Document:

bwen_Ex4-1

		
			Exhibit 4.1
		

		
			 
		

		
			FIRST AMENDMENT TO SECTION 382 RIGHTS AGREEMENT
		

		
			THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO SECTION 382 RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made and entered into as of February 5, 2016, by and between Broadwind Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Wells Fargo, National Association, as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”). 
		

		
			WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights Agent entered into a Section 382 Rights Agreement dated as of February 12, 2013 (the “Agreement”); 
		

		
			WHEREAS,  Section 27 of the Agreement provides, among other things, that, prior to the Stock Acquisition Date (as defined in the Agreement) the Company and the Rights Agent may from time to time supplement or amend the Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of Rights (as defined in the Agreement);
		

		
			WHEREAS, no Stock Acquisition Date has occurred on or prior to the date hereof;
		

		
			WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to amend the Agreement as set forth herein; and
		

		
			WHEREAS, the Board has authorized and approved this Amendment;
		

		
			NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company hereby agrees to amend the Agreement as follows and directs the Rights Agent to execute this Amendment: 
		

		
			1. Section 7 of the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
		

		
			(a)Clause (a)(i) shall be removed and replaced with the following: 
		

		
			(i) the Close of Business on February 22, 2019 (the “Final Expiration Date”), 
		

		
			(b)Clause (a)(vi) shall be removed and replaced with the following:
		

		
			(vi) the Close of Business on the first Business Day following the date on which the Inspector of Election for the Company’s 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders certifies that the vote on the amendment to this Agreement dated as of February 5, 2016 at such meeting (with the required vote for such approval to be described in the Company’s proxy statement relating to such Annual Meeting) reflects that stockholder approval of such amendment has not been received (the earliest of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) being herein referred to as the “Expiration Date”).
		

		
			

		 

		

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(c)Clause (b) shall be removed and replaced with the following:
		

		
			The Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $9.81, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11 and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
		

		
			2.Exhibit B to the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
		

		
			(a)    The reference to “FEBRUARY 22, 2016” on page B-1 shall be removed and replaced with “FEBRUARY 22, 2019.”
		

		
			(b)    The first sentence on page B-2 shall be removed and replaced with the following:
		

		
			This certifies that _______________, or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Section 382 Rights Agreement, dated as of February 12, 2013 (as amended from time to time, the “Rights Agreement”), between Broadwind Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Wells  Fargo, National Association (the “Rights Agent”), to purchase from the Company at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement) at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), of the Company, at a purchase price of $_____ per one one-thousandth of a share (the “Purchase Price”), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. 
		

		
			3.Exhibit C to the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
		

		
			(a)The second sentence of Exhibit C shall be removed and replaced with the following:  
		

		
			Each right entitles its holder, under the circumstances described below, to purchase from us one one-thousandth of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $9.81 per right, subject to adjustment.
		

		
			(b)    The first bullet point in the eleventh paragraph of Exhibit C shall be removed and replaced with the following:
		

		
			•the close of business on February 22, 2019;
		

		
			(c)    The last bullet point in the eleventh paragraph of Exhibit C shall be removed and replaced with the following:
		

		
			•the close of business on the first business day following the date on which the Inspector of Election for Broadwind’s 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders certifies that the 

		 

		

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vote on the amendment, dated as of February 5, 2016, to the Section 382 Rights Agreement at such meeting reflects that stockholder approval has not been received. 
		

		
			(d)The thirteenth paragraph of Exhibit C shall be removed and replaced with the following:
		

		
			For example, at an exercise price of $9.81 per right, each right not owned by an acquiring person (or by certain related parties) following a flip-in event would entitle its holder to purchase $19.62 worth of common stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for $9.81. Assuming that the common stock had a per share value of $2.45 at that time, the holder of each valid right would be entitled to purchase eight shares of common stock for $9.81.
		

		
			4. This Amendment is effective as of the date first set forth above. 
		

		
			5.    Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement.
		

		
			6.This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts; each such counterpart shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original; and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.  A signature to this Amendment executed and/or transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature.
		

		
			7.Except as modified hereby, the Agreement is reaffirmed in all respects, and all references therein to “the Agreement” shall mean the Agreement, as modified hereby. 
		

		
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
		

		
			Attest:BROADWIND ENERGY, INC.
		

		
			By: /s/ David W. Fell    By:  /s/ Stephanie K. Kushner
		

		
			       David W. Fell                   Stephanie K. Kushner
		

		
			       Secretary               Interim President & Chief Executive Officer
		

		
			 
		

		
			Attest:WELLS FARGO, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
		

		
			 
		

		
			By: /s/ Martin J. KnappBy: /s/ Andrea Severson
		

		
			      Name: Martin J. Knapp               Name: Andrea Severson
		

		
			      Title: Vice President       Title: AVP – Client Services
		

		 

		

			4Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE

 

This is a confidential Employment Separation
Agreement and Release (“Agreement”) between you, Scott Youmans (“Employee”) and us, Atossa Genetics, Inc.
(“Atossa”) (referred to in this agreement as the “Company,” “Employer,” “us” or
“we”). This Agreement is dated for reference purposes the 3rd day of February 2016, which is the
date we delivered this agreement to you for your consideration.

 

RECITALS

 

A.           Employee
has been continuously employed by Employer in an at-will capacity since September 2, 2014 in the current capacity of Chief Operating
Officer

 

B.           Employee
has decided to terminate Employee’s employment with Employer, but both parties desire to establish a transition period during
which time Employee will transition his duties.

 

C.           Employee
and Employer wish to enter into an agreement to terminate the employment relationship and to clarify and resolve any disputes that
may exist between them, including any arising out of the employment relationship and its termination, and the continuing obligations
of the parties to each other following the end of the employment relationship.

 

1.           Separation from Employment. Your
employment by us will terminate effective February 12, 2016 (the “Separation Date”). You must sign this Agreement,
no earlier than the day after your Separation Date.

 

2.           Payment. In exchange for your
agreeing to the release of claims and other terms in this Agreement, we will pay you separation pay equivalent to four (4) weeks
of pay, of your normal base salary. This will be paid in the lump sum amount of $23,920.00 less legally required payroll deductions.
In addition, Atossa will extend the date by which you have the right to exercise your stock options to February 12, 2017. You acknowledge
and agree that you are not otherwise entitled to separation pay, nor is the Company otherwise obligated to pay it. We will pay
this separation pay to you in the normal payroll processing schedule after the Effective Date of this Agreement as set forth in
Section 16 below. The Company shall issue a W-2 form to you for the separation payment. You acknowledge that we are not obligated
to make these payments to or on your behalf unless you agree to the terms in this Agreement.

 

3.           COBRA Continuation Coverage. Your
normal employee participation in the Company’s group health coverage terminated or will terminate on the last day of the
month in which the Separation Date fell. Continuation of group health coverage thereafter will be made available to you and your
dependents pursuant to applicable law (COBRA). Continuation of group health coverage is entirely at your expense, as provided under
COBRA.

 

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4.           Termination of Benefits. Your
participation in all other employee benefit plans and programs ended or will end either (a) on the Separation Date, or (b) on the
last day of the month in which the Separation Date fell, if so provided in the applicable benefit plan or program; provided that
the end of your participation in any pension benefit plan(s) in which you may have participated will be determined in accordance
with the written plan documents governing those plan(s).

 

5.           Full Payment. On the next regular
payday after the Separation Date, we will pay you: (a) your normal wages for the most recent pay period through the Separation
Date; and (b) your accrued but unused PTO benefits, if any, subject to legally required deductions and withholdings. In addition,
we will pay you one-half of your earned 2015 bonus ($40,186). The remaining earned 2015 bonus will be paid in equal installments
over the course of six months. We will make these payments to you without regard to whether you sign this Agreement. You acknowledge
that these payments, together with the payments you have already received, represent full payment of all compensation and benefits
of any kind (including wages, salary, vacation, sick leave, commissions, bonuses, incentive compensation and equity participation)
that you earned as a result of your employment by us, including pay for all hours worked. In addition, any and all agreements to
pay you compensation or benefits of any kind are terminated. We owe you, and shall owe you, no further compensation or benefits
of any kind, except as set forth herein.

 

6.           Release of Claims. You hereby
release (a) the Company and its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, insurers, insurance policies and benefit plans, (b) each of
the past and present shareholders, officers, directors, agents, employees, representatives, administrators, fiduciaries and attorneys
of the foregoing entities and plans, and (c) the predecessors, successors, transferees and assigns of each of the persons and entities
described in this sentence, from any and all claims of any kind, known or unknown, that arose on or before the time you signed
this Agreement.

 

The claims you are releasing include, without
limitation, claims of wrongful termination, claims of constructive discharge, claims arising out of agreements, representations
or policies related to your employment, claims in anyway related to your employment, claims arising under federal, state or local
laws or ordinances prohibiting discrimination or harassment or requiring accommodation on the basis of age, race, color, national
origin, religion, sex, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or any other status, claims of failure to accommodate a disability
or religious practice, claims for violation of public policy, claims of retaliation, claims of failure to assist you in applying
for future position openings, claims of failure to hire you for future position openings, claims for wages or compensation of any
kind, including but not limited to vacation, overtime, separation pay, commissions, bonuses, incentive compensation, and profit
sharing claims, claims of willful withholding of wages, claims of tortious interference with contract or expectancy, claims of
fraud or negligent misrepresentation, claims of breach of privacy, defamation claims, claims of intentional or negligent infliction
of emotional distress, claims of unfair labor practices, claims arising out of any claimed right to stock or stock options, claims
for attorneys’ fees or costs, and any other claims that are based on any legal obligations that arise out of or are related
to your employment relationship with us.

 

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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
you specifically waive any rights or claims that you may have under the Washington Law Against Discrimination (RCW 49.60),
the Washington Prohibited Employment Practices Law (RCW 49.44), the Washington Minimum Wage Act (RCW 49.46), the Washington
Industrial Welfare Act (RCW 49.12), the Washington Agricultural Labor Law (RCW 49.30), the Washington Hours of Labor Law (RCW 49.28),
Washington’s statutes related to wages (including RCW 49.48 and RCW 49.52), the Washington Veterans Employment and Reemployment
Act (RCW 73.16), the Washington Military Family Leave Act (RCW 49.77), the Washington Domestic Violence Leave Law (RCW 49.76),
the Washington Little Norris-LaGuardia Act (RCW 49.32), the Washington Fair Credit Reporting Act (RCW 19.182), the Washington Electronic
Privacy Act (RCW 9.73), the Washington Family Care Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1870 (42 U.S.C. § 1981), the Civil Rights
Act of 1871 (42 U.S.C. § 1983), the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (including Title VII of that
Act), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (ADA), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification
Act (WARN), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), and all similar
federal, state and local laws.

 

You agree not to seek any personal recovery
(of money damages, injunctive relief or otherwise) for the claims you are releasing in this Agreement, either through any complaint
to any governmental agency or otherwise. You agree never to start any lawsuit or arbitration asserting any of the claims you are
releasing in this Agreement. (The prior two sentences shall not apply to a charge of discrimination, lawsuit or arbitration to
the extent it is brought under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) and challenges the knowing and voluntary
nature of this Agreement under the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA), and nothing in this Agreement shall cause you
to be liable for damages, attorneys’ fees, costs or disbursements in connection with any such charge of discrimination, lawsuit
or arbitration to the extent it is so brought. However, if this Agreement is found to be knowing and voluntary under the OWBPA,
your release and waiver of claims under the ADEA, as provided in the prior and following paragraphs, shall be fully effective.)
You represent and warrant that you have not initiated any complaint, charge, lawsuit or arbitration involving any of the claims
you are releasing in this Agreement.

 

You represent and warrant that you have
all necessary authority to enter into this Agreement (including, if you are married, on behalf of your marital community) and that
you have not transferred any interest in any claims to your spouse or to any other third party.

 

The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement
does not waive your rights, if any, to receive ERISA-covered benefits (e.g., retirement or medical benefits) that are vested pursuant
to a formally-adopted and properly-authorized written benefit plan. This Agreement also does not waive unemployment compensation
benefits, workers’ compensation benefits or any other rights that may not lawfully be released by a private agreement.

 

You understand that you are releasing potentially
unknown claims, and that you have limited knowledge with respect to some of the claims being released. You acknowledge that there
is a risk that, after signing this Agreement, you may learn information that might have affected your decision to enter into this
Agreement. You acknowledge, for example, that you may learn that you have suffered injuries of which you are not presently aware.
You assume this risk and all other risks of any mistake in entering into this Agreement. You agree that this release is fairly
and knowingly made.

 

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7.           Rights Not Waived. Regardless
of any term stated in any other section of this agreement:

 

i.           This Agreement does not waive your
rights, if any, to receive ERISA-covered benefits (e.g., pension or medical benefits) that are vested pursuant to a formally-adopted
and properly-authorized written benefit plan.

 

ii.           This Agreement does not waive unemployment
compensation benefits, workers’ compensation benefits or any other rights that may not lawfully be released by a private
agreement.

 

iii.           Nothing in this Agreement prevents
you from filing a charge or complaint with, or from participating in an investigation or proceeding conducted by, the EEOC, NLRB,
DOL, SEC, or any other governmental agency; but as to all of the claims that you have released as provided in this Agreement, you
are waiving your right to receive any individual relief in any such investigation or proceeding.

 

iv.           Nothing in this Agreement prevents
you from (a) providing truthful testimony in any legal proceeding to which you are a party, (b) providing truthful testimony or
information if you are legally compelled or required to do so, (c) providing truthful information in any charge or complaint with
the EEOC, NLRB, DOL SEC, or other governmental agency, or (d) providing truthful information in the course of participating in
an investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC, NLRB, DOL, SEC, or any other governmental agency.

 

v.           Nothing in this Agreement prevents
you from taking any action to challenge the knowing and voluntary nature of this Agreement under the Older Workers Benefit Protection
Act (OWBPA). This includes, without limitation, that this Agreement does not prevent you from filing or pursuing a charge of discrimination,
lawsuit or arbitration to the extent it is brought under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) and challenges
the knowing and voluntary nature of this Agreement under the OWBPA. Further, nothing in this Agreement shall cause you to be liable
for damages, attorneys’ fees, costs or disbursements in connection with any such charge of discrimination, lawsuit or arbitration
to the extent it is so brought. However, if this Agreement is found to be knowing and voluntary under the OWBPA, your release and
waiver of claims under the ADEA, as provided in this Agreement, shall be fully effective.

 

8.           Workers Compensation Claims.
You acknowledge and agree that you have already filed workers’ compensation claim(s) for any and all on-the-job injuries
you suffered while employed by us, and that you have not suffered any on-the-job injuries for which you have not already filed
a workers’ compensation claim.

 

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9.           Company Materials. You represent
and warrant that you have returned all Company property including all keys, credit cards, cell phones, computer equipment, files,
documents, client information and other items that belong to us. You further represent and warrant that you have returned to us
or destroyed all information and documents that you obtained from the Company or from the Company’s employees or agents,
other than records of your compensation and benefits and information that is generally known to the public.

 

10.           Other Operative Agreements. You
acknowledge signing Development, Confidentiality, Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement, on or about your date of hire and
agree to abide by the terms of this agreement. In addition, and without limitation, except as provided in Paragraph 7, herein,
you hereby agree to keep confidential, and not use or disclose to any person, any information not generally known to the public
related to the Company or its business.

 

11.           No Disparagement; Reference Checks.
You will not make (or direct anyone to make) any negative or derogatory comment to any third party, including current employees,
consultants, customers and prospects of the Company and the press, regarding the Company, its business, products or related activities,
your relationship with the Company, or the termination of that relationship (except as provided in Paragraph 7). You will not encourage
any third parties to sue the Company.

 

12.           Cooperation Regarding Other Claims.
If any claim is asserted by or against the Company as to which you have relevant knowledge, you will reasonably cooperate with
the Company in the prosecution or defense of that claim, including by providing truthful information and testimony as reasonably
requested by the Company.

 

13.           No Interference. You will
not, apart from good faith competition, interfere with the Company’s relationships with its customers, employees, vendors,
bankers or others.

 

14.           Independent Legal Counsel. You
are advised and encouraged to consult with an attorney before signing this Agreement. You acknowledge that you have had an adequate
opportunity to do so.

 

15.           Consideration Period. You
have 21 calendar days from the date this Agreement is given to you to consider this Agreement before signing it. You may use as
much or as little of this 21-day period as you wish before signing as long as you wait to sign until the day after your Separation
Date. If you choose to sign this Agreement, return the document with original signature to the attention of Delly Behen, Sr. Director,
Human Resources, at 2300 Eastlake Ave. E., Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98102. If you do not sign, date and return this Agreement within
this 21-day period you will not be eligible to receive the benefits described in this Agreement. You agree that any changes the
Company may agree to make to this Agreement after first offering it to you for your consideration will not restart the running
of this 21-day period.

 

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16.           Revocation Period and Effective
Date. You have seven (7) days after the day you sign this Agreement to revoke it. To revoke this Agreement after signing it
you must provide a written notice of revocation to Delly Behen, Sr. Director, Human Resources, 2300 Eastlake Ave. E., Suite 200,
Seattle, WA 98102 before the seven-day period expires. This Agreement shall not become effective until the eighth (8th)
day after the day you sign it (the “Effective Date”). If you revoke this Agreement it will not become effective or
enforceable and you will not receive the benefits described in this Agreement.

 

17.           Additional Information. Attached
to this Agreement is a schedule listing the job titles and ages of the people whose employment we have terminated as part of this
reduction in force, and the job titles and ages of all people in the decisional unit whose employment we have not terminated as
part of this reduction in force.

 

18.           Confidentiality of Offers and
Settlement. Except as otherwise required by law, you will keep confidential the existence and terms of this Agreement, and
the existence and terms of all settlement offer(s) made between you and the Company, and will not disclose them to any third party.
The foregoing notwithstanding, you may disclose these terms to your spouse, legal counsel, accountants and tax advisors, but only
after you have obtained their agreement, for the benefit of the Company, to abide by this confidentiality agreement. If you breach
this paragraph, you will be liable to the Company in the amount of $2,500 as liquidated damages for each breach. If it becomes
necessary to admit any terms of this Agreement as evidence in a court proceeding, the parties shall take all steps available to
maintain the confidentiality of this Agreement to the fullest extent possible, such as by filing and referring to only limited
portions of this Agreement (in a redacted form), and/or obtaining leave of court to file this Agreement or its terms under seal.

 

19.           Severability. If any part
or aspect of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable, it shall not affect any other part or aspect. If any part or aspect of
this Agreement is held to be unenforceable as written, it shall be enforced to the maximum extent allowed by applicable law.

 

20.           Governing Law; Venue. This
Agreement is governed by the laws of the state of Washington that apply to contracts executed and to be performed entirely within
the state of Washington. Venue and jurisdiction of any lawsuit involving this Agreement shall exist exclusively in state and federal
courts in King County, Washington.

 

21.           Headings Not Controlling.
The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning of the terms as set out in the text.

 

22.           Attorneys’ Fees. In
any dispute involving this Agreement, the party who substantially prevails shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’
fees, costs and disbursements from the other party, except as set forth above.

 

23.           No Reliance. You acknowledge
that you have had the opportunity to conduct an investigation into the facts and evidence relevant to your decision to sign this
Agreement. You acknowledge that, in deciding to enter into this Agreement, you have not relied on any promise, representation,
or other information not contained in this Agreement. By entering into this Agreement, you are assuming all risks that you may
be mistaken as to the true facts, or may have been led to an incorrect understanding of the true facts. You will have no claim
to rescind this Agreement on the basis of any alleged mistake, misrepresentation, or failure to disclose any fact. None of the
foregoing, however, will affect your right to challenge the validity of this Agreement under the Older Workers Benefit Protection
Act.

 

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24.           Final and Complete Agreement.
This Agreement is the final and complete expression of all agreements between you and the Company on all subjects and supersedes
and replaces all prior discussions, representations, agreements, policies and practices, except that the agreements identified
in section 10 remains in effect. This Agreement may not be amended orally. It may be amended only by a writing that specifically
refers to this Agreement and is signed by all parties.

 

Agreed by Atossa Genetics, Inc.:

 

 

By: _____/s/ Kyle Guse________________________________

 

Its: Chief Financial Officer

 

Date: February 3, 2016

 

 

I, the undersigned, having been advised to consult with an attorney,
hereby agree to be bound by this Agreement and confirm that I have read and understood each part of it.

 

 

Agreed by: _________________________________

 

 

Date: _____________________________________

 

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