BEST ENERGY SERVICES,INC. 2008EMPLOYEE LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN BEST ENERGY SERVICES,INC. 2008 EMPLOYEE LONG-TERM EQUITYINCENTIVE PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART I PURPOSE, ADMINISTRATION AND RESERVATION OF SHARES [INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 1.Purpose of this Plan[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 2.Definitions[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 3.Administration of this Plan[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 4.Shares Subject to this Plan[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 5.Adjustments to Shares Subject to this Plan[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

PART II TERMS APPLICABLE TO ALL AWARDS [INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 6.General Eligibility and Annual Maximum Award; Procedure for Exercise of Awards; Rights as a Stockholder[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 7.Effect of Change of Control[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

PART III SPECIFIC TERMS APPLICABLE TO OPTIONS AND STOCK AWARDS [INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 8.Grant, Terms and Conditions of Options[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 9.Grant, Terms and Conditions of Stock Awards[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

PART IV TERM OF PLAN AND STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL [INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 10.Term of Plan[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 11.Amendment and Termination of this Plan.[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 12.Stockholder Approval[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

PART V MISCELLANEOUS [INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 13.Unfunded Plan[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 14.Representations and Legends[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 15.Assignment of Benefits[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 16.Governing Laws[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 17.Application of Funds[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

SECTION 18.Right of Discharge[INSERT PAGE NUMBER]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1. Purpose of this Plan. The purposes of this Plan are to (a) employ and retain qualified and competent personnel and (b) promote the growth and success of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ business by (i) aligning the long-term interests of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ key employees with those of the Company’s stockholders by providing an opportunity to acquire an interest in the Company and (ii)  providing rewards for exceptional performance and long-term incentives for future contributions to the success of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

 

This Plan permits the grant of Non-Qualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options or Restricted Stock, at the discretion of the Committee and as reflected in the terms of the Award Agreement.  Each Award will be subject to conditions specified in this Plan.

 

SECTION 2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

 

(a) “AMEX” means the American Stock Exchange.

 

(b) “Award” means any award or benefit granted under this Plan, including Options and Restricted Stock.

 

(c) “Award Agreement” means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and the Participant setting forth the terms of the Award.

 

(d) “Beneficial Ownership” has the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

(e) “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

(f) “Change of Control” means the first day that any one or more of the following conditions has been satisfied:

 

(i) the sale, transfer, or assignment to, or other acquisition by any other entity or entities (other than a Subsidiary), of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and business in one or a series of related transactions;

 

(ii) a third person, including a “group” as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act, obtains the Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock having thirty percent (30%) or more of the then total number of votes that may be cast for the election of members of the Board; or

 

(iii) during any 24-consecutive month period, the individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board (“Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason other than death to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; provided, however, that except as set forth in this Section 2(f)(iii), an individual who becomes a member of the Board subsequent to the beginning of the 24-month period, shall be deemed to have satisfied such 24-month requirement and shall be deemed an Incumbent Director if such Director was elected by or on the recommendation of, or with the approval of, at least two-thirds of the Directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors either actually (because they were Directors at the beginning of such period) or by operation of the provisions of this Section; if any such individual initially assumes office as a result of or in connection with either an actual or threatened solicitation with respect to the election of Directors (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-12(c) of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitations of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board, then such individual shall not be considered an Incumbent Director; or

 

 

 

(iv) a merger, consolidation, reorganization or other business combination (a “Transaction”), as a result of which the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such Transaction own directly or indirectly immediately following such Transaction less than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the entity resulting from such Transaction.

 

(g) “Change in Control Value” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(b).

 

(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(i) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee appointed by the Board, which shall be comprised of two or more outside Directors (within the meaning of the term “outside directors” as used in section 162(m) of the Code, and applicable interpretive authority under the Code, and within the meaning of  “Non-Employee Director” under SEC Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act).

 

(j) “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $.001 per share.

 

(k) “Company” means Best Energy Services, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and any successor thereto.

 

(l) “Director” means a member of the Board.

 

(m) “Effective Date” means the date on which the Company’s stockholders have approved this Plan in accordance with applicable AMEX rules, or the rules of such other exchange or quotation service upon which the Company’s Common Stock is then either quoted or traded.

 

(n) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(o) “Fair Market Value” means the closing price per share of the Common Stock on the AMEX as to the date specified (or the previous trading day if the date specified is a day on which no trading occurred), or if the AMEX shall cease to be the principal exchange or quotation system upon which the shares of Common Stock are listed or quoted, then such exchange or quotation system upon which the Company elects to list or quote its shares of Common Stock.

 

(p) “Incentive Stock Option” means any Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option with in the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(q) “Incumbent Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(iii).

 

(r) “Misconduct” means the termination of employment for “cause” as defined in Participant’s employment agreement or in the absence of such an agreement or such a definition, “Misconduct” will mean a determination by the Committee that Participant (i) has engaged in personal dishonesty, willful violation of any law, rule, or regulation (other than minor traffic violations or similar offenses), or breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, (ii) is unable to satisfactorily perform or has failed to satisfactorily perform Participant’s duties and responsibilities for the Company or any affiliate, (iii) has been convicted of, or plead nolo contendere to, any felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, (iv) has engaged in negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his duties including, but not limited to, willfully refusing without proper legal reason to perform Participant’s duties and responsibilities, (v) has materially breached any corporate policy or code of conduct established by the Company or any affiliate as such policies or codes may be adopted from time to time, (vi) has violated the terms of any confidentiality, nondisclosure, intellectual property, nonsolicitation, noncompetition, proprietary information and inventions, or any other agreement between Participant and the Company related to Participant’s employment, or (vii) has engaged in conduct that is likely to have a deleterious effect on the Company or any affiliate or their legitimate business interests including, but not limited to, their goodwill and public image.

 

(s) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option that does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(t) “Option” means a Non-Qualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option granted pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.

 

(u) “Optionee” means a Participant who has been granted an Option.

 

(v) “Participant” means any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that has been granted an Award.

 

(w) “Plan” means this Best Energy Services, Inc. 2008 Employee Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, including any amendments thereto.

 

(x) “Reprice” or “Repricing” shall mean the adjustment or amendment of the exercise price of Options previously awarded whether through amendment, cancellation, replacement of grants or any other means.

 

(y) “Restricted Stock” means a grant of Shares pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan.

 

 

 

 

(z)  “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(aa) “Share” means one share of Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 5 of this Plan.

 

(bb) “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, a limited liability company, partnership or other entity in which the Company controls fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power or equity interests, or an entity with respect to which the Company possesses the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that entity, whether through the Company’s ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

(cc) “Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(iv).

 

SECTION 3. Administration of this Plan.

 

(a) Authority.  This Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  The Committee has full and exclusive power to administer this Plan on behalf of the Board, subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Committee’s power to administer this Plan, and actions the Committee takes under this Plan, shall be limited by the provisions set forth in the Committee’s charter, as such charter may be amended from time to time, and the further limitation that certain actions may be subject to review and approval by the full Board and/or stockholders.

 

(b) Powers of the Committee.                                                                Subject to the other provisions of this Plan, the Committee has the authority, in its discretion:

 

(i) to determine the Participants to whom Awards, if any, will be granted hereunder;

 

(ii) to grant Awards to Participants and to determine the terms and conditions of such Awards, including the determination of the Fair Market Value of the Shares, the number of Shares to be represented by each Award and the vesting schedule, the exercise price, the timing of such Awards, and to modify or amend each Award, with the consent of the Participant when required;

 

(iii) to construe and interpret this Plan and the Awards granted hereunder;

 

(iv) to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to this Plan, including the forms of Award Agreements, and manner of acceptance of an Award, such as correcting a defect or supplying any omission, or reconciling any inconsistency so that this Plan or any Award Agreement complies with applicable law, rules, regulations and listing requirements and to avoid unanticipated consequences deemed by the Committee to be inconsistent with the purposes of this Plan or any Award Agreement;

 

(v) to accelerate or defer (with the consent of the Participant) the exercise or vested date of any Award;

 

(vi) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effectuate the grant of an Award previously granted by the Committee; and

 

(vii) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan;

 

 

provided, that, no consent of a Participant is necessary under clauses (i) or (v) if a modification, amendment, acceleration, or deferral, in the reasonable judgment of the Committee, confers a benefit on the Participant or is made pursuant to an adjustment in accordance with Section 5.

 

(c) Effect of Committee’s Decision. All decisions, determinations, and interpretations of the Committee shall be final and binding on all Participants, the Company (including its Subsidiaries), any stockholder and all other persons.

 

(d) Delegation. To the extent permitted by the Committee’s charter, as such charter may be amended from time to time, the Committee may delegate its authority and duties under this Plan to one or more persons other than its members to carry out its policies and directives, including the authority to grant Awards, subject to the limitations and guidelines set by the Committee, except that (i) the authority to grant or administer Awards with respect to persons who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or to persons who are “covered employees” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation, Section 1.162-27(c)(2)), shall not be delegated by the Committee; and (ii) any such delegation shall satisfy any other applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision.  Any action by any such delegate(s) within the scope of such delegation shall be deemed for all purposes to have been taken by the Committee.  Any person to whom such authority is granted shall continue to be eligible to receive Awards under this Plan, provided that such Awards are granted directly by the Committee without delegation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4. Shares Subject to this Plan.

 

(a) Reservation of Shares. The shares of Common Stock reserved under this Plan shall be 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock.  If an Award expires, is forfeited or becomes unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, the undelivered Shares which were subject thereto shall, unless this Plan has been terminated, become available for future Awards under this Plan.  The Shares may be authorized but unissued, or reacquired shares of Common Stock.  The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Plan.

 

(b) Time of Granting Awards. The date of grant of an Award shall, for all purposes, be the date on which the Company completes the corporate action relating to the grant of such Award and all conditions to the grant have been satisfied, provided that conditions to the exercise of an Award shall not defer the date of grant.  Notice of a grant shall be given to each Participant to whom an Award is so granted within a reasonable time after the determination has been made.

 

(c) Securities Law Compliance. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated under either of such Acts, and the requirements of any stock exchange or quotation system upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

 

(d) Substitutions and Assumptions. The Board or the Committee has the right to substitute or assume Awards in connection with mergers, reorganizations, separations, or other transactions to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies, provided such substitutions and assumptions are permitted by Section 424 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.  The number of Shares reserved pursuant to Section 4(a) may be increased by the corresponding number of Awards assumed and, in the case of a substitution, by the net increase in the number of Shares subject to Awards before and after the substitution.

 

SECTION 5. Adjustments to Shares Subject to this Plan.

 

(a) Adjustments.  If the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares of stock or other securities or property of the Company or of another corporation (whether by reason of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, split up, combination of shares or otherwise), or if the number of such shares of Common Stock shall be increased by a stock dividend or stock split, there shall be substituted for or added to each share of Common Stock theretofore reserved for the purposes of this Plan, whether or not such shares are at the time subject to outstanding Awards, the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities or property into which each outstanding share of Common Stock shall be so changed or for which it shall be so exchanged, or to which each such share shall be entitled, as the case may be.  Outstanding Awards shall also be considered to be appropriately amended as to price and other terms as may be necessary or appropriate to reflect the foregoing events.  No adjustment pursuant to this Section 5 shall be deemed a Repricing of an Option or any other Award.  If there shall be any other change in the number or kind of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or of any stock or other securities or property into which such Common Stock has been changed, or for which it has been exchanged, and if the Committee shall in its sole discretion determine that such change equitably requires an adjustment in the number or kind or price of the shares then reserved for the purposes of this Plan, or in any Award theretofore granted or which may be granted under this Plan, then such adjustment shall be made by the Committee and shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan.  In making any such substitution or adjustment pursuant to this Section 5, fractional shares may be ignored.

 

(b) Amendments.  The Committee has the power, in the event of any Transaction, to (1) amend all outstanding Options to permit the exercise thereof in whole or in part at anytime, or from time to time, prior to the effective date of any such Transaction and (2) to terminate each such Option as of such effective date and pay each holder of such Award an amount of cash per share equal to the excess, if any, of the Change in Control Value  (as hereinafter defined) of the shares subject to such Option over the exercise price under such Options for such shares.  For purposes of this subsection (b), the “Change in Control Value” shall be the per share price paid to stockholders of the Company in the Transaction, provided that in the event that the consideration offered to stockholders of the Company consists of anything other than cash, the Committee will determine, in its sole and absolute discretion, the fair cash equivalent portion of the consideration offered that is other than cash.

 

(c) No Other Adjustment.  Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares subject to an Award.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6. General Eligibility and Annual Maximum Award; Procedure for Exercise of Awards; Rights as a Stockholder.

 

(a) General Eligibility.  Awards may be granted only to Participants.

 

(b) Maximum Annual Participant Award. The aggregate number of Shares with respect to which an Award or Awards may be granted to any one Participant in any one taxable year of the Company shall not exceed 200,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 5(a)).

 

(c) Procedure. An Award shall be exercised when written or electronic notice of exercise has been given to the Company, or the brokerage firm or firms approved by the Company to facilitate exercises and sales under this Plan, in accordance with the terms of the Award by the person entitled to exercise the Award and full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Award is exercised has been received by the Company or the brokerage firm or firms, as applicable.  The notification to the brokerage firm shall be made in accordance with procedures of such brokerage firm approved by the Company.  The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such share certificate promptly upon exercise of and full payment for the Award.  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the share certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 5 of this Plan.

 

(d) Method of Payment. The consideration to be paid for any Shares to be issued upon exercise or other required settlement of an Award must be paid by cash, check or wire transfer of immediately available funds.

 

(e) Stockholder Rights. Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the share certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Shares subject to the Award, notwithstanding the exercise of the Award.

 

(f) Non-Transferability of Awards. An Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in exchange for consideration, except that an Award may be transferred by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant; unless the Committee permits further transferability, on a general or specific basis, in which case the Committee may impose conditions and limitations on any permitted transferability.

 

SECTION 7. Effect of Change of Control. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary, the following provisions shall apply unless otherwise provided in the most recently executed agreement between the Participant and the Company, or specifically prohibited under applicable laws, or by the rules and regulations of any applicable governmental agencies or national securities exchanges or quotation systems.

 

(a) Acceleration. Awards of a Participant shall be Accelerated (as defined in Section 7(b)) upon the occurrence of a Change of Control.

 

(b) Definition. For purposes of this Section 7, Awards of a Participant being “Accelerated” means, with respect to such Participant:

 

(i) any and all Options shall become fully vested and immediately exercisable, and shall remain exercisable throughout their entire term; and

 

(ii) any restriction periods and restrictions imposed on Restricted Stock shall lapse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8. Grant, Terms and Conditions of Options.

 

(a) Designation.  Each Option shall be designated in an Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.  However, notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options.  Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted.

 

(b) Term of Options. The term of each Option shall be established by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion at the date of grant.  However, the term of each Incentive Stock Option shall be no more than 10 years from the date of grant, and , in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Option is granted, owns Shares representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, the term of the Option shall be no more than 5 years from the date of grant.

 

(c) Vesting. Options granted pursuant to this Section 8 shall vest pursuant to the periods, terms and conditions determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  The Committee in its sole and absolute discretion may provide that an Option will be vested or exercisable upon (1) the attainment of one or more performance goals or targets established by the Committee; (2) the Optionee’s continued employment as an Employee with the Company for a specified period of time; (3) the occurrence of any event or the satisfaction of any other condition specified by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion; or (4) a combination of any of the foregoing.  Each Option may, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Committee, have different provisions with respect to vesting and/or exercise of the Option.  To the extent Options vest and become exercisable in increments, such Options shall cease vesting as of the termination of such Optionee’s employment for any reason other than death, in which case such Options shall immediately vest in full.

 

(d) Exercise Prices.

 

(i) The per Share exercise price under an Incentive Stock Option shall be: (A) if granted to a Participant who, at the time of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option, owns shares representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair market Value per Share of the Common Stock on the date the Option is granted, or (B) if granted to any other Participant, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share of the Common Stock on the date the Option is granted.

 

(ii) The per Share exercise price under a Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share of the Common Stock on the date the Option is granted.

 

(iii) Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, in no event shall the Board or the Committee be permitted to Reprice an Option after the date of grant without stockholder approval.

 

(e) Exercise. Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Committee at the time of grant, as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, and as are permissible under the terms of this Plan.  An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

 

(f) Expiration of Options upon Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement as determined by the Committee at the time of grant, Options granted under this Plan, shall expire and cease to be exerciseable as follows:

 

(i) three (3) months after the date of the termination of Optionee’s employment, other than in circumstances covered by (ii), (iii) or (iv) below;

 

(ii) immediately upon termination of Optionee’s employment for Misconduct;

 

(iii) twelve (12) months after the date of the termination of a Optionee’s employment if such termination was by reason of disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code); and

 

(iv) twelve (12) months after the date of the death of a Participant.

 

 Notwithstanding the foregoing in this subsection (f), the Committee has the authority to extend the expiration date of any outstanding Option in circumstances in which it deems such action to be appropriate, provided that no such extension shall extend the term of an Option beyond the date on which the Option would have expired if no termination of the Optionee’s employment had occurred.  To the extent that the extension of the expiration date results in an Option no longer qualifying as an Incentive Stock Option, such extension shall not be effective unless Optionee approves the extension and waives any and all claims against the Committee and the Company for any losses resulting from the disqualification of the Incentive Stock Option.

 

 

SECTION 9. Grant, Terms and Conditions of Stock Awards.

 

(a) Designation. Restricted Stock may be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other Awards granted under this Plan.  After the Committee determines that it will offer Restricted Stock, it will advise the Participant in writing or electronically, by means of an Award Agreement, of the terms, conditions and restrictions, including vesting, if any, related to the offer, including the number of Shares that the Participant shall be entitled to receive or purchase, the price to be paid, if any, and, if applicable, the time within which the Participant must accept the offer.  The offer shall be accepted by execution of an Award Agreement or as otherwise directed by the Committee.  The term of each award of Restricted Stock shall be at the discretion of the Committee.

 

(b) Vesting.  The Committee shall determine the time or times within which an Award of shares of Restricted Stock may be subject to forfeiture, the vesting schedule and the rights to acceleration thereof, and all other terms and conditions of the Award.  The Committee may, but shall not be required, provide that vesting of such Award will occur upon (1) the attainment of one or more performance goals or targets established by the Committee; (2) the Optionee’s continued employment or service with the Company for a specified period of time; (3) the occurrence of any event or the satisfaction of any other condition specified by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion; or (4) a combination of any of the foregoing.  Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and this Section 9, upon termination of a Participant’s employment for any reason, all Restricted Stock subject to the Award Agreement may vest or be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee as specified in the Award Agreement.  Each Restricted Stock Award may, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Committee, have different forfeiture and vesting provisions.

 

 

 

 

SECTION 10. Term of Plan. This Plan shall become effective as of the Effective Date and shall continue in effect until the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date or until terminated under Section 11 of this Plan or extended by an amendment approved by the stockholders of the Company pursuant to Section 11(a).

 

SECTION 11. Amendment and Termination of this Plan.

 

(a) Amendment and Termination. The Board or the Committee may amend or terminate this Plan from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem advisable (including, but not limited to, amendments which the Board deems appropriate to enhance the Company’s ability to claim deductions related to stock option exercises); provided, that to the extent an amendment to this Plan (1) increases the maximum number of shares available under the Plan, (2) changes the class of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, or (3) requires stockholder approval under the rules of the AMEX, such other exchange or quotation service upon which the Company’s Common Stock is either quoted or traded, or the SEC, stockholder approval shall be required for any such amendment of this Plan.  Subject to the foregoing, it is specifically intended that the Board or Committee may amend this Plan without stockholder approval to comply with legal, regulatory and listing requirements and to avoid unanticipated consequences deemed by the Committee to be inconsistent with the purpose of this Plan or any Award Agreement.

 

(b) Effect of Amendment or Termination. Any amendment or termination of this Plan shall not impair the rights of Participants under previously-granted Awards  and such Awards shall remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been so amended or terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Committee, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company.

 

SECTION 12. Stockholder Approval. The effectiveness of this Plan is subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with applicable AMEX rules, or the rules of such other exchange upon which the Company’s Common Stock is either quoted or traded at the time the Plan becomes effective.

 

 

 

 

SECTION 13. Unfunded Plan.  The adoption of this Plan and any setting aside of amounts by the Company with which to discharge its obligations hereunder shall not be deemed to create a trust.  The benefits provided under this Plan shall be a general, unsecured obligation of the Company payable solely from the general assets of the Company, and neither a Participant nor the Participant’s beneficiaries or estate has any interest in any assets of the Company by virtue of this Plan.  Nothing in this Section 13 shall be construed to prevent the Company from implementing or setting aside funds in a grantor trust subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors.  Legal and equitable title to any funds set aside, other than any grantor trust subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors, shall remain in the Company and any funds so set aside shall remain subject to the general creditors of the Company, present and future.  Any liability of the Company to any Participant with respect to an Award shall be based solely upon contractual obligations created by this Plan and the Award Agreements.

 

SECTION 14. Representations and Legends.  The Committee may require each person purchasing shares pursuant to an Award under this Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the purchaser is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof.  In addition to any legend required by this Plan, the certificate for such shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect a restriction on transfer.

 

All certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered under this Plan shall be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed, applicable federal or state securities laws, and any applicable corporate law, and the Committee may cause the legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restriction.

 

SECTION 15. Assignment of Benefits.  No Award or other benefits payable under this Plan shall, except as otherwise provided under this Plan or as specifically provided by law, be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, attachment, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge.  Any attempt to anticipate, alienate, attach, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or charge, any such benefit shall be void, and any such benefit shall not in any manner be subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any person who shall be entitled to such benefit, nor shall such benefit be subject to attachment or legal process for or against that person.

 

SECTION 16. Governing Laws.  This Plan and actions taken in connection herewith shall be governed, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada.

 

SECTION 17. Application of Funds.  The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Awards granted under this Plan will be used for general corporate purposes.

 

SECTION 18. Right of Discharge.  Nothing in this Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement shall confer upon any Participant or any other individual the right to continue in the employment or service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or affect any right the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may have to terminate the employment or service of any such Participant or any other individual at any time for any reason.