UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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Definitive Proxy Statement

 

Definitive Additional Materials

 

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

AGEAGLE AERIAL SYSTEMS INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

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AGEAGLE AERIAL SYSTEMS INC.

117 S. 4th Street

Neodesha, Kansas 66757

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
to be held June 18, 2019 

 

 

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF AGEAGLE AERIAL SYSTEMS INC.:

The Annual Meeting of the stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), will be held on June 18, 2019, at 9:00 a.m., local time, at 1415 Park Avenue West, Denver, CO 80205, for the following purposes:

(1)       To elect four directors;

(2)       To ratify the appointment of D. Brooks and Associates CPA’s, P.A., as the Company’s independent accountants, for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019;

(3)       To amend the Company’s Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the plan to 3,000,000 shares;

(4)       To approve the issuance of shares of our common stock representing more than 20% of our common stock outstanding upon exercise of a Warrant issued in connection with a private placement in accordance with NYSE American Rule 713(a)(ii); and

(5)       To transact any other business as may properly be presented at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

A proxy statement, providing information, and a form of proxy to vote, with respect to the foregoing matters accompany this notice.

 

  By Order of the Board of Directors,
   
  /s/ Bret Chilcott
  Bret Chilcott
  Chairman of the Board
   
Dated: May 10, 2019  

  

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting

To Be Held June 18, 2019.

 

The proxy statement and the Company’s 2018 annual report to stockholders are available at Company’s website,www.ageagle.com. 

 

   
 

 

 IMPORTANT 

Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please complete, date, and sign the accompanying proxy, and return it promptly in the enclosed return envelope or follow the instructions on the enclosed proxy card to vote on the Internet or by telephone. If you grant a proxy, you may revoke it at any time prior to the Annual Meeting or nevertheless vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

PLEASE NOTE: If your shares are held in street name, your broker, bank, custodian, or other nominee holder cannot vote your shares in the election of directors, unless you direct the nominee holder how to vote, by returning your proxy card or by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card to vote on the Internet or by telephone.

 

   
 

 

AGEAGLE AERIAL SYSTEMS INC.

117 S. 4th Street

Neodesha, Kansas 66757

 

PROXY STATEMENT
for
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held June 18, 2019

 

PROXY SOLICITATION

The Company is soliciting proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors in connection with the Annual Meeting of stockholders on June 18, 2019 and at any adjournment thereof. The Company will bear the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement, the accompanying proxy, and any additional material that may be furnished to stockholders. Proxies also may be solicited through the mails or direct communication with certain stockholders or their representatives by officers, directors, or employees of the Company, who will receive no additional compensation therefor.

May , 2019 is the approximate date on which this Proxy Statement, the accompanying proxy card and the Company’s 2018 annual report are first being sent to stockholders.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

As disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 29, 2018, on March 26, 2018, EnerJex Resources, Inc. (“EnerJex” or the “Pre-Merger Company”), a Nevada corporation, consummated the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 19, 2017, pursuant to which AgEagle Merger Sub, Inc., a Nevada corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of EnerJex, merged with and into AgEagle Aerial Systems, Inc., a privately held company organized under the laws of the state of Nevada (“AgEagle Sub”), with AgEagle Sub surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of EnerJex (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger, EnerJex changed its name to AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. and AgEagle Sub changed its name to “Eagle Aerial Systems, Inc.” As a result of the Merger, at times we refer to AgEagle and its subsidiary, AgEagle Sub, as the “Company” or the “Post-Merger Company.”

Certain information contained in this proxy statement with respect to fiscal year 2017 disclosures is referring to EnerJex prior to the Merger. To the extent relevant and applicable, we have also included certain information in the proxy statement with respect to fiscal year 2017 disclosures about AgEagle Sub, the private operating company pre-Merger, for fiscal year 2017. Throughout this proxy statement, as applicable, we refer to AgEagle and its subsidiary, AgEagle Sub, as the “Company” or the “Post-Merger Company.”)

 

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING

Record Date, Outstanding Shares, and Voting Rights

As of April 30, 2019, the record date for the Annual Meeting, the Company had outstanding 14,449,394 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), being the class of stock entitled to vote at the meeting. Each share of Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote.

Voting Procedures; Revoking Proxies  

You may vote your proxy by completing, dating, signing, and mailing the accompanying form of proxy in the return envelope provided or by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card to vote on the Internet or by telephone. The persons authorized by any of those means to vote your shares will vote them as you specify or, in absence of your specification, as stated on the form of proxy. Abstentions and broker non-votes have no effect on the proposals being voted upon

You may revoke any proxy by notifying the Company in writing at the above address, ATTN: Secretary, AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., 117 South 4 th Street, Neodesha, Kansas 66757, or by voting a subsequent proxy or in person at the meeting.

Attending the Meeting

You may obtain directions to the meeting at http://www.ageagle.com or by writing to the Company at the above address, ATTN: Secretary, AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., 117 South 4 th Street, Neodesha, Kansas 66757. If you attend the meeting, you may vote there in person, regardless whether you have voted by any of the other means mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of the Common Stock, as of April 30, 2019, the record date of the meeting, by each of the Company’s nominees for director, and executive officers; all executive officers and directors as a group, and each person known to the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the Common Stock. Except as otherwise noted, the persons identified have sole voting and investment power with respect to their shares.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1)   Number of Shares (2)   Percent of Class
         
Bret Chilcott
Chairman of the Board, President and Nominee Director
    5,800,321       40.14 %  
                 
Barrett Mooney
Chief Executive Officer (3)
    46,119       0.32%  
                 
Nicole Fernandez-McGovern
Chief Financial Officer (3)
    268,474       1.86%  
                 
Grant Begley
Nominee Director (3)
    93,360       0.65%  
                 
Thomas Gardner
Nominee Director (3)
    167,555       1.16%  
                 
 Louisa Ingargiola (3)     19,297       0.13%  
               
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (six persons)     6,395,126       44.26 %  
GreenBlock Capital, LLC
420 Royal Palm Way
Palm Beach, Florida 33480 (4)
    846,569       5.86%  
                 
Alpha Capital Anstalt
Pradafant 7, Furstentums 9490
Vaduz, Liechtenstein (5)
    1,443,494       9.99%  

 

* Less than one percent.

 

  (1) Unless otherwise indicated, such individual’s address is c/o AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., 117 South 4 th Street, Neodesha, Kansas 66757.
  (2) The persons named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock reflected as beneficially owned by them. A person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of securities that can be acquired by such person within sixty (60) days from April 30, 2019, the record date of the meeting, and the total outstanding shares used to calculate each beneficial owner’s percentage includes such shares, although such shares are not taken into account in the calculations of the total number of shares or percentage of outstanding shares. Beneficial ownership as reported does not include shares subject to option or conversion that are not exercisable within 60 days of April 30, 2019.
  (3) All shares are comprised of those shares underlying options issued and fully vested as of April 30, 2019.
  (4) Excludes options to purchase 207,055 shares of Common Stock which are subject to vesting and ownership limitation provisions. Mr. Chris Spencer, a Partner of GreenBlock Capital, LLC, has sole investment and voting power with respect to the shares. The address for GreenBlock Capital, LLC is 420 Royal Palm Way, Palm Beach, Florida 33480. Information regarding this beneficial owner is furnished in reliance upon its Schedule 13G, dated March 26, 2018.
  (5) As of the date hereof, Alpha owned 237,427 shares of Common Stock and owned 3,636 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, which are currently convertible into 6,733,067 shares of Common Stock, and 2,000 Series D Preferred Shares and 3,703,703 warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.54. The table includes only 1,443,494 shares of Common Stock that Alpha is deemed to beneficially own because under the terms of the Series C Certificate of Designation, the holder thereof may not own in excess of 9.99% of the Company’s voting (i.e., Common) stock at any given time.

 

 

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PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Effective as of the closing date of the Merger, all of the EnerJex executive officers and directors resigned from their positions with EnerJex, and the officers and directors of AgEagle Sub were appointed to serve as officers and directors of the Post-Merger Company. EnerJex’s named executive officers for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 are no longer current executive officers of the Company. As a result, and for ease of reference we have included separate executive compensation sections to reflect the prior years’ compensation for the EnerJex executive officers and directors and for the Post-Merger Company executive officers and directors. Only the Post-Merger Company directors are being nominated for election.

Nominees of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors has nominated the persons identified below for election as directors, to serve until the next annual meeting at which time their successors have been elected and qualified. Directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast. If any nominee becomes unavailable for election, which is not expected, the persons named in the accompanying proxy intend to vote for any substitute whom the Board nominates.

 

Name   Age  

Other positions with the Company;

other directorships held in last five years

 

Has served as the

Company director since

Bret Chilcott     57     Chairman of the Board, President and Secretary   April 2014
Grant Begley (1)(2)(3)     65     Director   June 2016
Louisa Ingargiola (1)(2)(3)     51     Director   November 2018
Thomas Gardner (1)(2)(3)     43     Director   June 2016

 

(1) Member of the audit committee.
(2) Member of the compensation committee.
(3) Member of the nominating and corporate governance committee.

Bret Chilcott . Mr. Chilcott has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company and as President since the inception of the Company in April 2014 and had served as Chief Executive Officer from February 2016 to July 18, 2018. As of July 18, 2018, Mr. Chilcott stepped down as Chief Executive Officer and currently serves as President, Secretary and Chairman of the Board of the Directors. The path to the Company started when Mr. Chilcott established his advanced composite manufacturing company, Solutions by Chilcott, LLC, whose manufacturing processes led the way to the initial fixed wing design of the Company. Previously, Mr. Chilcott spent over 12 years with Cobalt Boats in Neodesha, Kansas, where he held a variety of positions from Director of Product Development and Engineering to Director of Sales and Marketing. In those positions, he was responsible for developing strategic product plans for the company as well as the management of regional sales managers. Prior to Cobalt Boats, Mr. Chilcott also spent a number of years working at the Cessna Aircraft Company and Snap-on Tools. It was at Snap-on Tools, acting as a national accounts manager, that Mr. Chilcott first established his blueprint for a dealer network, a model which he carried over successfully to the Company when the Company began selling its product. Mr. Chilcott graduated from Kansas Community College in 1982 with a degree in Sales and Marketing. The Company believes that Mr. Chilcott’s background and experience in composite parts manufacturing provides him with a broad familiarity of the range of issues confronting the Company in the market, which makes him a qualified member of our board.

 

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Grant Begley . Mr. Begley has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since June 2016. Since July 2011, Mr. Begley has served as President of Concepts to Capabilities Consulting LLC, which advises global executive clients on competitive positioning and performance in aerospace. From August 2010 to September 2011, Mr. Begley was Corporate Senior Vice President for Alion Science and Technology. Prior to Alion, Mr. Begley served as Pentagon Senior Advisor to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, for Unmanned Systems, advising on critical issues and leading development of DoD’s 2011 Unmanned Systems Roadmap. Mr. Begley’s career includes defense industry leadership positions for the development of advanced capabilities with Raytheon and Lockheed Martin where he initiated and led cross-corporation unmanned systems and robotics successes. Mr. Begley served in the United States Navy for 26 years, where his duties included operational assignments flying fighter aircraft, designated Top Gun, followed by acquisition assignments for the development and management of next generation manned and unmanned aircraft systems, weapon systems and joint executive acquisition assignments. Mr. Begley holds Master’s degrees in Aerospace and Aeronautic Engineering from the Naval Post-Graduate School and a Bachelor’s degree in General Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy. The Company believes that Mr. Begley’s 20 plus years of experience as a UAV industry expert, focused on UAV technologies, regulations and commercial applications, will be an invaluable resource to the Board of Directors.

Louisa Ingargiola . Ms. Ingargiola has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since November 27, 2018. In 1990, Ms. Ingargiola joined Boston Capital Partners as an Investment Advisor in their Limited Partnership Division. In this capacity, she worked with investors and partners to report investment results, file tax forms, and recommend investments. In 1992, Ms. Ingargiola joined MetLife Insurance Company as a Budget and Expense Manager. In this capacity she managed a $30 million annual budget. Her responsibilities included budget implementation, expense and variance analysis and financial reporting. From 2007 through 2016, Ms. Ingargiola served as the Chief Financial Officer at MagneGas Corporation (NASDAQ: MNGA) and continues to serve as a director. Ms. Ingargiola currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Avalon-Globocare (NASDAQ:AVCO) and as the Audit Committee Chair of FTE Networks, Inc. (NYSE:FTNW) and Electra Meccanica (NASDAQ:SOLO) where she has helped manage over $200 Million in equity and debt financing. Ms. Ingargiola also serves as a Director of The JBF Foundation Worldwide, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Ms. Ingargiola graduated in 1989 from Boston University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Finance. In 1996, she received her MBA in Health Administration from the University of South Florida.

Thomas Gardner . Mr. Gardner has served as a member of the Board of Directors since June 2016 and he and his firm has been engaged as a consultant to the Company. Since May 2010, Mr. Gardner has served as COO and Director at NeuEon, Inc., a technology advisory consulting firm, where he oversees operations and provides strategic technology and business guidance to select clients. Mr. Gardner has extensive experience in the areas of business and technology leadership across many industries, including financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications and consumer goods. Within these sectors, Mr. Gardner has specific expertise in the areas of process improvement, digitization and standardization, mergers and acquisitions, system implementations, enterprise resource planning and work-force optimization. Mr. Gardner holds a dual Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Management from Bryant University. The Company believes that Mr. Gardner’s experience as a data analytics expert, along with his strategic technology and business expertise, brings a unique perspective to the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors has reviewed the independence of the directors based on the listing standards of the NYSE American. Based on this review, the Board of Directors determined that each of Grant Begley, Louisa Ingargiola and Thomas Gardner are independent within the meaning of the NYSE American. In making this determination, the Board of Directors considered the relationships that each of these non-employee directors has with the Company and all other facts and circumstances the Board of Directors deemed relevant in determining their independence.

Board Operations

The positions of principal executive officer and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company are held by different persons. The chairman of the Board chairs the Board and stockholder meetings and participates in preparing their agendas. Given the limited number of directors comprising the Board, the independent directors call, plan, and chairs their executive sessions collaboratively and, between board meetings, communicate with management and one another directly. The Company believes that these arrangements afford the independent directors sufficient resources to supervise management effectively, without being overly engaged in day-to-day operations. 

 

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Risk Oversight

The Board of Directors oversees a company-wide approach to risk management. The Board of Directors assists management to determine the appropriate risk level for the Company generally, assess the specific risks faced by the Company and reviews the steps taken by management to manage those risks. While the Board has ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, its committees will oversee risk in certain specified areas.

Specifically, the Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to the Company’s executive compensation plans and arrangements, and the incentives created by the compensation awards it administers. The Audit Committee will oversee management of enterprise risks and financial risks, as well as potential conflicts of interests. The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the management of risks associated with the independence of the Board of Directors.

Board of Directors Meetings for the Post-Merger Company

For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, the Board held five meetings and took actions via the unanimous written consent of the Board of Directors. All directors attended at least 75% of the Board of Directors meetings and committee meetings relating to the committees on which each director served. All but one of the Company’s directors attended the Company’s fiscal year 2018 Annual Shareholder meeting held on December 28, 2018.

Board Committees

The Board of Directors has standing audit, compensation, and nominating committees, comprised solely of independent directors. Each committee has a charter, which is available at the Company’s website, www.ageagle.com. Each committee member is independent under NYSE American committee independence requirements applicable to the committee on which such member serves.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee, which is established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is responsible for assisting the Board of Directors in its oversight of the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the qualifications and independence of the Company’s independent auditors, and the Company’s internal financial and accounting controls. The Audit Committee has direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention (including termination) and oversight of the Company’s independent auditors, and the Company’s independent auditors report directly to the Audit Committee.

The Post-Merger Company’s current members of the Audit Committee are Louisa Ingargiola, Chair, Grant Begley, and Thomas Gardner. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, Mr. Scott Burell was the Chair of the Audit Committee and resigned from the Board of Directors of the Company on November 21, 2018. Ms. Louisa Ingargiola was appointed on November 27, 2018 as a director of the Board of Directors of the Company and as the Chair of the Audit Committee to replace Mr. Burell. Each member of the Audit Committee qualifies as an independent director under the corporate governance standards of the NYSE American and the independence requirements of Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors has determined that Louisa Ingargiola qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is currently defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K and meets the financial sophistication requirements of the NYSE American.

For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, the Audit Committee held three meetings.

 

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Audit Committee Report

With respect to the audit of Post-Merger Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, the members of the Audit Committee: 

  reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management;
  discussed with Company’s independent accountants the matters required to be discussed by the statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T; and
  received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountant required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with the independent accountant the independent accountant’s independence.

Based on these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors of the Company that the audited financial statements be included in Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Louisa Ingargiola, Chair
Grant Begley

Thomas Gardner

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee approves the compensation objectives for the Company, approves the compensation of the chief executive officer and approves or recommends to the Board of Directors for approval the compensation of other executives. The Compensation Committee reviews all compensation components, including base salary, bonus, benefits and other perquisites.

The Post-Merger Company’s current members of the Compensation Committee are Grant Begley, Chairman, Louisa Ingargiola, and Thomas Gardner. Mr. Scott Burell was a member of the Compensation Committee and resigned from the Board of Directors of the Company on November 21, 2018. Ms. Louisa Ingargiola was appointed on November 27, 2018 as a director of the Board of Directors of the Company and as a member of the Compensation Committee to replace Mr. Burell’s role.

For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, the Compensation Committee held two meetings.

 

The members of the compensation committee are Messrs. Begley and Gardner and Ms. Ingargiola. Mr. Begley serves as chair of the compensation committee. Each member of the compensation committee is a non-employee director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the rules promulgated under the Exchange Act, each is an outside director as defined by Section 162(m) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, and each is an independent director as defined by the NYSE American. The compensation committee has adopted a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and the NYSE American, which is available on our website.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the members of the Compensation Committee has ever been an officer or employee of the Company. None of the Company’s executive officers serves, or has served since inception, as a member of the board of directors, compensation committee or other board committee performing equivalent functions of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as one of the Company’s directors or on the Company’s compensation committee.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding candidates for directorships and the structure and composition of the Board of Directors and the board committees. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will be responsible for developing and recommending to the Board corporate governance guidelines applicable to the company and advising the Board on corporate governance matters.

 

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The Post-Merger Company’s current members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Thomas Gardner, Chairman, Louisa Ingargiola, and Grant Begley. Mr. Scott Burell was a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and resigned from the Board of Directors of the Company on November 21, 2018. Ms. Louisa Ingargiola was appointed on November 27, 2018 as a director of the Board of Directors of the Company and as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to replace Mr. Burell.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by security holders. Potential nominees to the Board of Directors are required to have such experience in business or financial matters as would make such nominee an asset to the Board of Directors and may, under certain circumstances, be required to be “independent”, as such term is defined under Section 121(a) of the listing standards of NYSE American and applicable SEC regulations. Security holders wishing to submit the name of a person as a potential nominee to the Board of Directors must send the name, address, and a brief (no more than 500 words) biographical description of such potential nominee to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee at the following address: Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors, c/o AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., 117 S. 4th Street, Neodesha, Kansas 66757. Potential director nominees will be evaluated by personal interview, such interview to be conducted by one or more members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and/or any other method the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee deems appropriate, which may, but need not, include a questionnaire. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may solicit or receive information concerning potential nominees from any source it deems appropriate. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee need not engage in an evaluation process unless (i) there is a vacancy on the Board of Directors, (ii) a director is not standing for re-election, or (iii) the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not intend to recommend the nomination of a sitting director for re-election. A potential director nominee recommended by a security holder will not be evaluated differently from any other potential nominee. Although it has not done so in the past, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may retain search firms to assist in identifying suitable director candidates.

The Board does not have a formal policy on Board candidate qualifications. The Board may consider those factors it deems appropriate in evaluating director nominees made either by the Board or stockholders, including judgment, skill, strength of character, experience with businesses and organizations comparable in size or scope to the Company, experience and skill relative to other Board members, and specialized knowledge or experience. Depending upon the current needs of the Board, certain factors may be weighed more or less heavily. In considering candidates for the Board, the directors evaluate the entirety of each candidate’s credentials and do not have any specific minimum qualifications that must be met. The directors will consider candidates from any reasonable source, including current Board members, stockholders, professional search firms or other persons. The directors will not evaluate candidates differently based on who has made the recommendation.

For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held no meetings and acted by unanimous written consent on one occasion.

 

Stockholder Communications

Stockholders can mail communications to the Board of Directors, c/o Secretary, AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., 117 S. 4th Street, Neodesha, Kansas 66757, who will forward the correspondence to each addressee.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires Company’s directors and executive officers and any beneficial owner of more than 10% of any class of Company equity security to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and furnish copies of the reports to Company. Based solely on the Company’s review of copies of such forms and written representations by Company’s executive officers and directors received by it, Company believes that during 2018, all such reports were filed timely; except for the following:

 

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Name   Late Reports  

Transactions

Covered

 

Number of

Shares

 
Barrett Mooney   Form 3   Common stock     75,000  
    Form 4   Stock Options     125,000  
                 
Corbett Kull   Form 3   Stock options     41,250  
    Form 4   Stock Options     33,000  
                 
Thomas Gardner   Form 4   Stock Options     66,000  
                 
Grant Begley   Form 4   Stock Options     66,000  
                 
Louisa Ingargiola   Form 4   Stock Options     16,500  
                 
Nicole Fernandez-McGovern   Form 4   Stock Options     37,500  
                 
Scott Burell   Form 4   Stock Options     49,500  

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following sets forth the names and ages of our current executive officers, their respective positions and offices, and their respective principal occupations or brief employment history as of the date hereof.

 

Name   Age   Position
Barrett Mooney     33     Chief Executive Officer
Bret Chilcott     57     Chairman of the Board and President (former Chief Executive Officer)
Nicole Fernandez-McGovern     46     Chief Financial Officer

Barrett Mooney . Mr. Mooney joined as Chief Executive Officer as of July 18, 2018. Mr. Mooney brings an extensive track record of growing agriculture and sustainability businesses. From May 1, 2017 to July 18, 2018, he served as Group Product Lead for The Climate Corporation, a subsidiary of Monsanto (recently acquired by Bayer), where he led the satellite imagery team, managed a team focused on using artificial intelligence to enhance crop yield production an introduced a new organizational structure to improve sales efficiency. Prior to The Climate Corporation, from July 1, 2012 to May 1, 2017, Mr. Mooney co-founded and was CEO and president of HydroBio, a software company that used satellite-driven image analytics to conserve water and maximize crop yields. In May 2017, he sold HydroBio to The Climate Corporation. Mr. Mooney holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from the University of Florida. He is also a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. 

Nicole Fernandez-McGovern .  Ms. Fernandez-McGovern has served as Chief Financial Officer since April 2016. From April 2013 to January 2016, Ms. Fernandez-McGovern served as the CEO and CFO of Trunity Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: TNTY), where she was able to lead a successful restructuring of the company by acquiring a new compounding pharmacy business and finalizing the spin-out of the legacy educational business into a newly formed private company. From January 2011 to April 2013, Ms. Fernandez-McGovern was President of RCM Financial Consulting, a consulting firm where she provided interim accounting and financial services to small and medium sized companies. Ms. Fernandez-McGovern was also a financial manager at Elizabeth Arden, Inc. (NASDAQ: RDEN) from July 2001 to October 2010, where she was involved in all aspects of the SEC and financial reporting process. Her career began with KPMG LLP in the audit and assurance practice where she managed various large scale engagements for both public and privately held companies. Ms. Fernandez-McGovern has a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and International Business and a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in accounting, both from the University of Miami. She is also a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Florida, serves on the boards of the South Florida Chapter of Financial Executives International and Pembroke Pines Charter Schools Advisory Board and is fluent in Spanish. 

 

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Executive Compensation

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information regarding compensation of the Post-Merger Company’s named executive officers for each of the two fiscal years in the period ended December 31, 2018.

 

Fiscal 2017 Summary Compensation Table
 
Name and Principal Position   Year   Salary
$
  Bonus   Stock Awards   Option Awards (4)
$
  Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation   Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings   All Other Compensation   Total
$
Bret Chilcott (1)     2018       120,539                                           120,539  
      2017       31,200                                           31,200  
 Barrett Mooney     2018       95,615                   54,995                         150,610  
(Principal Executive Officer )(2)     2017                                                  
Nicole Fernandez-McGovern (3)     2018       207,500                   27,759                         235,259  
(Principal Financial Officer)     2017       20,000                   6,339                         26,339  

 

  (1) Bret Chilcott served as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company until July 18, 2018, after which he stepped down as Chief Executive Officer and now serves as President.
  (2) Barrett Mooney was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective July 18, 2018.
  (3) Nicole Fernandez-McGovern was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective April 6, 2016. Amounts for 2018 include deferred compensation payments from 2017.
  (4) The aggregate grant date fair value of the options awarded to each executive officer is computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 and excludes the effect of forfeiture assumptions. Also, these awards generally vest over a one period from the date of grant. The assumptions used to calculate the fair value of stock option awards are Black-Scholes option valuation model.

Employment Agreements

Bret Chilcott

 

Mr. Chilcott has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company and as President since the inception of the Company in 2010 and had served as Chief Executive Officer from February 2016 to July 18, 2018. As of July 18, 2018, Mr. Chilcott stepped down as Chief Executive Officer and currently serves as President, Secretary and Chairman of the Board of the Directors. Mr. Chilcott has no formal agreement with the Company but did hold the position of Chief Executive of the Company for an annual salary of $175,000. Upon his resignation as Chief Executive Officer of the Company his salary was reduced to $140,000, annually.

 

10  
 

Barrett Mooney

Pursuant to an employment offer letter dated July 9, 2018, Mr. Mooney will receive as compensation for his services as Chief Executive Officer a base salary of $220,000 per year, which shall be subject to annual performance review by the Compensation Committee of the Board and may be revised by the Board, in its sole discretion. Mr. Mooney received an initial grant of 75,000 shares of restricted Common Stock of the Company which is fully vested. Mr. Mooney shall also be eligible to receive an award of 75,000 shares of restricted Common Stock of the Company which shall fully vest as of January 1, 2019 if, and only if, the stock price of the Company reaches $3.55 per share and the closing price per share is at or above such price at the end of the day on January 1, 2019. In addition, Mr. Mooney is eligible to receive an award of 20,000 nonqualified stock options under the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”) upon securing one sustainability pilot program on or before October 31, 2018, and an additional award of 30,000 nonqualified stock options under the Equity Plan upon securing a second sustainability pilot program on or before January 31, 2019. Both awards shall provide for immediate vesting and exercisability at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s shares of Common Stock underlying the options as of the date of grant. Mr. Mooney will also be eligible receive an award of up to 55,000 nonqualified stock options under the Equity Plan based upon the results of his annual performance review in the first quarter of 2019.

 Effective December 18, 2018, an amendment was signed for the original employment offer letter dated July 9, 2018 hereby providing an amendment to provide that in lieu of the issuance of 75,000 shares of restricted Common Stock of the Company (the “Shares”), the Company shall award to Executive 125,000 Nonqualified Stock Options (the “Stock Options”) under the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”). The Stock Options shall be subject to the terms of the Equity Plan and standard option award agreement which shall have a term of 10 years and provide for vesting over a one-year period and exercisability at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock as of the date of the grant. The award of 75,000 shares were returned to the company and immediately cancelled.

Nicole Fernandez-McGovern

Based on her agreement commencing with the date of appointment as CFO in August 2016, Ms. Fernandez-McGovern earned a salary of $66,000 per year, payable in monthly installments of $5,500 for 2017. In 2018, her monthly installment payment increased to $8,000 and effective upon the closing of the Merger, Ms. Fernandez-McGovern’s salary increased to $150,000. As part of her compensation upon the closing of the Merger, Ms. Fernandez-McGovern also received 10-year stock options to purchase 265,033 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.06 per share, of which half of the options vested upon issuance and the remainder will vest equally over two years. Additionally, on a quarterly basis, Ms. Fernandez-McGovern will be awarded 12,500 shares of stock options to purchase Common Stock at an exercise price per share equal to the market price of our Common Stock at the time of issuance during the term of her employment.

Effective January 1, 2019, Ms. Fernandez-McGovern signed a new employment agreement with the Company, whereby her annual base salary increased to $180,000 and a ten-year grant of 50,000 stock options to purchase shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.54 was awarded. In addition, Ms. Fernandez-McGovern will continue to receive quarterly grants of 12,000 stock options to purchase Common Stock at an exercise price equal to the market price of our Common Stock at the time of issue during the term of her employment. All of the awards will vest equally over two years.

The Company has no other formal employment agreements with executive officers, nor any compensatory plans or arrangements resulting from the resignation, retirement or any other termination of named executive officers, from a change-in-control, or from a change in any executive officer’s responsibilities following a change-in-control. However, it is possible the Company will enter into formal employment agreements with executive officers in the future.  

 

11  
 

Company 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan

The 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan is a comprehensive incentive compensation plan under which the Company can grant equity-based and other incentive awards to officers, employees and directors of, and consultants and advisers to, the Company The purpose of the Plan is to help the Company attract, motivate and retain such persons and thereby enhance shareholder value. The Plan provides for the grant of awards which are incentive stock options (“ISOs”), non-qualified stock options (“NQSOs”), unrestricted shares , restricted shares, restricted stock units, performance stock, performance units, SARs, tandem stock appreciation rights, distribution equivalent rights, or any combination of the foregoing, to key management employees, non-employee directors, and non-employee consultants of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (each a “participant”) (however, solely Company employees or employees of the Company’s subsidiaries are eligible for incentive stock option awards). The Company has reserved a total of 2,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance as or under awards to be made under the Plan.

Types of Stock Awards

 The Plan, provides for the grant of incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options. Stock options may be granted to employees, including officers, non-employee directors and consultants of the Company or its affiliates, except that incentive stock options may be granted only to employees.

Share Reserve

The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that have been reserved for issuance under the Plan is 2,000,000. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, there are 1,756,665 shares underlying options granted under the Plan and 243,335 shares of Common Stock available for future issuance under the Plan. If a stock option award expires, terminates, is canceled or is forfeited for any reason, the number of shares subject to the stock option award will again be available for issuance. In addition, if stock awards are settled in cash, the share reserve will be reduced by the number of shares of common stock with a value equal to the amount of the cash distributions as of the time that such amount was determined and if stock options are exercised using net exercise, the share reserve will be reduced by the gross number of shares of common stock subject to the exercised portion of the option. We also have 207,055 shares underlying options that have been granted outside of the Plan.

Administration

The Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, has the authority to administer the Plan. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Board of Directors or the authorized committee, referred to herein as the committee, determines recipients, dates of grant, the numbers and types of stock awards to be granted and the terms and conditions of the stock option awards, including the period of exercisability and vesting schedule applicable to a stock option award. Subject to the limitations set forth below, the committee will also determine the exercise price and the types of consideration to be paid for the award. The committee has the authority to modify outstanding awards under the Plan. The committee has the authority to adopt, alter and repeal administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and to perform all other acts, including delegating administrative responsibilities, as it deems advisable to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any stock option award granted under the Plan. Decisions and interpretations or other actions by the committee are in the discretion of the committee and are final binding and conclusive on the company and all participants in the Plan.

Stock Options

Incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options are granted pursuant to stock option award agreements adopted by the committee. The committee determines the exercise price for a stock option, within the terms and conditions of the Plan, provided that the exercise price shall not be less than (i) in the case of a grant of any NQSO or an ISO to a key employee who at the time of the grant does not own stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock or of any subsidiary, one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market value of a share of common stock as determined on the date the stock option award is granted; (ii) in the case of a grant of an ISO to a key employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock or of any subsidiary, one hundred ten percent (110%) of the fair market value of a share of common stock, as determined on the date the stock option award is granted. The fair market value of the common stock for purposes of determining the exercise price shall be determined by the committee in accordance with any reasonable method of valuation consistent with applicable requirements of Federal tax law, including, as applicable, the provisions of Code Section 422(c)(8) and 409A as applicable. Stock options granted under the Plan will become exercisable at the rate specified by the committee and may be exercisable for restricted stock, if determined by the committee.

 

12  
 

The committee determines the term of stock options granted under the Plan, up to a maximum of ten years. The option holder’s stock option agreement shall provide the rights, if any, that such holder has to exercise the stock option at such time that such holder’s service relationship with us, or any of our affiliates, ceases for any reason, including disability, death, with or without cause, or voluntary resignation. All unvested stock option awards are forfeited if the participant's employment or service is terminated for any reason, unless our compensation committee determines otherwise.

Acceptable consideration for the purchase of common stock issued upon the exercise of a stock option will be determined by the committee and may include (i) check, bank draft or money order, or wire transfer, (ii) if the company's common stock is publicly traded, a broker-assisted cashless exercise, or (iii) such other methods as may be approved by the committee, including without limitation, the tender of shares of our common stock previously owned by the option holder or a net exercise of the option.

Unless the committee provides otherwise, options generally are not transferable except by will, the laws of descent and distribution. The committee may provide that a non-qualified stock option may be transferred to a family member, as such term is defined under the applicable securities laws.

Tax Limitations on Incentive Stock Options

 The aggregate fair market value, determined at the time of grant, of our common stock with respect to incentive stock options that are exercisable for the first time by an option holder during any calendar year may not exceed $100,000. Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit will generally be treated as non-qualified stock options. No incentive stock option may be granted to any person who, at the time of the grant, owns or is deemed to own stock possessing more than 10% of our total combined voting power or that of any of our affiliates unless (i) the option exercise price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option on the date of grant, and (ii) the term of the incentive stock option does not exceed five years from the date of grant.

Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure and other Special Transactions

In the event of a stock dividend, stock split, or recapitalization, or a corporate reorganization in which we are a surviving corporation (and our shareholders prior to such transaction continue to own at least 50% of our capital stock after such transaction), including without limitation a merger, consolidation, split-up or spin-off, or a liquidation, or distribution of securities or assets other than cash dividends, the number or kinds of shares subject to the Plan or to any stock option award previously granted, and the exercise price, shall be adjusted proportionately by the committee to reflect such event.

In the event of a merger, consolidation, or other form of reorganization with or into another corporation (other than a merger, consolidation, or other form of reorganization in which we are the surviving corporation and our shareholders prior to such transaction continue to own at least 50% of the capital stock after such transaction), a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or a tender or exchange offer made by any corporation, person or entity (other than an offer made by us), all stock options held by any option holder shall be fully vested and exercisable by the option holder.

Furthermore, the committee, either before or after the merger, consolidation or other form of reorganization, may take such action as it determines in its sole discretion with respect to the number or kinds of shares subject to the Plan or any option under the Plan.

Amendment, Suspension or Termination

The committee may at any time amend, suspend, or terminate any and all parts of the Plan, any stock option award granted under the Plan, or both in such respects as the committee shall deem necessary or desirable, except that no such action may be taken which would impair the rights of any option holder with respect to any stock option award previously granted under the Plan without the option holder’s consent.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2018 Fiscal Year-End

The following table sets forth, for each Post-Merger Company named executive officer, information regarding unexercised stock options, unvested stock awards, and equity incentive plan awards outstanding as of December 31, 2018.

13  
 

 

Outstanding Equity Awards At 2018 Fiscal Year End
    Option Awards   Stock Awards
Name   Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable   Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable   Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options
(#)
  Option Exercise Price
($)
  Option Expiration Date   Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
(#)
  Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
($)
  Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested
(#)
  Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested
($)
                                     
Bret Chilcott                                                      
                                                                         
Nicole Fernandez-McGovern     3,125       9,375             1.82       06/29/2023                          
                                                                         
Nicole Fernandez-McGovern     1,563       10,938             1.64       10/2/2027                          
                                                                         
Barrett Mooney     4,452       120,548             0.62       12/17/2028                          

Compensation of Directors 

The following table sets forth information regarding compensation of each Post-Merger Company’s independent directors for fiscal 2018

 

Fiscal 2018 Director Compensation
Name   Fees Earned or Paid in Cash
($)
  Stock Awards
($)
  Option Awards
($)
  Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
($)
  Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings
($)
  All Other Compensation
($)
  Total
($)
                             
Grant Begley                 25,527                         25,527  
                                                         
Scott Burell (1)                 21,721                         21,721  
                                                         
Thomas Gardner                 27,247                         27,247  
                                                         
Corbett Kull (2)                 20,188                         20,188  
                                                         
Luisa Ingargiola (3)                 3,842                         3,842  

 

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(1) Mr. Burell resigned from the board of directors on November 21, 2018.

(2) Mr. Kull joined the board of directors in July 2018 and resigned from the board of director on April 15, 2019.

(3) Ms. Ingargiola joined the board of directors on November 27, 2018.

Pursuant to their respective offer letters, Messrs. Grant Begley, Thomas Gardner and Scott Burell are entitled to receive for their service on the board: (1) an initial grant of five year options to purchase 77,356 shares of Common Stock as accrued for time served as a board member since 2016, at an exercise price of $0.06 per share that vested half upon issuance and the remainder is vesting equally over 2 years and (2) additional five year options to purchase 16,500 shares of Common Stock issuable per calendar quarter of service at an exercise price per share equal to the market price of our Common Stock at the time of issuance that will vest equally over two years.

Pursuant to his offer letter, Mr. Corbett Kull is entitled to receive for his service on the board: (1) an initial grant of five year options to purchase 41,250 shares of Common Stock upon appointment, which was at an exercise price of $1.77 (equal to the market price of our Common Stock on the date of grant) that will vest in equal installments every calendar quarter over a one year period, and (2) five year options to purchase 16,500 shares of Common Stock per calendar quarter of service at an exercise price per share equal to the market price of our Common Stock at the time of issuance that will vest in equal installments every calendar quarter for the two year period after date the grant. Mr. Kull resigned from the board of directors on April 15, 2019.

Effective November 21, 2018, Mr. Scott Burell resigned from the Board of Directors of the Company and his positions as a member of the Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Chairman of the Audit Committee. As a result of his resignation, Mr. Burell did not receive any options for the last quarter of 2018 as options are awarded upon completion of the term. To replace Mr. Burell, Ms. Louisa Ingargiola was appointed on November 27, 2018 as a director of the Board of Directors of the Company, a member of the Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Pursuant to her offer letter, Ms. Ingargiola is entitled to receive for her service on the board: (1) an initial grant of five year options to purchase 41,250 shares of Common Stock upon appointment, which was at an exercise price of $0.77 (equal to the market price of our Common Stock on the date of grant) that will vest in equal installments every calendar quarter over a one year period, and (2) five year options to purchase 16,500 shares of Common Stock per calendar quarter of service at an exercise price per share equal to the market price of our Common Stock at the time of issuance that will vest in equal installments every calendar quarter for the two year period after date the grant. 

Option Exercises for Fiscal 2018 and 2017

 

Mr. Scott Burell exercised 60,724 options on December 4, 2018 at an exercise price of $0.06 of which 55,801 shares were delivered due to the Company’s withholding obligation relating to the exercise of these options.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

The Company is a party to a consulting agreement dated as of March 1, 2015 with GreenBlock Capital, LLC, or GreenBlock, which beneficially owns approximately 8.33% of the Common Stock. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company agreed to issue 368,099 (post-split) shares of the Common Stock on May 1, 2015, an additional 368,099 (post-split) shares of Common Stock on January 15, 2016 and 207,055 (post-split) stock options exercisable for five years from the issuance date at an exercise price per share of $0.06 pursuant to the consulting agreement. As of December 31, 2015, no shares had been issued to the consultant. The Company recognized $1,250,000 of consulting expense during 2015 and 2016 related to the value of the shares earned, which was based on the estimated fair value of the stock as of December 31, 2015, based on the terms of a transaction which ultimately closed in February 2016, as there was no dis-incentive for non-performance. No additional expense was recorded for the nine months September 30, 2017 for the common shares granted in connection with the strategic consulting agreement executed in March 2015. During 2015, the Company recorded $69,528 of non-cash compensation expense related to the vested stock options granted to GreenBlock. The consulting agreement terminated by mutual agreement of the parties on August 31, 2016. During 2016, the Company recognized $138,802 related to the stock options. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized $6,397 of additional consulting expense related to the issuance of the common stock for the stock options as a result of the modification of the exercise price of the options from $2.60 per share to $0.10 per share.

 

15  
 

On (i) December 15, 2016, the Company issued a promissory note with an aggregate principal amount of $30,000 to GreenBlock Capital, a related party, (ii) January 24, 2017, the Company issued a 2 nd promissory note with an aggregate principal amount of $30,000 to GreenBlock, and (iii) June 14, 2017, a 3 rd promissory note with an aggregate principal amount of $16,050 was issued to GreenBlock (the “Related Party Notes A”). The Related Party Notes A accrue interest at an annual rate of 2% and matured on November 6, 2017. On or about August 1, 2017, GreenBlock entered into extension and modification agreements with the Company whereby they agreed to extend the maturity date of the Related Party Notes A to February 28, 2018, and in exchange a conversion feature was added whereby the debt can be converted into the Company’s Common Stock at $2.00 per share, and amended the interest rate on the note retroactively to accrue at a rate of 8% annually.

Between the dates of March 15 and July 12, 2017 the Company issued seven new promissory notes totaling an aggregate amount of $55,000 to Bret Chilcott, who is the Company’s Chairman of the Board and President, and at the time was also the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The promissory notes (the “Related Party Notes B”) accrue interest at an annual rate of 2% and matured on November 6, 2017. On or about August 1, 2017, Mr. Chilcott entered into extension and modification agreements with the Company whereby both parties agreed to extend the maturity date of the Related Party Notes B to February 28, 2018, and in exchange a conversion feature was added whereby the debt can be converted into the Company’s Common Stock at $2.00 per share, and amended the interest rate on the note retroactively to accrue at a rate of 8% annually.

Policies and Procedures for Related Person Transactions

While the Company has not adopted a written related party transaction policy for the review, approval and ratification of transactions involving “related parties,” related parties are deemed to be directors and nominees for director, executive officers and immediate family members of the foregoing, as well as security holders known to beneficially own more than five percent of our common stock. The policy covers any transaction, arrangement or relationship, or series of transactions, arrangements or relationships, in which the Company was, is or will be a participant and the amount exceeds $120,000, and in which a related party has any direct or indirect interest.  The policy is administered by the Audit Committee.

In determining whether to approve or ratify a related party transaction, the Audit Committee will consider whether or not the transaction is in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of the appropriate company.  In making this determination, the Audit Committee is required to consider all of the relevant facts and circumstances in light of the following factors and any other factors to the extent deemed pertinent by the committee:

  The position within or relationship of the related party with the Company;
  The materiality of the transaction to the related party and the Company, including the dollar value of the transaction, without regard to profit or loss;
  The business purpose for and reasonableness of the transaction, taken in the context of the alternatives available for attaining the purposes of the transaction;
  Whether the transaction is comparable to a transaction that could be available on an arms-length basis or is on terms and conditions offered generally to parties that are not related parties;
  Whether the transaction is in the ordinary course of business and was proposed and considered in the ordinary course of business; and
  The effect of the transaction on the business and operations, including on internal control over financial reporting and system of disclosure controls or procedures, and any additional conditions or controls (including reporting and review requirements) that should be applied to such transactions.

The policy contains standing pre-approvals for certain types of transactions which, even though they may fall within the definition of a related party transaction, are deemed to be pre-approved by the Company given their nature, size and/or degree of significance to the company. These include compensation arrangements with directors and executive officers for which disclosure is required in the proxy statement and sales of products or services in the ordinary course of business.

 

16  
 

In the event the Company inadvertently enters into a related party transaction that requires, but has not received, pre-approval under the policy, the transaction will be presented to the appropriate Board for review and ratification promptly upon discovery. In such event, the committee will consider whether such transaction should be rescinded or modified and whether any changes in our controls and procedures or other actions are needed.

PRE-MERGER COMPANY NAMED EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The following table sets forth summary compensation information for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, and the year ended December 31, 2018, of the Pre-Merger Company’s chief executive officer, chief financial officer and other highly compensated executive officers as of the December 31, 2017 and 2018. The Pre-Merger Company did not have any other executive officers as of the end of 2018 or 2017, whose total compensation exceeded $100,000.

  

Name and Principal Position   Year   Salary   Bonus   Stock Awards   Option Awards   All Other Compensation   Total
Louis G. Schott, Former Interim     2018     $     $     $     $     $     $  
Chief Executive Officer and Secretary (1)     2017     $ 75,000     $     $     $     $     $ 75,000  
Robert Schleizer, Former Chief     2018     $     $     $     $     $     $  
Financial Officer (4)     2017     $ 75,000     $     $     $     $     $ 75,000  
Robert G. Watson, Jr., Former     2018     $     $     $     $     $     $  
President, Chief Executive Officer (2)     2017     $ 15,000     $     $     $     $     $ 15,000  
Douglas M. Wright, Former Chief     2018     $     $     $     $     $     $  
Financial Officer (3)     2017     $ 96,000     $     $     $     $     $ 96,000  
David L. Kunovic, Former Executive     2018     $     $     $     $     $     $  
Vice President, Exploration (5)     2017     $ 108,865     $     $     $     $     $ 108,865  
Kent A. Roach, Former Executive     2018     $     $     $     $     $     $  
Vice President, Engineering (5)     2017     $ 108,865     $     $     $     $     $ 108,865  

 

(1) Mr. Schott joined the Company as Interim CEO on February 10, 2017 and resigned in connection with the Merger.
(2) Mr. Watson resigned as a director and officer of the Company on February 10, 2017.
(3) Mr. Wright resigned on February 10, 2017.
(4) Mr. Schleizer joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer on August 17, 2017 and resigned in connection with the Merger.
(5) Resigned in connection with the Merger.

Employment Agreements

Louis G. Schott —Interim Chief Executive Officer

On February 10, 2017, EnerJex entered into an employment agreement with Louis G. Schott, as interim chief executive officer of EnerJex. The employment agreement provides an annual base salary of $225,000.

Option Exercises for Fiscal 2018 and 2017

There were no options exercised by the EnerJex Pre-Merger Named Executive Officers in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, as all pre-merger options issued by EnerJex were cancelled upon the date of Merger.

 

17  
 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2017 and 2016

We granted to Mr. Wright an option expiring on July 31, 2017, to purchase 50,000 shares of our Common Stock at a cash exercise price equal to $10.50. One third of the options vest on the first anniversary of the date of grant, and the remaining options vest in twenty-four (24) equal tranches each month for the next two (2) year period. Mr. Wright’s employment with the company ended effective February 17, 2017, and therefore pursuant to the 2013 Plan he must exercise the options within three (3) months of employment termination (May 17, 2017) or forfeit them. The options were not exercised.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2017 Fiscal Year-End

The following table lists the outstanding equity incentive awards held by the Pre- Merger Company’s Named Executive Officers as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

 

    Option Awards
Name and Principal Position   Fiscal
Year
  Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable
(#)
  Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Un-exercisable
(#)
  Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options
(#)
  Option Exercise
Price
($)
  Option Expiration Date
                         
David L. Kunovic     2013       50,000                   10.50     12/31/2023
                                             
Kent A. Roach     2014       39,743       10,417             10.50     12/31/2019

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, the Pre-Merger Company’s non-employee directors received no compensation.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “ FOR ” THE ELECTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ NOMINEES.

PLEASE NOTE: If your shares are held in street name, your broker, bank, custodian, or other nominee holder cannot vote your shares in the election of directors, unless you direct the holder how to vote, by marking your proxy card or by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card to vote on the Internet or by telephone.

 

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 PROPOSAL 2

RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

The Audit Committee has appointed D. Brooks and Associates CPA’s, P.A. (“D. Brooks”) as independent accountants for fiscal 2019. Representatives of D. Brooks have been invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person or by tele-conference to respond to appropriate questions and will have an opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire.

On March 26, 2018, after the Merger, we engaged D. Brooks as our independent registered public accounting firm and dismissed RBSM LLP (“RBSM”), EnerJex’s auditor. D. Brooks was the independent registered public accounting firm for AgEagle Sub prior to the Merger. The decision to engage D. Brooks and to dismiss RBSM was approved by the Post-Merger Company's Audit Committee.

During the year ended December 31, 2017 and the subsequent period through March 26, 2018, neither EnerJex nor anyone on its behalf consulted D. Brooks regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on EnerJex’s consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to EnerJex that D. Brooks concluded was an important factor considered by EnerJex in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K) or a reportable event.

 

Our independent auditor, D. Brooks and Associates CPA’s billed an aggregate of $32,078 for the year ended December 31, 2018 audit and the quarterly reviews for the year ended December 31, 2018. D. Brooks and Associates CPA’s billed $26,076 for the December 31, 2017 audit, quarterly reviews for the year ended December 31, 2017 and audit related fees. In addition, $17,515 and $1,400 was billed for tax services in 2018 and 2017, respectively. Audit Fees and Audit Related Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for auditing our Financial Statements, reviews of interim Financial Statements included in quarterly reports, services performed in connection with other filings with the Securities & Exchange Commission and related comfort letters and other services that are normally provided by our independent auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. Tax Fees consists of fees billed for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. These services include assistance regarding federal, state and local tax compliance and consultation in connection with various transactions and acquisitions. RBSM billed $124,200 of the Audit Fees in 2017 and the $21,000 in All Other Fees, which consisted of fees billed for professional services associated with a consent provided by RBSM related to the audited financial statements of EnerJex,

 

    2018   2017
Audit Fees   $ 32,078     $ 150,276  
Audit-Related Fees     1,000       1,064  
Tax Fees     17,515       1,400  
All Other Fees     21,000        
Total   $ 71,593     $ 152,740  

Audit Fees

Audit Fees include fees billed and expected to be billed for services performed to comply with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), including the reviews of the quarterly financial statements included in the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This category also includes fees for audits provided in connection with statutory filings or procedures related to audit of income tax provisions and related reserves, consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC.

 

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Audit-Related Fees

Audit-Related Fees include fees for services associated with assurance and reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements. This category includes fees related to assistance in financial due diligence related to mergers and acquisitions, consultations regarding Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, reviews and evaluations of the impact of new regulatory pronouncements, general assistance with implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requirements and audit services not required by statute or regulation.

Tax Fees.

Tax fees consist of fees related to the preparation and review of our federal and state income tax returns.

Pre-Approval of Services

The Audit Committee appoints the independent accountant each year and pre-approves all services to be provided to us by our independent auditor. . This process involves obtaining (i) a written description of the proposed services, (ii) the confirmation of our chief financial officer that the services are compatible with maintaining specific principles relating to independence, and (iii) confirmation from our securities counsel that the services are not among those that our independent auditors have been prohibited from performing under SEC rules. After engaging in this process, the members of the Board of Directors determine to approve or disapprove the engagement of the auditors for the proposed services..

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “ FOR ” RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS.

   

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PROPOSAL NO. 3

 

RATIFICATION OF AMENDMENT TO ENERJEX RESOURCES, INC. 2017 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Summary and Purpose of the Amendment to Enerjex Resources, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan

 

The Board of Directors has voted to amend the Enerjex Resources, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan by 1,000,000 shares.

 

Increase in Number of Authorized Shares

 

The Plan has been in place since 2017. Currently, there are 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan. However, as of the date hereof, the Company has 1,756,665 awards granted under the Plan, and only has 243,335 shares of Common Stock remaining for future issuance under the Plan. The Board of Directors believes that the Company’s success depends in large part on its ability to attract, retain, and motivate its executive officers and other key personnel and that grants of awards under the Plan may be a significant element of compensation for such persons. The Board of Directors believes that the proposed increase in the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance as provided in the Plan will provide the Compensation Committee with greater flexibility in the administration of the Plan and is appropriate in light of the growth of the Company in order to attract and retain key individuals. Following the proposed increase, the total authorized number of shares under the Plan will be 3,000,000 shares, which shall represent approximately 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company as of the date hereof.

 

The amendment to the Plan is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.

 

Awards to be Granted to Certain Individuals and Groups

 

As of the date hereof, the Company cannot determine the benefits or amounts that will be received by or allocated to any individual or group resulting from the approval of the amendment to the Plan.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2018 about our equity compensation plan and arrangements.

 

Plan category   Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
  Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
  Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders     1,287,103     $ 0.45       712,897  
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders     207,055       0.06        
Total     1,494,158     $ 0.46       712,897  

  

A vote of a majority of shares present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote is required to approve Proposal No. 3.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “ FOR ” THE AMENDMENT TO THE PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AWARDS AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE ISSUANCE.

 

PLEASE NOTE:  If your shares are held in street name, your broker, bank, custodian, or other nominee holder cannot vote your shares to amend the Plan, unless you direct the holder how to vote, by marking your proxy card, or by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card to vote on the Internet or by telephone.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 4

APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK REPRESENTING MORE THAN 20% OF OUR COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING UPON EXERCISE OF A WARRANT ISSUED IN A PRIVATE PLACEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH NYSE AMERICAN RULE 713(A)(II).

Our common stock is currently listed on the NYSE American. We are subject to NYSE American Rule 713(a)(ii), which requires us to obtain shareholder approval when shares will be issued in connection with a transaction involving the sale, issuance or potential issuance by the issuer of common stock (or securities convertible into common stock) equal to 20% or more of presently outstanding shares for less than the greater of book or market value of the shares.

On December 27, 2018, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with an institutional investor (the “Purchaser”). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) designated a new series of preferred stock, the Series D Preferred Stock, which is non-convertible, provides for an 8% annual dividend and is subject to optional redemption by the Company (the “Preferred Stock”). We issued 2,000 shares of Preferred Stock and a warrant (the “Warrant”) to purchase 3,703,703 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), for $2,000,000 in gross proceeds. The shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrant are referred to as the “Warrant Shares.”

The Warrant is exercisable for a period of five years through December 26, 2023, at an exercise price equal to $0.54 per share, and is subject to customary adjustments for stock splits dividend, rights offerings, pro rata distributions and fundamental transactions. In addition, in the event the Company undertakes a subsequent equity financing or financings at an effective price per share that is less than $0.54, the exercise price of the Warrant shall be reduced to the lower price.

The Warrant provides that the Warrant holder shall have a “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” equal to 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Warrant holder, upon notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, as provided for in the Warrant.

At the time of issuance, the Warrant was exercisable for more than 20% of our Common Stock outstanding at the time of the issuance, at an exercise price equal to $0.54, which was less than the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock. As a result, NYSE American Rule 713(a)(ii) requires that we obtain stockholder approval of the Common Stock issuable in connection with the Warrant. Accordingly, we seek your approval of Proposal No. 4 in order to satisfy the requirements of NYSE American Rule 713(a)(ii).

The approval of Proposal 4 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast at the shareholders meeting, either in person or by proxy. Abstentions and broker “non-votes” will have no effect with respect to the approval of the Proposal 4.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” ” PROPOSAL 4.

 

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OTHER INFORMATION

The Company’s 2018 annual report on Form 10-K, excluding exhibits, will be mailed without charge to any stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting, upon written request to Bret Chilcott, Secretary, AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., 117 S. 4th Street, Neodesha, Kansas 66757.

Important Notice Regarding Delivery of Stockholder Documents

If your shares are held in street name, your broker, bank, custodian, or other nominee holder may, upon request, deliver only one copy of this proxy statement and the annual report to stockholders to multiple stockholders sharing an address, absent contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. The Company will, upon request, deliver a separate copy of the proxy materials to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy was delivered, upon written or oral request, to Bret Chilcott, Secretary, AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., 117 S. 4th Street, Neodesha, Kansas 66757, Tel: 620-325-6363. Stockholders sharing an address and receiving multiple copies of the proxy materials who wish to receive a single copy should contact their broker, bank, custodian or other nominee holder.

Other Matters to Be Presented at the Annual Meeting

Company did not have notice, as of the date of this proxy statement, of any matter to be presented for action at the Annual Meeting, except as discussed in this proxy statement. The persons authorized by the accompanying form of proxy will vote in their discretion as to any other matter that comes before the Annual Meeting.

Stockholder Proposals for Next Annual Meeting

Stockholder proposals intended to be included in the proxy statement for the next annual meeting must be received by Company by January 7, 2020. The persons authorized by the form of proxy to be sent in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of Company’s board of directors for next year’s annual meeting will vote in their discretion as to any matter of which Company has not received notice by March 23, 2020.

 

  By Order of the Board of Directors,
   
  /s/ Bret Chilcott
  Bret Chilcott
  Chairman of the Board, President and Secretary
   

May 10, 2019
 

 

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APPENDIX A

 

 

ENERJEX RESOURCES, INC.

 

2017 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

(Amendment No. 1) 

 

 

 

 

 

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ENERJEX RESOURCES, INC.
2017 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 (Amendment No. 1)

Article I
PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this Enerjex Resources, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) is to benefit Enerjex Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”) and its stockholders, by assisting the Company and its subsidiaries to attract, retain and provide incentives to key management employees, directors, and consultants of the Company and its Affiliates, and to align the interests of such service providers with those of the Company’s stockholders. Accordingly, the Plan provides for the granting of Non-qualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Unit Awards, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Stock Awards, Performance Unit Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Distribution Equivalent Rights or any combination of the foregoing.

 

Article II
DEFINITIONS

 

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

 

2.1        Affiliate ” shall mean any corporation which, with respect to the Company, is a “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code or other entity in which the Company has a controlling interest in such entity or another entity which is part of a chain of entities in which the Company or each entity has a controlling interest in another entity in the unbroken chain of entities ending with the applicable entity.

 

2.2        Award ” shall mean, individually or collectively, any Option, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Stock Award, Performance Unit Award, Stock Appreciation Right, Distribution Equivalent Right or Unrestricted Stock Award.

 

2.3        Award Agreement ” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and the Holder with respect to an Award, setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award, as amended.

 

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

 

2.5        Base Value ” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 14.2.

 

2.6        Cause ” shall mean (i) if the Holder is a party to an employment or service agreement with the Company or an Affiliate which agreement defines “Cause” (or a similar term), “ Cause ” shall have the same meaning as provided for in such agreement, or (ii) for a Holder who is not a party to such an agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean termination by the Company or an Affiliate of the employment (or other service relationship) of the Holder by reason of the Holder’s (A) intentional failure to perform reasonably assigned duties, (B) dishonesty or willful misconduct in the performance of the Holder’s duties, (C) involvement in a transaction which is materially adverse to the Company or an Affiliate, (D) breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, (E) willful violation of any law, rule, regulation or court order (other than misdemeanor traffic violations and misdemeanors not involving misuse or misappropriation of money or property), (F) commission of an act of fraud or intentional misappropriation or conversion of any asset or opportunity of the Company or an Affiliate, or (G) material breach of any provision of the Plan or the Holder’s Award Agreement or any other written agreement between the Holder and the Company or an Affiliate, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board, the determination of which shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties.

 

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2.7        Change of Control ” shall mean: (i) for a Holder who is a party to an employment or consulting agreement with the Company or an Affiliate which agreement defines “Change of Control” (or a similar term), “ Change of Control ” shall have the same meaning as provided for in such agreement, or (ii) for a Holder who is not a party to such an agreement, “ Change of Control ” shall mean the satisfaction of any one or more of the following conditions (and the “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day that any one or more of the following conditions shall have been satisfied):

 

(a)        Any person (as such term is used in paragraphs 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, hereinafter in this definition, “ Person ”), other than the Company or an Affiliate or an employee benefit plan of the Company or an Affiliate, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

 

(b)        The closing of a merger, consolidation or other business combination (a “ Business Combination ”) other than a Business Combination in which holders of the Shares immediately prior to the Business Combination have substantially the same proportionate ownership of the common stock or ordinary shares, as applicable, of the surviving corporation immediately after the Business Combination as immediately before;

 

(c)        The closing of an agreement for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to any entity that is not an Affiliate;

 

(d)        The approval by the holders of shares of Shares of a plan of complete liquidation of the Company, other than a merger of the Company into any subsidiary or a liquidation as a result of which persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such liquidation have substantially the same proportionate ownership of shares of common stock of the surviving corporation immediately after such liquidation as immediately before; or

 

26  
 

 

 

(e)        Within any twenty-four (24) month period, the Incumbent Directors shall cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board or the board of directors of any successor to the Company; provided , however , that any director elected to the Board, or nominated for election, by a majority of the Incumbent Directors then still in office, shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director for purposes of this paragraph (e), but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, entity or “group” other than the Board (including, but not limited to, any such assumption that results from paragraphs (a), (b), (c), or (d) of this definition).

 

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

 

2.9        Committee ” shall mean a committee comprised of two (2) or more members of the Board who are selected by the Board as provided in Section 4.1.

 

2.10        Company ” shall have the meaning given to such term in the introductory paragraph, including any successor thereto.

 

2.11        Consultant ” shall mean any non-Employee (individual or entity) advisor to the Company or an Affiliate who or which has contracted directly with the Company or an Affiliate to render bona fide consulting or advisory services thereto.

 

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

 

2.13        Distribution Equivalent Right ” shall mean an Award granted under Article XIII of the Plan which entitles the Holder to receive bookkeeping credits, cash payments and/or Share distributions equal in amount to the distributions that would have been made to the Holder had the Holder held a specified number of Shares during the period the Holder held the Distribution Equivalent Right.

 

2.14        Distribution Equivalent Right Award Agreement ” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Distribution Equivalent Right Award.

 

2.15        Effective Date ” shall mean [•]

 

2.16        Employee ” shall mean any employee, including any officer, of the Company or an Affiliate.

 

2.17        Exchange Act ” shall mean the United States of America Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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2.18        Fair Market Value ” shall mean, as of any specified date, the closing sales price of the Shares for such date (or, in the event that the Shares are not traded on such date, on the immediately preceding trading date) on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”), as reported by NASDAQ, or such other domestic or foreign national securities exchange on which the Shares may be listed. If the Shares are not listed on NASDAQ or on a national securities exchange, but are quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or by the National Quotation Bureau, the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be the mean of the highest bid and lowest asked prices per Share for such date. If the Shares are not quoted or listed as set forth above, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board in good faith by any fair and reasonable means (which means may be set forth with greater specificity in the applicable Award Agreement). The Fair Market Value of property other than Shares shall be determined by the Board in good faith by any fair and reasonable means consistent with the requirements of applicable law.

 

2.19        Family Member ” of an individual shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the Holder’s household (other than a tenant or employee of the Holder), a trust in which such persons have more than fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which such persons (or the Holder) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which such persons (or the Holder) own more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests.

 

2.20        Holder ” shall mean an Employee, Director or Consultant who has been granted an Award or any such individual’s beneficiary, estate or representative, who has acquired such Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan, as applicable.

 

2.21        Incentive Stock Option ” shall mean an Option which is intended by the Committee to constitute an “incentive stock option” and conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

 

2.22        Incumbent Director ” shall mean, with respect to any period of time specified under the Plan for purposes of determining whether or not a Change of Control has occurred, the individuals who were members of the Board at the beginning of such period.

 

2.23        Non-qualified Stock Option ” shall mean an Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option or which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but does not meet the applicable requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

2.24        Option ” shall mean an Award granted under Article VII of the Plan of an option to purchase Shares and shall include both Incentive Stock Options and Non-qualified Stock Options.

 

2.25        Option Agreement ” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to an Option.

 

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2.26        Performance Criteria ” shall mean the criteria selected by the Committee for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal(s) for a Holder for a Performance Period.

 

2.27        Performance Goals ” shall mean, for a Performance Period, the written goal or goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria, which may be related to the performance of the Holder, the Company or an Affiliate.

 

2.28        Performance Period ” shall mean one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, selected by the Committee, over which the attainment of the Performance Goals shall be measured for purposes of determining a Holder’s right to, and the payment of, a Qualified Performance-Based Award.

 

2.29        Performance Stock Award ” or “ Performance Stock ” shall mean an Award granted under Article XII of the Plan under which, upon the satisfaction of predetermined Performance Goals, Shares are paid to the Holder.

 

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

 

2.31        Performance Unit ” shall mean a Unit awarded to a Holder pursuant to a Performance Unit Award.

 

2.32        Performance Unit Award ” shall mean an Award granted under Article XI of the Plan under which, upon the satisfaction of predetermined Performance Goals, a cash payment shall be made to the Holder, based on the number of Units awarded to the Holder.

 

2.33        Performance Unit Agreement ” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Performance Unit Award.

 

2.34        Plan ” shall mean this Enerjex Resources, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, together with each of the Award Agreements utilized hereunder.

 

2.35        Qualified Performance-Based Award ” shall mean an Award that is intended to qualify as “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

2.36        Restricted Stock Award ” and “ Restricted Stock ” shall mean an Award granted under Article VIII of the Plan of Shares, the transferability of which by the Holder is subject to Restrictions.

 

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

 

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2.38        Restricted Stock Unit Award ” and “ RSUs ” shall refer to an Award granted under Article X of the Plan under which, upon the satisfaction of predetermined individual service-related vesting requirements, a cash payment shall be made to the Holder, based on the number of Units awarded to the Holder.

 

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

 

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

 

2.41        Restrictions ” shall mean the forfeiture, transfer and/or other restrictions applicable to Shares awarded to an Employee, Director or Consultant under the Plan pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award and set forth in a Restricted Stock Agreement.

 

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

 

2.43        Shares ” or “ Stock ” shall mean the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share.

 

2.44        Stock Appreciation Right ” or “ SAR ” shall mean an Award granted under Article XIV of the Plan of a right, granted alone or in connection with a related Option, to receive a payment equal to the increase in value of a specified number of Shares between the date of Award and the date of exercise.

 

2.45        Stock Appreciation Right Agreement ” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right.

 

2.46        Tandem Stock Appreciation Right ” shall mean a Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with a related Option, the exercise of some or all of which results in termination of the entitlement to purchase some or all of the Shares under the related Option, all as set forth in Article XIV.

 

2.47        Ten Percent Stockholder ” shall mean an Employee who, at the time an Option is granted to him or her, owns shares possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or of any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation thereof (both as defined in Section 424 of the Code), within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.

 

2.48        Termination of Service ” shall mean a termination of a Holder’s employment with, or status as a Director or Consultant of, the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, for any reason, including, without limitation, Total and Permanent Disability or death, except as provided in Section 6.4. In the event Termination of Service shall constitute a payment event with respect to any Award subject to Code Section 409A, Termination of Service shall only be deemed to occur upon a “separation from service” as such term is defined under Code Section 409A and applicable authorities.

 

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

 

2.50        Unit ” shall mean a bookkeeping unit, which represents such monetary amount as shall be designated by the Committee in each Performance Unit Agreement, or represents one Share for purposes of each Restricted Stock Unit Award.

 

2.51        Unrestricted Stock Award ” shall mean an Award granted under Article IX of the Plan of Shares which are not subject to Restrictions.

 

2.52        Unrestricted Stock Agreement ” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to an Unrestricted Stock Award.

 

Article III
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

 

The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date, provided that the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months of such date.

 

Article IV
ADMINISTRATION

 

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

 

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4.2        Powers . Subject to the other provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the sole authority, in its discretion, to make all determinations under the Plan, including but not limited to (i) determining which Employees, Directors or Consultants shall receive an Award, (ii) the time or times when an Award shall be made (the date of grant of an Award shall be the date on which the Award is awarded by the Committee), (iii) what type of Award shall be granted, (iv) the term of an Award, (v) the date or dates on which an Award vests, (vi) the form of any payment to be made pursuant to an Award, (vii) the terms and conditions of an Award (including the forfeiture of the Award, and/or any financial gain, if the Holder of the Award violates any applicable restrictive covenant thereof), (viii) the Restrictions under a Restricted Stock Award, (ix) the number of Shares which may be issued under an Award, (x) Performance Goals applicable to any Award and certification of the achievement of such goals, and (xi) the waiver of any Restrictions or Performance Goals, subject in all cases to compliance with applicable laws. In making such determinations the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective Employees, Directors and Consultants, their present and potential contribution to the Company’s (or the Affiliate’s) success and such other factors as the Committee in its discretion may deem relevant.

 

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

 

4.4        Committee Action . Subject to compliance with all applicable laws, action by the Committee shall require the consent of a majority of the members of the Committee, expressed either orally at a meeting of the Committee or in writing in the absence of a meeting. No member of the Committee shall have any liability for any good faith action, inaction or determination in connection with the Plan.

 

Article V
SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN AND LIMITATIONS THEREON

 

5.1        Authorized Shares and Award Limits . The Committee may from time to time grant Awards to one or more Employees, Directors and/or Consultants determined by it to be eligible for participation in the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Article VI. Subject to Article XV, the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan shall not exceed Three Million (3,000,000) Shares (based on a post-merger, post-reverse split basis). Shares shall be deemed to have been issued under the Plan solely to the extent actually issued and delivered pursuant to an Award. To the extent that an Award lapses, expires, is canceled, is terminated unexercised or ceases to be exercisable for any reason, or the rights of its Holder terminate, any Shares subject to such Award shall again be available for the grant of a new Award. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the maximum number of Shares that may be subject to Awards of Options under Article VII and/or Stock Appreciation Rights under Article XIV, in either or both cases granted to any one person during any calendar year, shall be 500,000 Shares (subject to adjustment in the same manner as provided in Article XV with respect to Shares subject to Awards then outstanding). The limitation set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied in a manner which shall permit compensation generated in connection with the exercise of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to constitute “performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, including, but not limited to, counting against such maximum number of Shares, to the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, any Shares subject to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that are canceled or re-priced.

 

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5.2        Types of Shares . The Shares to be issued pursuant to the grant or exercise of an Award may consist of authorized but unissued Shares, Shares purchased on the open market or Shares previously issued and outstanding and reacquired by the Company.

 

Article VI
ELIGIBILITY AND TERMINATION OF SERVICE

 

6.1        Eligibility . Awards made under the Plan may be granted solely to individuals or entities who, at the time of grant, are Employees, Directors or Consultants. An Award may be granted on more than one occasion to the same Employee, Director or Consultant, and, subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan, such Award may include, a Non-qualified Stock Option, a Restricted Stock Award, a Restricted Stock Unit Award, an Unrestricted Stock Award, a Distribution Equivalent Right Award, a Performance Stock Award, a Performance Unit Award, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right, or any combination thereof, and solely for Employees, an Incentive Stock Option.

 

6.2        Termination of Service . Except to the extent inconsistent with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement and/or the provisions of Section 6.3 or 6.4, the following terms and conditions shall apply with respect to a Holder’s Termination of Service with the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable:

 

(a)        The Holder’s rights, if any, to exercise any then exercisable Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate:

 

(i)        If such termination is for a reason other than the Holder’s Total and Permanent Disability or death, ninety (90) days after the date of such Termination of Service;

 

(ii)        If such termination is on account of the Holder’s Total and Permanent Disability, one (1) year after the date of such Termination of Service; or

 

(iii)        If such termination is on account of the Holder’s death, one (1) year after the date of the Holder’s death.

 

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Upon such applicable date the Holder (and such Holder’s estate, designated beneficiary or other legal representative) shall forfeit any rights or interests in or with respect to any such Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for a different time period in the Award Agreement, or may extend the time period, following a Termination of Service, during which the Holder has the right to exercise any vested Non-qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, which time period may not extend beyond the expiration date of the Award term.

 

(b)        In the event of a Holder’s Termination of Service for any reason prior to the actual or deemed satisfaction and/or lapse of the Restrictions, vesting requirements, terms and conditions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award and/or Restricted Stock Unit Award, such Restricted Stock and/or RSUs shall immediately be canceled, and the Holder (and such Holder’s estate, designated beneficiary or other legal representative) shall forfeit any rights or interests in and with respect to any such Restricted Stock and/or RSUs. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine, prior to or within thirty (30) days after the date of such Termination of Service that all or a portion of any such Holder’s Restricted Stock and/or RSUs shall not be so canceled and forfeited.

 

6.3        Special Termination Rule . Except to the extent inconsistent with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article VI, if a Holder’s employment with, or status as a Director of, the Company or an Affiliate shall terminate, and if, within ninety (90) days of such termination, such Holder shall become a Consultant, such Holder’s rights with respect to any Award or portion thereof granted thereto prior to the date of such termination may be preserved, if and to the extent determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, as if such Holder had been a Consultant for the entire period during which such Award or portion thereof had been outstanding. Should the Committee effect such determination with respect to such Holder, for all purposes of the Plan, such Holder shall not be treated as if his or her employment or Director status had terminated until such time as his or her Consultant status shall terminate, in which case his or her Award, as it may have been reduced in connection with the Holder’s becoming a Consultant, shall be treated pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.2, provided, however, that any such Award which is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall, upon the Holder’s no longer being an Employee, automatically convert to a Non-qualified Stock Option. Should a Holder’s status as a Consultant terminate, and if, within ninety (90) days of such termination, such Holder shall become an Employee or a Director, such Holder’s rights with respect to any Award or portion thereof granted thereto prior to the date of such termination may be preserved, if and to the extent determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, as if such Holder had been an Employee or a Director, as applicable, for the entire period during which such Award or portion thereof had been outstanding, and, should the Committee effect such determination with respect to such Holder, for all purposes of the Plan, such Holder shall not be treated as if his or her Consultant status had terminated until such time as his or her employment with the Company or an Affiliate, or his or her Director status, as applicable, shall terminate, in which case his or her Award shall be treated pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.2.

 

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6.4        Termination of Service for Cause . Notwithstanding anything in this Article VI or elsewhere in the Plan to the contrary, and unless a Holder’s Award Agreement specifically provides otherwise, in the event of a Holder’s Termination of Service for Cause, all of such Holder’s then outstanding Awards shall expire immediately and be forfeited in their entirety upon such Termination of Service.

 

Article VII
OPTIONS

 

7.1        Option Period . The term of each Option shall be as specified in the Option Agreement; provided , however , that except as set forth in Section 7.3, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant.

 

7.2        Limitations on Exercise of Option . An Option shall be exercisable in whole or in such installments and at such times as specified in the Option Agreement.

 

7.3        Special Limitations on Incentive Stock Options . To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the respective Incentive Stock Option is granted) of Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year under all plans of the Company and any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation thereof (both as defined in Section 424 of the Code) which provide for the grant of Incentive Stock Options exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) (or such other individual limit as may be in effect under the Code on the date of grant), the portion of such Incentive Stock Options that exceeds such threshold shall be treated as Non-qualified Stock Options. The Committee shall determine, in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code, Treasury Regulations and other administrative pronouncements, which of a Holder’s Options, which were intended by the Committee to be Incentive Stock Options when granted to the Holder, will not constitute Incentive Stock Options because of such limitation, and shall notify the Holder of such determination as soon as practicable after such determination. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to an Employee if, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, such Employee is a Ten Percent Stockholder, unless (i) at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted the Option price is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Incentive Stock Option, and (ii) such Incentive Stock Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted more than ten (10) years from the earlier of the Effective Date or date on which the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders. The designation by the Committee of an Option as an Incentive Stock Option shall not guarantee the Holder that the Option will satisfy the applicable requirements for “incentive stock option” status under Section 422 of the Code.

 

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7.4        Option Agreement . Each Option shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement in such form and containing such provisions not inconsistent with the other provisions of the Plan as the Committee from time to time shall approve, including, but not limited to, provisions intended to qualify an Option as an Incentive Stock Option. An Option Agreement may provide for the payment of the Option price, in whole or in part, by the delivery of a number of Shares (plus cash if necessary) that have been owned by the Holder for at least six (6) months and having a Fair Market Value equal to such Option price, or such other forms or methods as the Committee may determine from time to time, in each case, subject to such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Committee. Each Option Agreement shall, solely to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4, as applicable, specify the effect of Termination of Service on the exercisability of the Option. Moreover, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement may provide for a “cashless exercise” of the Option, in whole or in part, by (a) establishing procedures whereby the Holder, by a properly-executed written notice, directs (i) an immediate market sale or margin loan as to all or a part of Shares to which he is entitled to receive upon exercise of the Option, pursuant to an extension of credit by the Company to the Holder of the Option price, (ii) the delivery of the Shares from the Company directly to a brokerage firm and (iii) the delivery of the Option price from sale or margin loan proceeds from the brokerage firm directly to the Company, or (b) reducing the number of Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option by the number of such Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Option price (or portion thereof to be so paid) as of the date of the Option’s exercise. An Option Agreement may also include provisions relating to: (i) subject to the provisions hereof, accelerated vesting of Options, including but not limited to, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, (ii) tax matters (including provisions covering any applicable Employee wage withholding requirements and requiring additional “gross-up” payments to Holders to meet any excise taxes or other additional income tax liability imposed as a result of a payment made upon a Change of Control resulting from the operation of the Plan or of such Option Agreement) and (iii) any other matters not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan that the Committee shall in its sole discretion determine. The terms and conditions of the respective Option Agreements need not be identical.

 

7.5        Option Price and Payment . The price at which an Share may be purchased upon exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided , however , that such Option price (i) shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of an Share on the date such Option is granted (or 110% of Fair Market Value for an Incentive Stock Option held by Ten Percent Stockholder, as provided in Section 7.3), and (ii) shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Article XV. The Option or portion thereof may be exercised by delivery of an irrevocable notice of exercise to the Company. The Option price for the Option or portion thereof shall be paid in full in the manner prescribed by the Committee as set forth in the Plan and the applicable Option Agreement, which manner, with the consent of the Committee, may include the withholding of Shares otherwise issuable in connection with the exercise of the Option. Separate share certificates shall be issued by the Company for those Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option and for those Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a Non-qualified Stock Option.

 

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7.6        Stockholder Rights and Privileges . The Holder of an Option shall be entitled to all the privileges and rights of a stockholder of the Company solely with respect to such Shares as have been purchased under the Option and for which share certificates have been registered in the Holder’s name.

 

7.7        Options and Rights in Substitution for Stock or Options Granted by Other Corporations . Options may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for stock options held by individuals employed by entities who become Employees, Directors or Consultants as a result of a merger or consolidation of the employing entity with the Company or any Affiliate, or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of the assets of the employing entity, or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of stock or shares of the employing entity with the result that such employing entity becomes an Affiliate.

 

7.8        Prohibition Against Re-Pricing . Except to the extent (i) approved in advance by holders of a majority of the shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (ii) as a result of any Change of Control or any adjustment as provided in Article XV, the Committee shall not have the power or authority to reduce, whether through amendment or otherwise, the exercise price under any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or to grant any new Award or make any payment of cash in substitution for or upon the cancellation of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights previously granted.

 

Article VIII
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

8.1        Award . A Restricted Stock Award shall constitute an Award of Shares to the Holder as of the date of the Award which are subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” as defined under Section 83 of the Code during the specified Restriction Period. At the time a Restricted Stock Award is made, the Committee shall establish the Restriction Period applicable to such Award. Each Restricted Stock Award may have a different Restriction Period, in the discretion of the Committee. The Restriction Period applicable to a particular Restricted Stock Award shall not be changed except as permitted by Section 8.2.

 

8.2        Terms and Conditions . At the time any Award is made under this Article VIII, the Company and the Holder shall enter into a Restricted Stock Agreement setting forth each of the matters contemplated thereby and such other matters as the Committee may determine to be appropriate. The Company shall cause the Shares to be issued in the name of Holder, either by book-entry registration or issuance of one or more stock certificates evidencing the Shares, which Shares or certificates shall be held by the Company or the stock transfer agent or brokerage service selected by the Company to provide services for the Plan. The Shares shall be restricted from transfer and shall be subject to an appropriate stop-transfer order, and if any certificate is issued, such certificate shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the restrictions applicable to the Shares. After any Shares vest, the Company shall deliver the vested Shares, in book-entry or certificated form in the Company’s sole discretion, registered in the name of Holder or his or her legal representatives, beneficiaries or heirs, as the case may be, less any Shares withheld to pay withholding taxes. If provided for under the Restricted Stock Agreement, the Holder shall have the right to vote Shares subject thereto and to enjoy all other stockholder rights, including the entitlement to receive dividends on the Shares during the Restriction Period. At the time of such Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions relating to Restricted Stock Awards, including, but not limited to, rules pertaining to the effect of Termination of Service prior to expiration of the Restriction Period. Such additional terms, conditions or restrictions shall, to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4, as applicable, be set forth in a Restricted Stock Agreement made in conjunction with the Award. Such Restricted Stock Agreement may also include provisions relating to: (i) subject to the provisions hereof, accelerated vesting of Awards, including but not limited to accelerated vesting upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, (ii) tax matters (including provisions covering any applicable Employee wage withholding requirements and requiring additional “gross-up” payments to Holders to meet any excise taxes or other additional income tax liability imposed as a result of a payment made in connection with a Change of Control resulting from the operation of the Plan or of such Restricted Stock Agreement) and (iii) any other matters not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan that the Committee shall in its sole discretion determine. The terms and conditions of the respective Restricted Stock Agreements need not be identical. All Shares delivered to a Holder as part of a Restricted Stock Award shall be delivered and reported by the Company or the Affiliate, as applicable, to the Holder at the time of vesting.

 

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

 

Article IX
UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

9.1        Award . Shares may be awarded (or sold) to Employees, Directors or Consultants under the Plan which are not subject to Restrictions of any kind, in consideration for past services rendered thereby to the Company or an Affiliate or for other valid consideration.

 

9.2        Terms and Conditions. At the time any Award is made under this Article IX, the Company and the Holder shall enter into an Unrestricted Stock Agreement setting forth each of the matters contemplated hereby and such other matters as the Committee may determine to be appropriate.

 

9.3        Payment for Unrestricted Stock . The Committee shall determine the amount and form of any payment from a Holder for Shares received pursuant to an Unrestricted Stock Award, if any, provided that in the absence of such a determination, a Holder shall not be required to make any payment for Shares received pursuant to an Unrestricted Stock Award, except to the extent otherwise required by law.

 

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Article X
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARDS

 

10.1        Award . A Restricted Stock Unit Award shall constitute a promise to grant Shares (or cash equal to the Fair Market Value of Shares) to the Holder at the end of a specified Restriction Period. At the time a Restricted Stock Unit Award is made, the Committee shall establish the Restriction Period applicable to such Award. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award may have a different Restriction Period, in the discretion of the Committee. A Restricted Stock Unit shall not constitute an equity interest in the Company and shall not entitle the Holder to voting rights, dividends or any other rights associated with ownership of Shares prior to the time the Holder shall receive a distribution of Shares pursuant to Section 10.3.

 

10.2        Terms and Conditions . At the time any Award is made under this Article X, the Company and the Holder shall enter into a Restricted Stock Unit Agreement setting forth each of the matters contemplated thereby and such other matters as the Committee may determine to be appropriate. The Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall set forth the individual service-based vesting requirement which the Holder would be required to satisfy before the Holder would become entitled to distribution pursuant to Section 10.3 and the number of Units awarded to the Holder. Such conditions shall be sufficient to constitute a “substantial risk of forfeiture” as such term is defined under Section 409A of the Code. At the time of such Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions relating to Restricted Stock Unit Awards in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, including, but not limited to, rules pertaining to the effect of Termination of Service prior to expiration of the applicable vesting period. The terms and conditions of the respective Restricted Stock Unit Agreements need not be identical.

 

10.3        Distributions of Shares . The Holder of a Restricted Stock Unit shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of an Share, or one Share, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee and as set forth in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, for each Restricted Stock Unit subject to such Restricted Stock Unit Award, if the Holder satisfies the applicable vesting requirement. Such distribution shall be made no later than by the fifteenth (15 th ) day of the third (3 rd ) calendar month next following the end of the calendar year in which the Restricted Stock Unit first becomes vested (i.e., no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture”).

 

Article XI
PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARDS

 

11.1        Award . A Performance Unit Award shall constitute an Award under which, upon the satisfaction of predetermined individual and/or Company (and/or Affiliate) Performance Goals based on selected Performance Criteria, a cash payment shall be made to the Holder, based on the number of Units awarded to the Holder. At the time a Performance Unit Award is made, the Committee shall establish the Performance Period and applicable Performance Goals. Each Performance Unit Award may have different Performance Goals, in the discretion of the Committee. A Performance Unit Award shall not constitute an equity interest in the Company and shall not entitle the Holder to voting rights, dividends or any other rights associated with ownership of Shares.

 

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11.2        Terms and Conditions . At the time any Award is made under this Article XI, the Company and the Holder shall enter into a Performance Unit Agreement setting forth each of the matters contemplated thereby and such other matters as the Committee may determine to be appropriate. The Committee shall set forth in the applicable Performance Unit Agreement the Performance Period, Performance Criteria and Performance Goals which the Holder and/or the Company would be required to satisfy before the Holder would become entitled to payment pursuant to Section 11.3, the number of Units awarded to the Holder and the dollar value or formula assigned to each such Unit. Such payment shall be subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” under Section 409A of the Code. At the time of such Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions relating to Performance Unit Awards, including, but not limited to, rules pertaining to the effect of Termination of Service prior to expiration of the applicable performance period. The terms and conditions of the respective Performance Unit Agreements need not be identical.

 

11.3        Payments . The Holder of a Performance Unit shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the dollar value assigned to such Unit under the applicable Performance Unit Agreement if the Holder and/or the Company satisfy (or partially satisfy, if applicable under the applicable Performance Unit Agreement) the Performance Goals set forth in such Performance Unit Agreement. If necessary to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m), if applicable, the achievement of such Performance Goals shall be certified in writing by the Committee prior to any payment. All payments shall be made no later than by the fifteenth (15 th ) day of the third (3 rd ) calendar month next following the end of the Company’s fiscal year to which such performance goals and objectives relate.

 

Article XII
PERFORMANCE STOCK AWARDS

 

12.1        Award . A Performance Stock Award shall constitute a promise to grant Shares (or cash equal to the Fair Market Value of Shares) to the Holder at the end of a specified Performance Period subject to achievement of specified Performance Goals. At the time a Performance Stock Award is made, the Committee shall establish the Performance Period and applicable Performance Goals based on selected Performance Criteria. Each Performance Stock Award may have different Performance Goals, in the discretion of the Committee. A Performance Stock Award shall not constitute an equity interest in the Company and shall not entitle the Holder to voting rights, dividends or any other rights associated with ownership of Shares unless and until the Holder shall receive a distribution of Shares pursuant to Section 11.3.

 

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12.2        Terms and Conditions . At the time any Award is made under this Article XII, the Company and the Holder shall enter into a Performance Stock Agreement setting forth each of the matters contemplated thereby and such other matters as the Committee may determine to be appropriate. The Committee shall set forth in the applicable Performance Stock Agreement the Performance Period, selected Performance Criteria and Performance Goals which the Holder and/or the Company would be required to satisfy before the Holder would become entitled to the receipt of Shares pursuant to such Holder’s Performance Stock Award and the number of Shares subject to such Performance Stock Award. Such distribution shall be subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” under Section 409A of the Code. If such Performance Goals are achieved, the distribution of Shares (or the payment of cash, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee), shall be made no later than by the fifteenth (15 th ) day of the third (3 rd ) calendar month next following the end of the Company’s fiscal year to which such goals and objectives relate. At the time of such Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions relating to Performance Stock Awards, including, but not limited to, rules pertaining to the effect of the Holder’s Termination of Service prior to the expiration of the applicable performance period. The terms and conditions of the respective Performance Stock Agreements need not be identical.

 

12.3        Distributions of Shares . The Holder of a Performance Stock Award shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share, or one Share, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, for each Performance Stock Award subject to such Performance Stock Agreement, if the Holder satisfies the applicable vesting requirement. If necessary to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m), if applicable, the achievement of such Performance Goals shall be certified in writing by the Committee prior to any payment. Such distribution shall be made no later than by the fifteenth (15 th ) day of the third (3 rd ) calendar month next following the end of the Company’s fiscal year to which such performance goals and objectives relate.

 

Article XIII
DISTRIBUTION EQUIVALENT RIGHTS

 

13.1        Award . A Distribution Equivalent Right shall entitle the Holder to receive bookkeeping credits, cash payments and/or Share distributions equal in amount to the distributions that would have been made to the Holder had the Holder held a specified number of Shares during the specified period of the Award.

 

13.2        Terms and Conditions . At the time any Award is made under this Article XIII, the Company and the Holder shall enter into a Distribution Equivalent Rights Award Agreement setting forth each of the matters contemplated thereby and such other matters as the Committee may determine to be appropriate. The Committee shall set forth in the applicable Distribution Equivalent Rights Award Agreement the terms and conditions, if any, including whether the Holder is to receive credits currently in cash, is to have such credits reinvested (at Fair Market Value determined as of the date of reinvestment) in additional Shares or is to be entitled to choose among such alternatives. Such receipt shall be subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” under Section 409A of the Code and, if such Award becomes vested, the distribution of such cash or Shares shall be made no later than by the fifteenth (15 th ) day of the third (3 rd ) calendar month next following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the Holder’s interest in the Award vests. Distribution Equivalent Rights Awards may be settled in cash or in Shares, as set forth in the applicable Distribution Equivalent Rights Award Agreement. A Distribution Equivalent Rights Award may, but need not be, awarded in tandem with another Award (other than an Option or a SAR), whereby, if so awarded, such Distribution Equivalent Rights Award shall expire, terminate or be forfeited by the Holder, as applicable, under the same conditions as under such other Award.

 

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13.3        Interest Equivalents . The Distribution Equivalent Rights Award Agreement for a Distribution Equivalent Rights Award may provide for the crediting of interest on a Distribution Rights Award to be settled in cash at a future date (but in no event later than by the fifteenth (15 th ) day of the third (3 rd ) calendar month next following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which such interest is credited and vested), at a rate set forth in the applicable Distribution Equivalent Rights Award Agreement, on the amount of cash payable thereunder.

 

Article XIV
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

14.1        Award . A Stock Appreciation Right shall constitute a right, granted alone or in connection with a related Option, to receive a payment equal to the increase in value of a specified number of Shares between the date of Award and the date of exercise.

 

14.2        Terms and Conditions . At the time any Award is made under this Article XIV, the Company and the Holder shall enter into a Stock Appreciation Right Agreement setting forth each of the matters contemplated thereby and such other matters as the Committee may determine to be appropriate. The Committee shall set forth in the applicable Stock Appreciation Right Agreement the terms and conditions of the Stock Appreciation Right, including (i) the base value (the “ Base Value ”) for the Stock Appreciation Right, which shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of an Share on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right, (ii) the number of Shares subject to the Stock Appreciation Right, (iii) the period during which the Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised; provided , however , that no Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant, and (iv) any other special rules and/or requirements which the Committee imposes upon the Stock Appreciation Right. Upon the exercise of some or all of the portion of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Holder shall receive a payment from the Company, in cash or in the form of Shares having an equivalent Fair Market Value or in a combination of both, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, equal to the product of:

 

(a)        The excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of an Share on the date of exercise, over (ii) the Base Value, multiplied by,

 

(b)        The number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.

 

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14.3        Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights . If the Committee grants a Stock Appreciation Right which is intended to be a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right, the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall be granted at the same time as the related Option, and the following special rules shall apply:

 

(a)        The Base Value shall be equal to or greater than the per Share exercise price under the related Option;

 

(b)        The Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised for all or part of the Shares which are subject to the related Option, but solely upon the surrender by the Holder of the Holder’s right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option (and when a Share is purchased under the related Option, an equivalent portion of the related Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall be canceled);

 

(c)        The Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall expire no later than the date of the expiration of the related Option;

 

(d)        The value of the payment with respect to the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the difference between the per Share exercise price under the related Option and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the related Option at the time the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, multiplied by the number of the Shares with respect to which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right is exercised; and

 

(e)        The Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised solely when the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the related Option exceeds the per Share exercise price under the related Option.

 

Article XV
RECAPITALIZATION OR REORGANIZATION

 

15.1        Adjustments to Shares . The shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan are Shares as presently constituted; provided , however , that if, and whenever, prior to the expiration or distribution to the Holder of Shares underlying an Award theretofore granted, the Company shall effect a subdivision or consolidation of the Shares or the payment of an Share dividend on Shares without receipt of consideration by the Company, the number of Shares with respect to which such Award may thereafter be exercised or satisfied, as applicable, (i) in the event of an increase in the number of outstanding Shares, shall be proportionately increased, and the purchase price per Share shall be proportionately reduced, and (ii) in the event of a reduction in the number of outstanding Shares, shall be proportionately reduced, and the purchase price per Share shall be proportionately increased. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Article XV, any adjustment made with respect to an Award (x) which is an Incentive Stock Option, shall comply with the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code, and in no event shall any adjustment be made which would render any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan to be other than an “incentive stock option” for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, and (y) which is a Non-qualified Stock Option, shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and in no event shall any adjustment be made which would render any Non-qualified Stock Option granted under the Plan to become subject to Section 409A of the Code.

 

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

 

15.3        Other Events . In the event of changes to the outstanding Shares by reason of an extraordinary cash dividend, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, split-up, spin-off, exchange or other relevant change in capitalization occurring after the date of the grant of any Award and not otherwise provided for under this Article XV, any outstanding Awards and any Award Agreements evidencing such Awards shall be adjusted by the Board in its discretion in such manner as the Board shall deem equitable or appropriate taking into consideration the applicable accounting and tax consequences, as to the number and price of Shares or other consideration subject to such Awards. In the event of any adjustment pursuant to Sections 15.1, 15.2 or this Section 15.3, the aggregate number of Shares available under the Plan pursuant to Section 5.1 (and the Code Section 162(m) limit set forth therein) may be appropriately adjusted by the Board, the determination of which shall be conclusive. In addition, the Committee may make provision for a cash payment to a Holder or a person who has an outstanding Award. In addition, the Committee may make provision for a cash payment to a Holder or a person who has an outstanding Award.

 

15.4        Change of Control . The Committee may, in its sole discretion, at the time an Award is made or at any time prior to, coincident with or after the time of a Change of Control, cause any Award either (i) to be canceled in consideration of a payment in cash or other consideration in amount per share equal to the excess, if any, of the price or implied price per Share in the Change of Control over the per Share exercise, base or purchase price of such Award, which may be paid immediately or over the vesting schedule of the Award; (ii) to be assumed, or new rights substituted therefore, by the surviving corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such surviving corporation following such Change of Control; (iii) accelerate any time periods, or waive any other conditions, relating to the vesting, exercise, payment or distribution of an Award so that any Award to a Holder whose employment has been terminated as a result of a Change of Control may be vested, exercised, paid or distributed in full on or before a date fixed by the Committee; (iv) to be purchased from a Holder whose employment has been terminated as a result of a Change of Control, upon the Holder’s request, for an amount of cash equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise, payment or distribution of such rights had such Award been currently exercisable or payable; or (v) terminate any then outstanding Award or make any other adjustment to the Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to reflect such transaction or change. The number of Shares subject to any Award shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.

 

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15.5        Powers Not Affected . The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or of the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change of the Company’s capital structure or business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Shares or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.

 

15.6        No Adjustment for Certain Awards . Except as hereinabove expressly provided, the issuance by the Company of shares of any class or securities convertible into shares of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect previously granted Awards, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to the number of Shares subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per Share, if applicable.

 

Article XVI
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN

 

The Plan shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated pursuant to this Article XVI, until the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of the date on which it is adopted by the Board (except as to Awards outstanding on that date). The Board in its discretion may terminate the Plan at any time with respect to any shares for which Awards have not theretofore been granted; provided , however , that the Plan’s termination shall not materially and adversely impair the rights of a Holder with respect to any Award theretofore granted without the consent of the Holder. The Board shall have the right to alter or amend the Plan or any part hereof from time to time; provided , however , that without the approval by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum representing a majority of the shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is present in person or by proxy, no amendment or modification of the Plan may (i) materially increase the benefits accruing to Holders, (ii) except as otherwise expressly provided in Article XV, materially increase the number of Shares subject to the Plan or the individual Award Agreements specified in Article V, (iii) materially modify the requirements for participation in the Plan, or (iv) amend, modify or suspend Section 7.7 (re-pricing prohibitions) or this Article XVI. In addition, no change in any Award theretofore granted may be made which would materially and adversely impair the rights of a Holder with respect to such Award without the consent of the Holder (unless such change is required in order to cause the benefits under the Plan to qualify as “performance-based” compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code or to exempt the Plan or any Award from Section 409A of the Code).

 

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Article XVII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

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

 

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

 

17.3        Other Laws; No Fractional Shares; Withholding . The Company shall not be obligated by virtue of any provision of the Plan to recognize the exercise of any Award or to otherwise sell or issue Shares in violation of any laws, rules or regulations, and any postponement of the exercise or settlement of any Award under this provision shall not extend the term of such Award. Neither the Company nor its directors or officers shall have any obligation or liability to a Holder with respect to any Award (or Shares issuable thereunder) (i) that shall lapse because of such postponement, or (ii) for any failure to comply with the requirements of any applicable law, rules or regulations, including but not limited to any failure to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of this Code. No fractional Shares shall be delivered, nor shall any cash in lieu of fractional Shares be paid. The Company shall have the right to deduct in cash (whether under this Plan or otherwise) in connection with all Awards any taxes required by law to be withheld and to require any payments required to enable it to satisfy its withholding obligations. In the case of any Award satisfied in the form of Shares, no Shares shall be issued unless and until arrangements satisfactory to the Company shall have been made to satisfy any tax withholding obligations applicable with respect to such Award. Subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may impose, the Company shall have the right to retain, or the Committee may, subject to such terms and conditions as it may establish from time to time, permit Holders to elect to tender, Shares (including Shares issuable in respect of an Award) to satisfy, in whole or in part, the amount required to be withheld.

 

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

 

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17.5        Restrictions on Transfer . No Award under the Plan or any Award Agreement and no rights or interests herein or therein, shall or may be assigned, transferred, sold, exchanged, encumbered, pledged or otherwise hypothecated or disposed of by a Holder except (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or (ii) where permitted under applicable tax rules, by gift to any Family Member of the Holder, subject to compliance with applicable laws. An Award may be exercisable during the lifetime of the Holder only by such Holder or by the Holder’s guardian or legal representative unless it has been transferred by gift to a Family Member of the Holder, in which case it shall be exercisable solely by such transferee. Notwithstanding any such transfer, the Holder shall continue to be subject to the withholding requirements provided for under Section 17.3 hereof.

 

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

 

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

 

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17.8        Section 162(m) . The following conditions shall apply if it is intended that the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code be satisfied such that Awards under the Plan which are made to Holders who are “covered employees” (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code) shall constitute “performance-based” compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code: Any Performance Goal(s) applicable to Qualified Performance-Based Awards shall be objective, shall be established not later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of any applicable Performance Period (or at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code) and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, including the requirement that the outcome of the Performance Goal or Goals be substantially uncertain (as defined in the regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code) at the time established. The Performance Criteria to be utilized under the Plan to establish Performance Goals shall consist of objective tests based on one or more of the following: earnings or earnings per share, cash flow or cash flow per share, operating cash flow or operating cash flow per share revenue growth, product revenue growth, financial return ratios (such as return on equity, return on investment and/or return on assets), share price performance, stockholder return, equity and/or value, operating income, operating margins, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, earnings, pre- or post-tax income, economic value added (or an equivalent metric), profit returns and margins, credit quality, sales growth, market share, working capital levels, comparisons with various share market indices, year-end cash, debt reduction, assets under management, operating efficiencies, strategic partnerships or transactions (including co-development, co-marketing, profit sharing, joint venture or other similar arrangements), and/or financing and other capital raising transaction. Performance criteria may be established on a Company-wide basis or with respect to one or more Company business units or divisions or subsidiaries; and either in absolute terms, relative to the performance of one or more similarly situated companies, or relative to the performance of an index covering a peer group of companies. When establishing Performance Goals for the applicable Performance Period, the Committee may exclude any or all “extraordinary items” as determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles including, without limitation, the charges or costs associated with restructurings of the Company, discontinued operations, other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of accounting changes, and as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the Company’s financial statements or management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations contained in the Company’s most recent annual report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act. Holders who are “covered employees” (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code) shall be eligible to receive payment under a Qualified Performance-Based Award which is subject to achievement of a Performance Goal or Goals only if the applicable Performance Goal or Goals are achieved within the applicable Performance Period, as determined by the Committee. If any provision of the Plan would disqualify the Plan or would not otherwise permit the Plan to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code as so intended, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the requirements or provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may postpone the exercising of Awards, the issuance or delivery of Shares under any Award or any action permitted under the Plan to prevent the Company or any subsidiary from being denied a federal income tax deduction, provided that such deferral satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e)(4)(i), the maximum aggregate amount that may be paid in cash during any calendar year to any one person (measured from the date of any payment) with respect to one or more Awards payable in cash shall be $500,000.

 

17.9        Clawback Policy . Notwithstanding any contained herein or in any incentive “performance based” Awards under the Plan shall be subject to reduction, forfeiture or repayment by reason of a correction or restatement of the Company’s financial information if and to the extent such reduction or repayment is required by any applicable law.

 

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17.10        Section 409A . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee shall have no authority to issue an Award under the Plan with terms and/or conditions which would cause such Award to constitute non-qualified “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code unless such Award shall be structured to be exempt from or comply with all requirements of Code Section 409A. The Plan and all Award Agreements are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (or to be exempt therefrom) and shall be so interpreted and construed and no amount shall be paid or distributed from the Plan unless and until such payment complies with all requirements of Code Section 409A. It is the intent of the Company that the provisions of this Agreement and all other plans and programs sponsored by the Company be interpreted to comply in all respects with Code Section 409A, however, the Company shall have no liability to the Holder, or any successor or beneficiary thereof, in the event taxes, penalties or excise taxes may ultimately be determined to be applicable to any payment or benefit received by the Holder or any successor or beneficiary thereof.

 

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

 

17.12        Other Benefit Plans . No Award, payment or amount received hereunder shall be taken into account in computing an Employee’s salary or compensation for the purposes of determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, life insurance or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate, unless such other plan specifically provides for the inclusion of such Award, payment or amount received. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company to establish other plans or to pay compensation to its employees, in cash or property, in a manner which is not expressly authorized under the Plan.

 

17.13        Limits of Liability . Any liability of the Company with respect to an Award shall be based solely upon the contractual obligations created under the Plan and the Award Agreement. None of the Company, any member of the Board nor any member of the Committee shall have any liability to any party for any action taken or not taken, in good faith, in connection with or under the Plan.

 

17.14        Governing Law . Except as otherwise provided herein, the Plan shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.

 

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

 

17.16        No Funding . The Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of funds or assets to ensure the payment of any Award. Prior to receipt of Shares or a cash distribution pursuant to the terms of an Award, such Award shall represent an unfunded unsecured contractual obligation of the Company and the Holder shall have no greater claim to the Shares underlying such Award or any other assets of the Company or Affiliate than any other unsecured general creditor.

 

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

 

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THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PROXY
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
AGEAGLE AERIAL SYSTEMS INC.
TO BE HELD ON JUNE 18, 2019

Barrett Mooney and Nicole Fernandez-McGovern, and each of them, each with full power of substitution, hereby are authorized to vote as specified below or, with respect to any matter not set forth below, as a majority of those or their substitutes present and acting at the meeting shall determine, all of the shares of capital stock of the Company. that the undersigned would be entitled to vote, if personally present, at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders and any adjournment thereof.

Unless otherwise specified, this proxy will be voted FOR Proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4.

 

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

  FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below) WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below

 

  Bret Chilcott
  Grant Begley
  Louisa Ingargiola
  Thomas Gardner
   

INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any nominee, write the nominee’s name in the space provided below.

 

 

2. RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

 

  FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
             
3. TO AMEND ENERJEX RESOURCES, INC. 2017 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER THE PLAN TO 3,000,000 SHARES. 
   
  FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
             
4. TO APPROVE THE ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK REPRESENTING MORE THAN 20% OF OUR COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING UPON EXERCISE OF A WARRANT ISSUED IN CONNECTION WITH A PRIVATE PLACEMENT. 
  FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN

Please sign exactly as your name appears below. When shares are held by joint tenants, each should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, corporate officer, or partner, please give full title as such.

Date:  __________, 2019    
    Signature
     
    Signature if held jointly

 

 
 

 

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

 The Annual Meeting of the stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), will be held on June 18, 2019, at 9:00 a.m., local time, at 1415 Park Avenue West, Denver, CO 80205.

 

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice & Proxy Statement, 10-K is/are available at www.standardtransferco.com

 

 

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF

DIRECTORS

PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

OF AGEAGLE AERIAL SYSTEMS INC.

 

AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc.,

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

June 18, 2019 at 9:00 AM Local Time

This proxy is solicited by the Board Of Directors

 

Barrett Mooney and Nicole Fernandez-McGovern, and each of them, each with full power of substitution, hereby are authorized to vote as specified below or, with respect to any matter not set forth below, as a majority of those or their substitutes present and acting at the meeting shall determine, all of the shares of capital stock of the Company. that the undersigned would be entitled to vote, if personally present, at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders and any adjournment thereof.

.

 

Unless otherwise specified, this proxy will be voted FOR Proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4.

 

Continued and to be signed on reverse side

 

 

 

 

 

 

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