Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

NOMINATION AND STANDSTILL AGREEMENT

 

This Nomination and Standstill Agreement, dated March 7, 2018 (this “Agreement”), is by and among the persons and entities listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Ajdler Group” or the “Investors”, and individually a “member” of the Ajdler Group) and Hill International, Inc. (the “Company”).

 

In consideration of and reliance upon the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Board Matters.

 

(a)                                 The Company agrees that following the execution of this Agreement, the Company will appoint Arnaud Ajdler (“Mr. Ajdler”) as an observer to the Board until the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2018 Annual Meeting”). Accordingly, with respect to meetings of the full Board, if any, prior to the 2018 Annual Meeting (whether by telephone or in-person), Mr. Ajdler will (i) receive copies of all notices and written information furnished to the full Board, simultaneously with the distribution of such notices and written information to the full Board to the extent practicable, and (ii) be permitted to be present at all meetings of the full Board (whether by telephone or in person). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be entitled to withhold any information and exclude Mr. Ajdler from any meeting, or any portion thereof, as is reasonably determined by the Company to be necessary to protect the Company’s attorney-client privilege, or as otherwise may be appropriate.

 

(b)                                 Prior to the 2018 Annual Meeting, the Board will nominate Mr. Ajdler to serve as a member of the Board and will include Mr. Ajdler in the Company’s director slate for the 2018 Annual Meeting and shall, if necessary, take action to increase the size of the Board by one member effective as of the date of the 2018 Annual Meeting, provided that Mr. Ajdler agrees to provide to the Company, prior to nomination and appointment and on an ongoing basis while Mr. Ajdler is serving as a member of the Board, such information and materials as the Company routinely receives from other members of the Board or as is required to be disclosed in proxy statements under applicable law or as is otherwise reasonably requested by the Company from time to time from members of the Board in connection with the Company’s legal, regulatory, auditor or stock exchange requirements, completed D&O Questionnaires in the form separately provided to Mr. Ajdler, consents to be named in the Company’s proxy statement and to serve on the Board if elected (the “Nomination Documents”).

 

(c)                                  Upon becoming a member of the Board, Mr. Ajdler shall have the same rights (including for the avoidance of doubt with respect to consideration for committee appointments) and duties as any other Board member. At all times from the date of this Agreement through his termination of service as a member of the Board, Mr. Ajdler shall comply with all written policies, procedures, processes, codes, rules, standards and guidelines applicable to Board members, and of which Mr. Ajdler has been provided written copies in advance (or which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or posted on the Company’s website), including but not limited to the Company’s corporate governance guidelines, code of business conduct, director stock ownership guidelines and insider trading policy and shall preserve the confidentiality of Company business and information, including

 

 

discussions or matters considered in meetings of the Board or Board committees, subject to the confidentiality provisions in Section 2.

 

(d)                                 Subject to Section 1(e) below, the Company and Mr. Ajdler agree to include Mr. Ajdler in the Company’s slate of directors for the 2018 Annual Meeting, and the Company shall use reasonable commercial efforts to cause Mr. Ajdler to be elected (including by recommending that the Company’s stockholders vote in favor of the election of Mr. Ajdler, including Mr. Ajdler in the Company’s proxy statement and proxy card for such annual meeting and otherwise supporting Mr. Ajdler for election in a manner no less rigorous and favorable than the manner in which the Company supports its other nominees in the aggregate) (collectively, the “Election Support Efforts”), and the Ajdler Group agrees not to conduct a proxy contest regarding any matter, including the election of directors or the submission of a shareholder proposal, with respect to the 2018 Annual Meeting.

 

(e)                                  Provided the Company has any obligation to include Mr. Ajdler on its slate pursuant to Section 1(d), the Company shall be not be required to include Mr. Ajdler on the slate for the 2018 Annual Meeting if at any time after the date of this Agreement, the Ajdler Group, together with all controlled Affiliates of the members of the Ajdler Group (such controlled Affiliates, collectively and individually, the “Ajdler Affiliates”), ceases collectively to beneficially own (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act), an aggregate Net Long Position of at least ten percent (10%) of the number of Voting Securities set forth in Section 6(b) (as adjusted for any stock dividends, combinations, splits, recapitalizations and the like) of the shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding as of such time.  “Net Long Position” shall mean: such shares of Common Stock beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, that constitute such person’s net long position as defined in Rule 14e-4 under the Exchange Act mutatis mutandis; provided that “Net Long Position” shall not include any shares as to which such person does not have the right to vote or direct the vote or as to which such person has entered into a derivative or other agreement, arrangement or understanding that hedges or transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such shares.

 

(f)                                   The Company shall not be obligated to include Mr. Ajdler on the slate of directors proposed for election at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders for any meeting other than the 2018 Annual Meeting pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(g)                                  The Company shall indemnify and hold Mr. Ajdler harmless from and against, and agrees promptly to defend Mr. Ajdler from and reimburse him for, any and all losses, damages, costs, expenses, liabilities, obligations and claims of any kind (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other legal costs and expenses) which Mr. Ajdler may suffer or incur, or become subject to, as a result of or in connection with his role as an observer of the Board, other than as a result of, in connection with or following a material breach of this Agreement or any gross negligence or willful misconduct by any member of the Ajdler Group.

 

(h)                                 To the extent permitted by law and the Company’s existing insurance coverage, from and after the 2018 Annual Meeting, Mr. Ajdler shall be covered by the same indemnification and insurance provisions and coverage as are applicable to the individuals that are currently directors of the Company.

 

 

2.                                      Information.

 

It is understood that Mr. Ajdler may receive certain non-public information concerning the Company. If Mr. Ajdler receives any such information, he agrees to hold such information in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iii) such information has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other agreement. Mr. Ajdler agrees that he shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning the Company is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt written notice to the Company and allow the Company to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.

 

3.                                      Voting Commitment.

 

At the 2018 Annual Meeting, and at any meeting of the Company’s stockholders held prior to the expiration of the Standstill Period, each of the Investors agrees to cause the Investor Shares (as defined below) (i) to be present for purposes of establishing a quorum and (ii) to be voted by proxy in favor of the election of all director candidates nominated by the Board and otherwise in accordance with the Board’s recommendation, including in favor of each other matter recommended for stockholder approval by the Board; provided, however, that on each such matter other than proposals relating to the election or removal of directors, to the extent both of Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) and Glass Lewis & Co., LLC (“Glass Lewis”) recommend otherwise, the Investors may vote the Investor Shares in accordance with the ISS and Glass Lewis recommendation on such matter; provided further, the Investors may vote the Investor Shares in their discretion with respect to any tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation, business combination or other change-of-control transaction of the Company. “Investor Shares” means any and all shares of voting stock of the Company held beneficially or of record as of an applicable record date by the Investors and, with respect to Investors that are entities, the Affiliates and Associates (as each term is defined below) of such Investors, and, with respect to Investors that are individuals, the Family Members (as defined below) of such Investor.

 

4.                                      Standstill.

 

Each Investor agrees that, from the date of this Agreement until the expiration of the Standstill Period, neither it nor any of its Affiliates or Associates or Family Members will, and it will cause each of its Affiliates and Associates and Family Members not to, directly or indirectly, in any manner, acting alone or in concert with others, take any of the following actions or advise, recommend, request, encourage, solicit, influence or induce any other person to take any of the following actions, or announce any intention to take any of the following actions:

 

(a)                                 submit any stockholder proposal pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise, or any notice of nomination or other business for consideration, or nominate any candidate for election to the Board;

 

 

(b)                                 engage, directly or indirectly, in any “solicitation” (as defined in Rule 14a-1 of Regulation 14A) of proxies (or written consents) or otherwise become a “participant in a solicitation” (as such term is defined in Instruction 3 of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act) in opposition to the recommendation or proposal of the Board, or recommend or request or induce or attempt to induce or seek to advise, encourage or influence any other person with respect to the voting of any voting stock of the Company (including any withholding from voting) or grant a proxy with respect to the voting of any voting stock of the Company to any person other than to the Board or persons appointed as proxies by the Board;

 

(c)                                  seek to call, or to request the call of, a special meeting of the Company’s stockholders;

 

(d)                                 make a request for a list of the Company’s stockholders or for any books and records of the Company;

 

(e)                                  form, join in or in any other way participate in a “partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or other group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act with respect to the voting stock of the Company (other than a “group” that consists solely of all or some of the persons parties to this Agreement or any of their respective Affiliates or Associates);

 

(f)                                   deposit any shares of voting stock of the Company in a voting trust or similar arrangement or subject any shares of voting stock of the Company to any voting agreement or pooling arrangement, other than any such voting trust, arrangement or agreement solely among the Investors and otherwise in accordance with this Agreement;

 

(g)                                  vote for any nominee or nominees for election to the Board, other than those nominated or supported by the Board not in violation of the terms of this Agreement;

 

(h)                                 except as specifically provided in Section 1 of this Agreement, seek to place a representative or other Affiliate, Associate or nominee on the Board or seek the removal of any member of the Board or a change in the size or composition of the Board or the committees of the Board;

 

(i)                                     acquire or agree, offer, seek or propose to acquire, or cause to be acquired, ownership (including beneficial ownership) of any of the assets or business of the Company or any rights or options to acquire any such assets or business from any person;

 

(j)                                    other than at the express written request of the Board, seek, propose, or make any statement with respect to, or solicit, negotiate with, or provide any information to any person with respect to, a merger, consolidation, acquisition of control or other business combination, tender or exchange offer, purchase, sale or transfer of assets or securities, dissolution, liquidation, reorganization, change in structure or composition of the Board, change in the executive officers of the Company, change to the Company’s organization documents, change in capital structure, recapitalization, dividend or distribution or change in dividend or distribution policy, share repurchase or similar transaction involving the Company, its subsidiaries or its business, whether or not any such transaction involves a change of control of the Company; provided, however, nothing herein shall limit the ability of the Investors to

 

 

disclose, publicly or otherwise, how it intends to vote with respect to any announced tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation, business combination or other change-of-control transaction that is being submitted for the approval of shareholders, and the reasons therefor, so long as any such activity is otherwise in compliance with the requirements of this Agreement;

 

(k)                                 disclose publicly, or privately in a manner that could reasonably be expected to become public, any intention, plan or arrangement inconsistent with the foregoing or publicly request or advance any proposal to amend, modify or waive the terms of this Agreement; provided that the Investors may make confidential requests to the Board to amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 3, which the Board may accept or reject in its sole discretion, so long as any such request is not publicly disclosed by the Investors and is made by the Investors in a manner that does not require the public disclosure of such request by the Company, the Investors or any other person;

 

(l)                                     institute, solicit, assist or join any litigation, arbitration or other proceeding against or involving the Company or any of its current or former directors or officers (including derivative actions), other than to enforce the provisions of this Agreement;

 

(m)                             take any action challenging the validity or enforceability of any provisions of this Section 3; or

 

(n)                                 enter into any negotiations, discussions, agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person concerning any of the foregoing (other than this Agreement) or encourage or solicit any person to undertake any of the foregoing activities.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict the Investors from:  (A) communicating privately with the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company regarding any matter, so long as such communications are not intended to, and would not reasonably be expected to, require any public disclosure of such communications, (B) communicating privately with stockholders of the Company and others in a manner that does not otherwise violate this Section 3, or (C) taking any action necessary to comply with any law, rule or regulation or any action required by any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange that has, or may have, jurisdiction over the Investors or any of their respective Affiliates or Associates, provided that a breach by Investor of this Agreement is not the cause of the applicable requirement.

 

As used in this Agreement:

 

(i)                                     the terms “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act and shall include persons who become Affiliates or Associates of any person subsequent to the date of this Agreement;

 

(ii)                                  the terms “beneficial owner,” “beneficially owns” and “beneficial ownership” shall have the same meanings as set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act;

 

 

(iii)                               the term “Family Members” shall mean, with respect to an Investor, the spouse of such Investor and the children (including by adoption) of such Investor;

 

(iv)                              the terms “person” or “persons” shall mean any individual, corporation (including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization or other entity of any kind or nature; and

 

(v)                                 the term “Standstill Period” shall mean the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending the later of (A) twenty (20) days prior to the nomination deadline in connection with the nomination of directors at the 2019 annual meeting and (B) the date that Mr. Ajdler is no longer serving on the Board.

 

5.                                      Public Announcements.  No earlier than 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time, on the date hereof, the Company shall announce this Agreement and the material terms hereof by means of a press release in the respective form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Press Release”).  Neither the Company nor the Ajdler Group shall make any public announcement or statement that contradicts or disagrees with the statements made in the Press Release, except as required by law or the rules of any stock exchange or with the prior written consent of the other party.  The Company acknowledges that the Ajdler Group intends to file this Agreement and the Press Release (if any) with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to its Schedule 13D pursuant to an amendment.

 

6.                                      Representations and Warranties of All Parties; Representations and Warranties of the Ajdler Group.

 

(a)                                 Each of the parties represents and warrants to the other party that: (i) such party has all requisite company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; (ii) this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by it and is a valid and binding obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms; (iii) this Agreement will not result in a violation of any terms or conditions of any agreements to which such person is a party or by which such party may otherwise be bound or of any law, rule, license, regulation, judgment, order or decree governing or affecting such party; and (iv) there is currently no pending or outstanding litigation between the Ajdler Group and the Company or affiliates thereof.

 

(b)                                 Each member of the Ajdler Group jointly represents and warrants that, as of the date of this Agreement, (i) the Ajdler Group collectively Beneficially Own, an aggregate of 5,179,891 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001, of the Company (“Common Stock”); (ii) except for such ownership, no member of the Ajdler Group, individually or in the aggregate with all other members of the Ajdler Group and Ajdler Affiliates, has any other Beneficial Ownership of, and/or economic exposure to, any Voting Securities, including through any derivative transaction described in the definition of “Beneficial Ownership” above; (iii) the Ajdler Group, collectively with the Ajdler Affiliates, have a Net Long Position of 5,179,891 shares of Common Stock and (iv) the members of the Ajdler Group are the only controlled Affiliates of any member of the Ajdler Group that Beneficially Own any shares of Common

 

 

Stock.  As used in this Agreement, the term “Beneficial Ownership” of “Voting Securities” means ownership of: (i) Voting Securities, (ii) rights or options to own or acquire any Voting Securities (whether such right or option is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions (whether or not within the control of such person), compliance with regulatory requirements or otherwise) and (iii) any other economic exposure to Voting Securities, including through any derivative transaction that gives any such person or any of such person’s controlled Affiliates the economic equivalent of ownership of an amount of Voting Securities due to the fact that the value of the derivative is explicitly determined by reference to the price or value of Voting Securities, or which provides such person or any of such person’s controlled Affiliates an opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit, or to share in any profit, derived from any increase in the value of Voting Securities, in any case without regard to whether (x) such derivative conveys any voting rights in Voting Securities to such person or any of such person’s Affiliates, (y) the derivative is required to be, or capable of being, settled through delivery of Voting Securities, or (z) such person or any of such person’s Affiliates may have entered into other transactions that hedge the economic effect of such Beneficial Ownership of Voting Securities.  For purposes of this Section, no Person shall be, or be deemed to be, the “Beneficial Owner” of, or to “beneficially own,” any securities beneficially owned by any director of the Company to the extent such securities were acquired directly from the Company by such director as or pursuant to director compensation for serving as a director of the Company.

 

7.                                      Remedies; Forum and Governing Law.  The parties hereto recognize and agree that if for any reason any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached, immediate and irreparable harm or injury would be caused for which money damages would not be an adequate remedy.  Accordingly, each party agrees that in addition to other remedies the other party shall be entitled to at law or equity, the other party shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement exclusively in the Court of Chancery or other federal or state courts of the State of Delaware.  In the event that any action shall be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, no party shall allege, and each party hereby waives the defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law.  Furthermore, each of the parties hereto (a) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery or other federal or state courts of the State of Delaware in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) agrees that it shall not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, (c) agrees that it shall not bring any action relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than the Court of Chancery or other federal or state courts of the State of Delaware, and each of the parties irrevocably waives the right to trial by jury, (d) agrees to waive any bonding requirement under any applicable law, in the case any other party seeks to enforce the terms by way of equitable relief and (e) irrevocably consents to service of process by a reputable overnight mail delivery service, signature requested, to the address of such party’s principal place of business or as otherwise provided by applicable law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED IN ALL RESPECTS, INCLUDING VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND EFFECT, BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS EXECUTED AND TO BE PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN SUCH STATE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES OF SUCH STATE.

 

 

8.                                      No Waiver.  Any waiver by any party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Agreement.  The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.

 

9.                                      Entire Agreement; Prior Agreement.  This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and may be amended only by an agreement in writing executed by the parties hereto.

 

10.                               Notices.  All notices, consents, requests, instructions, approvals and other communications provided for herein and all legal process in regard hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed validly given, made or served, if (a) given by both telecopy and electronic mail, when such telecopy and electronic mail is transmitted to the telecopy number set forth below and the appropriate confirmation is received and sent to the electronic mail address set forth below or (b) if given by any other means, when actually received during normal business hours at the address specified in this subsection:

 

	
 
    	
If   to the Company:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Hill   International, Inc.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
One   Commerce Square
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
2005   Market Street, 17th Floor
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Philadelphia,   Pennsylvania 19103
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Email:   WilliamDengler@hillintl.com
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Attention:   Executive Vice President & General Counsel
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
With   a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Duane   Morris LLP
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
30   South 17th Street
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Philadelphia,   Pennsylvania 19103-4196
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Email:   DMix@duanemorris.com
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Attention:   Darrick M. Mix
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
If   to the Ajdler Group:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Arnaud   Ajdler
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
1370   Broadway, 5th Floor
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
New   York, New York 10018
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Email:   Aajdler@enginecap.com
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
With   a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Olshan   Frome Wolosky LLP
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
1325   Avenue of the Americas
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
New   York, New York 10019
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Email:   Afreedman@olshanlaw.com
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Attention:   Andrew Freedman
    	
 
    

 

 

11.                               Severability.  If at any time subsequent to the date hereof, any provision of this Agreement shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, such provision shall be of no force and effect, but the illegality or unenforceability of such provision shall have no effect upon the legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

12.                               Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (including by facsimile or PDF) which together shall constitute a single agreement.

 

13.                               Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall not be assignable or assigned, directly or indirectly, by operation of law or otherwise, by any of the parties to this Agreement.

 

14.                               No Third Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the parties hereto and is not enforceable by any other persons.

 

15.                               Interpretation and Construction.  Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it has been represented by counsel of its choice throughout all negotiations that have preceded the execution of this Agreement, and that it has executed the same with the advice of said independent counsel.  Each party and its counsel cooperated and participated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement and the documents referred to herein, and any and all drafts relating thereto exchanged among the parties shall be deemed the work product of all of the parties and may not be construed against any party by reason of its drafting or preparation.  Accordingly, any rule of law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any ambiguities in this Agreement against any party that drafted or prepared it is of no application and is hereby expressly waived by each of the parties hereto, and any controversy over interpretations of this Agreement shall be decided without regards to events of drafting or preparation.  The section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  The term “including” shall be deemed to mean “including without limitation” in all instances and all pronouns shall be deemed to include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has executed this Agreement, or caused the same to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first above written.

 

	
 
    	
Very   truly yours,
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
HILL   INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   William H. Dengler, Jr.
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
William   H. Dengler, Jr.
    
	
 
    	
Tittle:
    	
EVP,   General Counsel & Secretary
    

 

 

Accepted and agreed as of the date first written above:

 

	
 
    	
ARNAUD   AJDLER
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Arnaud Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
Arnaud   Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ENGINE   AIRFLOW CAPITAL, L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
Engine   Investments II LLC, its General Partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Arnaud Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Arnaud   Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing   Member
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ENGINE   CAPITAL, L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
Engine   Investments, LLC, its General Partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Arnaud Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Arnaud   Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing   Member
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ENGINE   JET CAPITAL, L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
Engine   Investments, LLC, its General Partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Arnaud Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Arnaud   Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing   Member
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ENGINE   CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Arnaud Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Arnaud   Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing   Member
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ENGINE   INVESTMENTS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Arnaud Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Arnaud   Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing   Member
    

 

 

	
 
    	
ENGINE   INVESTMENTS II, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Arnaud Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Arnaud   Ajdler
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing   Member
    

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Arnaud Ajdler

Engine Airflow Capital, L.P.

Engine Capital, L.P.

Engine Jet Capital, L.P.

Engine Capital Management, LLC

Engine Investments, LLC

Engine Investments II, LLC

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Press ReleaseExhibit

Exhibit 10.4

USD PARTNERS LP
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2014 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1.    Purpose of the Plan.
This USD Partners LP 2014 Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) has been adopted by USD Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), the general partner of USD Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”).  The Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Partnership and the Company by providing incentive compensation awards denominated in or based on Units to Employees, Consultants and Directors to encourage superior performance.  The Plan is also intended to enhance the ability of the Partnership, the Company and their Affiliates to attract and retain the services of individuals who are essential for the growth and profitability of the Partnership, the Company and their Affiliates and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to advancing the business of the Partnership, the Company and their Affiliates. 
SECTION 2.    Definitions.
As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question.  As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“ASC Topic 718” means Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, or any successor accounting standard.
“Award” means an Option, Restricted Unit, Phantom Unit, DER, Substitute Award, Unit Appreciation Right, Unit Award or Profits Interest Unit granted under the Plan.
“Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement by which an Award shall be evidenced and which agreement may include a separate plan, policy, agreement or other written document.
“Board” means the board of directors or board of managers, as the case may be, of the Company.
“Cause” means, unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Company and the applicable Participant, a finding by the Committee, before or after the Participant’s termination of Service, of: (i) any material failure by the Participant to perform the Participant’s duties and responsibilities under any written agreement between the Participant and the Company or its Affiliate(s); (ii) any act of fraud, embezzlement, theft or misappropriation by the Participant relating to the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates; (iii) the Participant’s commission of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (iv) any gross negligence or intentional misconduct on the part of the Participant in the conduct of the Participant’s duties and responsibilities with the Company or any Affiliate(s) of the Company or which adversely affects the image, reputation or business of the Company, the Partnership or their Affiliates; or (v) any material breach by the Participant of any agreement between the Company or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Participant on the other. The findings and decision of the Committee with respect to such matter, including those regarding the acts of the Participant and the impact thereof, will be final for all purposes.  
“Change in Control” means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon one or more of the following events:
(i)    any “person” or “group” within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company (as determined immediately prior to such event), shall become the beneficial owner, by way of merger, acquisition, consolidation, 

recapitalization, reorganization or otherwise, of 50% or more of the combined voting power of the equity interests in the Company or the Partnership;
(ii)    the limited partners of the Partnership approve, in one or a series of transactions, a plan of complete liquidation of the Partnership;
(iii)    the sale or other disposition by either the Company or the Partnership of all or substantially all of the Company’s or the Partnership’s assets, respectively, in one or more transactions to any Person other than the Company, the Partnership or an Affiliate of the Company or of the Partnership; or
(iv)    a transaction resulting in a Person other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company (as determined immediately prior to such event) being the sole general partner of the Partnership.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award which provides for the deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A or such compensation otherwise would be subject to Section 409A, the transaction or event described in subsection (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above with respect to such Award must also constitute a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5), and as relates to the holder of such Award, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Committee” means the Board, except that it shall mean such committee of the Board as may be appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, or as necessary to comply with applicable legal requirements or listing standards.
“Consultant” means an individual who renders consulting services to the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates.
“DER” means a distribution equivalent right, representing a contingent right to receive an amount in cash, Units, Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units equal in value to the distributions made by the Partnership with respect to a Unit during the period such Award is outstanding.
“Director” means a member of the board of directors or board of managers, as the case may be, of the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates who is not an Employee or a Consultant (other than in that individual’s capacity as a Director).
“Disability” means, unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Company, the Partnership or one of their Affiliates and the applicable Participant, as determined by the Committee in its discretion exercised in good faith, a physical or mental condition of a Participant that would entitle him or her to payment of disability income payments under the Company’s, the Partnership’s or one of their Affiliates’ long-term disability insurance policy or plan, as applicable, for employees as then in effect; or in the event that a Participant is not covered, for whatever reason, under any such long-term disability insurance policy or plan for employees of the Company, the Partnership or one of their Affiliates or the Company, the Partnership or one of their Affiliates does not maintain such a long-term disability insurance policy, “Disability” means a total and permanent disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code; provided, however, that if a Disability constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award which provides for the deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A or such compensation otherwise would be subject to Section 409A, then, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A, the Participant must also be considered “disabled” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Code.  A determination of Disability may be made by a physician selected or approved by the Committee and, in this respect, Participants shall submit to an examination by such physician upon request by the Committee.
“Employee” means an employee of the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Fair Market Value” means, as of any given date, the closing sales price on such date during normal trading hours (or, if there are no reported sales on such date, on the last date prior to such date on which there were sales) of the Units on the New York Stock Exchange or, if not listed on such exchange, on any other national securities exchange on which the Units are listed or on an inter-dealer quotation system, in any case, as reported in such source as the Committee shall select.  If there is no regular public trading market for the Units, the Fair Market Value of the Units shall be determined by the Committee in good faith and, to the extent applicable, in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A. 
“Option” means an option to purchase Units granted pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Plan.
“Other Unit-Based Award” means an award granted pursuant to Section 6(f) of the Plan.
“Participant” means an Employee, Consultant or Director granted an Award under the Plan and any authorized transferee of such individual.
“Partnership Agreement” means the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as it may be amended or amended and restated from time to time.
“Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.
“Phantom Unit” means a notional interest granted under the Plan that, to the extent vested, entitles the Participant to receive a Unit or an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.
“Profits Interest Unit” means to the extent authorized by the Partnership Agreement, an interest in the Partnership that is intended to constitute a “profits interest” within the meaning of the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and any published guidance by the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto.
“Restricted Period” means the period established by the Committee with respect to an Award during which the Award remains subject to forfeiture and is either not exercisable by or payable to the Participant, as the case may be.
“Restricted Unit” means a Unit granted pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Plan that is subject to a Restricted Period.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor thereto.
“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be amended or issued after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 9 below).
“Service” means service as an Employee, Consultant or Director.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to terminations of Service, including, without limitation, the questions of whether and when a termination of Service occurred and/or resulted from a discharge for Cause, and all questions of whether particular changes in status or leaves of absence constitute a termination of Service.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, subject to the terms of any applicable Award Agreement, may determine that a termination of Service has not occurred in the event of (a) a termination where there is simultaneous commencement by the Participant of a relationship with the Partnership, the Company or any of their Affiliates as an 

Employee, Director or Consultant or (b) a termination which results in a temporary severance of the service relationship. 
“Substitute Award” means an award granted pursuant to Section 6(g) of the Plan.
“Unit” means a Common Unit of the Partnership.
“Unit Appreciation Right” or “UAR” means a contingent right that entitles the holder to receive the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the exercise date of the UAR over the exercise price of the UAR.
“Unit Award” means an award granted pursuant to Section 6(d) of the Plan. 
SECTION 3.    Administration. 
(a)    The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, subject to subsection (b) below; provided, however, that in the event that the Board is not also serving as the Committee, the Board, in its sole discretion, may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan.  The governance of the Committee shall be subject to the charter, if any, of the Committee as approved by the Board.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Units to be covered by Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, or forfeited; (vi) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to an Award made under the Plan; (vii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (viii) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.  The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or an Award Agreement in such manner and to such extent as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate.  Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, the Partnership, any of their Affiliates, any Participant and any beneficiary of any Participant.
(b)    To the extent permitted by applicable law and the rules of any securities exchange on which the Units are listed, quoted or traded, the Board or Committee may from time to time delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board or one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant or amend Awards or to take other administrative actions pursuant to Section 3(a); provided, however, that in no event shall an officer of the Company be delegated the authority to grant awards to, or amend awards held by, the following individuals: (i) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided, further, that any delegation of administrative authority shall only be permitted to the extent that it is permissible under applicable provisions of the Code and applicable securities laws and the rules of any securities exchange on which the Units are listed, quoted or traded.  Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to such restrictions and limitations as the Board or Committee, as applicable, specifies at the time of such delegation, and the Board or Committee, as applicable, may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee.  At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 3(b) shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board and the Committee.
SECTION 4.    Units.
(a)    Limits on Units Deliverable.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), the number of Units that may be delivered with respect to Awards under the Plan is three million six hundred fifty-four thousand one hundred sixty-seven (3,654,167).  If any Award is forfeited, cancelled, exercised, paid, or otherwise terminates or expires without the actual delivery of Units pursuant to such Award (for the avoidance of doubt, the grant of 

Restricted Units is not a delivery of Units for this purpose unless and until such Restricted Units vest and any restrictions placed upon them under the Plan lapse), the Units subject to such Award that are not actually delivered pursuant to such Award shall again be available for Awards under the Plan.  To the extent permitted by applicable law and securities exchange rules, Substitute Awards and Units issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity (including an existing Affiliate of the Partnership) that is (or whose securities are) acquired in any form by the Partnership or any Affiliate thereof shall not be counted against the Units available for issuance pursuant to the Plan.  There shall not be any limitation on the number of Awards that may be paid in cash.  For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Class A Units (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) that were previously granted to certain recipients by the Partnership nor any Units into which the Class A Units may be converted under the terms of the Partnership Agreement shall reduce the number of Units that may be granted under the Plan.
(b)    Sources of Units Deliverable Under Awards.  Any Units delivered pursuant to an Award shall consist, in whole or in part, of Units acquired in the open market, from the Partnership, any Affiliate thereof or any other Person, or Units otherwise issuable by the Partnership, or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.
(c)    Anti-dilution Adjustments.  
(i)    Equity Restructuring.  With respect to any “equity restructuring” event (within the meaning of ASC Topic 718) that could result in an additional compensation expense to the Company or the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of ASC Topic 718 if adjustments to Awards with respect to such event were discretionary, the Committee shall equitably adjust the number and type of Units covered by each outstanding Award and the terms and conditions, including the exercise price and performance criteria (if any), of such Award to equitably reflect such event and shall adjust the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan after such event.  With respect to any other similar event that would not result in an ASC Topic 718 accounting charge if the adjustment to Awards with respect to such event were subject to discretionary action, the Committee shall have complete discretion to adjust Awards and the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan in such manner as it deems appropriate with respect to such other event.
(ii)    Other Changes in Capitalization.  In the event of any non-cash distribution, Unit split, combination or exchange of Units, merger, consolidation or distribution (other than normal cash distributions) of Partnership assets to unitholders, or any other change affecting the Units of the Partnership, other than an “equity restructuring,” the Committee may make equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change with respect to (A) the aggregate number and kind of Units that may be issued under the Plan; (B) the number and kind of Units (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards; (C) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (D) the grant or exercise price per Unit for any outstanding Awards under the Plan.
SECTION 5.    Eligibility.
Any Employee, Consultant or Director shall be eligible to be designated a Participant and receive an Award under the Plan.  
SECTION 6.    Awards.
(a)    Options and UARs.  The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Options and/or UARs shall be granted, the number of Units to be covered by each Option or UAR, the exercise price therefor, the Restricted Period and other conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option or UAR, including the following terms and conditions and such additional terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.  Options which are intended to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(A) and UARs which are intended to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(B) or, in each case, any successor regulation, may be granted only if the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii), or any 

successor regulation, are satisfied.  Options and UARs that are otherwise exempt from or compliant with Section 409A may be granted to any eligible Employee, Consultant or Director.
(i)    Exercise Price.  The exercise price per Unit purchasable under an Option or subject to a UAR shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Option or UAR is granted but, except with respect to a Substitute Award, may not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit as of the date of grant of the Option or UAR.
(ii)    Time and Method of Exercise.  The Committee shall determine the exercise terms and any applicable Restricted Period with respect to an Option or UAR, which may include, without limitation, provisions for accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals and/or other events, and the method or methods by which payment of the exercise price with respect to an Option or UAR may be made or deemed to have been made, which may include, without limitation, cash, check acceptable to the Company, withholding Units having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price from the Award, a “cashless” exercise through procedures approved by the Company, or any combination of the foregoing methods.  
(iii)    Exercise of Options and UARs on Termination of Service.  Each Option and UAR Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Option or UAR following a termination of the Participant’s Service.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if the Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause, the Participant’s right to exercise the Option or UAR shall terminate as of the start of business on the effective date of the Participant’s termination.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, to the extent the Option or UAR is not vested and exercisable as of the termination of Service, the Option or UAR shall terminate when the Participant’s Service terminates.  
(iv)    Term of Options and UARs.  The term of each Option and UAR shall be stated in the Award Agreement, provided, that the term shall be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof.  
(b)    Restricted Units and Phantom Units.  The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units shall be granted, the number of Restricted Units or Phantom Units to be granted to each such Participant, the applicable Restricted Period, the conditions under which the Restricted Units or Phantom Units may become vested or forfeited and such other terms and conditions, including, without limitation, restrictions on transferability, as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards.     
(i)    Payment of Phantom Units.  The Committee shall specify, or permit the Participant to elect in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A, the conditions and dates or events upon which the cash or Units underlying an award of Phantom Units shall be issued, which dates or events shall not be earlier than the date on which the Phantom Units vest and become nonforfeitable and which conditions and dates or events shall be subject to compliance with Section 409A (unless the Phantom Units are exempt therefrom).
(ii)    Vesting of Restricted Units.  Upon or as soon as reasonably practicable following the vesting of each Restricted Unit, subject to satisfying the tax withholding obligations of Section 8(b), the Participant shall be entitled to have the restrictions removed from his or her Unit certificate (or book-entry account, as applicable) so that the Participant then holds an unrestricted Unit.
(c)    DERs.  The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and/or Directors to whom DERs are granted, whether such DERs are tandem or separate Awards, whether the DERs shall be paid directly to the Participant, be credited to a bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion of the Committee), any vesting restrictions and payment provisions applicable to the DERs, and such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion, all of which shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreements.  Distributions in respect of DERs shall be credited as of the distribution dates during the period 

between the date an Award is granted to a Participant and the date such Award vests, is exercised, is distributed or expires, as determined by the Committee.  Such DERs shall be converted to cash, Units, Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee.  Tandem DERs may be subject to the same or different vesting restrictions as the tandem Award, or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, DERs shall only be paid in a manner that is either exempt from or in compliance with Section 409A.  
(d)    Unit Awards.  Awards of Units may be granted under the Plan (i) to such Employees, Consultants and/or Directors and in such amounts as the Committee, in its discretion, may select, and (ii) subject to such other terms and conditions, including, without limitation, restrictions on transferability, as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards.  
(e)    Profits Interest Units.  Any Award consisting of Profits Interest Units may be granted to an Employee, Consultant or Director for the performance of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership (i) in the Participant’s capacity as a partner of the Partnership, (ii) in anticipation of the Participant becoming a partner of the Partnership, or (iii) as otherwise determined by the Committee.  At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the Profits Interest Units shall vest and become nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate.  Profits Interest Units shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose.
(f)    Other Unit-Based Awards.  Other Unit-Based Awards may be granted under the Plan to such Employees, Consultants and/or Directors as the Committee, in its discretion, may select.  An Other Unit-Based Award shall be an award denominated or payable in, valued in or otherwise based on or related to Units, in whole or in part.  The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any Other Unit-Based Award.  Upon vesting, an Other Unit-Based Award may be paid in cash, Units (including Restricted Units) or any combination thereof as provided in the Award Agreement.
(g)    Substitute Awards.  Awards may be granted under the Plan in substitution of similar awards held by individuals who are or who become Employees, Consultants or Directors in connection with a merger, consolidation or acquisition by the Partnership or an Affiliate of another entity or the securities or assets of another entity (including in connection with the acquisition by the Partnership or one of its Affiliates of additional securities of an entity that is an existing Affiliate of the Partnership).  Such Substitute Awards that are Options or UARs may have exercise prices less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the date of the substitution if such substitution complies with Section 409A and other applicable laws and securities exchange rules.
(h)    General.
(i)    Award Agreements. Each Award shall be evidenced in writing in an Award Agreement that shall reflect any vesting conditions or restrictions imposed by the Committee covering a period of time specified by the Committee and shall also contain such other terms, conditions and limitations as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Where signature or electronic acceptance of the Award Agreement by the Participant is required, any such Awards for which the Award Agreement is not signed or electronically accepted shall be forfeited.
(ii)    Forfeitures.  Except as otherwise provided in the terms of an Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s Service for any reason during an applicable Restricted Period, all outstanding, unvested Awards held by such Participant shall be automatically forfeited by the Participant.  Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to any such Award; provided, that any such waiver shall be effective only to the extent that such waiver will not cause (i) any Award intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A to fail to satisfy such requirements or (ii) any Award intended to be exempt from Section 409A to become subject to and to fail to satisfy such requirements. 

(iii)     Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together.  Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate.  Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or awards granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.
(iv)    Limits on Transfer of Awards. 
(A)    Except as provided in paragraph (C) below, each Option and UAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative in the case of the Participant’s Disability or incapacitation) during the Participant’s lifetime, or by the person to whom the Participant’s rights shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution. 
(B)    Except as provided in paragraph (C) below, no Award and no right under any such Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company, the Partnership or any Affiliate. 
(C)    The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement or in its discretion that an Award may, on such terms and conditions as the Committee may from time to time establish, be transferred by a Participant without consideration to any “family member” of the Participant, as defined in the instructions to use of the Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act, as applicable, or any other transferee specifically approved by the Committee after taking into account any state, federal, local or foreign tax and securities laws applicable to transferable Awards.  In addition, vested Units may be transferred to the extent permitted by the Partnership Agreement and not otherwise prohibited by the Award Agreement or any other agreement or policy restricting the transfer of such Units.
(v)    Term of Awards.  Subject to Section 6(a)(iv) above, the term of each Award, if any, shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee.
(vi)    Unit Certificates.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by any applicable law, rule or regulation, neither the Company nor the Partnership shall deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Units issued in connection with any Award and instead such Units shall be recorded in the books of the Partnership (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or equity plan administrator).  All certificates for Units or other securities of the Partnership delivered under the Plan and all Units issued pursuant to book entry procedures pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and/or other requirements of the SEC, any securities exchange upon which such Units or other securities are then listed, and any applicable federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be inscribed on any such certificates or book entry to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. 
(vii)    Consideration for Grants.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, Awards may be granted for such consideration, including services, as the Committee shall determine.
(viii)    Delivery of Units or other Securities and Payment by Participant of Consideration.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, subject to compliance with Section 409A, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Units pursuant to the exercise or vesting of any Award, unless and until the Board or the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such Units is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any 

securities exchange on which the Units are listed or traded, and the Units are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration.  In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board or the Committee may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board or the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the delivery of Units pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an Award may be deferred for any period during which, in the good faith determination of the Committee, the Company is not reasonably able to obtain or deliver Units pursuant to such Award without violating applicable law or the applicable rules or regulations of any governmental agency or authority or securities exchange.  No Units or other securities shall be delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement (including, without limitation, any exercise price or tax withholding) is received by the Company. 
SECTION 7.    Amendment and Termination; Certain Transactions.
Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law:
(a)    Amendments to the Plan.  Except as required by applicable law or the rules of the principal securities exchange, if any, on which the Units are traded and subject to Section 7(b) below, the Board or the Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan in any manner at any time for any reason or for no reason without the consent of any partner, Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award, or any other Person.  The Board shall obtain securityholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or securities exchange listing standards or rules.
(b)    Amendments to Awards.  Subject to Section 7(a) above, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter any Award theretofore granted, provided that no change, other than pursuant to Section 7(c) below, in any Award shall materially reduce the rights or benefits of a Participant with respect to an Award without the consent of such Participant.
(c)    Actions Upon the Occurrence of Certain Events.  Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, any transaction or event described in Section 4(c) above, any change in applicable laws or regulations affecting the Plan or Awards hereunder, or any change in accounting principles affecting the financial statements of the Company or the Partnership, the Committee, in its sole discretion, without the consent of any Participant or holder of an Award, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, which need not be uniform with respect to all Participants or all Awards, may take any one or more of the following actions:
(i)    provide for either (A) the termination of any Award in exchange for a payment in an amount, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights under such Award (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of such transaction or event, the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have been payable upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment) or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Committee in its sole discretion having an aggregate value not exceeding the amount that could have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights had such Award been currently exercisable or payable or fully vested; 
(ii)    provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or be exchanged for similar options, rights or awards covering the equity of the successor or survivor, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of equity interests and prices; 
(iii)    make adjustments in the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, the number and kind of outstanding Awards, the terms and conditions of (including the exercise price), and/or the vesting and performance criteria included in, outstanding Awards; 

(iv)    provide that such Award shall vest or become exercisable or payable, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement; and
(v)    provide that the Award cannot be exercised or become payable after such event and shall terminate upon such event.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) with respect to an above event that constitutes an “equity restructuring” that would be subject to a compensation expense pursuant to ASC Topic 718, the provisions in Section 4(c) above shall control to the extent they are in conflict with the discretionary provisions of this Section 7, provided, however, that nothing in this Section 7(c) or Section 4(c) above shall be construed as providing any Participant or any beneficiary of an Award any rights with respect to the “time value,” “economic opportunity” or “intrinsic value” of an Award or limiting in any manner the Committee’s actions that may be taken with respect to an Award as set forth in this Section 7 or in Section 4(c) above; and (ii) no action shall be taken under this Section 7 which shall cause an Award to result in taxation under Section 409A, to the extent applicable to such Award.
SECTION 8.    General Provisions.
(a)    No Rights to Award.  No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants, including the treatment upon termination of Service or pursuant to Section 7(c).  The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.
(b)    Tax Withholding.  Unless other arrangements have been made that are acceptable to the Company, the Company or any Affiliate thereof is authorized to deduct or withhold, or cause to be deducted or withheld, from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award, or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash or Units, including Units that would otherwise be issued pursuant to such Award or other property) of any applicable taxes payable in respect of an Award, including its grant, its exercise, the lapse of restrictions thereon, or any payment or transfer thereunder or under the Plan, and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy its withholding obligations for the payment of such taxes.  In the event that Units that would otherwise be issued pursuant to an Award are used to satisfy such withholding obligations, the number of Units which may be so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of Units which have a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income. 
(c)    No Right to Employment or Services.  The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, or to continue to serve as a Consultant or a Director, as applicable.  Furthermore, the Company, the Partnership and/or an Affiliate thereof may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or consulting free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, any Award Agreement or other written agreement between any such entity and the Participant.
(d)    No Rights as Unitholder.  Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a unitholder with respect to Units covered by any Award unless and until the Participant becomes the record owner of such Units.
(e)    Section 409A.  To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall be drafted with the intention to include the terms and conditions required by Section 409A.  To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date (as defined in Section 9 below), the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A, the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), and/or take any other actions that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the Award, including without limitation, actions intended to (i) exempt the 

Award from Section 409A, or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A; provided, however, that nothing herein shall create any obligation on the part of the Committee, the Partnership, the Company or any of their Affiliates to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action, nor shall the Committee, the Partnership, the Company or any of their Affiliates have any liability for failing to do so.  If any termination of Service constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award which provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to Section 409A, such termination of Service must also constitute a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.  Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the time of payment with respect to any Award that is subject to Section 409A shall not be accelerated, except as permitted under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4).  Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A as of the date of such Participant’s termination of Service and the Company determines that immediate payment of any amounts or benefits under this Plan would cause a violation of Section 409A, then any amounts or benefits which are payable under this Plan upon the Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A that: (i) are subject to the provisions of Section 409A; (ii) are not otherwise exempt under Section 409A; and (iii) would otherwise be payable during the first six-month period following such separation from service, shall be paid, without interest, on the first business day following the earlier of: (1) the date that is six months and one day following the date of termination; or (2) the date of the Participant’s death.  Each payment or amount due to a Participant under this Plan shall be considered a separate payment, and a Participant’s entitlement to a series of payments under this Plan is to be treated as an entitlement to a series of separate payments.
(f)    Lock-Up Agreement.  Each Participant shall agree, if so requested by the Company or the Partnership and any underwriter in connection with any public offering of securities of the Partnership or any Affiliate, not to directly or indirectly offer, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of or otherwise dispose of or transfer any Units held by it for such period, not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of the relevant registration statement filed under the Securities Act in connection with such public offering, as such underwriter shall specify reasonably and in good faith.  The Company or the Partnership may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of such 180-day period.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the 180-day period may be extended for up to such number of additional days as is deemed necessary by such underwriter or the Company or Partnership to continue coverage by research analysts in accordance with FINRA Rule 2711 or any successor rule.
 (g)    Compliance with Laws.  The Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under the Plan and the issuance and delivery of Units and the payment of money under the Plan or under Awards granted or awarded hereunder are subject to compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to state, federal and foreign securities law and margin requirements), the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Units are listed, quoted or traded, and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or the Partnership, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith.  Any securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such restrictions, and the Person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company or the Partnership, provide such assurances and representations to the Company or the Partnership as the Company or the Partnership may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal requirements.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.  In the event an Award is granted to or held by a Participant who is employed or providing services outside the United States, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, modify the provisions of the Plan or of such Award as they pertain to such Participant to comply with applicable foreign law or to recognize differences in local law, currency or tax policy.  The Committee may also impose conditions on the grant, issuance, exercise, vesting, settlement or retention of Awards in order to comply with such foreign law and/or to minimize the Company’s or the Partnership’s obligations with respect to tax equalization for Participants employed outside their home country.
(h)    Governing Law.  The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.

(i)    Severability.  If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes, or is deemed to be, invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable law or, if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
(j)    Other Laws.  The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Units or other consideration under an Award if, in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Units or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation, the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the Units are then traded, or entitle the Partnership or an Affiliate to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.
(k)    No Trust or Fund Created.  Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, on the one hand, and a Participant or any other Person, on the other hand.  To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Partnership or any participating Affiliate of the Partnership.
(l)    No Fractional Units.  No fractional Units shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Units or whether such fractional Units or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.
(m)    Headings.  Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference.  Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision hereof.
(n)    No Guarantee of Tax Consequences.  None of the Board, the Committee, the Company or the Partnership provides or has provided any tax advice to any Participant or any other Person or makes or has made any assurance, commitment or guarantee that any federal, state, local or other tax treatment will (or will not) apply or be available to any Participant or other Person and assumes no liability with respect to any tax or associated liabilities to which any Participant or other Person may be subject.
(o)    Clawback.  To the extent required by applicable law or any applicable securities exchange listing standards, or as otherwise determined by the Committee to address misconduct of Company officers or individual Participants, Awards and amounts paid or payable pursuant to or with respect to Awards shall be subject to the provisions of any clawback policy implemented by the Company or the Partnership, which clawback policy may provide for forfeiture, repurchase and/or recoupment of Awards and amounts paid or payable pursuant to or with respect to Awards.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Company and the Partnership reserve the right, without the consent of any Participant, to adopt any such clawback policies and procedures, including such policies and procedures applicable to this Plan or any Award Agreement with retroactive effect.  
(p)     Unit Retention Policy.  The Committee may provide in its sole and absolute discretion, subject to applicable law, that any Units received by a Participant in connection with an Award granted hereunder shall be subject to a unit ownership, unit retention or other policy restricting the sale or transfer of units, as the Committee may determine to adopt, amend or terminate in its sole discretion from time to time.
(q)    Limitation of Liability. No member of the Board or the Committee or Employee to whom the Board or the Committee has delegated authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of this Plan shall be liable for anything done or omitted to be done by him or her by any member of the Board or the Committee or by 

any Employee in connection with the performance of any duties under this Plan, except for his or her own willful misconduct or as expressly provided by statute.
(r)    Facility Payment.  Any amounts payable hereunder to any Person under legal disability or who, in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to manage properly his or her financial affairs, may be paid to the legal representative of such Person, or may be applied for the benefit of such Person in any manner that the Committee may select, and the Partnership, the Company and all of their Affiliates shall be relieved of any further liability for payment of such amounts.
SECTION 9.    Term of the Plan.
The Plan became effective on the date on which the original Plan was adopted by the Board (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue until the date terminated by the Board.  However, any Award granted prior to such termination, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award, shall extend beyond such termination date.

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