UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event Reported): April 25, 2019

Allegiance Bancshares, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

TEXAS

001-37585

26-3564100

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

8847 West Sam Houston Parkway N., Suite 200, Houston, Texas 77040

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(281) 894-3200

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[   ]

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[   ]

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[   ]

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[   ]

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities

Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

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 13(a) of the

Exchange Act.  ☒

 

 


 


 

Item 5.02      Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

The Board of Directors of Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) previously approved, subject to shareholder approval, the Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. 2019 Amended and Restated Stock Awards and Incentive Plan (the “Amended Plan”) to, among other things, increase the number of shares of Company common stock issuable thereunder from 1,900,000 to 3,200,000. According to the results from the Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 25, 2019, the Company’s shareholders approved the Amended Plan. A more detailed summary of the Amended Plan appears on pages 28 - 33 of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”), which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 15, 2019. The foregoing description of the Amended Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company previously approved, subject to shareholder approval, the Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Amended ESPP”) to, among other things, increase the number of shares of Company common stock issuable thereunder from 100,000 to 200,000. According to the results from the Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 25, 2019, the Company’s shareholders approved the Amended ESPP. A more detailed summary of the Amended ESPP appears on pages 34 - 36 of the Proxy Statement. The foregoing description of the Amended ESPP is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended ESPP, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.07     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

On April 25, 2019, the Company held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to consider and act upon the items listed below:

Proposal 1 – John Beckworth, Matthew H. Hartzell, Umesh (Mike) Jain, Frances H. Jeter and Roland L. Williams were elected as Class I directors; Robert E. McKee III was elected as a Class II director; and Louis A. Waters Jr. was elected as a Class III director, each to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors until the Company’s 2022, 2020 and 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, respectively, and until his or her respective successor or successors are duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. The table below contains a summary of the number of votes for, votes withheld and broker non-votes for each nominated director:

Nominee

Votes For

Votes Withheld

Broker Non-Votes

John Beckworth

10,081,139

447,825

4,604,179

Matthew H. Hartzell

10,217,714

311,250

4,604,179

Umesh (Mike) Jain

10,207,397

321,567

4,604,179

Frances H. Jeter

10,185,987

342,977

4,604,179

Roland L. Williams

9,793,743

735,221

4,604,179

Robert E. McKee III

10,496,818

32,146

4,604,179

Louis A. Waters Jr.

10,016,465

512,499

4,604,179

Proposal 2 - The shareholders approved the Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. 2019 Amended and Restated Stock Awards and Incentive Plan by the votes set forth in the table below:

Votes For

Votes Against

Abstentions

Broker Non-Votes

8,014,886

2,426,578

87,500

4,604,179

Proposal 3 - The shareholders approved the Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. 2019 Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan by the votes set forth in the table below:

Votes For

Votes Against

Abstentions

Broker Non-Votes

10,067,944

350,653

110,367

4,604,179

 


 

Proposal 4 - The shareholders ratified the appointment of Crowe LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 201 9 by the votes set forth in the table below:

 

Votes For

Votes Against

Abstentions

Broker Non-Votes

15,050,765

3,000

79,378

0

 

 

Item 9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits. The following are filed as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K:

Exhibit Number

Description of Exhibit

10.1

Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. 2019 Amended and Restated Stock Awards and Incentive Plan

10.2

Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. 2019 Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

 


 

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Allegiance Bancshares, Inc.

 

 

 

Date: April 29, 2019

By:

/s/ George Martinez

 

 

George Martinez

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

ALLEGIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

2019 AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCK AWARDS AND INCENTIVE PLAN

Allegiance Bancshares, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Company"), assumed all obligations under the Allegiance Bank Texas 2008 Stock Awards and Incentive Plan ("Bank Plan") pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated April 30, 2008, between Allegiance Bank Texas, a Texas banking association (the "Bank"), and the Company.  The Bank Plan was renamed as the Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. 2008 Stock Awards and Incentive Plan (the "2008 Plan") and was amended and restated as of March 24, 2014.  The 2008 Plan was amended and restated by the Board as the Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. 2015 Amended and Restated Stock Awards and Incentive Plan (the "2015 Plan") on February 27, 2015.  The 2015 Plan was amended and restated by the Board as the Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. 2019 Amended and Restated Stock Awards and Incentive Plan on January 24, 2019, subject to approval by the Company’s shareholders.

1. Purpose; Eligibility .

1.1 General Purpose . The purpose of the ALLEGIANCE BANCSHARES, INC. 2019 AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCK AWARDS AND INCENTIVE PLAN (the "Plan") is to provide a means through which the Company and its Affiliates may attract able persons to enter the employ of the Company and its Affiliates and to provide a means whereby those Employees, Directors and Consultants, upon whom the responsibilities of the successful administration and management of the Company and its Affiliates rest, and whose present and potential contributions to the welfare of the Company and its Affiliates are of importance, can acquire and maintain stock ownership, thereby strengthening their concern for the welfare of the Company and its Affiliates and their desire to remain in the Company's and its Affiliates' employ.  A further purpose of the Plan is to provide such Employees, Directors and Consultants with additional incentive and reward opportunities designed to enhance the profitable growth of the Company.

1.2 Eligible Award Recipients . The persons eligible to receive Awards are the Employees, Consultants and Directors of the Company and its Affiliates and such other individuals designated by the Committee who are reasonably expected to become Employees, Consultants and Directors after the receipt of Awards.

1.3 Available Awards . Awards that may be granted under the Plan include: (a) Incentive Stock Options, (b) Nonqualified Stock Options, (c) Stock Appreciation Rights, (d) Restricted Awards, (e) Performance Awards and (g) Other Equity-Based Awards.

2. Definitions .

" Affiliate " means a corporation or other entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company.

" Applicable Laws " means the requirements related to or implicated by the administration of the Plan under applicable state corporate law, United States federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or quoted, and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan.

" Award " means any right granted under the Plan, including an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonqualified Stock Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Restricted Award, a Performance Award or an Other Equity-Based Award.

" Award Agreement " means a written agreement, contract, certificate or other instrument or document evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award granted under the Plan which may, in the discretion of the Company, be transmitted electronically to any Participant. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

" Board " means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted at any time.

 


 

" Cause " means, w ith respect to any Employee or Consultant, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise:

(a) If the Employee or Consultant is a party to an employment or service agreement with the Company or its Affiliates and such agreement provides for a definition of Cause, the definition contained therein;

(b) If no such agreement exists, or if such agreement does not define Cause: (i) the commission of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or the commission of any other act involving willful malfeasance or material fiduciary breach with respect to the Company or an Affiliate; (ii) conduct that results in or is reasonably likely to result in harm to the reputation or business of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (iii) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or an Affiliate; or (iv) material violation of state or federal securities laws.

With respect to any Director, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, a determination by a majority of the disinterested Board members that the Director has engaged in any of the following:

(a) Malfeasance in office;

(b) Gross misconduct or neglect;

(c) False or fraudulent misrepresentation inducing the director’s appointment;

(d) Willful conversion of corporate funds; or

(e) Repeated failure to participate in Board meetings on a regular basis despite having received proper notice of the meetings in advance.

The Committee, in its absolute discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to whether a Participant has been discharged for Cause.

" Change in Control " means the occurrence of any of the following events:  (i) the Company shall not be the surviving entity in any merger, consolidation or other reorganization (or survives only as a subsidiary of an entity other than a previously wholly‑owned subsidiary of the Company), (ii) a subsidiary of the Company operating as a Texas banking association is merged or consolidated into, or otherwise acquired by, an entity other than a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, (iii) the Company sells, leases or exchanges all or substantially all of its assets to any other person or entity (other than a wholly‑owned subsidiary of the Company), (iv) the Company is to be dissolved and liquidated, (v) any person or entity, including a "group" as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the 1934 Act, acquires or gains ownership or control (including, without limitation, power to vote) of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company's voting stock (based upon voting power), or (vi) as a result of or in connection with a contested election of directors, the persons who were directors of the Company before such election shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, and only to the extent that an Award is subject to Code Section 409A and would not otherwise comply with Code Section 409A, a "Change of Control" shall occur only to the extent that the definition of "Change of Control" set forth above may be interpreted to be consistent with Code Section 409A and the applicable Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department regulations thereunder.

" Code " means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time. Any reference to a section of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any regulations promulgated thereunder.

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" Committee " means a committee of one or more members of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 3.3 and Section   3.4.

" Common Stock " means the common stock, $1.00 par value per share, of the Company, or such other securities of the Company as may be designated by the Committee from time to time in substitution thereof.

" Company " means Allegiance Bancshares, Inc., a Texas Corporation, and any successor thereto.

" Consultant " means any individual or entity which performs bona fide services to the Company or an Affiliate, other than as an Employee or Director, and who may be offered securities registerable pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.

" Continuous Service " means that the Participant's service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Consultant or Director, is not interrupted or terminated. The Participant's Continuous Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant's Continuous Service; provided further that if any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, this sentence shall only be given effect to the extent consistent with Section 409A of the Code. For example, a change in status from an Employee of the Company to a Director of an Affiliate will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. The Committee or its delegate, in its sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal or family leave of absence. The Committee or its delegate, in its sole discretion, may determine whether a Company transaction, such as a sale or spin-off of a division or subsidiary that employs a Participant, shall be deemed to result in a termination of Continuous Service for purposes of affected Awards, and such decision shall be final, conclusive and binding.

" Deferred Stock Units " has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.

" Director " means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Affiliate.

" Disability " means, unless the applicable Award Agreement says otherwise, that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment; provided, however, for purposes of determining the term of an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to Section 6.10 hereof, the term Disability shall have the meaning ascribed to it under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. The determination of whether an individual has a Disability shall be determined under procedures established by the Committee. Except in situations where the Committee is determining Disability for purposes of the term of an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to Section 6.10 hereof within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, the Committee may rely on any determination that a Participant is disabled for purposes of benefits under any long-term disability plan maintained by the Company or any Affiliate in which a Participant participates.

" Disqualifying Disposition " has the meaning set forth in Section 14.12.

" Dividend Equivalents " has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(b)(ii).

" Effective Date " shall mean the date as of which the Plan is adopted by the Board, provided the shareholders of the Company approve the Plan prior to the first anniversary of such date.

" Employee " means any person, including an Officer or Director, employed by the Company or an Affiliate; provided, that,  for purposes of determining eligibility to receive Incentive Stock Options, an Employee shall mean an employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation within the meaning

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of Section 424 of the Code. Mere service as a Director or payment of a director's fee by the Company or an Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company or an Affiliate.

" Exchange Act " means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

" Fair Market Value " means, as of any specified date, the closing price of a share of Common Stock (i) reported by any interdealer quotation system on which the Common Stock is quoted on that date or (ii) if the Common Stock is listed on a national stock exchange, reported on the stock exchange composite tape on that date; or, in either case, if no prices are reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such prices of the Common Stock are so reported.  If the Common Stock is traded over the counter at the time a determination of its fair market value is required to be made hereunder, its fair market value shall be deemed to be equal to the average between the reported high and low or closing bid and asked prices of Common Stock on the most recent date on which Common Stock was publicly traded.  In the event Common Stock is not publicly traded at the time a determination of its value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of its fair market value shall be made by the Committee in such manner as it deems appropriate, consistent with Treasury regulations and other formal Internal Revenue Service guidance under Code Section 409A, with the intent that Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan shall not constitute deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A.

" Fiscal Year " means the Company's fiscal year.

" Free Standing Rights " has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).

" Grant Date " means the date on which the Committee adopts a resolution, or takes other appropriate action, expressly granting an Award to a Participant that specifies the key terms and conditions of the Award or, if a later date is set forth in such resolution, then such date as is set forth in such resolution.

" Incentive Stock Option " means an Option that is designated by the Committee as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and that meets the requirements set out in the Plan.

" Non-Employee Director " means a Director who is a "non-employee director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.

" Nonqualified Stock Option " means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

" Officer " means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

" Option " means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

" Optionholder " means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.

" Option Exercise Price " means the price at which a share of Common Stock may be purchased upon the exercise of an Option.

"Other Equity-Based Award" means an Award that is not an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, or Performance Award that is granted under Section 7.4 and is payable by delivery of Common Stock and/or which is measured by reference to the value of Common Stock.

" Participant " means an eligible person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Award.

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" Performance Goals " means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon business criteria or other performance measures determined by the Committee in its discretion , which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) the price of a share of Common Stock;

(b) the Company's or an Affiliate's earnings per share;

(c) the Company's or an Affiliate's net earnings;

(d) the return on shareholders' equity achieved by the Company or an Affiliate;

(e) the Company's or an Affiliate's return on assets;

(f) the Company's or an Affiliate's net interest margin;

(g) the Company's or an Affiliate's efficiency ratio;

(h) the Company’s or an Affiliate's return on average tangible common shareholder’s equity;

(i) the Company’s or an Affiliate's loan growth;

(j) the Company’s or an Affiliate's deposit growth;

(k) the Company’s or an Affiliate's non-performing asset ratio; or

(l) the Company’s or an Affiliate's net charge-off ratio.

" Performance Period " means the one or more periods of time, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant's right to and the payment of a Performance Award.

" Performance Award " means any Award granted pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof.

" Permitted Transferee " means: (a) a member of the Optionholder's immediate family (child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships), any person sharing the Optionholder's household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Optionholder) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Optionholder) own more than 50% of the voting interests; (b) third parties designated by the Committee in connection with a program established and approved by the Committee pursuant to which Participants may receive a cash payment or other consideration in consideration for the transfer of a Nonqualified Stock Option; and (c) such other transferees as may be permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion.

" Person " means a person as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

" Plan " means this Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. 2019 Amended and Restated Stock Awards and Incentive Plan, as amended and/or amended and restated from time to time.

" Related Rights " has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).

" Restricted Award " means any Award granted pursuant to Section 7.2(a).

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" Restricted Period " has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a) .

" Rule 16b-3 " means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.

" Securities Act " means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

" Stock Appreciation Right " means the right pursuant to an Award granted under Section 7.1 to receive, upon exercise, an amount payable in cash or shares equal to the number of shares subject to the Stock Appreciation Right that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Award is exercised, over (b) the exercise price specified in the Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement.

" Stock for Stock Exchange " has the meaning set forth in Section 6.4.

" Substitute Award " has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.

" Ten Percent Shareholder " means a person who owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Affiliates.

" Total Share Reserve " has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

3. Administration .

3.1 Authority of Committee . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee or, in the Board's sole discretion, by the Board. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee's charter and Applicable Laws, and in addition to other express powers and authorization conferred by the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority:

(a) to construe and interpret the Plan and apply its provisions;

(b) to promulgate, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of the Plan;

(c) to authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan;

(d) to delegate its authority to one or more Officers of the Company with respect to Awards that do not involve "insiders" within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act;

(e) to determine when Awards are to be granted under the Plan and the applicable Grant Date;

(f) from time to time to select, subject to the limitations set forth in this Plan, those eligible Award recipients to whom Awards shall be granted;

(g) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be made subject to each Award;

(h) to determine whether each Option is to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option;

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(i) to prescribe the terms and conditions of each Award, including, without limitation, the exercise price and medium of payment and vesting provisions, and to specify the provisions of the Award Agreement relating to such grant;

(j) to determine the target number of performance shares or performance share units to be granted pursuant to a Performance Award, the performance measures that will be used to establish the Performance Goals, the Performance Period(s) and the number of performance shares or performance share units earned by a Participant;

(k) to amend any outstanding Awards, including for the purpose of modifying the time or manner of vesting, or the term of any outstanding Award; provided, however , that if any such amendment impairs a Participant's rights or increases a Participant's obligations under his or her Award or creates or increases a Participant's federal income tax liability with respect to an Award, such amendment shall also be subject to the Participant's consent;

(l) to determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absences which may be granted to a Participant without constituting termination of their employment for purposes of the Plan, which periods shall be no shorter than the periods generally applicable to Employees under the Company's employment policies;

(m) to make decisions with respect to outstanding Awards that may become necessary upon a change in corporate control or an event that triggers anti-dilution adjustments;

(n) to interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan; and

(o) to exercise discretion to make any and all other determinations which it determines to be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

Except as provided in Sections 4.6, 6.2, 6.3, or 11, the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or to cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, other Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or other Awards with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights without shareholder approval.

3.2 Committee Decisions Final . All decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participants, unless such decisions are determined by a court having jurisdiction to be arbitrary and capricious.

3.3 Delegation . The Committee or, if no Committee has been appointed, the Board, may delegate administration of the Plan to a committee or committees of one or more members of the Board, and the term " Committee " shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated. The Committee shall have the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board or the Committee shall thereafter be to the committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board. From time to time, the Board may increase or decrease the size of the Committee, add additional members to, remove members (with or without cause) from, appoint new members in substitution therefor, and fill vacancies, however caused, in the Committee. The Committee shall act pursuant to a vote of the majority of its members or, in the case of a Committee comprised of only two members, the unanimous consent of its members, whether present or not, or by the written consent of the majority of its members and minutes shall be kept of all of its meetings and copies thereof shall be provided to the Board. Subject to the limitations prescribed by the Plan and the Board, the

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Committee may establish and follow such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it may determine to be advisable.

3.4 Committee Composition . Except as otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors. The Board shall have discretion to determine whether or not it intends to comply with the exemption requirements of Rule 16b-3. However, if the Board intends to satisfy such exemption requirements, with respect to any insider subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Committee shall be a compensation committee of the Board that at all times consists solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors. Within the scope of such authority, the Board or the Committee may delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not Non-Employee Directors the authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Nothing herein shall create an inference that an Award is not validly granted under the Plan in the event Awards are granted under the Plan by a compensation committee of the Board that does not at all times consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors.

3.5 Indemnification . In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as Directors or members of the Committee, and to the extent allowed by Applicable Laws, the Committee shall be indemnified by the Company against the reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding or in connection with any appeal therein, to which the Committee may be party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan, and against all amounts paid by the Committee in settlement thereof ( provided, however , that the settlement has been approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) or paid by the Committee in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such Committee did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company, or in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reason to believe that the conduct complained of was unlawful; provided, however , that within 60 days after the institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, such Committee shall, in writing, offer the Company the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend such action, suit or proceeding.

4. Shares Subject to the Plan .

4.1 Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock for which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall not exceed 3,200,000 (inclusive of shares granted with respect to Awards under the Plan prior to the Effective Date) (the " Total Share Reserve "). During the terms of the Awards, the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock required to satisfy such Awards.

4.2 Shares of Common Stock available for distribution under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares, treasury shares or shares reacquired by the Company in any manner.

4.3 Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11, no more than 1,800,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued in the aggregate pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options (inclusive of shares issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan prior to the Effective Date) (the "ISO Limit").

4.4 The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards granted during a single Fiscal Year to any Director, together with any cash fees paid to such Director during the Fiscal Year, shall not exceed a total value of $300,000 (calculating the value of any Awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes).

4.5 To the extent that an Award lapses or is canceled, forfeited, or the rights of its Holder terminate without issuance of the full number of shares of Common Stock to which the Award relates, or the Award is settled in cash, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Award shall again be available for grant under an Award. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: shares subject to an Award

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under the Plan shall not again be made available for issuance or delivery under the Plan if such shares are (a) shares surrendered or withheld in payment of the exercise price of an Option, (b) shares delivered or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation, or (c) shares covered by a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right or other Awards that were not issued upon the settlement of the Award.

4.6 Awards may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (" Substitute Awards "). Substitute Awards shall not be counted against the Total Share Reserve; provided, that, Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options shall be counted against the ISO limit. Subject to applicable stock exchange requirements, available shares under a shareholder-approved plan of an entity directly or indirectly acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (as appropriately adjusted to reflect such acquisition or transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not count toward the Total Share Limit.

5. Eligibility .

5.1 Eligibility for Specific Awards . Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Consultants and Directors and those individuals whom the Committee determines are reasonably expected to become Employees, Consultants and Directors following the Grant Date.

5.2 Ten Percent Shareholders . A Ten Percent Shareholder shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the Option Exercise Price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the Grant Date.

6. Option Provisions . Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Option so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 6, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no liability to any Participant or any other person if an Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option fails to qualify as such at any time or if an Option is determined to constitute "nonqualified deferred compensation" within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the terms of such Option do not satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The provisions of separate Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

6.1 Term . Subject to the provisions of Section 5.2 regarding Ten Percent Shareholders, no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the Grant Date. The term of a Nonqualified Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however , no Nonqualified Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the Grant Date.

6.2 Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option . Subject to the provisions of Section 5.2 regarding Ten Percent Shareholders, the Option Exercise Price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may be granted with an Option Exercise Price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.

6.3 Exercise Price of a Nonqualified Stock Option . The Option Exercise Price of each Nonqualified Stock Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Nonqualified Stock Option may be granted with an Option Exercise Price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is

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granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.

6.4 Consideration . The Option Exercise Price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations, either (a) in cash or by certified or bank check at the time the Option is exercised or (b) in the discretion of the Committee, upon such terms as the Committee shall approve, the Option Exercise Price may be paid: (i) by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company, with a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the Option Exercise Price (or portion thereof) due for the number of shares being acquired, or by means of attestation whereby the Participant identifies for delivery specific shares of Common Stock that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of attestation equal to the Option Exercise Price (or portion thereof) and receives a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the difference between the number of shares thereby purchased and the number of identified attestation shares of Common Stock (a " Stock for Stock Exchange "); (ii) a "cashless" exercise program established with a broker; (iii) by reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of such Option with a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Option Exercise Price at the time of exercise; (iv) by any combination of the foregoing methods; or (v) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee. Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Option, the exercise price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option that is paid by delivery (or attestation) to the Company of other Common Stock acquired, directly or indirectly from the Company, shall be paid only by shares of the Common Stock of the Company that have been held for more than six months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes). Notwithstanding the foregoing, during any period for which the Common Stock is publicly traded (i.e., the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system) an exercise by a Director or Officer that involves or may involve a direct or indirect extension of credit or arrangement of an extension of credit by the Company, directly or indirectly, in violation of Section 402(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 shall be prohibited with respect to any Award under this Plan.

6.5 Transferability of an Incentive Stock Option . An Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.

6.6 Transferability of a Nonqualified Stock Option . A Nonqualified Stock Option may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be transferable to a Permitted Transferee, upon written approval by the Committee to the extent provided in the Award Agreement. If the Nonqualified Stock Option does not provide for transferability, then the Nonqualified Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.

6.7 Vesting of Options . Subject to Section 10.1, each Option may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Committee may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. No Option may be exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting and exercisability in the terms of any Award Agreement upon the occurrence of a specified event.

6.8 Termination of Continuous Service . Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or in an employment agreement the terms of which have been approved by the Committee, in the event an Optionholder's Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder's death or Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a) the date

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three months following the termination of the Optionholder's Continuous Service or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that , if the termination of Continuous Service is by the Company for Cause, all outstanding Options (whether or not vested) shall immediately terminate and cease to be exercisable. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate.

6.9 Extension of Termination Date . An Optionholder's Award Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionholder's Continuous Service for any reason would be prohibited at any time because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act or any other state or federal securities law or the rules of any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (a) the expiration of the term of the Option in accordance with Section 6.1 or (b) the expiration of a period after termination of the Participant's Continuous Service that is three months after the end of the period during which the exercise of the Option would be in violation of such registration or other securities law requirements.

6.10 Disability of Optionholder . Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, in the event that an Optionholder's Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder's Disability, the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a) the date 12 months following such termination or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein or in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate.

6.11 Death of Optionholder . Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, in the event an Optionholder's Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder's death, then the Option may be exercised (to the extent the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of death) by the Optionholder's estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the Option upon the Optionholder's death, but only within the period ending on the earlier of (a) the date 12 months following the date of death or (b) the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after the Optionholder's death, the Option is not exercised within the time specified herein or in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate.

6.12 Incentive Stock Option $100,000 Limitation . To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds $100,000, the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.

7. Provisions of Awards Other Than Options .

7.1 Stock Appreciation Rights .  

(a) Each Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7.1, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted alone (" Free Standing Rights ") or in tandem with an Option granted under the Plan (" Related Rights ").

(b) Any Related Right that relates to a Nonqualified Stock Option may be granted at the same time the Option is granted or at any time thereafter but before the exercise or expiration of the Option. Any Related Right that relates to an Incentive Stock Option must be granted at the same time the Incentive Stock Option is granted.

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(c) The term of a Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however , no Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date.

(d) Subject to Section 10.1, each Stock Appreciation Right may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Stock Appreciation Right may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised as the Committee may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Stock Appreciation Rights may vary. No Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting and exercisability in the terms of any Stock Appreciation Right upon the occurrence of a specified event.

(e) Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the holder shall be entitled to receive from the Company an amount equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Award is exercised, over (ii) the exercise price specified in the Stock Appreciation Right or related Option. Payment with respect to the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be made on the date of exercise. Payment shall be made in the form of shares of Common Stock (with or without restrictions as to substantial risk of forfeiture and transferability, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion), cash or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.

(f) The exercise price of a Free Standing Right shall be determined by the Committee, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date of such Stock Appreciation Right. A Related Right granted simultaneously with or subsequent to the grant of an Option and in conjunction therewith or in the alternative thereto shall have the same exercise price as the related Option, shall be transferable only upon the same terms and conditions as the related Option, and shall be exercisable only to the same extent as the related Option; provided, however , that a Stock Appreciation Right, by its terms, shall be exercisable only when the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right and related Option exceeds the exercise price per share thereof and no Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with an Option unless the Committee determines that the requirements of Section 7.1(b) are satisfied.

(g) Upon any exercise of a Related Right, the number of shares of Common Stock for which any related Option shall be exercisable shall be reduced by the number of shares for which the Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised. The number of shares of Common Stock for which a Related Right shall be exercisable shall be reduced upon any exercise of any related Option by the number of shares of Common Stock for which such Option has been exercised.

7.2 Restricted Awards .  

(a) A Restricted Award is an Award of actual shares of Common Stock (" Restricted Stock ") or hypothetical Common Stock units (" Restricted Stock Units ") having a value equal to the Fair Market Value of an identical number of shares of Common Stock, which may, but need not, provide that such Restricted Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of, pledged or hypothecated as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of any obligation or for any other purpose for such period (the " Restricted Period ") as the Committee shall determine, subject to Section 10.1. Each Restricted Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Restricted Award so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7.2, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement.

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(b) Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

(i) Each Participant granted Restricted Stock shall execute and deliver to the Company an Award Agreement with respect to the Restricted Stock setting forth the restrictions and other terms and conditions applicable to such Restricted Stock. If the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (A) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, if applicable and (B) the appropriate blank stock power with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement. If a Participant fails to execute an agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and stock power, the Award shall be null and void. Subject to the restrictions set forth in the Award, the Participant generally shall have the rights and privileges of a shareholder as to such Restricted Stock, including the right to vote such Restricted Stock.  At the discretion of the Committee, cash dividends and stock dividends with respect to the Restricted Stock may be either (A) currently paid to the Participant or (B) withheld by the Company for the Participant's account, and interest may be credited on the amount of the cash dividends withheld at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee. The cash dividends or stock dividends so withheld by the Committee and attributable to any particular share of Restricted Stock (and earnings thereon, if applicable) shall be distributed to the Participant in cash or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, if applicable, upon the release of restrictions on such share and, if such share is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividends.

(ii) The terms and conditions of a grant of Restricted Stock Units shall be reflected in an Award Agreement. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued at the time a Restricted Stock Unit is granted, and the Company will not be required to set aside funds for the payment of any such Award. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder. The Committee may also grant Restricted Stock Units with a deferral feature, whereby settlement is deferred beyond the vesting date until the occurrence of a future payment date or event set forth in an Award Agreement (" Deferred Stock Units "). At the discretion of the Committee, each Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit (representing one share of Common Stock) may be credited with an amount equal to the cash and stock dividends paid by the Company in respect of one share of Common Stock (" Dividend Equivalents "). At the discretion of the Committee, Dividend Equivalents may be either (A) paid currently (and in no case later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividend is paid to the holders of the Common Stock or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date the dividend is paid to holders of the Common Stock) or (B) withheld by the Company and credited to the Participant's account, with interest being credited on the amount of cash Dividend Equivalents credited to the Participant's account at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee. Dividend Equivalents credited to a Participant's account and attributable to any particular Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit (and earnings thereon, if applicable) shall be distributed in cash or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such Dividend Equivalents and earnings, if applicable, to the Participant upon settlement of such Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit and, if such Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such Dividend Equivalents.

(c) Restrictions

(i) Restricted Stock awarded to a Participant shall be subject to the following restrictions until the expiration of the Restricted Period, and satisfaction of any applicable performance goals during such period, and to such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement: (A) if an escrow arrangement is

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used, the Participant shall not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate; (B) the shares shall be subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in the Award Agreement; (C) the shares shall be subject to forfeiture to the extent provided in the applicable Award Agreement; and (D) to the extent such shares are forfeited, the stock certificates shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such shares and as a shareholder with respect to such shares shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company.

(ii) Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units awarded to any Participant shall be subject to (A) forfeiture until the expiration of the Restricted Period, and satisfaction of any applicable performance goals during such period, to the extent provided in the applicable Award Agreement, and to the extent such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are forfeited, all rights of the Participant to such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company and (B) such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

(iii) The Committee shall have the authority to remove any or all of the restrictions on the Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units whenever it may determine that, by reason of changes in Applicable Laws or other changes in circumstances arising after the date the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are granted, such action is appropriate.

(d) Subject to Section 10.1, with respect to Restricted Awards, the Restricted Period shall commence on the Grant Date and end at the time or times set forth on a schedule established by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement.   No Restricted Award may be granted or settled for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting in the terms of any Award Agreement upon the occurrence of a specified event.

(e) Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any shares of Restricted Stock, the restrictions set forth in Section 7.2(c) and the applicable Award Agreement shall be of no further force or effect with respect to such shares, except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. If an escrow arrangement is used, upon such expiration, upon request, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his or her beneficiary, without charge, the stock certificate evidencing the shares of Restricted Stock which have not then been forfeited and with respect to which the Restricted Period has expired (to the nearest full share) and any cash dividends or stock dividends credited to the Participant's account with respect to such Restricted Stock and the interest thereon, if any. Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any outstanding Restricted Stock Units, or at the expiration of the deferral period with respect to any outstanding Deferred Stock Units, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his or her beneficiary, without charge, one share of Common Stock for each such outstanding vested Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit (" Vested Unit ") and cash equal to any Dividend Equivalents credited with respect to each such Vested Unit in accordance with Section 7.2(b)(ii) hereof and the interest thereon or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to such Dividend Equivalents and the interest thereon, if any; provided, however , that, if explicitly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to pay cash or part cash and part Common Stock in lieu of delivering only shares of Common Stock for Vested Units. If a cash payment is made in lieu of delivering shares of Common Stock, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the date on which the Restricted Period lapsed in the case of Restricted Stock Units, or the delivery date in the case of Deferred Stock Units, with respect to each Vested Unit.

(f) Any certificate representing Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan shall bear a legend in such form as the Company deems appropriate.

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7.3 Performance Awards .  

(a) The Committee may award to any Participant performance shares or performance share units (" Performance Awards "). Each performance share shall represent, as the Committee shall determine, one share of Common Stock.  Each performance share unit shall represent the right of the Participant to receive an amount equal to the value determined in the manner established by the Committee at the time of the award.  Each Performance Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7.3, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement, and to the minimum vesting provisions of Section 10.1.

(b) Each Performance Award shall specify Performance Goals which, if achieved, will result in the Participant earning the Award, and each Award may specify in respect of such specified Performance Goals a minimum acceptable level of achievement and may set forth a formula for determining the number of performance shares or performance share units that will be earned if performance is at or above the minimum level, but falls short of full achievement of the specified Performance Goals, and any requirements in addition to the achievement of Performance Goals that are necessary for the Award to vest. Each Performance Award shall specify that, in order for any portion of the Award to be earned or paid, the Committee must determine the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals and other material terms of the Award have been satisfied. Performance Goals may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or objectives that are related to the performance of the individual participant or an Affiliate, business unit, division, department, region or function within the Company or Affiliate. Performance Goals may be made relative to the performance of a group of other companies or one or more published or special indices that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or the Committee may select Performance Goals as compared to various stock market indices. The Performance Goals shall be established in writing within ninety (90) days after the beginning of the applicable Performance Period (or at such other time as determined by the Committee in its discretion) and may be based on absolute or specified levels of or growth in one or more criteria as the Committee deems appropriate.  If the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances (including those events and circumstances described in Section 11) render the Performance Goals unsuitable, the Committee may in its discretion modify such Performance Goals or the related levels of achievement, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate.  Subject to Section 10.1, the Performance Period for each Award within which the Performance Goals are to be achieved, and the vesting period of such Award, shall be of such duration as the Committee shall establish at the time of award.  There may be more than one Award in existence at any one time, and Performance Periods may differ.

(c) The Committee shall have the discretion to determine: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock or stock-denominated units subject to a Performance Award granted to any Participant; (ii) the Performance Period applicable to any Award; (iii) the conditions that must be satisfied for a Participant to earn an Award; and (iv) the other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award.

(d) At the discretion of the Committee, each Performance Award may be credited with Dividend Equivalents. At the discretion of the Committee, Dividend Equivalents may be either (A) paid currently (and in no case later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividend is paid to the holders of the Common Stock or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date the dividend is paid to holders of the Common Stock) or (B) withheld by the Company and credited to the Participant's account, with interest being credited on the amount of cash Dividend Equivalents credited to the Participant's account at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee.  Dividend Equivalents credited to a Participant's account and attributable to any particular performance share unit (and earnings thereon, if applicable) shall be distributed in cash or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such Dividend Equivalents and earnings, if applicable, to the Participant upon

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settlement of such performance share unit s and, to the extent such performance share unit s are forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such Dividend Equivalents.

(e) Payments with respect to Performance Awards may be made in a lump sum or in installments, in cash, shares of Common Stock, property or in a combination thereof, as the Committee may determine in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.

7.4 Other Equity-Based Awards . The Committee may grant Other Equity-Based Awards, either alone or in tandem with other Awards, in such amounts and subject to such conditions as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. Each Equity-Based Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and shall be subject to such conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement, and to the minimum vesting provisions of Section 10.1.

8. Securities Law Compliance . Each Award Agreement shall provide that no shares of Common Stock shall be purchased or sold thereunder unless and until (a) any then applicable requirements of state or federal laws and regulatory agencies have been fully complied with to the satisfaction of the Company and its counsel and (b) if required to do so by the Company, the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company a letter of investment intent in such form and containing such provisions as the Committee may require. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Awards; provided, however , that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Awards unless and until such authority is obtained.

9. Use of Proceeds from Stock . Proceeds from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Awards, or upon exercise thereof, shall constitute general funds of the Company.

10. Miscellaneous .

10.1 Minimum Vesting Provision .    Subject to Sections 11, 12 and 13, (a) no condition on vesting or exercisability of an Award, whether based on continued employment or other service or based upon the achievement of Performance Goals, shall be based on service or performance (as applicable) of a period of less than one year (or three years in the case of Awards granted to the Company's Chief Executive Officer), and (b) upon and after such minimum one-year (or three-year) period, restrictions on vesting or exercisability of such Awards may lapse on a pro-rated, graded, or cliff basis as specified in the applicable Award Agreement; provided, however, that (i) the Committee may provide that such minimum vesting restrictions may lapse or be waived in connection with or following a Participant's death, Disability, termination of service or Change in Control, (ii) awards covering up to five percent (5%) of the shares of Common Stock available to be issued pursuant to Section 4.1, as determined on the Effective Date, may be granted under the Plan as unrestricted shares of Common Stock or otherwise as Awards with a Performance Period or vesting period of less than one year, and (iii) for purposes of Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors, a vesting period shall be deemed to be one year if the Awards are granted to Non-Employee Directors in connection with their election or reelection to the Board at an annual meeting of shareholders and the awards vest on the first day of the month in which the next annual meeting of the Company's shareholders is held, so long as the period between such meetings is not less than 50 weeks.

10.2 Acceleration of Exercisability and Vesting . The Committee shall have the power to accelerate the time at which an Award may first be exercised or the time during which an Award or any part thereof will vest in accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Award stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest.

10.3 Shareholder Rights . Except as provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement, no Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of

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Common Stock subject to such Award unless and until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Award pursuant to its terms and no adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions of other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Common Stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 11 hereof.

10.4 No Employment or Other Service Rights . Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (a) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without Cause or (b) the service of a Director pursuant to the By-laws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be.

10.5 Transfer; Approved Leave of Absence . For purposes of the Plan, no termination of employment by an Employee shall be deemed to result from either (a) a transfer of employment to the Company from an Affiliate or from the Company to an Affiliate, or from one Affiliate to another, or (b) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the Employee's right to reemployment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Committee otherwise so provides in writing, in either case, except to the extent inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code if the applicable Award is subject thereto.

10.6 Withholding Obligations . To the extent provided by the terms of an Award Agreement and subject to the discretion of the Committee, the Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under an Award by any of the following means (in addition to the Company's right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (a) tendering a cash payment; (b) authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Award, provided, however , that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the maximum statutory tax rates applicable to the Participant; or (c) delivering to the Company previously owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock of the Company.

11. Adjustments Upon Changes in Stock . In the event of changes in the outstanding Common Stock or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of any stock or extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, an extraordinary corporate transaction such as any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange, or other relevant change in capitalization occurring after the Grant Date of any Award, Awards granted under the Plan and any Award Agreements, the exercise price of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the Performance Goals to which Performance Awards are subject, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to all Awards stated in Section 4 will be equitably adjusted or substituted, as to the number, price or kind of a share of Common Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards to the extent necessary to preserve the economic intent of such Award. In the case of adjustments made pursuant to this Section 11, unless the Committee specifically determines that such adjustment is in the best interests of the Company or its Affiliates, the Committee shall, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, ensure that any adjustments under this Section 11 will not constitute a modification, extension or renewal of the Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code and in the case of Nonqualified Stock Options, ensure that any adjustments under this Section 11 will not constitute a modification of such Nonqualified Stock Options within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any adjustments made under this Section 11 shall be made in a manner which does not adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The Company shall give each Participant notice of an adjustment hereunder and, upon notice, such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.

12. Effect of Change in Control .

12.1 Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary:

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(a) In the event of a Change in Control, all outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall become immediately exercisable with respect to 100% of the shares subject to such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, and/or the Restricted Period shall expire immediately with respect to 100% of the outstanding shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

(b) With respect to Performance Awards, in the event of a Change in Control, all incomplete Performance Periods in respect of such Awards in effect on the date the Change in Control occurs shall end on the date of such change and the Committee shall (i) determine the extent to which Performance Goals with respect to each such Performance Period have been met based upon such audited or unaudited financial information then available as it deems relevant and (ii) cause to be paid to the applicable Participant partial or full Awards with respect to Performance Goals for each such Performance Period based upon the Committee's determination of the degree of attainment of Performance Goals or, if not determinable, assuming that the applicable "target" levels of performance have been attained, or on such other basis determined by the Committee.

To the extent practicable, any actions taken by the Committee under the immediately preceding clauses (a) and (b) shall occur in a manner and at a time which allows affected Participants the ability to participate in the Change in Control with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to their Awards.

12.2 In addition, in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may in its discretion and upon at least 10 days' advance notice to the affected persons, cancel any outstanding Awards and pay to the holders thereof, in cash or stock, or any combination thereof, the value of such Awards based upon the price per share of Common Stock received or to be received by other shareholders of the Company in the event. In the case of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price (or SAR Exercise Price in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right) that equals or exceeds the price paid for a share of Common Stock in connection with the Change in Control, the Committee may cancel the Option or Stock Appreciation Right without the payment of consideration therefor.

12.3 The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to all or substantially all of the assets and business of the Company and its Affiliates, taken as a whole.

13. Amendment of the Plan and Awards .

13.1 Amendment of Plan . The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend or terminate the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 11 relating to adjustments upon changes in Common Stock and Section 13.3, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders of the Company to the extent shareholder approval is necessary to satisfy any Applicable Laws. At the time of such amendment, the Board shall determine, upon advice from counsel, whether such amendment will be contingent on shareholder approval.

13.2 Shareholder Approval . The Board may, in its sole discretion, submit any other amendment to the Plan for shareholder approval.

13.3 Contemplated Amendments . It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees, Consultants and Directors with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options or to the nonqualified deferred compensation provisions of Section 409A of the Code and/or to bring the Plan and/or Awards granted under it into compliance therewith.

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13.4 No Impairment of Rights . Rights under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (a) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (b) the Participant consents in writing.

13.5 Amendment of Awards . The Committee at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Awards; provided, however , that the Committee may not affect any amendment which would otherwise constitute an impairment of the rights under any Award unless (a) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (b) the Participant consents in writing.

14. General Provisions .

14.1 Forfeiture Events . The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant's rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain events, in addition to applicable vesting conditions of an Award. Such events may include, without limitation, breach of non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that are contained in the Award Agreement or otherwise applicable to the Participant, a termination of the Participant's Continuous Service for Cause, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company and/or its Affiliates.

14.2 Clawback . Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan, the Company may cancel any Award, require reimbursement of any Award by a Participant, and effect any other right of recoupment of equity or other compensation provided under the Plan in accordance with any Company policies that may be adopted and/or modified from time to time ( "Clawback Policy" ). In addition, a Participant may be required to repay to the Company previously paid compensation, whether provided pursuant to the Plan or an Award Agreement, in accordance with the Clawback Policy. By accepting an Award, the Participant is agreeing to be bound by the Clawback Policy, as in effect or as may be adopted and/or modified from time to time by the Company in its discretion (including, without limitation, to comply with applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements).

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

14.4 Sub-Plans . The Committee may from time to time establish sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying securities, tax or other laws of various jurisdictions in which the Company intends to grant Awards. Any sub-plans shall contain such limitations and other terms and conditions as the Committee determines are necessary or desirable. All sub-plans shall be deemed a part of the Plan, but each sub-plan shall apply only to the Participants in the jurisdiction for which the sub-plan was designed.

14.5 Deferral of Awards . The Committee may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Participants the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an Award, satisfaction of performance criteria, or other event that absent the election would entitle the Participant to payment or receipt of shares of Common Stock or other consideration under an Award. The Committee may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, shares or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules and procedures that the Committee deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program.

14.6 Unfunded Plan . The Plan shall be unfunded. Neither the Company, the Board nor the Committee shall be required to establish any special or separate fund or to segregate any assets to assure the performance of its obligations under the Plan.

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14.7 Recapitalizations . Each Award Agreement shall contain provisions required to reflect the provisions of Section 11.

14.8 Delivery . Upon exercise of a right granted under this Plan, the Company shall issue Common Stock or pay any amounts due within a reasonable period of time thereafter. Subject to any statutory or regulatory obligations the Company may otherwise have, for purposes of this Plan, 30 days shall be considered a reasonable period of time.

14.9 No Fractional Shares . No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan. The Committee shall determine whether cash, additional Awards or other securities or property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or whether any fractional shares should be rounded, forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

14.10 Other Provisions . The Award Agreements authorized under the Plan may contain such other provisions not inconsistent with this Plan, including, without limitation, restrictions upon the exercise of Awards, as the Committee may deem advisable.

14.11 Section 409A . The Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the "short-term deferral period" as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Laws require otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six (6) month period immediately following the Participant's termination of Continuous Service shall instead be paid on the first payroll date after the six-month anniversary of the Participant's separation from service (or the Participant's death, if earlier). Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor the Committee shall have any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any additional tax or penalty on any Participant under Section 409A of the Code and neither the Company nor the Committee will have any liability to any Participant for such tax or penalty.

14.12 Disqualifying Dispositions . Any Participant who shall make a "disposition" (as defined in Section 424 of the Code) of all or any portion of shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within two years from the Grant Date of such Incentive Stock Option or within one year after the issuance of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of such Incentive Stock Option (a " Disqualifying Disposition ") shall be required to immediately advise the Company in writing as to the occurrence of the sale and the price realized upon the sale of such shares of Common Stock.

14.13 Section 16 . It is the intent of the Company that the Plan satisfy, and be interpreted in a manner that satisfies, the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 as promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act so that Participants will be entitled to the benefit of Rule 16b-3, or any other rule promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and will not be subject to short-swing liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, if the operation of any provision of the Plan would conflict with the intent expressed in this Section 14.13, such provision to the extent possible shall be interpreted and/or deemed amended so as to avoid such conflict.

14.14 Beneficiary Designation . Each Participant under the Plan may from time to time name any beneficiary or beneficiaries by whom any right under the Plan is to be exercised in case of such Participant's death. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form reasonably prescribed by the Committee and shall be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant's lifetime.

14.15 Employees' Rights Unsecured .  The right of an employee to receive Common Stock, cash or any other payment under this Plan shall be an unsecured claim against the general assets of the Company.  The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, acquire shares of Common Stock from time to time in anticipation of its obligations under this Plan, but a Participant shall have no right in or against any shares of

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Common Stock so acquired.  All Common Stock shall constitute the general assets of the Company and may be disposed of by the Company at such time and for such purposes as it deems appropriate.

14.16 Expenses . The costs of administering the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

14.17 Severability . If any of the provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, whether in whole or in part, such provision shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby.

14.18 Plan Headings . The headings in the Plan are for purposes of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the construction of the provisions hereof.

14.19 Non-Uniform Treatment . The Committee's determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who are eligible to receive, or actually receive, Awards. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled to make non-uniform and selective determinations, amendments and adjustments, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements.

15. Effective Date of Plan . Subject to shareholder approval at the 2019 annual meeting of the Company's shareholders, the Plan, as amended and restated, shall become effective as of the Effective Date.  No Awards granted on or after the Effective Date that could not have been granted under the terms of the Plan prior to the Effective Date (“ New Awards ”) may vest, become exercisable or be paid unless and until the Plan is approved by the shareholders at such meeting.  If shareholder approval is not obtained at such meeting, (a) any New Awards granted on or after the Effective Date shall automatically terminate at the conclusion of such meeting, (b) the Plan, as amended and restated, shall not become effective, and (c) the Plan shall continue in accordance with its terms immediately prior to this amendment and restatement.

16. Termination or Suspension of the Plan . The Plan shall terminate automatically on the date that is ten (10) years after the Effective Date. No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan after such date, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any earlier date pursuant to Section 13.1 hereof. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

17. Choice of Law . The law of the State of Texas shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state's conflict of law rules.

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Exhibit 10.2

ALLEGIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

2019 AMENDED AND RESTATED

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

 

Allegiance Bancshares, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Company"), adopted and subsequently amended the Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan, effective as of November 15, 2011 (the “2011 Plan”).  The 2011 Plan was amended and restated by the Board as the Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. 2019 Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) on January 24, 2019, subject to approval by the Company's shareholders.

 

1. Purpose .  The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable eligible employees of Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. and its designated Subsidiaries to acquire proprietary interests in the Company (as defined below) through the ownership of Stock (as defined below) in order to establish a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company by providing them with another and more direct means of participating in its growth and earnings which, in turn, will provide motivation for participating employees to remain in the employ of and to give greater effort on behalf of their Employers (as defined below).  It is the intention of the Company that the Plan qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the Code (as defined below).  The provisions of the Plan shall, accordingly, be construed so as to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that Section of the Code.

 

2. Definitions .  Unless the context clearly requires a different meaning, the following words or terms, when used herein, shall have the following respective meanings:

 

(a) "Account" means the brokerage account maintained for each Participant under the Plan by the Plan Administrator.

 

(b) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(c) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(d) "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

(e) "Company" means Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. and its successors.

 

(f) "Date of Purchase" means the last day of each Purchase Period, on which date Stock for such Purchase Period shall be purchased.

 

(g) "Eligible Employee" means any Employee except for the following:

 

(1) an Employee who would, immediately upon enrollment or re-enrollment in the Plan, own directly or indirectly five percent or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(2) an Employee whose customary employment is twenty (20) hours or less per week; and

 

(3) an Employee whose customary employment is for not more than five (5) months in any calendar year;

 

For purposes of the determination in clause (1) above, (i) the Employee shall be deemed to own stock attributed to him or her under the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code; and (ii) the Employee shall be considered to own any stock that the Employee could purchase through the exercise of any option or right to acquire stock held by the Employee (including a right to acquire stock under this Plan).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may exclude from participation in the Plan or any Purchase Period Employees who are "highly compensated employees" of an Employer (within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code) or a sub-set of such highly compensated employees.

 

 


 

 

(h) "Employee" means an individual regularly employed by an Employer.  "Employee" shall not include a non-employee director of the Company.  Whether an individual qualifies as an Employee shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. The Committee shall be guided by the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h) and Section 3401(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, with the intent that the Plan cover all "employees" within the meaning of those provisions other than those who are not eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

(i) "Employer" means the Company and its Subsidiaries that are designated from time to time by the Board as covered by the Plan, as the employer of an Employee.  As used in this Plan, the term "Employer" means collectively the Company and all such designated Subsidiaries, unless the context requires a different meaning.  The Board may designate the Employers from time to time from among a group consisting of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including corporations that become Subsidiaries after the adoption and approval of the Plan.

 

(j) "Enrollment Deadline" means, for each Purchase Period, the last day after  the beginning of such Purchase Period on which it is administratively feasible to process payroll deduction elections to be effective for the first payroll period during the Purchase Period, unless the Committee establishes a different Enrollment Deadline for a particular Purchase Period.

 

(k) "Enrollment Form" means a statement signed by an Eligible Employee on a form provided by the Plan Administrator, or an election made through applicable electronic procedures, indicating the Eligible Employee elects to become a Participant and authorizing a payroll deduction for the purchase of Stock pursuant to the Plan.

 

(l) "Exchange Act" means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(m) "Fair Market Value" of Stock on a particular date means the closing sales price of Stock on the exchange on which such stock is traded on that date, or if no prices are reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such prices of Stock are so reported.  If Stock is not traded on such exchange at the time a determination of its Fair Market Value is required to be made hereunder, its Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to the average between the closing bid and ask prices of Stock on the most recent date Stock was publicly traded.  In the event Stock is not publicly traded at the time a determination of its Fair Market Value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of its Fair Market Value shall be made by the Committee in such manner as it deems appropriate.

 

(n) "Participant" means an Eligible Employee who enrolls in the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 herein and who is currently making payroll deductions for the purchase of Stock.  "Active Participant" shall also include an individual on a long-term leave of absence who has made arrangements to continue payment of contributions as described in Section 11.

 

(o) "Plan" means this Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. 2019 Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

(p) "Plan Administrator" means the Plan Administrator appointed by the Board to administer this Plan.  The Plan Administrator shall initially be Computershare.

 

(q) "Plan Supervisor" means the person(s) designated pursuant to Section 4 herein to assist Employees and/or Participants in Plan matters.

 

(r) "Purchase Period" means the period set forth in Section 5.

 

(s) "Purchase Price" means the price at which Stock shall be purchased, as set forth in Section 10.

 

 

 

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( t ) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(u) "Stock" means the common stock of the Company, $ 1.00 par value.

 

(v) "Subsidiary" means any "subsidiary corporation" of the Company, as defined in Code Section 424(f).

 

3. Number of Shares of Stock Under the Plan .  Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 17, a total of 200,000 shares of Stock (inclusive of shares sold under the Plan prior to the Effective Date) may be sold to Eligible Employees under this Plan.  The Stock subject to this Plan shall consist of authorized but unissued Stock or previously issued Stock reacquired and held by the Company, and such number of shares of Stock shall be and is hereby reserved for sale for such purpose.  

 

4. Administration of the Plan .  

 

(a) This Plan shall be administered by the Plan Administrator.  The Plan Administrator is vested with full authority to administer the Plan with respect to Participants' Accounts.  The Committee is vested with full authority to administer payroll deductions under the Plan, to interpret the Plan, to make, interpret, amend and rescind such equitable rules and regulations regarding this Plan as it may deem advisable, and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the operation of this Plan.

 

(b) To aid in fulfilling its responsibilities, the Committee may appoint one or more Plan Supervisors and the Committee may allocate to each person so appointed certain limited responsibilities to carry out the directives of the Committee in all phases of the operation of the Plan. Specifically, the Committee may delegate to such agent or agents any of its authority under the Plan except its authority to construe and interpret the provisions of the Plan.

 

(c) All actions taken by the Plan Administrator, and all actions taken, and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee and the Plan Supervisor (including determinations of fair market value) shall be final and binding upon Employees, Participants, the Company and all other interested persons.  Neither the Plan Administrator nor any member of the Committee nor the Plan Supervisor shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Committee and the Plan Supervisor shall be fully protected by the Company with respect to any such action, determination or interpretation.

 

(d) The Committee may act by a majority vote at a regular or special meeting of the Committee or by decision reduced to writing and signed by a majority of the Committee without holding a formal meeting.  Vacancies in the membership of the Committee arising from death, resignation or other inability to serve shall be filled by appointment by the Board.

 

(e) The Company will pay all expenses incident to establishing and administering the Plan and purchasing or issuing Stock, provided that Participants will pay all costs associated with the issuance of certificates for Stock and all costs incurred in selling, disposing of, or transferring Stock acquired under the Plan, including transfers to a brokerage account or a direct registration system.

 

5. Purchase Period .  The Plan will be implemented by Purchase Periods, the commencement and duration of which shall be determined by the Board, provided that no Purchase Period may exceed 27 months.  More than one Purchase Period may be in effect at any one time.  Except for the limitation in Section 6, participation in any Purchase Period under the Plan shall neither limit nor require participation in any other Purchase Period.  The Board may, at any time and for any reason, terminate a Purchase Period, in which case all accumulated payroll deductions during such Purchase Period shall, in the Board's discretion, be refunded to the Participants or used to purchase shares of Stock with the date of termination as the Date of Purchase.

 

6. Number of Shares of Stock Which May Be Purchased .  

 

 

 

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(a) Each Participant shall be allowed to purchase as many shares of Stock as the amount of his accrued payroll deductions at the end of each Purchase Period can purchase, not to exceed the number of shares of Stock determined by dividing the total sum of his authorized payroll deductions for the Purchase Period by the Purchase Price per share of Stock (as set forth in Section 10).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the minimum number of shares of Stock that may be purchased by an Employee during a Purchase Period is 50, and the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be purchased by an Employee during a Purchase Period is 500.  Further, no Employee shall be granted an option to purchase Stock under this Plan which permits his rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries to accrue at a rate which exceeds in any one calendar year $25,000 of the fair market value of the stock determined as of the date the right to purchase is granted.  

 

(b) In the event the total number of shares of Stock to be purchased pursuant to all Enrollment Forms with respect to a Purchase Period exceeds the available shares of Stock pursuant to Section 3, the Committee reserves the right to allocate the number of shares of Stock which Participants may purchase in such manner as it deems fair and equitable, and notify each Participant of such allocation.

 

7. Grant of Option on Enrollment .

 

(a) Enrollment by a Participant in the Plan will constitute the grant by the Company to the Participant of an option to purchase shares of Stock from the Company under the Plan.

 

(b) Each option granted under the Plan shall have the following terms, in addition to other terms set forth herein:


(1)Each option granted under the Plan will have a term of not longer than the length of the Purchase Period; notwithstanding the foregoing, however, whether or not all shares have been purchased thereunder, the option will expire on the earlier to occur of (A) the completion of the purchase of shares on the Date of Purchase, or (B) the date on which the Participant's employment with the Employer terminates;

 

(2) Payment for shares purchased under the option will be made only through payroll withholding in accordance with Section 8;

 

(3) Purchase of shares upon exercise of the option will be effected only on the Date of Purchase in accordance with Section 9;

 

(4) The Purchase Price per share under the option will be
determined as provided in Section 10;

 

(5) Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 17 and the limits set forth in Section 6, the number of shares available for purchase under an option will be determined by dividing (i) such Participant's payroll deductions accumulated during the Purchase Period as of the Date of Purchase by (ii) the applicable Purchase Price determined in accordance with Section 10;

 

(6) The option will in all respects be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, as interpreted by the Committee, in its sole discretion, from time to time.

8. Participation in the Plan; Payroll Deductions .

 

(a) An Eligible Employee may enroll in the Plan and become a Participant for a Purchase Period by completing an Enrollment Form designating a dollar amount of payroll deductions and filing it with the Plan Administrator no later than the Enrollment Deadline for such Purchase Period.  An Eligible Employee must affirmatively enroll for each Purchase Period under the Plan, as payroll deduction elections will not carryover from one Purchase Period to the next.  An individual who first becomes an Eligible Employee (including a newly hired or re-hired Employee) after the Enrollment Deadline may not enroll in

 

 

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the Plan for such Purchase Period.  No Enrollment Form shall be honored for a Purchase Period with respect to any individual who is not an Eligible Employee as of the Enrollment Deadline for such Purchase Period.  An Eligible Employee who timely files an Enrollment Form for a Purchase Period will become a Participant and payroll deductions shall commence with the first payroll period in the Purchase Period.  Once an Eligible Employee has enrolled in the Plan for a Purchase Period, he will remain a Participant for such Purchase Period until (i) he discontinues his payroll deductions as provided below, or (ii) he ceases to be an Eligible Employee.  A Participant who has discontinued his payroll deductions for a Purchase Period may not re-enroll in the Plan for such Purchase Period.  A Participant who ceases to be an Eligible Employee during a Purchase Period and again becomes an Eligible Employee during the same Purchase Period may not re-enroll in the Plan for such Purchase Period.

 

(b) Payroll deductions for an Active Participant shall be made through the end of each Purchase Period unless sooner discontinued or terminated as provided in Sections 5, 8(e), 11 or 30 herein.  Payroll deductions shall be specified in after-tax dollar amounts. Such deductions shall be taken in conformity with the Employer's payroll deduction schedule.  Except as provided in Section 11, there shall be no rights of prepayment or payment of funds to be used for the purchase of Stock pursuant to the Plan through means other than payroll deductions.

 

(c) Payroll deductions for each Participant shall be made by the Employer and provided to the Plan Administrator as provided herein.

 

(d) A Participant may, no more than once during a Purchase Period, decrease the amount of his payroll deductions under his Enrollment Form (within the limitations set forth in Section 6), by completing and filing a new Enrollment Form with the Plan Administrator.  If a Participant decreases his payroll deductions to zero, he or she will be deemed to have discontinued payroll deductions and will be subject to paragraph (e) below.  A decrease in payroll deductions shall be prospective only and effective as soon as practicable.  Payroll deductions elected by a Participant for a Purchase Period shall remain in effect until the end of the Purchase Period or until such Participant changes or discontinues the payroll deductions or ceases to be an Eligible Employee.

 

(e) A Participant may discontinue his payroll deduction at any time during a Purchase Period by filing the prescribed form with the Plan Administrator.  Such change shall be prospective only and effective as soon as practicable.  Once discontinued, the Participant may not resume payroll deductions for the same Purchase Period.  All amounts deducted to the date of discontinuance will be refunded to the Participant.  If, prior to the last day of a Purchase Period, a Participant ceases to be an Eligible Employee but does not terminate employment with the Company or a Subsidiary, the Participant shall be treated as if he has discontinued his payroll deductions in accordance with this paragraph, and such Participant may not re-enroll in the Plan until he has again become an Eligible Employee.

 

9. Purchase of Stock .  Except as provided in Section 5, 8(e), 11 or 30, on the Date of Purchase, accrued payroll deductions made for each Participant for a Purchase Period will be applied to the purchase of Stock, at the Purchase Price determined under Section 10.  Any amounts representing a fractional share that are withheld but not applied toward the purchase of Stock during a Purchase Period shall be refunded to the Participant.  In no event shall any right to purchase Stock under the Plan be exercised for more than the available number of shares of Stock, and, after the available shares of Stock have been purchased, any remaining balance of any amount previously collected from Participants shall be refunded.  The Stock purchased by a Participant shall be deposited into the Participant's Account.  The Committee may require that the shares of Stock be retained in the Participant's Account for a specified period of time.

 

10. Purchase Price .  The Purchase Price per share of Stock for a Purchase Period shall be an amount equal to the lesser of (i) eighty-five percent (85%) (or such greater percentage as designated by the Committee) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the first day of the Purchase Period or (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) (or such greater percentage as designated by the Committee) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Date of Purchase; provided, that the Purchase Price per share of Stock will in no event be less than the par value of the Stock.

 

 

 

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11 . Termination of Employment; Leave of Absence .  

 

(a) If, prior to the last day of a Purchase Period, a Participant ceases to be employed by the Employer for any reason (including death, voluntary resignation, retirement or involuntary termination, with or without cause), his Enrollment Form shall be deemed to have been canceled, effective immediately.  The Participant's payroll deductions made but not yet used for purchases will be distributed in cash to the Participant (or his estate or beneficiary, as applicable in the case of death) as soon as practicable after his termination of employment.   

 

(b) If, prior to the last day of a Purchase Period, a Participant ceases to be actively employed because he commences a long-term leave of absence, then any accrued payroll deductions under the Plan during the Purchase Period to the date the Participant ceases to be actively employed shall be applied to the purchase of Stock for the Purchase Period on the Date of Purchase.  Subject to any applicable rules or regulations established by the Plan Administrator, the Participant shall be entitled to elect to continue to participate in the Plan until his employment terminates, provided the Participant makes the necessary arrangements with the Employer and/or the Plan Administrator to pay the requisite amounts that would, but for the leave of absence, be paid under the Plan through the Participant's payroll deductions.   For purposes of this paragraph, "long-term leave of absence" means a leave of absence agreed to in writing by the Employer (i) which is for a period of not more than six (6) months, or (ii) with respect to which reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or applicable law.

 

12. Interest on Payments .  No interest shall accrue or be paid on sums withheld from a Participant's pay for the purchase of Stock or with respect to any amount credited to a Participant's Account.

 

13. Rights as Shareholder .  No Participant shall have any rights of a shareholder with respect to any shares of Stock until the shares have been purchased in accordance with Section 9 and issued by the Company, at which time the Participant will be treated as the owner of such shares.

 

14. Rights Not Transferable .  A Participant's rights to purchase Stock pursuant to this Plan may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in Section 15), and shall be exercisable only during the Participant's lifetime and only by the Participant.  If this provision is violated, the right of the Participant to purchase Stock shall terminate and the only right remaining to such Participant under the Plan will be to have paid over to the person entitled thereto the amount of accrued payroll deductions then credited to such Participant.

 

15. Designation of Beneficiary . A Participant may file, on forms supplied by the Committee, a written designation of beneficiary who is to receive any shares of Stock and cash in respect of any fractional shares of Stock, if any, from the Participant's Account under the Plan in the event of such Participant's death. In addition, a Participant may file a written designation of beneficiary who is to receive any cash withheld through payroll deductions with respect to the Participant in the event of the Participant's death prior to the Purchase Date of a Purchase Period.

 

16. Purchase Period Limitation .  In no event shall a Participant be permitted to complete payment for Stock after the expiration of the Purchase Period with respect to which such Stock is purchased.

 

17. Changes in Capitalization .

 

(a) The existence of the Plan and the rights to purchase Stock hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the Company's shareholders to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company's capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.

 

(b) In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, sale of substantially all assets, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, split-up, split-off, distribution of assets or other change

 

 

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in corporate structure affecting the Stock such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee in its discretion to be appropriate, after considering any accounting impact to the Company, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of benefits under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such a manner as it may in its discretion deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the aggregate number and kind of shares of Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan, and (ii) the number and kind of shares which may be purchased by any individual in any Purchase Period.  I n the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, sale of substantially all assets, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, split-up, split-off, distribution of assets or other change in corporate structure affecting the Stock subject to this Plan, the number and kind of shares of Stock or other securities which are subject to this Plan or subject to any outstanding offering hereunder, the number of shares of Stock to be purchased, and the Purchase Price, shall be appropriately and equitably adjusted by the Committee so as to maintain the proportionate number of shares of Stock or other securities without changing the aggre gate Purchase Price.

 

(c) Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, the issuance by the Company of Stock of any class or securities convertible into Stock of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of Stock or obligations of the Company convertible into Stock or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock to be purchased for a Purchase Period or the Purchase Price per share of Stock.

 

18. Change in Control .

 

(a) In the event of a Change in Control, the Committee shall provide for the assumption or substitution of each option to purchase Stock under the Plan by the successor or surviving corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, unless the Committee decides to take such other action as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, providing for the termination of the Plan in accordance with Section 30, or a termination of the Plan and providing for a Date of Purchase to occur on the date determined by the Committee.

 

(b) A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to occur on the date on which any of the following events occurs:

 

(1) the Company shall not be the surviving entity in any merger, consolidation or other reorganization (or survives only as a subsidiary of an entity other than a previously wholly‑owned subsidiary of the Company);

 

(2) a subsidiary of the Company operating as a Texas banking association is merged or consolidated into, or otherwise acquired by, an entity other than a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company;

 

(3) the Company sells, leases or exchanges all or substantially all of its assets to any other person or entity (other than a wholly‑owned subsidiary of the Company);

 

(4) the Company is to be dissolved and liquidated;

 

(5) any person or entity, including a "group" as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, acquires or gains ownership or control (including, without limitation, power to vote) of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company's voting stock (based upon voting power); or

 

(6) as a result of or in connection with a contested election of directors, the persons who were directors of the Company before such election shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board.

 

 

 

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Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, and only to the extent that an option granted hereunder is subject to Code Section 409A and would not otherwise comply with Code Section 409A, a "Change in Control" shall occur only to the extent that the definition of "Change in Control" set forth above may be interpreted to be consistent with Code Section 409A and the applicable Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department regulations thereunder.

 

19. Application of Funds .

 

(a) The Company will maintain payroll deduction records for each Eligible Employee who elects pursuant to the provisions of Section 8 herein to participate in a Purchase Period under the Plan on which all payroll deductions attributable to that Participant with respect to the Purchase Period will be accounted for.

 

(b) Amounts thus accounted for will be under the control of the Company, need not be set apart from other funds of the Company, and, so long as funds in the applicable amount are provided to the Plan Administrator for the Purchase Period, may be used for any corporate purpose.  Amounts credited for employees of Subsidiaries will be remitted to the Company from time to time by such Subsidiaries.

 

(c) In the event that any law or regulation, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, may prohibit the handling or use of all or any part of the funds in the manner contemplated by the Plan, the Company may deal with such funds in any lawful manner it may deem advisable, including the deposit of any such funds in a bank account(s) opened for Participants.

 

20. Governmental Approvals or Consents; Amendments or Termination .  This Plan and any purchases by Participants under it are subject to any governmental approvals or consents that may be or become applicable in connection therewith.  The Board may make such changes in the Plan and its administration as may be necessary to desirable, in the opinion of the Company's counsel, to comply with the rules or regulations of any governmental authority or any national securities exchange.

 

21. Compliance with Law . The obligations of the Company with respect to payments under the Plan are subject to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Stock shall not be issued with respect to an option granted under the Plan unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of the shares of Stock pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed.

 

22. Notice of Disqualifying Dispositions .  Each Participant shall give the Company prompt written notice of any disposition or other transfer of shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an option acquired under the Plan, if such disposition or transfer is made within two years after the date of grant or within one year after the Purchase Date.

 

23. Notices .  All notices or other communications by an Employee or Participant to the Company or the Plan Administrator under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received by the Company or the Plan Administrator in the form specified by the Company or the Plan Administrator.  Any notice given by the Company or the Plan Administrator to an Employee or Participant directed to such individual at the address on file with the Company or the Plan Administrator shall be effective to bind the Employee or Participant and any other person who shall acquire rights hereunder.

 

24. Effective Date .  The Plan, as amended and restated, shall be effective January 24, 2019, subject to the approval of the Plan by the Company's shareholders at the 2019 annual shareholders meeting.  If such shareholder approval is not obtained at such time, the Plan, as amended and restated, shall not be effective, and the Plan shall continue in accordance with its terms immediately prior to this amendment and restatement.

 

25. Equal Rights and Privileges .  All Eligible Employees shall have equal rights and privileges with respect to the Plan so that the Plan qualifies as an "employee stock purchase plan" within the meaning of Code Section 423 or any successor provision of the Code and related regulations.  Any provision of the Plan which is inconsistent

 

 

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with Code Section 423 or any successor provision of the Code shall without further act or amendment by the Company be reformed to comply with the requirements of Code Section 423.  This Section shall take precedence over any conflicting provisions in the Plan.

 

26. Word Usage .  Words used in the masculine shall apply to the feminine where applicable, and wherever the context of the Plan dictates, the plural shall be read as the singular and the singular as the plural.  Unless the context otherwise requires, the words "include," "includes" and "including" when used in this Plan shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation."

 

27. Headings .  Headings at the beginning of paragraphs are for the convenience of reference, shall not be construed as a part of the Plan, and shall not influence its construction.

 

28. Employment Not Guaranteed; No Other Rights .  Nothing contained in this Plan, or the granting or exercise of any right to purchase Stock, or the payment of any other benefit hereunder, shall give any Employee, Participant or any beneficiary of an Employee or Participant any right to continue employment with the Employer, or any legal or equitable right against the Employer, its directors, officers, employees or agents, the Plan Administrator, or any other persons, except as expressly provided by the Plan.

 

29. Tax Withholding .  The Employer shall have the right to require payment by a Participant of any federal, state or local taxes which may be required to be withheld or paid in connection with a purchase hereunder or a disposition of shares of Stock purchased hereunder.  The Employer shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant.  The Plan Administrator shall have the right to require payment by the Participant of any federal, state or local taxes which may be required to be withheld or paid in connection with any transaction contemplated by this Plan.

 

30. Amendment and Termination .  The Board may at any time and for any reason terminate, withdraw, suspend, modify, or amend the Plan; provided that the Board may not make any amendment which would require the approval of the Company's shareholders to comply with any applicable laws, including but not limited to Code Section 423, without approval of the shareholders of the Company. The Company shall not be obligated to any Employee, Participant or other person whatsoever to continue the Plan or the ability to purchase Stock hereunder.  Except as provided in Section 18, upon termination of the Plan, payroll deductions taken but not yet expended on purchases of Stock under the Plan shall be paid to the Participants with respect to whom such deductions were taken as soon as practicable.

 

31. Governing Law .  The Plan and all determinations made hereunder and actions taken pursuant hereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by the laws of the United States, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas and construed in accordance therewith without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.

 

32. Severability .  The provisions of this Plan shall be severable.  If any provision is found to be unenforceable, the balance of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Plan to be effective as of the date set forth in Section 24.

 

 

ALLEGIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

 

 

By: /s/ George Martinez

 

Name: George Martinez

 

Title: Chairman and CEO

 

 

 

 

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