PROPOSAL NO. 5 – ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
Our board has determined that the adjournment of the Meeting for any purpose, including to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Meeting to approve the proposals described herein, is advisable and in the best interests of our company and its stockholders and has approved the adjournment of the Meeting for any purpose, including to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Meeting to approve the proposals described herein.
The Meeting may be adjourned by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting.
Our board of directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” approval of the Adjournment Proposal.
TRANSACTION OF OTHER BUSINESS
At the date of this proxy statement, the only business which the board intends to present at the Meeting is as set forth above. If any other matter or matters are properly brought before the Meeting, or an adjournment or postponement thereof, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy to vote the proxy on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY STATEMENT
The rules promulgated by the SEC permit companies, brokers, banks or other intermediaries to deliver a single copy of our proxy materials to households at which two or more stockholders reside (“
Householding
”). Stockholders sharing an address who have been previously notified by their broker, bank or other intermediary and have consented to Householding, either affirmatively or implicitly by not objecting to Householding, received only one copy of our proxy materials. A stockholder who wishes to participate in Householding in the future must contact his or her broker, bank or other intermediary directly to make such request. Alternatively, a stockholder who wishes to revoke his or her consent to Householding and receive separate proxy materials for each stockholder sharing the same address must contact his or her broker, bank or other intermediary to revoke such consent. Stockholders may also obtain a separate proxy statement or may receive a printed or an e-mail copy of this proxy statement without charge by sending a written request to Victory Energy Corporation, Attn: Corporate Secretary, 3355 Bee Caves Road, Suite 608, Austin, Texas 78746. We will promptly deliver a copy of this proxy statement upon request. Householding does not apply to stockholders with shares registered directly in their name.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. You may read and copy this information at, or obtain copies of this information by mail from, the SEC's Public Reference Room, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Please call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this proxy statement documents that we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this proxy statement, and later information that we file with the SEC will update and supersede that information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this proxy statement and before the date of the Meeting:
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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016;
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Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017; and
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Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 7, 2017, April 13, 2017 and August 24, 2017.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, information furnished under Items 2.02, 7.01 and 8.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, including the related exhibits, is not incorporated by reference in this proxy statement. In addition, statements contained in this proxy statement, or in any document incorporated in this proxy statement by reference, regarding the contents of any contract or other document, are only summaries of the material terms and as such we encourage you to carefully read in its entirety that contract or other document filed as an exhibit with the SEC.
Any person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this proxy statement is delivered may request copies of proxy statements and any of the documents incorporated by reference in this document or other information concerning us, without charge, by written request directed to Victory Energy Corporation, Attn: Corporate Secretary, 3355 Bee Caves Road, Suite 608, Austin, Texas 78746, or by calling us at (512) 347-7300. Documents incorporated by reference are available without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into those documents.
THIS PROXY STATEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE SOLICITATION OF A PROXY IN ANY JURISDICTION TO OR FROM ANY PERSON TO WHOM OR FROM WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH PROXY SOLICITATION IN THAT JURISDICTION. YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT TO VOTE YOUR SHARES AT THE MEETING. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT. THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS DATED SEPTEMBER 28, 2017. YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS ACCURATE AS OF ANY DATE OTHER THAN THAT DATE, AND THE MAILING OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT TO STOCKHOLDERS DOES NOT CREATE ANY IMPLICATION TO THE CONTRARY.
ANNEX A
AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
VICTORY ENERGY CORPORATION
Victory Energy Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “
Corporation
”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Nevada, does hereby certify as follows:
1.
The current name of the Corporation is Victory Energy Corporation.
2.
The original Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation were filed in the Office of the Secretary of State on January 7, 1982.
3.
These Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation have been duly approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation pursuant to a unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting, dated September 14, 2017, and by the holders of a majority of the Corporation’s issued and outstanding capital stock entitled to vote thereon at a meeting duly called and held on __________, 2017, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 78.390 and 78.403 of the Nevada Revised Statutes.
4.
The provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation as heretofore amended and/or supplemented are hereby restated, integrated and further amended to read in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is Victory Energy Corporation (hereinafter, the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the laws of the State of Nevada.
ARTICLE III
AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE CAPITAL STOCK
The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock having a par value of $0.001 per share and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock having a par value of $0.001 per share. All Common Stock of the Corporation shall be of the same class and shall have the same rights and preferences. The Corporation shall have authority to issue the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series with such rights, preferences and designations as determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors from time to time to issue Preferred Stock in one or more series, and in connection with the creation of any such series, by resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of the shares thereof, to determine and fix such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including, without limitation thereof, dividend rights, special voting rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, as shall be stated and expressed in such resolutions, all to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by the Nevada Revised Statutes. Full-paid stock of the Corporation shall not be liable to any further call or assessment.
Effective as of ________, 2017, each thirty-eight (38) shares of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation shall be reverse split into one (1) share of common stock of the Corporation. No fractional shares shall be issued in connection with the reverse split. Any fractional share that would otherwise be issued as a result of the reverse split will be rounded up to the nearest whole share.
ARTICLE IV
GOVERNING BOARD
The members of the governing board of the Corporation shall be known as the board of directors. The number of directors comprising the board of directors shall be set forth in the bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The Corporation is authorized to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the action, suit or proceeding, to the full extent permitted by the Nevada Revised Statutes as such statutes may be amended from time to time.
ARTICLE VI
LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
No director or officer shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer;
provided, however
, that the foregoing provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer (i) for acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law, or (ii) for the payment of dividends in violation of Section 78.300 of the Nevada Revised Statutes. Any repeal or modification of this Article VI by the stockholders of the Corporation shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any limitation of the personal liability of a director of officer of the Corporation for acts or omissions prior to such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VII
ACQUISITION OF CONTROLLING INTEREST
The Corporation elects not to be governed by the terms and provisions of Sections 78.378 through 78.3793, inclusive, of the Nevada Revised Statutes, as the same may be amended, superseded, or replaced by an successor section, statute, or provision. No amendment to these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, directly or indirectly, by merger or consolidation or otherwise, having the effect of amending or repealing any provision of this Article VII shall apply to or have any effect on any transaction involving acquisition of control by any person occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
ARTICLE VIII
COMBINATIONS WITH INTERESTED STOCKHOLDERS
The Corporation elects not to be governed by the terms and provisions of Sections 78.411 through 78.444, inclusive, of the Nevada Revised Statutes, as the same may be amended, superseded, or replaced by any successor section, statute, or provision. No amendment to these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, directly or indirectly, by merger or consolidation or otherwise, having the effect of amending or repealing any provision of this Article VIII shall apply to or have any effect on any transaction with an interested stockholder occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the undersigned has executed these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation this ___ day of ______________ 2017.
VICTORY ENERGY CORPORATION
By:
Name: Kenneth Hull
Title: Chief Executive Officer
ANNEX B
DIVESTITURE AGREEMENT
dated as of August 21, 2017
between
VICTORY ENERGY CORPORATION
AND
NAVITUS ENERGY GROUP
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1.1.
Certain Definitions.
1
2.3.
Transactions to be Effected at the Closing.
1
Article III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF VICTORY
1
3.1.
Organization; Authority and Enforceability.
1
Article IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NAVITUS
1
4.1.
Organization; Authority and Enforceability.
1
5.2.
Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action.
1
5.3.
Stockholders Meeting; Preparation of Proxy Statement.
1
5.4.
Repricing of Warrants.
1
6.1.
Conditions to the Obligation of Parties.
1
6.2.
Conditions to Obligation of Navitus.
1
6.3.
Conditions to Obligation of Victory.
1
7.1.
Termination of Agreement.
1
7.2.
Effect of Termination.
1
8.1.
Press Releases and Public Announcement.
1
8.2.
No Third-Party Beneficiaries.
1
8.4.
Succession and Assignment.
1
8.8.
Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process.
1
8.12.
Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules.
1
8.13.
Limited Recourse.
1
8.14.
Specific Performance.
1
8.16.
No Survival of Representations and Warranties.
1
DIVESTITURE AGREEMENT
DIVESTITURE AGREEMENT, dated August 21, 2017 (the “
Agreement
”), between
VICTORY ENERGY CORPORATION
, a Nevada corporation (“
Victory
”) and
NAVITUS ENERGY GROUP
, a Texas general partnership (“
Navitus
”).
RECITALS
A.
Victory is the managing partner and beneficial owner of fifty percent (50%) of the partnership interests (the “
Interests
”) in Aurora Energy Partners, a Texas general partnership (the “
Partnership
”). Navitus is the owner of the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the partnership interests in the Partnership.
B.
Victory desires to divest and transfer to Navitus all of the Interests (the “
Divestiture
”) in consideration for a release from Navitus of all of Victory’s obligations under the Partnership Agreement (as defined below), including, without limitation, obligations to return to Navitus investors their accumulated deferred capital, deferred interest and related allocations of equity.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
Article I
DEFINITIONS
1.1.
Certain Definitions
.
(a)
When used in this Agreement, the following terms will have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1(a) and other defined terms will have the meanings given to them elsewhere in this Agreement:
“
Affiliate
” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “
Control
” (including the terms “
Controlled by
” and “
under common Control with
”) means possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other equity interests, as trustee or executor, by contract or otherwise.
“
Amended Partnership Agreement
” means the third amended partnership agreement of the Partnership reflecting, among other things, Navitus as the managing partner and owner of the Interests, to be executed and delivered at the Closing, in the form reasonably satisfactory to Navitus and Victory.
“
Business Day
” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks located in Austin, Texas are authorized or required by Law to close.
“
Common Stock
” means the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Victory.
“
Exchange Act
” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“
Governmental Entity
” means any entity or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to United States federal, state or local government or foreign, international, multinational or other government, including any department, commission, board, agency, bureau, official or other regulatory, administrative or judicial authority thereof.
“
Law
” means any statute, law, ordinance, rule, or regulation of any Governmental Entity.
“
Liability
” means all indebtedness, obligations and other liabilities and contingencies of a Person, whether absolute, accrued, contingent, fixed or otherwise, or whether due or to become due.
“
Lien
” means, with respect to any property or asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, hypothecation or other encumbrance in respect of such property or asset.
“
Partnership Agreement
” means the second amended partnership agreement of the Partnership, dated October 1, 2011, between Victory and Navitus, currently in effect, which shall be amended by the Third Amended Partnership Agreement pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
“
Permit
” means any authorization, approval, consent, certificate, license, permit or franchise of or from any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction or pursuant to any Law.
“
Permitted Liens
” means (i) Liens for taxes that are not yet due and payable or that may hereafter be paid without material penalty or that are being contested in good faith, (ii) statutory Liens of landlords and workers’, carriers’ and mechanics’ or other like Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business or that are being contested in good faith, (iii) Liens and encroachments which do not materially interfere with the present or proposed use of the properties or assets they affect, (iv) Liens that will be released prior to or as of the Closing and (v) Liens arising under this Agreement.
“
Person
” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, a trust, an unincorporated association, a Governmental Entity or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of a Governmental Entity, or any other entity or body.
“
Release
” means the mutual release in the form of
Exhibit A
to this Agreement.
“
Securities Act
” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“
Shareholder Approval
” means a special meeting of the shareholders of Victory that is to take place as soon as practicable following the date hereof (and if possible, on or before November 30, 2017), to obtain the approval of the Victory shareholders of, among other things, the Divestiture contemplated by this Agreement.
“
$
” means United States dollars.
(b)
For purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or unless the context otherwise requires: (i) the meaning assigned to each term defined herein will be equally applicable to both the singular and the plural forms of such term and vice versa, and words denoting any gender will include all genders as the context requires; (ii) where a word or phrase is defined herein, each of its other grammatical forms will have a corresponding meaning; (iii) the terms “hereof”, “herein”, “hereunder”, “hereby” and “herewith” and words of similar import will, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (iv) when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, paragraph, Exhibit or Schedule without reference to a document, such reference is to an Article, Section, paragraph, Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement; (v) a reference to a subsection without further reference to a Section is a reference to such subsection as contained in the same Section in which the reference appears, and this rule will also apply to paragraphs and other subdivisions; (vi) the word “include”, “includes” or “including” when used in this Agreement will be deemed to include the words “without limitation”, unless otherwise specified; (vii) a reference to any party to this Agreement or any other agreement or document will include such party’s predecessors, successors and permitted assigns; (viii) a reference to any Law means such Law as amended, modified, codified, replaced or reenacted as of the date hereof, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder as of the date hereof; and (ix) all accounting terms used and not defined herein have the respective meanings given to them under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
ARTICLE II
DIVESTITURE
2.1.
Divestiture
. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Victory will sell, transfer and deliver to Navitus free and clear of all Liens, indebtedness and other Liabilities, and Navitus will acquire from Victory, the Interest in exchange for the Release. At or prior to the Closing, Victory shall pay off or otherwise satisfy all indebtedness and other Liabilities of the
Partnership specifically listed on
Schedule 2.1
hereto, such that the Partnership shall own all of its assets free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.
2.2.
Closing
. The consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby (the “
Closing
”) will take place by the reciprocal delivery of closing documents by electronic mail, regular mail, fax or any other means mutually agreed upon by the parties on a date that is no later than two Business Days immediately following the day on which the last of the conditions to closing contained in Article IV (other than any conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing) is satisfied or waived in accordance with this Agreement or at such other location or on such other date as Navitus and Victory may mutually determine (the date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to as the “
Closing Date
”).
2.3.
Transactions to be Effected at the Closing
. At the Closing, Navitus and Victory will execute and deliver to each other the Amended Partnership Agreement, which, among other things, will reflect Navitus as the sole owner of the Partnership and will reflect the release of Victory from all of Victory’s obligations under the Partnership Agreement, including, without limitation, obligations to return to Navitus investors their accumulated deferred capital, deferred interest and related allocations of equity and Navitus will execute and deliver to Victory the Release, and each Party will execute and deliver to the other Party all other documents, instruments or certificates required to be delivered by such Party in connection therewith.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF VICTORY
Victory represents and warrants to Navitus as follows:
3.1.
Organization; Authority and Enforceability
. Victory is a Nevada corporation that is validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Nevada. Victory has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and, subject to the Shareholder Approval, to consummate the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Victory of this Agreement and the consummation by Victory of the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Victory and no other action is necessary on the part of Victory to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Acquisition or the other transactions contemplated hereby (other than the Shareholder Approval). This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Victory and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Victory, enforceable against Victory in accordance with its terms, except as limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally and (b) general principles of equity, whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law.
3.2.
Noncontravention
.
(a)
Neither the execution and the delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Divestiture or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, (i) to the actual knowledge of Victory, violate any law applicable to Victory or (ii) violate any contract or agreement to which Victory is a party, except in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) to the extent that any such violation would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Partnership.
(b)
The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Victory does not, and the performance of this Agreement by Victory will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or Permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity, except for (i) the filings which will be made at or prior to the Closing or following the Closing, but within required time limits or (ii) where the failure to take such action would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Partnership.
3.3.
The Interests
.
(a)
Victory holds of record and owns beneficially all of the Interests, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), except for Liens that will be removed at the Closing.
(b)
Victory is not party to any contract or agreement obligating Victory to vote or dispose of any Interests.
3.4.
Balance Sheet
. Attached as
Schedule 3.4
is a true and correct copy of the balance sheet of the Partnership.
3.5.
Brokers’ Fees
. Victory does not have any Liability to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder or agent with respect to this Agreement, the Acquisition or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NAVITUS
Navitus represents and warrants to Victory as follows:
4.1.
Organization; Authority and Enforceability
. Navitus is a general partnership that is validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Texas. Navitus has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Navitus of this Agreement and the consummation by Navitus of the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Navitus and no other action is necessary on the part of Navitus to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Acquisition or the other transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Navitus and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Navitus, enforceable against Navitus in accordance with its terms, except as limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Laws relating to creditors’ rights generally and (b) general principles of equity, whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law.
4.2.
Noncontravention
.
(a)
Neither the execution and the delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Acquisition or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, (i) to the actual knowledge of Navitus violate any Law applicable to Navitus or (ii) violate any contract or agreement to which Navitus is a party, except in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) to the extent that any such violation would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect upon Victory.
(b)
The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Navitus does not, and the performance of this Agreement by Navitus will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or Permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity, except for (i) the filings which will be made at or prior to the Closing or following the Closing, but within required time limits or (ii) where the failure to take such action would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect upon Victory.
4.3.
Brokers’ Fees
. Navitus does not have any Liability to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder or agent with respect to this Agreement, the Acquisition or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
5.1.
Consents
. Each of Victory and Navitus, respectively, will use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any required third-party consents to the Divestiture and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement in writing.
5.2.
Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action
. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of Victory and Navitus will take all such reasonable and lawful action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate the Divestiture in accordance with this Agreement as promptly as practicable.
5.3.
Stockholders Meeting; Preparation of Proxy Statement
.
(a)
Subject to the terms set forth in this Agreement, Victory shall take all action necessary to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a stockholders meeting relating to the approval of Divestiture and such other items as Victory may seek stockholder approval of (the “
Stockholders Meeting
”) as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, Victory shall mail a proxy statement (the “
Proxy Statement
”) to the holders of Common Stock in advance of such meeting. Victory shall use reasonable best efforts to (i) solicit from the holders of Common Stock proxies in favor of the approval of the Divestiture and (ii) take all other actions necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of the holders of Common Stock required by applicable Law to obtain such approval. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Victory shall not be required to hold the Stockholders Meeting if this Agreement is terminated before the meeting is held.
(b)
In connection with the Stockholders Meeting, as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement Victory shall prepare and file the Proxy Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “
Commission
”). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Victory will furnish Navitus the information relating to it required by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder to be set forth in the Proxy Statement. Victory shall use its reasonable best efforts to resolve, and each party agrees to consult and cooperate with the other party in resolving, all Commission comments with respect to the Proxy Statement as promptly as practicable after receipt thereof and to cause the Proxy Statement in definitive form to be cleared by the Commission and mailed to the Victory’s stockholders as promptly as reasonably practicable following filing with the Commission.
5.4.
Repricing of Warrants
. As soon as reasonably practicable following the Closing Victory shall take such steps as may be necessary to amend the exercise price of the warrants of Victory that are listed on
Schedule 5.4
to reflect an exercise price $0.04. Navitus acknowledges and agrees that such repricing of the Warrants may require Victory to make certain filings with Commission, including the filing of a Schedule TO and that such filings may be reviewed by the Commission, which may result in delays in effectuating such repricing.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS TO CLOSE
6.1.
Conditions to the Obligation of Parties
. The respective obligations of the parties to consummate transactions contemplated hereby are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:
(a)
No temporary, preliminary or permanent restraining order preventing the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will be in effect.
(b)
The parties shall have received the authorizations, consents and approvals of, or otherwise notified, the Governmental Entities as necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c)
The parties shall have received the authorizations, consents and approvals of, third parties necessary to accomplish the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d)
Navitus and Victory shall have concluded and implemented recommendations made by their appointed tax professionals.
(e)
Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained.
6.2.
Conditions to Obligation of Navitus
. The obligation of Navitus to consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Navitus of the following conditions:
(a)
The representations and warranties of Victory set forth in this Agreement will be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of another date, in which case such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of such other date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct does not adversely affect the ability of the Victory to consummate the Divestiture and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b)
Victory will have performed all of the covenants required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing, except where the failure to perform does not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Partnership or materially adversely affect the ability of Victory to consummate the Acquisition or perform its other obligations hereunder.
(c)
Navitus shall have received a certificate signed by Victory to the effect of Sections 6.2(a) and 6.2(b) above.
(d)
Navitus shall have received the Release duly executed by Victory.
(e)
Navitus shall have received the Amended Partnership Agreement duly executed by Victory.
6.3.
Conditions to Obligation of Victory
. The obligation of Victory to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Victory of the following conditions:
(a)
The representations and warranties of Navitus set forth in this Agreement will be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of another date, in which case such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of such other date).
(b)
Navitus will have performed in all material respects all of the covenants required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing, except such failures to perform as do not materially adversely affect the ability of Navitus to consummate the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(c)
Victory shall have received a certificate signed by Navitus to the effect of Sections 6.3(a) and 6.3(b) above.
(d)
Victory shall have received the Release duly executed by Navitus.
(e)
Victory shall have received the Amended Partnership Agreement duly executed by Navitus.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER
7.1.
Termination of Agreement
. This Agreement may be terminated as follows:
(a)
by mutual written consent of Victory and Navitus at any time prior to the Closing;
(b)
by either Victory or Navitus if any Governmental Entity will have issued an order or taken any other action permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(c)
by Navitus if Victory has breached its representations and warranties or any covenant or other agreement to be performed by it in a manner such that the Closing conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a) or 6.2(b) would not be satisfied;
(d)
by Victory if Navitus has breached its representations and warranties or any covenant or other agreement to be performed by it in a manner such that the Closing conditions set forth in Section 6.3(a) or 6.3(b) would not be satisfied; or
(e)
by Navitus if (i) all of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 and Section 6.3 have been satisfied (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing or on the Closing Date provided that such conditions are reasonably capable of being satisfied at the Closing or on the Closing Date), and Victory fails to consummate the Divestiture on the date the Closing should have occurred pursuant to Section 2.2 and (ii) Navitus has irrevocably confirmed in writing that all conditions set forth in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 have been satisfied or that it is willing to waive all unsatisfied conditions in Section 6.2 and it stands ready, willing and able to consummate the Closing on such date.
(f)
by Victory if (i) all of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 have been satisfied (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing or on the Closing Date provided that such conditions are reasonably capable of being satisfied at the Closing or on the Closing Date), and Navitus fails to consummate the Divestiture on the date the Closing should have occurred pursuant to Section 2.2, and (ii) Victory has irrevocably confirmed in writing that all conditions set forth in Section 6.1 and Section 6.3 have been satisfied or that they are willing to waive all unsatisfied conditions in Section 6.3 and stand ready, willing and able to consummate the Closing on such date.
7.2.
Effect of Termination
. In the event of termination of this Agreement by Victory or by Navitus as provided in Section 7.1, this Agreement will forthwith become void and have no effect, without any Liability (other than with respect to any suit for breach of this Agreement) on the part of Navitus or Victory (or any member, partner, stockholder agent, consultant or representative of any such party);
provided
, that the provisions of Sections 8.1, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.11, 8.13, and this Section 7.2 will survive any termination hereof pursuant to Section 7.1.
7.3.
Amendments
. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by, in the case of Victory, by Victory’s Board of Directors and, in the case of Navitus, by Navitus and its partners, as applicable. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of Victory and Navitus.
7.4.
Waiver
. At any time prior to the Closing, either Party may extend the time for the performance of any of the covenants, obligations or other acts of the other Party or (b) waive any inaccuracy of any representations or warranties or compliance with any of the agreements, covenants or conditions of the other Party or any conditions to its own obligations. Any agreement on the part of a Party to any such extension or waiver will be valid only if such waiver is set forth in an instrument in writing signed on its behalf by its duly authorized officer. The failure of any party to this Agreement to assert any of its
rights under this Agreement or otherwise will not constitute a waiver of such rights. The waiver of any such right with respect to particular facts and other circumstances will not be deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts and circumstances, and each such right will be deemed an ongoing right that may be asserted at any time and from time to time.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
8.1.
Press Releases and Public Announcement
. Neither Navitus on the one hand, nor Victory on the other, will issue any press release or make any public announcement relating to this Agreement, the Divestiture or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the prior written approval of the other party; provided, however, that Victory may make regulatory filings referring to this Agreement or attaching a copy hereof as may be required by applicable Law.
8.2.
No Third-Party Beneficiaries
. This Agreement will not confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
8.3.
Succession and Assignment
. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties named herein and their respective successors and permitted assigns. No party hereto may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval, in the case of assignment by Navitus, by Victory, and, in the case of assignment by Victory, by Navitus.
8.4.
Construction
. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement, and, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
8.5.
Notices
. All notices, requests and other communications hereunder must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given only if delivered personally against written receipt or by facsimile transmission or mailed (by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested) or delivered by reputable overnight courier, fee prepaid, to the parties hereto at the addresses of the parties as specified on the signature pages hereto. Any party may change the address to which notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties notice in the manner set forth herein.
8.6.
Governing Law
. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to any choice of Law or conflict of Law provision or rule that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Texas.
8.7.
Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process
. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE ACQUISITION OR THE OTHER TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE LITIGATED IN SUCH COURTS. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS RESPECTIVE PROPERTIES, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS AND WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF
FORUM NON CONVENIENS
, AND
IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ANY FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT RENDERED THEREBY IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE ACQUISITION OR THE OTHER TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OUT OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS SPECIFIED IN THIS AGREEMENT, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE 15 CALENDAR DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING. NOTHING HEREIN WILL IN ANY WAY BE DEEMED TO LIMIT THE ABILITY OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE ANY SUCH LEGAL PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICES AND DOCUMENTS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR TO OBTAIN JURISDICTION OVER OR TO BRING ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO IN SUCH OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND IN SUCH MANNER, AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY ANY APPLICABLE LAW.
8.8.
Headings
. The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
8.9.
Severability
. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under any present or future Law (a) such provision will be fully severable, (b) this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, (c) the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect and will not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance herefrom and (d) in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there will be added automatically as a part of this Agreement a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible.
8.10.
Expenses
. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, including Section 5.5 of this Agreement, whether or not the Acquisition is consummated, all Expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby will be paid by the party incurring such Expenses. As used in this Agreement, “
Expenses
” means the out-of-pocket fees and expenses of the financial advisor, counsel and accountants incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.11.
Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules
. The Exhibits and Schedules identified in this Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.
8.12.
Limited Recourse
. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the obligations and Liabilities of the parties hereunder will be without recourse to any stockholder, partner or member of such party or any of such stockholder’s, partner’s or member’s Affiliates (other than such party), or any of their respective representatives or agents (in each case, in their capacity as such).
8.13.
Specific Performance
. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any provision of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties will be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof in addition to any other remedy at Law or equity.
8.14.
Counterparts
. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000,
e.g.
, www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
8.15.
No Survival of Representations and Warranties
. The representations and warranties made herein and in any certificate delivered in connection herewith shall expire as of the Closing.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first set forth above.
VICTORY ENERGY CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Kenneth Hill
Name: Kenneth Hill
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Address: 3355 Bee Caves Road, Suite 608 Austin, TX 78746
Phone
Fax:
Email:
Attention: Kenneth Hill
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
BEVILACQUA PLLC
1050 Connecticut Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036
Attn: Louis A. Bevilacqua, Esq.
Email:
NAVITUS ENERGY GROUP
BY: JAMES CAPITAL CONSULTING, LLC,
its Managing Partner
By:
/s/ Ronald Zamber
Name: Ronald Zamber
Title: Managing Member
Address:
Fax No.:
Attention:
EXHIBIT A
Form of Release
(See Attached)
MUTUAL RELEASE
MUTUAL RELEASE, dated _____, 2017 (this “
Release
”), by and between Navitus Energy Group, a Texas general partnership (“
Navitus
”) and Victory Energy Corporation, a Nevada corporation (“
Victory
”). Each of Navitus and Victory are referred to herein as a “
Party
” and, collectively, as the “
Parties
.”
RECITALS
A. Navitus and Victory are parties to a Divestiture Agreement, dated August 21, 2017 (the “
Divestiture Agreement
”).
B. It is a condition to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Divestiture Agreement that the Parties enter into this Release providing for the mutual release contained herein.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereto, in exchange for the mutual promises herein contained, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1.
MUTUAL RELEASE
.
Each of the Parties, on behalf of themselves, and all persons or entities claiming by, through or under them, and their respective successors and assigns, hereby fully, completely and finally waive, release, remise, acquit, and forever discharge and covenant not to sue the other Party, as well as the other Party’s respective officers, directors, shareholders, partners, trustees, parent companies, sister companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, employers, attorneys, accountants, predecessors, successors, insurers, representatives, and agents with respect to any and all claims, demands, suits, manner of obligation, debt, liability, tort, covenant, contract, or causes of action of any kind whatsoever, at law or in equity, including without limitation, all claims and causes of action arising out of or in any way relating to any dealings between the Parties prior to the date hereof relating to or arising under the Partnership Agreement (as defined in the Divestiture Agreement), except that Navitus is not releasing or otherwise discharging Victory of any obligations that Victory may have resulting from the ownership by Navitus, its partners, or any of its affiliates, of any capital stock, options to purchase capital stock or warrants to purchase capital stock held by Navitus, its partners, or any such affiliates. The Parties warrant and represent that they have not assigned or otherwise transferred any claim or cause of action released by this Release.
The Parties acknowledge and agree that these releases are GENERAL RELEASES. The Parties expressly waive and assume the risk of any and all claims for damages which exist as of this date, but which they do not know or suspect to exist, whether through ignorance, oversight, error, negligence, or otherwise, and which, if known, would materially affect its decision to enter into this Release The Parties expressly acknowledge that this waiver of claims includes any claims for any alleged fraud, deception, concealment, misrepresentation or any other misconduct of any kind in procuring this Release. The Parties specifically do not, however, waive or release any claim that may arise for breach of this Release.
2.
NO ADMISSION OF LIABILITY
. Neither the payment of any sums nor the execution of this Release shall be construed as an admission of liability or fault by any Party. Any and all liability is expressly denied by both Parties.
3.
AUTHORITY
. The Parties represent and warrant that they possess full authority to enter into this Release and to lawfully and effectively release the opposing Party as set forth herein, free of any rights of settlement, approval, subrogation, or other condition or impediment. This undertaking includes specifically, without limitation, the representation and warranty that no third party has now acquired or will acquire rights to present or pursue any claims arising from or based upon the claims that have been released herein.
4.
ENTIRE AGREEMENT
. The Parties represent and agree that no promise, inducement, or agreement other than as expressed herein has been made to them and that this Release is fully integrated, supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, and any other agreement between the Parties, and contains the entire agreement between the Parties.
5.
VOLUNTARY AND INFORMED ASSENT
. The Parties represent and agree that they each have read and fully understand this Release, that they are fully competent to enter into and sign this Release, and that they are executing this Release voluntarily, free of any duress or coercion.
6.
COSTS, EXPENSES AND ATTORNEYS’ FEES
. Each of the Parties will bear its own costs, expenses, and attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with the transactions and dealings between the Parties prior to the date hereof.
7.
GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
. The laws of the State of Texas shall apply to and control any interpretation, construction, performance or enforcement of this Release. The Parties agree that the exclusive jurisdiction for any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Release shall be the State or Federal courts located in Travis County, Texas and the Parties hereby waive any challenge to personal jurisdiction or venue in that court.
8.
ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS FOR BREACH
. The prevailing party in any action to enforce or interpret this Release is entitled to recover from the other party its reasonable attorneys’ fees.
9.
CONSTRUCTION
. This Release shall be construed as if the parties jointly prepared it, and any uncertainty or ambiguity shall not be interpreted against any one party.
10.
MODIFICATION
. No oral agreement, statement, promise, undertaking, understanding, arrangement, act or omission of any Party, occurring subsequent to the date hereof may be deemed an amendment or modification of this Release unless reduced to writing and signed by the Parties hereto or their respective successors or assigns.
11.
SEVERABILITY
. The Parties agree that if, for any reason, a provision of this Release is held unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, this Release shall be automatically conformed to the law, and otherwise this Release shall continue in full force and effect.
12.
NUMBER
. Whenever applicable within this Release, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular.
13.
HEADINGS
. The headings of paragraphs herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Release.
14.
COUNTERPARTS
. This Release may be executed in several counterparts and all counterparts so executed shall constitute one agreement binding on all parties hereto, notwithstanding that all the parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Facsimile signatures shall be accepted the same as an original signature. A photocopy of this Release may be used in any action brought to enforce or construe this Release.
15.
NO WAIVER
. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Release shall impair any right, power or remedy which any Party may have, nor shall any such delay be construed to be a waiver of any such rights, powers or remedies or an acquiescence in any breach or default under this Release, nor shall any waiver of any breach or default of any Party be deemed a waiver of any default or breach subsequently arising.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Release to be duly executed as of the date first set forth above.
VICTORY ENERGY CORPORATION
By:
Name: Kenneth Hill
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Address: 3355 Bee Caves Road, Suite 608 Austin, TX 78746
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Attention: Kenneth Hill
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
BEVILACQUA PLLC
1050 Connecticut Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036
Attn: Louis A. Bevilacqua, Esq.
email:
NAVITUS ENERGY GROUP
By:
Name:
Title:
Address:
Fax No.:
Attention:
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE DIVESTITURE AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE DIVESTITURE AGREEMENT, dated September 14, 2017 (the “
Amendment
”), between
VICTORY ENERGY CORPORATION
, a Nevada corporation (“
Victory
”) and
NAVITUS ENERGY GROUP
, a Texas general partnership (“
Navitus
”).
RECITALS
C.
Victory and Navitus previously entered into that certain Divestiture Agreement, dated August 21, 2017 (the “
Divestiture Agreement
”).
D.
Victory and Navitus desire to amend the Divestiture Agreement to provide for additional consideration from Victory to Navitus in consideration for the Release and to provide Navitus with registration rights as described herein.
E.
Pursuant to Section 7.3 of the Divestiture Agreement, the Divestiture Agreement may be amended by the parties thereto, by action taken or authorized by, in the case of Victory, by Victory’s Board of Directors and, in the case of Navitus, by Navitus and its partners, as applicable, and by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of Victory and Navitus.
F.
This Amendment has been authorized by Victory’s Board of Directors and by Navitus and its partners.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1.
Definitions
. All capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Divestiture Agreement.
(a) Section 2.1 of the Divestiture Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
“
Divestiture and Issuance
. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Victory will (i) sell, transfer and deliver to Navitus free and clear of all Liens, indebtedness and other Liabilities, and Navitus will acquire from Victory, the Interest, and (ii) upon obtaining Shareholder Approval, issue to Navitus 166,549,134 shares of Victory’s Common Stock (or 4,382,872 shares of Common Stock following the Victory’s planned 1-for-38 reverse stock split) (the
“Navitus Shares
”), in each case, in exchange for the Release. At or prior to the Closing, Victory shall pay off or otherwise satisfy all indebtedness and other Liabilities of the Partnership specifically listed on
Schedule 2.1
hereto, such that the Partnership shall own all of its assets free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.”
(b) The addition of Section 2.4 of the Divestiture Agreement shall be added in its entirety as follows:
“
Registration Rights
. Victory hereby grants the following registration rights to Navitus:
(a)
Registration Statement
.
At any time following the issuance of the Navitus Shares, Navitus may request that Victory file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “
SEC
”) within thirty (30) days of such request a registration statement on an appropriate form (the “
Registration Statement
”) covering the resale of the Navitus Shares and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective within one hundred twenty (120) days following such filing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, at any time, Victory may delay the filing of the Registration for a reasonable period of time (the “
Grace Period
”) if it would result in the disclosure of material, non-public information concerning Victory the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith opinion of Victory’s Board of Directors, in Victory’s best interest and otherwise required;
provided,
that Victory shall promptly (i) notify Navitus in writing of the existence of material, non-public information giving rise to a Grace Period (provided that in each notice Victory will not disclose the content of such material, non-public information to Navitus unless requested by Navitus and subject to a confidentiality agreement) and the date on which the Grace Period will begin, and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to resolve any issue that makes disclosure of the material, non-public information not in Victory’s best interests.
(b)
Registration Procedures
. In connection with the Registration Statement, Victory will:
(i)
Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective with respect to Navitus until all the Navitus Shares may be resold without restriction under the Securities Act; and
(ii)
Immediately notify Navitus when the prospectus included in the Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event of which Victory has knowledge as a result of which the prospectus contained in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing. If Victory notifies Navitus to suspend the use of any prospectus until the requisite changes to such prospectus have been made, then Navitus shall suspend use of such prospectus. In such event, Victory will use its commercially reasonable efforts to update such prospectus as promptly as is practicable.
(c)
Provision of Documents etc
.
In connection with the Registration Statement, Navitus will furnish to Victory in writing such information and representation letters with respect to itself and the proposed distribution by it as reasonably shall be necessary in order to assure compliance with federal and applicable state securities laws. Navitus covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, if applicable, in connection with sales of Navitus Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement.
(d)
Victory shall be entitled to include in any Registration Statement referred to in this Section 2.4, shares of Common Stock to be sold by Victory for its own account (to the extent that the inclusion of such shares by Victory shall not adversely affect the offering).
(e)
Expenses.
All expenses incurred by Victory in complying with this Section 2.4, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, fees and
disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for Victory, fees of transfer agents and registrars shall be borne by Victory. All underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the sale of the Navitus Shares, including any fees and disbursements of any counsel to Navitus, shall be borne by Navitus.
3.
Effect of Amendment
. Except as amended as set forth above, the Divestiture Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
4.
Counterparts
. This Amendment may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000,
e.g.
, www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
5.
Governing Law
. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to any choice of Law or conflict of Law provision or rule that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Texas.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first set forth above.
VICTORY ENERGY CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Kenneth Hill
Name: Kenneth Hill
Title: Chief Executive Officer
NAVITUS ENERGY GROUP
BY: JAMES CAPITAL CONSULTING, LLC,
its Managing Partner
By:
/s/ Ronald Zamber
Name: Ronald Zamber
Title: Managing Member
ANNEX C
VICTORY ENERGY CORPORATION
2017 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1.
Purpose; Eligibility
.
1.1.
General Purpose
. The name of this plan is the Victory Energy Corporation 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “
Plan
”). The purposes of the Plan are to (a) enable Victory Energy Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “
Company
”), and any Affiliate to attract and retain the types of Employees, Consultants and Directors who will contribute to the Company’s long-term success; (b) provide incentives that align the interests of Employees, Consultants and Directors with those of the stockholders of the Company; and (c) promote the success of the Company’s business.
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) Non-qualified Stock Options, (c) Stock Appreciation Rights, (d) Restricted Awards, (e) Performance Share Awards, and (f) Performance Compensation 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 Non-qualified Stock Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Restricted Award, a Performance Share Award or a Performance Compensation 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.
“
Beneficial Owner
” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.
“
Board
” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted at any time.
“
Cause
” means:
With respect to any Employee or Consultant: (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; or (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, 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 (a) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person that is not a subsidiary of the Company; (b) the Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; (c) the date which is 10 business days prior to the consummation of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (d) the acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership of more than 50% (on a fully diluted basis) of either (i) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, taking into account as outstanding for this purpose such Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants, the conversion of convertible stock or debt, and the exercise of any similar right to acquire such Common Stock (the “
Outstanding Company Common Stock
”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “
Outstanding Company Voting Securities
”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Plan, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition by the Company or any Affiliate, (B) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary, (C) any acquisition which complies with clauses, (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (e) of this definition or (D) in respect of an Award held by a particular Participant, any acquisition by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant (or any entity controlled by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant); or (e) the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company that requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “
Business Combination
”), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (i) more than 50% of the total voting power of (A) the entity resulting from such Business Combination (the “
Surviving Company
”), or (B) if applicable, the ultimate parent entity that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of sufficient voting securities eligible to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Surviving Company (the “
Parent Company
”), is represented by the Outstanding Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which the Outstanding Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Business Combination; (ii) no Person (other than any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Company or the Parent Company) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect members of the board of directors of
the Parent Company (or the analogous governing body) (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company); and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Parent Company (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination.
“
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.
“
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, $0.001 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 Victory Energy Corporation, a Nevada corporation, and any successor thereto.
“
Consultant
” means any individual who is engaged by the Company or any Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services.
“
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.
“
Covered Employee
” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, as interpreted by IRS Notice 2007-49.
“
Director
” means a member of the Board.
“
Disability
” means 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.
“
Effective Date
” shall mean the date as of which this Plan is adopted by the Board.
“
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 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 date, the value of the Common Stock as determined below. If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation, the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market, the Fair Market Value shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (or if no sales were reported the closing price on the date immediately preceding such date) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in the
Wall Street Journal
or similar publication. In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee and such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
“
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 intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
“
Incumbent Directors
” means individuals who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board,
provided that
any individual becoming a Director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director. No individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director.
“
Negative Discretion
” means the discretion authorized by the Plan to be applied by the Committee to eliminate or reduce the size of a Performance Compensation Award in accordance with
Section
7.4(d)(iv)
of the Plan;
provided
,
that
, the exercise of such discretion would not cause the Performance Compensation Award to fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.
“
Non-Employee Director
” means a Director who is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.
“
Non-qualified 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 Non-qualified 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.
“
Outside Director
” means a Director who is an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.162-27(e)(3) or any successor to such statute and regulation.
“
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.
“
Performance Compensation Award
” means any Award designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award pursuant to
Section
7.4
of the Plan.
“
Performance Criteria
” means the criterion or criteria that the Committee shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal(s) for a Performance Period with respect to any Performance Compensation Award under the Plan. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s) shall be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company (or Affiliate, division, business unit or operational unit of the Company) and may include the following: (a) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); (b) basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); (c) net revenue or net revenue growth; (d) gross revenue; (e) gross profit or gross profit growth; (f) net operating profit (before or after taxes); (g) return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, or sales; (h) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and cash flow return on capital); (i) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; (j) gross or operating margins; (k) improvements in capital structure; (l) budget and expense management; (m) productivity ratios; (n) economic value added or other value added measurements; (o) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total stockholder return); (p) expense targets; (q) margins; (r) operating efficiency; (s) working capital targets; (t) enterprise value; (u) safety record; (v) completion of acquisitions or business expansion; (w) achieving research and development goals and milestones; (x) achieving product commercialization goals; and (y) other criteria as may be set by the Committee from time to time.
Any one or more of the Performance Criteria may be used on an absolute or relative basis to measure the performance of the Company and/or an Affiliate as a whole or any division, business unit or operational unit of the Company and/or an Affiliate or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or as compared to the performance of a group of comparable companies, or published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or the Committee may select Performance Criterion (o) above as compared to various stock market indices. The Committee also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of Performance Goals pursuant to the Performance Criteria specified in this paragraph. To the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall, within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period. In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit the Committee discretion to alter the governing Performance Criteria without obtaining stockholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining stockholder approval.
“
Performance Formula
” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more objective formulas applied against the relevant Performance Goal to determine, with regard to the Performance Compensation Award of a particular Participant, whether all, some portion but less than all, or none of the Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.
“
Performance Goals
” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria. The Committee is authorized at any time during the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), or at any time thereafter (but only to the extent the exercise of such authority after such period would not cause the Performance Compensation Awards granted to any Participant for the Performance Period to fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code), in its sole and absolute discretion, to adjust or modify the calculation of a Performance Goal for such Performance Period to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of
the rights of Participants based on the following events: (a) asset write-downs; (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or regulatory rules affecting reported results; (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (e) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 (or any successor or pronouncement thereto) and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the applicable year; (f) acquisitions or divestitures; (g) any other specific unusual or nonrecurring events, or objectively determinable category thereof; (h) foreign exchange gains and losses; and (i) a change in the Company’s fiscal year.
“
Performance Period
” means the one or more periods of time not less than one fiscal quarter in duration, 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 Compensation Award.
“
Performance Share
” means the grant of a right to receive a number of actual shares of Common Stock or share units based upon the performance of the Company during a Performance Period, as determined by the Committee.
“
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 Non-qualified Stock Option; and (c) such other transferees as may be permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion.
“
Plan
” means this Victory Energy Corporation 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and/or amended and restated from time to time.
“
Restricted Award
” means any Award granted pursuant to
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.
“
Ten Percent Stockholder
” 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.
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 Covered Employees or “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 Participants 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 Non-qualified Stock Option;
(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 to be granted pursuant to a Performance Share Award, the performance measures that will be used to establish the performance goals, the performance period(s) and the number of Performance Shares earned by a Participant;
(k)
to designate an Award (including a cash bonus) as a Performance Compensation Award and to select the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goals;
(l)
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;
(m)
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;
(n)
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;
(o)
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
(p)
to exercise discretion to make any and all other determinations which it determines to be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.
The Committee also may modify the purchase price or the exercise price of any outstanding Award,
provided that
if the modification effects a repricing, stockholder approval shall be required before the repricing is effective.
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 re-vest 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 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 who are also Outside Directors. The Board shall have discretion to determine whether or not it intends to comply with the exemption requirements of Rule 16b-3 and/or Section 162(m) of the Code. However, if the Board intends to satisfy such exemption requirements, with respect to Awards to any Covered Employee and 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 who are also Outside Directors. Within the scope of such authority, the Board or the Committee may (a) delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not Outside Directors the authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are either (i) not then Covered Employees and are not expected to be Covered Employees at the time of recognition of income resulting from such Award or (ii) not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code or (b) 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 who are also Outside 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 attorney’s 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 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
, a total of 570,000,000 shares of Common Stock shall be available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. Any shares of Common Stock granted in connection with Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this limit as one (1) share for every one (1) Option or Stock Appreciation Right awarded. Any shares of Common Stock granted in connection with Awards other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this limit as two (2) shares of Common Stock for every one (1) share of Common Stock granted in connection with such Award. 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 Participant shall be granted, during any one (1) year period, Options to purchase Common Stock and Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to more than 9,500,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate or any other Awards with respect to more than 9,500,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate. If an Award is to be settled in cash, the number of shares of Common Stock on which the Award is based shall count toward the individual share limit set forth in this
Section
4
.
4.4.
Any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award that is canceled, forfeited or expires prior to exercise or realization, either in full or in part, shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. Any shares of Common Stock that again become available for future grants pursuant to this
Section
4.4
shall be added back as one (1) share if such shares were subject to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and as two (2) shares if such shares were subject to other Awards. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: shares subject to an Award under the Plan shall not again be made available for issuance or delivery under the Plan if such shares are (a) shares tendered in payment 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.
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 Stockholders
. A Ten Percent Stockholder 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 at 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 Non-qualified 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 Stockholders, no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the Grant Date. The term of a Non-qualified Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee;
provided, however
, no Non-qualified 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 Stockholders, 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 Non-qualified Stock Option
. The Option Exercise Price of each Non-qualified 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 Non-qualified 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 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) 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 Non-qualified Stock Option
. A Non-qualified 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 Non-qualified Stock Option does not provide for transferability, then the Non-qualified 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
. 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 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 Non-qualified Stock Options.
7.
Provisions of Awards Other Than Options
.
7.1.
Stock Appreciation Rights
.
(a)
General
. 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)
Grant Requirements
. Any Related Right that relates to a Non-qualified 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.
(c)
Term of Stock Appreciation Rights
. 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)
Vesting of Stock Appreciation Rights
. 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)
Exercise and Payment
. 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)
Exercise Price
. The exercise price of a Free Standing Stock Appreciation 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)
Reduction in the Underlying Option Shares
. 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)
General
. 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. 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.
(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 stockholder as to such Restricted Stock, including the right to vote such Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends;
provided that
, any cash dividends and stock dividends with respect to the Restricted Stock shall be 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 a fund 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 cash and stock dividends paid by the Company in respect of one share of Common Stock (“
Dividend Equivalents
”). Dividend Equivalents shall be withheld by the Company and credited to the Participant’s account, and interest may be 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 to such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement: (A) if an escrow arrangement is 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 stockholder 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)
Restricted Period
. 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)
Delivery of Restricted Stock and Settlement of Restricted Stock Units
. 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, 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)
Stock Restrictions
. Each certificate representing Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan shall bear a legend in such form as the Company deems appropriate.
7.3.
Performance Share Awards
.
(a)
Grant of Performance Share Awards
. Each Performance Share Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Performance Share Award so granted 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. The Committee shall have the discretion to determine: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock or stock-denominated units subject to a Performance Share 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.
(b)
Earning Performance Share Awards
. The number of Performance Shares earned by a Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance goals established by the Committee are attained within the applicable Performance Period, as determined by the Committee. No payout shall be made with respect to any Performance Share Award except upon written certification by the Committee that the minimum threshold performance goal(s) have been achieved.
7.4.
Performance Compensation Awards
.
(a)
General
. The Committee shall have the authority, at the time of grant of any Award described in this Plan (other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted with an exercise price equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Grant Date), to designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award in order to qualify such Award as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. In addition, the Committee shall have the authority to make an Award of a cash bonus to any Participant and designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award in order to qualify such Award as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(b)
Eligibility
. The Committee will, in its sole discretion, designate within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code) which Participants will be eligible to receive Performance Compensation Awards in respect of such
Performance Period. However, designation of a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder for a Performance Period shall not in any manner entitle the Participant to receive payment in respect of any Performance Compensation Award for such Performance Period. The determination as to whether or not such Participant becomes entitled to payment in respect of any Performance Compensation Award shall be decided solely in accordance with the provisions of this
Section
7.4
. Moreover, designation of a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder for a particular Performance Period shall not require designation of such Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder in any subsequent Performance Period and designation of one person as a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder shall not require designation of any other person as a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder in such period or in any other period.
(c)
Discretion of Committee with Respect to Performance Compensation Awards
. With regard to a particular Performance Period, the Committee shall have full discretion to select the length of such Performance Period (provided any such Performance Period shall be not less than one fiscal quarter in duration), the type(s) of Performance Compensation Awards to be issued, the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s), the kind(s) and/or level(s) of the Performance Goal(s) that is (are) to apply to the Company and the Performance Formula. Within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall, with regard to the Performance Compensation Awards to be issued for such Performance Period, exercise its discretion with respect to each of the matters enumerated in the immediately preceding sentence of this
Section
7.4(c)
and record the same in writing.
(d)
Payment of Performance Compensation Awards
.
(i)
Condition to Receipt of Payment
. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company on the last day of a Performance Period to be eligible for payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award for such Performance Period.
(ii)
Limitation
. A Participant shall be eligible to receive payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award only to the extent that: (A) the Performance Goals for such period are achieved; and (B) the Performance Formula as applied against such Performance Goals determines that all or some portion of such Participant’s Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.
(iii)
Certification
. Following the completion of a Performance Period, the Committee shall review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, calculate and certify in writing the amount of the Performance Compensation Awards earned for the period based upon the Performance Formula. The Committee shall then determine the actual size of each Participant’s Performance Compensation Award for the Performance Period and, in so doing, may apply Negative Discretion in accordance with
Section
7.4(d)(iv)
hereof, if and when it deems appropriate.
(iv)
Use of Discretion
. In determining the actual size of an individual Performance Compensation Award for a Performance Period, the Committee may reduce or eliminate the amount of the Performance Compensation Award earned under the Performance Formula in the Performance Period through the use of Negative Discretion if, in its sole judgment, such reduction or elimination is appropriate. The Committee shall not have the discretion to (A) grant or provide payment in respect of Performance Compensation Awards for a Performance Period if the Performance Goals for such Performance Period have not been attained or (B) increase a Performance Compensation Award above the maximum amount payable under
Section
7.4(d)(vi)
of the Plan.
(v)
Timing of Award Payments
. Performance Compensation Awards granted for a Performance Period shall be paid to Participants as soon as administratively practicable following
completion of the certifications required by this
Section
7.4
but in no event later than 2 1/2 months following the end of the fiscal year during which the Performance Period is completed.
(vi)
Maximum Award Payable
. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Plan to the contrary, the maximum Performance Compensation Award payable to any one Participant under the Plan for a Performance Period (excluding any Options and Stock Appreciation Rights) is 9,500,000 shares of Common Stock or, in the event such Performance Compensation Award is paid in cash, the equivalent cash value thereof on the first or last day of the Performance Period to which such Award relates, as determined by the Committee. The maximum amount that can be paid in any calendar year to any Participant pursuant to a cash bonus Award described in the last sentence of
Section
7.4(a)
shall be $250,000. Furthermore, any Performance Compensation Award that has been deferred shall not (between the date as of which the Award is deferred and the payment date) increase (A) with respect to a Performance Compensation Award that is payable in cash, by a measuring factor for each fiscal year greater than a reasonable rate of interest set by the Committee or (B) with respect to a Performance Compensation Award that is payable in shares of Common Stock, by an amount greater than the appreciation of a share of Common Stock from the date such Award is deferred to the payment date.
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.
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.
10.2.
Stockholder 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 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.
10.3.
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.
10.4.
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.
10.5.
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 minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law; 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 maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to all Awards stated in
Section
4
and the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which any one person may be granted Awards during any period stated in
Sections
4
and
7.4(d)(vi)
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 Non-qualified Stock Options, ensure that any adjustments under this
Section
11
will not constitute a modification of such Non-qualified 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. Further, with respect to Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, any adjustments or substitutions will not cause the Company to be denied a tax deduction on account of Section 162(m) of the Code. 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.
In the discretion of the Board and the Committee, any Award Agreement may provide, or the Board or the Committee may provide by amendment of any Award Agreement or otherwise, notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, that in the event of a Change in Control, Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights shall become immediately exercisable with respect to all or a specified portion of the shares subject to such Options or
Stock Appreciation Rights, and/or the Restricted Period shall expire immediately with respect to all or a specified portion of the shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.
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 stockholders of the Company in the event. In the case of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price 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 Subsidiaries, 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 stockholders of the Company to the extent stockholder 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 stockholder approval.
13.2.
Stockholder Approval
. The Board may, in its sole discretion, submit any other amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive officers.
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.
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, any Award which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement).
14.3.
Other Compensation Arrangements
. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder 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 blue sky, 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.
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, thirty (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 the 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 excise 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.
Section 162(m)
. To the extent the Committee issues any Award that is intended to be exempt from the deduction limitation of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may, without stockholder or grantee approval, amend the Plan or the relevant Award Agreement retroactively or prospectively to the extent it determines necessary in order to comply with any subsequent clarification of Section 162(m) of the Code required to preserve the Company’s federal income tax deduction for compensation paid pursuant to any such Award.
14.15.
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.
14.16.
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
. The Plan shall become effective as of the Effective Date, but no Award shall be exercised (or, in the case of a stock Award, shall be granted) unless and until the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, which approval shall be within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.
16.
Termination or Suspension of the Plan
. The Plan shall terminate automatically on September 14, 2027. 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. Unless the Company determines to submit
Section
7.4
of the Plan and the definition of “Performance Goal” and “Performance Criteria” to the Company’s stockholders at the first stockholder meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which the Plan was last approved by stockholders (or any earlier meeting designated by the Board), in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, and such stockholder approval is obtained, then no further Performance Compensation Awards shall be made to Covered Employees under
Section
7.4
after the date of such annual meeting, but the Plan may continue in effect for Awards to Participants not in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code.
17.
Choice of Law
. The law of the State of Nevada shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s conflict of law rules.
As adopted by the Board of Directors of Victory Energy Corporation on September 14, 2017.
As approved by the stockholders of Victory Energy Corporation on ____________, 2017.