Document:

Exhibit 4.2
DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED
As of December 31, 2020, US Ecology, Inc. (“we,” “our,” the “Company”) has two classes of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (1) common stock of the Company and (2) warrants to acquire shares of our common stock. The following description is a general summary of the terms of the shares of our common stock and warrants. The description below does not include all of the terms of the shares of our common stock and warrants and should be read together with our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time (the “Amended Charter”), and our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended from time to time (the “Amended Bylaws”), each of which are incorporated by reference as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Common Stock
General
Under the Amended Charter, we have the authority to issue 75,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. Each share of our common stock has the same relative rights and is identical in all respects to each other share of our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of our holders of common stock are subject to the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we have issued or may issue in the future.
Voting Rights
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on any matter to be voted upon by our stockholders; provided, however, that our Amended Charter entitles holders of shares of our common stock have cumulative voting in connection with the election of directors, which means that holders are entitled to as many votes as shall equal the number of votes which (except for this provision on cumulative voting) such holder is entitled to cast for the election of directors with respect to such holder’s shares of stock multiplied by the number of directors to be elected by such holder, and such holder may cast all of such votes for a single director or may distribute them among the number to be voted for, or for any two or more of them as such holder may see fit.
Dividends
The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for payment.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after the payment of creditors.
Preemptive Rights
Holders of our common stock will not have preemptive, conversion, redemption or sinking fund rights.
Transfer Restrictions
Our Amended Charter contains transfer restrictions to ensure compliance with the U.S. citizen ownership requirements of the U.S. coastwise trade laws, which are principally contained in 46 U.S.C. Chapters 121, 505 and 551 and the related regulations (collectively, the “Jones Act”), as described below under the heading “Restrictions on US Ecology Stock Ownership and Purchase of Capital Stock by Non-U.S. citizens under our Amended Charter.”
Nasdaq Listing
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market System (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “ECOL.”
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Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC and its address and telephone number are 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 and (800) 937-5449, respectively.
Delaware Law and Certain Amended Charter and Amended Bylaws Provisions
The provisions of Delaware law and of our Amended Charter and Amended Bylaws discussed below could discourage or make it more difficult to acquire control of the Company by means of a tender offer, open market purchases, a proxy contest or otherwise. Our board of directors believes that these charter provisions are appropriate to protect our interests and the interests of our stockholders. A summary of these provisions is set forth below. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), our Amended Charter and our Amended Bylaws.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to specified exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years did own, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.
Stockholders Rights Plan Policy
Stockholder rights plans can protect stockholders against abusive takeover tactics and ensure that each stockholder is treated fairly in an acquisition. Such plans have been effective in connection with bids for control of other companies in giving boards of directors’ time to evaluate offers, investigate alternatives and take steps necessary to maximize value to stockholders. In lieu of adopting a stockholder rights plan, our board of directors has instead adopted a policy with respect to the adoption of any stockholder rights plan for us in the future. Our policy, adopted in July 2012, is that we will adopt a stockholder rights plan only if, in the exercise of their fiduciary duties, a majority of the independent directors conclude that it would be in our best interests and those of the holders of the majority of the shares of our common stock. Our board believes that this policy addresses the legitimate concerns that stockholders have with the use of stockholder rights plans while maintaining its ability to act in the stockholders’ best interests and preserving our flexibility to react to unanticipated situations which may arise without notice.
Number of Directors; Removal; Filling Vacancies
Our Amended Bylaws provide that our board of directors will consist of not less than five and not more than twelve directors, the exact number to be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by our directors. Further, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of our preferred stock, if any, our Amended Bylaws authorize our board of directors to elect additional directors under specified circumstances and fill any vacancies that occur in our board by reason of death, resignation, removal, or otherwise. A director so elected by our board to fill a vacancy or a newly created directorship holds office until the next election and until his successor is elected and qualified. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of our preferred stock, if any, our Amended Bylaws also provide that directors may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding stock of the Company.
Indemnification
We have included in our Amended Charter and Amended Bylaws provisions to eliminate the personal liability of our directors for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty to the extent permitted by the DGCL, and to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, including circumstances in which indemnification is otherwise discretionary. These provisions may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and may discourage or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their duty of care, even though such an action, 
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if successful, might otherwise have benefited the Company and our stockholders. We believe that these provisions are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.
Advance Notice Provision
The Amended Bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting will only be able to consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given the Company timely written notice to the corporate secretary in proper form and consistent with the notice requirements set forth in the Amended Bylaws. Such notice requirements include, but are not limited to, the stockholder nominee’s name and address, the class and amount of stock beneficially owned by the stockholder nominee and disclosure of any material agreements or litigation between the Company and stockholder nominee.
Restrictions on our Stock Ownership and Purchase of Capital Stock by Non-U.S. citizens under our Amended Charter
Certain of our operations are conducted in the U.S. coastwise trade and are governed by the Jones Act, which is principally contained in 46 U.S.C. Chapters 121, 505 and 551 and the related regulations. The Jones Act restricts the transportation of merchandise and passengers for hire by water or by land and water, either directly or via a foreign port between points in the United States and certain of its island territories and possessions, to U.S.-flag vessels that meet certain requirements, including that they are built in the United States, owned and controlled by U.S. citizens (within the meaning of the Jones Act), and manned by predominantly U.S. citizen crews. Should the Company fail to satisfy the requirements of the Jones Act to be a U.S. citizen, the Company would be prohibited from operating its vessels in the U.S. coastwise trade during the period of such non-compliance. In addition, the Company could be subject to substantial fines and its vessels could be subject to seizure and forfeiture for violations of the Jones Act.
The following is a summary of the restrictions (the “Maritime Restrictions”) in Article Eighth of the Amended Charter. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended Charter.
General Restriction on Ownership of Shares by non-U.S. citizens
In order to protect the Company’s eligibility as a U.S. citizen, the Amended Charter restricts the record or beneficial ownership or control of shares of each class or series of our capital stock, which includes common stock, by non-U.S. citizens to no more than 24% in the aggregate of the total issued and outstanding shares of such class or series. The Company refers to such percentage restriction on ownership by non-U.S. citizens of any class or series of shares of the Company’s capital stock as the “Permitted Percentage” and any such shares owned by non-U.S. citizens in excess of the Permitted Percentage as “Excess Shares.” The Amended Charter provides that a person will not be deemed to be the beneficial owner of shares of our capital stock, if our board of directors determines that such person is not the beneficial owner of such shares for the purposes of the Jones Act. All references to beneficial ownership of shares and the derivative phrases thereof in this summary of the Maritime Restrictions include record ownership of shares and the ability to control shares.
Restriction on Transfers of Excess Shares
The Maritime Restrictions provide that no shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Company may be transferred to a non-U.S. citizen or a holder of record that will hold such shares for or on behalf of a non-U.S. citizen if, upon completion of such transfer, the number of shares of such class or series beneficially owned by all non-U.S. citizens in the aggregate would exceed the Permitted Percentage for such class or series. Any transfer or purported transfer of beneficial ownership of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Company, the effect of which would be to cause one or more non-U.S. citizens in the aggregate to beneficially own shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Company in excess of the Permitted Percentage for such class or series, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be void ab initio and ineffective, and, to the extent that the Company or its transfer agent (if any) knows that such transfer or purported transfer would, if completed, be in violation of the restrictions on transfers to non-U.S. citizens set forth in the Maritime Restrictions, neither the Company nor its transfer agent (if any) shall register such transfer or purported transfer on the stock transfer records of the Company and neither the Company nor its transfer agent (if any) shall recognize the transferee or purported transferee thereof as a stockholder of the Company for any purpose whatsoever (including for purposes of voting, dividends and other distributions) except to the extent necessary to effect any remedy available to the Company under the Maritime Restrictions. In no event shall any such registration or recognition make such transfer or purported transfer effective unless our board of directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof, or any officer of the Company who shall have been duly authorized by our board of directors or any such committee thereof) shall have expressly and specifically authorized the same.
In connection with any purported transfer of shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Company, any transferee or proposed transferee of shares and, if such transferee or proposed transferee is acting as a fiduciary or nominee for a beneficial owner, such beneficial owner, may be required by the Company or its transfer agent to deliver (1) certification (which may include as part 

thereof a form of affidavit) upon which the Company and its transfer agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively stating whether such transferee or proposed or purported transferee 
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or, if such transferee or proposed transferee is acting as custodian, nominee, purchaser representative or in any other capacity for a beneficial owner, whether such beneficial owner, is a U.S. citizen, and (2) such other documentation and information concerning its citizenship under the Maritime Restrictions as the Company may request in its sole discretion. Registration and recognition of any transfer of shares may be denied by the Company upon refusal to furnish any of the foregoing citizenship certifications, documentation or information requested by the Company. Each proposed transferor of such shares shall reasonably cooperate with any requests from the Company to facilitate the transmission of requests for such citizenship certifications and such other documentation and information to the proposed transferee and such proposed transferee’s responses thereto.
Notwithstanding any of the Maritime Restrictions, the Company shall be entitled to rely, without limitation, on the stock transfer and other stockholder records of the Company (and its transfer agent) for the purposes of preparing lists of stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies, and otherwise conducting votes of stockholders.
Excess Shares
If on any date, including, without limitation, any record date (each, an “Excess Share Date”), the number of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Company beneficially owned by all non-U.S. citizens in the aggregate should exceed the Permitted Percentage with respect to such class or series of capital stock, irrespective of the date on which such event becomes known to the Company (such shares in excess of the Permitted Percentage, the “Excess Shares”), then the shares of such class or series of capital stock of the Company that constitute Excess Shares for purposes of the Maritime Restrictions shall be (1) those shares that have been acquired by or become beneficially owned by non-U.S. citizens, starting with the most recent acquisition of beneficial ownership of such shares by a non-U.S. citizen and including, in reverse chronological order of acquisition, all other acquisitions of beneficial ownership of such shares by non-U.S. citizens from and after the acquisition of beneficial ownership of such shares by a non-U.S. citizen that first caused such Permitted Percentage to be exceeded, or (2) those shares beneficially owned by non-U.S. citizens that exceed the Permitted Percentage as the result of any repurchase or redemption by the Company of shares of its capital stock, starting with the most recent acquisition of beneficial ownership of such shares by a non-U.S. citizen and going in reverse chronological order of acquisition; provided, however, that: (a) the Company shall have the power to determine, in its sole discretion, those shares of such class or series that constitute Excess Shares in accordance with the provisions of the Maritime Restrictions; (b) the Company may, in its sole discretion, rely on any documentation provided by non-U.S. citizens with respect to the date and time of their acquisition of beneficial ownership of Excess Shares; (c) if the acquisition of beneficial ownership of more than one Excess Share occurs on the same date and the time of acquisition is not definitively established, then the order in which such acquisitions shall be deemed to have occurred on such date shall be determined by lot or by such other method as the Company may, in its sole discretion, deem appropriate; (d) Excess Shares that result from a determination that a beneficial owner has ceased to be a U.S. citizen shall be deemed to have been acquired, for purposes of the Maritime Restrictions, as of the date that such beneficial owner ceased to be a U.S. citizen; and (e) the Company may adjust upward to the nearest whole share the number of shares of such class or series deemed to be Excess Shares. Any determination made by the Company pursuant to the Maritime Restrictions as to which shares of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock constitute Excess Shares of such class or series shall be conclusive and shall be deemed effective as of the applicable Excess Share Date for such class or series.
Redemption of Excess Shares
To the extent that the above ownership and transfer restrictions would be ineffective for any reason, the Maritime Restrictions provide that, to prevent the percentage of aggregate shares of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock owned by non-U.S. citizens from exceeding the Permitted Percentage, the Company, by action of our board of directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), in its sole discretion, will have the power (but not the obligation) to redeem all or any number of such Excess Shares, unless such redemption is not permitted under applicable law.
Until such Excess Shares are redeemed or they are no longer Excess Shares, the holders of such shares will not be entitled to any voting rights with respect to such shares and the Company will pay any dividends or distributions with respect to such shares into a segregated account. Full voting, distribution and dividend rights will be restored to 
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such Excess Shares (and any dividends or distributions paid into a segregated account will be paid to holders of record of such shares), promptly after the time and to the extent that such shares have ceased to be Excess Shares, unless such shares have already been redeemed by the Company.
If our board of directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) determines to redeem Excess Shares, the per share redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) for each Excess Share shall be paid by the issuance of one Redemption Warrant (as defined below) for each Excess Share; provided, however, that if (1) the Company determines that a Redemption Warrant would be treated as capital stock under the Jones Act or (2) the Company is prevented from legally issuing Redemption Warrants under applicable law, then the Redemption Price shall be paid, as determined by our board of directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) in its sole discretion, (a) in cash (by wire transfer or bank or cashier’s check), (b) by the issuance of Redemption Notes (as defined below), (c) by any combination of cash and Redemption Notes, or (d) by any other means authorized or permitted under the DGCL.
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	“Redemption Warrants” means the warrants issued pursuant to that certain Assignment, Assumption and Amendment to the Warrant Agreement, dated November 1, 2019, among the Company, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, NRC Group Holdings Corp. and Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company (the “Warrant Agreement”), with respect to the warrants entitling the holders thereof to purchase shares of our common stock with an exercise price per warrant equal to $0.01 per share of our common stock. A holder of Redemption Warrants (or its proposed or purported transferee) who cannot establish to the satisfaction of the Company that it is a U.S. citizen shall not be permitted to exercise its Redemption Warrants if the shares issuable upon exercise would constitute Excess Shares if they were issued. Redemption Warrants shall not entitle the holder to have any rights or privileges of stockholders of the Company solely by virtue of such Redemption Warrants, including, without limitation, any rights to vote, to receive dividends or distributions, to exercise any preemptive rights, or to receive notices, in each case, as stockholders of the Company, until they exercise their Redemption Warrants and receive shares of our common stock.

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	“Redemption Notes” means interest-bearing promissory notes of the Company with a maturity of not more than ten years from the date of issue and bearing interest at a fixed rate equal to the yield on the U.S. Treasury Note having a maturity comparable to the term of such Redemption Notes as published in The Wall Street Journal or comparable publication at the time of the issuance of the Redemption Notes. Such notes shall be governed by the terms of an indenture to be entered into by and between the Company and a trustee, as may be amended from time to time. Redemption Notes shall be redeemable at par plus accrued but unpaid interest.

With respect to the portion of the Redemption Price being paid in whole or in part by cash and/or by the issuance of Redemption Notes, such portion of the Redemption Price shall be an amount equal to, in the case of cash, or a principal amount equal to, in the case of Redemption Notes, the sum of (1) the fair market value of such Excess Share as of the date of redemption of such Excess Share plus (2) an amount equal to the amount of any dividend or any other distribution (upon liquidation or otherwise) declared in respect of such Excess Share prior to the date on which such Excess Share is called for redemption and which amount has been paid into a segregated account by the Company.
Written notice of the redemption of the Excess Shares containing the information set forth in the Maritime Restrictions, together with a letter of transmittal to accompany certificates, if any, representing the Excess Shares that have been called for redemption, shall be given either by hand delivery or by overnight courier service or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each holder of record of the Excess Shares to be redeemed, at such holder’s last known address as the same appears on the stock register of the Company (the “Redemption Notice”), unless such notice is waived in writing by any such holders.
The date on which the Excess Shares shall be redeemed (the “Redemption Date”) shall be the later of (1) the date specified in the Redemption Notice sent to the record holder of the Excess Shares (which shall not be earlier than the date of such notice), and (2) the date on which the Company has irrevocably deposited in trust with a paying agent 
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or set aside for the benefit of such record holder consideration sufficient to pay the Redemption Price to such record holders of such Excess Shares in Redemption Warrants, cash and/or Redemption Notes.
Each Redemption Notice to each holder of record of the Excess Shares to be redeemed shall specify (1) the Redemption Date (as determined pursuant to the Maritime Restrictions), (2) the number and the class or series of shares of capital stock to be redeemed from such holder as Excess Shares (and, to the extent such Excess Shares are certificated, the certificate number(s) representing such Excess Shares), (3) the Redemption Price and the manner of payment thereof, (4) the place where certificates for such Excess Shares (if such Excess Shares are certificated) are to be surrendered for cancellation, (5) any instructions as to the endorsement or assignment for transfer of such certificates (if any) and the completion of the accompanying letter of transmittal, and (6) the fact that all right, title and interest in respect of the Excess Shares to be redeemed (including, without limitation, voting, dividend and distribution rights) shall cease and terminate on the Redemption Date, except for the right to receive the Redemption Price, without interest.
On and after the Redemption Date, all right, title and interest in respect of the Excess Shares selected for redemption (including, without limitation, voting and dividend and distribution rights) shall forthwith cease and terminate, such Excess Shares shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding shares for any purpose, including, without limitation, for purposes of voting or determining the total number of shares entitled to vote on any matter properly brought before the stockholders for a vote thereon or receiving any dividends or distributions (and may be either cancelled or held by the Company as treasury stock), and the holders of record of such Excess Shares shall thereafter be entitled only to receive the Redemption Price, without interest.
Upon surrender of the certificates (if any) for any Excess Shares so redeemed in accordance with the requirements of the Redemption Notice and the accompanying letter of transmittal (and otherwise in proper form for transfer as specified in the Redemption Notice), the holder of record of such Excess Shares shall be entitled to payment of the Redemption Price. In case fewer than all the shares represented by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate (or certificates), to the extent such shares were certificated, shall be issued representing the shares not redeemed, without cost to the holder of record. On the Redemption Date, to the extent that dividends or other distributions (upon liquidation or otherwise) with respect to the Excess Shares selected for redemption were paid into a segregated account, then, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such amounts shall be released to the Company upon the completion of such redemption.
Nothing in the Maritime Restrictions will prevent the recipient of a Redemption Notice from transferring its shares before the Redemption Date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under the Maritime Restrictions and applicable law and the recipient provides notice of such proposed transfer to the Company along with the documentation and information required under the Maritime Restrictions establishing that such proposed transferee is a U.S. citizen to the satisfaction of the Company in its sole discretion before the Redemption Date. If such conditions are met, our board of directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) will withdraw the Redemption Notice related to such shares, but otherwise the redemption thereof will proceed on the Redemption Date in accordance with the Maritime Restrictions and the Redemption Notice.
Permitted Actions by the Company to Enforce the Maritime Restrictions
The Company has the power to determine the citizenship of the beneficial owners and the transferees or proposed transferees (and, if such transferees or proposed transferees are acting as fiduciaries or nominees for any beneficial owners, the citizenship of such beneficial owners) of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock and to require confirmation from time to time of the citizenship of the beneficial owners of any shares of its capital stock. As a condition to acquiring and having beneficial ownership of any shares of its capital stock, every beneficial owner of the Company’s shares must comply with certain provisions in the Maritime Restrictions concerning citizenship, which are summarized below. The Company has the right under the Maritime Restrictions to require additional reasonable proof of the citizenship of beneficial owners, transferees or proposed transferees (and any beneficial owners for whom such transferees or proposed transferees are acting as fiduciaries or nominees) of any shares of its capital stock, and the determination of the Company at any time as to the citizenship of such persons is conclusive.
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The Maritime Restrictions require that promptly upon a beneficial owner’s acquisition of beneficial ownership of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Company, and at such other times as the Company may determine by written notice to such beneficial owner, such beneficial owner must provide to the Company a written statement or an affidavit, as specified by the Company, stating the name and address of such beneficial owner, the number of shares of each class or series of capital stock of the Company beneficially owned by such beneficial owner as of a recent date, the legal structure of such beneficial owner, a statement as to whether such beneficial owner is a U.S. citizen, and such other information and documents required by the U.S. Coast Guard or the U.S. Maritime Administration under the Jones Act, including 46 C.F.R. part 355. In addition, under the Maritime Restrictions, a beneficial owner is required to provide such a written statement or affidavit when the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that the citizenship status of such beneficial owner may have changed or that it is necessary under the Jones Act for the Company to confirm the Company’s citizenship status.
Under the Maritime Restrictions, when a beneficial owner of any shares of the Company’s capital stock ceases to be a U.S. citizen, such beneficial owner is required to provide to the Company, as promptly as practicable but in no event less than five business days after the date such beneficial owner becomes aware that it is no longer a U.S. citizen, a written statement, stating the name and address of such beneficial owner, the number of shares of each class or series of its capital stock beneficially owned by such beneficial owner as of a recent date, the legal structure of such beneficial owner, and a statement as to such change in status of such beneficial owner to a non-U.S. citizen.
The Maritime Restrictions require that, promptly after becoming a beneficial owner, every beneficial owner must provide, or authorize such beneficial owner’s broker, dealer, custodian, depositary, nominee or similar agent with respect to the shares of each class or series of the Company’s capital stock beneficially owned by such beneficial owner to provide, to the Company such beneficial owner’s address. A beneficial owner of the Company’s capital stock is also required by the Maritime Restrictions to provide promptly upon request the Company with a written statement or an affidavit, as specified by the Company, stating the name and address of such beneficial owner, together with reasonable documentation of the date and time of such beneficial owner’s acquisition of beneficial ownership of the shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Company specified by the Company in its request.
In the event that the Company requests the documentation described above and a beneficial owner fails to provide it by the specified date, the Maritime Restrictions provide for the suspension of the voting rights of such beneficial owner’s shares of the Company’s capital stock and for the payment of dividends and distributions (upon liquidation or otherwise) with respect to those shares into a segregated account until the requested documentation is submitted in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company (subject to the other Maritime Restrictions). In addition, the Company, upon approval by our board of directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) in its sole discretion, has the power to treat such beneficial owner as a non-U.S. citizen unless and until the Company receives the requested documentation confirming that such beneficial owner is a U.S. citizen.
In the event that the Company requests a transferee or proposed transferee (and, if such transferee or proposed transferee is acting as a fiduciary or nominee for a beneficial owner, such beneficial owner) of, shares of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock to provide the documentation described above, and such person fails to submit it in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company by the specified date, the Company, acting through our board of directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof, or any officer of the Company who shall have been duly authorized by our board of directors or any such committee thereof), will have the power, in its sole discretion, to refuse to accept any application to transfer ownership of such shares (if any) or to register such shares on the stock transfer records of the Company and may prohibit and/or void such transfer, including by placing a stop order with the Company’s transfer agent, until such requested documentation is submitted and the Company is satisfied that the proposed transfer of shares will not result in Excess Shares.
Certificates representing shares of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock will bear legends concerning the Maritime Restrictions. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares of the Company’s capital stock, the Company will give notice, in writing or by electronic transmission, of the Maritime Restrictions.
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Maritime Restrictions Severable
The Maritime Restrictions are intended to be severable. If any one or more of the Maritime Restrictions is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the Amended Charter provides that the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision will not be affected.
Summary of Requirements to be a U.S. citizen
The following is a summary of the requirements to be a U.S. citizen within the meaning of the Jones Act. Each holder and potential purchaser of our stock should consult its own counsel as to whether it is a U.S. citizen or a non-U.S. citizen before purchasing our stock. The Jones Act specifies that ownership of at least 75% of the equity interest by U.S. citizens means ownership free from any trust or fiduciary obligations in favor of, or any agreement, arrangement or understanding or other means by which more than 25% of the voting power or control of the corporation may be exercised directly or indirectly by or on behalf of, non-U.S. citizens. In addition, these citizenship requirements apply at each tier in the Company’s ownership chain, which means that they must be satisfied by each person that contributes to the Company’s eligibility as a U.S. citizen, and each person that contributes to the eligibility of such other person as a U.S. citizen at each tier of ownership. For entities of a kind not described below, citizenship requirements may vary.
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	A natural person is a U.S. citizen if he or she was born in the United States, born abroad to U.S. citizen parents, naturalized, naturalized during minority through the naturalization of a parent, or as otherwise authorized by law.

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	A partnership is deemed a U.S. citizen if such holder is (1) organized under the laws of the United States or a state, (2) each general partner is a U.S. citizen, and (3) at least 75% of the ownership and voting power of each class or series of the partnership interests is owned and controlled by U.S. citizens.

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	A member-managed limited liability company is deemed a U.S. citizen if such holder is (1) organized under the laws of the United States or a state, (2) each member of the limited liability company is a U.S. citizen, and (3) at least 75% of the ownership and voting power of each class or series of the limited liability company interests is owned and controlled by U.S. citizens.

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	A manager-managed limited liability company is deemed a U.S. citizen if such holder is (1) organized under the laws of the United States or a state, (2) each manager is a U.S. citizen within the meaning of the Jones Act, (3) the chief executive officer, by whatever title, and the chairman of the board of directors (or equivalent body) of the limited liability company are U.S. citizens, (4) not more than a minority of the number of the directors (or equivalent office) necessary to constitute a quorum of the board of directors (or equivalent body) of the limited liability company are non-U.S. citizens, and (5) at least 75% of the ownership and voting power of each class or series of the limited liability company interests is owned and controlled by U.S. citizens.

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	A corporation is deemed a U.S. citizen if such holder is (1) organized under the laws of the United States or a state, (2) the chief executive officer, by whatever title, and the chairman of the board of directors of the corporation are U.S. citizens, (3) not more than a minority of the number of the directors necessary to constitute a quorum of the board of directors of the corporation are non-U.S. citizens, and (4) at least 75% of the ownership and voting power of each class or series of the corporation’s stock is owned and controlled by U.S. citizens.

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	A trust is deemed to be a U.S. citizen if it (1) is organized under the laws of the United States or a state, (2) each trustee is a U.S. citizen, (3) each beneficiary with an enforceable interest in the trust is a U.S. citizen, and (4) at least 75% of the equity interest in the trust is owned and controlled by U.S. citizens.

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If the Company should fail to comply with the above described ownership requirements, the Company’s vessels could lose their ability to engage in U.S. coastwise trade. To assist the Company with compliance with these requirements, the Amended Charter:
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	limits ownership by non-U.S. citizens of any class or series of our capital stock (including our common stock) to 24%;

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	permits the Company to withhold dividends and suspend voting rights with respect to any shares held by non-U.S. citizens above 24%;

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	permits the Company to establish and maintain a dual share system under which different forms of certificates (in the case of certificated shares) and different book entries (in the case of uncertificated shares) are used to reflect whether the owner is or is not a U.S. citizen;

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	permits the Company to redeem any shares held by non-U.S. citizens so that the Company’s non-U.S. citizen ownership is no greater than 24%; and

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	permits the Company to take measures to ascertain ownership of our stock.

All potential investors will be required to certify to the Company if it is a U.S. citizen before investing in our common stock. If you or a proposed transferee cannot or do not make such certification, or a sale of stock to you or a transfer of your stock would result in the ownership by non-U.S. citizens of 24% or more of our common stock, such person may not be allowed to purchase or transfer our common stock, or such purchase or transfer may be reversed or the shares so purchased or transferred may be redeemed under the Amended Charter. All certificates representing the shares of our common stock will bear legends referring to the foregoing restrictions. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares of our capital stock, the Company will give notice, in writing or by electronic transmission, of the Maritime Restrictions.
Exclusive Forum
The Amended Bylaws provide that: (i) unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, the federal district court of the State of Delaware) and any appellate court therefrom shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for: (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (b) any action asserting a claim for or based on a breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of the Company’s current or former directors, officers, other employees, agents or stockholders to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, including without limitation a claim alleging the aiding and abetting of such a breach of fiduciary duty, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any of the Company’s current or former directors, officers, employees, agents or stockholders arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Company’s Amended Charter or Amended Bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (d) any action asserting a claim related to or involving the Company that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine; (ii) unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (iii) any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Company will be deemed to have notice of and consented to these provisions; and (iv) failure to enforce the foregoing provisions would cause the Company irreparable harm, and the Company will be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, to enforce the foregoing provisions.
Warrants to Purchase Common Stock
Each warrant entitles the registered holder thereof to purchase our common stock for $58.67 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time. Warrants are exercisable only for a whole number of shares of our common stock. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. The warrants expire upon October 17, 2023, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. The warrants are listed on Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ECOLW.”
The Company is not obligated to deliver any shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and has no obligation to settle a warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the common stock underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company satisfying its obligations described below with respect to registration. No warrants is exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and the Company is not obligated to issue any common stock to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the common stock upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, unless an exemption is available. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a warrant, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless.

In no event is the Company required to issue cash, securities or other compensation in exchange for the warrant in the event that the Company is unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrant under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the warrant is not so registered or qualified, the holder of such warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the shares of common stock included in the units.
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Notwithstanding the above, if common stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company so elects, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement or register or qualify the shares under blue sky laws.
Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may call the warrants for redemption:
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	in whole and not in part;

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	at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that the last sales price of common stock reported has been at least $91.84 per share on each of 20 days within the 30 trading-day period ending on the business day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given (the “Redemption Trigger Price”) and provided that there is an effective registration statement covering the shares of common stock issuable on exercise of the warrants and subject to the satisfaction of certain other requirements; and

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	upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder.

If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may not exercise its redemption right if the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or the Company is unable to effect such registration or qualification. The Company will use its best efforts to register or qualify such shares of common stock under the blue sky laws of the state of residence in those states in which the warrants were offered by the Company.
The last of the redemption criteria discussed above was established to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and the Company issues a notice of redemption of the warrants, each warrant holder will be entitled to exercise his, her or its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the common stock may fall below the Redemption Trigger Price as well as the warrant exercise price.
If the Company calls the warrants for redemption as described above, the Company’s management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise his, her or its warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis,” the Company’s management will consider, among other factors, the Company’s cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on the Company’s stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants. If the Company’s management takes advantage of this option, all holders of warrants would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the product of the number of shares of common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (2) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the common stock for the ten trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. If the Company’s management takes advantage of this option, the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of common stock to be received upon exercise of the warrants, including the fair market value in such case. Requiring a cashless exercise in this manner will reduce the number of shares to be issued and thereby lessen the dilutive effect of a warrant redemption. The Company believes this feature is an attractive option to the Company if the Company does not need the cash from the exercise of the warrants.
A holder of a warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
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If the number of outstanding shares of common stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of common stock, or by a split-up of shares of common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of common stock. A rights offering to holders of common stock entitling holders to purchase shares of common stock at a price less than the fair market value will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of common stock equal to the product of (1) the number of shares of common stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for common stock) multiplied by (2) one minus the quotient of (i) the price per share of common stock paid in such rights offering divided by (ii) the fair market value. For these purposes (1) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock, in determining the price payable for common stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (2) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of common stock as reported during the ten trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if the Company, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays a dividend or makes a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of common stock on account of such shares of common stock (or other shares of the Company’s capital stock into which the warrants are convertible), other than (1) as described above or (2) certain ordinary cash dividends then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of common stock in respect of such event.
If the number of outstanding shares of common stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of common stock.
Whenever the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (1) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (2) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of common stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of common stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of common stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the holders of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the shares of common stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event. However, if such holders were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets for which each warrant will become exercisable will be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by such holders in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and if a tender, exchange or redemption offer has been made to and accepted by such holders (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the Company in connection with redemption rights held by stockholders as provided for in the charter) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) of which such
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maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of common stock, the holder of a warrant will be entitled to receive the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such warrant holder had exercised the warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the common stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in the Warrant Agreement. Additionally, if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of common stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within 30 days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced based on the per share consideration minus the Black-Scholes warrant value of the warrant in order to determine and realize the option value component of the warrant. This formula is to compensate the warrant holder for the loss of the option value portion of the warrant due to the requirement that the warrant holder exercise the warrant within 30 days of the event. The Black-Scholes model is an accepted pricing model for estimating fair market value where no quoted market price for an instrument is available.
The warrants are issued in registered form under the Warrant Agreement. The Warrant Agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but will require the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of warrants.
The warrants are exercisable upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to the Company, for the number of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of common stock. After the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of common stock to be issued to the warrant holder.
As discussed above, in order to protect the Company’s eligibility as a U.S. citizen in case that ownership of common stock by non-U.S. citizens exceeds the maximum percentage permitted by the Jones Act (presently 25%), the Amended Charter and the Amended Bylaws contain provisions that limit the maximum aggregate percentage of ownership by non-U.S. citizens of the common stock to 24% of the outstanding shares of common stock. At and during such time that the 24% maximum permitted percentage of ownership by non-U.S. citizens is reached with respect to shares of common stock, the Company will be unable to permit the exercise of any warrants by non-U.S. citizens. If a holder of the warrants that is a non-U.S. citizen is unable to exercise such warrants, it may have to wait to exercise such warrants until such time that the 24% maximum permitted percentage of ownership by non-U.S. citizens is not reached with respect to shares of common stock or may have to sell such warrants to a U.S. citizen who is able to exercise the warrants.Exhibit 10.6
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
US ECOLOGY, INC.
 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
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Section 1.Purpose of the Plan.  The purpose of the Amended and Restated US Ecology, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to assist the Company and its Subsidiaries in attracting, motivating and retaining valued Employees, Consultants and Non-Employee Directors by offering them a greater stake in the Company’s success and a closer identity with it, aligning the interests of Employees, Consultants and Non-Employee Directors with the interests of the Company’s shareholders and encouraging ownership of the Company’s stock by such Employees, Consultants and Non-Employee Directors.  In connection with, and as contemplated by, that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 23, 2019, by and among US Ecology, Inc. (now known as US Ecology Holdings, Inc.), US Ecology Parent, Inc. (now known as US Ecology, Inc.), Rooster Merger Sub, Inc., ECOL Merger Sub, Inc., and NRC Group Holdings Corp. (as amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), the Company assumed the US Ecology, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Pre-Merger Plan”), amended and restated such plan as set forth herein and renamed it the Amended and Restated US Ecology, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan.  All awards granted under the Pre-Merger Plan that were outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) were assumed by the Company at the Effective Time and converted to be in respect of Shares (as defined below), and shall be treated as if they were issued under the Plan (such awards as converted, the “Converted Awards”).
Section 2.Definitions.  As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
2.1.“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person.  For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise.
2.2.“Award” means any of Restricted Stock, Performance Stock, Options, SARs, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards or Cash-Based Awards under the Plan.
2.3.“Award Agreement” means the written agreement, instrument or document evidencing an Award.
2.4.“Beneficial Owner” has the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.
2.5.“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.6.“Cash-Based Awards” means an Award Granted under Section 6.8 of the Plan.
2.7.“Cause” means,
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(a)if the applicable Participant is party to an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, and such term is defined therein, “Cause” shall have the meaning provided in such agreement;
(b)if the applicable Participant is not a party to an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement or if no definition of “Cause” is set forth in the applicable employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement, “Cause” shall have the meaning provided in the applicable Award Agreement; or
(c)if neither (a) nor (b) applies, then “Cause” shall mean (i) engaging in (A) willful or gross misconduct or (B) willful or gross neglect; (ii) failing to adhere to the directions of superiors or the Board or the written policies and practices of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates; (iii) the commission of a felony or a crime involving any of the following: moral turpitude, dishonesty, breach of trust or unethical business conduct; or the commission of any crime involving the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates; (iv) fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement; (v) a material breach of the Participant’s employment agreement (if any) with the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, whether or not such breach results in the termination of the Participant’s employment; (vi) acts or omissions constituting a material failure to perform substantially and adequately the duties assigned to the Participant; (vii) any illegal act detrimental to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates; (viii) repeated failure to devote substantially all of the Participant’s business time and efforts to the Company if required by the Participant’s employment agreement; (ix) the Participant’s abuse of illegal drugs and other controlled substances or the Participant’s habitual intoxication; or (x) any other action for which the Participant’s employment may be terminated under the Participant’s employment agreement, if any, or for which applicable law permits summary dismissal without notice.
2.8.“Change in Control” means, after the Effective Date:
(a)if the applicable Participant is party to an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, and such term is defined therein, “Change in Control” shall have the meaning provided in such agreement;
(b)if the applicable Participant is not a party to an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement or if no definition of “Change in Control” is set forth in the applicable employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement, “Change in Control” shall have the meaning provided in the applicable Award Agreement; or
(c)if neither (a) nor (b) applies, then “Change in Control” shall mean:
(i)the consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company (each, a “Business Combination”), unless, following such Business Combination, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the Beneficial Owners of the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the entity
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resulting from such Business Combination in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities immediately prior to the Business Combination; provided, however, that a public offering of the Company’s securities shall not constitute a Business Combination;
(ii)any transaction as a result of which any person is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities.  For purposes of this clause (ii), the term “person” shall have the same meaning as when used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but shall exclude (x) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an executive benefit plan of the Company or of a subsidiary and (y) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the common stock of the Company;
(iii)the sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than to a wholly-owned Subsidiary or to a holding company of which the Company is a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary prior to such transaction;
(iv)the consummation of a plan of complete liquidation or substantial dissolution of the Company; or
(v)a change in the composition of the Board in any two-year period as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” shall mean directors who either (a) are directors of the Company as of the date hereof or (b) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for election as a director without objection to such nomination) of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but shall not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors of the Company).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no event shall constitute a Change in Control with respect to an Award that constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) unless such Change in Control satisfies the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).
2.9.“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.10.“Company” means US Ecology, Inc. (formerly known as US Ecology Parent, Inc.), a Delaware corporation, or any successor corporation.
2.11.“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.  The Committee shall have at least two members, each of whom shall be a “non-employee director” as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and an “outside director” as defined in Section 162(m) of the
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Code and the regulations thereunder, and, if applicable, shall meet the independence requirements of the applicable stock exchange, quotation system or other regulatory organization on which Shares are traded.
2.12.“Consultant” means an individual other than an Employee or Non-Employee Director who provides bona fide services to the Company or a Subsidiary.
2.13.“Disability” means,
(a)if the applicable Participant is party to an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, and such term is defined therein, “Disability” shall have the meaning provided in such agreement;
(b)if the applicable Participant is not a party to an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement or if no definition of “Disability” is set forth in the applicable employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement, “Disability” shall have the meaning provided in the applicable Award Agreement; or
(c)if neither (a) nor (b) applies, then “Disability” shall mean that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
2.14.“Effective Date” means the date on which the Plan becomes effective, which shall be the date on which the closing of the Parent Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement) occurs.
2.15.“Employee” means an individual who is an officer or an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary.
2.16.“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.17.“Fair Market Value” means, on any given date (i) the average of the high and low sale prices reported as having occurred on the NASDAQ Global Market System (or other principal exchange or market on which the Shares are traded or listed) on such date, or, if no sale was made on such date on such principal exchange or market, on the last preceding day on which the Shares were traded or listed; or (ii) if (i) does not apply, such value as the Committee in its discretion may in good faith determine (such determination shall be made (a) in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder to the extent applicable and (b) in accordance with Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder to the extent the Award granted is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option).
2.18.“Good Reason” means,
(a)if the applicable Participant is party to an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, and such term is defined therein, “Good Reason” shall have the meaning provided in such agreement;
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(b)if the applicable Participant is not a party to an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement or if no definition of “Good Reason” is set forth in the applicable employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement, “Good Reason” shall have the meaning provided in the applicable Award Agreement; or
(c)if neither (a) nor (b) applies, then “Good Reason” shall mean, following a Change in Control, unless cured by the Company within 30 days following notice from the Participant thereof, (i) a relocation of the Participant’s principal place of employment or other service that increases the Participant’s one-way commute by more than 50 miles; (ii) a material diminution in the Participant’s duties or responsibilities; or (iii) a decrease in the Participant’s base salary or annual bonus opportunity, other than a decrease resulting from an across-the-board reduction in salaries or annual bonus opportunities applicable to similarly situated employees or the failure to meet performance criteria applicable to incentive compensation.
2.19.“Grant Date” means the date specified by the Committee on which a grant of an Award shall become effective, which shall not be earlier than the date on which the Committee takes action with respect thereto.
2.20.“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option or portion thereof intended to meet the requirements of an incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of the Code and designated as an Incentive Stock Option, and if the Committee does not designate an Option as an Incentive Stock Option in the Award Agreement, the terms of the Award Agreement for such Option hereby provide that the Option will not be treated as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code.
2.21.“Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.
2.22.“Non-Qualified Option” means an Option or portion thereof that does not qualify as or is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or that is not designated as an Incentive Stock Option in the Award Agreement.
2.23.“Option” means a right granted under Section 6.1 of the Plan to purchase a specified number of Shares at a specified price.  An Option may be an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Option.
2.24.“Other Stock-Based Awards” means a right granted under Section 6.7 of the Plan.
2.25.“Participant” means any Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant who receives an Award.
2.26.“Performance Goals” means any goals established by the Committee in its sole discretion, the attainment of which is substantially uncertain at the time such goals are established. Performance Goals may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or objectives that are related to the performance of the individual Participant or a Subsidiary, division, department or function within the Company or Subsidiary in which the Participant is employed.  Performance Goals may be measured on an absolute or relative basis.  Relative performance may be measured by a group of peer companies, by a financial market index or by another external measure.
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Performance Goals may be based upon: specified levels of or increases in the Company’s, a division’s or a Subsidiary’s return on capital, equity or assets; earnings measures/ratios (on a gross, net, pre-tax or post-tax basis), including diluted earnings per share, total earnings, operating earnings, earnings growth, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA); net economic profit (which is operating earnings minus a charge to capital); net income; operating income; safety and/or environmental record; sales; sales growth; gross margin; direct margin; share price (including but not limited to growth  measures and total stockholder return), operating profit; operating efficiency; costs; per period or cumulative cash flow (including but not limited to operating cash flow and free cash flow) or cash flow return on investment (which equals net cash flow divided by total capital); inventory turns; financial return ratios; enterprise value; economic value added or other value added measurements; revenue; market share; balance sheet measurements such as receivable turnover; improvement in or attainment of expense levels; improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; debt reduction; strategic innovation, including but not limited to entering into, substantially completing, or receiving payments under, relating to, or deriving from a joint development agreement, licensing agreement, or similar agreement; completion of acquisitions, business expansion or divestitures of the Company, a division or a Subsidiary; implementation of critical projects or related milestones; achievement of operational or efficiency milestones; customer or employee satisfaction; individual objectives; any financial or other measurement deemed appropriate by the Committee as it relates to the results of operations or other measurable progress of the Company and its Subsidiaries (or any business unit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries); and any combination of any of the foregoing criteria.  Subject to Section 7.4, if the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render the Performance Goals unsuitable, the Committee may modify such Performance Goals or the related minimum acceptable level of achievement, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable.
2.27.“Performance Period” means the period, which shall not be less than one year, selected by the Committee during which the performance of the Company, any Subsidiary, any department of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any individual is measured for the purpose of determining the extent to which a Performance Goal has been achieved.
2.28.“Performance Stock” means Shares awarded by the Committee under Section 6.4 of the Plan that are subject to Performance Goals.
2.29.“Performance Stock Unit” means the right granted under Section 6.6 of the Plan to receive, on the date of settlement, one Share or an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share that is subject to Performance Goals.  Performance Stock Units may be settled in cash, Shares or any combination thereof; provided, however, that unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, Performance Stock Units shall be settled in Shares.
2.30.“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, estate or other entity.
2.31.“Qualified Performance-Based Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
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2.32.“Restricted Stock” means Shares awarded by the Committee under Section 6.3 of the Plan.
2.33.“Restricted Stock Unit” means the right granted under Section 6.5 of the Plan to receive, on the date of settlement, one Share or an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share.  Restricted Stock Units may be settled in cash, Shares or any combination thereof; provided, however, that unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, Restricted Stock Units shall be settled in Shares.
2.34.“Restriction Period” means the period during which Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units are subject to forfeiture.
2.35.“SAR” means a stock appreciation right awarded by the Committee under Section 6.2 of the Plan.  SARs may be settled in cash, Shares or any combination thereof; provided, however, that unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, SARs shall be settled in Shares.
2.36.“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2.37.“Share” means a share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01, or any security into which Shares are converted by reason of any transaction or event of a type described in Section 9.
2.38.“Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business entity of which 50% or more of the outstanding voting power is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.
2.39.“Ten Percent Stockholder” means an individual who on any given date is the Beneficial Owner (taking into account the attribution rules contained in Section 424(d) of the Code) of stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or a Subsidiary.
Section 3.Eligibility.    Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, any Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant who is selected by the Committee shall be eligible to receive an Award under the Plan.
Section 4.Administration and Implementation of the Plan.
4.1.The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  Any action of the Committee in administering the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons, including the Company, its Subsidiaries, Participants, Persons claiming rights from or through Participants and stockholders of the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may delegate to one or more officers or Board members the authority to grant Awards to eligible individuals other than Non-Employee Directors; provided that the Committee may not delegate authority to grant Awards to eligible individuals who are subject to the requirements of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or Covered Employees within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder. Any such delegation shall be subject to the limitations of Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, and the Committee may revoke any such allocation or delegation at any time for any reason, with or without prior notice.
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4.2.Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full and final authority in its discretion to (i) select the Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants who will receive Awards pursuant to the Plan; provided that Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors shall be subject to ratification by the full Board; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant; (iii) determine the number of Shares to which an Award will relate, the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, restrictions as to vesting, Performance Goals relating to an Award, transferability or forfeiture, exercisability or settlement of an Award and waivers or accelerations thereof, and waivers of or modifications to Performance Goals relating to an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee shall determine) and all other matters to be determined in connection with an Award; (iv) determine the exercise price, base price or purchase price (if any) of an Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be cancelled, forfeited, or surrendered; (vi) determine how a leave of absence will impact an Award, including, without limitation, tolling the vesting schedule or treating such leave of absence as a termination of employment or other service; (vii) determine whether, and to certify that, Performance Goals to which an Award is subject are satisfied; (viii) correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, and adopt, amend and rescind such rules, regulations, guidelines, forms of agreements and instruments relating to the Plan as it may deem necessary or advisable; (ix) construe and interpret the Plan; and (x) make all other determinations as it may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.
Section 5.Shares Subject to the Plan.
5.1.Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9 hereof, the total number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan shall be 1,500,000 (the “Plan Limit”), of which 1,500,000 Shares may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Awards covering no more than 100,000 Shares may be awarded to any Participant other than a Non-Employee Director in any one calendar year and (ii) Awards covering no more than 25,000 Shares may be awarded to a Non-Employee Director in any one calendar year (provided that, for purposes of these individual limits, none of the Converted Awards nor any other Awards granted by the Company through the assumption or substitution of outstanding grants from an acquired company shall count).  For purposes of determining the number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan, each Award that is denominated in Shares but settled in cash shall count against the Plan Limit based on the number of Shares underlying such Award rather than the number of Shares issued in settlement of such Award.  Any Shares tendered by a Participant in payment of an exercise price for or settlement of an Award or the tax liability with respect to an Award, including, without limitation, Shares withheld from any such Award, shall not be available for future Awards hereunder.  Shares awarded under the Plan may be reserved or made available from the Company’s authorized and unissued Shares or from Shares reacquired (through open market transactions or otherwise) and held in the Company’s treasury.  Any Shares issued by the Company through the assumption or substitution of outstanding grants from an acquired company shall not reduce the number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan.  For the avoidance of doubt, Shares issued pursuant to Converted Awards shall be treated as if they were issued under the Plan and shall reduce the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan.
5.2.If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited or terminated without the issuance of Shares or settlement in cash, any Shares counted against the number of Shares available for
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issuance pursuant to the Plan with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture or termination, again be available for Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee may adopt other procedures for the counting of Shares relating to any Award to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting, provide for adjustments in any case in which the number of Shares actually distributed differs from the number of Shares previously counted in connection with such Award, and if necessary, to comply with applicable law or regulations.
Section 6.Awards.  Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6.  In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the settlement or exercise thereof, at the Grant Date or thereafter, such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of the termination of a Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that, except as provided in Sections 7 or 15, the Committee shall retain full power to accelerate or waive any such additional term or condition as it may have previously imposed.  The right of a Participant to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such Performance Goals as may be determined by the Committee.  Each Award, and the terms and conditions applicable thereto, shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
6.1.Options.  Options give a Participant the right to purchase a specified number of Shares from the Company for a specified time period at a fixed exercise price, as provided in the applicable Award Agreement.  The grant of Options shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a)Exercise Price.  The price per share at which Shares may be purchased upon exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Committee and specified in the Award Agreement, but shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date.
(b)Term of Options.  The term of an Option shall be specified in the Award Agreement, but shall in no event be greater than ten years.
(c)Exercise of Option.  Each Award Agreement with respect to an Option shall specify the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part and the terms and conditions applicable thereto, including (i) a vesting schedule which may be based upon the passage of time, attainment of Performance Goals or a combination thereof, (ii) whether the exercise price for an Option shall be paid in cash, Shares or any combination thereof, (iii) the methods of payment, which may include payment through cashless and net exercise arrangements, to the extent permitted by applicable law and (iv) the methods by which, or the time or times at which, Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants upon the exercise of such Option.
(d)Termination of Employment or Other Service.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, or as otherwise may be determined by the Committee, (i) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries (A) at any time, due to the Participant’s death or Disability or (B) within 24 months following a Change in Control, by the Company or a Subsidiary
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without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the unvested portion of such Participant’s Options shall vest in full (with any applicable Performance Goals being deemed to have been achieved at target or, if greater, actual levels), and the Participant’s Options shall remain exercisable by the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary or legal representative, as the case may be, for a period 90 days thereafter and (ii) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any other reason, the unvested portion of such Participant’s Options shall cease to vest and shall be forfeited with no further compensation due the Participant and the vested portion of such Participant’s Options shall remain exercisable by the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary or legal representative, as the case may be, for a period of 30 days thereafter; provided, however, that in no event shall any Option be exercisable after its stated term has expired.  All of a Participant’s Options, whether or not vested, shall be forfeited immediately upon such Participant’s termination by the Company or a Subsidiary for Cause with no further compensation due the Participant.
(e)No Dividend Equivalent Rights.  No Participant shall be entitled to dividend equivalent rights or payments with respect to any Shares underlying the unexercised portion of the Participant’s Options.
(f)Incentive Stock Options.  The following conditions apply to Awards of Incentive Stock Options in addition to or in lieu of those described above in provisions (a)-(e) of this Section 6.1:
(i)Eligibility.  Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Participants who are Employees.
(ii)Exercise Price.  In the case of Ten Percent Stockholder, the price at which a Share may be purchased upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of such Share on the Grant Date.
(iii)Term of Options.  In the case of a Ten Percent Stockholder, the term of an Incentive Stock Option shall be no greater than five years.
(iv)Notice.  Each Participant awarded an Incentive Stock Option under the Plan shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date he or she makes a “disqualifying disposition” (as defined in Section 421(b) of the Code) of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option.  The Company may, if determined by the Committee and in accordance with procedures established by it, retain possession of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option as agent for the applicable Participant until the end of any period during which a disqualifying disposition could occur, subject to complying with any instructions from such Participant as to the sale of such Shares.  The aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the Grant Date, for Awards granted under the Plan (or any other stock option plan required to be taken into account under Section 422(d) of the Code) that are intended to be Incentive Stock Options which are first exercisable by the Participant during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000.  To the extent an Award purporting to be an Incentive Stock
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Option exceeds the limitation in the previous sentence, the portion of the Award in excess of such limit shall be a Non-Qualified Option.
(v)Limits on Transferability.  Notwithstanding anything in Section 13 to the contrary, no Incentive Stock Option shall be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to, or in favor of, or subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to, any party, other than the Company or any Subsidiary, or assigned or transferred by such Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and such Awards and rights shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative.
6.2.Stock Appreciation Rights.  An SAR shall confer on the Participant a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over (ii) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the Committee, but which may never be less than the Fair Market Value of one Share on the Grant Date.  The grant of SARs shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a)General.  Each Award Agreement with respect to an SAR shall specify the number of SARs granted, the grant price of the SAR, the time or times at which an SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including vesting upon the passage of time, the attainment of Performance Goals, or a combination thereof), the method of exercise, method of settlement (in cash, Shares or a combination thereof), method by which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants (if applicable) and any other terms and conditions of any SAR.
(b)Termination of Employment or Other Service.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, or as otherwise may be determined by the Committee, (i) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries (A) at any time, due to the Participant’s death or Disability or (B) within 24 months following a Change in Control, by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the unvested portion of such Participant’s SARs shall vest in full (with any applicable Performance Goals being deemed to have been achieved at target or, if greater, actual levels) and the Participant’s SARs shall remain exercisable by the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary or legal representative, as the case may be, for a period 90 days thereafter and (ii) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any other reason, the unvested portion of such Participant’s SARs shall cease to vest and shall be forfeited with no further compensation due the Participant and the vested portion of such Participant’s SARs shall remain exercisable by the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary or legal representative, as the case may be, for a period of 30 days thereafter; provided, however, that in no event shall any SAR be exercisable after its stated term has expired.  All of a Participant’s SARs, whether or not vested, shall be forfeited immediately upon such Participant’s termination by the Company or a Subsidiary for Cause with no further compensation due the Participant.
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(c)Term.  The term of an SAR shall be specified in the Award Agreement, but shall in no event be greater than ten years.
(d)No Dividend Equivalent Rights.  No Participant shall be entitled to dividend equivalent rights or payments with respect to any Shares underlying the Participant’s SARs.
6.3.Restricted Stock.  An Award of Restricted Stock is a grant by the Company of a specified number of Shares to the Participant, which Shares are subject to forfeiture upon the happening of specified events during the Restriction Period.  An Award of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a)General.  Each Award Agreement with respect to Restricted Stock shall specify the duration of the Restriction Period, if any, and/or each installment thereof, the conditions under which the Restricted Stock may be forfeited to the Company, and the amount, if any, the Participant must pay to receive the Restricted Stock.  Such restrictions may include a vesting schedule based upon the passage of time.
(b)Transferability.  During the Restriction Period, if any, the transferability of Restricted Stock shall be prohibited or restricted in the manner and to the extent prescribed in the applicable Award Agreement.  Such restrictions may include, without limitation, rights of repurchase or first refusal in the Company or provisions subjecting the Restricted Stock to a continuing substantial risk of forfeiture in the hands of any transferee.
(c)Stockholder Rights.  Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, during the Restriction Period the Participant shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to Restricted Stock, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends thereon (whether in cash or Shares), at the same time such dividends are paid on Shares generally, and to vote such shares of Restricted Stock.
(d)Termination of Employment or Other Service.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, or as otherwise may be determined by the Committee, (i) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries (A) at any time, due to the Participant’s death or Disability or (B) within 24 months following a Change in Control, by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the unvested portion of each Award of Restricted Stock held by such Participant shall vest in full and the applicable Restriction Period shall expire and (ii) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any other reason, the unvested portion of each Award of Restricted Stock held by such Participant shall be forfeited with no further compensation due the Participant.
6.4.Performance Stock.  An Award of Performance Stock is a grant by the Company of a specified number of Shares to the Participant, which Shares are conditional on the achievement of Performance Goals during the Performance Period and subject to forfeiture upon the happening
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of specified events during the Restriction Period.  An Award of Performance Stock shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a)General.  Each Award Agreement with respect to Performance Stock shall specify the duration of the Performance Period and the Restriction Period, if any, and/or each installment thereof, the Performance Goals applicable to the Performance Stock and the conditions under which the Performance Stock may be forfeited to the Company, and the amount, if any, the Participant must pay to receive the Performance Stock.  Such restrictions may include a vesting schedule based on the attainment of Performance Goals measured on a milestone basis or in respect of the Performance Period.
(b)Transferability.  During the Restriction Period, if any, the transferability of Performance Stock shall be prohibited or restricted in the manner and to the extent prescribed in the applicable Award Agreement.  Such restrictions may include, without limitation, rights of repurchase or first refusal in the Company or provisions subjecting the Performance Stock to a continuing substantial risk of forfeiture in the hands of any transferee.
(c)Stockholder Rights.  Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, during the Restriction Period the Participant shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to Performance Stock; provided that the Participant shall not have the right to receive or accumulate dividends paid on or with respect to Performance Stock during the applicable Performance Period (whether in cash or Shares), which dividends shall be forfeited to the Company with no compensation due therefor; provided, further, that the Participant shall have the right to receive dividends paid after the expiration of the Performance Period with respect to earned Shares, whether or not such Shares are subject to restriction under Section 6.3, at the same time such dividends are paid on Shares generally.
(d)Termination of Employment or Other Service.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, or as otherwise may be determined by the Committee, (i) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries (A) at any time, due to the Participant’s death or Disability or (B) within 24 months following a Change in Control, by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the unvested portion of each Award of Performance Stock held by such Participant shall vest in full (with the Performance Goals being deemed to have been achieved at target or, if greater, actual levels) and the applicable Restriction Period shall expire and (ii) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any other reason, the unvested portion of each Award of Performance Stock held by such Participant shall be forfeited with no further compensation due the Participant.
6.5.Restricted Stock Units.  Restricted Stock Units are solely a device for the measurement and determination of the amounts to be paid to a Participant under the Plan. Restricted Stock Units do not constitute Shares and shall not be treated as (or as giving rise to) property or as a trust fund of any kind.  The right of any Participant in respect of an Award of
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Restricted Stock Units shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.  The grant of Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a)Restriction Period.  Each Award Agreement with respect to Restricted Stock Units shall specify the duration of the Restriction Period, if any, and/or each installment thereof and the conditions under which such Award may be forfeited to the Company.  Such restrictions may include a vesting schedule based upon the passage of time.
(b)Termination of Employment or Other Service.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, or as otherwise may be determined by the Committee, (i) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries (A) at any time, due to the Participant’s death or Disability or (B) within 24 months following a Change in Control, by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the unvested portion of each Award of Restricted Stock Units credited to such Participant shall vest in full, the applicable Restriction Period shall expire and each such Award of Restricted Stock Units shall be settled in accordance with Section 6.5(c) and (ii) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any other reason, the unvested portion of each Award of Restricted Stock Units credited to such Participant shall be forfeited with no compensation due the Participant.
(c)Settlement.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, subject to the Participant’s continued employment or other service with the Company or a Subsidiary from the Grant Date through the expiration of the Restriction Period (or applicable portion thereof), the vested portion of an Award of Restricted Stock Units shall be settled within 30 days after the expiration of the Restriction Period (or applicable portion thereof).
(d)Stockholder Rights.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to give any Participant rights as a stockholder with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock Units (including, without limitation, any voting, dividend or derivative or other similar rights).
6.6.Performance Stock Units.  Performance Stock Units are solely a device for the measurement and determination of the amounts to be paid to a Participant under the Plan.  Performance Stock Units do not constitute Shares and shall not be treated as (or as giving rise to) property or as a trust fund of any kind.  The right of any Participant in respect of an Award of Performance Stock Units shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.  The grant of Performance Stock Units shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a)Restriction Period.  Each Award Agreement with respect to Performance Stock Units shall specify the duration of the Performance Period and the Restriction Period, if any, and/or each installment thereof, the Performance Goals applicable to the Performance Stock Units and the conditions under which the Performance Stock Units may
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be forfeited to the Company.  Such restrictions may include a vesting schedule based on the attainment of Performance Goals measured on a milestone basis or in respect of the Performance Period.
(b)Termination of Employment or Other Service.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, or as otherwise may be determined by the Committee, (i) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries (A) at any time, due to the Participant’s death or Disability or (B) within 24 months following a Change in Control, by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the unvested portion of each Award of Performance Stock Units credited to such Participant shall vest in full (with any applicable Performance Goals being deemed to have been achieved at target or, if greater, actual levels), the applicable Restriction Period shall expire and each such Award of Performance Stock Units shall be settled in accordance with Section 6.6(c) and (ii) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any other reason, the unvested portion of each Award of Performance Stock Units credited to such Participant shall be forfeited with no compensation due the Participant.
(c)Settlement.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, subject to the Participant’s continued employment or other service with the Company or a Subsidiary from the Grant Date through the expiration of the Restriction Period (or applicable portion thereof), the vested portion of an Award of Performance Stock Units shall be settled within 30 days after the expiration of the Restriction Period (or applicable portion thereof).
(d)Stockholder Rights.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to give any Participant rights as a stockholder with respect to an Award of Performance Stock Units (including, without limitation, any voting, dividend or derivative or other similar rights).
6.7.Other Stock-Based Awards.  The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants any type of award (in addition to those Awards provided in Section 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 or 6.6 hereof) that is payable in, or valued in whole or in part by reference to, Shares, and that is deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan.  Such Awards may include deferred Shares or Share purchase Awards, as well as the outright grant of Shares that are not subject to any restrictions as to vesting or other forfeiture conditions, and shall be subject to such additional terms as the Committee determines in its sole discretion, consistent with provisions of the Plan.
(a)Termination of Employment or Other Service.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, or as otherwise may be determined by the Committee, (i) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries (A) at any time, due to the Participant’s death or Disability or (B) within 24 months following a Change in Control, by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the unvested portion of each Other
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Stock-Based Award held by such Participant shall vest in full (with any applicable Performance Goals being deemed to have been achieved at target or, if greater, actual levels) and (ii) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any other reason, the unvested portion of each Other Stock-Based Award shall be forfeited with no further compensation due the Participant.
6.8.Cash-Based Awards.  The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Cash-Based Awards denominated in cash in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine.  Each such Cash-Based Award shall specify a payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee.  Cash-Based Awards may be based on the attainment of Performance Goals and designed to constitute Qualified Performance-Based Awards.  The maximum amount payable pursuant to Cash-Based Awards granted to a Participant during any one calendar year shall not exceed $10,000,000.
(a)Termination of Employment or Other Service.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, or as otherwise may be determined by the Committee, (i) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries (A) at any time, due to the Participant’s death or Disability or (B) within 24 months following a Change in Control, by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the unvested portion of each Cash-Based Award held by such Participant shall vest in full (with any applicable Performance Goals being deemed to have been achieved at target or, if greater, actual levels) and become payable and (ii) upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any other reason, the unvested portion of each Cash-Based Award held by such Participant shall be forfeited with no further compensation due the Participant.
Section 7.Code Section 162(m).
7.1.General Requirements.  If at any time the Company is subject to Code Section 162(m), the Committee may grant Awards that satisfy the following requirements for the exception to Code Section 162(m) for qualified performance-based compensation (“Qualified Performance-Based Awards”):
(a)Eligibility.  Only Participants who are “Covered Employees” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code shall be eligible to receive Qualified Performance-Based Awards. The Committee shall designate in its sole discretion which Covered Employees shall be Participants for a Performance Period within the earlier of the (i) first 90 days of the Performance Period and (ii) the lapse of 25% of the Performance Period.
(b)Performance Goals.  The Committee shall establish in writing within the earlier of the (i) first 90 days of a Performance Period and (ii) the lapse of 25% of the Performance Period, and in any event, while the outcome is substantially uncertain, (x) Performance Goals for the Performance Period, and (y) in respect of such Performance Goals, a minimum acceptable level of achievement below which no Award shall be made, and an objective formula or other method for determining the Award to be made if
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performance is at or above such minimum acceptable level but falls short of the maximum achievement of the specified Performance Goals.
(c)Certification.  Following the completion of a Performance Period, the Committee shall review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, calculate and certify in writing the amount of the Qualified Performance-Based Awards earned for the period based upon the Performance Goals and the related formulas or methods as determined pursuant to Section 7.1(b).  The Committee shall then determine the actual number of Shares issuable under each Participant’s Award for the Performance Period, and, in doing so, may reduce or eliminate the amount of the Award, as permitted in the Award Agreement.  In no event shall the Committee have the authority to increase Award amounts to any Covered Employee.
(d)Termination of Employment.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Committee shall not permit the payment or other settlement of a Qualified Performance-Based Award following a Participant’s termination of employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason other than the Participant’s death or Disability or following a Change in Control unless such Qualified Performance-Based Award would have been paid or settled based on the actual outcome of the applicable Performance Goals during the applicable Performance Period absent such termination of employment.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, or as otherwise may be determined by the Committee, upon a Participant’s termination of employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) at any time, due to the Participant’s death or Disability or (ii) within 24 months following a Change in Control, by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason, the Participant’s Qualified Performance-Based Awards shall be paid or settled in full based on the assumption that the applicable Performance Goals have been achieved at target or, if greater, actual levels.  Upon a Participant’s termination of employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for Cause, 100% of a Participant’s Qualified Performance-Based Awards shall be forfeited with no compensation due therefor.
7.2.Notwithstanding anything in Section 5.1 to the contrary, the maximum number of Shares underlying Qualified Performance-Based Awards that may be granted to a Participant in any one Performance Period is 100,000 and the maximum number of shares that may be granted to a Participant pursuant to Options and SARs is 100,000, in each case, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9.  The maximum amount payable to a Participant pursuant to Cash-Based Awards that are intended to constitute Qualified Performance-Based Awards during any one calendar year shall not exceed $10,000,000.  For purposes of the foregoing limitations, Converted Awards shall be treated as if they were granted in the year, and with respect to the performance period, in which the award granted under the Pre-Merger Plan from which they were converted was granted.
7.3.The Committee may, without the consent of a Participant, make any amendment, alteration or other modification to the Plan as would have a material adverse affect on the rights
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of such Participant if such modification is necessary to ensure a deduction under Code Section 162(m).
7.4.The Committee is authorized, in its sole discretion, to adjust or modify a Performance Goal for a Performance Period, including, without limitation, the applicable minimum, target and  maximum levels of achievement, in connection with any one or more of the following events: (a) asset write-downs; (b) significant litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting standards or principles, or other laws or regulatory rules affecting reporting results; (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs or change in the corporate structure or capital structure of the Company; (e) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 (or any successor pronouncement thereto) and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the applicable year or period; (f) acquisitions or divestitures; (g) any other specific unusual or nonrecurring events or objectively determinable category thereof; (h) foreign exchange gains and losses; and (i) a change in the Company’s fiscal year.  Except as otherwise provided above in this Section 7.4, the Committee may not (i) adjust or otherwise amend any Performance Goal if such adjustment or amendment would adversely affect the status of an Award as a Qualified Performance-Based Award; or (ii) change any material term of a Performance Goal without stockholder approval as required by Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder.
7.5.  Other than certain of the Converted Awards, no Awards granted on or after the Effective Date are intended to be Qualified Performance-Based Awards or shall be subject to this Section 7.
Section 8.Change in Control.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, a Change in Control shall not, in and of itself, accelerate the vesting, settlement or exercisability of outstanding Awards.  Notwithstanding the foregoing and unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or an effective employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, if (i) the successor corporation (or its parent) does not agree to assume an outstanding Award or does not agree to substitute or replace such Award with an award involving the ordinary shares of such successor corporation (or its parent) on terms and conditions necessary to preserve the rights of the applicable Participant with respect to such Award, (ii) the securities of the Company or the successor corporation will not be publicly traded on a U.S. securities exchange or (iii) the Change in Control is not approved by a majority of the Incumbent Directors immediately prior to such Change in Control, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may take one or more of the following actions with respect to all, some or any such Awards: (a) accelerate the vesting, settlement and, if applicable, exercisability of such Awards such that the Awards are fully vested, settled and, if applicable, exercisable (effective immediately prior to such Change in Control); provided that Awards subject to performance-based vesting conditions shall be paid or settled in full based on the actual level of achievement of the applicable Performance Goals through the date of the Change in Control or, if doing so would result in the Participant’s receipt of a larger payment or settlement amount, using the applicable target (or, in the case of a Change in Control described in clause (ii), maximum) level of achievement through the date of such Change in Control rather than such actual level of achievement; (b) cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for a cash payment in an amount equal to the excess, if
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any, of the Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the unexercised portion of the Option or SAR as of the date of the Change in Control over the exercise price or grant price, as the case may be, of such portion, provided that any Option or SAR with an exercise price or grant price, as the case may be, that equals or exceeds the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of the Change in Control shall be cancelled with no payment due the Participant; or (c) take such other actions as the Committee deems appropriate to preserve the rights of Participants with respect to their Awards.  The judgment of the Committee with respect to any matter referred to in this Section shall be conclusive and binding upon each Participant without the need for any amendment to the Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Award that constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) shall be payable upon the occurrence of a Change in Control unless such Change in Control satisfies the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).  In addition to the actions described above, and without the consent of any Participant, effective upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, terminate all Awards granted under the Plan that are treated as “non-qualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code and settle such  shares for a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares or any benchmark, if any, provided that (1) such Change in Control satisfies the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) and (2) all other arrangements that would be aggregated with such Awards under Section 409A of the Code are terminated and liquidated within 30 days before or 12 months after such Change in Control.
Section 9.Adjustments upon Changes in Capitalization.
9.1.In the event that the Committee shall determine that any stock dividend, recapitalization, forward split or reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase or share exchange, extraordinary or unusual cash distribution or other similar corporate transaction or event, affects the Shares such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants under the Plan, then the Committee shall proportionately and equitably adjust any or all of (i) the number and kind of Shares which may thereafter be issued in connection with Awards, (ii) the number and kind of Shares issuable in respect of outstanding Awards, (iii) the aggregate number and kind of Shares available under the Plan, (iv) the limits described in Section 5 of the Plan and (v) the exercise price or grant price relating to any Award or, if deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash payment with respect to any outstanding Award; provided, however, in each case, that each adjustment shall be made in a manner consistent with Section 7.
9.2.In addition, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, events described in Section 9.1) affecting the Company or any Subsidiary, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all adjustments shall be made in a manner consistent with Section 7 and no adjustment shall be made in a manner that would adversely affect the status of an Award as a Qualified Performance-Based Award.
Section 10.Termination and Amendment.
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10.1.Changes to the Plan and Awards.  The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan without the consent of the Company’s stockholders or Participants, except that any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation, or termination shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders if (i) such action would increase the number of Shares subject to the Plan, (ii) such action results in the repricing, replacement or cash buyout/repurchase of any Option, SAR or other Award, or (iii) such stockholder approval is required by any applicable law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Shares may then be listed, and the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit such other changes to the Plan to the Company’s stockholders for approval; provided, however, that without the consent of an affected Participant, no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation, or termination of the Plan may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any outstanding Award, except insofar as any such action is necessary to ensure the Plan’s compliance with applicable law or regulation or the listing requirements of an applicable securities exchange, including, without limitation, Code Sections 162(m) or 409A.
10.2.The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate, any Award theretofore granted and any Award Agreement relating thereto; provided, however, that without the consent of an affected Participant, no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation, or termination of any Award may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under such Award, except insofar as any such action is necessary to ensure the Plan’s compliance with applicable law or regulation or the listing requirements of an applicable securities exchange, including, without limitation, Code Sections 162(m) or 409A.
Section 11.No Right to Award, Employment or Service.  No Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation that the terms of Awards be uniform or consistent among Participants.  Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant any right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary.  For purposes of this Plan, a transfer of employment or service between the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed a termination of employment or service; provided, however, that individuals employed by, or otherwise providing services to, an entity that ceases to be a Subsidiary shall be deemed to have incurred a termination of employment or service, as the case may be, as of the date such entity ceases to be a Subsidiary unless such individual becomes an employee of, or service provider to, the Company or another Subsidiary as of the date of such cessation.
Section 12.Taxes.  Each Participant must make appropriate arrangement for the payment of any taxes relating to an Award granted hereunder.  The Company or any Subsidiary is authorized to withhold from any payment relating to an Award under the Plan, including from a distribution of Shares or any payroll or other payment to a Participant, amounts of withholding and other taxes due in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award.  This authority shall include the ability to withhold or receive Shares or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant’s tax obligations and to require the Participant to enter into elections in respect of taxes.  Withholding of taxes in the form of Shares with respect to
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an Award shall not occur at a rate that exceeds the minimum required statutory federal and state withholding rates.  Participants who are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall have the right to pay all or a portion of any withholding or other taxes due in connection with an Award by directing the Company to withhold Shares that would otherwise be received in connection with such Award up to the minimum required withholding amount.
Section 13.Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries.  No Award or other right or interest of a Participant under the Plan shall be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to, or in favor of, or subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to, any party, other than the Company or any Subsidiary, or assigned or transferred by such Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and such Awards and rights shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as provided in Section 6.1(f)(v), the Committee may, in its discretion, provide that Awards or other rights or interests of a Participant granted pursuant to the Plan be transferable, without consideration, to immediate family members (i.e., children, grandchildren or spouse), to trusts for the benefit of such immediate family members and to partnerships in which such family members are the only partners.  The Committee may attach to such transferability feature such terms and conditions as it deems advisable.  In addition, a Participant may, in the manner established by the Committee, designate a beneficiary (which may be a natural person or a trust) to exercise the rights of the Participant, and to receive any distribution, with respect to any Award upon the death of the Participant.  A beneficiary, guardian, legal representative or other Person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
Section 14.Securities Law Requirements.
14.1.No Shares may be issued hereunder if the Company shall at any time determine that to do so would (i) violate the listing requirements of an applicable securities exchange, or adversely affect the registration or qualification of the Company’s Shares under any state or federal law or regulation, or (ii) require the consent or approval of any regulatory body or the satisfaction of withholding tax or other withholding liabilities. In any of the events referred to in clause (i) or clause (ii) above, the issuance of such Shares shall be suspended and shall not be effective unless and until such withholding, listing, registration, qualifications or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company in its sole discretion, notwithstanding any termination of any Award or any portion of any Award during the period when issuance has been suspended.
14.2.The Committee may require, as a condition to the issuance of Shares hereunder, representations, warranties and agreements to the effect that such Shares are being purchased or acquired by the Participant for investment only and without any present intention to sell or otherwise distribute such Shares and that the Participant will not dispose of such Shares in transactions which, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, would violate the registration provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
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Section 15.Code Section 409A.  The Plan and all Awards are intended to comply with, or be exempt from, Code Section 409A and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority thereunder, and all provisions of the Plan, including, without limitation, Sections 6, 8 and 9, and any Award Agreement shall be applied and interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in the event any Award is subject to Code Section 409A, the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without a Participant’s prior consent, amend the Plan and/or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions as deemed appropriate by the Committee to (i) exempt the Plan and/or any Award from the application of Code Section 409A, (ii) preserve the intended tax treatment of any such Award or (iii) comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A.  In the event that a Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, and a payment or benefit provided for under the Plan would be subject to additional tax under Code Section 409A if such payment or benefit is paid within six (6) months after such Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of Code Section 409A), then such payment or benefit shall not be paid (or commence) during the six (6) month period immediately following such Participant’s separation from service except as provided in the immediately following sentence.  In such an event, any payments or benefits that would otherwise have been made or provided during such six (6) month period and which would have incurred such additional tax under Code Section 409A shall instead be paid to the Participant in a lump-sum payment, without interest, on the earlier of (i) the first business day of the seventh month following such Participant’s separation from service or (ii) the tenth business day following such Participant’s death.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Company, its Affiliates or their respective directors, officers, employees or advisors will be held liable for any taxes, interest or other amounts owed by any Participant as a result of the application of Code Section 409A.
Section 16.Recoupment.  Any Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to mandatory repayment by the Participant to the Company pursuant to the terms of any Company “clawback” or recoupment policy.
Section 17.Foreign Participants.  In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under this Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for Awards to Participants who are foreign nationals, or who are employed by or perform services for the Company or any Subsidiary outside of the United States of America, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom.  Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, this Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, provided that no such supplements, amendments, restatements or alternative versions shall include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as then in effect, unless this Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the stockholders of the Company.
Section 18.Termination.  Unless earlier terminated, the Plan shall terminate on April 7, 2025, and no Awards under the Plan shall thereafter be granted; provided that no such termination shall impact Awards that were granted prior to such termination.
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Section 19.Fractional Shares.  The Company will not be required to issue any fractional Shares pursuant to the Plan.  The Committee may provide for the elimination of fractions and settlement of such fractional Shares in cash.
Section 20.Non-Exclusivity of Plan.  Nothing in the Plan shall be construed in any way as limiting the authority of the Committee, the Board, the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate to establish any other cash or equity annual or incentive compensation plan or as limiting the authority of any of the foregoing to issue Shares or pay cash bonuses or other supplemental or additional cash or equity incentive compensation to any service provider to the Company, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, whether or not such person is a Participant in this Plan and regardless of how the number of Shares or the amount of such bonuses or other cash or equity compensation is determined.
Section 21.Discretion.  In exercising, or declining to exercise, any grant of authority or discretion hereunder, the Committee may consider or ignore such factors or circumstances and may accord such weight to such factors and circumstances as the Committee alone and in its sole judgment deems appropriate and without regard to the effect such exercise, or declining to exercise such grant of authority or discretion, would have upon the affected Participant, any other Participant, any Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director, the Company, any Subsidiary, any Affiliate of the Company, any stockholder or any other Person.
Section 22.Governing Law.  To the extent that Federal laws do not otherwise control, the validity and construction of the Plan and any Award Agreement entered into thereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, but without giving effect to the choice of law principles thereof.
Section 23.Effective Date.  The Plan shall become effective upon the Effective Date.
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