CHINA 3C GROUP 2011 RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN ARTICLE I PURPOSE

 

 

 

The purpose of this China 3C Group 2011 Restricted Stock Plan (the “Plan”) is to benefit the shareholders of China 3C Group, a Nevada  corporation (the “Company”), by assisting the Company to attract, retain and provide incentives to key management employees and directors of, and non-employee consultants to, the Company and its Affiliates, and to align the interests of such employees, directors and non-employee consultants with those of the Company’s shareholders.

 

 

The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan unless the context otherwise requires:

 

“Affiliate” shall mean any person or entity which, at the time of reference, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company.

 

“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any amendments or successor provisions to any section and any regulation under such section.

 

“Committee” shall mean a committee comprised of not less than two (2) members of the Board who are selected by the Board as provided in Section 4.1.

 

“Common Stock” shall mean the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share.

 

“Company” shall mean China 3C Group, a Nevada corporation, and any successor thereto.

 

“Consultant” shall mean any non-Employee advisor to the Company or an Affiliate who has contracted directly with the Company or an Affiliate to render bona fide perform consulting or advisorial services thereto.

 

“Director” shall mean a member of the Board or a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate, in either case, who is not an Employee.

 

“Effective Date” shall mean ______________, 2011.

 

 

“Employee” shall mean any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate.

 

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Fair Market Value” shall mean, as determined consistent with the applicable requirements of Sections 409A and 422 of the Code, as of any specified date, the closing sales price of the Common Stock for such date (or, in the event that the Common Stock is not traded on such date, on the immediately preceding trading date) on the Nasdaq Stock Market or a domestic or foreign national securities exchange (including London’s Alternative Investment Market) on which the Common Stock may be listed, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or The Financial Times.  If the Common Stock is not listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market or on a national securities exchange, but is quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or by the National Quotation Bureau, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be the mean of the bid and asked prices per share of the Common Stock for such date.  If the Common Stock is not quoted or listed as set forth above, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board in good faith by any fair and reasonable means (which means, with respect to a particular Award grant, may be set forth with greater specificity in the applicable Award Agreement).  The Fair Market Value of property other than Common Stock shall be determined by the Board in good faith by any fair and reasonable means, and consistent with the applicable requirements of Sections 409A and 422 of the Code.

 

“Family Member” shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, 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 Holder’s household (other than a tenant or employee of the Holder), a trust in which such persons have more than fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which such persons (or the Holder) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which such persons (or the Holder) own more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests.

 

“Holder” shall mean an Employee, Director or Consultant who has been granted a Restricted Stock Award or any such individual’s beneficiary, estate or representative, to the extent applicable.

 

“Plan” shall mean this China 3C Group 2011 Restricted Stock Plan, as amended from time to time, together with each of the Restricted Stock Award Agreements utilized hereunder.

 

“Restricted Stock Award” shall mean an award granted under the Plan of shares of Common Stock, the transferability of which by the Holder shall be subject to Transfer Restrictions.

 

“Restricted Stock Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Restricted Stock Award.

 

 

“Restriction Period” shall mean the period of time for which shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to Transfer Restrictions, as set forth in the applicable Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

 

“Rule 16b-3” shall mean Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, as such may be amended from time to time, and any successor rule, regulation or statute fulfilling the same or a substantially similar function.

 

“Total and Permanent Disability” shall mean the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, all as described in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

 

“Transfer Restrictions” shall mean restrictions on the transferability of shares of Common Stock awarded to an Employee, Director or Consultant under the Plan pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

 

 

The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date.

 

 

Section 4.1                      Composition of Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall be appointed by the Board.  The Committee shall consist solely of two (2) or more Directors who are each (i) “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (“Outside Directors”), (ii) “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and (iii) “independent” for purposes of any applicable listing requirements (“Non-Employee Directors”); provided, however, that the Board or the Committee may delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not (x) Outside Directors, the authority to grant Restricted Stock Awards to eligible persons who are not (A) then “covered employees” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and are not expected to be “covered employees” at the time of recognition of income resulting from such Restricted Stock Award, or (B) persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, and/or (y) Non-Employee Directors, the authority to grant Restricted Stock Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to the requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. If a member of the Committee shall be eligible to receive a Restricted Stock Award under the Plan, such Committee member shall have no authority hereunder with respect to his or her own Restricted Stock Award.

 

Section 4.2                      Powers. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the sole authority, in its discretion, to determine which individuals shall receive a Restricted Stock Award, the time or times when such Restricted Stock Award shall be made (the date of award of a Restricted Stock Award shall be the date on which the Restricted Stock Award is awarded by the Committee) and the number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under such Restricted Stock Award, as applicable. In making such determinations the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective individuals, their present and potential contribution to the Company’s (or the Affiliate’s) success and such other factors as the Committee in its discretion shall deem relevant.

 

 

Section 4.3                      Additional Powers. The Committee shall have such additional powers as are delegated to it under the other provisions of the Plan. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee is authorized to construe the Plan and the respective Restricted Stock Award Agreements executed hereunder, to prescribe such rules and regulations relating to the Plan as it may deem advisable to carry out the intent of the Plan, and to determine the terms, restrictions and provisions of each Restricted Stock Award, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for administering the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in any Restricted Stock Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry it into effect. The determinations of the Committee on the matters referred to in this Article IV shall be conclusive.

 

Section 4.4                      Committee Action. In the absence of specific rules to the contrary, action by the Committee shall require the consent of a majority of the members of the Committee, expressed either orally at a meeting of the Committee or in writing in the absence of a meeting.

 

 

Section 5.1                      Stock Grant and Award Limits. The Committee may from time to time grant Restricted Stock Awards to one or more Employees, Directors and/or Consultants determined by it to be eligible for participation in the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Article VI. Subject to Article XIV, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall not exceed Three Million (3,000,000) shares. Shares shall be deemed to have been issued under the Plan solely to the extent actually issued and delivered pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award. To the extent that a Restricted Stock Award lapses or the rights of its Holder terminate, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Restricted Stock Award shall again be available for the grant of a new Restricted Stock Award.

 

Section 5.2                      Stock Offered. The stock to be offered pursuant to the grant of a Restricted Stock Award may be authorized but unissued Common Stock, Common Stock purchased on the open market or Common Stock previously issued and outstanding and reacquired by the Company.

 

 

 

Section 6.1                      Eligibility. Restricted Stock Awards made under the Plan may be granted solely to persons who, at the time of grant, are Employees, Directors or Consultants. A Restricted Stock Award may be granted on more than one occasion to the same Employee, Director or Consultant.

 

Section 6.2                      Termination of Employment or Director Status. Except to the extent inconsistent with the terms of the applicable Restricted Stock Award Agreement and/or the provisions of Section 6.4, if a Holder’s employment with, or status as a Director of, the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, terminates for any reason prior to the actual or deemed satisfaction and/or lapse of the Transfer Restrictions applicable to such Holder’s Restricted Stock Award, such Restricted Stock shall immediately be canceled, and the Holder (and such Holder’s estate, designated beneficiary or other legal representative) shall forfeit any rights or interests in and with respect to any such Restricted Stock. The immediately preceding sentence to the contrary notwithstanding, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine, prior to or within thirty (30) days after the date of such termination of employment or Director status, that all or a portion of any such Holder’s Restricted Stock shall not be so canceled and forfeited.

 

Section 6.3                      Termination of Consultant Status. Except to the extent inconsistent with the terms of the applicable Restricted Stock Award Agreement and/or the provisions of Section 6.4, if the status of a Holder as a Consultant terminates for any reason prior to the actual or deemed satisfaction and/or lapse of the Transfer Restrictions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award, such Restricted Stock shall immediately be canceled, and the Holder (and such Holder’s estate, designated beneficiary or other legal representative) shall forfeit any rights or interests in and with respect to any such Restricted Stock. The immediately preceding sentence to the contrary notwithstanding, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine, prior to or within thirty (30) days after the date of such termination of such a Holder’s status as a Consultant, that all or a portion of any such Holder’s Restricted Stock shall not be so canceled and forfeited.

 

Section 6.4                      Special Termination Rule. Except to the extent inconsistent with the terms of the applicable Restricted Stock Award Agreement, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article VI, if a Holder’s employment with, or status as a Director of, the Company or an Affiliate shall terminate, if, within ninety (90) days of such termination, such Holder shall become a Consultant, such Holder’s rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Award or portion thereof granted thereto prior to the date of such termination may be preserved, if and to the extent determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, as if such Holder had been a Consultant for the entire period during which such Restricted Stock Award or portion thereof had been outstanding. Should the Committee effect such determination with respect to such Holder, for all purposes of the Plan, such Holder shall not be treated as if his or her employment or Director status had terminated until such time as his or her Consultant status shall terminate, in which case his or her Restricted Stock Award, as it may have been reduced in connection with the Holder’s becoming a Consultant, shall be treated pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3. Should a Holder’s status as a Consultant terminate, if, within ninety (90) days of such termination, such Holder shall become an Employee or a Director, such Holder’s rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Award or portion thereof granted thereto prior to the date of such termination may be preserved, if and to the extent determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, as if such Holder had been an Employee or a Director, as applicable, for the entire period during which such Restricted Stock Award or portion thereof had been outstanding, and, should the Committee effect such determination with respect to such Holder, for all purposes of the Plan, such Holder shall not be treated as if his or her Consultant status had terminated until such time as his or her employment with the Company or an Affiliate, or his or her Director status, as applicable, shall terminate, in which case his or her Restricted Stock Award shall be treated pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.2

 

 

 

Section 7.1                      Restriction Period to be Established by Committee. At the time; a Restricted Stock Award is made, the Committee shall establish the Restriction Period applicable to the Transfer Restrictions imposed in connection with such Restricted Stock Award. Each Restricted Stock Award may have different Transfer Restrictions and/or a different Restriction Period, in the discretion of the Committee. The Transfer Restrictions and/or Restriction Period applicable to a particular Restricted Stock Award shall not be changed except as permitted by Section 7.2.

 

Section 7.2                      Other Terms and Conditions. Common Stock awarded pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall be represented by a stock certificate registered in the name of the Holder of such Restricted Stock Award. If provided for under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, the Holder shall have the right to vote Common Stock subject thereto and to enjoy all other shareholder rights, except that (i) the Holder shall not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate until the Restriction Period shall have expired, (ii) the Company shall retain custody of the stock certificate during the Restriction Period, (iii) the Holder may not sell, transfer, pledge, exchange, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the Common Stock during the Restriction Period, (iv) the Holder shall be entitled to receive dividends on the Common Stock during the Restriction Period and (v) a breach of the terms and conditions established by the Committee pursuant to the Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall cause a forfeiture of the Restricted Stock Award. At the time of such Restricted Stock Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions relating to Restricted Stock Awards, including, but not limited to, rules pertaining to the effect of termination of employment, Director status or Consultant status prior to expiration of the Restriction Period. Such additional terms, conditions or restrictions shall, to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4, as applicable, be set forth in a Restricted Stock Award Agreement made in conjunction with the Restricted Stock Award. Such Restricted Stock Award Agreement may also include provisions relating to (i) subject to the provisions hereof, accelerated vesting of Restricted Stock Awards, including but not limited to accelerated vesting upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, (ii) tax matters (including provisions covering any applicable Employee wage withholding requirements and requiring additional “gross-up” payments to Holders to meet any excise taxes or other additional income tax liability imposed as a result of a payment made in connection with a Change of Control resulting from the operation of the Plan or of such Restricted Stock Award Agreement) and (iii) any other matters not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan that the Committee shall in its sole discretion determine. The terms and conditions of the respective Restricted Stock Agreements need not be identical.  All shares of Common Stock delivered to a Holder pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall be delivered and reported by the Company or the Affiliate, as applicable, to the Holder by no later than the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) calendar month next following the end of the calendar year in which the Holder’s entitlement to such shares becomes vested.

 

 

Section 7.3                      Payment for Restricted Stock. The Committee shall determine the amount and form of any payment for Common Stock received pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award, provided that in the absence of such a determination, a Holder shall not be required to make any payment for Common Stock received pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award, except to the extent otherwise required by law.

 

Section 7.4                      Restricted Stock Award Agreements. At the time any Restricted Stock Award is made under this Article VII, the Company and the Holder shall enter into a Restricted Stock Award Agreement setting forth each of the matters contemplated hereby and such other matters as the Committee may determine to be appropriate.

 

 

Section 8.1                      Adjustments to Common Stock. The shares with respect to which Restricted Stock Awards may be granted under the Plan are shares of Common Stock as presently constituted; provided, however, that if, and whenever, prior to the expiration or distribution to the Holder of shares of Common Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Award theretofore granted, the Company shall effect a subdivision or consolidation of shares of Common Stock or the payment of a stock dividend on Common Stock without receipt of consideration by the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which such Restricted Stock Award may thereafter be exercised or satisfied, as applicable, (i) in the event of an increase in the number of outstanding shares, shall be proportionately increased, and (ii) in the event of a reduction in the number of outstanding shares, shall be proportionately reduced.

 

Section 8.2                      Recapitalization. If the Company recapitalizes or otherwise changes its capital structure, thereafter upon any exercise or satisfaction, as applicable, of a previously granted Restricted Stock Award, the Holder shall be entitled to receive (or entitled to purchase, if applicable) under such Restricted Stock Award, in lieu of the number of shares of Common Stock then covered by such Restricted Stock Award, the number and class of shares of stock and securities to which the Holder would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the recapitalization if, immediately prior to such recapitalization, the Holder had been the holder of record of the number of shares of Common Stock then covered by such Restricted Stock Award.

 

 

Section 8.3                      Other Events. In the event of changes to the outstanding Common Stock by reason of extraordinary cash dividend, reorganization, mergers, consolidations, combinations, split-ups, spin-offs, exchanges or other relevant changes in capitalization occurring after the date of the grant of any Restricted Stock Award and not otherwise provided for under this Article VIII, any outstanding Restricted Stock Awards and any Restricted Stock Award Agreements evidencing such Restricted Stock Awards shall be adjusted by the Committee in its discretion as to the number and price of shares of Common Stock or other consideration subject to such Restricted Stock Awards. In the event of any adjustment pursuant to Sections 8.1, 8.2 or 8.3, the aggregate number of shares available under the Plan may be appropriately adjusted by the Board, the determination of which shall be conclusive.

 

Section 8.4                      Powers Not Affected. The existence of the Plan and the Restricted Stock Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or of the shareholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change of the Company’s capital structure or business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Common 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.

 

Section 8.5                      No Adjustment for Certain Restricted Stock Awards. Except as hereinabove expressly provided, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of 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 shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect previously granted Restricted Stock Awards, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to Restricted Stock Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share, if applicable.

 

 

The Board in its discretion may terminate the Plan at any time with respect to any shares for which Restricted Stock Awards have not theretofore been granted. The Board shall have the right to alter or amend the Plan or any part hereof from time to time; provided, however, that no change in any Restricted Stock Award theretofore granted may be made which would materially and adversely impair the rights of a Holder without the consent of the Holder (unless such change is required in order to cause the benefits under the Plan to qualify as “performance-based” compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code).

 

 

 

Section 10.1                      No Right to Restricted Stock Award. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Company nor any action of the Board or the Committee shall be deemed to give an Employee, Director or Consultant any right to a Restricted Stock Award except as may be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Award Agreement duly executed on behalf of the Company, and then solely to the extent and on the terms and conditions expressly set forth therein.

 

Section 10.2                      No Rights Conferred. Nothing contained in the Plan shall (i) confer upon any Employee any right with respect to continuation of employment with the Company or any Affiliate, (ii) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the employment of an Employee at any time, (iii) confer upon any Director any right with respect to continuation of such Director’s membership on the Board, (iv) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate a Director’s membership on the Board at any time, (v) confer upon any Consultant any right with respect to continuation of his or her consulting engagement with the Company or any Affiliate, or (vi) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate a Consultant’s consulting engagement with the Company or an Affiliate at any time.

 

Section 10.3                      Other Laws., Withholding. The Company shall not be obligated to issue any Common Stock pursuant to any Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan in violation of any laws, rules or regulations.  No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be delivered, nor shall any cash in lieu of fractional shares be paid. The Company shall have the right to deduct in cash (whether under this Plan or otherwise) in connection with all Restricted Stock Awards any taxes required by law to be withheld and to require any payments required to enable it to satisfy its withholding obligations. No shares shall be issued under any Restricted Stock Award unless and until arrangements satisfactory to the Company shall have been made to satisfy any tax withholding obligations applicable with respect to such Restricted Stock Award. Subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may impose, the Company shall have the right to retain, or the Committee may, subject to such terms and conditions as it may establish from time to time, permit Holders to elect to tender, Common Stock (including Common Stock issuable in respect of a Restricted Stock Award) to satisfy, in whole or in part, the amount required to be withheld.

 

Section 10.4                      No Restriction on Corporate Action. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the Company or any Affiliate from taking any corporate action which is deemed by the Company or such Affiliate to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on the Plan or any Restricted Stock Award made under the Plan. No Employee, Director, Consultant, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against the Company or any Affiliate as a result of any such action.

 

 

Section 10.5                      Restrictions on Transfer. No Restricted Stock Award under the Plan or any Restricted Stock Award Agreement and no rights or interests herein or therein, shall or may be assigned, transferred, sold, exchanged, encumbered, pledged or otherwise hypothecated or disposed of by a Holder except (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or (ii) by gift to any Family Member of the Holder. Notwithstanding any such transfer, the Holder shall continue to be subject to the withholding requirements provided for under Section 10.3 hereof.

 

Section 10.6                      Beneficiary Designations. Each Holder may, from time to time, name a beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be contingent or successive beneficiaries) for purposes of receiving any amount which is payable in connection with a Restricted Stock Award under the Plan upon or subsequent to the Holder’s death. Each such beneficiary designation shall serve to revoke all prior beneficiary designations, be in a form prescribed by the Company and be effective solely when filed by the Holder in writing with the Company during the Holder’s lifetime. In the absence of any such written beneficiary designation, for purposes of the Plan, a Holder’s beneficiary shall be the Holder’s estate.

 

Section 10.7                      Rule 16b-3. It is intended that the Plan and any Restricted Stock Award made to a person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall meet all of the requirements of Rule 16b-3. If any provision of the Plan or of any such Restricted Stock Award would disqualify the Plan or such Restricted Stock Award under, or would otherwise not comply with the requirements of, Rule 16b-3, such provision or Restricted Stock Award shall be construed or deemed to have been amended as necessary to conform to the requirements of Rule 16b-3.

 

Section 10.8                      Section 162(m). It is intended that the Plan shall comply fully with and meet all the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code so that Restricted Stock Awards hereunder which are made to Holders who are “covered employees” (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code) shall constitute “performance-based” compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. The performance criteria to be utilized under the Plan for such purposes shall consist of objective tests based on one or more of the following: earnings or earnings per share, cash flow or cash flow per share, revenue growth, financial return ratios (such as return on equity and/or return on assets), share price performance, stockholder return and/or value, operating income, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, net income, pre- or post-tax income, economic value added (or an equivalent metric), profit returns and margins, credit quality, sales growth, market share and/or working capital.  Performance criteria may be established on a Company-wide basis or with respect to one or more Company business units or divisions or subsidiaries; and either in absolute terms, relative to the performance of one or more similarly situated companies, or relative to the performance of an index covering a peer group of companies.  When establishing performance objectives for the applicable performance period, the Committee may exclude any or all “extraordinary items” as determined under U.S. generally acceptable accounting principles including, without limitation, the charges or costs associated with restructurings of the Company, discontinued operations, other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of accounting changes and as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the Company’s financial statements or management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations contained in the Company’s most recent annual report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.  If any provision of the Plan would disqualify the Plan or would not otherwise permit the Plan to comply with Section 162(m) as so intended, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the requirements or provisions of Section 162(m).  The Committee may postpone the issuance or delivery of Common Stock under any Restricted Stock or any action permitted under the Plan to prevent the Company or any subsidiary from being denied a federal income tax deduction with respect to any Restricted Stock Award, provided that such deferral satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

 

Section 10.9                      Indemnification.  Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred thereby in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which such person may be made a party or may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid thereby in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid thereby in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against such person; provided, however, that such person shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive and shall be independent of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or By-laws, by contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise.

 

Section 10.10                   Other Plans. No Restricted Stock Award payment or amount received hereunder shall be taken into account in computing an Employee’s salary or compensation for the purposes of determining any benefits under any pension retirement life insurance or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate unless such other plan specifically provides for the inclusion of such Restricted Stock Award payment or amount received.

 

Section 10.11                   Limits of Liability. Any liability of the Company with respect to a Restricted Stock Award shall be based solely upon the contractual obligations created under the Plan and the Restricted Stock Award Agreement. Neither the Company nor any member of the Committee shall have any liability to any party for any action taken or not taken in good faith in connection with or under the Plan.

 

Section  10.12                   Governing Law. Except as otherwise provided herein the Plan shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada.

 

Section  10.13                   Severability of Provisions. If any provision of the Plan is held invalid or unenforceable such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of the Plan and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had not been included in the Plan.

 

Section  10.14                    Headings. Headings used throughout the Plan are for convenience only and shall not be given legal significance.