Document:

ex101-holmemploymentagre

EXECUTION VERSION      EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT  (this “Agreement”)  BETWEEN:  CRONOS USA CLIENT SERVICES LLC    (the “Company”)    - and -    JAMES HOLM    (the “Executive”)     - and -     solely for the purposes specified herein,    CRONOS GROUP INC.    (“Cronos Group”)     WHEREAS the Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cronos Group;    WHEREAS the Company wishes to engage the services of the Executive in the position of  Chief Financial Officer of Cronos Group;   WHEREAS the Executive will have extensive access to the customers, vendors, suppliers,  distribution processes and other unique and valuable confidential information and trade secrets of the  Company, Cronos Group and their respective affiliates (excluding Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries)  and related entities (together, the “Group”);   WHEREAS the Company and the Executive desire to enter into a written employment  agreement;    AND WHEREAS the Executive acknowledges that this Agreement, including, without  limitation, the proprietary rights, confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition provisions that  form part of this Agreement are essential to protect the legitimate business interests of the Group;    NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants and  agreements contained in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and  sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive, and solely for the  purposes specified herein, Cronos Group (together, the “Parties”), agree as follows:    1. Position  1.1 The Executive shall be employed in the position of Chief Financial Officer, commencing on  November 14, 2022, or such other date as agreed between the Executive and the Company in  

 

  2    writing, email being sufficient (the actual date on which the Executive commences employment  with the Company, the “Effective Date”).  2. Location  2.1 The Executive shall be based primarily from the Executive’s home office. During the term of the  Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive’s principal place of residence shall  remain in the United States. The Executive shall be available for business travel as reasonably  required to perform the Executive’s duties hereunder.    3. Work Authorizations  3.1 It is a condition of this Agreement and the Executive’s employment that the Executive shall be  able to work lawfully in the United States. However, it is understood and agreed that the  Executive’s position may require that the Executive work abroad, as needed by the Group. The  Executive’s employment with the Company is therefore also conditional upon the securing of all  necessary visas, work permits and other authorizations that may be required to enter and/or work  in any of the countries in which the Executive may be assigned to work or visit during the term of  employment. The Company shall provide reasonable assistance in respect of immigration matters.  Despite such assistance, the Company cannot guarantee when or whether the Executive’s  application for a work permit, visa, permanent residence status or other immigration status or  documents will be approved. At any time, should necessary authorizations that permit the  Executive to legally work in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which the Executive  will be required to work or visit not be obtained or expire without the possibility of renewal, the  Executive’s employment shall come to an end and shall be treated by the Company as a  termination without Just Cause (as defined below); provided, that if such authorization expires  without the possibility of renewal due to any action or inaction by the Executive, the Executive’s  employment shall come to an end and shall be treated by the Company as a termination with Just  Cause.  4. Employment Duties  4.1 The Executive shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as are normally associated  with or incidental and ancillary to the Executive’s position and as may be assigned to the  Executive from time to time. In fulfilling the Executive’s duties to the Company, the Executive  shall be instructed by and shall regularly report to the Chief Executive Officer of Cronos Group  (the “CEO”). The Executive’s duties, hours of work, location of employment and reporting  relationships may be adjusted from time to time by the Company to meet changing business  and  operational needs. Without limiting the foregoing, the Executive shall:  (a) devote the Executive’s full working time and attention during normal business hours and  such other times as may be reasonably required to the business and affairs of the Group  and shall not, without the prior written consent of the CEO, undertake any other business  (including any position on a board of any for profit, public benefit, nonprofit or other  entity) or occupation or public office;  (b) perform those duties that may be reasonably assigned to the Executive diligently,  honestly, and faithfully to the best of the Executive’s ability and in the best interest of the  Group;  

 

  3    (c) abide by all Cronos Group policies, as instituted and amended from time to time,  including, without limitation, the Cronos Group - Employee Handbook (United States);   (d) use best efforts to promote the interests and goodwill of the Group and not knowingly do,  or permit to be done, anything that may be prejudicial to the Group’s interests, it being  understood and agreed that the Executive is a fiduciary of Cronos Group and owes  fiduciary obligations to Cronos Group that are not extinguished or limited by this  Agreement; and  (e) identify and immediately report to the CEO any gross misrepresentations or violations of  any Cronos Group policy, including, without limitation, the Cronos Group – Employee  Handbook (United States) or applicable law or stock exchange rule by Cronos Group or  its management.   5. Compensation and Benefits  5.1 Base Salary. The Company shall pay the Executive an annual base salary of US$385,000, less  applicable deductions and withholdings (as in effect from time to time, “Base Salary”). The Base  Salary shall be paid by direct deposit on a bi-weekly basis, in accordance with the Company’s  payroll practices (as may be amended from time to time by the Company in its sole discretion).  Any changes to Base Salary shall be at the sole discretion of the Company.  The Base Salary shall  be subject to increases, but not decreases.  5.2 Annual Performance Bonus. Starting in the Group’s 2023 fiscal year, the Executive shall be  eligible to participate in the Group’s annual cash bonus plan as may be in effect from time to  time, and to receive an annual bonus, subject to the terms and conditions of that plan as  determined by Cronos Group at its sole discretion. The Executive’s annual target bonus  opportunity shall initially be 115% of Base Salary, provided that the actual bonus amount, if any,  shall be determined pursuant to the terms of the applicable Group annual bonus plan. For the  avoidance of doubt, the Executive will not be eligible for an annual cash bonus in respect of the  Group’s 2022 fiscal year. The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate any annual  bonus plan established or adopted at any time, without notice or further obligation. Subject to  Section 6.3, the Executive must be actively employed by the Company on the applicable payment  date to be eligible for any annual bonus, unless provided otherwise pursuant to the applicable  annual cash bonus plan. For certainty, if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the  Company with or without Just Cause, or the Executive resigns or otherwise terminates  employment for any reason, the Executive shall cease to be “actively employed” on the last day  of employment as specified in the Company’s or the Executive’s written notice of termination, as  applicable, shall not be considered “actively employed” during any period of notice, pay in lieu of  notice, severance payment or similar amount, and shall not be entitled to an annual bonus (or any  part thereof) or damages in lieu of the Executive’s eligibility for a bonus, unless provided  otherwise pursuant to Section 6.3 and/or the applicable annual cash bonus plan. There shall be no  guarantee of a bonus in any given year.   5.3 Long-Term Incentive Opportunity.   (a) Starting in the Group’s 2023 fiscal year, the Executive shall be eligible to receive annual  grants of equity-based awards over shares of Cronos Group with an initial target  incentive opportunity of US$577,500 (based on the grant date fair value of such awards),  provided that the actual amount, if any, of the grants shall be determined by the board of  directors of Cronos Group (the “Board”) or the Compensation Committee of the Board,  

 

  4    as applicable, at its sole discretion. Any equity-based grants shall be governed by the  terms and conditions of the equity award plan or any other applicable plan of Cronos  Group and the applicable award agreement, except as expressly set forth herein. Such  plan or plans may be amended from time to time at Cronos Group’s sole discretion. In the  event of the cessation of the Executive’s employment for any reason, the Executive’s  entitlements in respect of any equity-based awards shall be governed by the terms and  conditions of the applicable equity award plan, any other applicable plan and the  applicable award agreement, except as expressly set forth herein. The Executive shall not  be eligible for any further grants of equity-based awards following the effective date of  termination or damages in lieu thereof, regardless of any applicable notice period, pay in  lieu of notice, severance payment or similar amount.   (b) In addition, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Date, the Board shall  grant the Executive a one-time grant of equity-based awards, comprised of (i) non- qualified stock options with a grant date fair value of US$250,000, vesting ratably on a  quarterly basis over a four-year period following the date of grant, and (ii) restricted  share units with a grant date fair value of US$50,000, vesting on the third anniversary of  the grant date (together, the “Sign-On Awards”). The Sign-On Awards shall be subject  to the terms and conditions set forth in Cronos Group’s 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive  Plan and the applicable award agreements, in substantially the forms attached hereto  as Exhibit A and Exhibit B.  5.4 Group Insured Benefits. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in the benefits programs  of the Company or Cronos Group, as applicable, for health and dental, life insurance, disability  and other benefits as may be available to employees of the Company from time to time, subject to  the terms and conditions of the applicable plan document. The Company or the Group, as  applicable, reserves the right to alter, amend or discontinue all benefits, coverages, plans and  programs referred to in this Section 5.4, without advance notice or other obligation.   5.5 Signing Bonus. The Company shall provide the Executive with a one-time lump sum cash  payment of US$250,000 less applicable deductions and withholdings, payable within thirty days  after the Effective Date (the “Signing Bonus”). If the Executive provides notice of resignation for  any reason or the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Just Cause before the first  anniversary of the Effective Date, the Executive shall be required to repay, within thirty days  after the date on which the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates, an amount  equal to: the Signing Bonus, multiplied by a fraction where the numerator is twelve minus the  number of completed months in which the Executive was employed by the Company, and the  denominator is twelve.  5.6 Vacation. The Executive shall be eligible for four weeks’ paid vacation per year, or for such  greater length of time as may be consistent with the vacation policy of the Company for its senior  executives. The Executive shall take vacation time at such times as are approved in advance by  the Company in accordance with the policies of the Company. Vacation shall be accrued in  accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as may be amended from time to time.   5.7 Business Expenses. The Executive shall be reimbursed for all reasonable travel and other out-of- pocket expenses properly incurred by the Executive from time to time in connection with  performance of the Executive’s duties and submitted for reimbursement in accordance with the  following sentence of this Section 5.7. The Executive shall furnish to the Company all invoices or  statements in respect of expenses for which the Executive seeks reimbursement in accordance  

 

  5    with the Company’s policies or procedures for expense reimbursement, as may be amended from  time to time.   5.8 Clawback Policy; Share Ownership Guidelines. The Executive agrees and acknowledges that  any annual, long-term or other cash, equity or equity-based incentive or bonus compensation  paid, provided or awarded to the Executive, including, notwithstanding anything to the contrary  in such policy, the stock options and restricted share units awarded in connection with the Sign- On Awards, is subject to the terms and conditions of any clawback or recapture policy that  Cronos Group may adopt from time to time, and may be subject to the requirement that such  compensation be repaid to the Company after it has been distributed to the Executive. The  Executive agrees and acknowledges that the Executive shall be subject to Cronos Group’s share  ownership guidelines for the Executive’s position, as the same may be in effect or amended from  time to time. As of the Effective Date, such guidelines require the Executive to achieve, within  five years of the Effective Date and thereafter during the term of the Executive’s employment  with the Company, a level of ownership equal to two times Base Salary.  6. Termination of Employment  6.1 Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment with  the Company at any time by providing the Company with at least three months of notice in  writing. If, upon receipt of the Executive’s resignation (or any later date during such notice  period), the Company terminates the Executive’s employment before the date the resignation was  to be effective, the Company shall, in full satisfaction of its obligations to the Executive: (a) pay  the Executive’s Base Salary and vacation pay accrued until the date the resignation was to be  effective up to a maximum of three months; and (b) reimburse the outstanding expenses properly  incurred by the Executive until the date the Executive’s employment ceases and submitted for  reimbursement pursuant to Section 5.7. In such circumstances the Executive shall be ineligible  for any pro-rated bonus for the year of termination, and any entitlements in respect of any equity- based awards shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the applicable equity award plan,  any other applicable plan and the applicable award agreement.   6.2 Termination by the Company for Just Cause or on Death or Disability. The Company may  terminate the Executive’s employment at any time for Just Cause without prior notice or in the  event of the Executive’s death or Disability (as defined below). On the termination of the  Executive’s employment for Just Cause or on the Executive’s death or Disability, this Agreement  and the Executive’s employment shall terminate and the Company shall, in full satisfaction of its  obligations to the Executive: (a) pay the Executive’s Base Salary and vacation pay accrued until  the date the Executive’s employment ceases; and (b) reimburse the outstanding expenses properly  incurred by the Executive until the date the Executive’s employment ceases and submitted for  reimbursement pursuant to Section 5.7. In such circumstances the Executive shall be ineligible  for any pro-rated bonus for the year of termination, and any entitlements in respect of equity- based awards shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the applicable equity award plan,  any other applicable plan and the applicable award agreement. For the purposes of this  Agreement, (A) “Just Cause” means: (i) any act or omission constituting “just cause” for  dismissal without notice under applicable law; (ii) the Executive’s repeated failure or refusal to  perform the Executive’s principal duties and responsibilities after notice from the CEO or other  officer of the Company; (iii) misappropriation of the funds or property of the Company; (iv) use  of alcohol or drugs in violation of the Company’s policies or in a manner that interferes with the  Executive’s obligations under this Agreement; (v) the indictment, arrest or conviction in a court  of law for, or the entering of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a summary or indictable  offence or any crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, dishonesty or theft (subject to the  

 

  6    Company’s obligations under applicable law); (vi) engaging in any act which is a violation of any  law, regulation or Cronos Group policy, that, if violated, injures or could reasonably be expected  to injure the reputation, business or business relationships of the Group; (vii) engaging in any act  which is a violation of any Cronos Group policy with respect to sexual harassment,  discrimination or similar or related policies; or (viii) any act which injures or could reasonably be  expected to injure the reputation, business or business relationships of the Group, and (B)  “Disability” means a physical or mental incapacity of the Executive that has prevented the  Executive from performing the duties customarily assigned to the Executive for 180 calendar  days, whether or not consecutive, out of any twelve consecutive months and that in the opinion of  the Company, acting on the basis of advice from a duly qualified medical practitioner, is likely to  continue to a similar degree.  6.3 Termination by the Company without Just Cause or Resignation for Good Reason. The  Company may terminate the Executive’s employment at any time without Just Cause, on  providing thirty days’ written notice to the Executive. The Executive may resign from the  Executive’s employment for Good Reason (as defined below) on providing thirty days’ written  notice to the Company. If (a) the Company terminates the Executive’s employment without Just  Cause, or (b) the Executive resigns from the Executive’s employment for Good Reason, and in  each case, if the Executive signs, delivers to the Company, and does not revoke a release in favor  of the Group to the Company in the form attached as Exhibit C to this Agreement, the Company,  shall, in full satisfaction of its obligations to the Executive:   (a) pay the Executive’s Base Salary and accrued but unpaid vacation pay in accordance with  applicable legislation;  (b) reimburse the Executive’s expenses properly incurred until the date the Executive’s  employment ceases and properly submitted in accordance with the Company’s policies;  (c) pay the Executive a lump sum payment equal to the annual Base Salary, payable within  sixty days following the Executive’s date of termination;  (d) continue the Executive’s group insured benefits at active employee rates under the  Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, for one year following  the Executive’s date of termination or until the date on which the Executive obtains  alternate benefit coverage, whichever occurs first, subject to the terms and conditions of  the benefit plans, as amended from time to time. If the Company is unable for any reason  to continue its contributions to the benefit plans as set out in this Agreement, it shall pay  the Executive an amount equal to the Company’s required contributions to such benefit  plans on behalf of the Executive for such period. The Executive agrees that the Executive  is required to notify the Company when the Executive obtains alternate life, medical and  dental benefit coverage;   (e) subject to the terms and conditions of the Group’s annual cash bonus plan in effect at  such time, provide the Executive with an annual performance bonus in respect of the  fiscal year in which the Executive’s employment terminates. The annual bonus, if any,  shall be (i) prorated based on the number of complete months of such fiscal year during  which the Executive was actively employed up to the date of the Executive’s termination  of employment, and (ii) payable as a lump sum when annual bonuses in respect of the  fiscal year are paid to other senior executives of the Company. Any assessment of the  Company’s and the Executive’s year-to-date performances for purposes of determining  the amount of the annual cash bonus, if any, shall be at the Company’s sole discretion.  

 

  7    For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing,  if the Executive’s employment terminates after the end of a fiscal year, but before the  payment of any annual performance bonus in respect of such year, the Executive shall  only be eligible for a performance bonus in respect of such completed fiscal year, and  shall not be eligible for a prorated bonus in respect of any subsequent fiscal year(s); and  (f) determine the Executive’s entitlements in respect of equity-based awards in accordance  with the terms and conditions of the applicable equity award plan, any other applicable  plan and the applicable award agreement.   If the Executive does not sign and deliver to the Company the release in favor of the Group  described above, or if the Executive revokes the foregoing release, the Company shall only  provide the Executive with such compensation (including any Base Salary and accrued but  unpaid vacation pay, termination pay, severance pay and expense reimbursements submitted in  accordance with Section 5.7) and benefits that are expressly required pursuant to applicable law,  if any.  In this Agreement, “Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following events without  the Executive’s consent, except in each case for any action not taken in bad faith and which is  remedied by the Company within thirty days after a written notice thereof by the Executive  (provided that such written notice must be received by the Company within sixty days of the  Executive becoming aware of such condition):  (aa) the assignment to the Executive of duties materially different than the duties assigned to  the Executive hereunder;  (bb) a material diminution in the Executive’s title, status, seniority, responsibilities or  authority and/or a requirement to report to any person other than the Company’s CEO or  the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Board;  (cc) the relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment;  (dd) a material reduction in the Executive’s Base Salary, target bonus opportunity or target  long-term incentive opportunity; or  (ee) a material breach by the Company of the terms of this Agreement.  6.4 Resignation on Termination. The Executive agrees that upon any termination of employment  with the Company for any reason the Executive shall immediately tender resignation from any  position the Executive may hold as an officer or director of the Company and take all steps  necessary to remove the Executive from any and all designated positions (a) under any applicable  laws, including without limitation, the Cannabis Act (Canada) and the regulations thereunder, as  the same may be amended from time to time, (b) with any subsidiary or affiliate of Cronos Group  or (c) held by the Executive as a result of any Group member’s contractual rights. If the  Executive fails to comply with this obligation within three days of the Executive’s termination or  resignation, the Executive hereby irrevocably authorizes Cronos Group to appoint a person in the  Executive's name and on the Executive's behalf to sign or execute any documents and/or do all  things necessary or requisite to give effect to such resignation.  6.5 Compliance with Laws. The Executive understands and agrees that the entitlements under this  Article 6 are provided in full satisfaction of the Executive’s entitlements to notice of termination,  

 

  8    pay in lieu of notice, and severance pay, if any, under this Agreement, any employee benefit plan  sponsored or maintained by the Group, applicable law (including the common law) or otherwise.  7. Restrictive Covenants  7.1 Non-Disclosure. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that:  (a) during the term of the Executive’s employment, the Executive may be given access to or  may become acquainted with confidential and proprietary information of the Group and  third parties to which the Group may have any obligations of non-disclosure or  confidentiality, including without limitation: trade secrets; know-how; Intellectual  Property (as defined below); Executive-Developed IP (as defined below), Development  Records (as defined below), existing and contemplated work product resulting from or  related to projects performed or to be performed by or for the Group; programs and  program modules; processes; algorithms; design concepts; system designs; production  data; test data; research and development information; information regarding the  acquisition, protection, enforcement and licensing of proprietary rights; technology; joint  ventures; business, accounting, engineering and financial information and data;  marketing and development plans and methods of obtaining business; forecasts; future  plans and strategies of the Group; pricing, cost, billing and fee arrangements and policies;  quoting procedures; special methods and processes; lists and/or identities of customers,  suppliers, vendors and contractors; the type, quantity and specifications of products and  services purchased, leased, licensed or received by the Group and/or any of its customers,  suppliers, or vendors; internal personnel and financial information; business and/or  personal information about any senior staff members of the Group or any individual,  corporation (including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability  company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, estate, trust, organization,  governmental authority or other entity of any kind or nature (“Person”) with which the  Group enters a strategic alliance or any other partnering arrangements; vendor and  supplier information; the manner and method of conducting the Group’s business; the  identity or nature of relationship of any Persons associated with or engaged as  consultants, advisers, agents, distributors or sales representatives (the “Confidential  Information”) the disclosure of any of which to competitors of the Group or to the  general public, or the use of same by the Executive or any competitor of the Group,  would be highly detrimental to the interests of the Group;  (b) disclosure or use of Confidential Information, other than in connection with the Group’s  business or as specifically authorized by the Group, will be highly detrimental to the  business and interests of the Group and could result in serious loss of business and  damage to it. Accordingly, the Executive specifically agrees to hold all Confidential  Information in strictest confidence, and the Executive agrees that the Executive shall not,  without the Company’s prior written consent, disclose, divulge or reveal to any Person, or  use for any purpose other than for the exclusive benefit of the Company, any Confidential  Information, in whatever form contained; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to  information (except for personal information about identifiable individuals) that: (i) was  known to the public prior to its disclosure to the Executive; (ii) becomes generally known  to the public subsequent to disclosure to the Executive other than by reason of the  Executive’s breach of this Section; (iii) becomes available to the Executive from a source  independent of the Group; or (iv) the Executive is specifically required to disclose by  applicable law or legal process (provided that, to the extent legally permissible, the  Executive provides the Company with prompt advance written notice of the contemplated  

 

  9    disclosure and cooperates with the Company in seeking a protective order or other  appropriate protection of such information); and  (c) the Executive shall deliver to the Company, immediately upon termination of  employment (for any reason and regardless of whether the Executive or the Company  terminate the employment) or at any time the Company so requests: (i) any and all  documents, files, notes, memoranda, models, databases, computer files and/or other  computer programs reflecting any Confidential Information whatsoever or otherwise  relating to the Group’s business; (ii) lists or other documents regarding customers,  suppliers, or vendors of the Group or leads or referrals to prospective business deals; and  (iii) any computer equipment, home office equipment, automobile or other business  equipment belonging to the Company that the Executive may then possess or have under  the Executive’s control.  (d) 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) provides: “An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable  under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is  made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or  indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a  suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a  lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.” Nothing in this Agreement  is intended to conflict with 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) or create liability for disclosures of trade  secrets that are expressly allowed by 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b). Accordingly, the Executive  has the right to disclose in confidence trade secrets to federal, state, and local government  officials, or to an attorney, for the sole purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected  violation of law. The Executive also has the right to disclose trade secrets in a document  filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, but only if the filing is made under seal and  protected from public disclosure. Without limiting the foregoing, no confidentiality or  other obligation the Executive owes to the Group prohibits the Executive from reporting  possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental authority or entity under any  applicable whistleblower protection provision of applicable Canadian, U.S. Federal or  U.S. State law or regulation (including, without limitation Section 21F of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) or requires the  Executive to notify the Company of any such report.   7.2 Intellectual Property  (a)  In this Section 7.2, the term “Germplasm” means any living or preserved biological  tissue or material which may be used for the purpose of plant breeding and/or  propagation, including, without limitation, plants, cuttings, seeds, clones, cells, tissues,  plant materials and genetic materials (including, without limitation, nucleic acids, genes,  promoters, reading frames, regulatory sequences, terminators, chromosomes whether  artificial or natural and vectors).  (b) For the purposes of this Agreement, “Intellectual Property” means any and all  intellectual property rights and proprietary rights existing in any jurisdiction throughout  the world, including any rights in or to:  (i) patents, patent applications, patent rights,  inventions, industrial designs, industrial design applications, industrial design rights,  ideas, discoveries and invention disclosures (whether or not patentable), and any  divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, renewals, reexaminations and  extensions of any of the foregoing; (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade  dress, logos, packaging designs, slogans, other indicia of source, Internet domain names  

 

  10    and URLs, and registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing and  any renewals thereof, together with any goodwill symbolized thereby; (iii) copyrightable  works (including with respect to software and compilations of data), whether published  or unpublished, including all copyrights, copyright registrations and applications;  (iv) trade secrets, and confidential or proprietary information, data or database rights,  know-how, techniques, designs, processes, recipes and formulas; (v) Germplasm, plant  varieties, and applications and registrations for plant varieties issued by or pending before  any Governmental Authority, including under the Plant Variety Protection Act (United  States) or the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act (Canada); and (vi) circuit topographies,  database rights and software.  (c) The Executive agrees to promptly disclose to the Company (including, without limitation,  to the CEO) all Intellectual Property, including, but without limitation, with respect to  Germplasm, and whether or not any of the foregoing are registrable, which the Executive  may author, make, conceive, develop, discover or reduce to practice, solely, jointly or in  common with other employees, during the Executive’s employment with the Company,  and which relate to the business activities of the Group (“Executive-Developed IP”).  Intellectual Property coming within the scope of the business of the Company made  and/or developed by the Executive while in the employ of the Company, whether or not  conceived or made during regular working hours and whether or not the Executive is  specifically instructed to make or develop the same, shall be for the benefit of the  Company and shall be considered to have been made pursuant to this Agreement and  shall be deemed Executive-Developed IP and shall immediately become exclusive  property of the Company.   (d) The Executive further acknowledges that all Executive-Developed IP is “work made for  hire” (to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law), “made in the course of  employment” and owned exclusively by the Company and that the Executive has been  compensated for such Executive-Developed IP by the Executive’s salary, commissions  and other benefits, unless regulated otherwise by law. To the extent such Executive- Developed IP is not “work made for hire”, “made in the course of employment” or  otherwise not owned automatically and exclusively by the Company as a matter of law,  then to the greatest extent permitted under by applicable law, the Executive hereby  irrevocably assigns and transfers, and shall assign and transfer, to the Company, the  Executive’s entire right, title and interest in and to any and all Executive-Developed IP,  and the Executive agrees to execute and deliver to the Company any and all instruments  necessary or desirable to accomplish the foregoing and, in addition, to do all lawful acts  which may be necessary or desirable to assist the Company to obtain and enforce  protection of Executive-Developed IP. If and to the extent the foregoing assignment  cannot be effected as a matter of law with respect to any Executive-Developed IP, the  Executive hereby grants to the Company an exclusive, perpetual, fully-paid, royalty-free,  irrevocable, worldwide, fully-transferable, fully sublicensable (on multiple levels) license  to use, modify, display, perform, make, have made, copy, make derivative works, import,  export, distribute and otherwise exploit such Executive-Developed IP for any purpose.   (e) The Executive must keep, maintain and make available to the Company complete and up- to-date records relating to any Executive-Developed IP, and agree that all such records  are the sole and absolute property of the Company. For greater certainty, all materials  related to Executive-Developed IP (including, without limitation, notes, records and  correspondence, whether written or electronic) (collectively, “Development Records”)  are the property of the Company, which the Executive shall provide to the Company  

 

  11    upon request. Development Records shall not be removed from Company premises  without the prior written consent of the Company. The Executive agrees to maintain as  confidential any Executive-Developed IP and Development Records unless and until  made generally public by the Company, and not to make application for registration of  rights in respect of any Executive-Developed IP unless it is at the request and direction of  the Company.  (f) The Executive shall, at the request and cost of the Company, and for no additional  compensation or consideration from the Company, sign, execute, make and do all such  deeds, documents, acts and things as the Company and its duly authorized agents may  reasonably require: (i) to apply for, obtain and vest in the name of the Company alone  (unless the Company otherwise directs) registered rights in any Executive-Developed IP,  including any patents, industrial designs, letters patent, copyrights, plant breeders’ rights,  trademarks, service marks or other analogous protection in any country throughout the  world and when so obtained or vested to renew and restore the same; (ii) to perfect or  evidence ownership by the Company or its designees of any and all Executive-Developed  IP, in form suitable for recordation in the United States, Canada and any other intellectual  property office anywhere in the world; (iii) to defend any opposition proceedings of any  type whatsoever in respect of such applications, and any opposition proceedings or  petitions or applications of any type whatsoever for revocation of such Executive- Developed IP, whether such proceedings are brought before a court or any administrative  body; (iv) to defend and/or assert the Group’s rights in any Intellectual Property against  any third party; and (v) to assert the Executive’s moral rights in any Intellectual Property  against any third party. The Executive further waives all moral rights in and to any  Executive-Developed IP and all work the Executive produced during the course of the  Executive’s employment in favor of the Company, its licensees, successors and assigns,  and transferees of the Executive-Developed IP and such work.  (g) If, in the course of performing duties pursuant to this Agreement, the Executive uses any  Germplasm, the Executive shall only use Germplasm provided by the Company, and the  Executive agrees that any such Germplasm provided by the Company remains the sole  property of the Company and that such Germplasm shall not be removed from Company  premises without the prior written consent of the Company.   (h) The Executive represents and warrants that the Executive does not possess any  Intellectual Property or Germplasm of any third party, including, without limitation, any  prior employer or competitor of the Group, and the Executive shall not acquire and/or use  Intellectual Property or Germplasm of any third party in the course of performing duties  pursuant to this Agreement and shall not bring any Germplasm of any third party onto  Company premises.  7.3 Non-Competition. The Executive shall not at any time during the Executive’s employment with  the Company and for a period of one year following the termination of the Executive’s  employment with the Company for any reason, either individually or in partnership or jointly or  in conjunction with any Person as principal, agent, consultant, employee, partner, director,   shareholder (other than an investment of less than five percent of the shares of a company traded  on a registered stock exchange or traded in the over the counter market in the United States or  Canada), or in any other capacity whatsoever:    (a) engage in employment or enter into a contract to do work related to the research into,  development, cultivation, production, supply, sales or marketing of cannabis or cannabis  

 

  12    derived products; or the development or provision of any services (including, without  limitation, technical and product support, or consultancy or customer services) which  relate to cannabis or cannabis derived products (the “Business”);   (b) have any financial or other interest (including by way of royalty or other compensation  arrangements) in or in respect of the business of any Person which carries on the  Business in any respect; or   (c) advise, lend money to or guarantee the debts or obligations of any Person which carries  on the Business in any respect;    anywhere within Canada and/or the United States of America.  For purposes of this section, “cannabis” means (a) any plant or seed, whether live or dead, from  any species or subspecies of genus Cannabis, including Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica and  Cannabis ruderalis, marijuana (which has the meaning ascribed to such term under applicable  law, including the Controlled Substances Act) and industrial hemp (which has the meaning  ascribed to such term and the term “hemp” under applicable law, including the Industrial Hemp  Regulations (Canada) issued under the Cannabis Act and under the Agricultural Marketing Act of  1946) and any part, whether live or dead, of the plant or seed thereof, including any stalk, branch,  root, leaf, flower, or trichome; (b) any material obtained, extracted, isolated, or purified from the  plant or seed or the parts contemplated by clause (a) of this definition, including any oil,  cannabinoid, terpene, genetic material or any combination thereof; (c) any organism engineered  to biosynthetically produce the material contemplated by clause (b) of this definition, including  any micro-organism engineered for such purpose; (d) any biologically or chemically synthesized  version of the material contemplated by clause (b) of this definition or any analog thereof,  including any product made by any organism contemplated by clause (c) of this definition; and  (e) any other meaning ascribed to the term “cannabis” under applicable law, including the  Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Cannabis Act.   7.4 Non-Solicitation of Customers. The Executive shall not, during the Executive’s employment  and for the one year period immediately following the termination of the Executive’s  employment for any reason, whether alone or for or in conjunction with any Person, whether as  an employee, partner, director, principal, agent, consultant or in any other capacity whatsoever,  directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to solicit any Customer or Prospective Customer for the  purpose of obtaining the business of any Customer or Prospective Customer or persuading any  such Customer or Prospective Customer to cease to do business with or reduce the amount of  business it would otherwise provide to the Group. For the purpose of this Agreement,  “Customer” means any Person which is a current customer or has been a customer of the Group  during the term of the Executive’s employment with the Company but in the event of the  cessation of the Executive’s employment “Customer” shall include only those current customers  of the Group with whom the Executive had direct contact or access to Confidential Information  by virtue of the Executive’s role as an employee of the Company at any time during the twelve  month period preceding the date of the cessation of the Executive’s employment; “direct  contact” means direct communications with or by the Executive, whether in person or otherwise,  for purposes of servicing, selling, or marketing on behalf of the Company, but only if such  communications are more than trivial in nature, and in any case excluding bulk or mass marketing  communications directed to multiple customers; and, “Prospective Customer” means any Person  has been actively contacted and solicited for its business by representatives of the Group, but in  the event of the cessation of the Executive’s employment, shall include only those Persons  

 

  13    contacted with the involvement and knowledge of the Executive within the twelve month period  immediately preceding the date of the cessation of the Executive’s employment.   7.5 Non-Solicitation of Employees. The Executive shall not, during the Executive’s employment  and for two years following the termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason,  whether alone or for or in conjunction with any Person, whether as an employee, partner, director,  principal, agent, consultant or in any other capacity whatsoever, directly or indirectly solicit or  assist in the solicitation of any employee of the Group to leave such employment.   7.6 Disclosure. During the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall promptly  disclose to the Board full information concerning any interest, direct or indirect, of the Executive  (whether as owner, shareholder, partner, lender or other investor, director, officer, employee,  consultant or otherwise) or any member of the Executive’s immediate family, in any business  which is reasonably known to the Executive to purchase or otherwise obtain services or products  from, or to sell or otherwise provide services or products to the Group or to any of their  respective suppliers or Customers.   7.7 Other Employment. During the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall  not, except as a representative of the Company or with the prior written approval of the CEO,  whether paid or unpaid, be directly or indirectly engaged, concerned or have any financial interest  in any capacity in any other business, trade, professional or occupation (or the setting up of any  business, trade, profession or occupation).  7.8 Return of Materials. All files, forms, brochures, books, materials, written correspondence  (including email and instant messages), memoranda, documents, manuals, computer disks,  software products and lists (including financial and other information and lists of customers,  suppliers, products and prices) pertaining to the Group which may come into the Executive’s  possession or control shall at all times remain the property of the Group as applicable. Upon  termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, the Executive agrees to immediately  deliver to the Company all such property in the Executive’s possession or directly or indirectly  under the Executive’s control. The Executive agrees not to make, for the Executive’s personal or  business use or that of any other person, reproductions or copies of any such property or other  property of the Group.  7.9 Non-Disparagement. Subject to Section 7.1(d), the Executive shall refrain, both during and after  the cessation of the Executive’s employment with the Company, from making, publicly or  privately, any statement or announcement that constitutes an ad hominem attack on, or that  otherwise disparages, defames, slanders, impugns or is reasonably likely to damage the reputation  of the Company or the Group, or any of their respective directors, members, limited or general  partners, equity holders, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors or other  representatives.  8. General  8.1 Reasonableness of Restrictions and Covenants. The Executive hereby confirms and agrees that  the covenants and restrictions contained in this Agreement, including, without limitation, those  contained in Article 7, are reasonable and valid the Executive further acknowledges and agrees  that the Company may suffer irreparable injury in the event of any breach by the Executive of the  obligations under any such covenant or restriction. Accordingly, the Executive hereby  acknowledges and agrees that damages would be an inadequate remedy at law in connection with  any such breach and that the Company shall therefore be entitled, in addition to any other right or  

 

  14    remedy which it may have at law, in equity or otherwise, to temporary and permanent injunctive  relief enjoining and restraining the Executive from any such breach.  8.2 Survival. Article 7 and this Section 8.2 survive the termination of this Agreement and the  Executive’s employment for any reason whatsoever.   8.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the exhibits hereto) sets forth the entire  agreement between the Parties on the subject matters addressed herein. There are no  representations, warranties or collateral agreements, whether written or oral, outside of this  written Agreement. This Agreement and the terms and conditions of employment contained  herein supersede and replace any prior and contemporaneous understandings or discussions  between the Parties regarding the Executive’s employment.  8.4 Withholding Taxes. The Company may deduct or withhold from any amounts or benefits  payable under this Agreement income taxes and payroll taxes that are required to be withheld  pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.  8.5 Section 409A Compliance. To the extent applicable, this Agreement is intended to comply with  the requirements of Section 409A (together with the applicable regulations thereunder, “Section  409A”) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). To the  extent that any provision in this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A  or to the extent any provision in this Agreement must be modified to comply with Section 409A  (including, without limitation, Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(c)), such provision shall be read, or  shall be modified (with the mutual consent of the Parties, which consent shall not be  unreasonably withheld), as the case may be, in such a manner so that all payments due under this  Agreement shall comply with Section 409A. For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made  under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. In no event may the Executive,  directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment. Notwithstanding any provision of  this Agreement to the contrary, if necessary to comply with the restriction in Section  409A(a)(2)(B) concerning payments to “specified employees” (as defined in Section 409A) any  payment on account of the Executive’s separation from service that would otherwise be due  hereunder within six months after such separation shall nonetheless be delayed until the first  business day of the seventh month following the Executive’s date of termination and the first  such payment shall include the cumulative amount of any payments that would have been paid  prior to such date if not for such restriction. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the  contrary, the Executive shall not be considered to have terminated employment with the  Company for purposes of this Agreement unless he would be considered to have incurred a  “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A.   8.6 Section 280G. In the event that any payment or benefit that the Executive would receive from the  Company or otherwise in connection with a change of control or other similar transaction (a  “280G Payment”) (i) would constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section  280G of the Code and (ii) but for this Section 8.6, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by  Section 4999 of the Code, then any such 280G Payment shall be payable either (a) in full, or (b)  as to such lesser amount which would result in no portion of such payments and benefits being  subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking  into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the excise tax imposed by  Section 4999, results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of  payments and benefits notwithstanding that all or some portion of such payments and benefits  may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. If a reduced amount is to be paid under this  Section 6.1, reductions in payments and/or benefits shall occur in the following order: (1) if none  

 

  15    of the payments is nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A, then the reduction  shall occur in the manner the Executive elects in writing prior to the date of payment and (2) if  any payment constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A or if the  Executive fails to elect an order, then the payments to be reduced shall be determined in a manner  which has the least economic cost to Executive and, to the extent the economic cost is equivalent,  shall be reduced in the inverse order of when payment would have been made to Executive, until  the reduction is achieved; provided, however, that no such reduction or elimination shall apply to  any non-qualified deferred compensation amounts (within the meaning of Section 409A) to the  extent such reduction or elimination would accelerate or defer the timing of such payment in  manner that does not comply with Section 409A. All determinations required to be made under  this paragraph, including the manner and amount of any reduction in Executive’s payments  hereunder, and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determinations, shall be made in  writing in good faith by a nationally recognized accounting or consulting firm selected by the  Company.  8.7 Amendments. This Agreement may only be amended by written agreement executed by the  Parties. However, for the avoidance of doubt, changes to the Executive’s position, duties,  vacation, benefits and compensation, over time in the normal course, do not affect the validity or  enforceability of the Agreement.  8.8 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the  laws of the State of Delaware and the laws of the United States applicable in the State of  Delaware.   8.9 Severability. If any provision in this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable,  such provision shall be severed from this Agreement, and the remaining provisions shall continue  in full force and effect. If for any reason any court of competent jurisdiction shall find any  provisions of this Agreement unreasonable in duration or geographic scope or otherwise, the  Parties agree that the restrictions and prohibitions contained herein shall be effective to the fullest  extent allowed under applicable law in such jurisdiction.  8.10 Assignment. The Company may assign this Agreement to an affiliate or subsidiary, and it inures  to the benefit of the Company, its successors or assigns.  8.11 Independent Legal Advice. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive has been  encouraged to obtain independent legal advice regarding the execution of this Agreement, and  that the Executive has either obtained such advice or voluntarily chosen not to do so, and hereby  waives any objections or claims the Executive may make resulting from any failure on the  Executive’s part to obtain such advice.  8.12 Waiver.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective or binding,  unless made in writing and signed by the party purporting to give the same. No waiver of any of  the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other  provisions, whether or not similar, nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver, unless  expressly stated otherwise.   8.13 Conditions. This Agreement and the Executive’s continued employment hereunder is conditional  on the Company’s satisfaction (determined in the Company’s sole discretion) that the Executive  has met the legal requirements to perform the Executive’s role, including without limitation,  satisfactory results of Health Canada or any other applicable security clearance checks and  criminal record checks and other reference checks that the Company performs. The Executive  

 

  16    acknowledges and agrees that in signing this Agreement, and providing the Company with the  necessary documentation to perform the checks required for the Executive’s role and with  references, the Executive is providing consent to the Company or its agent, to performs such  checks and contact the references the Executive provided to the Company.       8.14 Prior Restrictions. By signing below, the Executive represents and warrants that the Executive is  not bound by the terms of any agreement with any Person which restricts in any way the  Executive’s hiring by the Company and the performance of the Executive’s expected job duties;  the Executive also represents and warrants that, during the Executive’s employment with the  Company, the Executive shall not disclose or make use of any confidential information of any  other persons or entities in violation of any of their applicable policies or agreements and/or  applicable law.  8.15 Services in Canada. The Executive understands and agrees that the Executive may be required to  execute an employment agreement with a subsidiary of Cronos Group on substantially the same  terms as this Agreement to reflect any services, if any, that may be provided in Canada pursuant  to Canadian law, which apply retroactively as of the Effective Date, without duplication of any of  the remuneration or benefits set forth in this Agreement.  8.16 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which  when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute  one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this  Agreement by electronic transmission, including in portable document format (.pdf), shall be  deemed as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement.  [Signature Page Follows]     

 

  17    IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement has been executed by the Parties as of this 14th day  of November, 2022.    CRONOS USA CLIENT SERVICES  LLC     By: /s/ Michael Gorenstein       Michael Gorenstein   President     CRONOS GROUP INC.      By: /s/ Michael Gorenstein       Michael Gorenstein   President and Chief Executive Officer          JAMES HOLM        /s/ James Holm       Date: November 14, 2022             

 

  18    EXHIBIT A  CRONOS GROUP INC.  OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT    This Option Award Agreement (hereinafter referred to as this “Agreement”) is made and entered  into this ______ day of ______, ____ (the “Grant Date”) by and between Cronos Group Inc. (hereinafter  referred to as “Cronos” and, together with any subsidiary, and any successor entity thereto, the  “Company”) and James Holm (hereinafter referred to as the “Grantee”), pursuant to the Cronos Group  Inc. 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan  (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”).  All terms and  provisions of the Plan are hereby incorporated into and shall govern this Agreement except where general  provisions of the Plan are superseded by particular provisions of this Agreement.  To the extent that the  terms of Grantee’s Executive Employment Agreement with the Company effective November 14, 2022  (the “Employment Agreement”) and any terms set forth herein conflict or are otherwise inconsistent  with any terms or conditions set forth in the Employment Agreement, the terms and conditions set forth in  the Employment Agreement shall govern.  All capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the  same meaning given the terms in the Plan.  1. Grant of Options.  Cronos hereby grants the Grantee [____] non-qualified stock options (the  “Options”) (hereinafter referred to as the “Award”), which are subject to terms and conditions  set forth below.  Each Option represents the right to purchase one Common Share at the Exercise  Price set forth below.  2. Exercise Price.  The Exercise Price will be $[____]1 per Option (the “Exercise Price”).  3. Vesting Dates.  The Award shall vest quarterly over four (4) years, with one-sixteenth (1/16th) of  the Award vesting on such date that is three (3) months after the Grant Date and every three (3)  months thereafter until the fourth (4th) anniversary of the Grant Date (each, a “Vesting Date”),  provided, that the Grantee remains employed at the Company through such applicable Vesting  Date.  4. Expiration Date.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan, the latest  date the Options will expire is on the seventh anniversary of the Grant Date (the “Expiration  Date”).   5. Termination of Employment.  In the event that prior to the final Vesting Date, the Grantee’s  Employment terminates because of death, the full Award shall vest immediately and shall be  exercisable in the same manner as provided for in Section 6 and all vested Options may be  exercised by the Grantee’s estate at any time within six (6) months from the date of such  termination of Employment.  In the event that prior to the final Vesting Date, the Grantee’s  Employment terminates because of Disability, the Award shall remain outstanding and continue  to vest and be exercisable in the same manner as provided for in Sections 3 and 6 and all vested  Options may be exercised by the Grantee at any time within six (6) months from the date of such  termination of Employment.  In the event that prior to the final Vesting Date, the Grantee’s  Employment terminates for any reason other than death or Disability, then the unvested portion of  the Award shall be forfeited for no consideration.  6. Exercise of Options.  Vested Options may be exercised by submitting to Cronos a written notice  specifying the number of Options to be exercised accompanied by payment of the full purchase    1 Note to Draft: To be the closing price reported on Nasdaq on the trading date immediately preceding the date of  grant.  

 

  19    price, in an amount equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Options that are being exercised,  in cash or in another form, which may include: (a) bank transfer; (b) Common Shares, based on the  Fair Market Value as of the exercise date; (c) cashless exercise; (d) any other form of consideration  approved by the Company and permitted by applicable law; and (e) any combination of the  foregoing.  As soon as reasonably practicable following Cronos’ determination that the Options  have been validly exercised, Cronos will issue the relevant number of Shares to be allocated to the  Grantee, subject to applicable tax withholding as provided in Section 3.2 of the Plan.  7. Employment.  Nothing in this Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the  Company to terminate the Grantee’s Employment nor confer upon any Grantee any right to  continue in the employ of the Company.  For greater certainty, a Grantee’s termination of  Employment will include both voluntary and involuntary terminations, and the involuntary  termination of a Grantee’s Employment shall occur on the date that the Grantee ceases performing  services for the Company on a permanent basis, whether such termination is lawful or otherwise,  without regard to any required period of notice, pay in lieu of notice, severance pay or similar  compensation or benefits (and without regard for any claim for damages in respect thereof), except  as expressly required by applicable employment or labor standards legislation.  8. Non-Transferable.  The rights or interests of the Grantee under this Agreement, including, without  limitation, the Options, shall not be assignable or transferable, otherwise than in the case of death  of the Grantee as set out in the Plan, and such rights or interests shall not be encumbered by any  means.  9. Not Shares.  The Options are not Common Shares, and the Options shall not entitle the Grantee to  exercise voting rights or any other rights attaching to the ownership of Common Shares, including,  without limitation, rights on liquidation.  10. Withholding Taxes.  The Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the Company has the right to  deduct from any payments due to the Grantee any federal, state, provincial or local taxes required  by law to be withheld with respect to the Award.  11. Section 409A.  Payments under this Agreement are intended to be exempt from or comply with  Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 409A”) to the extent applicable, and this  Agreement shall be administered accordingly. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained  in this Agreement or the Employment Agreement, to the extent that any payment under this  Agreement is determined by the Company to constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation”  subject to Section 409A and is payable to the Grantee by reason of termination of the Grantee’s  Employment, then (a) such payment shall be made to the Grantee only upon a “separation from  service” as defined for purposes of Section 409A under applicable regulations and (b) if the Grantee  is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A and as determined by the  Company), such payment shall not be made before the date that is six (6) months after the date of  the Grantee’s separation from service (or the Grantee’s earlier death). Each payment under this  Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A.  12. Governing Law.  The Plan and this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed  by the laws of the State of Delaware.  13. Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successors  to the Company and all persons lawfully claiming under Grantee. By accepting the Award on the  terms set forth herein, the Grantee acknowledges and agrees to the matters and conditions set forth  

 

  20    herein and in the Plan. The Grantee hereby further confirms and acknowledges receipt of a copy of  the Plan.  [Signature Page Follows]  

 

  21    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed by Cronos and by Grantee as of this _____ day of  ___________, ______.    CRONOS GROUP INC.         By: Michael Gorenstein  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer      The Grantee (a) accepts the Award, (b) agrees to be bound by, and comply with, the terms of the Plan and  this Agreement, and (c) agrees that all good faith decisions and determinations of the Administrator with  respect to the Award shall be final and binding on the Grantee and any other person having or claiming an  interest under the Award.      GRANTEE             James Holm         

 

  22    EXHIBIT B  CRONOS GROUP INC.  RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT      This Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement (hereinafter referred to as this “Agreement”) is  made and entered into this ______ day of ______, _____ (the “Grant Date”) by and between Cronos  Group Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “Cronos” and, together with any subsidiary, and any successor  entity thereto, the “Company”) and James Holm (hereinafter referred to as the “Grantee”), pursuant to  the Cronos Group Inc. 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”).   All terms and provisions of the Plan are hereby incorporated into and shall govern this Agreement except  where general provisions of the Plan are superseded by particular provisions of this Agreement.  To the  extent that the terms of Grantee’s Executive Employment Agreement with the Company effective  November 14, 2022 (the “Employment Agreement”) and any terms set forth herein conflict or are  otherwise inconsistent with any terms or conditions set forth in the Employment Agreement, the terms  and conditions set forth in the Employment Agreement shall govern.  All capitalized terms used in this  Agreement shall have the same meaning given the terms in the Plan.  1. Grant of Restricted Share Units.  Cronos hereby grants the Grantee [____] Restricted Share Units  (hereinafter referred to as the “Award”), which are subject to terms and conditions set forth below.  2. Vesting and Settlement of Restricted Share Units.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this  Agreement and the Plan:   (a) the Award shall vest on the third (3rd) anniversary of the Grant Date (the “Vesting Date”),  provided, that the Grantee remains employed at the Company through such Vesting Date;  (b) upon the Vesting Date, the Award shall promptly (but not later than sixty (60) calendar  days thereafter) be paid out in Common Shares, cash or a combination of Common Shares  or cash, as determined by the Committee; and  (c) where the Committee decides to settle all or a portion of the Grantee’s vested Awards in  Common Shares, settlement shall be made by the issuance and delivery of one Common  Share for each Restricted Share Unit which the Committee decides to settle in Common  Shares. Where the Committee decides to settle all or a portion of the Grantee’s vested  Awards in cash, a cash payment shall be made to the Grantee equal to the Fair Market  Value determined as of the applicable Vesting Date of the Award multiplied by the number  of vested Restricted Share Units that the Committee wishes to settle in cash.   3. Termination of Employment.  In the event that prior to the Vesting Date, the Grantee’s Employment  terminates because of death, the full Award shall vest and promptly (but not later than sixty (60)  calendar days thereafter) be settled in the same manner as provided for in Section 2.  In the event  that prior to the Vesting Date, the Grantee’s Employment terminates because of Disability, the  Award shall remain outstanding and continue to vest and be settled in the same manner as provided  for in Section 2. In the event that prior to the Vesting Date, the Grantee’s Employment terminates  for any reason other than death or Disability, then the Award shall be forfeited for no consideration.    4. Employment.  Nothing in this Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the  Company to terminate the Grantee’s Employment nor confer upon any Grantee any right to  continue in the employ of the Company.  For greater certainty, a Grantee’s termination of  Employment will include both voluntary and involuntary terminations, and the involuntary  

 

  23    termination of a Grantee’s Employment shall occur on the date that the Grantee ceases performing  services for the Company on a permanent basis, whether such termination is lawful or otherwise,  without regard to any required period of notice, pay in lieu of notice, severance pay or similar  compensation or benefits (and without regard for any claim for damages in respect thereof), except  as expressly required by applicable employment or labor standards legislation.  5. Non-Transferable.  The rights or interests of the Grantee under this Agreement, including, without  limitation, the Restricted Share Units, shall not be assignable or transferable, otherwise than in the  case of death of the Grantee as set out in the Plan, and such rights or interests shall not be  encumbered by any means.  6. Not Shares.  The Restricted Share Units are not Common Shares, and the Restricted Share Units  shall not entitle the Grantee to exercise voting rights or any other rights attaching to the ownership  of Common Shares, including, without limitation, rights on liquidation.  7. Withholding Taxes.  The Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the Company has the right to  deduct from any payments due to the Grantee any federal, state, provincial or local taxes required  by law to be withheld with respect to the Award.  8. Section 409A.  Payments under this Agreement are intended to be exempt from or comply with  Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 409A”) to the extent applicable, and this  Agreement shall be administered accordingly. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained  in this Agreement or the Employment Agreement, to the extent that any payment under this  Agreement is determined by the Company to constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation”  subject to Section 409A and is payable to the Grantee by reason of termination of the Grantee’s  Employment, then (a) such payment shall be made to the Grantee only upon a “separation from  service” as defined for purposes of Section 409A under applicable regulations and (b) if the Grantee  is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A and as determined by the  Company), such payment shall not be made before the date that is six (6) months after the date of  the Grantee’s separation from service (or the Grantee’s earlier death). Each payment under this  Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A.  9. Governing Law.  The Plan and this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed  by the laws of the State of Delaware.  10. Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successors  to the Company and all persons lawfully claiming under Grantee. By accepting the Award on the  terms set forth herein, the Grantee acknowledges and agrees to the matters and conditions set forth  herein and in the Plan. The Grantee hereby further confirms and acknowledges receipt of a copy of  the Plan.  [Signature Page Follows]  

 

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed by Cronos and by Grantee as of this ______ day  of ______, _____.  CRONOS GROUP INC.           By: Michael Gorenstein  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer     The Grantee (a) accepts the Award, (b) agrees to be bound by, and comply with, the terms of the Plan and  this Agreement, and (c) agrees that all decisions and determinations of the Administrator with respect to  the Award shall be final and binding on the Grantee and any other person having or claiming an interest  under the Award.  GRANTEE             James Holm     

 

  25    EXHIBIT C  FORM OF FULL AND FINAL RELEASE    GENERAL RELEASE AND WAIVER OF CLAIMS (this “Release”), by the  undersigned (hereinafter called the “Releasor”) in favor of Cronos Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries  (hereinafter referred to as the “Employer”), affiliates, stockholders, beneficial owners of its stock, its  current or former officers, directors, employees, members, attorneys and agents, and their predecessors,  successors and assigns, individually and in their official capacities (hereinafter called the “Releasees”).  WHEREAS, Releasor has been employed as Chief Financial Officer of Cronos Group,  Inc.;   WHEREAS, Releasor’s employment with Cronos USA Client Services LLC was  terminated, effective as of ● (the “Effective Date”); and   WHEREAS, Releasor is seeking certain payments under Section 6.3 of the employment  agreement entered into by Cronos USA Client Services LLC, the Releasor and, solely for the purposes  specified therein, Cronos Group, Inc., effective November 14, 2022 (hereinafter called the “Employment  Agreement”), that are conditioned on the effectiveness of this Release.  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of such payments and benefits and the covenants  and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:  1. GENERAL RELEASE. Releasor knowingly and voluntarily waives, terminates,  cancels, releases and discharges forever the Releasees from any and all suits, actions, causes of action,  claims, allegations, rights, obligations, liabilities, demands, entitlements or charges (collectively,  “Claims”) that Releasor (or Releasor’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns) has or may  have, whether known, unknown or unforeseen, vested or contingent, by reason of any matter, cause or thing  occurring at any time before and including the date of this Release, including all claims arising under or in  connection with Releasor’s employment, or termination or resignation of employment with the Employer,  including, without limitation:  Claims under United States federal, state or local law and the national or  local law of any foreign country (statutory or decisional), for wrongful, abusive, constructive or unlawful  discharge or dismissal, for breach of any contract, or for discrimination based upon race, color, ethnicity,  sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other unlawful criterion or  circumstance, including rights or Claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967  (“ADEA”), the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (“OWBPA”), violations of the Equal Pay  Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Americans with Disabilities  Act of 1991, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), the Fair Labor Standards  Act, the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, including all  amendments to any of the aforementioned acts; and violations of any other federal, state, or municipal fair  employment statutes or laws, including, without limitation, violations of any other law, rule, regulation, or  ordinance pertaining to employment, wages, compensation, hours worked, or any other Claims for  compensation or bonuses, whether or not paid under any compensation plan or arrangement; breach of  contract; tort and other common law Claims; defamation; libel; slander; impairment of economic  opportunity defamation; sexual harassment; retaliation; attorneys’ fees; emotional distress; intentional  infliction of emotional distress; assault; battery, pain and suffering; and punitive or exemplary damages  (the “Released Matters”).  In addition, in consideration of the provisions of this Release, Releasor further  agrees to waive any and all rights under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States, or any other  country, that limit a general release to those Claims that are known or suspected to exist in Releasor’s favor  as of the Release Effective Date (as defined below).  

 

  26    Thus, notwithstanding the purpose of implementing a full and complete release and  discharge of the claims released by this Release, Releasor expressly acknowledges that this Release is  intended to include in its effect, without limitation, all claims which Releasor does not know or suspect to  exist in his favor at the time of execution hereof arising out of or relating in any way to the subject matter  of the actions referred to herein above and that this Release contemplates the extinguishment of any such  claims.  2. SURVIVING CLAIMS.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this  Release shall not:  (i) release any Claims for payment of amounts payable under the Employment  Agreement (including, without limitation, under Section 6.3 thereof);   (ii) release any Claim for employee benefits under plans covered by ERISA to the  extent any such Claim may not lawfully be waived or for any payments or benefits  under any Employer plans that have vested (including any 401(k) plan) according  to the terms of those plans;  (iii) release any Claim or right Releasor may have pursuant to indemnification,  advancement, defense, or reimbursement pursuant to any applicable D&O policies,  any similar insurance policies, applicable law or otherwise;  (iv) release any Claim that may not lawfully be waived in a private agreement between  the parties; or  (v) limit Releasor’s rights under applicable law to provide truthful information to any  governmental entity or to file a charge with or participate in an investigation  conducted by any governmental entity.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Releasor  agrees to waive Releasor’s right to recover monetary damages in connection with  any charge, complaint or lawsuit filed by Releasor or anyone else on Releasor’s  behalf (whether involving a governmental entity or not); provided that Releasor is  not agreeing to waive, and this Release shall not be read as requiring Releasor to  waive, any right Releasor may have to receive an award for information provided  to any governmental entity.  3. ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  Releasor  further represents and warrants that Releasor has not filed any civil action, suit, arbitration, administrative  charge, or legal proceeding against any Releasees nor, has Releasor assigned, pledged, or hypothecated as  of the Release Effective Date any Claim to any person and no other person has an interest in the Claims  that he is releasing.  4. ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY RELEASOR.  Releasor acknowledges and agrees  that Releasor has read this Release in its entirety and that this Release is a general release of all known and  unknown Claims.  Releasor further acknowledges and agrees that:  (i) this Release does not release, waive or discharge any rights or Claims that may  arise for actions or omissions after the Release Effective Date and Releasor  acknowledges that he is not releasing, waiving or discharging any ADEA Claims  that may arise after the Release Effective Date;  

 

  27    (ii) Releasor is entering into this Release and releasing, waiving and discharging rights  or Claims only in exchange for consideration which he is not already entitled to  receive;  (iii) Releasor has been advised, and is being advised by the Release, to consult with an  attorney before executing this Release;   (iv) Releasor has been advised, and is being advised by this Release, that he has been  given at least [twenty-one (21)] [forty-five (45)] days within which to consider the  Release, but Releasor can execute this Release at any time prior to the expiration  of such review period; [and]  (v) [Because this Release includes a release of claims under ADEA, Releasor is being  provided with the information contained in Schedule 1 hereto in accordance with  the OWBPA; and]2  (vi) Releasor is aware that this Release shall become null and void if he or she revokes  his or her agreement to this Release within seven (7) days following the date of  execution of this Release.  Releasor may revoke this Release at any time during  such seven-day period by delivering (or causing to be delivered) to the Employer  written notice of his or her revocation of this Release no later than 5:00 p.m.  Eastern time on the seventh (7th) full day following the date of execution of this  Release (the “Release Effective Date”).  Releasor agrees and acknowledges that  a letter of revocation that is not received by such date and time shall be invalid and  shall not revoke this Release.  5. COOPERATION WITH INVESTIGATIONS AND LITIGATION. Releasor  agrees, upon the Employer’s reasonable request and consistent with Releasor’s reasonable business and  personal obligations, to reasonably cooperate with the Employer in any investigation, litigation, arbitration  or regulatory proceeding regarding events that occurred during Releasor’s tenure with the Employer or its  affiliate, including making himself or herself reasonably available to consult with Employer’s counsel, to  provide information and to give testimony.  Employer shall reimburse Releasor for reasonable out-of- pocket expenses Releasor incurs in extending such cooperation, so long as Releasor provides satisfactory  documentation of the expenses.  Nothing in this Section is intended to, and shall not, restrict or limit  Releasor from exercising his or her protected rights described in Sections 2, 4, 5 or 6 hereof or restrict or  limit Releasor from providing truthful information in response to a subpoena, other legal process or valid  governmental inquiry.  6. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. Releasor hereby affirms the restrictive  covenants set forth in Section 7 of the Employment Agreement shall continue to apply following the Release  Effective Date in accordance with their terms.  7. GOVERNING LAW.  To the extent not subject to federal law, this Release shall  be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts  made and to be performed entirely within that state.    2 Note to Draft:  To be included (along with 45 day consideration period and Schedule 1 attached hereto) in  consideration for ADEA/OWBPA claims in terminations involving multiple employees.  

 

  28    8. SEVERABILITY.  If any provision of this Release should be declared to be  unenforceable by any administrative agency or court of law, then remainder of the Release shall remain in  full force and effect.    9. CAPTIONS; SECTION HEADINGS.  Captions and section headings used  herein are for convenience only and are not a part of this Release and shall not be used in construing it.  10. COUNTERPARTS; FACSIMILE SIGNATURES.  This Release may be  executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an  original instrument without the production of any other counterpart.  Any signature on this Release,  delivered by either party by photographic, facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be an original signature  thereto.    IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunder set my hand this _______ day of  ___________, 20____.    SIGNED AND DELIVERED  in the presence of:   _______________________________   Witness’ Signature   _______________________________   Print Name of Witness   _______________________________   Address of Witness         ____________________________________________   [Name of Executive]         

 

  29    Schedule 1    [TO BE COMPLETED AND PROVIDED IF APPLICABLE]   As required by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Employer is providing the following  information.     To respect the privacy of your colleagues, we ask that you use the information on this  Schedule only for its intended purpose – to help you decide whether to enter into the Release – and  that you otherwise treat this information as confidential.   [All employees of the Employer] [describe subset of employees considered for separation] (known  as the “decisional unit”) were considered for the separation program.  The chart below shows the job titles  and ages, as of ●, of each employee in the decisional unit and whether or not such employee has been  selected for termination and offered separation pay in exchange for signing a release under the separation  program.  Employees have 45 days to consider whether to sign and 7 days to revoke any such release.    Job Title  Age  (as of ●)  Selected for the separation  program?Document

Exhibit 10.14(a)

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION 
1998 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN 
(as amended and restated February 3, 2021)

The Atmos Energy Corporation 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan (hereinafter called the “Plan”) was adopted by the Board of Directors of Atmos Energy Corporation, a Texas and Virginia corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”) on August 12, 1998, to be effective October 1, 1998. The Plan, which was originally approved by the Company’s shareholders on February 10, 1999, has been subsequently amended and restated. The Plan was last amended by approval by the Company’s shareholders at their annual meeting on February 3, 2021. 
 
ARTICLE 1 
PURPOSE 

The purpose of the Plan is to attract and retain the services of able persons as employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries and as Non-employee Directors (as herein defined), to provide such persons with a proprietary interest in the Company through the granting of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights or restricted stock, to motivate employees and Non-employee Directors using performance-related incentives linked to longer-range performance goals and the interests of the Company’s shareholders and to provide Non-employee Directors the option to receive all or part of their Fee (as defined below) in the Company’s common stock, whether granted singly, or in combination, or in tandem, that will 

(a)        increase the interest of such persons in the Company’s welfare; 
(b)        furnish an incentive to such persons to continue their services for the Company; 
(c)        provide a means through which the Company may attract able persons as employees and Non-employee Directors; and 
(d)        to increase the proprietary interest of the Non-employee Directors in the Company’s long-term prospects and the strategic growth of its business. 

With respect to Reporting Participants, the Plan and all transactions under the Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”). To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it will be deemed null and void ab initio, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee. Further, any Awards granted under the Plan to a Non-employee Director will be solely to compensate said Director for his services to the Company as a Non-employee Director. 

ARTICLE 2 
DEFINITIONS 

For the purpose of the Plan, unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms will have the meanings indicated:
 
2.1        “Annual Grant” means the annual grant of an Award to a Non-Employee Director for his or her service as a member of the Board during a calendar year or portion thereof. 

2.2        “Award” means the grant of any Incentive Stock Option, Non-qualified Stock Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Unit, Performance Share, Bonus Stock or other Stock Unit Award whether granted singly, in combination or in tandem (each individually referred to herein as an “Incentive”). “Award” also means any Incentive to which an award under the Management Incentive Plan is made or converted. 

2.3        “Award Agreement” means a written agreement between a Participant and the Company, which sets out the terms of the grant of an Award. 

2.4        “Award Period” means the period during which one or more Incentives granted under an Award may be exercised or earned.

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

2.6     “Bonus Stock” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 6.8 of the Plan expressed as a share of Common Stock which may or may not be subject to restrictions.
 
2.7        (a) “Change in Control” of the Company occurs upon a change in the Company’s ownership, its effective control or the ownership of a substantial portion of its assets, as follows:
 
(i)        Change in Ownership. A change in ownership of the Company occurs on the date of consummation of any transaction under which any “Person” (as defined in Section 2.7(b) below), other than (1) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (2) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (3) an underwriter temporarily holding stock pursuant to an offering of such stock, or (4) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company’s stock, acquires ownership of the Company’s stock that, together with stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the Company’s stock. However, if any Person is considered to own already more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the Company’s stock, the acquisition of additional stock by the same Person is not considered to be a Change of Control. In addition, if any Person has effective control of the Company through ownership of 30% or more of the total voting power of the Company’s stock, as discussed in paragraph (ii) below, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person is not considered to cause a Change in Control pursuant to this paragraph (i); or 

(ii)        Change in Effective Control. Even though the Company may not have undergone a change in ownership under paragraph (i) above, a change in the effective control of the Company occurs on either of the following dates: 

(A)        the date of consummation of any transaction under which any Person acquires (or has acquired during the 12- month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person) ownership of the Company’s stock possessing 30 percent or more of the total voting power of the Company’s stock. However, if any Person owns 30% or more of the total voting power of the Company’s stock, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person is not considered to cause a Change in Control pursuant to this subparagraph (ii)(A); or
 
(B)        the date during any 12-month period when a majority of members of the Board is replaced by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the Board before the date of the appointment or election; provided, however, that any such director will not be considered to be endorsed by the Board if his or her initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or 

(iii)        Change in Ownership of Substantial Portion of Assets. A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets occurs on the date of consummation of any transaction under which a Person acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person) assets of the Company, that have a total gross fair market value equal to at least 40% of the total gross fair market value of all of the Company’s assets immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions. However, there is no Change in Control when there is such a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the Company immediately after the transfer, through a transfer to (A) a shareholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in 

exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock; (B) an entity, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of the stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company; (C) a Person that owns directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of the Company’s outstanding stock; or (D) an entity, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of the stock of which is owned by a Person that owns, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of the Company’s outstanding stock.
 
(b)        For purposes of subparagraph (a) above, 

(i)        “Person” has the meaning given in Section 7701(a)(1) of the Code. Person will include more than one Person acting as a group as defined by the Final Treasury Regulations issued under Section 409A of the Code. 

(ii)        “Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 

(c)     The provisions of this Section 2.7 will be interpreted in accordance with the requirements of the Final Treasury Regulations under Code Section 409A, it being the intent of the parties that this Section 2.7 will be in compliance with the requirements of said Code Section and said Regulations. 

2.8        “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, together with the published rulings, regulations, and interpretations duly promulgated thereunder. 

2.9        “Committee” means the committee appointed or designated by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with Article 3 of this Plan.
 
2.10      “Common Stock” means the common stock, with no par value (stated value of $.005 per share), which the Company is currently authorized to issue or may in the future be authorized to issue. 

2.11      “Company” means Atmos Energy Corporation, a Texas and Virginia corporation, and any successor entity.
 
2.12      “Covered Participant” means a Participant who is a “covered employee” as defined in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, or who the Committee believes will be such a covered employee for a Performance Period, and who the Committee believes will have remuneration in excess of $1,000,000 for the Performance Period, as provided in Section 162(m) of the Code. 

2.13      “Date of Grant” means the effective date on which an Award is made to a Participant as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement; provided, however, that solely for purposes of Section 16 of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the Date of Grant of an Award will be the date of shareholder approval of the Plan if such date is later than the effective date of such Award as set forth in the Award Agreement. 

2.14      “Deferred Compensation Plan” means the Atmos Energy Corporation Equity Incentive and Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors. 

2.15      “Election” means a Non-employee Director’s delivery of written notice of election to the Corporate Secretary of the Company electing (a) to receive his or her Fee or a portion thereof in the form of Common Stock or (b) the type of Award to receive as an Annual Grant.
 
2.16      “Employee” means common law employee (as defined in accordance with the Regulations and Revenue Rulings then applicable under Section 3401(c) of the Code) of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. 

2.17      “Fair Market Value” of a share of Common Stock is the mean of the highest and lowest prices per share on the New York Stock Exchange Consolidated Tape, or such reporting service as the Board may select, on the appropriate date, or in the absence of reported sales on such day, the most recent previous day for which sales were reported. 

2.18      “Fee” means the annual retainer fee (paid in quarterly installments) earned by a Non-employee Director for his or her service as a member of the Board during a Fiscal Year or portion thereof. 

2.19      “Fiscal Year” means the 12-month period beginning October 1st of any year and ending September 30th of the following year. 

2.20      “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, granted pursuant to this Plan. 

2.21      “Management Incentive Plan” means the Atmos Energy Corporation Annual Incentive Plan for Management, as amended from time to time. 

2.22      “Non-employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee and who satisfies the requirements of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) promulgated under the 1934 Act or any successor provision. 

2.23      “Non-qualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means a non-qualified stock option, granted pursuant to this Plan. 

2.24      “Option Price” means the price which must be paid by a Participant upon exercise of a Stock Option to purchase a share of Common Stock. 

2.25      “Participant” means an Employee or Non-employee Director to whom an Award is granted under this Plan.

2.26      “Performance Award” means a performance-based Award, which may be in the form of either Performance Shares or Performance Units.
 
2.27      “Performance Criteria” or “Performance Goals” or “Performance Measures” mean the objectives established by the Committee for a Performance Period, for the purpose of determining when an Award subject to such objectives is earned.
 
2.28      “Performance Period” means the time period designated by the Committee during which performance goals must be met. 

2.29      “Performance Share” means an Award, designated as a Performance Share, granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 6.7 hereof, the value of which is determined, in whole or in part, by the value of Common Stock in a manner deemed appropriate by the Committee and described in the Agreement. 

2.30      “Performance Unit” means an Award, designated as a Performance Unit, granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 6.7 hereof, the value of which is determined, in whole or in part, by the attainment of pre-established goals relating to Company financial or operating performance as deemed appropriate by the Committee and described in the Award Agreement. 

2.31      “Plan” means The Atmos Energy Corporation 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time. 

2.32      “Quarter” means the 3-month period beginning October 1, January 1, April 1, or July 1 of each Fiscal Year.
 

2.33      “Reporting Participant” means a Participant who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the 1934 Act. 

2.34      “Restricted Stock” means shares of Common Stock issued or transferred to a Participant pursuant to Section 6.4 of this Plan which are subject to restrictions or limitations set forth in this Plan and in the related Award Agreement. 

2.35      “Restricted Stock Unit” means a fixed or variable dollar denominated right to acquire Common Stock, which may or may not be subject to restrictions, contingently awarded under Section 6.4 of the Plan.
 
2.36      “Retirement” means any Termination of Service solely due to retirement upon attainment of age 65, or permitted early retirement as determined by the Committee. 

2.37      “SAR” means the right to receive a payment, in cash and/or Common Stock, equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock on the date the SAR is exercised over the SAR Price for such shares. 

2.38      “SAR Price” means the Fair Market Value of each share of Common Stock covered by an SAR, determined on the Date of Grant of the SAR. 

2.39      “Stock Option” means a Non-qualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option. 

2.40      “Stock Unit Award” means awards of Common Stock or other awards pursuant to Section 6.9 hereof that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company. 

2.41      “Subsidiary” means (i) any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing a majority of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain, (ii) any limited partnership, if the Company or any corporation described in item (i) above owns a majority of the general partnership interest and a majority of the limited partnership interests entitled to vote on the removal and replacement of the general partner, and (iii) any partnership or limited liability company, if the partners or members thereof are composed only of the Company, any corporation listed in item (i) above or any limited partnership listed in item (ii) above. “Subsidiaries” means more than one of any such corporations, limited partnerships, partnerships or limited liability companies.
 
2.42      “Termination of Service” means with respect to each Participant who is an Employee or Non-employee Director a “separation from service” as defined in Section 1.409A- 1(h) of the Final Treasury Regulations under Code Section 409A, or any successor provision thereto. 

2.43      “Total and Permanent Disability” means the termination of a Participant’s active employment with the Company on account of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, for which the employee is receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company. 

ARTICLE 3 
ADMINISTRATION 

The Plan will be administered by the Human Resources Committee of the Board (the “Committee”) unless otherwise determined by the Board. If said Human Resources Committee does not so serve, the Committee will consist of not fewer than two persons; any member of the Committee may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by resolution of the Board; and any vacancy occurring in the membership of the Committee may be filled by appointment by the Board. 

All actions to be taken by the Committee under this Plan, insofar as such actions affect compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code, will be limited to those members of the Board who are Non-employee Directors and who are “outside directors” under Section 162(m). The Committee will select one of its members to act as its Chairman. A majority of the Committee will constitute a quorum, and the act of a majority of the members of the Committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be the act of the Committee. 

The Committee will determine and designate from time to time the eligible persons to whom Awards will be granted and will set forth in each related Award Agreement, the Award Period, the Date of Grant, and such other terms, provisions, limitations, and performance requirements, as are approved by the Committee, but not inconsistent with the Plan, including, but not limited to, any rights of the Committee to cancel or rescind any such Award. The Committee will determine whether an Award will include one type of Incentive, two or more Incentives granted in combination, or two or more Incentives granted in tandem (that is, a joint grant where exercise of one Incentive results in cancellation of all or a portion of the other Incentive). 

The Committee, in its discretion, will (i) interpret the Plan, (ii) prescribe, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Plan, and (iii) make such other determinations and take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable in the administration of the Plan. Any interpretation, determination, or other action made or taken by the Committee will be final, binding, and conclusive on all interested parties.
 
With respect to restrictions in the Plan that are based on the requirements of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act, Section 422 of the Code, Section 162(m) of the Code, the rules of any exchange or inter-dealer quotation system upon which the Company’s securities are listed or quoted, or any other applicable law, rule or restriction (collectively, “applicable law”), to the extent that any such restrictions are no longer required by applicable law, the Committee will have the sole discretion and authority to grant Awards that are not subject to such mandated restrictions and/or to waive any such mandated restrictions with respect to outstanding Awards. 

ARTICLE 4 
ELIGIBILITY 

Any Employee (including an Employee who is also a director or an officer) and any Non-employee Director is eligible to participate in the Plan. The Committee, upon its own action, may grant, but will not be required to grant, an Award to any Employee or any Non-employee Director. Awards may be granted by the Committee at any time and from time to time to new Participants, or to then Participants, or to a greater or lesser number of Participants, and may include or exclude previous Participants, as the Committee will determine. Except as required by this Plan, different Awards need not contain similar provisions. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan (including without limitation determinations of which Employees or Non-employee Directors, if any, are to receive Awards, the form, amount and timing of such Awards, the terms and provisions of such Awards and the agreements evidencing same) need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among Employees and Non-employee Directors who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan. In addition, each Non-employee Director will be entitled to make Elections as provided in Article 12.

ARTICLE 5 
SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN 

Subject to adjustment as provided in Articles 15 and 16, the cumulative maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan and Elections made by Non-employee Directors pursuant to Article 12 is (a) 11,200,000 shares; including (b) shares of Common Stock previously subject to Awards which are forfeited, terminated, cancelled or rescinded, settled in cash in lieu of Common Stock, or exchanged for Awards that do not involve Common Stock, or expired unexercised. 

Shares to be issued may be made available from authorized but unissued Common Stock, Common Stock purchased by the Company on the open market or otherwise. During the term of this 

Plan, the Company will at all times reserve and keep available the number of shares of Common Stock that will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Plan. 

ARTICLE 6 
GRANT OF AWARDS 

6.1        In General. The grant of an Award will be authorized by the Committee and will be evidenced by an Award Agreement setting forth the Incentive or Incentives being granted, the total number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Incentive(s), the Option Price (if applicable), the Award Period, the Date of Grant, and such other terms, provisions, limitations, and performance objectives, as are approved by the Committee, but not inconsistent with the Plan. The Company will execute an Award Agreement with a Participant after the Committee approves the issuance of an Award. Any Award granted pursuant to this Plan must be granted within ten (10) years of the date of adoption of this Plan. The grant of an Award to a Participant will not be deemed either to entitle the Participant to, or to disqualify the Participant from, receipt of any other Award under the Plan
. 
If the Committee establishes a purchase price for an Award, the Participant must accept such Award within a period of 30 days (or such shorter period as the Committee may specify) after the Date of Grant by executing the applicable Award Agreement and paying such purchase price. 

6.2        Maximum ISO Grants. The Committee may not grant Incentive Stock Options under the Plan to any Employee which would permit the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the Date of Grant) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options (under this and any other plan of the Company and its Subsidiaries) are exercisable for the first time by such Employee during any calendar year to exceed $100,000. To the extent any Stock Option granted under this Plan, which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option exceeds this limit or otherwise fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, such Stock Option will be a Non-qualified Stock Option. The Committee may not grant Incentive Stock Options to Non- employee Directors. 

6.3        Maximum Individual Grants. No Participant may receive during any fiscal year of the Company Awards of Stock Options and SARs covering an aggregate of more than five hundred thousand (500,000) shares of Common Stock. 

6.4        Restricted Stock/Restricted Stock Units. If Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units are granted to a Participant under an Award, the Committee will set forth in the related Award Agreement: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock and/or the number of Restricted Stock Units awarded, (ii) the price, if any, to be paid by the Participant for such Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units, (iii) the time or times within which such Award may be subject to forfeiture, (iv) specified Performance Goals of the Company, a Subsidiary, any division thereof or any group of Employees of the Company, or other criteria, which the Committee determines must be met in order to remove any restrictions (including vesting) on such Award, and (v) all other terms, limitations, restrictions, and conditions of the Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units, which will be consistent with this Plan. The provisions of Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units need not be the same with respect to each Participant. 

(a)  Legend on Shares. Each Participant who is awarded Restricted Stock will be issued a stock certificate or certificates in respect of such shares of Common Stock. Such certificate(s) will be registered in the name of the Participant, and will bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, substantially as provided in Section 18.12 of the Plan. The Committee may require that the stock certificates evidencing shares of Restricted Stock be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon will have lapsed, and that the Participant deliver to the Committee a stock power or stock powers, endorsed in blank, relating to the shares of Restricted Stock.
 
(b)  Restrictions and Conditions. Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will be subject to the following restrictions and conditions: 

(i)  Subject to the other provisions of this Plan and the terms of the particular Award Agreements, during such period as may be determined by the Committee commencing on the Date of Grant (the “Restriction Period”), the Participant will not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge or assign shares of Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units. Except for these limitations, the Committee may in its sole discretion, remove any or all of the restrictions on such Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units whenever it may determine that, by reason of changes in applicable laws or other changes in circumstances arising after the date of the Award, such action is appropriate.
 
(ii)  Except as provided in subparagraph (i) above or in Section 6.7(d) of the Plan, the Participant will have, with respect to his or her Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including the right to vote the shares, and the right to receive any dividends thereon. Certificates for shares of Common Stock free of restriction under this Plan will be delivered to the Participant promptly after, and only after, the Restriction Period will expire without forfeiture in respect of such shares of Common Stock. Certificates for the shares of Common Stock forfeited under the provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement will be promptly returned to the Company by the forfeiting Participant. Each Award Agreement will require that (x) each Participant, by his or her acceptance of Restricted Stock, will irrevocably grant to the Company a power of attorney to transfer any shares so forfeited to the Company and agrees to execute any documents requested by the Company in connection with such forfeiture and transfer, and (y) such provisions regarding returns and transfers of stock certificates with respect to forfeited shares of Common Stock will be specifically performable by the Company in a court of equity or law. 

(iii) The Restriction Period of Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units will commence on the Date of Grant and, subject to Article 16 of the Plan, unless otherwise established by the Committee in the Award Agreement setting forth the terms of the Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units, will expire upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the Award Agreement; such conditions may provide for vesting based on (i) length of continuous service, (ii) achievement of specific business objectives, (iii) increases in specified indices, (iv) attainment of specified growth rates, or (v) other comparable Performance Measurements, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. 

(iv)  Subject to the provisions of the particular Award Agreement, upon Termination of Service for any reason during the Restriction Period, the nonvested shares of Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited by the Participant. In the event a Participant has paid any consideration to the Company for such forfeited Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units, the Company will, as soon as practicable after the event causing forfeiture (but in any event within 5 business days), pay to the Participant, in cash, an amount equal to the total consideration paid by the Participant for such forfeited shares and/or units. Upon any forfeiture, all rights of a Participant with respect to the forfeited shares of the Restricted Stock will cease and terminate, without any further obligation on the part of the Company.
 
6.5        SAR. An SAR will entitle the Participant at his election to surrender to the Company the SAR, or portion thereof, as the Participant will choose, and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor cash in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Fair Market Value (as of the date of the exercise of the SAR) per share over the SAR Price per share specified in such SAR, multiplied by the total number of shares of the SAR being surrendered. In the discretion of the Committee, the Company may satisfy its obligation upon exercise of an SAR by the distribution of that number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date of the exercise of the SAR) equal to the amount of cash otherwise payable to the Participant, with a cash settlement to be made for any fractional share interests, or the Company may settle such obligation in part with shares of Common Stock and in part with cash. 

6.6        Tandem Awards. The Committee may grant two or more Incentives in one Award in the form of a “tandem award,” so that the right of the Participant to exercise one Incentive will be canceled if, and to the extent, the other Incentive is exercised. For example, if a Stock Option and an SAR are issued in a tandem Award, and the Participant exercises the SAR with respect to 100 shares of Common Stock, the right of the Participant to exercise the related Stock Option will be canceled to the extent of 100 shares of Common Stock. 

6.7         Performance Based Awards. 

(a)  Grant of Performance Awards. The Committee may issue Performance Awards in the form of either Performance Units or Performance Shares to Participants subject to the Performance Goals and Performance Period as it will determine. The terms and conditions of each Performance Award will be set forth in the related Award Agreement. The Committee will have complete discretion in determining the number and value of Performance Units or Performance Shares granted to each Participant. Participants receiving Performance Awards are not required to pay the Company thereof (except for applicable tax withholding) other than the rendering of services.
 
(b)   Value of Performance Awards. The Committee will set performance goals in its discretion for each Participant who is granted a Performance Award. Such Performance Goals may be particular to a Participant, may relate to the performance of the Subsidiary which employs him or her, may be based on the division which employs him or her, may be based on the performance of the Company generally, or a combination of the foregoing. The Performance Goals may be based on achievement of balance sheet or income statement objectives, or any other objectives established by the Committee. The Performance Goals may be absolute in their terms or measured against or in relationship to other companies comparably, similarly or otherwise situated. The extent to which such Performance Goals are met will determine the value of the Performance Unit or Performance Share to the Participant. 

(c)  Form of Payment. Payment of the amount to which a Participant will be entitled upon the settlement of a Performance Award will be made in a lump sum or installments in cash, shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee.
 
(d) Restriction on Payment of Dividends or Accrued Dividend Equivalents. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.7, any Performance Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units or other Performance Awards based on shares of Common Stock, or in whole or in part on the value of the underlying Common Stock or other securities of the Company, may not provide for the payment of dividends or dividend equivalents during the Performance Period, but may only provide that dividends or dividend equivalents accrued during the Performance Period will be payable at the time such Performance Awards vest and are paid. 

6.8        Bonus Stock. The Committee may award shares of Bonus Stock to Participants under the Plan without cash consideration. The Committee will determine and indicate in the related Award Agreement whether such shares of Bonus Stock awarded under the Plan will be unencumbered of any restrictions (other than those advisable to comply with law) or will be subject to restrictions and limitations similar to those referred to in Section 6.7 hereof. In the event the Committee assigns any restrictions on the shares of Bonus Stock awarded under the Plan, then such shares will be subject to at least the following restrictions: 

(a)  No shares of Bonus Stock may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated if such shares are subject to restrictions which have not lapsed or have not been vested. 

(b)  If any condition of vesting of the shares of Bonus Stock are not met, all such shares subject to such vesting will be delivered to the Company (in a manner determined by the Committee) within 60 days of the failure to meet such conditions without any payment from the Company. 

6.9         Other Stock Based Awards. 

(a)  Grant of Other Stock Based Awards. The Committee may issue to Participants, either alone or in addition to other Awards made under the Plan, Stock Unit Awards which may be in the form of Common Stock or other securities. The value of each such Award will be based, in whole or in part, on the value of the underlying Common Stock or other securities. The Committee, in its sole and complete discretion, may determine that an Award, either in the form of a Stock Unit Award under this Section 6.9 or as an Award granted pursuant to the other provisions of this Article 6, may provide to the Participant (i) dividends or dividend equivalents (payable on a current or deferred basis) and (ii) cash payments in lieu of or in addition to an Award. The Committee will determine the terms, restrictions, conditions, vesting requirements, and payment rules (all of which are sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as “rules”) of the Award and will set forth those rules in the related Award Agreement. 

(b)  Rules. The Committee, in its sole and complete discretion, may grant a Stock Unit Award subject to the following rules: 

(i)   Common Stock or other securities issued pursuant to Stock Unit Awards may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated by a Participant until the expiration of at least six months from the Award Date, except that such limitation will not apply in the case of death or disability of the Participant. To the extent Stock Unit Awards are deemed to be derivative securities within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the 1934 Act, a Participant’s rights with respect to such Awards will not vest or be exercisable until the expiration of at least six months from the Award Date. To the extent a Stock Unit Award granted under the Plan is deemed to be a derivative security within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the 1934 Act, it may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, otherwise than by will or by laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to such Stock Unit Awards granted to a Participant under the Plan will be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative. 

(ii)  Stock Unit Awards may require the payment of cash consideration by the Participant in receipt of the Award or provide that the Award, and any Common Stock or other securities issued in conjunction with the Award be delivered without the payment of cash consideration. 

(iii) The Committee, in its sole and complete discretion, may establish certain Performance Criteria that may relate in whole or in part to receipt of the Stock Unit Awards. 

(iv)  Stock Unit Awards may be subject to a deferred payment schedule and/or vesting over a specified employment period. 

(v)   The Committee as a result of certain circumstances, may waive or otherwise remove, in whole or in part, any restriction or condition imposed on a Stock Unit Award at the time of Award. 

6.10        Recoupment of Awards in Connection with Restatements. Notwithstanding any other language in this Plan to the contrary, the Company may recoup all or any portion of any shares or cash paid to any current or former officer, as defined in the Company’s Executive Compensation Recoupment Policy approved by the Board from time to time (the “Policy”), in connection with an Award, in the event of an accounting restatement of the Company’s previously issued financial statements, as set forth in the Policy.

 

ARTICLE 7 
OPTION and SAR PRICING

7.1        Option Price; SAR Price. The Option Price for any share of Common Stock which may be purchased under a Stock Option and the SAR Price for any share of Common Stock subject to an SAR will be at least One Hundred Percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the share on the Date of Grant. If an Incentive Stock Option is granted to an Employee who 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 or Subsidiary), the Option Price will be at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant.

7.2        No Repricing of Options or SARs. The Committee may not, without the approval of the Company’s shareholders, “reprice” any Stock Option or SAR. For purposes of this Section 7.2, “reprice” means any of the following or any other action that has the same effect: (i) amending a Stock Option or SAR to reduce its exercise price or base price, (ii) canceling a Stock Option or SAR at a time when its exercise price or base price exceeds the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock in exchange for cash or a Stock Option, SAR, award of Restricted Stock or other equity award with an exercise price or base price less than the exercise price or base price of the original Stock Option or SAR, or (iii) taking any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles, provided that nothing in this Section 7.2 will prevent the Committee from making adjustments pursuant to Article 15, from exchanging or cancelling Incentives pursuant to Article 16, or substituting Incentives in accordance with Article 18.
 
ARTICLE 8 
AWARD PERIOD; VESTING
 
8.1        Award Period. Subject to the other provisions of this Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion, provide that an Incentive may not be exercised in whole or in part for any period or periods of time or beyond any date specified in the Award Agreement. Except as provided in the Award Agreement, an Incentive may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during its term. The Award Period for an Incentive will be reduced or terminated upon Termination of Service in accordance with this Article 8 and Article 9. No Incentive granted under the Plan may be exercised at any time after the end of its Award Period. No portion of any Incentive may be exercised after the expiration of ten (10) years from its Date of Grant. However, if an Employee 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 or Subsidiary) and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such Employee, the term of such Incentive Stock Option (to the extent required by the Code at the time of grant) will be no more than five (5) years from the Date of Grant. 

8.2        Vesting. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine that an Incentive will be immediately exercisable, in whole or in part, or that all or any portion may not be exercised until a date, or dates, subsequent to its Date of Grant, or until the occurrence of one or more specified events, subject in any case to the terms of the Plan. If the Committee imposes conditions upon exercise, then subsequent to the Date of Grant, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the date on which all or any portion of the Incentive may be exercised. 

ARTICLE 9 
TERMINATION OF SERVICE 

In the event of Termination of Service of a Participant, an Incentive may only be exercised as determined by the Committee and provided in the Award Agreement. 

ARTICLE 10 
EXERCISE OF INCENTIVE 

10.1        In General. A vested Incentive may be exercised during its Award Period, subject to limitations and restrictions set forth therein and in Article 9. A vested Incentive may be exercised at such times and in such amounts as provided in this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, subject to the terms, conditions, and restrictions of the Plan. 

In no event may an Incentive be exercised or shares of Common Stock be issued pursuant to an Award if a necessary listing or quotation of the shares of Common Stock on a stock exchange or inter-dealer quotation system or any registration under state or federal securities laws required under the circumstances has not been accomplished. No Incentive may be exercised for a fractional share of Common Stock. The granting of an Incentive will impose no obligation upon the Participant to exercise that Incentive. 

(a)  Stock Options. Subject to such administrative regulations as the Committee may from time to time adopt, a Stock Option may be exercised by the delivery of written notice to the Committee setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Stock Option is to be exercised and the date of exercise thereof (the “Exercise Date”) which will be at least three (3) days after giving such notice unless an earlier time will have been mutually agreed upon. On the Exercise Date, the Participant will deliver to the Company consideration with a value equal to the total Option Price of the shares to be purchased, payable as follows: (a) cash, check, bank draft, or money order payable to the order of the Company, (b) Common Stock (including Restricted Stock) owned by the Participant on the Exercise Date, valued at its Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date, (c) by delivery (including by FAX) to the Company or its designated agent of an executed irrevocable option exercise form together with irrevocable instructions from the Participant to a broker or dealer, reasonably acceptable to the Company, to sell certain of the shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of the Stock Option or to pledge such shares as collateral for a loan and promptly deliver to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds necessary to pay such purchase price, and/or (d) in any other form of valid consideration that is acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion. In the event that shares of Restricted Stock are tendered as consideration for the exercise of a Stock Option, a number of shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of the Stock Option equal to the number of shares of Restricted Stock used as consideration therefor will be subject to the same restrictions and provisions as the Restricted Stock so submitted. 

Upon payment of all amounts due from the Participant, the Company will cause certificates for the Common Stock then being purchased to be delivered as directed by the Participant (or the person exercising the Participant’s Stock Option in the event of his death) at its principal business office promptly after the Exercise Date; provided that if the Participant has exercised an Incentive Stock Option, the Company may at its option retain physical possession of the certificate evidencing the shares acquired upon exercise until the expiration of the holding periods described in Section 422(a)(1) of the Code. The obligation of the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock will, however, be subject to the condition that if at any time the Committee will determine in its discretion that the listing, registration, or qualification of the Stock Option or the Common Stock upon any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the Stock Option or the issuance or purchase of shares of Common Stock thereunder, the Stock Option may not be exercised in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, or approval will have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee. 

If the Participant fails to pay for any of the Common Stock specified in such notice or fails to accept delivery thereof, the Participant’s right to purchase such Common Stock may be terminated by the Company. 

(b) SARs. Subject to the conditions of this Section 10.1(b) and such administrative regulations as the Committee may from time to time adopt, an SAR may be exercised by the delivery (including by FAX) of written notice to the Committee setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the SAR is to be exercised and the date of exercise thereof (the “Exercise Date”) which will be at least three (3) days after giving such notice unless an earlier time will have been mutually agreed upon. On the Exercise Date, the Participant will receive from the Company in exchange therefor cash in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Fair Market Value (as of the date of the exercise of the SAR) per share of Common Stock over the SAR Price per share specified in such SAR, multiplied by the total number of shares of Common Stock of the SAR being surrendered. In the discretion of the Committee, the Company may satisfy its obligation upon exercise of an SAR by the distribution of that number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date of the exercise of the SAR) equal to the amount of cash otherwise payable to the Participant, with a cash settlement to be made for any fractional share interests, or the Company may settle such obligation in part with shares of Common Stock and in part with cash. 

10.2        Disqualifying Disposition of ISO. If shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option are disposed of by a Participant prior to the expiration of either two (2) years from the Date of Grant of such Stock Option or one (1) year from the transfer of shares of Common Stock to the Participant pursuant to the exercise of such Stock Option, or in any other disqualifying disposition within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, such Participant will notify the Company in writing of the date and terms of such disposition. A disqualifying disposition by a Participant will not affect the status of any other Stock Option granted under the Plan as an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. 

ARTICLE 11 
SPECIAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO COVERED PARTICIPANTS 

Awards subject to Performance Criteria paid to Covered Participants under this Plan will be governed by the conditions of this Article 11 in addition to the requirements of Sections 6.4, 6.7, 6.8 and 6.9 above. Should conditions set forth under this Article 11 conflict with the requirements of Sections 6.4, 6.7, 6.8 and 6.9, the conditions of this Article 11 will prevail.

(a)  All Performance Measures, Goals, or Criteria relating to Covered Participants for a relevant Performance Period will be established by the Committee in writing prior to the beginning of the Performance Period, or by such other later date for the Performance Period as may be permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code. The Performance Goals may be identical for all Participants or, at the discretion of the Committee, may be different to reflect more appropriate measures of individual performance. 

(b)  The Performance Goals relating to Covered Participants for a Performance Period will be established by the Committee in writing. Performance Goals may include alternative and multiple Performance Goals and may be based on one or more business and/or financial criteria. In establishing the Performance Goals for the Performance Period, the Committee in its discretion may include one or any combination of the following criteria in either absolute or relative terms, for the Company or any Subsidiary: 

(i)     Total shareholder return;
 
(ii)    Return on assets, equity, capital, or investment;
 
(iii)   Pre-tax or after-tax profit levels, including: earnings per share; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; net operating profits after tax, and net income; 

(iv)  Cash flow and cash flow return on investment; 

(v)   Economic value added and economic profit; 

(vi)   Growth in earnings per share; 

(vii) Levels of operating expense or other expense items as reported on the income statement, including operating and maintenance expense; or 

(viii)   Measures of customer satisfaction and customer service as surveyed from time to time, including the relative improvement therein.
 
(c)  The Performance Goals must be objective and must satisfy third party “objectivity” standards under Section 162(m) of the Code, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
(d)  The Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the method of calculating attainment of Performance Goals in recognition of: (i) items that are of an unusual nature or indicate infrequency of occurrence, (ii) changes in tax laws, (iii) changes in generally accepted accounting principles or changes in accounting principles, (iv) charges related to restructured or discontinued operations, (v) restatement of prior period financial results, and (vi) any other unusual, non-recurring gain or loss that is separately identified and quantified in the Company’s financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, at its sole discretion, reduce the performance results upon which Awards are based under the Plan, to offset any unintended result(s) arising from events not anticipated when the Performance Goals were established, provided that such adjustment is permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code. 

(e) The Performance Goals will not allow for any discretion by the Committee as to an increase in any Award, but discretion to lower an Award is permissible. 

(f)  The Award and payment of any Award under this Plan to a Covered Participant with respect to a relevant Performance Period will be contingent upon the attainment of the Performance Goals that are applicable to such Covered Participant. The Committee will certify in writing prior to payment of any such Award that such applicable Performance Goals relating to the Award are satisfied. Approved minutes of the Committee may be used for this purpose. 

(g) The maximum Award that may be paid to any Covered Participant under the Plan pursuant to Sections 6.4, 6.7, 6.8 and 6.9 for any Performance Period will be (i) if in cash, One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) and (ii) if in shares of Common Stock, five hundred thousand (500,000) shares. 

(h)  All Awards to Covered Participants under this Plan will be further subject to such other conditions, restrictions, and requirements as the Committee may determine to be necessary to carry out the purpose of this Article 11.
 
ARTICLE 12 
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR ELECTIONS 

(a)  Fee Election. 

(i)   Each Non-employee Director may elect to receive all or a portion (in 10% increments) of his or her Fee in shares of Common Stock by executing and delivering an Election to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the immediately succeeding Fiscal Year in order to be effective for the Fee earned in such succeeding Fiscal Year. Each Non-employee Director must execute the election form previously approved by the Corporate Secretary in order for such Election to be effective. The election form is deemed delivered when received by the Corporate Secretary.

 
(ii)  Each Non-employee Director may elect to revoke or modify his or her Election that is then currently in effect by executing and delivering a written revocation/modification form, which must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the immediately succeeding Fiscal Year in order to be effective for the Fee earned in such succeeding Fiscal Year. Each Non-employee Director must execute the revocation/modification form previously approved by the Corporate Secretary in order for such revocation/modification to be effective. This form is deemed delivered when received by the Corporate Secretary. 

(iii)  An Election will result in the payment of the Common Stock portion of the payment of the Fee earned in each Quarter for which the Election is effective as soon as possible following the first business day of such Quarter. The number of shares of Common Stock issued in accordance with an Election will be equal to the amount of the Common Stock portion of the payment of the Fee that would have been paid to the Non-employee Director during a Quarter divided by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the first business day of such Quarter. Only whole numbers of shares of Common Stock will be issued; fractional shares will be paid in cash. If the Election is for only a portion of the Fee, the remaining portion of the Fee to be paid in cash will be paid at the time the cash payment would normally be paid by the Company to the Non-employee Director. 

(iv)  The Common Stock portion of the payment of a Fee pursuant to this Article 12 will be subject to the remaining provisions of the Plan, including but not limited to Articles 15 and 16, to the extent otherwise applicable to such Common Stock portion.
 
(v)  A Non-Employee Director may also elect under the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan to defer on a calendar year basis all or a part of his Fee to be earned during the following calendar year. A Non-Employee Director who makes such a deferral election will elect to have such Fee credited to either a deferred stock account or deferred cash account and paid pursuant to the terms of Deferred Compensation Plan. To be effective, the deferral election must be made on the participation form approved by the Corporate Secretary of the Company and executed and delivered to the Corporate Secretary prior to the beginning of the immediately succeeding calendar year. 

(b)   Annual Grant Election. 

(i)   Each Non-employee Director may elect the type of Award for his or her Annual Grant in any of the types of Award specified by the Committee by executing and delivering an Election to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the immediately succeeding calendar year in order to be effective for the Annual Grant made in such succeeding calendar year. Each Non-employee Director must execute the election form previously approved by the Corporate Secretary in order for such Election to be effective. The election form is deemed delivered when received by the Corporate Secretary.
 
(ii)  An Election will result in the granting of an Award in the type of Award elected by the Director. Such Award when granted during the succeeding calendar year will be administered and paid pursuant to the provisions of the Plan applicable to the type of Award elected and the Award Agreement. 

(iii)  If a Non-employee Director does not make an Election pursuant to this Section 12(b), his or her Annual Grant will be made in the type of Award determined by the Committee. Such Award will be administered and paid pursuant to the provisions of the Plan applicable to the type of Award and the Award Agreement.
 
ARTICLE 13 
AMENDMENT OR DISCONTINUANCE 

Subject to the limitations set forth in this Article 13, the Board may at any time and from time to time, without the consent of the Participants, alter, amend, revise, suspend, or discontinue the Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that no amendment which requires shareholder approval in order for the Plan and Incentives awarded under the Plan to continue to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, including any successors to such Section, will be effective unless such amendment will be approved by the requisite vote of the shareholders of the Company entitled to vote thereon. Any such amendment will, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee, be applicable to any outstanding Incentives theretofore granted under the Plan, notwithstanding any contrary provisions contained in any Award Agreement. In the event of any such amendment to the Plan, the holder of any Incentive outstanding under the Plan will, upon request of the Committee and as a condition to the exercisability thereof, execute a conforming amendment in the form prescribed by the Committee to any Award Agreement relating thereto. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Plan to the contrary, unless required by law, no action contemplated or permitted by this Article 13 will adversely affect any rights of Participants or obligations of the Company to Participants with respect to any Incentive theretofore granted under the Plan without the consent of the affected Participant.
 
ARTICLE 14 
EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM 

The Plan will be effective as set forth in Section 19.11. Unless sooner terminated by action of the Board, the Plan will terminate on November 11, 2030, but Incentives granted before that date will continue to be effective in accordance with their terms and conditions. 

ARTICLE 15 
CAPITAL ADJUSTMENTS 

If at any time while the Plan is in effect, or Incentives are outstanding, there will be any increase or decrease in the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock resulting from (1) the declaration or payment of a stock dividend, (2) any recapitalization resulting in a stock split-up, combination, or exchange of shares of Common Stock, or (3) other increase or decrease in such shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, then and in such event: 

(a)   An appropriate adjustment will be made in the maximum number of shares of Common Stock then subject to being awarded under the Plan and in the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be awarded to a Participant to the end that the same proportion of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock will continue to be subject to being so awarded. 

(b)  Appropriate adjustments will be made in the number of shares of Common Stock and the Option Price thereof then subject to purchase pursuant to each such Stock Option previously granted and unexercised, to the end that the same proportion of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock in each such instance will remain subject to purchase at the same aggregate Option Price.
 
(c)  Appropriate adjustments will be made in the number of SARs and the SAR Price thereof then subject to exercise pursuant to each such SAR previously granted and unexercised, to the end that the same proportion of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock in each instance will remain subject to exercise at the same aggregate SAR Price. 

(d)  Appropriate adjustments will be made in the number of outstanding shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which restrictions have not yet lapsed prior to any such change.
 
(e)   Appropriate adjustments will be made with respect to shares of Common Stock applicable to any other Incentives previously awarded under the Plan as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, consistent with the event. 

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the issuance by the Company of shares of its capital stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of capital stock of any class, either in connection with direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, will not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof will be made with respect to (i) the number of or Option Price of shares of Common Stock then subject to outstanding Stock Options granted under the Plan, (ii) the number of or SAR Price or SARs then subject to outstanding SARs granted under the Plan, (iii) the number of outstanding shares of Restricted Stock, or (iv) the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise payable under any other Incentive. 

Upon the occurrence of each event requiring an adjustment with respect to any Incentive, the Company will mail to each affected Participant its computation of such adjustment which will be conclusive and will be binding upon each such Participant. 

ARTICLE 16 
RECAPITALIZATION, MERGER AND 
CONSOLIDATION; CHANGE IN CONTROL 

(a)  The existence of this Plan and Incentives granted hereunder will not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its shareholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations, or other changes in the Company’s capital structure and its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or preference stocks ranking prior to or otherwise affecting the Common Stock or the rights thereof (or any rights, options, or warrants to purchase same), or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise. 

(b)  Subject to any required action by the shareholders, if the Company will be the surviving or resulting corporation in any merger, consolidation or share exchange, any Incentive granted hereunder will pertain to and apply to the securities or rights (including cash, property, or assets) to which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Incentive would have been entitled.
 
(c)  In the event of the consummation of any merger, consolidation or share exchange pursuant to which the Company is not the surviving or resulting corporation, there will be substituted for each share of Common Stock subject to the unexercised portions of such outstanding Incentives, that number of shares of each class of stock or other securities or that amount of cash, property, or assets of the surviving, resulting or consolidated company which were distributed or distributable to the shareholders of the Company in respect to each share of Common Stock held by them, such outstanding Incentives to be thereafter exercisable for such stock, securities, cash, or property in accordance with their terms. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, all Stock Options and SARs may be canceled by the Company immediately prior to the effective date of the consummation of any such reorganization, merger, consolidation, share exchange or any dissolution or liquidation of the Company by giving notice to each holder thereof or his personal representative of its intention to do so and by permitting the purchase during the thirty (30) day period next preceding such effective date of all or any portion of all of the shares of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Incentives whether or not such Incentives are then vested or exercisable. 

(d)  In the event of the Termination of Service of a Participant within three years after the consummation of a Change in Control of the Company, notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary, all unmatured installments of Incentives outstanding and not otherwise canceled in accordance with Section 16(c) above with respect to such terminated Participant, will thereupon automatically be accelerated and exercisable in full and all Restriction Periods applicable to Awards of Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units will 

automatically expire. The determination of the Committee that any of the foregoing conditions has been met will be binding and conclusive on all parties.
 
ARTICLE 17 
LIQUIDATION OR DISSOLUTION 

In case the Company will, at any time while any Incentive under this Plan will be in force and remain unexpired, (i) sell all or substantially all of its property, or (ii) dissolve, liquidate, or wind up its affairs, then each Participant will be thereafter entitled to receive, in lieu of each share of Common Stock of the Company which such Participant would have been entitled to receive under the Incentive, the same kind and amount of any securities or assets as may be issuable, distributable, or payable upon any such sale, dissolution, liquidation, or winding up with respect to each share of Common Stock of the Company. If the Company will, at any time prior to the expiration of any Incentive, make any partial distribution of its assets, in the nature of a partial liquidation, whether payable in cash or in kind (but excluding the distribution of a cash dividend payable out of earned surplus and designated as such) then in such event the Option Prices or SAR Prices then in effect with respect to each Stock Option or SAR will be reduced, on the payment date of such distribution, in proportion to the percentage reduction in the tangible book value of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) resulting by reason of such distribution. 

ARTICLE 18 
INCENTIVES IN SUBSTITUTION FOR 
INCENTIVES GRANTED BY OTHER CORPORATIONS 

Incentives may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for similar instruments held by employees of a corporation who become or are about to become Employees of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of a merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of stock of the employing corporation. The terms and conditions of the substitute Incentives so granted may vary from the terms and conditions set forth in this Plan to such extent as the Board at the time of grant may deem appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the provisions of the Incentives in substitution for which they are granted. 

ARTICLE 19 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 

19.1        Investment Intent. The Company may require that there be presented to and filed with it by any Participant under the Plan, such evidence as it may deem necessary to establish that the Incentives granted or the shares of Common Stock to be purchased or transferred are being acquired for investment and not with a view to their distribution. 

19.2        No Right to Continued Employment. Neither the Plan nor any Incentive granted under the Plan will confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment by the Company or any Subsidiary. 

19.3        Indemnification of Board and Committee. No member of the Board or the Committee, nor any officer or employee of the Company acting on behalf of the Board or the Committee, will be personally liable for any action, determination, or interpretation taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Board or the Committee and each and any officer or employee of the Company acting on their behalf will, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company in respect of any such action, determination, or interpretation. 

19.4        Effect of the Plan. Neither the adoption of this Plan nor any action of the Board or the Committee will be deemed to give any person any right to be granted an Award or any other rights except as may be evidenced by an Award Agreement, or any amendment thereto, duly authorized by the Committee and executed on behalf of the Company, and then only to the extent and upon the terms and conditions expressly set forth therein. 

19.5        Compliance with Other Laws and Regulations. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company will not be required to sell or issue shares of Common Stock under any Incentive if the issuance thereof would constitute a violation by the Participant or the Company of any provisions of any law or regulation of any governmental authority or any national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system or other forum in which shares of Common Stock are quoted or traded (including without limitation Section 16 of the 1934 Act and Section 162(m) of the Code); and, as a condition of any sale or issuance of shares of Common Stock under an Incentive, the Committee may require such agreements or undertakings, if any, as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to assure compliance with any such law or regulation. The Plan, the grant and exercise of Incentives hereunder, and the obligation of the Company to sell and deliver shares of Common Stock, will be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations and to such approvals by any government or regulatory agency as may be required. 

19.6        Tax Requirements. The Company will have the right to deduct from all amounts hereunder paid in cash or other form, any Federal, state, or local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments. The Participant receiving shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan will be required to pay the Company the amount of any taxes which the Company is required to withhold with respect to such shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of an assignment of a Non-qualified Stock Option or SAR pursuant to Section 19.7, the Participant who assigns the Non-qualified Stock Option or SAR will remain subject to withholding taxes upon exercise of the Non-qualified Stock Option or SAR by the transferee to the extent required by the Code or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Such payments will be required to be made prior to the delivery of any certificate representing such shares of Common Stock. Such payment may be made in cash, by check, or through the delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant (which may be effected by the actual delivery of shares of Common Stock by the Participant or by the Company’s withholding a number of shares to be issued upon the exercise of a Stock Option, if applicable), which shares have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the required minimum withholding payment, or any combination thereof. 

19.7        Assignability. Incentive Stock Options may not be transferred or assigned other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or the Participant’s legally authorized representative, and each Award Agreement in respect of an Incentive Stock Option will so provide. The designation by a Participant of a beneficiary will not constitute a transfer of the Stock Option. The Committee may waive or modify any limitation contained in the preceding sentences of this Section 19.7 that is not required for compliance with Section 422 of the Code. The Committee may, in its discretion, authorize all or a portion of a Non-qualified Stock Option or SAR to be granted to a Participant to be on terms which permit transfer by such Participant to (i) the spouse, children or grandchildren of the Participant (“Immediate Family Members”), (ii) a trust or trusts for the exclusive benefit of such Immediate Family Members, or (iii) a partnership in which such Immediate Family Members are the only partners, (iv) an entity exempt from federal income tax pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Code or any successor provision, or (v) a split interest trust or pooled income fund described in Section 2522(c)(2) of the Code or any successor provision, provided that (x) there will be no consideration for any such transfer, (y) the Award Agreement pursuant to which such Non-qualified Stock Option or SAR is granted must be approved by the Committee and must expressly provide for transferability in a manner consistent with this Section 19.7, and (z) subsequent transfers of transferred Non-qualified Stock Options or SARs will be prohibited except those by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Following transfer, any such Non-qualified Stock Option and SAR will continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer, provided that for purposes of Articles 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 hereof the term “Participant” will be deemed to include the transferee. The events of Termination of Service will continue to be applied with respect to the original Participant, following which the Non-qualified Stock Options and SARs will be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent and for the periods specified in the Award Agreement. The Committee and the Company will have no obligation to inform any transferee of a Non-qualified Stock Option or SAR of any expiration, termination, lapse or acceleration of such Option. The Company will have no obligation to register with any federal or state securities commission or agency any Common Stock issuable or issued under a Non-qualified Stock Option or SAR that has been transferred by a Participant under this Section 19.7. A Non-employee Director making an Election 

pursuant to Section 12(a) may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries who will receive any shares of Common Stock owed to such Non-employee Director hereunder in the event of the Non-employee Director’s death. Each Non-employee Director may make changes in the designation of a beneficiary at any time.
 
19.8        Use of Proceeds. Proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Incentives granted under this Plan will constitute general funds of the Company. 

19.9        Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any actions taken or relating to the Plan will be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas and applicable Federal law. 

19.10     Successors and Assigns. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, expressly to assume and agree to perform the Company’s obligation under this Plan in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform them if no such succession had taken place. As used herein, the “Company” will mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any aforesaid successor to its business and/or assets.
 
19.11     Effective Date. The Plan became effective as of October 1, 1998. After termination of the Plan, no future Awards may be made. 

19.12     Legend. Each certificate representing shares of Restricted Stock issued to a Participant will bear the following legend, or a similar legend deemed by the Company to constitute an appropriate notice of the provisions hereof (any such certificate not having such legend will be surrendered upon demand by the Company and so endorsed): 

On the face of the certificate:
 
“Transfer of this stock is restricted in accordance with conditions printed on the reverse of this certificate.” 

On the reverse: 

“The shares of stock evidenced by this certificate are subject to and transferrable only in accordance with that certain Atmos Energy Corporation 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan, a copy of which is on file at the principal office of the Company in Dallas, Texas. No transfer or pledge of the shares evidenced hereby may be made except in accordance with and subject to the provisions of said Plan. By acceptance of this certificate, any holder, transferee or pledgee hereof agrees to be bound by all of the provisions of said Plan.” 

The following legend will be inserted on a certificate evidencing Common Stock issued under the Plan if the shares were not issued in a transaction registered under the applicable federal and state securities laws:
 
“Shares of stock represented by this certificate have been acquired by the holder for investment and not for resale, transfer or distribution, have been issued pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of applicable state and federal securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold or transferred other than pursuant to effective registration under such laws, or in transactions otherwise in compliance with such laws, and upon evidence satisfactory to the Company of compliance with such laws, as to which the Company may rely upon an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company.” 

A copy of this Plan will be kept on file in the principal executive offices of the Company in Dallas, Texas. 

* * * * * * * * * *

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed as of November 6, 2019 by its President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to prior actions taken by the Board.

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

By:    /s/ KEVIN AKERS        
Kevin Akers
President and Chief Executive Officer

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