, without limitation, subsections (vi), (x) or (xii)), then his Continuous Service may be terminated immediately for Cause upon the Company’s giving of notice of termination to the Participant.

 

(g)                                  “Change in Control” means and includes the occurrence of any one of the following events:

 

(i)                                     any person or persons (in each case, excluding Tracy Young and, in the event of his death, his executors and legatees, and, with respect to the Company, excluding TMX and any Affiliate of TMX) acting as a group (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v)(B)) acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons), directly or indirectly, either (A) more than 60% of the then-outstanding membership interests of TMX or more than 60% of the then-outstanding shares of Stock of the Company or (B) securities of TMX or the Company representing more than 60% of the combined voting power of TMX’s or the Company’s then-outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of managers or directors (the “TMX Voting Securities” or the “Company Voting Securities,” as the case may be); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions of TMX membership interests, Company Stock, TMX Voting Securities or Company Voting Securities shall not constitute a Change in Control: (x) an acquisition by TMX, an Affiliate of TMX, or the Company, (y) an acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the TMX, an Affiliate of TMX, or the Company, or (z) an acquisition pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in subsection (ii) below); or

 

(ii)                                  the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving TMX, an Affiliate of TMX, or the Company (a “Reorganization”), or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of TMX’s or the Company’s assets (a “Sale”) or the acquisition of assets or stock of another corporation or other entity (an “Acquisition”), unless immediately following such Reorganization, Sale or

 

6

 

Acquisition: (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners, respectively, of the outstanding TMX membership interests and outstanding TMX Voting Securities, or the outstanding Company Stock and outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, immediately prior to such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition beneficially own, directly or indirectly, at least 40% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of membership interests or shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of managers or directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns TMX or all or substantially all of TMX’s assets or membership interests either directly or through one or more subsidiaries, or the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or Stock either directly or through one or more subsidiaries, the “Surviving Entity”) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition, of the outstanding TMX membership interests and the outstanding TMX Voting Securities, or the outstanding Company Stock and outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, and (B) no person (other than (v) TMX or any Affiliate of TMX, (w) the Company, (x) the Surviving Entity or its ultimate parent entity, (y) Tracy Young or, in the event of his death, his executors and legatees, or (z) any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by any of the foregoing) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 60% of the total membership interests or common stock or more than 60% of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect managers or directors of the Surviving Entity (any Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition which satisfies all of the criteria specified in (A) and (B) above shall be deemed to be a “Non-Qualifying Transaction”).

 

(h)                                 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.  For purposes of this Plan, references to sections of the Code shall be deemed to include references to any applicable regulations thereunder and any successor or similar provision.

 

(i)                                     “Commercial Launch” means the funding of the first non-test loan made by the Company.

 

(j)                                    “Company” means AutoCash Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor corporation.

 

(k)                                 “Continuous Service” means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an employee, officer or director of the Company or any Affiliate, as applicable.  Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the following cases: (i) a Participant transfers employment between the Company and an Affiliate or between Affiliates, or (ii) in the discretion of the Plan Administrator as specified at or prior to such occurrence, in the case of a spin-off, sale or disposition of the Participant’s employer from the Company or any Affiliate, or (iii) any leave of absence authorized in writing by the Company prior to its commencement.  Whether military, government or other service or other leave of absence shall constitute a termination of Continuous Service shall be determined in each case by the Plan Administrator at his discretion, and any determination by the Plan Administrator shall be final and conclusive;

 

7

 

provided, however, that for purposes of any Award that is subject to Code Section 409A, the determination of a leave of absence must comply with the requirements of a “bona fide leave of absence” as provided in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h).

 

(l)                                     “Disability” as a reason for a Participant’s termination of Continuous Service shall have the meaning assigned such term in the employment, severance or similar agreement, if any, between such Participant and the Company or an Affiliate; provided, however, that if there is no such employment, severance or similar agreement in which such term is defined, and unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Certificate, “Disability” shall mean the Participant’s inability to perform the essential functions of his position, with or without reasonable accommodation, for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days or one hundred-eighty (180) days in any twelve-month period.

 

(m)                             “EBITDA” means the Company’s consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.  The Board’s method of calculating EBITDA for purposes of this Plan shall be consistent with its calculation of EBITDA for other purposes and shall be determinative.

 

(n)                                 “Effective Date” has the meaning assigned such term in Section 3.1.

 

(o)                                 “Eligible Participant” means an employee (including a leased employee), officer or director of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

(p)                                 “Fair Market Value,” on any Valuation Date, means the value of a share of Stock, determined by the following method:

 

(i)                                     An amount equal to three (3) times the Company’s Plan EBITDA for the twelve (12) calendar month period ended immediately prior to the commencement of the calendar month in which the Valuation Date occurs, divided by the number of shares of Stock outstanding as of the Valuation Date.

 

(ii)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event Material Legislation has been enacted (with or without delayed effectiveness) prior to the Valuation Date, “Fair Market Value” shall be the average of the calculation determined in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (i) and the Liquidation Value as of the Valuation Date.

 

(iii)                               Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that an Award is settled on account of a Change in Control, the Fair Market Value as of the Change in Control shall be determined by the Board in good faith.

 

(q)                                 “Good Reason” as a reason for a Participant’s termination of Continuous Service shall have the meaning assigned such term in the employment, severance or similar agreement, if any, between such Participant and the Company or an Affiliate; provided, however, that if there is no such employment, severance or similar agreement in which such term is defined, and unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Certificate, “Good Reason” shall mean the Company’s failure to pay the Participant’s base salary, short-term bonus or Award, excluding delays or failure to pay due to payroll mistakes, payroll processing difficulties, miscalculation of amounts due or withholding of

 

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payments due to good faith disputes over entitled to payment or over calculation.  In the event that the Participant seeks to terminate his or her Continuous Service for Good Reason, the Company shall have the following cure provisions and rights:  the Participant shall furnish to the Company in writing a notice describing the facts establishing Good Reason.  The Company shall then have a period of ten (10) days after receipt of such written notice of proposed termination by the Participant in which to attempt to effect a cure of the specified Good Reason.  If at the end of such ten (10) day period no such cure has been effected, then the Participant may terminate his or her Continuous Service as of the end of such ten (10) day period by providing written notice of the failure to cure and of the termination date.  The Participant shall be obligated to provide to the Company only one such notice of proposed termination, and if subsequent to effecting a cure of specified Good Reason, the Company commits Good Reason again (excepting payroll mistakes, payroll processing difficulties, miscalculation of amounts due or withholding of payments due to good faith disputes over entitled to payment or over calculation) then the Participant may terminate his or her Continuous Service immediately for Good Reason upon giving notice of termination to the Company.

 

(r)                                    “Grant Date” of an Award means the first date on which all necessary corporate action has been taken to approve the grant of the Award as provided in the Plan, or such later date as is determined and specified as part of that authorization process.  Notice of the grant shall be a provided to the grantee within a reasonable time after the Grant Date.

 

(s)                                   “Initial Value” of a Phantom Share means the Fair Market Value as of the Grant Date of the applicable Award; provided that such value, for purposes of this Plan, shall not be less than zero.

 

(t)                                    “Liquidation Value” means the amount obtained by dividing (1) the result of (i) the principal amount of all customer accounts of the Company either current or less than sixty-one (61) days past due, less (ii) the outstanding principal amount of all interest-bearing indebtedness of the Company (specifically excluding any indebtedness for the payment or future settlement of any Awards under the Plan), plus (iii) all cash and cash equivalents on hand and all marketable securities held by the Company, by (2) the number of shares of Stock outstanding as of the Valuation Date.

 

(u)                                 “Material Legislation” shall mean legislation, regulations or binding judicial precedent that limits the Annual Percentage Rate (as defined under Regulation Z of Part 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations) to less than sixty percent (60%) on more than twenty percent (20%) of the principal amount of all existing loan or pawn contracts of the Company (determined as if such legislation were applied to all contracts existing on the date of such determination).

 

(v)                                 “Maturity Value” of a Phantom Share means the Fair Market Value as of PSAR Maturity Date or PSU Maturity Date, as applicable, for the applicable Award.

 

(w)                               “Parent” means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity which owns or beneficially owns a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power of the Company or TMX, as the case may be.

 

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(x)                                 “Participant” means an Eligible Participant who has been granted an Award under the Plan; provided that in the case of the death of a Participant, the term “Participant” refers to a beneficiary designated pursuant to Section 9.2 or the legal guardian or other legal representative acting in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the Participant under applicable state law and court supervision.

 

(y)                                 “Person” means any individual, entity or group, within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) of the 1934 Act and as used in Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act.

 

(z)                                  “Phantom Share” means a hypothetical unit of value equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock.

 

(aa)                          “Phantom Stock Appreciation Right” or “PSAR” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 7 to receive a cash payment equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the Maturity Value of the underlying Phantom Shares, over (ii) the Initial Value of such underlying Phantom Shares, all as determined pursuant to Article 7.

 

(bb)                          “Phantom Stock Unit” means the right granted to a Participant under Article 8 to receive a cash payment equal to the Maturity Value of Phantom Shares, which right is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture.

 

(cc)                            “Plan” means the AutoCash Inc. Amended and Restated Phantom Stock Plan, as further amended from time to time.

 

(dd)                          “Plan Administrator” has the meaning assigned such term in Section 4.1.

 

(ee)                            “Plan EBITDA” shall mean EBITDA, adjusted to exclude the effect of any accrual or other reduction for the payment or future settlement of any Awards under the Plan.

 

(ff)                              “Profitable,” for purposes of this Plan and in connection with the termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service, means that the Company has positive net income, as reflected on its financial statements, for each of (x) the last full fiscal quarter ended prior to the date of the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service and (y) the next full fiscal quarter subsequent to such quarter.

 

(gg)                            “PSAR Maturity Date” has the meaning assigned such term in Section 7.4.

 

(hh)                          “PSU Maturity Date” has the meaning assigned such term in Section 8.4.

 

(ii)                                  “Qualifying Termination” means the termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service by the Company without Cause, by the Participant for Good Reason, or by reason of the Participant’s death or Disability.

 

(jj)                                “Stock” means the common stock of the Company and such other securities of the Company as may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Article 10.

 

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(kk)                          “Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity of which a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company or by TMX, as the case may be.

 

(ll)                                  “TMX” means TMX Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

(mm)                  “Valuation Date” shall mean the date as of which the Phantom Shares are valued for purposes of determining the amount payable to the Participant under an Award.

 

(nn)                          “1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

(oo)                          “1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

ARTICLE 3

EFFECTIVE DATE; TERMINATION OF PLAN; SPECIAL COVENANTS

 

3.1.                            EFFECTIVE DATE.  The Plan will become effective on the date that it is adopted by the Board (the “Effective Date”).

 

3.2.                            TERMINATION OF PLAN.  Unless earlier terminated as provided herein, the Plan shall continue in effect until the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.  The termination of the Plan on such date shall not affect the validity of any Award outstanding on the date of termination, which shall continue to be governed by the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

3.3                               SPECIAL COVENANTS.  TMX and the Company agree that on-line lending business shall be conducted through the Company but recognize that on-line activities (including but not limited to on-line advertising, website content, and e-mail) may drive customer traffic to TMX’s subsidiaries’ brick and mortar locations or otherwise.  Any loan that is closed on-line through the internet-based loan processing system operated by the Company will be allocated to the Company and will be included in the Company’s receipts for determining EBITDA for purposes of this Plan.  Any loan that is not closed on-line through such process (whether via a physical closing in a TMX subsidiary’s brick and mortar location or otherwise, including any renewal of such loan or an additional loan to a TMX subsidiary customer) will not be so allocated to the Company, even if the customer’s initial contact was through the internet, via email, or by other electronic means; provided, however, that if the Company incurs costs or otherwise utilizes resources for any such excluded loans or loan renewals, there shall be an adjustment to EBITDA to reflect a carve out of the costs or resources expended with respect to such excluded loans or loan renewals.  Furthermore, in the event an Affiliate of TMX, as a result of legislation, regulations or binding judicial precedent, decides to discontinue its loan or title pawn operations and to direct all of its customers to the Company, any transaction with a customer of such Affiliate shall not be allocated to the Company; provided, however, that the Chief Executive Officer of TMX shall have the discretion to determine whether any additional allocation to the Company’s EBITDA for purposes of this Plan shall be made in connection with any revenue

 

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generated by those transactions and, if so, what the structure and amount of that allocation will be.  This Section 3.3 may not be amended without consent of the Participant.

 

ARTICLE 4

ADMINISTRATION

 

4.1.                            PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.  The Plan shall be administered by a director appointed by the Board (the “Plan Administrator”) or, at the discretion of the Board from time to time, the Plan may be administered by the Board or a committee appointed by the Board.  The Plan Administrator shall be appointed by, and may be changed at any time and from time to time in the discretion of, the Board.  Unless and until changed by the Board, Tracy Young is designated as the Plan Administrator.  The Board may reserve to itself, or to a committee it appoints, any or all of the authority and responsibility of the Plan Administrator under the Plan or may act, or appoint a committee to act, as Plan Administrator for any and all purposes. To the extent the Board has reserved any authority and responsibility or during any time that the Board or a committee appointed by the Board is acting as Plan Administrator, the Board or such committee shall have all the powers and protections of the Plan Administrator hereunder, and any reference herein to the Plan Administrator (other than in this Section 4.1) shall include the Board or such committee.  To the extent any action of the Board or a committee appointed by the Board under the Plan conflicts with actions taken by Plan Administrator, the actions of the Board or such committee shall control.

 

4.2.                            ACTION AND INTERPRETATIONS BY THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.  For purposes of administering the Plan, the Plan Administrator may from time to time adopt rules, regulations, guidelines and procedures for carrying out the provisions and purposes of the Plan and make such other determinations, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.  The Plan Administrator may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award in the manner and to the extent it deems necessary to carry out the intent of the Plan.  The Plan Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted under the Plan, any Award Certificate and all decisions and determinations by the Plan Administrator with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.  The Plan Administrator is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Affiliate, the Company’s or an Affiliate’s independent certified public accountants, Company counsel or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.  The Plan Administrator will not be liable for any good faith determination, act or omission in connection with the Plan or any Award.

 

4.3.                            AUTHORITY OF PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.  Except as provided in Section 4.1 hereof, the Plan Administrator has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:

 

(a)                                 Grant Awards;

 

(b)                                 Designate Participants;

 

(c)                                  Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;

 

(d)                                 Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Phantom Shares to which an Award will relate;

 

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(e)                                  Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan;

 

(f)                                   Prescribe the form of each Award Certificate, which need not be identical for each Participant;

 

(g)                                  Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;

 

(h)                                 Establish, adopt or revise any rules, regulations, guidelines or procedures as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

 

(i)                                     Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required under the Plan or as the Plan Administrator deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

 

(j)                                    Amend the Plan or any Award Certificate as provided herein, subject to Section 11.2; and

 

(k)                                 Adopt such modifications, procedures, and subplans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of the United States or any non-U.S. jurisdictions in which the Company or any Affiliate may operate, in order to assure the viability of the benefits of Awards granted to participants located in the United States or such other jurisdictions and to further the objectives of the Plan.

 

ARTICLE 5

PHANTOM SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

5.1.                            NUMBER OF PHANTOM SHARES.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 5.2 and Section 10.1, the aggregate number of Phantom Shares reserved and available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be 500.

 

5.2.                            SHARE COUNTING.  Phantom Shares covered by an Award shall be subtracted from the Plan share reserve as of the Grant Date, but shall be added back to the Plan share reserve in accordance with this Section 5.2.  To the extent that an Award is canceled, terminates, expires, is forfeited or lapses for any reason, any unissued Phantom Shares originally subject to the Award will be added back to the Plan share reserve and again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

ARTICLE 6

ELIGIBILITY

 

6.1.                            GENERAL.  Awards may be granted only to Eligible Participants.

 

ARTICLE 7

PHANTOM STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

7.1.                            GRANT OF PHANTOM STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.  The Plan Administrator is authorized to make Awards of Phantom Stock Appreciation Rights (“PSARs”) to Participants in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as may be selected by the 

 

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Plan Administrator.  An Award of PSARs shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate setting forth the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to the Award.

 

7.2.                            VESTING .  Except as otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator on the Grant Date or thereafter, or as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Certificate, the PSARs shall become vested as to the following amounts pursuant to the following schedule:

 

:

 

(a) as to one-fourth (25%) of the PSARs on the later of (i) the date of the Commercial Launch, or (ii) the first anniversary of the Grant Date, provided that the Participant has been in Continuous Service through such date (the “Initial Vesting Date”),

 

(b) as to one-fourth (25%) of the PSARs on the first anniversary of the Initial Vesting Date, provided that the Participant has been in Continuous Service through such anniversary date, and

 

(c) as to one-fourth (25%) of the PSARs on the second anniversary of the Initial Vesting Date, provided that the Participant has been in Continuous Service through such anniversary date, and

 

(d) as to one-fourth (25%) of the PSARs on the third anniversary of the Initial Vesting Date, provided that the Participant has been in Continuous Service through such anniversary date.

 

7.3.                            FORFEITURE .  Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Certificate, upon termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service, the PSARs shall be forfeited as follows:

 

(a) Upon a Qualifying Termination, any PSARs that have not vested on or before the date of the Qualifying Termination shall be forfeited and cease to be of any effect.

 

(b) Upon a termination that is not a Qualifying Termination, the Participant’s PSARs shall be treated as follows:

 

(i) if such non-Qualifying Termination is by the Company, or by the Participant, for any reason other than Cause, and at the time of such non-Qualifying Termination the Company is Profitable, then, except as otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator or provided in the applicable Award Certificate, any PSARs that have not vested on or before the date of such non-Qualifying Termination shall be forfeited and cease to be of any effect;

 

(ii) if such non-Qualifying Termination is by the Company, or by the Participant, for any reason other than Cause, and at the time of such non-Qualifying Termination the Company is not Profitable, then, except as otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator or provided in the applicable Award Certificate, all PSARs, whether or not vested on or before the date of termination of Continuous Service, shall be forfeited and cease to be of any effect; and

 

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(iii) if such non-Qualifying Termination is by the Company for Cause, then all PSARs, whether or not vested on or before the date of termination of Continuous Service, shall be forfeited and cease to be of any effect.  In no event shall the Participant’s PSARs continue to vest following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service.

 

7.4.                            AUTOMATIC EXERCISE.  The “PSAR Maturity Date” shall be set forth in the applicable Award Certificate.  Unless the PSARs are forfeited on or prior to the PSAR Maturity Date as provided in Section 7.3 or in the applicable Award Certificate, the PSARs shall be automatically exercised on the PSAR Maturity Date, provided that the Maturity Value of the underlying Phantom Shares is greater than the Initial Value of the underlying Phantom Shares on such date.

 

7.5.                            FORM OF PAYMENT.  Upon the automatic exercise of a PSAR, the Participant shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the number of Phantom Shares underlying the Award on the PSAR Maturity Date multiplied by the excess, if any, of (i) the Maturity Value of such underlying Phantom Shares on the PSAR Maturity Date, over (ii) the Initial Value of such underlying Phantom Shares, less any required tax withholding.  Such payment shall be made within sixty (60) days following the PSAR Maturity Date.

 

ARTICLE 8

PHANTOM STOCK UNITS

 

8.1.                            GRANT OF PHANTOM STOCK UNITS.  The Plan Administrator is authorized to make Awards of Phantom Stock Units to Participants in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as may be selected by the Plan Administrator.  An Award of Phantom Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate setting forth the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to the Award.

 

8.2.                            VESTING.  Except as otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator on the Grant Date or thereafter, or as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Certificate, the Phantom Stock Units shall become vested as to the following amounts pursuant to the following schedule:

 

(a) as to one-fourth (25%) of the Phantom Stock Units on the later of (i) the date of the Commercial Launch, or (ii) the first anniversary of the Grant Date, provided that the Participant has been in Continuous Service through such date (the “Initial Vesting Date”),

 

(b) as to one-fourth (25%) of the Phantom Stock Units on the first anniversary of the Initial Vesting Date, provided that the Participant has been in Continuous Service through such anniversary date, and

 

(c) as to one-fourth (25%) of the Phantom Stock Units on the second anniversary of the Initial Vesting Date, provided that the Participant has been in Continuous Service through such anniversary date, and

 

(d) as to one-fourth (25%) of the Phantom Stock Units on the third anniversary of the Initial Vesting Date, provided that the Participant has been in Continuous Service through such anniversary date.

 

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8.3                               FORFEITURE. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Certificate, upon termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service, the Phantom Stock Units shall be forfeited as follows:

 

(a) Upon a Qualifying Termination, except as otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator or provided in the applicable Award Certificate, any Phantom Stock Units that have not vested on or before the date of the Qualifying Termination shall be forfeited and cease to be of any effect.

 

(b) Upon a termination that is not a Qualifying Termination, the Participant’s Phantom Stock Units shall be treated as follows:

 

(i) if such non-Qualifying Termination is by the Company, or by the Participant, for any reason other than Cause, and at the time of such non-Qualifying Termination the Company is Profitable, then, except as otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator or provided in the applicable Award Certificate, any Phantom Stock Units that have not vested on or before the date of such non-Qualifying Termination shall be forfeited and cease to be of any effect;

 

(ii) if such non-Qualifying Termination is by the Company, or by the Participant, for any reason other than Cause, and at the time of such non-Qualifying Termination the Company is not Profitable, then, except as otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator or provided in the applicable Award Certificate, all Phantom Stock Units, whether or not vested on or before the date of termination of Continuous Service, shall be forfeited and cease to be of any effect; and

 

(iii) if such non-Qualifying Termination is by the Company for Cause, then all Phantom Stock Units, whether or not vested on or before the date of termination of Continuous Service, shall be forfeited and cease to be of any effect.

 

In no event shall the Participant’s Phantom Stock Units continue to vest following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service.

 

8.4.                            FORM OF PAYMENT OF PHANTOM STOCK UNITS.  The “PSU Maturity Date” shall be set forth in the applicable Award Certificate.  Unless the Phantom Stock Units are forfeited on or prior to the PSU Maturity Date as provided in Section 8.3 or in the applicable Award Certificate, the Participant shall be entitled to a cash payment equal to the number of Phantom Stock Units held by such Participant on the PSU Maturity Date multiplied by the Maturity Value of the Phantom Shares on the PSU Maturity Date, less any required tax withholding.  Such payment shall be made within sixty (60) days following the PSU Maturity Date.

 

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ARTICLE 9

PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

 

9.1.                            LIMITS ON TRANSFER.  No right or interest of a Participant in any unexercised or restricted Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company or an Affiliate, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company or an Affiliate.  No unexercised or restricted Award shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that the Plan Administrator may (but need not) permit other transfers (other than transfers for value) where the Plan Administrator concludes that such transferability (i) does not result in accelerated taxation, and (ii) is otherwise appropriate and desirable, taking into account any factors deemed relevant, including without limitation, state or federal tax or securities laws applicable to transferable Awards.

 

9.2.                            BENEFICIARIES.  Notwithstanding Section 9.1, a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Plan Administrator, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participant’s death.  A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Certificate applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Certificate otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Plan Administrator.  If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, any payment due to the Participant shall be made to the Participant’s estate.  Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant, in the manner provided by the Company, at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Plan Administrator.

 

ARTICLE 10

CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE

 

10.1.                     MANDATORY ADJUSTMENTS.  In the event of a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its shareholders that causes the per-share value of the Stock to change (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering, or large nonrecurring cash dividend), the authorization limit under Section 5.1 shall be adjusted proportionately, and the Plan Administrator shall make such adjustments to the Plan and Awards as it deems necessary, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights immediately resulting from such transaction.  Action by the Plan Administrator may include: (i) adjustment of the number and kind of Phantom Shares that may be delivered under the Plan; (ii) adjustment of the number and kind of Phantom Shares subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) adjustment of the measure to be used to determine the amount of the benefit payable on an Award; and (iv) any other adjustments that the Plan Administrator reasonably and in good faith determines to be equitable.  Without limiting the foregoing, in the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Stock (stock-split), a declaration of a dividend payable in Shares, or a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Stock into a lesser number of Shares, the authorization limit under Section 5.1 shall automatically be adjusted proportionately, and the Phantom Shares then subject to each Award shall automatically, without the necessity for any additional action by the Plan Administrator, be adjusted proportionately without any change in the aggregate purchase price therefor.

 

10.2                        DISCRETIONARY ADJUSTMENTS.  Upon the occurrence or in anticipation of any corporate event or transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any merger, reorganization, recapitalization, combination or exchange of shares, or any transaction described in Section 10.1), the Plan Administrator may, in his sole discretion, provide (i) that Awards will become immediately vested and non-forfeitable and exercisable (in whole or in part), (ii) that Awards will be assumed by another party to a transaction or otherwise be equitably 

 

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converted or substituted in connection with such transaction, or (iii) any combination of the foregoing.  The Plan Administrator’s determination need not be uniform and may be different for different Participants whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.

 

10.3                        GENERAL.  Any discretionary adjustments made pursuant to this Article 10 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.2.

 

ARTICLE 11

AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION

 

11.1.                     AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION.  The Board may, at any time and from time to time, amend, modify or terminate the Plan without shareholder approval; provided, however, that if an amendment to the Plan would, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, constitute a material change requiring shareholder approval under applicable laws, policies or regulations, then such amendment shall be subject to shareholder approval; and provided, further, that the Board may condition any other amendment or modification on the approval of shareholders of the Company for any reason, including by reason of such approval being necessary or deemed advisable to satisfy any other tax, securities or other applicable laws, policies or regulations.

 

11.2.                     AWARDS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED.  At any time and from time to time, the Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award without approval of the Participant; provided, however:

 

(a)                                 Subject to the terms of the applicable Award Certificate, such amendment, modification or termination shall not, without the Participant’s consent, reduce or diminish the value of such Award determined as if the Award had been settled on the date of such amendment or termination or lengthen the vesting period applicable to such Award; and

 

(b)                                 No termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect any Award previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the Participant affected thereby.  An outstanding Award shall not be deemed to be “adversely affected” by a Plan amendment if such amendment would not reduce or diminish the value of such Award determined as if the Award had been vested or otherwise settled on the date of such amendment.

 

11.3.                     COMPLIANCE AMENDMENTS.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in any Award Certificate to the contrary, the Board may amend the Plan or an Award Certificate, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or Award Certificate to any present or future law relating to plans of this or similar nature (including, but not limited to, Section 409A of the Code), and to the administrative regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder.  By accepting an Award under this Plan, a Participant agrees to any amendment made pursuant to this Section 11.3 to any Award granted under the Plan without further consideration or action.

 

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ARTICLE 12

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

12.1.                     RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS.

 

(a)                                 No Participant or any Eligible Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan.  Neither the Company, its Affiliates nor the Plan Administrator is obligated to treat Participants or Eligible Participants uniformly, and determinations made under the Plan may be made by the Plan Administrator selectively among Eligible Participants who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards (whether or not such Eligible Participants are similarly situated).

 

(b)                                 Nothing in the Plan, any Award Certificate or any other document or statement made with respect to the Plan, shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate any Participant’s employment or status as an officer, or any Participant’s service as a director, at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue as an employee, officer, or director of the Company or any Affiliate, whether for the duration of a Participant’s Award or otherwise.

 

(c)                                  Neither an Award nor any benefits arising under this Plan shall constitute an employment contract with the Company or any Affiliate and, accordingly, subject to Article 11, this Plan and the benefits hereunder may be terminated at any time in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Plan Administrator without giving rise to any liability on the part of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

(d)                                 No Award gives a Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company.

 

12.2.                     WITHHOLDING.  The Company or any Affiliate shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company or such Affiliate, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any exercise, lapse of restriction or other taxable event arising as a result of the Plan.  The obligations of the Company under the Plan will be conditioned on such payment or arrangements and the Company or such Affiliate will, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant.

 

12.3.                     SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO SECTION 409A OF THE CODE.

 

(a)                                 General. It is intended that the payments and benefits provided under the Plan and any Award shall either be exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  The Plan and all Award Certificates shall be construed in a manner that effects such intent.  Nevertheless, the tax treatment of the benefits provided under the Plan or any Award is not warranted or guaranteed.  Neither the Company, its Affiliates nor their respective directors, officers, employees or advisers (other than in his or her capacity as a Participant) shall be held liable for any taxes, interest, penalties or other monetary amounts owed by any Participant or other taxpayer as a result of the Plan or any Award.

 

(b)                                 Definitional Restrictions. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in any Award Certificate to the contrary, to the extent that any amount or benefit that would constitute non-exempt “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code would otherwise be payable or distributable, or a different form of payment (e.g., lump sum or installment) would be effected, under the Plan or any Award Certificate by reason of the occurrence of a Change in Control or the termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service, such amount or benefit will not be payable or distributable to the 

 

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Participant, and/or such different form of payment will not be effected, by reason of such circumstance unless the circumstances giving rise to such Change in Control or termination of Continuous Service meet any description or definition of “change in control event” or “separation from service,” as the case may be, in Section 409A of the Code and applicable regulations (without giving effect to any elective provisions that may be available under such definition).  This provision does not prohibit the vesting of any Award upon a Change in Control or termination of Continuous Service, however defined, if applicable under the Plan or any Award Certificate.  If this provision prevents the payment or distribution of any amount or benefit, or the application of a different form of payment of any amount or benefit, such payment or distribution shall be made at the time that would have applied absent the Change in Control or termination of Continuous Service, as applicable.

 

(c)                                  Allocation among Possible Exemptions. If any one or more Awards granted under the Plan to a Participant could qualify for any separation pay exemption described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9), but such Awards in the aggregate exceed the dollar limit permitted for the separation pay exemptions, the Company (acting through the Plan Administrator) shall determine which Awards or portions thereof will be subject to such exemptions.

 

(d)                                 Installment Payments.  If, pursuant to an Award, a Participant is entitled to a series of installment payments, such Participant’s right to the series of installment payments shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments and not to a single payment.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “series of installment payments” has the meaning provided in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii) (or any successor thereto).

 

(e)                                  Six Month Delay in Certain Circumstances.  Notwithstanding anything in this Plan or an Award Certificate to the contrary, if the settlement of an Award would constitute non-exempt “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and would otherwise be payable or distributable by reason of a Participant’s termination of Continuous Service during a period in which the Participant is a Specified Employee (as defined below), then, subject to any permissible acceleration of payment by the Company under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii) (domestic relations order), (j)(4)(iii) (conflicts of interest), or (j)(4)(vi) (payment of employment taxes):

 

(i) the amount due upon settlement of the Award that would otherwise be payable during the six-month period immediately following the termination of Continuous Service will be accumulated through and paid or provided on the first day of the seventh month following the termination of Continuous Service (or, if the Participant dies during such period, within 30 days after the Participant’s death) (in either case, the “Required Delay Period”); and

 

(ii) the normal payment or distribution schedule for any remaining payments or distributions will resume at the end of the Required Delay Period.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Specified Employee” has the meaning given such term in Code Section 409A and the final regulations thereunder: provided, however, that the Company’s Specified Employees and its application of the six-month delay rule of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) shall be determined in accordance with rules adopted 

 

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by the Company, which shall be applied consistently with respect to all nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements of the Company.

 

12.4.                     UNFUNDED STATUS OF AWARDS.  The Plan is intended to be 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 Certificate shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.  This Plan is not intended to be subject to ERISA.

 

12.5.                     RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER BENEFITS.  No payment under the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate unless provided otherwise in such other plan.  Nothing contained in the Plan will prevent the Company from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

12.6.                     EXPENSES.  The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.

 

12.7.                     TITLES AND HEADINGS.  The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.

 

12.8.                     GENDER AND NUMBER.  Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

 

12.9.                     SEVERABILITY.  In the event that any provision of this Plan is found to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable under any applicable law, such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed as rendering any other provisions contained herein as invalid or unenforceable, and all such other provisions will be given full force and effect to the same extent as though the invalid or unenforceable provision was not contained herein.

 

12.10.              NO LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS OF COMPANY.  The grant of any Award shall not in any way affect the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassification or changes in its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.  The Plan shall not restrict the authority of the Company, for proper corporate purposes, to draft or assume awards, other than under the Plan, to or with respect to any person.

 

12.11.              INDEMNIFICATION.  Each person who is or shall have been a Plan Administrator, or of the Board or a committee appointed by the Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf, 

 

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unless such loss, cost, liability, or expense is a result of his or her own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by statute.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s charter or bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

***********

 

The foregoing is hereby acknowledged as being the AutoCash Inc. Amended and Restated Phantom Stock Plan, as originally adopted by the Board on April 29, 2011, and as amended and restated on June 17, 2011.

 

	
 
    	
AUTOCASH   INC.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Tracy Young
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Tracy   Young, CEO
    	
 
    

 

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