Registration No. 333-_____

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

ECOARK HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada   30-0680177

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
3333 S. Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Suite 220
Rogers, Arkansas
 

 

72758

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

   

ECOARK HOLDINGS, INC. 2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(Full title of the plan)

 

Jay Puchir

Chief Executive Officer

3333 S. Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Suite 220

Rogers, Arkansas 72758

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

(479) 259-2977

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

With a copy to:

 

Peter DiChiara, Esq.

Carmel, Milazzo & DiChiara LLP

261 Madison Avenue, 9 th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Telephone: (212) 658-0458

Facsimile: (646) 381-1314

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer  ☐ Accelerated filer   þ
   
Non-accelerated filer  ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company  ☐
   
  Emerging growth company  ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of securities to be registered   Amount to be registered (1)     Proposed maximum offering
price per share (2)
    Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (2)     Amount of registration fee  
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share     4,000,000 shares     $ 4.45     $ 17,800,000     $ 2,063.22  

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “ Securities Act ”), the number of shares of Common Stock registered hereunder includes such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock as may be offered or issued in the future to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

 

(2) Calculated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act, based upon the average of the high and low sales prices of the shares of the registrant’s Common Stock as reported on the OTCQX on June 9, 2017.

 

 

 

 

 

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

The document(s) containing the information required in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to employees participating in the Ecoark Holdings, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated under the Securities Act. In accordance with Rule 428 and the requirements of Part I of Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, taken together, constitute the prospectus as required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

 

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference .

 

The following documents previously filed by Ecoark Holdings, Inc. (the “ Company ”) with the Commission are incorporated by reference herein:

 

(a) The Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Commission on March 15, 2017 (including portions of the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders incorporated therein by reference);

 

(b) The Company’s transition report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017, filed with the Commission on May 10, 2017, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto filed with the Commission on June 2, 2017;

 

(c) The Company’s current reports on Form 8-K filed on January 13, 2017, January 20, 2017, March 6, 2017, March 10, 2017, March 14, 2017, April 3, 2017, April 14, 2017, April 28, 2017, May 23, 2017 and May 24, 2017; and

 

(d) The description of the Company’s Common Stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Commission on April 29, 2016 (amended on May 13, 2016, June 17, 2016, July 6, 2016 and July 27, 2016) (File No. 333-211045), as modified by the Company’s current reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 20, 2017, April 3, 2017, April 14, 2017, and April 28, 2017, and including any amendment or report filed with the Commission for the purpose of updating such description.

 

All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”) after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement will be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained in this Registration Statement or in any other later filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to be a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Not applicable.

 

  1  

 

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Section 78.138 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“ NRS ”) provides that a director or officer will not be individually liable to any corporation or its stockholders or creditors unless it is proven that (i) the director’s or officer’s act or failure to act constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties, and (ii) such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law.

 

Section 78.7502 of the NRS permits a corporation to indemnify its directors and officers against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding if the officer or director (i) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner the officer or director reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, if a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of the officer or director was unlawful.

 

Section 78.751 of the NRS permits a corporation to pay the expenses of its officers and directors incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding as such expenses are incurred and in advance of final disposition thereof, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the officer or director to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such officer or director is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. Section 78.751 of NRS further permits the company to grant its directors and officers additional rights of indemnification under its articles of incorporation or bylaws or otherwise.

 

Section 78.752 of the NRS provides that a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for any liability asserted against him and liability and expenses incurred by him in his capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation has the authority to indemnify him against such liability and expenses.

 

Our Articles of Incorporation provide that no director or officer of the Company will be personally liable to the Company or any of its stockholders for damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer; provided, however, that the foregoing provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer (i) for acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or knowing violation of law, or (ii) the unlawful payment of dividends. In addition, our bylaws provide for the indemnification of directors and officers to the full extent permitted by Section 78.7502 of the NRS and for the advancement of reasonable expenses incurred by any indemnitee in connection with any suit, action or proceeding.

 

We maintain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of the Company arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

See attached Exhibit Index following the signature page, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

  2  

 

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Rogers, State of Arkansas, on June 14, 2017.

 

  Ecoark Holdings, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Jay Puchir
  Name: Jay Puchir
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Jay Puchir and Jay Oliphant, and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated below.

 

SIGNATURES

  TITLE   DATE
         
/s/ Randy May   Chairman of the Board    
Randy May  

  June 14, 2017
         
/s/ Jay Puchir   Chief Executive Officer    
Jay Puchir   (principal executive officer)   
      June 14, 2017
         
/s/ Jay Oliphant   Principal Financial Officer and    

Jay Oliphant

  Principal Accounting Officer  
    (principal financial and accounting officer)   June 14, 2017
         
/s/ Charles Rateliff   Director and Chief Financial Officer    
Charles Rateliff     June 14, 2017
         

/s/ John P. Cahill

  Director    
John P. Cahill     June 14, 2017
         

/s/ M. Susan Chambers

  Director    
M. Susan Chambers     June 14, 2017

 

       

/s/ Terrence D. Matthews

  Director    
Terrence D. Matthews     June 14, 2017
         

/s/ Peter Mehring

  Director    
Peter Mehring     June 14, 2017
         

/s/ Gary Metzger

  Director    

Gary Metzger

 

    June 14, 2017

/s/ Steven K. Nelson

Director

Steven K. Nelson

    June 14, 2017

 

  4  

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Number   Description
     
4.1   Articles of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on June 13, 2008 (File No. 333-151633).
     
4.2   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of Magnolia Solar Corporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC as of March 24, 2016 (File No. 000-53361).
     
4.3   Amended and Restated Bylaws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC as of April 28, 2017 (File No. 000-53361).
     
5.1   Opinion of Carmel, Milazzo & DiChiara LLP.
     
23.1   Consent of Carmel, Milazzo & DiChiara LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).
     
23.2   Consent of KBL, LLP.
     
24.1   Power of Attorney (included on signature page of the Registration Statement).
     
99.1   Ecoark Holdings, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

 

 

5

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

 

June 14 , 2017

 

Ecoark Holdings , Inc. 

3333 S Pinnacle Hills Parkway Suite 220

Rogers, Arkansas 72758

 

Re        Registration Statement on Form S-8

 

Gentlemen and Ladies :

 

We have acted as counsel to Ecoark Holdings , Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “ Registration Statement ”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on June 13 , 2017, pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”). The Registration Statement relates to the registration of 4,000 ,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Shares ”), related to Ecoark Holdings, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “ 201 7 Plan ”).

 

In rendering the opinion hereinafter expressed, we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies identified to our satisfaction as being true reproductions of originals, of all such documents, agreements and other records, including the Registration Statement, the 201 7 Plan , the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, the Bylaws of the Company, and the corporate minutes of the Company, as we have deemed necessary and appropriate for the purpose of this opinion.

 

Based upon the foregoing, and having regard to legal considerations and other information that we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when and to the extent the Shares are issued and paid for in accordance with the 2017 Plan , such Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The opinions expressed in this opinion letter are limited to the applicable statutory provisions of Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes and the reported judicial decisions interpreting such laws. We are not opining on, and we assume no responsibility for, the applicability or effect on any of the matters covered herein of: (a) any other laws or (b) the laws of any other jurisdiction . The opinions set forth below are rendered as of the date of this opinion letter. We assume no obligation to update or supplement such opinions to reflect any change of law or fact that may occur.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

  

  Very truly yours,
   
/s/ Carmel, Milazzo & DiChiara LLP
  Carmel, Milazzo & DiChiara LLP

 

Exhibit 23.2

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

  

We hereby consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Ecoark Holdings, Inc. of (i) our report dated March 15, 2017 in Ecoark Holdings, Inc.’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, related to the consolidated financial statements of Ecoark Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and for the year then ended, and (ii) our report dated May 9, 2017, except for Note 17 which is dated June 2, 2017, in Ecoark Holdings, Inc.’s transition report on Form 10-QT/A for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 related to the consolidated financial statements of Ecoark Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2017 and for the transition period January 1, 2017 through March 31, 2017.

  

/s/ KBL, LLP

New York, NY

June 14, 2017

Exhibit 99.1

 

ECOARK HOLDINGS, INC.

 

2 01 7 O MNIB U S INCE N TIVE PLAN

 

ART I CLE 1

 

ESTABLISHMENT, O B J ECTIVES, AND DURATION

 

1 . 1 Est ab lis h me n t o f t h e Plan . Ecoark Holdings, I n c . , he r eby establis h es an incentive co m p ensation plan t o be k nown as the “Ecoark Holdings, I n c. 20 1 7 O m ni b u s Inc e ntive Plan” (herein a fter referred to as the “ Pla n ”). T h e Plan p er m its t h e gra n ting o f N o nq u alified Stock O p tio n s , Inc e nti v e Sto c k Opti o n s , S t o ck A pp reciation Ri g h ts, Res t ri cted Sto c k, Restricted S t ock Units, Performance Sh a res, Per fo r m ance U n its a n d Oth e r Aw a r d s.

 

T h e Plan will bec o m e effective June 13, 2017 (the Effective Dat e ”) if it is ap proved by t h e C o m p a ny ’s sto ck ho l ders at t h e C o m p an y ’s 2 017 a n n u al s t o ckh o l d ers m e eti ng . T h e Plan s h all re m ain in effect as pro v i d ed in Section 1 . 3 her e o f .

 

1 . 2 Objectives of the P l a n . T h e o bj ectives o f t h e Plan are t o op t i m ize t h e p r o f i ta b ility a n d g r owth of the Co m p any t h rough i n cent i ves t h at are co n siste n t with the C o m p a n y’s g o als a n d t h at li n k t h e p e rso n al i n terests o f Partici p a n ts to t ho se of t h e Co m p a n y’s st o c k ho l d ers.

 

T h e Plan is f u rt h er i n ten d ed to p r o v i d e fle x i b ility to t h e Co m p a n y in its abili t y to m o ti v a t e, attract and retain t h e ser v i ces of Participa n ts w h o m ake o r are e x pect e d to m ake sign i ficant c on t ri b u tions to t h e C o m p an y ’s success and t o allow P a rticip a n ts to sh a re i n t h e s u ccess of t h e C o m p any.

 

1 . 3 D u r a tion o f the Plan . No Award m ay be gr a n ted und e r t h e Plan a fter the day immediately prec e di n g t h e t enth an niv e rsa r y of t h e E ffect i v e Date, or such earlier date as t h e B o ard s h all d eter m i n e. T h e Plan will re m ain in effect with res p ect to o u tst a n d ing Awar d s u n til n o Awar d s re m ain ou tsta nd i n g .

 

ART I CLE 2

 

DEFI N ITI ON S

 

T h e f o llowing ter m s, w h en ca p italize d , s h all h a v e t h e m ea n i ng s set forth b e l o w:

 

2 . 1 “ Aw ar d m ea n s, in d i v i du ally o r c o llecti v ely, N o nq u alified St o ck O p tio n s, I n ce n ti v e St o c k Opti o n s , S t ock A p p reciati o n Rights, Res t ricted Sto c k, R e stricted S t ock Units, P e rfo r m ance Sh a res, Perfor m ance Units, a n d Ot h er Aw a rds g r a n ted u nd e r t h e Plan.

 

2 . 2 “ Aw ar d Ag re em en t m eans a n a g ree m ent entered i n to by the C o m p a n y and a Partici p a n t setti n g f o rth t h e ter m s and pr ovisi o ns a pp lica b le to an Award.

 

2 . 3 “ Beneficial Own e r s hip ” s h a l l h a v e t h e m ea n ing ascri b ed t o s u ch term in R u le 13 d -3 o f t h e Ge n e ral

R u les and Reg u lati on s un d er t h e E x c h an g e Act.

 

2 . 4 “ Boar d m eans the B o ard of Directors of the Co m p any.

 

2.5 “ Cause ” means the engaging by a Participant in illegal conduct that, in the sole discretion of the Committee, is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company, unless otherwise defined in an agreement between the Participant and the Company.

 

 

 

 

2 . 6 “ Change i n Contro l m eans t h at t h e co ndit i ons set f o rth i n any one o f t h e f o ll o w i ng s ub sections s h all h a v e b een satisfie d :

 

(a) an ac qu isition i mme d iate l y after w h ich a n y Per s on p o ssesses d irect or in d irect Be n eficial O w ne r sh i p of 2 5 % or m o re o f eit h er t h e t h e n outst a nd i ng s h ares o f C o m p any co m m on s t ock ( t he Outs t and i ng C o m p any C o m m on Stock ”) or t h e c o m b i n ed v o ti n g power o f t h e t h en o u t sta nd i n g v o ting sec u rities o f t h e C o m p a n y e n titled to v o te g e n erally in t h e electi o n o f d i rect o r s ( t h e “ O u tstan d ing Co m p a n y V o ting Securitie s ”); pr ov i ded t h at t h e f o llowing ac qu isitio n s s h all b e e x c l u d e d : (i) a n y acq u isiti o n d irectly from t h e C o m p any, o t h e r t h an an ac qu isition b y v irt u e of t h e exercise of a con v ers i o n pri v ile g e un less t h e sec u rity b e i n g so c o n v erted was itself ac qu i red d irectly fr o m t h e Co m p a n y, (ii) a n y acq u isiti o n b y t h e C o m p a n y, (iii) a n y acq u isiti o n b y a n y e m p l o y ee b e n e fit p l an (or related tr u st) s p o n s o red or mai n tai n ed b y t h e C o m p a n y or a Su b si d iary, o r (iv) a n y acq u isiti o n p u rs u a n t t o a t r a n saction t h at c o m p lies with p ara g rap h s ( i ), (ii) and (iii) o f s u bsecti o n (c) o f t h is Section 2 . 6 ; or

 

( b ) d u ri n g a n y per i od o f t wo c o n s ecuti v e y ea r s, t h e i n div i d u als w h o, as of t h e beg i nn i ng o f s u ch per i o d , c onsti t ute t h e B o a r d ( su c h B o ar d s h a ll be h e rei n a ft e r r e fe r r e d to as t h e “ I n c u m bent B o a rd ”) cea s e for a n y reason t o c o nstit u te at least a ma jo rity of t h e B o a r d ; p r o v ided t h at f o r p u r po s es o f t h is Secti o n 2 . 6 , a n y indiv i dual w h o be c o m es a m e m b er of t h e B o a r d s u bs eq uent t o t h e be g inni n g o f s u ch per i od a n d wh ose electi o n, o r n o m ination f o r electi o n by t h e C o m p an y ’s sh a re h old e rs, was ap p r ov e d by a vote o f at least two- t h i rd s o f t h ose i n di v iduals w h o are m e m b ers of the Bo a rd and who were al s o m e m b ers of t h e In c u m b ent B o a r d ( o r de em ed to be s u c h p u r s u a nt to t h is p r o v i s o) s h all be co nsi d e red as t ho u g h s u ch i n divi d u al were a m e m b er of t h e In c u m b ent B o a r d; p r ov i de d , furt h e r, t h at any s u ch in d i v i d u al wh o se i n itial ass u m p ti o n o f office o cc u rs as a res u lt of e it h er an act u al or threate n ed election c onte s t or o t her ac t u a l or t h reat e n e d solicitation o f p ro x ies o r co n s ents by o r on b ehalf of a P e r s on o t her than t h e B o ard shall not be s o c o n s i d er e d a s a m e m b er of t h e Incu m b ent Board; or

(c) co n su m m ation of a r eo rg a niz a tion, m erge r , s h are ex c h a ng e , c o n s oli d ati o n or sale o r oth e r d isp o siti o n of all o r su b sta n t i ally all o f t h e assets of t h e Co m p a n y (“ C o rp o rate Tra n sacti on ); e x cl u d in g , h o w e v e r, su c h a C o rp or a te Tra n sacti o n p u r s uant t o w h ich:

 

(i) all o r su b sta n t i ally all o f t h e i nd i v id u als a n d e n tities who h a v e Be n eficial Ow n ers h i p , res p ecti v ely, of t h e O u tstan d i n g C o m p a n y C o m m o n St o ck a n d O u tstan d ing C o m p a n y Voti n g Securities i mme d i ately p ri o r t o s u ch Cor p orate Tra n sacti o n will h a v e B e n eficial Ow n ers h ip, d irectly o r in d irectly, of m o re t h an 5 0 % of, re s p e c ti v el y , t h e out s tandi n g sh a res of co m m on st o ck a n d t h e c o m b i n e d voti n g p o w e r of t h e t h e n ou tsta nd i n g voti n g sec u rities e n titled to v o te g e n erally in t h e electi o n o f d i rect o r s, as t h e case m ay b e, of t h e co rp orati o n re s u lting f r om su c h C o r p o rate Tr ansacti o n ( i nc l ud i n g , wit h o u t l i m itation, t h e C o m p any or a co rp orati o n that as a re s u lt of su c h t ransa c tion owns the Co m p any or all o r su b sta n tially all o f t h e Co m p a n y’s assets eit h er d irectly o r thro u g h o n e o r m o re su b s i d iaries) (t h e “ Res u lti n g C o rp o ratio n ”) in s ub sta n tially t h e sa m e p r o p o rtio n s as t h eir o w ne r sh i p, i m m ediately p ri o r to su c h C o r p o rate T ra n saction, o f t h e Outst a nd i ng C o m p any C o m m on Stock a n d O u tsta nd i n g C o m p a n y V o ting Securities, as t h e case m ay b e;

 

(ii) no P e rs o n ( o t h er th a n ( 1 ) t h e Co m p an y , ( 2 ) an e m plo y ee b enefit plan ( o r related t r ust) s p o n s o red or mai n tai n ed b y t h e C o m p a n y or Res u lti n g C o rp o ratio n , or (3) a n y e n tity co n tr o lled b y t h e C o m p a n y o r Res u lti n g C o rp o ratio n ) will ha v e Be n eficial Ow n ers h i p , d ire c tly o r in d irectly, o f 2 5 % o r m o re o f, res p ecti v ely, t h e outst a nd i ng s h ares of co m m on s t ock o f t h e Resulting C o rp orati o n or t h e c o m b i n ed vot i n g p o w e r of t h e outst a nd i ng vo ting securities of t h e Res u l ti n g C o r p oration e n titled to vote g e n e rally in t h e electi o n of d irectors, e x ce p t to t h e e x te n t that s u ch o w n e rs h i p existed prior to the C o rp o rate Tra n sactio n ; and

 

(iii) i nd i v i du als who were m e m be rs o f t h e I n c u m b e n t B o ard will c on tin u e t o c on stit u te at least a m a jo rity o f t h e m e m b ers o f t h e b o ard o f d irec t o rs of t h e Res u lting C o r p oratio n ; or

 

( d ) t h e a pp r o v al b y t h e sto ck ho l d ers of t h e C o m p any o f a c o m p lete liqu i dati o n or dis s oluti o n of t h e C o m p a n y.

 

2 . 7   “ Code m eans the Internal R e venue C o de of 1986, a s a m ended f rom ti m e to ti m e.

 

2 . 8   “ Committe e ” mea n s t h e e n tity, as s p ecified in Section 3 . 1 , a u th o rized to a d m i n ister t h e Pla n .

 

2 . 9   “ Co m pan y m eans Ecoark Holdings, Inc., a n d any su c cessor th e reto.

 

2 . 10 “ Con s ultant ” means any natural person that is a c onsultant or ad vi s o r to t h e Co m p any or a Subs i d iary.

 

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2 . 1 1 “ Directo r m eans a n y indiv i dual who is a m e m b er of t h e B o ard of D i rectors of t h e C o m p any or a Su b si d iary.

 

2.12 “ Disability ” means an individual: (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months; or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees or directors of the Company. Medical determination of Disability may be made by either the Social Security Administration or by the provider of an accident or health plan covering Employees or Directors of the Company provided that the definition of “disability” applied under such disability insurance program complies with the requirements of the preceding sentence. Upon the request of the plan administrator, the Participant must submit proof to the plan administrator of the Social Security Administration’s or the provider’s determination.

 

2 . 1 3 Di v i d end Equi v a le n t m eans, with re s p ect t o Sh a res su bj e ct to an Award, a rig h t to b e paid an a m ount eq ual t o t h e d i vid en d s declar e d an d p aid o n a n eq ual n u m b er o f ou t stand i ng S h ar e s.

 

2 . 1 4 “ Effective Da t e ” shall have the m eaning a s crib e d to su c h t erm in Section 1.1 her e o f .

 

2 . 1 5 “ E m p loyee ” means a n y e m ployee of t h e Co m p any or a Subsidiary.

 

2 . 1 6 “ Ex c ha n g e Ac t m ea n s t h e Sec u rities E x c h a ng e Act of 1 93 4 , as a m e nd ed fr o m t i me to time.

 

2 . 1 7 “ E x ercise Pric e m eans the price at which a Sh a re m ay be p u rc h ased b y a Partici p a n t purs u a n t to an O p tio n .

 

2 . 1 8 “ Fair Market Value m eans the fair m arket value of a Sh ar e as d eter m i n ed in go o d faith b y t h e C o mm ittee or p u r s uant t o a p roc ed ure speci f ied in g o o d faith b y t h e C o mmi t tee; p ro v i d e d , h o we v e r, t h at if t h e Committee has not s p ecified otherwise, Fa i r Market Value shall m ean (a), if the Company’s shares are listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, the closing price of a Share as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market or (b) if the Company’s shares are not listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, but are listed on a different national securities exchange or are quoted on the OTC Markets, the closing price of a Share as reported on such other national securities exchange or the OTC Markets, as applicable.

 

2 . 1 9 “ Freestanding SA R m eans a n S AR t h at is g rant e d i n d e pe n d ently o f a n y Opti o n s , as de s crib e d in

Article 7 h e re i n .

 

2 . 20 I n ce n ti v e Stock O p tio n ” or “ ISO m eans an Option t h at i s intend e d to meet t h e req u ireme n ts o f

Code Secti o n 4 2 2 .

 

2 . 21 Non qu alified St o ck O p tio n ” or “ NQSO m eans a n Option that is not i n tend e d t o m eet the req u ire m e n ts of Co d e Secti o n 4 2 2.

 

2 . 2 2 “ O p tio n m eans an Incentive Stock Opti o n or a N o nq u alified S t o ck O p tion gra n ted u n d er t h e Plan, as des c rib e d i n Article 6 here i n .

 

2 . 2 3 “ Oth e r Aw a rd m eans a cash, Sh a re-bas e d or Sh a re-relat e d Aw a rd ( o t h e r t h an an A w a rd descr i bed in A rticle 6, 7 , 8, 9 o r 1 0 of the Plan) t h at is g ra n ted p u rs u a n t to Article 1 1 h e rein.

 

2 . 2 4 “ Participan t m eans a c u r re n t or f o r m er E m plo y ee, Direc t or o r C on s ultant wh o has ri g h ts relati n g to an o u tstan d i n g Awar d .

 

2 . 2 5 “ Perfor m ance-Based E x c e ptio n m eans the perfor m ance-based e x ce p ti o n fr o m t h e tax d ed u cti b ility l i mit a ti on s o f C od e Section 1 6 2 ( m ).

 

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2 . 2 6 “ Perfor m ance Period m eans the p e riod dur i ng which a pe r f o r m ance m easure m u st be m e t.

 

2 . 2 7 “ Perfor m ance Sh a re m ea n s an Award g ranted to a Partici p a n t, as d escri b ed in Article 9 here i n .

 

2 . 2 8 “ Perfor m ance Unit m eans a n Aw a rd gr a n ted to a P a rti c ipa n t, as d escri b e d in Article 10 here i n .

 

2 . 2 9 “ Period of Re s trictio n m eans the per i od Re s tricted Sto c k or Restricted S t ock Units are s u bject to a su b sta n tial r i sk o f f o rfeit u re and are no t tra n sfera b le, as pr ov i d ed in Articles 8 an d 9 he r ei n .

 

2 . 30 Per s on ” s h all h a v e t h e m ea n i n g ascr i b ed to s u ch term in Secti o n 3 (a)( 9 ) o f t h e E x c h ange Act a n d u s e d i n Section s 1 3 ( d ) a n d 1 4 ( d ) t h e r eo f.

 

2 . 31 Replace m ent Aw a rds m ea n s Awar d s iss u ed in s ub stit u tion o f awards g r a n ted u nd e r e qu ity- b ased ince n ti v e p la n s s p o n s o red or mai n tai n ed b y an e n tity with which t h e C o m p a n y en g a g es i n a m er g er, ac qu isition o r o t h e r bu s i n ess tra n sactio n , purs u a n t to w h ich awar d s relati n g to i n terests i n s u ch e n tity ( o r a related e n tity) are o u tsta nd ing im m e d iately p ri o r to s u ch m er g er, a c qu isition o r o ther bu s i n ess t ra n sactio n . For all p u rp o ses her eu nd e r, R ep lace m ent Aw ar d s s h all be de em ed A wa r ds.

 

2 . 3 2 Restricted Stoc k m ea n s an Award gra n ted to a Partici p ant, as d escr i b ed in Article 8 h er ei n .

 

2 . 3 3 “ Restricted Stock U n i t m eans an Award gr a n ted t o a Parti c i p a n t, as d escr i b ed in Article 9 here i n .

 

2 . 3 4 “ Sh a r e m eans a s h are c o mmon sto c k of the Co m p any, par val u e $ 0 .00 1 p e r s h ar e , s u b j ect to adj u st m ent p ur su a nt to Secti o n 4 . 3 her e o f .

 

2 . 3 5 “ Stock Appre c iation Righ t ” or SAR m eans an Award gr a n ted t o a Parti c ipant, ei t h er a l one or i n c o n n ection with a related O p ti on , as d escribed in Article 7 here i n .

 

2 . 3 6 “ Subsidiar y ” means any c o rporation in wh i ch t h e C o m p any o w n s, d i rectly o r in d irectly, at least fifty p e rce n t (5 0 %) of t h e t o tal c o m b i n ed v o ti n g p o wer o f all classes of s t oc k , or a n y o t h e r e n tity (i n cludi ng , b u t no t l i mited t o , p ar t n ers h ips a n d joi n t v e n tures) in w h ich t h e C o m p a n y o w n s, directly o r i nd irectly, at least fifty p erce n t ( 5 0 % ) of t h e c o m b i n ed e qui t y t h er e o f. N o t wit h sta n di n g t h e f o re g o i n g, f o r p u rp oses o f deter m i n ing w h eth e r a n y i nd i v i du al m ay b e a Pa r tici p a n t f o r pu r p o se s o f a n y g r a n t o f I n c e nti v e S t o ck Opti o n s , “ S ubs i d iar y s h a l l have t h e meaning a scr i b ed to s u ch t e rm in C ode Secti o n 4 24 ( f ).

 

2 . 3 7 “ Tandem SA R m ea n s an SAR t h at is gra n ted in con n ection with a related O p tio n , as d e scri b e d in Article 7 h e re i n .

 

ART I CLE 3

 

A D M I NIS T R ATI O N

 

3 . 1 T h e C o mmitte e . T h e Pl a n s h all be a d m inistered by t h e C o mpensation Committee of t h e B o ard or s u ch o t h er c o m m i t tee as t h e B o ard s h all select (t h e “ C o mmitte e ”).

 

3 . 2 A u th o rity o f the Committe e . E x ce p t as limit e d b y law or b y t h e Certificate o f I n cor p oration o r Bylaws of t h e C o m p a n y, and s u b j ect t o t h e pro v isio n s h ere i n , t h e C o mmi tt ee s h all h a v e f u ll p o wer t o select t h e E m plo y ees, Directo r s a n d C o nsult a nts wh o shall p a rtici p ate in t h e Pla n ; determi n e t h e s i zes and ty p es of Awar d s; deter m i n e t h e ter m s and c o n d i tions of A w a r d s in a m anner c on siste n t with t h e Pla n ; co n str u e a n d i n ter p ret t h e Plan and any Award Agree m e n t o r o t h e r a g ree m e n t or i n str u m e n t e n tered i n t o i n c o n n ection with t h e Pla n ; esta b lis h , a m end, o r wai v e rules an d r e gulati o ns f o r t h e Pla n ’s a d m i n istration; a n d , s u b j ect to t h e pr ovis i ons o f Se c tion 1 9 .3 h ere i n , a m e n d t h e ter m s a n d c o n d iti o ns o f any ou tsta nd i n g Award a n d Award A g ree m e n t. F u r t h er, t h e C o mmi t tee shall m ake all oth e r deter m i n ations t h at m ay be necess a ry o r a dvis a ble f o r t h e ad m inistration o f t h e Pla n . As p er m itted b y law, t h e C o mmi t tee m ay d ele g a te its a u th o rity as i d e n tified h e rei n .

 

3 . 3 Decisions B i nding . All deter m i n ations a n d d e cisions m ade b y t h e C o m m ittee p u r s u a nt to t h e p r o v isi o ns o f t h e Plan a n d all related o r d e rs a n d res o l u tio n s o f t h e B o a rd s h all be final, c onc l u sive a n d bi n d i n g on all Per s on s , i n cl ud ing t h e C o m p an y , its Su bsi d i a ries, its sto ckh o l d e rs, Direc t o rs, E m plo y ees, C o nsultants a n d t h eir estates and b e neficiaries and a n y tr a n sf e ree of a n Aw a rd.

 

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ART I CLE 4

 

SHARES SUB J ECT TO T HE PLA N; IN DI VIDU AL LI MI TS; A N D A NTI -D ILUTI O N A D J U STM E NTS

 

4 . 1 N u m b er of S ha res A v ailable f o r G r ants .

 

(a)    Subject t o ad just m ent as pro v i d ed in Section 4 . 3 here i n , t h e m axi m u m nu m ber o f S h a res t h at m ay be deli v er e d p u r s u a nt to A w a rds un d er t h e Pla n s h al l b e four million (4,000,000) S h a r es ; p r o v i d e d t h at:

 

(i)       S h ares t h at are po te n tially d eli v era b le u n d er an Aw ar d gr an ted un d er the Plan that is ca n celed, forfeite d , settled in cas h , ex p ires or is o t h e rwise t er m i n ated with ou t d eli v ery of s u c h S h are s shal l no t b e counted as h a ving be e n deliv e red under t h e Plan.

 

(ii)       S h ares t h at h a ve b een iss u ed in c o n n ection with an Award of Res t ricted S t ock that is ca n celed or forfeited p rior t o v esting o r settled in cas h , cau s i n g t h e S h ares to b e ret u r n ed to t h e C o m p any, s h all no t be c o u n ted as hav i ng be e n d e li v ered un d er t h e Pl a n .

 

If S h ares are ret u r n ed to t h e C o m p a n y in sat i sfacti o n of taxes relati n g to Restricted S t o ck, in co n n ecti o n with a c a sh o u t of Restricted Sto c k ( b ut e x cl u d i n g u po n f o rfeit u re of Res t ricted S t oc k ) or in c o n n ection with t h e ten d er i n g of S h a r es b y a Partici p a n t in satisfact i on of the E x ercise Price or taxes re l a ti n g t o a n Aw a r d , s u c h is s u e d S h ar e s sh a l l no t b e c o m e a v a il a b le a g ain u nd e r t h e Pl an . Ea c h S AR i s s u ed u n d e r t h e Plan will b e c o u n ted as o n e s h are iss u ed un d er the Plan with ou t re g a rd to t h e n u m b er of S h ares iss u ed to t h e Partici p a n t u pon e x ercise of such SAR.

 

Sh a res deli v er e d p u r s uant t o t h e Pl a n m ay be authorized b u t u n iss u ed S h ar es, trea s ury Shares or Sh a res p u r c ha s ed on t h e o p en m arket.

 

( b )    Subject t o ad just m ent as pro v i d ed in Section 4 . 3 h ere i n , four million (4,000,000) S h a r e s m a y b e d e li v e r e d in c o n n ection with “f u ll v al u e Awar d s,” m eaning A wa r ds o t h er t h a n O p ti o n s, S ARs, o r Other A wa r ds f o r w h ich t h e Partici p a n t p a y s t h e g ra n t d ate i n tri n sic v a l u e.

 

(c)     No t wit h sta n d i ng t h e f o r e go i n g , f o r p u rp oses o f deter m i n ing t h e n u m b er o f S h ar e s a v ailable f o r gr a n t as I n cen t ive Sto c k O p tion s , only Sh ar es t h at are s u b ject to an A w ar d t h at ex pires o r is c a ncelled, f o r feited or settled in cash s h all b e treated as no t h a v ing b een iss u ed un d er t h e Pla n .

 

4 . 2 I n divi d ual Li m its . Sub j ect to a d j u st m e n t as p r o v i d ed in Secti o n 4 . 3 here i n , t h e foll o wi n g rules shall a p ply wi t h respect t o A wa r ds an d a n y related divid en d s or D i vid e nd E q uival e nts i n tend e d to q u al i fy f o r t h e Perfor m ance-Based E x c e ption:

 

(a)     O p tio n s : The maxi m u m aggregate nu m b er of Shares with res p ect t o w h ich O p tio n s m ay b e g ra n ted in a n y on e fiscal year to a n y o n e Par t ici p a n t s h all b e four hundred thousand (400,000) S h ares.

 

( b )     SARs : The m a xi m u m aggr eg ate nu m ber of Sh a res with re s p ect to w h ich Stock Ap prec i ation Ri gh ts m ay b e g ra n ted in a n y on e fiscal year to a n y o n e Par t ici p a n t s h all b e four hundred thousand (400,000) S h a r e s.

 

(c)     Restricted S t o c k : The m axi m u m aggr e g ate nu m ber of S h a res of Restricted S t ock t h at m ay be g ra n ted in a n y on e fiscal year to a n y o n e Par t ici p a n t s h all b e four hundred thousand (400,000) S h ares.

 

( d )     Restricted S t o c k Unit s : The maxi m u m aggregate nu m b er of Shares with respect t o whi c h Restricted Sto c k Units m ay be grant e d in any one fiscal year to a n y o n e Partici p a n t s h all be four hundred thousand (400,000) S h ares.

 

(e)     Perfo r m a nce S ha r es : T h e m axi m u m aggr eg ate nu m ber of Sh a res with re s p ect to w h ich Perfor m ance Shares m ay be grant e d in any one fiscal year t o a n y one P a rt i ci p a n t s h all b e four hundred thousand (400,000) S h ares.

 

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( f )      Perfo r m a nce Units : T h e m axi m u m aggr eg ate co m p ensati o n t h at c a n be paid p u r s u a nt to Perfor m ance Units aw a rd e d i n any one fiscal year to a n y one Partici p a n t shall b e $ 1 ,0 0 0 , 0 0 0 or a n u m b er of S h ares hav i ng an a ggr egate Fair M a r k et Va l u e not in e x cess o f s u c h a m ount.

 

( g )     Other Awa r ds : T h e m axi m u m aggregate co m p ensation t h a t can be paid p u r s u a nt to Ot h er Aw a rds award e d in any one fiscal year to a n y o n e Partici p a n t s h all be $ 1 , 0 0 0 ,0 0 0 or a nu m b er of Sh a res hav i ng an a g gr e g ate Fair Mar k et Val u e n o t in e x cess of s u ch am o u n t.

 

( h )     Divide n d s an d Divide n d E q u i valents : T h e m axi m u m divide n d o r Divid e nd E qu i valent t h at m ay be paid i n a n y one fiscal year to any o n e Par t ici p a n t s h all b e $ 1 , 0 0 0 ,0 0 0 .

 

4 . 3 A d j u s t me n ts in A u t ho rized Sh a res a n d Awar d s . In t h e e v e n t of a n y eq u ity restr u cturing (wit h in t h e mea n i n g of F i na n cial Acco un t i n g Stan d ar d s No. 1 2 3 R), s u ch as a st o c k d i v i d e n d , s t o ck s p lit, s p i n - o ff, r i gh ts offering or rec a pitalization t h ro u g h a larg e , n o nre cu r r ing c a sh d i vid e n d , t h e C o m m ittee shall cause an eq uitable a d j u st m ent to be m ade (i) i n t h e nu m ber an d ki n d o f S h ar e s t h at m ay be d e li v ered un d er t h e Pl a n u n d e r Section 4 . 1 h e re o f , (ii) in t h e in d i v id u al l i m i tati on s set f o r t h in Section 4 . 2 h ere o f and (iii) with res p ect to o u tstan d i n g Awar d s , in t h e n u m b er and k i nd o f S h ares su bject t o outst a nd i ng A wa r ds, t h e Ex e rc i se P rice, gr a n t p rice or o t h e r price of Shares subject to outst a nd i ng A wa r ds, any p er f o r m ance co nd itions relati n g t o S h a res, t h e m arket p rice of Sh a res, o r pe r- Sh a re r e sults, a n d o t h er terms and co nd itions of ou tsta nd i ng Awards, i n t h e case of (i), (ii) and ( iii) t o pre v e n t d il u ti o n o r e n lar g e m e n t o f rig h ts. In t h e e v e n t of a n y o t her c h an g e i n co rporate c a pitalization, su c h as a m erger, c o n s olidation or li qu i d atio n , t h e C o mmittee may, in its s o le discreti on , ca u s e an eq uitable adj u st m ent as descr i bed in t h e f o r e go i ng se n te n ce to b e ma d e, to pre v e n t d il u tion or e n lar g e m e n t o f rig h ts. T h e nu m b er o f S h ares sub j ect to a n y Aw a rd s h all alwa y s be r o un d ed do wn to a w h ole nu m ber wh e n ad j u st m e nts are m ade p u r s u a nt to t h is Section 4 .3 . Adjust m ents m ade by t h e C o mm ittee p u r s uant t o t h is Se c tion 4 . 3 s h all b e final, b i nd i ng a n d c onc l u si v e.

 

ART I CLE 5

 

ELIGIBILITY AND PAR T ICIPATION

 

5 . 1 Eli g i b ility . Pers o n s eli g i b le t o p a rtici p ate in t h e Plan i n c l ude all E m p l o y e e s, D i rectors and C on s u lta n t s.

 

5 . 2 Act ua l P a rticip a ti o n . Su bj ect to t h e pr ov isions of t h e Plan, t h e C o mmi t tee may, fr o m t i me to ti m e, select fr o m all eli g i b le E m p l o y ees, Direc t o rs and C on s u ltants, th o se to wh o m Awar d s shall b e gra n ted a n d shall deter m ine the nature a n d amount of each Award.

 

ART I CLE 6

 

OPTI O NS

 

6 . 1 Gra n t o f O p tio n s . Sub j ect to t h e ter m s a n d pro v isio n s o f the Pla n , O p tio n s m a y b e gra n ted to Partici p ants in su c h a m ounts, u po n s u c h te r m s, and at s u c h ti m es as t h e C o mm ittee sh a ll deter m i n e.

 

6 . 2 Awa r d A g re em en t . Each O p ti o n gra n t s h all b e e v i d e n ced by an Award Agree m e n t t h at shall s p ecify t h e Exercise Price, the d u ration o f the O p ti o n, t h e n u m b e r o f S h are s t o w h ic h t h e O p ti o n p e rt ains , a n d s u ch oth e r p r ovis i o n s as t h e C o mm ittee shall dete rm i n e. The Aw a rd A g ree m e n t also s h all s p ecify w h et h er t h e O p ti o n is i n tend e d t o be an ISO o r a n N Q S O. O p tions t h at are i n te nd ed to b e ISOs s h all b e sub j ect to t h e li m it a ti on s set f o rth in C o de Secti o n 4 2 2.

 

6 . 3 Exercise Pric e . The Ex e rcise Price for ea c h gr a n t of a n Option und e r t h e Plan s h all be at l east equal t o one h u n d r e d perc e n t ( 1 0 0 % ) of t h e F air M a r k et Va l u e of a S h are o n t h e date t h e Opti o n is g ran t ed; provid e d , however, that t h is restriction s h all not ap ply to R e place m ent Awards or Aw a rds that are adjus t ed pur s uant to Section 4 . 3 h ere i n . No ISO gra n ted to a Partici p a n t wh o , at t h e ti m e t h e ISO is g ra n ted, ow n s s t o ck re p rese n ting m o re t h an ten p erce n t (1 0 %) o f t h e v o ti n g p o wer o f all classes of s t o ck of t h e C o m p a n y or a n y S ub s i d iary s h all h a v e an E x ercise Pr i ce that is less t h an o n e h u ndre d te n p e rc e n t ( 11 0 % ) o f t h e Fai r Mar k e t Val u e o f a S h a re o n t h e d a te t h e ISO is grante d .

 

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6 . 4 D u r a tion o f O p ti o n s . Each O p ti o n gra n ted t o a Partici p a n t s h all ex p ire at s u ch ti m e as t h e C o mmi t tee s h all d eter m i n e at t h e t i m e o f gra n t; pro v i d e d , h o w e v e r, t h at no O p tion s h all b e e x ercisa b le later t h an t h e tenth ( 1 0t h ) an niv e rsary date of its g rant. N o I S O gr a n ted to a Partici p a n t wh o , at t h e time t h e ISO is g r a n te d , ow n s stock r e pres e n t ing m o re t h an ten perc e n t (10 %) of t h e v o ti n g p o w e r of all classes o f s t o c k of t h e C o m p any o r a n y Su b si d iary s h a l l b e e x ercisa b l e later t h an t h e f i fth ( 5 t h ) a nn i vers a ry of t h e date o f its gr an t.

 

6 . 5 Exercise of Option s . O p tio n s g ra n ted un d er t h is Article 6 shall be exercis a ble at s u ch times and be s u b j ect t o s u ch restrictio n s and c o n d iti o ns as set f o r t h in t h e Award Agreeme n t a n d as t h e C o mmittee sh all in each instance ap prove, which ne e d not be the s a me for ea c h grant or for each P a rticipant.

 

6 . 6 Pa y men t . O p ti on s gra n ted un d er t h is Article 6 s h all b e e x ercised b y t h e d e li v ery of a written n o tice of ex e rcise to the C o m p any, s etting for t h t h e n u m b e r o f S h a r e s with res p ect to w h ich t h e O p tion is to b e e x ercised and s p ecif y i n g t h e m ethod of pa y m ent of t h e Ex e rcise P ric e .

 

T h e E x ercise Price of an O p t i o n shall b e p a y a b le to t h e C o m p a n y in f u ll: (a) i n cash o r its eq u i v ale n t, (b) b y te nd e ring S h ares or d irecting t h e C o m p a n y t o wit h h o ld S h a res f r om t h e O p ti o n h a vi n g a n a g g r e g ate F ai r M a r k et Value at t h e t i me of e x ercise equal t o the Ex ercise Price, (c ) by b r o k e r-as s isted cashle s s e x ercise, (d) in any o t her m anner t h e n p er m itted by t h e C o mm ittee, or (e) by a co m b i n ati o n o f a n y o f t h e p e r m i t ted m ethods o f p a y m ent. The C o mmi t t e e m a y l i mi t a n y m eth o d o f p a y m e n t, oth e r t h an t h at specifi e d u n der ( a ), f o r adm inistrati v e c o nv e nienc e , t o c o m p ly with a pp lica b le law, o r f o r a n y o t h e r reaso n .

 

6 . 7 Restricti on s o n S ha r e Tra n sfer ab ility . T h e C o mmittee m ay i m pose s u ch r e strictions on a ny Sh a res acqu i red p u r s u ant to t h e e x er c ise of an O p tion g ra n ted un d er t h is Article 6 as it m a y deem advisable, inc l ud i ng, wit h o u t li m i ta t i on , res t ricti o ns u n der ap p lica b le fe d er a l sec u rities laws, u n d er t h e req u ireme n ts o f a n y st o ck e x c h an g e o r mar k et u p on w h ich s u ch S h ares are t h en list e d a nd / o r tra d e d , a n d un d er a n y b l u e s k y o r state securities laws a pp lica b l e to s u ch S h ares.

 

6 . 8 Divide n d E q u i valents . At t h e discreti o n of t h e C o mm ittee, an Aw a rd o f Op tions m ay pr ov ide t h e Participant with the r i ght t o receive D i vid e nd Eq uivalent s , whi c h m ay be paid cu rr e ntly or cr e d ited t o a n ac c ount for t h e Partici p a n t, and m ay b e settled in cash an d /or S h ares, as d eter m i n ed b y t h e C o m m i ttee in its s o le d iscreti o n, subject i n ea c h case to su c h t e r m s and co n d iti on s as t h e Comm i ttee s h all esta b lis h .

 

6 . 9 Termi n ati o n of E m plo y m e nt o r Servic e . Each Partici p a n t’s O p tion Award Agree m e n t s h all set forth t h e e x te n t to w h ich t h e Partici p a n t s h all h a v e t h e r i gh t to e x ercise t h e O p tion f o ll o w i n g ter m i n ati o n o f t h e Partici p a n t ’s e m p l oy m e n t o r , if t h e Partici p a n t is a Direc t or o r C o n s ultant, se r v ice with the Co m p any and/or a Su b si d iary, as t h e case m ay b e. S u ch pr ov isio n s s h all b e d eter m i n ed in t h e s o le d iscretion o f t h e C o mmit t ee, n eed not be u n i f orm a m ong all O p t ion s , a n d m ay reflect disti n ct i ons b ased o n t h e reas o n s f o r ter m i n ation o f e m ploy m ent or service.

 

6 . 1 0   N on tr a nsfera b ility o f O p t i on s .

 

(a)     Inc e ntive S t ock Options . I S Os m a y not be s o l d , t ran s fe r r e d, ple d ge d , ass i g n e d , or o t he r wise alienated or h y po t hecated, other th a n by will or by t h e l a ws of desc e n t a n d distribution, an d shall be ex er cisable d u ring a Partici p a n t’s lifet i m e o n ly b y s u ch Partici p a n t.

 

( b )     N o nq ua lified St o ck O p tio n s . N Q SOs m ay not be s o l d , tra n sfe r re d , ple d g e d, a ssi g n e d , or oth e rwise alienated or h y po t hecated, other th a n by will or by t h e l a ws of desc e n t a n d distribution, an d shall be ex er cisable d u ring a Partici p a n t’s lifet i m e o n ly b y s u ch Partici p a n t. NQSOs m ay no t b e t r a n s ferred for va l u e or c onsideration.

 

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ART I CLE 7

 

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

7 . 1 Gr a n t of SARs . Sub j ect to t h e ter m s a n d pr o v isi on s of t h e P l a n , SARs m ay b e g ra n ted to Partici p ants in su c h a m ounts, u po n s u c h te r m s, and at s u c h ti m es as t h e C o mm ittee sh a ll deter m i n e. The C o mm ittee m ay grant Fre e stand i ng S AR s , T a ndem SA R s, o r a n y c o m b i n ation o f t h es e f o r m s of S A R.

 

The C o mmitt e e shall have co m p l e te discretion in d e ter m ining the nu m b er of SARs gr a n ted to each Partici p a n t (su bj ect t o Article 4 h e rei n ) an d , c o nsiste n t with t h e p r o v isi o ns o f t h e Pla n , in d eter m i n i n g the ter m s a n d c o n d iti o ns p er t ai n i n g to s u ch SARs.

 

The gr a n t price of a Freest a nding SAR shall at least equal t h e Fa i r Market Value of a Share on the date of gr a n t of t h e SAR, and t h e gr an t price of a T a ndem SAR s h all eq u al t h e E x ercise Price o f the related O p tio n ; provid e d , however, that t h is restriction s h all not ap ply to R e place m ent Awards or Aw a rds that are adjus t ed pur s uant to Section 4 . 3 here i n .

 

7 . 2 Exercise of T a nd e m SA Rs . A Ta n d em SAR m ay be ex e rci s ed on l y with r e spect to the Shares for w h ich its related O p tion is t h en e x ercis a ble. To t h e e x tent e x ercis a ble, T a ndem SARs m a y be e x ercis e d for all or part of the Sh a res s u bject t o t h e related Opt i on. T h e e x ercise of all or p art o f a Ta nd em SAR s h all res u lt in t h e f o rfeit u re of t h e ri g h t to p u r c h ase a nu m ber o f S h ar e s u n d e r t h e related O p t i o n eq u al to the nu m b er of Shares with respect t o whi c h the SAR is e x ercis e d. C o nversely, upon exercise of all or part o f an O p ti o n with res p ect to w h ich a Ta n d em SAR has be e n gr a n ted, a n eq uival e nt po rtion of the Tan d em SAR s h all si m i larly b e forfeited.

 

No t wit h sta n d i ng any oth e r p r ovis i on o f t h e Plan to t h e c on trar y , with res p ect to a T an d e m SAR gr a n ted in c o n n ection with an ISO: (i) the Tan d em SAR will ex p ire no later t h an t h e ex p iration o f t h e u n d e rlyi n g ISO; (ii) t h e v al u e of t h e p a y ou t with respect to t h e Tand e m SAR m ay b e f o r no m o re t h an o n e h u ndred p erce n t (10 0 %) of t h e diff e r e nce between the Ex er cise Price of the u nd e rlyi n g ISO and t h e Fa i r Mar k et Val u e of t h e S h ares s u b j ect to t h e u n d e rlyi n g ISO at t h e ti m e th e Tan d em SAR is e x ercise d ; a n d (iii) the Ta nd em SAR m ay b e e x ercised on ly w h en t h e Fair Mar k et Val u e of t h e S h ares s u b j ect to the ISO e x c eeds t h e E x erc i se Price of the ISO.

 

7 . 3 Exercise of F r eestanding S A R s . Freestan d i n g SARs m ay b e e x ercis e d upon whatev e r t er m s and c o n d iti o ns t h e C o mmi t tee, in its s o le d iscreti o n, i m po ses u p o n t h em a n d sets for t h in t h e Award Agreeme n t.

 

7 . 4 Awa r d A g re em en t . Ea c h SAR grant s h all be evid e n ced by a n Aw a rd Agr e e m ent that sha l l specify t h e gra n t price, t h e term o f t h e SAR, and s u ch oth e r p r ovis i ons as t h e C o mm ittee shall de t er m i n e.

 

7 . 5 Term of SAR s . T h e term o f an SAR gra n ted u n d e r t h e Plan s h all b e d etermi n ed b y t h e Comm i ttee, in its sole disc r etion; pr ov i de d , ho wev e r, t h at su c h term sha l l not e x ce e d t e n ( 1 0) y ears.

 

7 . 6 Pa y ment of S A R A mo un t . Up o n e x ercise o f an SAR, a Partici p a n t s h all b e e n titled to recei v e pay m ent from the Co m p any i n a n a m ount d e ter m ined by m u ltiplying:

 

(a)     the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the grant price; by

 

( b )    the nu m b er of Sh a res with res p ect to w h ich t h e SAR is e x ercise d .

 

At t h e d iscret i o n of t h e C o m m i t t ee, the payment upon S A R exercise m a y be in ca s h, i n Sh a res of equ i valent val u e, o r i n s o m e co m b i n ation t h e re o f.

 

7 . 7 Divide n d E q u i valents . At t h e discreti o n of t h e C o mm ittee, an Aw a rd o f S A Rs m a y p r ov i d e t h e Participant with the r i ght t o receive D i vid e nd Eq uivalent s , whi c h m ay be paid cu rr e ntly or cr e d ited t o a n ac c ount for t h e Partici p a n t, and m ay b e settled in cash an d /or S h ares, as d eter m i n ed b y t h e C o m m i ttee in its s o le d iscreti o n, subject i n ea c h case to su c h t e r m s and co n d iti on s as t h e Comm i ttee s h all esta b lis h .

 

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7 . 8 Termi n ati o n of E m plo y m e nt o r Servic e . Each SAR Award A g ree m e n t s h all set forth t h e exte n t to w h ich t h e Partici p a n t s h all h a v e t h e r i gh t t o e x ercise t he SAR f o llowing t er m i n ati o n of t h e Partici p a n t s e m p l oy m e n t o r , if t h e Partici p a n t is a Direct o r o r Co n s u lta n t, ser v i ce with the C o m p any and / or a Subsidiary, as the ca se m ay be. Su c h p ro v isi o n s shall be dete rm i n ed in t h e so le discr e ti o n of t h e C o mm ittee, ne e d n o t be un i f o rm a m ong all S ARs, and m ay reflect disti n cti o n s b ased o n t h e re a so n s fo r ter m i n ation of e m ploy m ent or s er v ice.

 

7 . 9 N on tr a nsfera b ility o f S AR s . S ARs m ay not b e so l d , tr a n s fe r re d , ple d ge d , a ssign e d, o r ot h erwise alienated or h y po t hecated, other th a n by will or by t h e l a ws of desc e n t a n d distribution, an d shall be ex er cisable d u ring a Partici p a n t’s lifet i m e o n ly b y s u c h Partici p a n t . SAR s m a y no t b e t r an s ferred for value or c on s i d erati o n.

 

ART I CLE 8

 

RESTR I CT E D ST OC K

 

8 . 1 Gr a n t of Restr i cted S t oc k . Subject to t h e ter m s and provisions of the Plan, R estricted S t ock m a y be gr a n ted to Par t icipants in su c h a m ount s , upon s u c h ter m s, and at s u ch ti m e s as the Co mm ittee shall deter m ine.

 

8 . 2 Awa r d A g re em en t . Ea c h Res t r icted Sto c k gr a n t s h all be e v idenced by a n Award Agree m en t that s h all s p ec i fy the Per i o d (s) of Restricti o n a n d, if ap p l i cable, Perfor m ance Period( s ), t h e nu m b er of Sh a res of Restricted St o c k g ra n ted, a n d s u ch o t h er pro v isio n s as t h e C o mmi t tee s h all d eter m i n e.

 

8 . 3 Other Restriction s . T h e C o mmittee shall impo s e s u ch o t h e r c o n d iti on s an d /or r e stricti o ns on a n y Sh a res of Rest r icted Sto c k gr a n ted p u r s u a nt to t h e Plan as it m ay deem adv i sable i n c l ud i n g , wit ho u t li m it a tion, a req u ire m e n t that Partici p a n ts p ay a stip u lated p u rc h ase pr i c e for ea c h Sh ar e of Restricted Stock, a r e quir e m ent that the issu a n ce of Sh a res of Res t ricted S t ock be delayed, res t rictions bas e d upon t h e a c hiev e m ent of spec i fic pe r f o r m ance g o als, ti m e-based restrictions o n vesti n g f o ll o wi n g t h e attai nm ent of t h e p er f o r m ance goal s , t i m e-based restriction s , an d/ o r r e stricti o n s u n d er ap plicable laws o r u nd er t h e r e qu i re m ents of a n y s t o ck e x ch an ge or m arket upon whi c h su ch Sh a res a re listed or t rad e d , or hold i n g r e quire m ents or s a le r e strictions placed on the Shares by t h e Co m p any upon vesting of s u c h Restricted S t ock. T h e C o mpa n y m ay retain in its c u s t od y a n y certificate e v i d e n cing the Shares of R estricted S t ock and place th er eon a leg e nd a n d institute s t op-tr a nsfer ord e rs on su c h Shares, a n d the Partici p a n t s h all b e o b li g ated to sign a n y stock p o wer reques t ed b y t h e C o m p a n y relating to t h e S h ares to g i v e effect to t h e f o rfeit u re pro v isio n s o f t h e Restricted St o ck.

 

8 . 4 Re m o val of R e strictions . Subject to applicab l e laws, Res t ricted S t ock s h all beco m e freely tra n sfera b le b y t h e Partici p a n t after t h e last day o f t h e Peri o d of Restricti o n a pplicable thereto. Once R e stricted Stock is released from the restriction s , t h e Participant shall be e n titled to rece i ve a c e rtificate evid e n cing the Shares.

 

8 . 5 V o ting Rig h ts . U n less o t h erw i se d eter m i n ed b y t h e C o mmi t tee a n d set forth in a Partici p a n t’s Aw a rd Ag re em ent, to t h e ex tent p e r m itted or r e qu i red by l a w, as d eter m i n ed b y t h e C o mm i ttee, Partici p a n ts h o l d ing Sh a res of Rest r icted Sto c k gr a n ted h e r e un d er m a y e x ercise f u ll v o ti n g r i gh t s with re s p ect t o those Shares during t h e Peri o d of Rest r iction.

 

8 . 6 Di vi d e n d s and Ot h er Di stributi ons . Exc e pt a s o t he r wise p ro v ided in a Partici p a n t’s Award Agree m e n t, during t h e Per i o d of Restri c tio n , Partici p a n ts h o l d ing S h ares o f Restricted St o ck s h all recei v e all reg u lar cash d i v i d en d s p aid with respect to all S h ares w h ile t h ey are so he l d , an d, except a s oth e rwise deter m ined by the C o mm ittee, all oth e r distri b u t ions pa i d with respect t o s u c h Restricted S t ock s h all b e cre d ited to Partici p a n ts sub j ect to t h e sa m e restricti on s o n tra n sfera b ility a n d forfeita b ility as t h e Restricted S t o ck with res p ect to w h ich t h ey were p aid and p aid at s u ch ti m e f o ll o w i n g f u ll v es t i n g as are p a i d t h e S h ares of R estricted S t o ck with res p ect to w h ich su c h distri b u tions w e re m ade.

 

8 . 7 Termi n ati o n of E m plo y m e nt o r Servic e . Each Award Agreeme n t s h all set f o r t h t h e e x te n t to w h ich t h e Partici p a n t s h all h a v e t h e ri gh t to retain u nv e sted R e stricted St o c k f o llowing ter m i n at io n of t h e Partici p a n t’s e m p l oy m e n t o r , if t h e Participa n t is a Direc t or o r C o n s u lt a n t , service with t h e C o m p any and / or a Subsid i ary, as t h e case m ay be. S u ch pr ovisi o n s shall be det e r m i n ed i n t h e s o le discreti o n o f t h e C o mm ittee, need n o t be un i f o rm a m on g all Awar d s of Restricted S t o ck, a n d may reflect d isti n cti o ns b ased o n t h e reas o n s for ter m i n ati o n of e m ploy m ent or se r v ice.

 

8 . 8 N on tr a nsfera b ility o f Restricted S t o ck . E x cept as o t h erwise d eter m i n ed b y t h e C o m m i tte e , during t h e ap p lica b le Period o f Restricti on , a Partici p a n t ’s Restric t ed S t o ck and r i gh ts relating thereto s h all be a v aila b le d u ring t h e Partici p a n t’s lifet i m e on ly to s u ch Partici p a n t, a n d s u ch Restricted Sto c k an d related r i g h ts m ay not be sold, tr a n sf e rr e d, pledg e d, a ssign e d, or otherwise alienated or h y po t hecated oth e r th a n by will or by the l aws of desc e n t a n d di s tributi o n.

 

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ARTICLE 9

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARES

 

9.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Units/Performance Shares . Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Shares may be granted to Participants in such amounts, upon such terms, and at such times as the Committee shall determine.

 

9.2 Award Agreement . Each grant of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the applicable Period(s) of Restriction and/or Performance Period(s) (as the case may be), the number of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares granted, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. The initial value of a Restricted Stock Unit or Performance Share shall be at least equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant; provided, however, that this restriction shall not apply to Replacement Awards or Awards that are adjusted pursuant to Section 4.3 herein.

 

9.3 Form and Timing of Payment . Except as otherwise provided in Article 17 herein or a Participant’s Award Agreement, payment of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares shall be made at a specified settlement date that shall not be earlier than the last day of the Period of Restriction or Performance Period, as the case may be. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Restricted Stock Units and Performance Shares by delivery of Shares or by payment in cash of an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares (or a combination thereof). The Committee may provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares shall be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the election of the Participant.

 

9.4 Voting Rights . A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares granted hereunder; provided, however, that the Committee may deposit Shares potentially deliverable in connection with Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares in a rabbi trust, in which case the Committee may provide for pass through voting rights with respect to such deposited Shares.

 

9.5 Dividend Equivalents . At the discretion of the Committee, an Award of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares may provide the Participant with the right to receive Dividend Equivalents, which may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, and may be settled in cash and/or Shares, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, subject in each case to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish.

 

9.6 Termination of Employment or Service . Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to receive a payout with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares following termination of the Participant’s employment or, if the Participant is a Director or Consultant, service with the Company and/or a Subsidiary, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment or service.

 

9.7 Nontransferability . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Shares and rights relating thereto may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

 

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ARTICLE 10

 

PERFORMANCE UNITS

 

10.1 Grant of Performance Units . Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Performance Units may be granted to Participants in such amounts, upon such terms, and at such times as the Committee shall determine.

 

10.2 Award Agreement . Each grant of Performance Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the number of Performance Units granted, the Performance Period(s), the performance goals and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

 

10.3 Value of Performance Units . The Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion that, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or value of Performance Units that will be paid out to the Participants.

 

10.4 Form and Timing of Payment . Except as otherwise provided in Article 17 herein or a Participant’s Award Agreement, payment of earned Performance Units shall be made following the close of the applicable Performance Period. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units in cash or in Shares that have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units (or a combination thereof). The Committee may provide that settlement of Performance Units shall be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the election of the Participant.

 

10.5 Dividend Equivalents . At the discretion of the Committee, an Award of Performance Units may provide the Participant with the right to receive Dividend Equivalents, which may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, and may be settled in cash and/or Shares, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, subject in each case to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish.

 

10.6 Termination of Employment or Service . Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to receive a payout with respect to an Award of Performance Units following termination of the Participant’s employment or, if the Participant is a Director or Consultant, service with the Company and/or a Subsidiary, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Performance Units and may reflect distinctions based on reasons for termination of employment or service.

 

10.7 Nontransferability . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, Performance Units and rights relating thereto may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

 

ARTICLE 11

 

OTHER AWARDS

 

11.1 Grant of Other Awards . Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Other Awards may be granted to Participants in such amounts, upon such terms, and at such times as the Committee shall determine. Types of Other Awards that may be granted pursuant to this Article 11 include, without limitation, the payment of cash or Shares based on attainment of performance goals established by the Committee, the payment of Shares as a bonus or in lieu of cash based on attainment of performance goals established by the Committee, and the payment of Shares in lieu of cash under other Company incentive or bonus programs.

 

11.2 Payment of Other Awards . Payment under or settlement of any such Awards shall be made in such manner and at such times as the Committee may determine.

 

11.3 Termination of Employment or Service . The Committee shall determine the extent to which the

Participant shall have the right to receive Other Awards following termination of the Participant’s employment or, if the Participant is a Director or Consultant, service with the Company and/or a Subsidiary, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, may be included in an agreement entered into with each Participant, but need not be uniform among all Other Awards, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment or service.

 

11.4 Nontransferability . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, Other Awards and rights relating thereto may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

 

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ARTICLE 12

 

REPLACEMENT AWARDS

 

Each Replacement Award shall have substantially the same terms and conditions (as determined by the Committee) as the award it replaces; provided, however, that the number of Shares subject to Replacement Awards, the Exercise Price, grant price or other price of Shares subject to Replacement Awards, any performance conditions relating to Shares underlying Replacement Awards, or the market price of Shares underlying Replacement Awards or per-Share results may differ from the awards they replace to the extent such differences are determined to be appropriate and equitable by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

 

ARTICLE 13

 

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

 

The Committee may specify that the attainment of one or more of the performance measures set forth in this Article 13 shall determine the degree of granting, vesting and/or payout with respect to Awards (including any related dividends or Dividend Equivalents) that the Committee intends will qualify for the Performance-Based Exception. The performance goals to be used for such Awards shall be chosen from among the following performance measure(s): earnings per share, economic value created, market share (actual or targeted growth), net income (before or after taxes), operating income, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization, core earnings, core earnings per share, return on assets (actual or targeted growth), return on capital (actual or targeted growth), return on equity (actual or targeted growth), return on investment (actual or targeted growth), revenue (actual or targeted growth), cash flow (including operating cash flow and free cash flow), operating margin, share price, share price growth, total stockholder return, economic value added, and strategic business criteria consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified market penetration goals, market share, productivity measures, geographic business expansion goals, expense management, expense targets (including SG&A or other allocated or indirect costs), operating efficiency ratios (including days sales outstanding, accounts payable to sales, inventory turns, and working capital as a percentage of sale), customer satisfaction or employee satisfaction goals, goals relating to merger synergies, management of employment practices and employee benefits, or supervision of litigation and information technology, and goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures of Subsidiaries and/or other affiliates or joint ventures. The targeted level or levels of performance with respect to such performance measures may be established at such levels and on such terms as the Committee may determine, in its discretion, including in absolute terms, as a goal relative to performance in prior periods, or as a goal compared to the performance of one or more comparable companies or an index covering multiple companies. Awards (including any related dividends or Dividend Equivalents) that are not intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception may be based on these or such other performance measures as the Committee may determine

 

Achievement of performance goals in respect of Awards intended to qualify under the Performance-Based Exception shall be measured over a Performance Period, and the goals shall be established not later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of the Performance Period or, if less than (90) days, the number of days that is equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the relevant Performance Period applicable to the Award. The Committee shall have the discretion to adjust the determinations of the degree of attainment of the pre-established performance goals; provided, however, that Awards that are designed to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception may not be adjusted upward (the Committee may, in its discretion, adjust such Awards downward).

ARTICLE 14

 

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

 

Each Participant under the Plan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing during the Participant’s lifetime with the Committee. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.

 

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ARTICLE 15

 

DEFERRALS

 

If permitted by the Committee, a Participant may defer receipt of amounts that would otherwise be provided to such Participant with respect to an Award, including Shares deliverable upon exercise of an Option or SAR or upon payout of any other Award. If permitted, such deferral (and the required deferral election) shall be made in accordance with, and shall be subject to, the terms and conditions of the applicable nonqualified deferred compensation plan, agreement or arrangement under which such deferral is made and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe.

 

ARTICLE 16

 

RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS

 

16.1 Continued Service . Nothing in the Plan shall:

 

(a) interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate any Participant’s employment or service at any time,

 

(b) confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or a Subsidiary, nor

 

(c) confer on any Director any right to continue to serve on the Board of Directors of the Company or a Subsidiary.

 

16.2 Participation . No Employee, Director or Consultant shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under the Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive future Awards.

 

ARTICLE 17

 

CHANGE IN CONTROL

 

Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, upon the termination of a Participant’s employment for any reason other than Cause, Disability or death within 12 months following a Change in Control, unless otherwise specifically prohibited under applicable laws, or by the rules and regulations of any governing governmental agencies or national securities exchanges:

 

(a) any and all outstanding Options and SARs granted hereunder shall become immediately exercisable; provided, however, that the Committee may instead provide that such Awards shall be automatically cashed out;

 

(b) any Period of Restriction or other restriction imposed on Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Other Awards shall lapse; and

 

(c) any and all Performance Shares, Performance Units and other Awards (if performance-based) shall be deemed earned at the target level (or if no target level is specified, the maximum level) with respect to all open Performance Periods.

 

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ARTICLE 18

 

ADDITIONAL FORFEITURE PROVISIONS

 

The Committee may condition a Participant’s right to receive a grant of an Award, to vest in the Award, to exercise the Award, to retain cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property acquired in connection with the Award, or to retain the profit or gain realized by the Participant in connection with the Award, including cash or other proceeds received upon sale of Shares acquired in connection with an Award, upon compliance by the Participant with specified conditions relating to non-competition, confidentiality of information relating to or possessed by the Company, non-solicitation of customers, suppliers, and employees of the Company, cooperation in litigation, non-disparagement of the Company and its officers, directors and affiliates, and other restrictions upon or covenants of the Participant, including during specified periods following termination of employment with or service for the Company and/or a Subsidiary.

 

ARTICLE 19

 

AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION

 

19.1 Amendment, Modification and Termination . The Board may at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that no amendment that requires stockholder approval (a) in order for the Plan to continue to comply with Section 162(m) requirements, (b) pursuant to the requirements of any national securities exchange upon which any of the Company’s securities are listed for trading, or (c) pursuant to any rule promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission shall be effective unless such amendment shall be approved by the requisite vote of stockholders of the Company entitled to vote thereon within the time period required under such applicable listing standard or rule.

 

19.2 Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events . The Committee may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4.3 hereof) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan; provided, however, that (except as provided in Section 4.3 hereof) the Committee does not have the power to amend the terms of previously granted options to reduce the exercise price per share subject to such options, or to cancel such options and grant substitute options with a lower exercise price per share than the cancelled options. The Company is not permitted to purchase for cash previously granted options with an exercise price that is greater than the Company’s trading price on the proposed date of purchase. With respect to any Awards intended to comply with the Performance-Based Exception, any such exception shall be specified at such times and in such manner as will not cause such Awards to fail to qualify under the Performance-Based Exception.

 

19.3 Awards Previously Granted . No termination, amendment or modification of the Plan or of any Award shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under the Plan without the written consent of the Participant holding such Award, unless such termination, modification or amendment is required by applicable law and except as otherwise provided herein.

 

19.4 Compliance with the Performance-Based Exception . If it is intended that an Award (and/or any dividends or Dividend Equivalents relating to such Award) comply with the requirements of the Performance-Based Exception, the Committee may apply any restrictions it deems appropriate such that the Awards (and/or dividends or Dividend Equivalents) maintain eligibility for the Performance-Based Exception. If changes are made to Code Section 162(m) or regulations promulgated thereunder to permit greater flexibility with respect to any Award or Awards available under the Plan, the Committee may, subject to this Article 19 , make any adjustments to the Plan and/or Award Agreements it deems appropriate.

 

ARTICLE 20

 

WITHHOLDING

 

20.1 Tax Withholding . The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local, domestic or foreign taxes required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the Plan.

 

20.2 Use of Shares to Satisfy Withholding Obligation . With respect to withholding required upon the exercise of Options or SARs, upon the vesting or settlement of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units, or upon any other taxable event arising as a result of Awards granted hereunder, the Committee may require or may permit Participants to elect that the withholding requirement be satisfied, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold, or by tendering to the Company, Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory withholding (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes) that could be imposed on the transaction and, in any case in which it would not result in additional accounting expense to the Company, taxes in excess of the minimum statutory withholding amounts. Any such elections by a Participant shall be irrevocable, made in writing and signed by the Participant.

 

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ARTICLE 21

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of incorporation of the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification is subject to the person having been successful in the legal proceedings or having acted in good faith and what is reasonably believed to be a lawful manner in the Company’s best interests. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

ARTICLE 22

 

SUCCESSORS

 

All obligations of the Company under the Plan and with respect to Awards shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or other event, or a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

ARTICLE 23

 

LEGAL CONSTRUCTION

 

23.1 Gender, Number and References . Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural. Any reference in the Plan to an act or code or to any section thereof or rule or regulation thereunder shall be deemed to refer to such act, code, section, rule or regulation, as may be amended from time to time, or to any successor act, code, section, rule or regulation.

 

23.2 Severability . In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

 

23.3 Requirements of Law . The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

 

23.4 Governing Law . To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Plan, and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws Nevada without giving effect to conflicts or choice of law principles.

 

23.5 Non-Exclusive Plan . Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including other incentive arrangements and awards that do or do not qualify under the Performance-Based Exception.

 

23.6 Code Section 409A Compliance . To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Plan and any Awards granted under the Plan comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and any related regulations or other guidance promulgated with respect to such Section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service (collectively “ Section 409A ”). Any provision that would cause the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan to fail to satisfy Section 409A shall have no force or effect until amended to comply with Section 409A, which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Section 409A.

 

 

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