Document:

stbr_ex101.htm

EXHIBIT 10.1

 

FARMOUT AGREEMENT

 

Compeer Area, Albet·ta

 

THIS AGREEMENT dated the 2nd  day of February, 2012.

 

BETWEEN:

 

HARVEST OPERATIONS CORP., a body corporate, having an office in the City of Calgary, in the Province of Alberta,

(hereinafter referred to as "Harvest")

 

-and-

 

STRONGBOW   RESOURCES  INC.,  a  body  corporate,   having  an  office  m  the  City  of  Houston, in the State of Texas,

(hereinafter  referred to as "Strongbow")

 

WHEREAS  Harvest has agreed  to farmout to Strongbow  in the Farmout Lands as set forth and described  in

 

Schedule "A" hereto;

NOW  THEREFORE,   in consideration  of  the  premises,  covenants  and  agreements  of  the parties, the parties hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

	
1. 

	
Definitions

 

Each capitalized term used in this Agreement, including recitals, will have the meaning given to it in the Farmout & Royalty Procedure and in addition:

 

	
(a)

	
"Contract  Depth"  shall  mean  a  mmnnum  total  vertical  depth  of  900  meters  into  the  BakkenFormation or a total measured depth of 1950m  subsurface, whichever shall first occur; (b)"Effective Date" means February 2, 20 12;

 

	
(c)

	
"Farmee" means Strongbow Resources Inc.;

	 

 

	

(d)

	
"Farmor" means Harvest Operation Corp.;

 

	
(e)

	
"Farmout  Lands" means the lands set forth and described in Schedule "A" hereto;

 

	
(f)

	
"Farmout   &  Royalty   Procedure"   means   the   1997  CAPL   Farmout   &  Royalty   Procedure incorporated  by reference  herein, subject to the elections and amendments  set forth on Schedule ''8" attached hereto;

 

	
(g)

	
"Mutual  Interest Lands" means the area outlined in red excluding Twp 033 Rge 03W4M: Sec 14- P&NG to base Mannville as set forth in Schedule "C" attached hereto;

 

	
(h)

	
"Test Well" means the proposed well location at I 02/05-29-033-02W4/00,  or as otherwise may be agreed to in writing between the parties;

 

	
(i) 

	
"Title  Documents"  means the documents and any renewals or extensions thereof or further Title Documents  issued  pursuant  thereto  insofar as they relate  to the Farmout  Lands as set forth  in Schedule "A" attached hereto.

 

  

1

  

 

	
2. 

	
Schedules

 

The following Schedules are attached hereto and are incorporated into this Agreement:

 

Schedule  "A"  which  sets  forth  the  Farmout  Lands,  the  Title  Documents,  the  Pre-Farmout Working Interest and the Encumbrances;

 

Schedule "B"  which sets forth the rates, elections and modifications to the Farmout & Royalty Procedure;

 

Schedule "C" which sets forth the Mutual Interest Lands; 

 

Schedule "D"  which sets forth  Fannor's well data requirement  sheet as referred to in Article 9.00 of the Farmout & Royalty Procedure.

 

	
3. 

	
Qualified Operator

 

On or before March 30'", 2012 Farmee must obtain approval to hold EUB Licences ("Operator Status") from the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board. Farmee shall provide the Farmor with documentation  supporting  the operator  status  prior to the spud  date  of the Test  Well.  If the Fannee   has  not  obtained   Operator   Status,  this  Agreement   will  terminate  and   the  non­ performance penalty as set out in Clause 6 will be in effect.

 

	
4. 

	
Test Well

 

	
(a)

	
On or before June  1, 2012 Farmee shall, subject to rig availability,  surface accessibility  and regulatory approval and in accordance with Article 3.00 of the Farmout & Royalty Procedure, spud the Test  Well at  I 02/05-29-033-02W4/00  on the Farmout Lands and continuously  drill down  to Contract  Depth. Farmee shall  while drilling  to Contract    Depth cut two full  bore cores one each from the Viking and Bakken formations.  Farmee shall also run a DST in the Viking formation.  In the event that hydrocarbons are noted in the core and geological cuttings in the Bakken, a DST will then be run in the Bakken. A decision  will be mutually  reached between the parties whether or not to continue with drilling a lateral in the Bakken section. If the Bakken formation  proves non-productive  or uneconomic,  Farmee shall cut a window to enable  for the drilling  of a lateral  into the Viking formation.  In either  event,  the proposed lateral  would  be drilled  to a  minimum  of  1,000  meters  to a  maximum  of  1,200  meters  of horizontal  length.  In either event,  the total  measured depth  of the Test  Well shall  be  1,950 meters  for  the  Test  Well.  Fannee  shall  complete  the Test  Well  in the  Bakken  or  Viking formation  within the Farmout Lands prospective of containing  petroleum and natural gas and equip or abandon same.

 

	
(b)

	
Farmor shall  be provided with all well information  pertaining to the Test  Well on a current and confidential  basis, as outlined  in Clause 9.00 of the Farmout & Royalty Procedure.  All risks and expenses associated with the Test Well shall be borne solely by Fannee  100%, and the Farmor shall be entirely free of any such costs, risk and expense.

  

2

  

 

	
5.

	
Interest Earned

 

Subject  to  A1ticle 3.00  of  the  Farmout  &  Royalty  Procedure,  upon  Farmee  having  drilled, completed, equipped  or abandoned  the Test Well on the Farmout Lands, Fannee  shall earn an undivided  one  hundred  percent  (100%)   of  Farmer's   Pre-Farmout  Working  Interest  in  the Farmout  Lands  subject  to  a  non-conve1tible  Overriding  Royalty  payable  to  the  Farmor  as provided for in Article 5.00 of the Farmout & Royalty Procedure

 

	
6. 

	
Non-Performance Penalty

	
(a)

	
In the event Farmee fails to comply with its Test Well commitment as set forth in this Agreement, then the Farmee's  right to earn any further interest shall terminate  upon written notice of default served  by Farmor  to Farmee.  Fannee  shall  pay to Farmer  the sum of Three Hundred and  Fifty Thousand  Dollars  ($350,000)  (CAD)  as  liquidated  damages  within  ten  (10)  business  days  of receipt  of the  written  notice.  It is agreed  that the Three  Hundred  and  Fifty Thousand  Dollars ($350,000) (CAD) is a genuine pre-estimate of the damages and Farmor does not need to establish that any actual damage occurred upon failure of Farmee to complete the Test Well commitment, it being the intention of the parties to establish  the damage that can be foreseen from the failure of Farmee to complete its Test Well commitment at the time of making this Agreement.

 

	
(b)

	
Payment  by Fannee  of the genuine  pre-estimate  of damages  in no way constitutes  earning  by Farmee under this Agreement  nor does it deprive Farmer of any other rights at law or in equity, including damages and indemnity.

 

	
7.

	
Mutual Interest Lands

	
(a)

	
Article  8.00  of the  Farmout & Royalty  Procedure  shall apply  from the Effective  Date and shall remain in full force for one (1) year from the drilling rig release date of the Test Well.

 

	
(b)

	
Any Mutual  Interest Lands acquired  pursuant to this Article 8.00 of the Farmout& Royalty Procedure by the Farmee shall be subject to a 5% Overriding Royalty payable to the Farm or.

 

	
(c)

	
In the event the Farmee does not meet their requirements  pursuant to Clause 3 and 4 of thisAgreement, This Agreement and Mutual Interest Lands will be terminated.

 

	
8.

	
Incorporation of the Farmout & Royalty Pr·ocedure

 

'l'o the extent that they do not conflict with the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of the Farmout & Royalty Procedure are incorporated herein.

 

	
9.

	
Indemnification

 

Farmee  shall  indemnify  and  save  Fanner  harmless  from  all  actions,  lawsuits  and  adverse claims created  or caused as a result of any operations  conducted  by Farmee pursuant to this Agreement on the Farmout Lands.

 

  

3

  

 

	
10.

	
Confidentiality  and Public Announcements

 

Except in connection with required regulatory disclosures, the parties shall keep confidential all information obtained  from the other party in connection  with the Farmout Lands and shall not release any information concerning this Agreement and the operation and transactions herein provided for, without the prior written consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Farmee shall not issue any press release or other public announcements concerning this Agreement and the operations and transactions herein provided for, without the prior written consent of the Farmor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. In particular, any press release or other public announcement issued by Farmee shall not disclose or infer the identityof Fannor.

 

	
11.

	
Permitted Assignments

 

Farmee shall  not, during  the period that it has a right to earn an  interest  hereunder,  encumber, grant  or  assign  any  legal  or equitable  interest  in this  Agreement,  the  Title  Documents  or the Farmout Lands without the prior written consent of Fannor.   If after obtaining  Farmor's consent, Farmce   makes  any  such  assignment,   then  Farmee  shall  continue   to  be  bound  by  and  be responsible for carrying out the terms and conditions of this Agreement and Farmor shall only be required to look to Farmee for performance hereunder.

 

Upon Farmee having earned its interest hereunder, any further assignment shall be subject to the provisions of the Assignment  Procedure.

 

	
12.

	
Address for Service

 

The  address  for service  of each  party hereto for notices  issued  pursuant to this Agreement,   and the Farmout & Royalty Procedure is as follows:

 

	 	Farmor:

 

Harvest Operations Corp.

2100, 330-5'" Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta

T2P OL4

Attention: Land Manager

	Farmee: 

  

 

Houston Office: Strongbow Resources Inc.

600, 333 North Sam Houston Parkway East  

Houston, Texas  

77060  

Attention: Bob Wesolek 

 

	 
	 	 	
Calgary Office: 

Strongbow Resources Inc. 

C/0 APEX Energy Consultants Inc. 

700, 815 - 811 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2P 3P2 

Attention: Michael Kamis

	 

 

  

4

  

 

	
13.

	
Miscellaneous

 

	(a)	
Each of the pa1iies represents and warrants that it now has or is entitled to have full right, full power and absolute authority to enter into this Agreement.

 

	(b)	
If any term or condition of this Agreement conflicts with any Schedule attached hereto, the provisions of the body of this Agreement shall prevail. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and those of the Title Documents, the provisions of the Title Documents shall prevail.

 

	(c)	
This Agreement  shall  for all  purposes  be construed  and  interpreted  according  to the laws of Alberta.  The courts having jurisdiction  with respect to matters relating to this Agreement shall be the courts of Alberta.

 

	(d)	
The parties shall  from time to time and at all times do all such further  acts and execute  and deliver all such further deeds and documents as shall be reasonably required in order to perform fully and carry out the terms of this Agreement.

 

	(e)	
This Agreement supersedes all other agreements, documents, letters and understandings, whether written or oral, among the parties in respect of the Farmout Lands.

 

	(f)	
The two year period for seeking a remedial order under Section 3( I )(a) of the Limitations Act, R.S.A. 2000 c.L-12, as amended,  for any claim (as defined  in the Act) arising  in connection with this Agreement is extended to four years.

 

	(g)	
This  Agreement may be executed in counterpart  and all of those counterparts when taken together shall have the same effect as if all Parties had executed one document.

 

	(h)	Time shall be of the essence in this Agreement.

 

 

  

5

  

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Agreement.

 

	HARVEST OPERATIONS CORP. 	 	STRONGBOW RESOURCES INC.	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
		 	Per:	/s/ Robert Martin	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	Name:	 Robert Martin	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	Title:	 Chief Exceutive Officer	 

 

 

This is the execution page to a Farmout Agreement dated the 2nd day of February, 201 2 between Harvest

 

Operations Corp. and Strongbow Resources Inc.

 

  

6

  

 

SCHEDULE "A"

 

This Schedule "A" attached to and made pa1i of a Farmout Agreement dated the 2nd day of February, 2012

between Harvest Operations Corp. and Strongbow Resources Inc. 

 

	
Title Documents

	
Farmout Lands

	
Pre-Farmout

VVorking Interest

	
Encumbrances

	
Alberta P&NG Licence

5310090903

	
Twp 033 Rge 02 W4M: Sec 19, 21, 28,29 & 32

ALL P&NG

	
100%

	
None

	 	 	 	 
	
Expiry:

September 29, 2012

	
Twp 033 Rge 03 W4M: Sec 25 & 36

ALL P&NG

	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	
Twp 034 Rge 03 W4M: Sec 1

ALL P&NG

	 	 

  

7

  

 

SCHEDULE "B"

 

This Schedule  "B" attached  to and made part of a Farmout Agreement dated  the 2nd day of February,

2012 between  Harvest  Operations Corp. and Strongbow Resources  Inc. 

 

Rates, Elections and Modifications to the 1997 FARMOUT & ROYALTY  PROCEDURE:

 

 

	1.	Clause 1.01 (f)- Effective Date: February 2, 2012	 
	 	 	 
	2.	Clause 1.01 (t)- Payout (if Article 6.00 applies): N/A	 
	 	 	 
	3.	
Clause 1.02- Incorporation Of Provisions From 1990 CAPL Operating Procedure: 

	 	 	 
	 	Clause 311 -Insurance:	Alternate A
	 	 	 
	4.	Article 4.00- Option Wells: 	will _____ /will not_X_apply.
	 	 	 
	5.	Article 5.00- Overriding Royalty:	will_X_ I will not _____ apply.
	 	 	 
	
6.

	
Subclause 5.01A, if applicable- Quantification of Overriding Royalty: (a)

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	(a)	
Crude Oil

Alternate 2

If Alternate I is selected, ______ %

If Alternate 2 is selected, 1/23.8365, min 5% max 15 %

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	(b)	
Other

Alternate I

If Alternate I is selected, 15%

If Alternate 2 is selected, _____  % in (i) and _____ % in (ii).

	 
	 	 	 
	
7.

	
Clause 5.04B, if applicable- Permitted Deductions: 

	Alternate I and 2
	 	 	 
	 	If Alternate 2 is selected: 40%	 
	 	 	 
	8. 	Article 6.00- Conversion of Overriding Royalty: 	will ______ / will not _X_ apply.
	 	 	 
	 	
If Article 6.00 applies, conversion to ______ % of Working Interest in Clause 6.04 A.

	 	 	 
	9. 	Article 8.00 (Area of Mutual Interest): 	will_X_/will not _____ apply.
	 	 	 
	10.	Clause 11.02- Reimbursement of Land Maintenance Costs: will_ /will not _X_ apply.
	 	 
	 	If applies, reimbursement of$ __________________	 

 

  

8

  

 

SCHEDULE "C"

 

This Schedule "C" attached to and made patt of a Farm out Agreement dated the 2nd day of February, 2012

between Harvest Operati ons Corp. and Strongbow Resources Inc. 

 

MUTUAL INTEREST LANDS

 

As Outlined in Red

 

  

9

  

 

SCHEDULE "D"

 

This Sched ule "D" attached to and made pa11of a Farmout Agreement dated the 2 day of February, 2012

between Harvest Operations Corp. and Strongbow Resources Inc.

 

 

WELL DATA REQUIREMENT SHEET 

 

	
TO: 

	
Drilling and Completions administrator

 

	
WELL: 

	
ALL NON-OPERATED LOCATIONS (including LOR/ORR, Farmouts, etc)

 

 

	
INFORMATION REQUIRED PRIOR TO DRILLING

	 	
NUMBER OF COPIES

	 
	 	 	 	 
	Construction Reports, including costs	 	 	1	 
	
Survey Plan

	 	 	1	 
	
Application for Well License

	 	 	1	 
	
Approved Well License, and applicable Amendments

	 	 	1	 
	
Drilling Program and Geological  Prognosis

	 	 	1	 
	
AFE/Cost Estimate

	 	 	1	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	
INFORMATION REQUIRED DURING AND AFTER DRILLING

	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	
Daily Drilling Reports

	 	 	1	 
	
Regulatory Reports

	 	 	1	 
	
Logs and Surveys- including LAS for logs

	 	 	1	 
	
Cores Analysis (if applicable)

	 	 	1	 
	
Drill Stem Test Reports and Charts (if applicable)

	 	 	1	 
	
Core Analysis (if applicable)

	 	 	1	 
	
Oil, Water and Gas Analysis (if applicable)

	 	 	1	 
	
Geological Report (if applicable)

	 	 	1	 
	
New Oil Well Report (if applicable)

	 	 	1	 
	
Final Completion or Abandonment Report

	 	 	1	 
	
Daily Completion Reports

	 	 	1	 
	
Completion Logs

	 	 	1	 
	
Initial Production/Fiow/AOF- or any other Production Reports

	 	 	1	 
	
All subsequent Workover & Service Reports

	 	 	1	 

 

 

Please send all of the above mentioned information to the attention of:

 

Non-Op Administrator        non.op@harvestenergy.ca

 

Phone:                 (403) 265-1178

 

Fax:                      (403) 265-3490

 

Mailing Address:

 

Harvest Operations Corp.

2100, 330 - 51 Avenue SW

Calgary, ABT2P OL4

 

10ex10.31

  
 Exhibit 10.31
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 VARCA VENTURES, INC.
 2012 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 

 

 

 

 1
 

 
 

 _________________________________
 2012 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
 

 	 	
	 1.  Purpose
	 3

	  
	  

	 2.  Definitions
	 3

	  
	  

	 3.  Administration
	 8

	  
	  

	 4.  Shares Subject to Plan
	 9

	  
	  

	 5.  Eligibility
	 10

	  
	  

	 6.  Specific Terms of Awards
	 10

	  
	  

	 7.  Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards
	 13

	  
	  

	 8.  Change in Control
	 16

	  
	  

	 9.  General Provisions
	 18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2
 

 
 

 ____________________________
 2012 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
 

 1. Purpose.  The purpose of this 2012 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN (the "Plan") is to assist VARCA VENTURES, INC., a Nevada corporation, (the "Company") and its Related Entities (as hereinafter defined) in attracting, motivating, retaining and rewarding high-quality executives and other employees, officers, directors, consultants and other persons who provide services to the Company or its Related Entities by enabling such persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the Company in order to strengthen the mutuality of interests between such persons and the Company's shareholders, and providing such persons with  performance incentives to expend their maximum efforts in the creation of shareholder value.
 

 2. Definitions.  For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below, in addition to such terms defined in Section 1 hereof and elsewhere herein.
 

 (a)  "Award" means any Option, Restricted Stock Award, Shares granted as a bonus or in lieu of another Award, Other Stock-Based Award or Performance Award, together with any other right or interest, granted to a Participant under the Plan.
 

 (b)  "Award Agreement" means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted by the Committee hereunder.
 

 (c)  "Beneficiary" means the person, persons, trust or trusts that have been designated by a Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the Committee to receive the benefits specified under the Plan upon such Participant's death or to which Awards or other rights are transferred if and to the extent permitted under Section 9(b) hereof.  If, upon a Participant's death, there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary means the person, persons, trust or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.
 

 (d)  "Beneficial Owner" and "Beneficial Ownership" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act and any successor to such Rule.
 

 (e)  "Board" means the Company's Board of Directors.
 

 (f)  "Cause" shall, with respect to any Participant, have the meaning specified in the Award Agreement.  In the absence of any definition in the Award Agreement, "Cause" shall have the equivalent meaning or the same meaning as "cause" or "for cause" set forth in any employment, consulting, or other agreement for the performance of services between the Participant and the Company or a Related Entity or, in the absence of any such agreement or any such definition in such agreement, such term 
 

 3
 

 
 shall mean (i) the failure by the Participant to perform, in a reasonable manner, his or her duties as assigned by the Company or a Related Entity, (ii) any violation or breach by the Participant of his or her employment, consulting or other similar agreement with the Company or a Related Entity, if any, (iii) any violation or breach by the Participant of any non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and/or other similar agreement with the Company or a Related Entity, (iv) any act by the Participant of dishonesty or bad faith with respect to the Company or a Related Entity, (v) use of alcohol, drugs or other similar substances in a manner that adversely affects the Participant's work performance, or (vi) the commission by the Participant of any act, misdemeanor, or crime reflecting unfavorably upon the Participant or the Company or any Related Entity.  The good faith determination by the Committee of whether the Participant's Continuous Service was terminated by the Company for "Cause" shall be final and binding for all purposes hereunder.
 

 (g)  "Change in Control" means a Change in Control as defined in Section 8(b) of the Plan.
 

 (h)  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.
 

 (i)  "Committee" means a committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan; provided, however, that if the Board fails to designate a committee or if there are no longer any members on the committee so designated by the Board, or for any other reason determined by the Board, then the Board shall serve as the Committee.  
 

 (j)  "Consultant" means any Person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely with respect to rendering services in such Person's capacity as a director) who is engaged by the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory services to the Company or such Related Entity.
 

 (k)  "Continuous Service" means the uninterrupted provision of services to the Company or any Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant or other service provider.  Continuous Service shall not be considered to be interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entities, or any successor entities, in any capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant or other service provider, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant or other service provider (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement).  An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave.
 

 (l)  "Director" means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity.
 

 

 4
 

 
 

 (m)  "Disability" means a permanent and total disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e) of the Code), as determined by a medical doctor satisfactory to the Committee.
 

 (n)  "Effective Date" means the effective date of the Plan, which shall be February 3, 2012.
 

 (o)  "Eligible Person" means each officer, Director, Employee, Consultant and other person who provides services to the Company or any Related Entity.  The foregoing notwithstanding, only Employees of the Company, or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company (as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively), shall be Eligible Persons for purposes of receiving any Incentive Stock Options.  An Employee on leave of absence may, in the discretion of the Committee, be considered as still in the employ of the Company or a Related Entity for purposes of eligibility for participation in the Plan.
 

 (p)  "Employee" means any person, including an officer or Director, who is an employee of the Company or any Related Entity.  The payment of a director's fee by the Company or a Related Entity shall not be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company.
 

 (q)  "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.
 

 (r)  "Fair Market Value" means the fair market value of Shares, Awards or other property as determined by the Committee in a good faith manner, pursuant to procedures established by the Committee and, if applicable, in a manner consistent with the definition of "fair market value" contained in Section 409A of the Code and the treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.   
 

 (s)  "Good Reason" shall, with respect to any Participant, have the meaning specified in the Award Agreement.  In the absence of any definition in the Award Agreement, "Good Reason" shall have the equivalent meaning or the same meaning as "good reason" or "for good reason" set forth in any employment, consulting or other agreement for the performance of services between the Participant and the Company or a Related Entity or, in the absence of any such agreement or any such definition in such agreement, such term shall mean (i) the assignment to the Participant of any duties inconsistent in any material respect with the Participant's duties or responsibilities as assigned by the Company or a Related Entity, or any other action by the Company or a Related Entity which results in a material diminution in such duties or responsibilities, excluding, in each case, an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company or a Related Entity promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Participant; (ii) any material failure by the Company or a Related Entity to comply with its obligations to the Participant as 
 

 5
 

 
 agreed upon, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company or a Related Entity promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Participant.  
 

 (t)  "Incentive Stock Option" means any Option intended to be designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
 

 (u)  "Incumbent Board" means the Incumbent Board as defined in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof.
 

 (v)  "Option" means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(b) hereof, to purchase Shares or other Awards at a specified price during specified time periods.
 

 (w)  "Optionee" means a person to whom an Option is granted under this Plan or any person who succeeds to the rights of such person under this Plan.
 

 (x)  "Other Stock-Based Awards" means Awards granted to a Participant under Section 6(e) hereof.
 

 (y)  "Participant" means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.
 

 (z)  "Performance Award" means any Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units granted pursuant to Section 6(d) hereof.
 

 (aa)  "Performance Period" means that period established by the Committee at the time any Performance Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any performance goals specified by the Committee with respect to such Award are to be measured.
 

 (bb)  "Performance Share" means any grant pursuant to Section 6(d) hereof of a unit valued by reference to a designated number of Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.
 

 (cc)  "Performance Unit" means any grant pursuant to Section 6(d) hereof of a unit valued by reference to a designated amount of property (including cash) other than Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the 
 

 6
 

 
 Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.
 

 (dd)  "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, and shall include a "group" as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.
 

 (ee)  "Related Entity" means any Subsidiary, and any business, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity designated by the Board, in which the Company  or a Subsidiary holds a  substantial ownership interest, directly or indirectly.
 

 (ff)  "Restriction Period" means the period of time specified by the Committee that Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose.
 

 (gg)  "Restricted Stock" means any Share issued with the restriction that the holder may not sell, transfer, pledge or assign such Share and with such risks of forfeiture and other restrictions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose (including any restriction on the right to vote such Share and the right to receive any dividends), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate.
 

 (hh)  "Restricted Stock Award" means an Award granted to a Participant under Section 6(d) hereof.
 

 (ii)  "Shares" means the shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, and such other securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) for Shares pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof.
 

 (jj)  "Subsidiary" means any corporation or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership interest of 50% or more of the total combined voting power of the then outstanding securities or interests of such corporation or other entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or in which the Company has the right to receive 50% or more of the distribution of profits or 50% or more of the assets on liquidation or dissolution.  
 

 (kk)  "Substitute Awards" means Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, Awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future Awards, by a company (i) acquired by the Company or any Related Entity, (ii) which becomes a Related Entity after the date hereof, or (iii) with which the Company or any Related Entity combines.
 

 7
 

 
 

 3. Administration.
 

 (a)
 Authority of the Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee; provided, however, that except as otherwise expressly provided in this Plan, the Board may exercise any power or authority granted to the Committee under this Plan and in that case, references herein shall be deemed to include references to the Board.  The Committee shall have full and final authority, subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, to select Eligible Persons to become Participants, grant Awards, determine the type, number and other terms and conditions of, and all other matters relating to, Awards, prescribe Award Agreements (which need not be identical for each Participant) and rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan, construe and interpret the Plan and Award Agreements and correct defects, supply omissions or reconcile inconsistencies therein, and to make all other decisions and determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.  In exercising any discretion granted to the Committee under the Plan or pursuant to any Award, the Committee shall not be required to follow past practices, act in a manner consistent with past practices, or treat any Eligible Person or Participant in a manner consistent with the treatment of any other Eligible Persons or Participants.
 

 (b)
 Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority.  Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its Related Entities, Eligible Persons, Participants, Beneficiaries, transferees under Section 9(b) hereof or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant, and shareholders.  The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee.  The Committee may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or any Related Entity, or committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms and limitations as the Committee shall determine, to perform such functions, including administrative functions as the Committee may determine.  The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan.  
 

 (c)
 Limitation of Liability.  The Committee and the Board, and each member thereof, shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or Employee, the Company's independent auditors, Consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan.  Members of the Committee and the Board, and any officer or Employee acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee or the Board, shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.
 

 

 8
 

 
 

 4. Shares Subject to Plan.
 

 (a)
 Limitation on Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery Under Plan.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9(c) hereof, the total number of Shares reserved and available for delivery under the Plan shall be 4,700,000.  Any Shares delivered under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.
 

 (b)
 Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards.  No Award may be granted if the number of Shares to be delivered in connection with such an Award exceeds the number of Shares remaining available for delivery under the Plan, minus the number of Shares deliverable in settlement of or relating to then outstanding Awards.  The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if the number of Shares actually delivered differs from the number of Shares previously counted in connection with an Award.
 

 (c)
 Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards and Adjustments to Limits.  
 

 (i)
 If any Awards are forfeited, expire or otherwise terminate without issuance of such Shares, or any Award is settled for cash or otherwise does not result in the issuance of all or a portion of the Shares subject to such Award, the Shares to which those Awards were subject, shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration, termination, cash settlement or non-issuance, again be available for delivery with respect to Awards under the Plan, subject to Sections 4(c)(iii) and (iv) below.  
 

 (ii)
 In the event that any Option or other Award granted hereunder is exercised through the tendering of Shares (either actually or by attestation) or by the withholding of Shares by the Company, or withholding tax liabilities arising from such option or other award are satisfied by the tendering of Shares (either actually or by attestation) or by the withholding of Shares by the Company, then only the number of Shares issued net of the Shares tendered or withheld shall be counted for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for grant under the Plan.
 

 (iii)
 Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for delivery under the Plan or authorized for delivery to a Participant in any period.  Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Related Entity or with which the Company or any Related Entity combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by its shareholders, the shares available for delivery pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for delivery under the Plan.   
 

 9
 

 
 

 (iv)
 Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4(c) to the contrary but subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9(c) hereof, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be delivered under the Plan as a result of the exercise of the Incentive Stock Options shall be 4,700,000 Shares.
 

 5. Eligibility.  Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons.
 

 6. Specific Terms of Awards.
 

 (a)
 General.  Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6.  In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 9(e) hereof), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of the Participant's Continuous Service and terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under the Plan.  Except in cases in which the Committee is authorized to require other forms of consideration under the Plan, or to the extent other forms of consideration must be paid to satisfy the requirements of Nevada law, no consideration other than services may be required for the grant (as opposed to the exercise) of any Award.
 

 (b)
 Options.  The Committee is authorized to grant Options to any Eligible Person on the following terms and conditions:
 

 (i)
 Exercise Price.  Other than in connection with Substitute Awards, the exercise price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee, provided that such exercise price shall not, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of the Option and shall not, in any event, be less than the par value of a Share on the date of grant of the Option.  If an Employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively) and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such Employee, the exercise price of such Incentive Stock Option (to the extent required by the Code at the time of grant) shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted. Other than pursuant to Section 9(c)(i) and (ii) hereof, the Committee shall not be permitted to (A) lower the exercise price per Share of an Option after it is granted, or (B) cancel an Option when the exercise price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares in exchange for another Award (other than in connection with  Substitute Awards).
 

 

 10
 

 
 
 (ii)
 Time and Method of Exercise.  The Committee shall determine the time or times at which or the circumstances under which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the time or times at which Options shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Continuous Service or upon other conditions, the methods by which the exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid (including in the discretion of the Committee a cashless exercise procedure), the form of such payment, including, without limitation, cash, Shares (including without limitation the withholding of Shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the Award), other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or a Related Entity, or other property (including notes or other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis provided that such deferred payments are not in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act, or any rule or regulation adopted thereunder or any other applicable law), and the methods by or forms in which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants.
 

 (iii)
 Incentive Stock Options.  The terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code.  Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either the Plan or any Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code, unless the Participant has first requested, or consents to, the change that will result in such disqualification.  Thus, if and to the extent required to comply with Section 422 of the Code, Options granted as Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to the following special terms and conditions:
 

 (A)
 the Option shall not be exercisable for more than ten years after the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted; provided, however, that if a Participant owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively) and the Incentive Stock Option is granted to such Participant, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be (to the extent required by the Code at the time of the grant) for no more than five years from the date of grant; and
 

 (B)
 The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan and all other option plans of the Company (and any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively) that become exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year shall not (to the extent required by the Code at the time of the grant) exceed $100,000.
 

 

 11
 

 
 
 (c)
 Restricted Stock Awards.  The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Awards to any Eligible Person on the following terms and conditions:
 

 (i)
 Grant and Restrictions.  Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose, or as otherwise provided in this Plan during the Restriction Period.  The terms of any Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan shall be set forth in a written Award Agreement which shall contain provisions determined by the Committee and not inconsistent with the Plan.  The restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine at the date of grant or thereafter.  Except to the extent restricted under the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement relating to a Restricted Stock Award, a Participant granted Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a shareholder, including the right to vote the Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends thereon (subject to any mandatory reinvestment or other requirement imposed by the Committee).  During the period that the Restricted Stock Award is subject to a risk of forfeiture, subject to Section 9(b) below and except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.
 

 (ii)
 Forfeiture.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of a Participant's Continuous Service during the applicable Restriction Period, the Participant's Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to a risk of forfeiture that has not lapsed or otherwise been satisfied shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided that, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6(j)(ii) hereof, the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock Awards shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Restricted Stock.
 

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

 (iv)
 Dividends and Splits.  As a condition to the grant of a Restricted Stock Award, the Committee may require or permit a Participant to elect that any cash dividends paid on a Share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional Shares of Restricted Stock or applied to the purchase of additional Awards under the Plan.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Shares distributed in connection with a stock split or stock dividend, and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be 
 

 12
 

 
 subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Shares or other property have been distributed.
 

 (d)
 Performance Awards.  The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards to any Eligible Person payable in cash, Shares, or other Awards, on terms and conditions established by the Committee, subject to the provisions of Section 8 if and to the extent that the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine that an Award shall be subject to those provisions.  The performance criteria to be achieved during any Performance Period and the length of the Performance Period shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant of each Performance Award; provided, however, that a Performance Period shall not be shorter than 12 months nor longer than ten years.  Except as provided in Section 8 hereof or as may be provided in an Award Agreement, Performance Awards will be distributed only after the end of the relevant Performance Period.  The performance goals to be achieved for each Performance Period shall be conclusively determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.  The amount of the Award to be distributed shall be conclusively determined by the Committee.  Performance Awards may be paid in a lump sum or in installments following the close of the Performance Period or, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, on a deferred basis.
 

 (e)
 Other Stock-Based Awards.  The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to any Eligible Person such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan.  Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted to Participants either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan, and such Other Stock-Based Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan.  The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards.  Shares delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(e) shall be purchased for such consideration, (including without limitation loans from the Company or a Related Entity provided that such loans are not in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act, or any rule or regulation adopted thereunder or any other applicable law) paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, as the Committee shall determine.  
 

 7. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards.
 

 (a)
 Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards.  Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any Related Entity, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or a Related Entity, or any other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company or any Related Entity.  Such additional, tandem, and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time.  If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award or award, the Committee 
 

 13
 

 
 shall require the surrender of such other Award or award in consideration for the grant of the new Award.  In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any Related Entity, in which the value of Shares subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation (for example, Restricted Stock), or in which the exercise price, grant price or purchase price of the Award in the nature of a right that may be exercised is equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares minus the value of the cash compensation surrendered (for example, Options granted with an exercise price or grant price "discounted" by the amount of the cash compensation surrendered), provided that any such determination to grant an Award in lieu of cash compensation must be made in compliance with Section 409A of the Code.
 

 (b)
 Term of Awards.  The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee; provided that in no event shall the term of any Option exceed a period of ten years (or in the case of an Incentive Stock Option such shorter term as may be required under Section 422 of the Code).
 

 (c)
 Form and Timing of Payment Under Awards; Deferrals.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a Related Entity upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis, provided that any determination to pay in installments or on a deferred basis shall be made by the Committee at the date of grant.  Any installment or deferral provided for in the preceding sentence shall, however, be subject to the Company's compliance with applicable law, and in a manner intended to be exempt from or otherwise satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  Subject to Section 7(d) hereof, the settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Shares in connection with such settlement, in the sole discretion of the Committee or upon occurrence of one or more specified events (in addition to a Change in Control).  Any such settlement shall be at a value determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, which, without limitation, may in the case of an Option be limited to the amount if any by which the Fair Market Value of a Share on the settlement date exceeds the exercise or grant price.  Installment or deferred payments may be required by the Committee (subject to Section 7(d) hereof, including the consent provisions thereof in the case of any deferral of an outstanding Award not provided for in the original Award Agreement) or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee.  The Committee may, without limitation, make provision for the payment or crediting of a reasonable interest rate on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Shares.
 

 (d)
 Code Section 409A.
 

 (i)
 The Award Agreement for any Award that the Committee reasonably determines to constitute a Section 409A Plan, and the provisions of the Plan 
 

 14
 

 
 applicable to that Award, shall be construed in a manner consistent with the applicable requirements of Section 409A, and the Committee, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any Participant, may amend any Award Agreement (and the provisions of the Plan applicable thereto) if and to the extent that the Committee determines that such amendment is necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  
 

 (ii)
 If any Award constitutes a "nonqualified deferred compensation plan" under Section 409A of the Code (a "Section 409A Plan"), then the Award shall be subject to the following additional requirements, if and to the extent required to comply with Section 409A of the Code:
 

 (A)
 Payments under the Section 409A Plan may not be made earlier than the first to occur of (u) the Participant's "separation from service", (v) the date the Participant becomes "disabled", (w) the Participant's death, (x) a "specified time (or pursuant to a fixed schedule)" specified in the Award Agreement at the date of the deferral of such compensation, (y) a "change in the ownership or effective control of the corporation, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets" of the Company, or (z) the occurrence of an "unforeseeble emergency";
 

 (B)
 The time or schedule for any payment of the deferred compensation may not be accelerated, except to the extent provided in applicable Treasury Regulations or other applicable guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service;
 

 (C)
 Any elections with respect to the deferral of such compensation or the time and form of distribution of such deferred compensation shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A(a)(4) of the Code; and 
 

 (D)
 In the case of any Participant who is "specified employee", a distribution on account of a "separation from service" may not be made before the date which is six months after the date of the Participant's "separation from service" (or, if earlier, the date of the Participant's death).
 

 For purposes of the foregoing, the terms in quotations shall have the same meanings as those terms have for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and the limitations set forth herein shall be applied in such manner (and only to the extent) as shall be necessary to comply with any requirements of Section 409A of the Code that are applicable to the Award.  The Company does not make any representation to the Participant that any Awards awarded under this Plan will be exempt from, or satisfy, the requirements of Section 409A, and the Company shall have no liability or other obligation to indemnify or hold harmless any Participant or Beneficiary for any tax, additional tax, interest or penalties that any Participant or Beneficiary may incur in the event that any provision of this Plan, any Award Agreement, or any amendment or modification thereof, or any other action taken with respect thereto, is deemed to violate any of the requirements of Section 409A.
 

 15
 

 
 

 (iii)
 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company does not make any representation to any Participant or Beneficiary that any Awards made pursuant to this Plan are exempt from, or satisfy, the requirements of Section 409A, and the Company shall have no liability or other obligation to indemnify or hold harmless the Participant or any Beneficiary for any tax, additional tax, interest or penalties that the Participant or any Beneficiary may incur in the event that any provision of this Plan, or any Award Agreement, or any amendment or modification thereof, or any other action taken with respect thereto, is deemed to violate any of the requirements of Section 409A.  
 

 8. Change in Control.
 

 (a)
 Effect of "Change in Control."  If and only to the extent provided in any employment or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Related Entity, or in any Award Agreement, or to the extent otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and without any requirement that each Participant be treated consistently, upon the occurrence of a "Change in Control," as defined in Section 8(b) hereof:
 

 (i)
 Any Option that was not previously vested and exercisable as of the time of the Change in Control, shall become immediately vested and exercisable, subject to applicable restrictions set forth in Section 9(a) hereof.
 

 (ii)
 Any restrictions, deferral of settlement, and forfeiture conditions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award or an Other Stock-Based Award subject only to future service requirements granted under the Plan shall lapse and such Awards shall be deemed fully vested as of the time of the Change in Control, except to the extent of any waiver by the Participant and subject to applicable restrictions set forth in Section 9(a) hereof.
 

 (iii)
 With respect to any outstanding Award subject to achievement of performance goals and conditions under the Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion, deem such performance goals and conditions as having been met as of the date of the Change in Control.  
 

 (iv)
 Notwithstanding the foregoing or any provision in any Award Agreement to the contrary, and unless the Committee otherwise determines in a specific instance, each outstanding Option, Restricted Stock Award, or Other Stock-Based Award shall not be accelerated as described in Sections 8(a)(i), (ii) and (iii), if either (A) the Company is the surviving entity in the Change in Control and the Option, Restricted Stock Award, or Other Stock-Based Award continues to be outstanding after the Change in Control on the substantially same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to the Change in Control or (B) the successor company assumes or substitutes for the applicable Award.   For the purposes of this Section 8(a)(iv), an Option, Restricted Stock Award, or Other Stock-Based Award shall be considered assumed or substituted for if following the Change in Control the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, 
 

 16
 

 
 for each Share subject to the Option, Restricted Stock Award, or Other Stock-Based Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, on substantially the same vesting and other terms and conditions as were applicable to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the transaction constituting a Change in Control by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of such transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the transaction constituting a Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary, provide that the consideration to be received upon the exercise or vesting of an Option, Restricted Stock Award, or Other Stock-Based Award, for each Share subject thereto, will be solely common stock of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary substantially equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Shares in the transaction constituting a Change in Control.  The determination of such substantial equality of value of consideration shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion and its determination shall be conclusive and binding. 
 

 (b)
 Definition of "Change in Control."  Unless otherwise specified in any employment agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Related Entity, or in an Award Agreement, a "Change in Control" shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:
 

 (i)
 The acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of either (A) the value of then outstanding equity securities of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Stock") or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities") (the foregoing Beneficial Ownership hereinafter being referred to as a "Controlling Interest"); provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 8(b), the following acquisitions shall not constitute or result in a Change in Control:  (v) any acquisition directly from the Company; (w) any acquisition by the Company; (x) any acquisition by any Person that as of the Effective Date owns Beneficial Ownership of a Controlling Interest; (y) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Related Entity; or (z) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (iii) below; or
 

 (ii)
 During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the Effective Date) individuals who constitute the Board on the Effective Date (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial 
 

 17
 

 
 assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
 

 (iii)
 Consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Related Entities, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or equity of another entity by the Company or any of its Related Entities (each a "Business Combination"), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the value of the then outstanding equity securities and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of members of the board of directors (or comparable governing body of an entity that does not have such a board), as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination or any Person that as of the Effective Date owns Beneficial Ownership of a Controlling Interest) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the value of the then outstanding equity securities of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such entity except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors or other governing body of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or
 

 (iv)
 Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
 

 9. General Provisions.
 

 (a)
 Compliance With Legal and Other Requirements.  The Company may, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee, postpone the issuance or delivery of Shares or payment of other benefits under any Award until completion of such registration or qualification of such Shares or other required action under any federal or state law, rule or regulation, or compliance with any other obligation of the Company, as the Committee, may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such representations, furnish such information and comply with or be 
 

 18
 

 
 subject to such other conditions as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Shares or payment of other benefits in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, listing requirements, or other obligations.  
 

 (b)
 Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries.  No Award or other right or interest granted under the Plan shall be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or subject to any lien, obligation or liability of such Participant to any party, or assigned or transferred by such Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary upon the death of a Participant, and such Awards or rights that may be exercisable shall be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative, except that Awards and other rights (other than Incentive Stock Options) may be transferred to one or more Beneficiaries or other transferees during the lifetime of the Participant, and may be exercised by such transferees in accordance with the terms of such Award, but only if and to the extent such transfers are permitted by the Committee pursuant to the express terms of an Award Agreement (subject to any terms and conditions which the Committee may impose thereon).  A Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms and conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
 

 (c)
 Adjustments.
 

 (i)
 Adjustments to Awards.  In the event that any extraordinary dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, or other property), recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares and/or such other securities of the Company or any other issuer such that a substitution, exchange, or adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, substitute, exchange or adjust any or all of (A) the number and kind of Shares which may be delivered in connection with Awards granted thereafter, (B) the number and kind of Shares by which annual per-person Award limitations are measured under Section 4 hereof, (C) the number and kind of Shares subject to or deliverable in respect of outstanding Awards, (D) the exercise price, grant price or purchase price relating to any Award and/or make provision for payment of cash or other property in respect of any outstanding Award, and (E) any other aspect of any Award that the Committee determines to be appropriate.  
 

 (ii)
 Adjustments in Case of Certain Transactions.  In the event of any merger, consolidation or other reorganization in which the Company does not survive, or in the event of any Change in Control, any outstanding Awards may be dealt with in accordance with any of the following approaches, without the requirement of obtaining any consent or agreement of a Participant as such, as determined by the agreement effectuating the transaction or, if and to the extent not so determined, as determined by 
 

 19
 

 
 the Committee: (a) the continuation of the outstanding Awards by the Company, if the Company is a surviving entity, (b) the assumption or substitution for, as those terms are defined in Section 9(a)(iv) hereof, the outstanding Awards by the surviving entity or its parent or subsidiary, (c) full exercisability or vesting and accelerated expiration of the outstanding Awards, or (d) settlement of the value of the outstanding Awards in cash or cash equivalents or other property followed by cancellation of such Awards (which value, in the case of Options, shall be measured by the amount, if any, by which the Fair Market Value of a Share exceeds the exercise or grant price of the Option as of the effective date of the transaction).  The Committee shall give written notice of any proposed transaction referred to in this Section 9(c)(ii) at a reasonable period of time prior to the closing date for such transaction (which notice may be given either before or after the approval of such transaction), in order that Participants may have a reasonable period of time prior to the closing date of such transaction within which to exercise any Awards that are then exercisable (including any Awards that may become exercisable upon the closing date of such transaction).  A Participant may condition his exercise of any Awards upon the consummation of the transaction.
 

 (iii)
 Other Adjustments.  The Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards (including Performance Awards, or performance goals and conditions relating thereto) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets) affecting the Company, any Related Entity or any business unit, or the financial statements of the Company or any Related Entity, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, tax rates and regulations or business conditions or in view of the Committee's assessment of the business strategy of the Company, any Related Entity or business unit thereof, performance of comparable organizations, economic and business conditions, personal performance of a Participant, and any other circumstances deemed relevant.
 

 (d)
 Taxes.  The Company and any Related Entity are authorized to withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to an Award under the Plan, including from a distribution of Shares, or any payroll or other payment to a Participant, amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company or any Related Entity and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award.  This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Shares or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant's tax obligations, either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee.
 

 (e)
 Changes to the Plan and Awards.  The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan, or the Committee's authority to grant Awards under the Plan, without the consent of shareholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company's shareholders not later than the annual meeting next following such Board action if such 
 

 20
 

 
 shareholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation, and the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such changes to the Plan to shareholders for approval; provided that, except as otherwise permitted by the Plan or Award Agreement, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under the terms of any previously granted and outstanding Award.  The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award theretofore granted and any Award Agreement relating thereto, except as otherwise provided in the Plan; provided that, except as otherwise permitted by the Plan or Award Agreement, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee or the Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under terms of such Award.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Committee shall be authorized to amend any outstanding Option to reduce the exercise price or grant price without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company.  In addition, the Committee shall be authorized to cancel outstanding Options replaced with Awards having a lower exercise price without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company.
 

 (f)
 Limitation on Rights Conferred Under Plan.  Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder or under any Award shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or a Related Entity; (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or a Related Entity to terminate any Eligible Person's or Participant's Continuous Service at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and Employees, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company including, without limitation, any right to receive dividends or distributions, any right to vote or act by written consent, any right to attend meetings of shareholders or any right to receive any information concerning the Company's business, financial condition, results of operation or prospects, unless and until such time as the Participant is duly issued Shares on the stock books of the Company in accordance with the terms of an Award.  None of the Company, its officers or its directors shall have any fiduciary obligation to the Participant with respect to any Awards unless and until the Participant is duly issued Shares pursuant to the Award on the stock books of the Company in accordance with the terms of an Award.  Neither the Company nor any of the Company's officers, directors, representatives or agents is granting any rights under the Plan to the Participant whatsoever, oral or written, express or implied, other than those rights expressly set forth in this Plan or the Award Agreement.
 

 (g)
 Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts.  The Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and deferred compensation.  With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant or obligation to deliver Shares pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company; provided that the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts and deposit therein cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, or make other arrangements to meet the Company's obligations under the Plan.  Such trusts or other arrangements shall be 
 

 21
 

 
 consistent with the "unfunded" status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with the consent of each affected Participant.  The trustee of such trusts may be authorized to dispose of trust assets and reinvest the proceeds in alternative investments, subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify and in accordance with applicable law.
 

 (h)
 Nonexclusivity of the Plan.  Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the shareholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable.
 

 (i)
 Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event of a forfeiture of an Award with respect to which a Participant paid cash or other consideration, the Participant shall be repaid the amount of such cash or other consideration.  No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award.  The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
 

 (j)
 Governing Law.  The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, any rules and regulations under the Plan, and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws, and applicable federal law.
 

 (k)
 Non-U.S. Laws.  The Committee shall have the authority to adopt such modifications, procedures, and subplans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of foreign countries in which the Company or its Related Entities may operate to assure the viability of the benefits from Awards granted to Participants performing services in such countries and to meet the objectives of the Plan.
 

 (l)
 Plan Effective Date and Shareholder Approval; Termination of Plan.  The Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date, subject to subsequent approval, within 12 months of its adoption by the Board, by shareholders of the Company eligible to vote in the election of directors, by a vote sufficient to meet the requirements of Code Section 422 and other laws, regulations, and obligations of the Company applicable to the Plan.  Awards may be granted subject to shareholder approval, but may not be exercised or otherwise settled in the event the shareholder approval is not obtained.  The Plan shall terminate at the earliest of (a) such time as no Shares remain available for issuance under the Plan, (b) termination of this Plan by the Board, or (c) the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.  Awards outstanding upon expiration of the Plan shall remain in effect until they have been exercised or terminated, or have expired.
 

 

 

 

 22

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00204-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00204-of-00352.parquet"}]]