Document:

Execution
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NEITHER
THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE
HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT
BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE HOLDER (IF REQUESTED BY THE COMPANY), IN A FORM
REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD
PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH
A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES. 

 

Aura
Systems, Inc.

Unsecured
Convertible Promissory Note

 

	$14,982,040.52	Issuance
    Date: January 24, 2017

 

THIS
UNSECURED CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE (this “Note”), is made as of January 24, 2017, by and between
The Survivor’s Trust Under the Warren L. Breslow Trust or its registered assigns (“Holder”), and
AURA SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Capitalized terms not defined herein that
are defined in the Debt Refinancing Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the “Refinancing Agreement”)
by and between the Company, Warren Breslow, and the Holder shall have the meaning ascribed to them therein.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS,
Holder is the present owner and holder of the Breslow Notes, the AM Notes and the Overland Notes (collectively, the “Prior
Notes”) which in the aggregate evidence an indebtedness of the Company in the current outstanding amount of $23,872,614.47,
(the “Aggregate Debt”); representing principal in the amount of $14,982,040.52, (the “Principal
Debt”) together with interest accrued thereon in the amount of $8,890,573.95 (the “Accrued Interest”);
and

 

WHEREAS,
this Note is one of the “New Promissory Notes” referred to in, and being issued in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by, the Debt Refinancing Agreement.

 

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NOW,
THEREFORE, for value received, the Company hereby promises to pay to the order of Holder the principal amount of $14,982,040.52
(as reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to redemption, conversion or otherwise, the “New Principal”)
together with accrued interest and other amounts owing from time to time hereunder, all as provided herein.

 

1.
CANCELLATION OF PRIOR NOTES. This Note supersedes and replaces all Prior Notes in their entirety. Upon issuance of this
Note, all Prior Notes shall automatically be deemed canceled and no longer outstanding, and all rights with respect thereto will
forthwith cease and terminate.

 

2.
INTEREST.

 

2.1.
Base Interest. During the period commencing upon the Issuance Date and continuing through the six-month anniversary of
the Issuance Date, (the “Initial Interest Period”) the Company shall pay interest on the unpaid New
Principal balance of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, this Note at a rate per annum equal to zero percent (0.00%) (the “Interest
Rate”). Upon expiration of the Initial Interest Period, the Interest Rate will automatically increase to five percent
(5.00%) per annum.

 

2.2.
Default Interest Rate. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then, in addition to the other rights,
powers and remedies available to the Holder under this Note and Applicable Law, then, subject to Section 22 hereof, the Interest
Rate shall be increased to a rate of eighteen percent (18%) commencing on the date on which the applicable Event of Default shall
be deemed to have occurred and continuing until such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived in accordance with the terms
of this Note.

 

2.3.
Interest Payment Dates. All interest on this Note shall be payable monthly in arrears in cash on the last Business Day
of each calendar month. All interest due on this Note shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year, and the amount of interest
payable each month will be based on the actual number of calendar days during such month and, for the purposes of calculating
interest, the amount of interest shall be calculated by multiplying the unpaid principal balance of this Note by the applicable
interest rate, dividing the product by 360 and multiplying the quotient by the actual number of days elapsed during the month.
Holder understands that the amount allocated to interest for each month will vary depending on the actual number of calendar days
during such month.

 

3.
MATURITY DATE. The entire unpaid New Principal balance of this Note, together with all accrued and unpaid interest on and
all other unpaid amounts owing under this Note shall be due and payable on the sixtieth (60th) month anniversary of
the Issuance Date (the “Maturity Date”), provided however, that if the date of the sixtieth (60th)
month anniversary of the Issuance Date is not a Business Day, then the Maturity Date shall be the next succeeding day which is
a Business Day.

 

4.
PRIORITY OF PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENT. All payments on this Note shall first be applied to pay accrued and unpaid interest,
and thereafter to pay outstanding principal amounts. At any time and from time to time before the Maturity Date the Company may,
in its sole and absolute discretion, voluntarily prepay or redeem any amounts then outstanding under this Note, either in whole
or in part, and without premium or penalty.

 

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5.
CONVERSION OF NOTES.

 

5.1.
Mandatory Conversion Upon Authorized Reverse Split. Immediately upon the Authorized Reverse Split (as defined in the Refinancing
Agreement) becoming effective (the “Mandatory Conversion Date”), $11,982,041 of the unpaid New Principal
balance then outstanding under this Note shall automatically (and without further act) convert into 7,403,705 validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Upon conversion pursuant to this Article 5.1, the Company
shall timely issue and deliver to the Holder, a certificate, registered in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number
of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder shall be entitled. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Note,
upon conversion of this Note in accordance with the terms hereof, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this
Note to the Company unless the Holder has provided the Company with prior written notice requesting reissuance or transfer of
this Note upon physical surrender hereof. The foregoing notwithstanding, if this Note is physically surrendered by the Holder
upon conversion pursuant to this Section 5.1, then the Company shall as soon as practicable issue and deliver to the Holder (or
its designee) a new Note of like tenor evidencing the remaining portion, if any, of this Note not so converted.

 

5.2.
Voluntary Conversion Right. At any time from and after the effective date of an Approved Reserve Split (but not before)
and so long as any portion of this Note shall remain unpaid and outstanding, the Holder shall be entitled to from time to time
convert any or all of the unpaid and unconverted New Principal balance then outstanding under this Note together with any and
all then-accrued but unpaid interest thereon (the “Remaining Balance”), in whole or in part, into such
number of validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of the Company’s Common Stock as is equal to the quotient
of (x) the Conversion Amount divided by (y) the Voluntary Conversion Price. Any conversion made pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall
be effectuated by Holder (i) delivering to the Company at its principal office written notice of the Holder’s conversion
election in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (the “Conversion Notice”) and (ii) surrendering
this Note at the principal office of the Company. Any duly completed and executed Conversion Notice shall be effective as of the
date of the Company’s actual receipt thereof (the “Voluntary Conversion Date”), and not before.
Upon conversion pursuant to this Section 5.2, the Company shall as soon as practicable issue and deliver to the Holder (or its
designee) a new Note of like tenor evidencing the remaining portion of this Note not so converted.

 

5.3.
No Fractional Shares; Basis of Conversion Calculations. The Company shall not issue any fraction of a share or scrip for
any such fraction of a share of Common Stock upon any conversion of this Note. In lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock
to which the Holder would otherwise be entitled, the Company shall make a cash payment therefor equal to the product of such fraction
multiplied by the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Mandatory Conversion Date or Voluntary Conversion Date,
as the case may be. The Holder and the Company acknowledge that the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock that
are issuable upon the Mandatory Conversion Date was calculated as previously represented to Breslow by the Company.

 

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6.
REISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE.

 

6.1.
Transfer. If this Note is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Note to the Company, whereupon the Company
will record such transfer upon the Company’s Register and forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new
Note (in accordance with Section 6.4) registered as the Holder may request, representing the outstanding New Principal being transferred
by the Holder and, if less than the entire outstanding New Principal is being transferred, a new Note (in accordance with Section
6.4) to the Holder representing the outstanding New Principal not being transferred. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance
of this Note, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of Sections 4 and/or 5, the outstanding New Principal represented
by this Note may be less than the Principal stated on the face of this Note.

 

6.2.
Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Note. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss,
theft, destruction or mutilation of this Note and, in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of an indemnity
agreement or other indemnity reasonably satisfactory in form and amount to the Company or, in the case of any such mutilation,
upon surrender and cancellation of such mutilated Note, the Company shall issue and timely deliver a new Note, of like tenor,
in lieu of the lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note.

 

6.3.
Note Exchangeable for Different Denominations. This Note is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the
principal office of the Company, for a new Note or Notes (in accordance with Section 6.4) representing in the aggregate the outstanding
New Principal of this Note, and each such new Note will represent such portion of such outstanding New Principal as is designated
by the Holder at the time of such surrender.

 

6.4.
Issuance of New Notes. Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Note pursuant to the terms of this Note, such new
Note (i) shall be of like tenor with this Note, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Note, the New Principal
remaining outstanding (or in the case of a new Note being issued pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.3, the New Principal designated
by the Holder which, when added to the principal represented by the other new Notes issued in connection with such issuance, does
not exceed the New Principal remaining outstanding under this Note immediately prior to such issuance of new Notes), (iii) shall
have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Note, which is the same as the Issuance Date of this Note, and (iv)
shall have the same rights and conditions as this Note, including the right to be paid any accrued and unpaid interest upon the
principal amount evidenced or represented by the new Note.

 

7.
RIGHTS UPON ISSUANCE OF OTHER SECURITIES. If the Company at any time on or after the Issuance Date subdivides (by any stock
split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater
number of shares, the Voluntary Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced.
If the Company at any time on or after the Issuance Date combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) one or more
classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Voluntary Conversion Price in effect immediately
prior to such combination will be proportionately increased. The foregoing notwithstanding, neither the number of shares issuable
upon mandatory conversion pursuant to Section 5.1 above nor the Dollar amount so converted shall be adjusted in the event of any
subdivision or combination of Common Stock resulting from the Authorized Reverse Split. Any adjustment pursuant to this Section
7 shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision or combination.

 

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8.
VOTING RIGHTS. Except as required by Applicable Law, neither this Note nor any provision hereof shall entitle Holder, as
the holder of this Note, to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose,
nor shall anything contained in this Note be construed to confer upon the Holder, as a holder of this Note, any of the rights
of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization,
issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise.

 

9.
DEFAULT AND ACCELERATION. 

 

9.1.
Events of Default. The occurrence, after the Effective Date, of any one or more of the following events, acts or occurrences
shall constitute an event of default (each an “Event of Default”): 

 

9.1.1.
The Company shall fail to pay, within five (5) Business Days of the due date (whether at stated maturity or upon acceleration,
demand, required prepayment or otherwise), any principal amount of the Note; or

 

9.1.2.
The Company shall breach or fail to pay interest or any other amount (including fees, costs, expenses or other amounts) under
this Note (other than as provided in Section 9.1.1 above) within five (5) Business Days after the due date thereof; or

 

9.1.3.
The Company shall breach or fail to perform, comply with or observe, or be in default under, any covenant or obligation required
to be performed by it (other than as provided in Sections 9.1.1 and 9.1.2) under this Note, and if such breach or failure may
be cured, such breach or failure shall not have been cured within ten (10) Business Days after the receipt of written notice that
such breach or failure shall have occurred; or

 

9.1.4.
There shall be commenced against the Company an involuntary case seeking the liquidation or reorganization under the Bankruptcy
Laws or any similar proceeding under any other Applicable Laws or an involuntary case or proceeding seeking the appointment of
a receiver, custodian, trustee or similar official for it, or to take possession of all or a substantial portion of its property
or to operate all or a substantial portion of its business, and any of the following events occur: (i) the Company consents to
such involuntary case or proceeding or fails to diligently contest it in good faith; (ii) the petition commencing the involuntary
case or proceeding is not timely controverted; (iii) the petition commencing the involuntary case or proceeding remains undismissed
or unstayed for a period of sixty (60) calendar days; or (iv) an order for relief shall have been issued or entered therein or
a receiver, custodian, trustee or similar official appointed; or

 

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9.1.5.
The Company shall institute a voluntary case seeking liquidation or reorganization under the Bankruptcy Laws or any similar proceeding
under any other Applicable Laws, or shall consent thereto; or shall consent to the conversion of an involuntary case to a voluntary
case; or shall file a petition, answer a complaint or otherwise institute any proceeding seeking, or shall consent or acquiesce
to the appointment of, a receiver, custodian, trustee or similar official for it, or to take possession of all or a substantial
portion of its property or to operate all or a substantial portion of its business; or shall make a general assignment for the
benefit of creditors; or shall generally not pay its debts as they become due or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its
debts generally; or the board of directors of the Company (or any committee thereof) adopts any resolution or otherwise authorizes
action to approve any of the foregoing.

 

9.2.
Acceleration. If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause 9.1.4 or 9.1.5 of Section 9.1
above) occurs and is continuing, Holder may, without notice, declare all outstanding principal of, accrued and unpaid interest
on, and all other amounts under, the Note to become immediately due and payable. Upon any such declaration of acceleration, such
outstanding principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, and other amounts under the Note shall become immediately due and
payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause 9.1.4 or 9.1.5 of Section 9.1 above occurs, all outstanding principal of,
and accrued and unpaid interest on, and all other amounts under, this Note automatically shall become immediately due and payable
without any declaration or other act on the part of the Holder. The Company hereby waives all presentment for payment, demand,
protest, notice of protest and notice of dishonor, and all other notices of any kind to which it may be entitled under Applicable
Laws or otherwise. 

 

9.3.
Other Remedies. If any Default or Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Holder may proceed to protect and
enforce its rights and remedies under this Note by exercising all rights and remedies available under this Note or Applicable
Laws, either by suit in equity or by action at law, or both, whether for the collection of principal of or interest on the Note,
to enforce the specific performance of any covenant or other term contained in this Note. No remedy conferred in this Note upon
Holder is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition
to every other remedy conferred herein or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise.

 

9.4.
Waiver of Past Defaults. As of and from the time of their occurrence and through the Effective Date, Holder hereby waives
any and all Events of Default under the Prior Notes and/or any and all other agreements evidencing, securing or otherwise pertaining
to the indebtedness evidenced thereby to which the Company is or hereafter becomes a party.

 

10.
SECURITIES REPRESENTATIONS OF HOLDER

 

10.1.
No Public Sale or Distribution. Holder understands that: (i) the Securities are being offered and sold to Holder in reliance
upon specific exemptions from the registration requirements of federal and state securities laws; (ii) such exemption depends,
in part, on the accuracy and truthfulness of the representations of Holder made herein and (iii) the Company is relying upon the
truth and accuracy of such representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of Holder set forth herein.
All information which has been furnished to the Company with respect to Holder’s financial position and business experience
is correct and complete as of the date hereof. Holder (a) is acquiring this Note, and (b) upon conversion of its Note will acquire
the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion thereof, in each case, for its own account and not with a view towards, or for
resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof in violation of applicable securities laws except pursuant
to sales registered or exempted under the Securities Act. Holder has no present or contemplated agreement, arrangement or understanding,
directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute any of the Securities in violation of applicable securities laws. Holder
was not formed for the purpose of purchasing the Securities.

 

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10.2.
Accredited Investor Status; Independent Investigation. Holder is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined
in Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act. By reason of its business and financial experience, Holder has such knowledge,
sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the
investment in the Securities, has the capacity to protect its own interests, and is able to bear the economic risk of such investment
(including the complete loss thereof). Holder has conducted its own investigation of the Company and to the extent deemed necessary
or advisable by Holder, has retained and relied upon qualified professional advice regarding the investment, tax and legal merits
and consequences of this Note and an investment in the Securities. Holder and its advisors, if any, have been furnished with all
materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and with all materials relating to the offer and sale
of the Securities which have been requested by Holder. Holder and its advisors, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to
ask questions of the Company.

 

10.3.
No Governmental Review. Holder understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental
agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of any investment
in the Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.

 

10.4.
Restricted Securities. Holder understands that the Securities being acquired hereunder are characterized as “restricted
securities” under the federal and state securities or “blue sky” laws inasmuch as they are being acquired from
the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under such laws and applicable regulations such securities
may be resold without registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws only
in certain limited circumstances. Holder is familiar with Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC, as presently in effect, and understands
the resale limitations imposed thereby and by the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, pursuant to which the Securities
must be held indefinitely unless a subsequent disposition thereof is registered under the Securities Act and applicable state
securities laws or is exempt from such registration. Holder further understands that the Securities have not been registered under
the Securities Act or any state securities laws and that neither the Company nor any other Person is under any obligation to register
the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption
thereunder.

 

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10.5.
Validity; Enforcement. The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by
all necessary action on the part of Holder and this Note has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf
of Holder. Upon execution by Holder, this Note will be a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holder, enforceable against Holder
in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer or conveyance or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating
to enforceability and except as rights of indemnity or contribution may be limited by federal or state securities or other laws
or the public policy underlying such laws.

 

10.6.
Brokers. Holder has not paid and is not obligated to pay any fee or commission to any broker, finder, investment banker
or other intermediary in connection with this Note or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

10.7.
No Solicitation. No Securities were offered or sold to Holder by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising,
and in connection therewith Holder has not (i) received or reviewed any advertisement, article, notice or other communication
published in a newspaper or magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio whether closed circuit, or generally
available, or (ii) attended any seminar meeting or industry investor conference whose attendees were invited by any general solicitation
or general advertising.

 

11.
CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Note shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be
construed against any Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Note are for convenience of reference and shall not form
part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Note. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the use of the word “including”
is not limiting and the use of the word “or” has the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase “and/or.”
Unless otherwise specified, the plural includes the singular and vice versa.

 

12.
FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER. Except as expressly provided otherwise in this Note, no failure or delay on the part
of a party in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single
or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power
or privilege. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.

 

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13.
NOTICES; PAYMENTS; AMENDMENTS.

 

13.1.
Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications which are required or may be given under this Note shall
be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication
is delivered via facsimile prior to 3:00 p.m. California time on a Business Day, (ii) the next Business Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile on a day which is not a Business Day or later than 3:00
p.m. California time on a Business Day; (iii) the second Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized
overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given, in each case
properly addressed to the party to receive the same and, provided confirmation of transmission, deposit, or delivery, as the case
may be, is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party. The addresses, and facsimile numbers
for such communications shall be:

 

If
to the Company:

 

Aura
Systems, Inc.

10541 Ashdale Avenue

Stanton, CA 90680

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (310) 643-5300

Facsimile: (310) 643-7457

 

If
to Holder:

 

At
the address and/or facsimile as provided on the signature page hereof

 

or
at such other address or addresses or facsimile number and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party may
specify by written notice given in accordance with this Section.

 

13.2.
Amendments. This Note may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified only with the written consent or agreement of
both the Company and the Holder.

 

13.3.
Payments. Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day which is not a Business Day,
the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day.

 

14.
CANCELLATION. After all Principal, accrued interest, and other amounts at any time owed on this Note have been converted
or otherwise paid in full, this Note shall automatically be deemed canceled, shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation
and shall not be reissued.

 

15.
GOVERNING LAW. IN ALL RESPECTS, INCLUDING ALL MATTERS OF CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND PERFORMANCE, THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND
PERFORMED IN THAT STATE (WITHOUT REGARD TO CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICTS OF LAW PROVISIONS) AND ANY APPLICABLE LAWS OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.

 

16.
CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND VENUE. ANY SUIT, LEGAL ACTION OR SIMILAR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
NOTE SHALL BE BROUGHT EXCLUSIVELY IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SITTING IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES OR IN THE COURTS
OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SITTING IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. HOLDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND
IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT
IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT, THAT SUCH
SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM OR THAT THE VENUE OF SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER.
NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY ANY RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

 

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17.
WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY HEREBY KNOWINGLY, INTENTIONALLY
AND VOLUNTARILY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS NOTE OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING.

 

18.
ATTORNEYS FEES. In any action, suit or other proceeding to enforce or interpret any of the provisions of this Note, the
prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith.

 

19.
SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Note is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable
in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable
shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability
of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Note so long as this Note as so modified continues
to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited
nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations
or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the
parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s)
with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable
provision(s).

 

20.
ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Note together with the Refinancing Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement
between the Holder and the Company with respect to the collective subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior and
contemporaneous oral or written agreements, understandings, negotiations, discussions and undertakings relating to such subject
matter.

 

21.
COUNTERPARTS. This Note may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by an e-mail which contains a portable
document format (.pdf) file of an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a valid and binding obligation of
the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were
an original thereof.

 

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22.
MAXIMUM PAYMENTS. Nothing contained in this Note shall, or shall be deemed to, establish or require the payment of a rate
of interest or other charges in excess of the maximum permitted under Applicable Law. In the event that the rate of interest required
to be paid or other charges under this Note exceeds the maximum permitted by Applicable Law, then such rate or amount, as the
case may be, shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate, as the case may be,
as would not be so prohibited by Applicable Law. Such adjustment shall be effected, to the extent necessary, by reducing or refunding,
at the option of the Holder, the amount of interest or any other amounts which would constitute unlawful amounts required to be
paid or actually paid to Holders under this Note.

 

23.
NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted
successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.

 

24.
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Applicable
Laws” means all applicable provisions of all (i) constitutions, treaties, statutes, laws, rules, regulations and ordinances
of any Governmental Authority and all common law duties, (ii) Consents of any Governmental Authority and (iii) orders, writs,
decisions, rulings, judgments or decrees of any Governmental Authority binding upon, or applicable to, the Company or Holder,
as the case may be.

 

“Authorized
Reverse Split” has the meaning as prescribed in the Refinancing Agreement.

 

“Bankruptcy
Laws” means Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq.) or any other federal or state law relating
to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or for the relief of debtors, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Bloomberg”
means Bloomberg, L.P. or any successor entity.

 

“Business
Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of Los Angeles,
California, are authorized or required by law to close.

 

“Closing
Sale Price” means, for any security as of any date, the last closing trade price for such security on the Principal
Market, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate
the closing trade price then the last trade price of such security prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg,
or, if the Principal Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the last trade price
of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by
Bloomberg, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last trade price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic
bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no last trade price, respectively, is reported for such security
by Bloomberg, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported
in the “pink sheets” by OTC Markets Group Inc. If the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a
particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Sale Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value
as mutually determined in good faith by the Company’s board of directors whose determination or calculation (as the case
may be) shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.

 

    	 	Page 11 of 14	 

    	 		 

    

 

Execution
Copy

 

“Common
Stock” means (i) the Company’s shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and (ii) any capital stock
into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.

 

“Consents”
means all consents, approvals, authorizations, waivers, permits, grants, franchises, licenses, findings of suitability, exemptions
or orders of, or any registrations, certificates, qualifications, declarations or filings with, or any notices to, any Governmental
Authority or other Person.

 

“Conversion
Amount” means the portion of the Remaining Balance to be converted or otherwise redeemed.

 

“Conversion
Shares” means those shares of Common Stock issuable to Holder upon conversion of this Note in accordance with the terms
hereof.

 

“Effective
Date” has the meaning as prescribed in the Refinancing Agreement.

 

“Fair
Market Value” means the average of the Closing Sale Prices for the Common Stock on the Principal Market or, if the Common
Stock is not listed on the electronic bulletin board, as reported by the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange
or quotation system on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted, as reported by Bloomberg, in each case for the seven (7)
Trading Days prior to the date of determination of fair market value. If the Fair Market Value cannot be calculated on the foregoing
basis, the Fair Market Value shall be the fair market value as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

“Governmental
Authority” means any nation or government, and any state or political subdivision thereof, any entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government (including the SEC and any court,
tribunal or arbitrator(s) of competent jurisdiction, and any other stock exchange or self-regulatory organization, including the
OTC Bulletin Board, OTC Markets Inc. and the Pink OTC Markets, Inc.

 

“Issuance
Date” means January 20, 2017.

 

“Person”
means any entity, corporation, company, association, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, trust, organization,
individual (including personal representatives, executors and heirs of a deceased individual), nation, state, government (including
agencies, departments, bureaus, boards, divisions and instrumentalities thereof), trustee, receiver or liquidator, as well as
any syndicate or group that would be deemed to be a Person under Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

    	 	Page 12 of 14	 

    	 		 

    

 

Execution
Copy

 

“Principal
Market” means the exchange or over-the-counter market on which the Common Stock is primarily listed on or quoted for
trading, which, as of the date hereof is the OTC Bulletin Board.

 

“SEC”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor agency.

 

“Securities”
means collectively this Note and the Conversion Shares.

 

“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as the
same shall be in effect at the time.

 

“Stockholder
Approval” has the meaning as prescribed in the Refinancing Agreement.

 

“Resolutions”
has the meaning as prescribed in the Refinancing Agreement.

 

“Voluntary
Conversion Price” means $0.20 per share as subject to adjustment from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this
Note.

 

[Remainder
of this page intentionally blank]

 

    	 	Page 13 of 14	 

    	 		 

    

 

IN
WITNESS THEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed as of the date first set forth above.

 

	 	COMPANY
	 	 
	 	AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
	 	 	 
	 	By:
    	/s/
    Melvin Gagerman
	 	 	Melvin
    Gagerman
	 	 	Chief
    Executive Officer

 

AGREED
AND ACCEPTED:

 

THE
SURVIVOR’S TRUST UNDER THE WARREN L. BRESLOW TRUST

 

	By:	/s/ Warren L. Breslow	 
		Warren L. Breslow, Trustee	 
	 	 	 
		Email:Wbreslow@breslowent.com	 
		Address: 	394 N Saltair Ave	 
			Los
    Angeles, CA 90049	 

 

    	 	Page 14 of 14slb-ex1016_1235.htm

 

Exhibit 10.16

Cameron International Corporation

Equity Incentive Plan 

(Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2013)

 

 

Cameron International Corporation (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, hereby amends and restates the following 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

1.    Purpose of the Plan

 

The purpose of the Plan is to assist the Company and its Subsidiaries in attracting and retaining selected individuals to serve as employees and directors of the Company who are expected to contribute to the Company’s success and to achieve long-term objectives which will inure to the benefit of all stockholders of the Company through the additional incentives inherent in the Awards hereunder.

 

2.    Definitions

 

2.1“Authorized Officer” shall mean the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or the senior human resources officer of the Company (or any other senior officer of the Company to whom any of such individuals shall delegate the authority to execute any Award Agreement).

 

2.2“Award” shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Performance Award, Stock Unit Award, Cash Award or any other right, interest or option relating to Shares or other property (including cash) granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.

 

2.3“Award Agreement” shall mean any agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted by the Committee hereunder. Such agreement may be in electronic or written form.

 

2.4“Board” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

 

2.5“Cash Award” shall mean an Award denominated in cash.

 

2.6“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

2.7“Committee” shall mean the committee of the Board charged with oversight of the Company’s incentive compensation and equity-based plans, which, at the time of the adoption of this Plan is the Compensation and Governance Committee. The Committee consists and always will consist of no fewer than two Directors.

 

2.8“Covered Employee” shall mean a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

 

 

2.9“Director” shall mean a non-employee member of the Board and any prospective director conditioned upon, and effective not earlier than, such person’s becoming a non-employee member of the Board.

2.10“Dividend Equivalents” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.5.

 

2.11“Employee” shall mean any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary and any prospective employee conditioned upon, and effective not earlier than, such person’s becoming an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

2.12“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

2.13“Fair Market Value” shall mean, with respect to any property other than Shares, the market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee. The Fair Market Value of a Share shall mean, as of a particular date, (1) if Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price per Share on the consolidated transaction reporting system for the principal national securities exchange on which Shares are listed on that date, or, if there shall have been no such sale so reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such a sale was so reported, (2) if the Shares are not so listed, the average of the closing bid and asked price on that date, or, if there are no quotations available for such date, on the last preceding date on which such quotations shall be available, as reported by an inter-dealer quotation system, (3) if Shares are not publicly traded, the most recent value determined by an independent appraiser appointed by the Committee for such purpose, or (4) if none of the above are applicable, the fair market value of a Share as determined in good faith by the Committee.

 

2.14“Freestanding Stock Appreciation Right” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

 

2.15“Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

 

2.16“Limitations” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.5.

 

2.17“Option” shall mean any right granted to a Participant under the Plan allowing such Participant to purchase Shares at such price or prices and during such period or periods as the Committee shall determine.

 

2.18“Participant” shall mean an Employee or Director to whom an Award has been made under this Plan.

 

2.19“Payee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.1.

 

2.20“Performance Award” shall mean any Award of Performance Shares, Performance Units or any other Award made subject to the attainment of performance goals granted pursuant to Article 9.

 

 

 

2.21“Performance Period” shall mean that period established by the Committee at the time any Performance Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any performance goals specified by the Committee with respect to such Award are to be measured.

 

2.22“Performance Share” shall mean any grant pursuant to Article 9 of a unit valued by reference to a designated number of Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

 

2.23“Performance Unit” shall mean any grant pursuant to Article 9 of a unit valued by reference to a designated amount of property (including cash and Shares), which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

 

2.24“Permitted Assignee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.3.

 

2.25“Prior Plans” shall mean, collectively, the NATCO Group, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan, the NATCO Group, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, the NATCO Group, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan, the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan, the Company’s Broadbased 2000 Incentive Plan, and the Company’s 1995 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.

 

2.26“Restatement Date” shall mean January 1, 2013.

 

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

 

2.28“Restriction Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

2.29“Restricted Stock Award” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

2.30“Shares” shall mean the shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share.

 

2.31“Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean the right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 6.

 

2.32“Stock Unit Award” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

 

2.33“Subsidiary” shall mean (i) in the case of a corporation, a “subsidiary corporation” of the Company as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code and (ii) in the case of a partnership or other business entity not organized as a corporation, any such business entity of which the Company directly or indirectly owns 50% or more of the voting, capital or profits interests (whether in the form of partnership interests, membership interests or otherwise).

 

 

 

2.34“Substitute Awards” shall mean Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines.

2.35“Tandem Stock Appreciation Right” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

 

3.    Shares Subject to the Plan

 

3.1Number of Shares.

a.Subject to adjustment under Section 12.2, on or after the Restatement Date a total of 15,242,718 Shares shall be authorized for grant under the Plan, less one (1) Share for every one (1) Share that was subject to an Option or SAR granted after December 31, 2012 and one and seventy-nine hundredths (1.79) Shares for every one Share that was subject to an Award other than an Option or SAR granted after December 31, 2012.

 

b.If (i) any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited, an Award expires or an Award is settled for cash (in whole or in part), or (ii) after December 31, 2012 any Shares subject to an award under any Prior Plan are forfeited, an award under any Prior Plan expires or is settled for cash (in whole or in part), then in each such case the Shares subject to such Award or award under any Prior Plan shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration or cash settlement, again be available for Awards under the Plan, in accordance with Section 3.1(d) below. In the event that withholding tax liabilities arising from an Award other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or, after December 31, 2012, an award other than an option or stock appreciation right under any Prior Plan are satisfied by the tendering of Shares (either actually or by attestation) or by the withholding of Shares by the Company, the Shares so tendered or withheld shall again be available for Awards under the Plan in accordance with Section 3.1(d) below. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the following Shares shall not be added to the Shares authorized for grant under paragraph (a) of this Section: (i) Shares tendered by the Participant or withheld by the Company in payment of the purchase price of an Option or, after December 31, 2012, an option under any Prior Plan, (ii) Shares tendered by the Participant or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or, after December 31, 2012, options or stock appreciation rights under any Prior Plan, (iii) Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right or, after December 31, 2012, a stock appreciation right under any Prior Plan that are not issued in connection with its stock settlement on exercise thereof, and (iv) Shares reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of Options or, after December 31, 2012, options under any Prior Plan.

 

c.Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan or authorized for grant to a Participant in any calendar year. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by shareholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable 

 

 

to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan; provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees or Directors prior to such acquisition or combination.

 

d.Any Shares that again become available for grant pursuant to this Section shall be added back as (i) one (1) Share for every one (1) Share subject to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan or options or stock appreciation rights granted under any Prior Plan, and (ii) as one and seventy-nine hundredths (1.79) Shares for every one (1) Share subject to Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan or awards other than options or stock appreciation rights granted under any Prior Plan.

 

e.The aggregate grant date fair value of awards to a Director in any calendar year shall not exceed $500,000.

 

3.2Character of Shares. Any Shares issued hereunder may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares, treasury shares or shares purchased in the open market or otherwise. 

 

4.    Eligibility and Administration

 

4.1Eligibility. Any Employee or Director shall be eligible to be selected as a Participant.

 

4.2Administration.

a.The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have full power and authority, subject to the provisions of the Plan and subject to such orders or resolutions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as may from time to time be adopted by the Board, to: (i) select the Employees and Directors to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, to be granted to each Participant hereunder; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder; (iv) determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder; (v) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled in cash, Shares or other property; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award made under the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant; (vii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances any Award shall be canceled or suspended; (viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement entered into under or in connection with the Plan, including any Award Agreement; (ix) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent that the Committee shall deem desirable to carry it into effect; (x) establish such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (xi) determine whether any Award will have Dividend Equivalents; and (xii) make any other determination and take any 

 

 

other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for administration of the Plan. Subject to Section 5.3 and Section 6.2(a) hereof, the Committee may, in its discretion, (x) provide for the extension of the exercisability of an Award, or (y) in the event of death, disability, retirement or change of control, accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an Award, eliminate or make less restrictive any restrictions contained in an Award, waive any restriction or other provision of this Plan or an Award or otherwise amend or modify an Award in any manner that is, in either case, (1) not adverse to the Participant to whom such Award was granted, (2) consented to by such Participant or (3) authorized by Section 12.2 hereof; provided, however, that no such action shall permit the term of any Option to be greater than 10 years from its Grant Date.

 

b.Decisions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons or entities, including the Company, any Participant, and any Subsidiary. A majority of the members of the Committee may determine its actions and fix the time and place of its meetings.

 

4.3Delegation of Authority. The Committee may delegate any of its authority to grant Awards to Employees who are not subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, subject to Section 4.2(a) above, to the Board or to any other committee of the Board, provided such delegation is made in writing and specifically sets forth such delegated authority. The Committee may also delegate to an Authorized Officer authority to execute on behalf of the Company any Award Agreement. The Committee and the Board, as applicable, may engage or authorize the engagement of a third party administrator to carry out administrative functions under this Plan. Any such delegation hereunder shall only be made to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

4.4Indemnity. No member of the Board or the Committee or officer of the Company to whom the Committee has delegated authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.3 of this Plan shall be liable for anything done or omitted to be done by him, by any member of the Board or the Committee or by any officer of the Company in connection with the performance of any duties under this Plan, except for his own willful misconduct or as expressly provided by statute.

 

5.    Options

 

5.1Grant of Options. Options may be granted hereunder to Participants either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Any Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Article and to such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable.

 

5.2Award Agreements. All Options granted pursuant to this Article shall be evidenced by a written or electronic Award Agreement in such form and containing such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine which are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, including, if required by the Committee, execution by the Participant to whom the Award is granted. The terms of Options need not be the same with respect to each Participant. Granting of an Option pursuant to the Plan shall impose no obligation on the recipient to exercise such Option. Any individual who is granted an Option pursuant to this Article may hold more than one Option granted pursuant to the Plan at the same time.

 

 

 

5.3Option Price. Other than in connection with Substitute Awards, the option price per each Share purchasable under any Option granted pursuant to this Article shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share on the date of grant of such Option. Other than pursuant to Section 12.2, the Committee shall not, without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, (a) lower the option price per Share of an Option after it is granted, (b) cancel an Option when the option price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares in exchange for cash or for another Award (other than in connection with Substitute Awards), and (c) take any other action with respect to an Option that may be treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of the principal national securities exchange on which Shares are listed.

 

5.4Option Term. The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided that no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the date the Option is granted; provided further, that if an Option other than an Incentive Stock Option would otherwise expire when trading in Shares is prohibited by law or by Company insider trading policy, the Award Agreement may provide for the automatic extension of the Option term to the 30 th day after expiration of such prohibition; provided further, that any such extension will not subject the Option to Code Section 409A.

 

5.5Exercise of Options. Vested Options granted under the Plan may be exercised by the Participant, by a Permitted Assignee thereof, or by the Participant’s executors, administrators, guardian or legal representative as to all or part of the Shares covered thereby, by the giving of notice of exercise to the Company or its designated agent, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased, accompanied by payment of the full purchase price for the Shares being purchased. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, full payment of such purchase price shall be made at the time of exercise and shall be made (a) in cash or cash equivalents (including certified check or bank check or wire transfer of immediately available funds), (b) by tendering previously acquired Shares (either actually or by attestation, valued at their then-Fair Market Value), (c) with the consent of the Committee, by delivery of other consideration (including, where permitted by law and the Committee, other Awards) having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the total purchase price, (d) with the consent of the Committee, by withholding Shares otherwise issuable in connection with the exercise of the Option, (e) through any other method specified in an Award Agreement, or (f) any combination of any of the foregoing. The notice of exercise, accompanied by such payment, shall be delivered to the Company at its principal business office or such other office as the Committee may from time to time direct, and shall be in such form, containing such further provisions consistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee may from time to time prescribe. In no event may any Option granted hereunder be exercised for a fraction of a Share. No adjustment shall be made for ordinary cash dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date as of which the Participant exercises the Option and becomes the sole owner of the subject Shares. An Option shall be automatically exercised as of the end of the last day of the term of the Option, if the Option price is less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on such date, on a net exercise basis as contemplated by Section 5.5(d) and with tax withholding satisfied by the Company retaining Shares from the exercise as contemplated by Section 13.1.

 

5.6Form of Settlement. In its sole discretion, the Committee may provide, at the time of grant, that the Shares to be issued upon an Option’s exercise shall be in the form of Restricted Stock or other similar securities, or may reserve the right so to provide after the time of grant.

 

 

 

5.7Incentive Stock Options. The Committee may grant Incentive Stock Options to any Employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, subject to the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1 to the contrary and solely for the purposes of determining whether Shares are available for the grant of “incentive stock options” under the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to which “incentive stock options” may be granted under the Plan shall be 15,242,718 Shares.

 

6.    Stock Appreciation Rights

 

6.1Grant and Exercise. The Committee may provide Stock Appreciation Rights (a) in conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under the Plan or at any subsequent time during the term of such Option (“Tandem Stock Appreciation Right”), (b) in conjunction with all or part of any Award (other than an Option) granted under the Plan or at any subsequent time during the term of such Award, or (c) without regard to any Option or other Award (a “Freestanding Stock Appreciation Right”), in each case upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may establish in its sole discretion.

 

6.2Terms and Conditions. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as shall be determined from time to time by the Committee, including the following:

 

a.Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the holder shall have the right to receive the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise or such other amount as the Committee shall so determine at any time during a specified period before the date of exercise over (ii) the grant price of the right on the date of grant, or in the case of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right granted on the date of grant of the related Option, as specified by the Committee in its sole discretion, which, except in the case of Substitute Awards or in connection with an adjustment provided in Section 12.2, shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of one Share on such date of grant of the right or the related Option, as the case may be other than pursuant to Section 12.2, the Committee shall not, without the approval of the Company stockholders, (a) lower the grant price of a Stock Appreciation Right after it is granted, (b) cancel a Stock Appreciation Right when the grant price exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares in exchange for cash or for another Award (other than in connection with Substitute Awards), and (c) take any other action with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right that may be treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of the national securities exchange on which Shares are listed.

 

b.Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion whether payment shall be made in cash, in whole Shares or other property, or any combination thereof.

 

c.Any Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be granted at the same time as the related Option is granted or at any time thereafter before exercise or expiration of such Option.

 

d.Any Tandem Stock Appreciation Right related to an Option may be exercised only when the related Option would be exercisable and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the related Option exceeds the option price at which Shares can be 

 

 

acquired pursuant to the Option. In addition, if a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right exists with respect to less than the full number of Shares covered by a related Option, then an exercise or termination of such Option shall not reduce the number of Shares to which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right applies until the number of Shares then exercisable under such Option equals the number of Shares to which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right applies.

 

e.Any Option related to a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised.

 

f.The provisions of Stock Appreciation Rights need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

 

g.The Committee may impose such other conditions or restrictions on the terms of exercise and the exercise price of any Stock Appreciation Right, as it shall deem appropriate, including providing that the exercise price of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant if the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right is added to an Option following the date of the grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.2(g), but subject to Section 12.2, a Freestanding Stock Appreciation Right shall be evidenced by an electronic or written Award Agreement and generally have the same terms and conditions as Options, including (i) an exercise price not less than Fair Market Value on the date of grant and (ii) a term not greater than 10 years (including an extension of term as provided in Section 5.4 and automatic exercise of an otherwise expiring Award provided in Section 5.5). In addition to the foregoing, but subject to Section 12.2, the base amount of any Stock Appreciation Right shall not be reduced after the date of grant.

 

h.The Committee may impose such terms and conditions on Stock Appreciation Rights granted in conjunction with any Award (other than an Option) as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion.

 

7.    Restricted Stock Awards

 

7.1Grants. Awards of Restricted Stock may be issued hereunder to Participants either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan (a “Restricted Stock Award”), and such Restricted Stock Awards shall also be available as a form of payment of Performance Awards and other earned cash-based incentive compensation. A Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to restrictions imposed by the Committee covering a period of time specified by the Committee (the “Restriction Period”). The Committee has absolute discretion to determine whether any consideration (other than services) is to be received by the Company or any Subsidiary as a condition precedent to the issuance of Restricted Stock.

 

7.2Award Agreements. The terms of any Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan shall be set forth in an electronic or written Award Agreement which shall contain provisions determined by the Committee and not inconsistent with the Plan. The terms of Restricted Stock Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

 

 

 

7.3Rights of Holders of Restricted Stock. Beginning on the date of grant of the Restricted Stock Award and subject to the terms and conditions of the Award, the Participant shall become a shareholder of the Company with respect to all Shares subject to the Award and shall have all of the rights of a shareholder, including the right to vote such Shares and the right to receive distributions made with respect to such Shares; provided, however, that any Shares or any other property (other than cash) distributed as a dividend or otherwise with respect to any Restricted Stock as to which the restrictions have not yet lapsed shall be subject to the same restrictions as such Restricted Stock.

 

8.    Stock Unit Awards; Cash Awards

 

8.1Grants. Other Awards of units having a value equal to a number of Shares (“Stock Unit Awards”) may be granted hereunder to Participants, in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Stock Unit Awards shall also be available as a form of payment of other Awards granted under the Plan and other earned cash-based incentive compensation.

 

8.2Award Agreements. The terms of Stock Unit Awards granted under the Plan shall be set forth in an electronic or written Award Agreement which shall contain provisions determined by the Committee and not inconsistent with the Plan. The terms of such Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

 

8.3Payment. Except as provided in Article 10 or as may be provided in an Award Agreement, Stock Unit Awards may be paid in cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, in the sole discretion of the Committee at the time of payment. Stock Unit Awards may be paid in a lump sum or in installments or, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, on a deferred basis.

 

8.4Cash Awards. An Employee Award may be in the form of a Cash Award. The terms, conditions and limitations applicable to a Cash Award, including, but not limited to, vesting or other restrictions, shall be determined by the Committee.

 

9.    Performance Awards

 

9.1Grants. Performance Awards in the form of Performance Shares or Performance Units, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, may be granted hereunder to Participants, for no consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The performance goals to be achieved for each Performance Period shall be conclusively determined by the Committee and may be based upon the criteria set forth in Section 10.2.

 

9.2Award Agreements. The terms of any Performance Award granted under the Plan shall be set forth in an electronic or written Award Agreement which shall contain provisions determined by the Committee and not inconsistent with the Plan, including whether such Awards shall have Dividend Equivalents. The terms of Performance Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

 

 

 

9.3Terms and Conditions. The performance criteria to be achieved during any Performance Period and the length of the Performance Period shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant of each Performance Award. The amount of the Award to be distributed shall be conclusively determined by the Committee.

 

9.4Payment. Except as provided in Article 11 or as may be provided in an Award Agreement, Performance Awards will be distributed only after the end of the relevant Performance Period. Performance Awards may be paid in cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, in the sole discretion of the Committee at the time of payment. Performance Awards may be paid in a lump sum or in installments following the close of the Performance Period or, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, on a deferred basis.

 

10.    Code Section 162(m) Provisions

 

10.1Covered Employees. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, if the Committee determines at the time a Restricted Stock Award, a Performance Award, a Stock Unit Award, or Cash Award is granted to a Participant who is, or is likely to be, as of the end of the tax year in which the Company would claim a tax deduction in connection with such Award, a Covered Employee, then the Committee may provide that this Article 10 is applicable to such Award.

 

10.2Performance Criteria. If the Committee determines that a Restricted Stock Award, a Performance Award, a Stock Unit Award, or Cash Award is subject to this Article 10, the lapsing of restrictions thereon and the distribution of cash, Shares or other property pursuant thereto, as applicable, shall be subject to the achievement of one or more objective performance goals established by the Committee, which shall be based on the attainment of specified levels of one or any combination of the following: revenues; booking of orders; earnings, or some derivative thereof such as earnings before interest and taxes (“EBIT”), earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), or earnings per share; operating income; pre- or after-tax income; cash flow; net earnings; return on equity (“ROE”); return on capital (including return on total capital or return on invested capital); return on assets or net assets; economic value added (“EVA”) (or an equivalent metric); margins; share price performance; total shareholder return (“TSR”); improvement in or attainment of expense levels; safety performance; on-time delivery; and improvement in or attainment of working capital levels of the Company or any Subsidiary, division, business unit or product line of the Company for or within which the Participant is primarily employed. Such performance goals also may be based solely by reference to the Company’s performance or the performance of a Subsidiary, division, business unit or product line of the Company, or based upon the relative performance of other companies or upon comparisons of any of the indicators of performance relative to other companies. Such performance goals shall be set by the Committee within the time period prescribed by, and shall otherwise comply with the requirements of, Section 162(m) of the Code, and the regulations thereunder. The Committee may provide in any such Performance Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude certain events that occur during a Performance Period including but not limited to: (i) amortization, depreciation or impairment of tangible or intangible assets, (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs or reductions in force or early retirement programs, (v) any extraordinary non-recurring items that may be defined in an objective and non-discretionary manner under or by reference to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, accounting standards or other applicable accounting standards in effect 

 

 

from time to time 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, (vi) the sale of investments or non-core assets; (vii) discontinued operations, categories or segments; (viii) investments, acquisitions or dispositions; (ix) political, legal and other business interruptions (such as due to war, insurrection, riot, terrorism, confiscation, expropriation, nationalization, deprivation, seizure, and regulatory requirements); (x) natural catastrophes; (xi) currency fluctuations; (xii) stock based compensation expense; (xiii) stock repurchases; (xiv) early retirement of debt; (xv) conversion of convertible debt securities; and (xvi) termination of real estate leases.

 

10.3Adjustments. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan (other than Article 12), with respect to any Restricted Stock, Performance Award, Stock Unit Award, or Cash Award that is subject to this Section 10, the Committee may adjust downwards, but not upwards, the amount payable pursuant to such Award, and the Committee may not waive the achievement of the applicable performance goals, except in the case of the death or disability of the Participant or change of control or as otherwise determined by the Committee in special circumstances.

 

10.4Restrictions. The Committee shall have the power to impose such other restrictions on Awards subject to this Article as it may deem necessary or appropriate to ensure that such Awards satisfy all requirements for “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

10.5Limitations on Grants to Individual Participant. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12.2, no Participant may be granted (i) Options or Stock Appreciation Rights during any calendar year with respect to more than 1,500,000 Shares, (ii) Restricted Stock, Performance Awards and/or Stock Unit Awards that are denominated in Shares in any calendar year with respect to more than 1,500,000 Shares (the “Limitations”). In addition to the foregoing, the maximum dollar value payable to any Participant in any calendar year with respect to a Cash Award that is a Performance Award is $5,000,000 If an Award is cancelled, the cancelled Award shall continue to (including a Performance Unit denominated in cash) be counted toward the applicable Limitations.

 

11.    Cancellation of Award; Clawbacks

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (1) an Award Agreement may provide that the Award shall be canceled if the Participant, without the consent of the Company, while employed by the Company or any Subsidiary or after termination of such employment or service, establishes a relationship with a competitor of the Company or any Subsidiary or engages in activity that is in conflict with or adverse to the interest of the Company or any Subsidiary, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and (2) all Awards shall be subject to any clawback policy adopted by the Company whether before or after the grant of the Award.

 

 

 

12.    Generally Applicable Provisions

 

12.1Amendment, Modification, Suspension or Termination. The Board may amend, modify, suspend or terminate this Plan (and the Committee may amend an Award Agreement) for the purpose of meeting or addressing any changes in legal requirements or for any other purpose permitted by law, except that (1) no amendment or alteration that would adversely affect the rights of any Participant under any Award previously granted to such Participant shall be made without the consent of such Participant and (2) no amendment or alteration shall be effective prior to its approval by the stockholders of the Company to the extent stockholder approval is otherwise required by applicable legal requirements or the requirements of the securities exchange on which the Company’s stock is listed, including any amendment that expands the types of Awards available under this Plan, materially increases the number of Shares available for Awards under this Plan, materially expands the classes of persons eligible for Awards under this Plan, materially extends the term of this Plan, materially changes the method of determining the exercise price of Options, or deletes or limits any provisions of this Plan that prohibit the repricing of Options or SARs.

 

12.2Adjustments.

 

a.The existence of outstanding Awards shall not affect in any manner the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the capital stock of the Company or its business or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock (whether or not such issue is prior to, on a parity with or junior to the Shares) or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding of any kind, whether or not of a character similar to that of the acts or proceedings enumerated above.

 

b. In the event of any subdivision or consolidation of outstanding shares of Common Stock, declaration of a dividend payable in Shares or other stock split, then (1) the number of Shares reserved under this Plan, (2) the number of Shares covered by outstanding Awards in the form of Shares or units denominated in Shares, (3) the exercise price or other price in respect of such Awards, (4) the Limitations, and (5) the appropriate Fair Market Value and other price determinations for such Awards shall each be proportionately adjusted by the Committee as appropriate to reflect such transaction. In the event of any other recapitalization or capital reorganization of the Company, any consolidation or merger of the Company with another corporation or entity, the adoption by the Company of any plan of exchange affecting the Shares or any distribution to holders of Shares of securities or property (other than normal cash dividends or dividends payable in Shares), the Committee shall make appropriate adjustments to (i) the number and kind of shares covered by Awards in the form of Shares or units denominated in Shares, (ii) the exercise price or other price in respect of such Awards, (iii) the appropriate Fair Market Value and other price determinations for such Awards, and (iv) the Limitations to reflect such transaction; provided that such adjustments shall only be such as are necessary to maintain the proportionate interest of the holders of the Awards and preserve, without increasing, the value of such Awards.

 

 

 

c.In connection with a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or liquidation, the Committee may make such adjustments to Awards or other provisions for the disposition of Awards as it deems equitable, and shall be authorized, in its discretion, (1) to provide for the substitution of a new Award or other arrangement (which, if applicable, may be exercisable for such property or stock as the Committee determines) for an Award or the assumption of the Award, regardless of whether in a transaction to which Code Section 424(a) applies, (2) to provide for the acceleration of the vesting and exercisability of, or lapse of restrictions with respect to, the Award and, if the transaction is a cash merger, provide for the termination of any portion of the Award that remains unexercised at the time of such transaction, or (3) to cancel any such Awards and to deliver to the Participants cash in an amount that the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion is equal to the fair market value of such Awards on the date of such event, which in the case of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be the excess of the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on such date over the Option or base price of such Award.

 

d.No adjustment or substitution pursuant to this Section 12.2 shall be made in a manner that results in noncompliance with the requirements of Code Section 409A, to the extent applicable.

 

12.3Transferability of Awards. Except as provided below, and except as otherwise authorized by the Committee in an Award Agreement, no Award and no Shares subject to Awards described in Article 8 that have not been issued or as to which any applicable restriction, performance or deferral period has not lapsed, may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, and such Award may be exercised during the life of the Participant only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant may assign or transfer an Award (i) for charitable donations, (ii) to the Participant’s spouse, children or grandchildren (including any adopted and stepchildren and grandchildren, (iii) a trust for the benefit of one or more of the Participant or the persons referred to in clause (ii), or (iv) any other person with the consent of the Committee (each transferee thereof, a “Permitted Assignee”); provided that such Permitted Assignee shall be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Award Agreement relating to the transferred Award and shall execute an agreement satisfactory to the Company evidencing such obligations; and provided further that such Participant shall remain bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Company shall cooperate with any Permitted Assignee and the Company’s transfer agent in effectuating any transfer permitted under this Section.

 

12.4Termination of Employment. The Committee shall determine and set forth in each Award Agreement whether any Awards granted in such Award Agreement will continue to be exercisable, and the terms of such exercise, on and after the date that a Participant ceases to be employed by or to provide services to the Company or any Subsidiary (including as a Director), whether by reason of death, disability, voluntary or involuntary termination of employment or services, or otherwise. The date of termination of a Participant’s employment or services will be determined by the Committee, which determination will be final.

 

 

 

12.5Deferral; Dividend Equivalents. The Committee shall be authorized to establish procedures pursuant to which the payment of any Award may be deferred. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any Award Agreement, the recipient of an Award (including any deferred Award) may, if so determined by the Committee, be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, cash, stock or other property dividends, or cash payments in amounts equivalent to cash, stock or other property dividends on Shares (“Dividend Equivalents”) with respect to the number of Shares covered by the Award, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. The Committee may provide that such amounts and Dividend Equivalents (if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or otherwise reinvested and may provide that such as amounts and Dividend Equivalents are subject to the same vesting or performance conditions as the underlying Award. Dividend Equivalents attributable to Performance Awards shall not be paid out before the underlying Performance Award has been earned. No Dividend Equivalents shall be granted in connection with an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right.

 

12.6Restrictions. No Common Stock or other form of payment shall be issued with respect to any Award unless the Company shall be satisfied based on the advice of its counsel that such issuance will be in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock delivered under this Plan (to the extent that such shares are so evidenced) may be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or transaction reporting system upon which the Common Stock is then listed or to which it is admitted for quotation and any applicable federal or state securities law. The Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed upon such certificates (if any) to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

13.    Miscellaneous

 

13.1Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the right to make all payments or distributions pursuant to the Plan to a Participant (or a Permitted Assignee thereof) (any such person, a “Payee”) net of any applicable federal, state and local taxes required to be paid or withheld as a result of (a) the grant of any Award, (b) the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (c) the delivery of Shares or cash, (d) the lapse of any restrictions in connection with any Award or (e) any other event occurring pursuant to the Plan. The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the right to withhold from wages or other amounts otherwise payable to such Payee such withholding taxes as may be required by law, or to otherwise require the Payee to pay such withholding taxes. If the Payee shall fail to make such tax payments as are required, the Company or its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to such Payee or to take such other action as may be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligations. The Committee shall be authorized to establish procedures for election by Participants to satisfy such obligation for the payment of such taxes by tendering previously acquired Shares (either actually or by attestation, valued at their then Fair Market Value), or by directing the Company to retain Shares (up to the Participant’s minimum required tax withholding rate or such other rate that will not trigger a negative accounting impact) otherwise deliverable in connection with the Award.

 

13.2Right of Discharge Reserved; Claims to Awards. Nothing in the Plan nor the grant of an Award hereunder shall confer upon any Employee or Director the right to continue in the employment or service of the Company or any Subsidiary or affect any right that the Company or any Subsidiary may have to terminate the employment or service of (or to demote or to 

 

 

exclude from future Awards under the Plan) any such Employee or Director at any time for any reason. Except as specifically provided by the Committee, the Company shall not be liable for the loss of existing or potential profit from an Award granted in the event of termination of an employment or other relationship. No Employee or Director shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Employees or Directors under the Plan.

 

13.3Prospective Recipient. The prospective recipient of any Award under the Plan shall not, with respect to such Award, be deemed to have become a Participant, or to have any rights with respect to such Award, until and unless such recipient shall have complied with the then applicable terms and conditions of the Award.

 

13.4Stop-Transfer Orders. All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Shares are then listed, and any applicable federal or state securities law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

13.5Nature of Payments. All Awards made pursuant to the Plan are in consideration of services performed or to be performed for the Company or any Subsidiary, division or business unit of the Company. Any income or gain realized pursuant to Awards under the Plan and any Stock Appreciation Rights constitute a special incentive payment to the Participant and shall not be taken into account, to the extent permissible under applicable law, as compensation for purposes of any of the employee benefit plans of the Company or any Subsidiary except as may be determined by the Committee or by the Board or board of directors of the applicable Subsidiary.

 

13.6Other Plans. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

13.7Severability. If any provision of the Plan shall be held unlawful or otherwise invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall (a) be deemed limited to the extent that such court of competent jurisdiction deems it lawful, valid and/or enforceable and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect, and (b) not affect any other provision of the Plan or part thereof, each of which shall remain in full force and effect. If the making of any payment or the provision of any other benefit required under the Plan shall be held unlawful or otherwise invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such unlawfulness, invalidity or unenforceability shall not prevent any other payment or benefit from being made or provided under the Plan, and if the making of any payment in full or the provision of any other benefit required under the Plan in full would be unlawful or otherwise invalid or unenforceable, then such unlawfulness, invalidity or unenforceability shall not prevent such payment or benefit from being made or provided in part, to the extent that it would not be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, and the maximum payment or benefit that would not be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable shall be made or provided under the Plan.

 

 

 

13.8Construction. As used in the Plan, the words “include” and “including” , and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”.

 

13.9Unfunded Status of the Plan. The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company. In its sole discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver the Shares or payments in lieu of or with respect to Awards hereunder; provided, however, that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan.

 

13.10Governing Law. The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken thereunder, to the extent not otherwise governed by the Code or the laws of the United States, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws, and construed accordingly.

 

13.11Effective Date of Amended and Restated Plan; Expiration of Plan. The amended and restated Plan shall be effective on the date of the approval of the amended and restated Plan by the holders of the shares entitled to vote at a duly constituted meeting of the stockholders of the Company. The amended and restated Plan shall be null and void and of no effect if the foregoing condition is not fulfilled and in such event the Plan as in effect immediately prior to the Restatement Date will continue to operate in accordance with its terms. Awards may be granted under the amended and restated Plan at any time and from time to time on or prior to the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the amended and restated Plan, on which date the amended and restated Plan will expire except as to Awards then outstanding under the Plan. Such outstanding Awards shall remain in effect until they have been exercised or terminated, or have expired.

 

13.12Foreign Employees. Awards may be granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Employees employed in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy. The Committee also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Company’s obligation with respect to tax equalization for Employees on assignments outside their home country.

 

13.13Code Section 409A.

 

a.Awards made under this Plan are intended to comply with or be exempt from Code Section 409A, and ambiguous provisions hereof, if any, shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent. No payment, benefit or consideration shall be substituted for an Award if such action would result in the imposition of taxes under Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, if any Plan provision or Award under this Plan would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Code Section 409A, that Plan provision or Award shall be reformed, to the extent permissible under Code Section 409A, to avoid imposition of the additional tax, and no such action shall be deemed to adversely affect the Participant’s rights to an Award.

 

 

 

b.Unless the Committee provides otherwise in an Award Agreement, each Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Unit Award or Cash Award (or portion thereof if the Award is subject to a vesting schedule) shall be settled no later than the 15 th day of the third month after the end of the first calendar year in which the Award (or such portion thereof) is no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Code Section 409A. If the Committee determines that a Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Unit Award or Cash Award is intended to be subject to Code Section 409A, the applicable Award Agreement shall include terms that are designed to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

c.If the Participant is identified by the Company as a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) on the date on which the Participant has a “separation from service” (other than due to death) within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(h), any Award payable or settled on account of a separation from service that is deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A shall be paid or settled on the earliest of (1) the first business day following the expiration of six months from the Participant’s separation from service, (2) the date of the Participant’s death, or (3) such earlier date as complies with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

13.14Captions. The captions in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and are not intended to narrow, limit or affect the substance or interpretation of the provisions contained herein.

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