RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.1
THIS RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), is made, effective as of the 12th day of
November, 2008 (hereinafter the “Date of Grant”), between United Fuel & Energy Corporation, a
Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (the “Participant”).
R E C I T A L S:
WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the United Fuel & Energy Corporation 2005 Equity Incentive
Plan (the “Plan”), pursuant to which awards of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value
$0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), may be granted; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined that it is in the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders to grant to the Participant an award of shares of Common Stock
as a grant of Restricted Stock under the Plan, subject to the terms set forth herein.
NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the covenants of the parties
contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, for themselves, their successors and assigns, hereby agree
as follows:
1. Grant of Restricted Stock. The Company hereby grants to the Participant on the Date of
Grant 150,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Award”) on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement and as otherwise provided in the Plan. The Award shall vest in accordance with Section 3
hereof.
2. Incorporation by Reference, Etc. The provisions of the Plan are hereby incorporated herein
by reference. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, this Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with the provisions of the Plan and any capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this
Agreement shall have the definitions set forth in the Plan. The Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors of the Company (the “Committee”) shall have final authority to interpret and
construe the Plan and this Agreement and to make any and all determinations under them, and its
decision shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Participant and his legal representative
in respect of any questions arising under the Plan or this Agreement.
3. Terms and Conditions.
(a) Restrictions. The shares of Common Stock comprising the Award granted hereunder (the
“Award Shares”) may not be sold, pledged or otherwise transferred (other than by will or the laws
of decent and distribution or as otherwise permitted by the Committee) and may not be subject to
lien, garnishment, attachment or other legal process.
(b) Vesting. The Award shall vest in twelve equal quarterly installments on the last day of
each calendar quarter beginning on March 31, 2009. In order for Award Shares to vest under this
Agreement, the Participant must be continuously serving as an employee of the Company from the Date
of Grant through the date of vesting. As soon as practicable
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following each vesting date, the Company shall deliver to the Participant a stock certificate
representing the vested Award Shares.
(c) Escrow of Shares. During the period of time between the Date of Grant and the earlier of
each vesting date or the date on which any Award Shares are forfeited (the “Restriction Period”),
the Award Shares shall be registered in the name of the Participant and held in escrow by the
Company, and the Participant hereby agrees to provide one or more stock powers in substantially the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A endorsed by the Participant in blank corresponding to
each stock certificate representing the Award Shares. Upon vesting of any Award Shares, a
certificate representing the vested Award Shares shall be delivered to the Participant as promptly
as practicable following such vesting date and the Company will destroy the stock power
corresponding to the certificate representing such vested Award Shares.
(d) Effect of Termination of Services as an Employee. If the Participant’s service as an
employee of the Company is terminated (i) by the Company for Cause (as the term “Cause” is defined
in that certain Employment Agreement between the Company and the Participant dated as of March 30,
2008, as amended (the “Employment Agreement”)), or (ii) by the Participant without Good Reason (as
the term “Good Reason” is defined in the Employment Agreement), then any unvested Award Shares
shall be immediately forfeited without further consideration to the Participant and the Company may
use the stock powers corresponding to each stock certificate representing all unvested Award Shares
to transfer record ownership of all such unvested Award Shares from the Participant to the Company
or third party, in the Company’s sole discretion. If the Participant’s service as an employee of
the Company is terminated (i) by the Company without Cause (as the term “Cause” is defined in the
Employment Agreement), (ii) by the Participant for Good Reason (as the term “Good Reason” is
defined in the Employment Agreement), (iii) upon the Participant’s death, or (iv) upon the
Participant’s Disability (as the term “Disability” is defined in the Employment Agreement), then
any unvested Award Shares shall immediately vest and the Company shall deliver to the Participant
(or, in the event of Participant’s death, the Participant’s estate) the stock certificates
representing the vested Award Shares.
(e) Section 83(b) Election. Participant understands that, under Section 83 of the Internal
Revenue Code (the “Code”), the difference between the fair market value of the Award Shares as of
the Date of Grant and their fair market value at the time any forfeiture restrictions applicable to
such shares lapse may be reportable as ordinary income at that time. Participant understands that
Participant may elect to be taxed at the time the Award is granted hereunder to the extent of the
full fair market value thereof as of the Date of Grant rather than when and as such Award Shares
cease to be subject to forfeiture, by filing an election under Section 83(b) of the Code with the
Internal Revenue Service within 30 days after the Date of Grant. If it is likely that the fair
market value of the Award Shares at the time any forfeiture restrictions lapse will exceed the fair
market value thereof as of the Date of Grant, the election may avoid adverse tax consequences in
the future. Participant understands that the failure to make this filing within said 30-day period
will result in the recognition of ordinary income by Participant (in the event the fair market
value of the Award Shares increases after the Date of Grant) as the forfeiture restrictions lapse.
PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS PARTICIPANT’S SOLE RESPONSIBILITY, AND NOT THE COMPANY’S, TO
FILE A TIMELY ELECTION UNDER SECTION 83(B), EVEN IF PARTICIPANT REQUESTS THE COMPANY OR ITS
REPRESENTATIVE TO MAKE THIS FILING ON PARTICIPANT’S BEHALF.
(f) Rights as a Stockholder. The Participant is entitled to receive all dividends and other
distributions made with respect to the Award Shares registered in his or her
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name and is entitled to vote or execute proxies with respect to such Award Shares registered
in his or her name, unless and until the Award Shares are forfeited pursuant to Section
3(d) above. Upon and following the vesting date, the Participant shall be the record owner of
the Award Shares unless and until such shares are sold or otherwise disposed of, and as record
owner shall be entitled to all rights of a common stockholder of the Company. Prior to the vesting
date, the Participant shall not be deemed to be the owner of the Award Shares.
(g) Compliance With Securities Laws; Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. The Company will
not be required to issue any shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement if, in the opinion
of counsel for the Company, such issuance would violate the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
any other applicable federal or state securities laws or regulations. Prior to the issuance of any
shares pursuant to this Agreement, the Company may require that the Participant (or the
Participant’s legal representative upon the Participant’s death or disability) enter into such
written representations, warranties and agreements as the Company may reasonably request in order
to comply with applicable securities laws or with this Agreement. The Company may also delay
issuance of shares of Common Stock hereunder to the extent set forth in Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-2(b)(7).
4. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices. All notices, demands and other communications provided for or permitted
hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be by registered or certified first-class mail, return
receipt requested, telecopier, courier service or personal delivery. All such notices, demands and
other communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand, if personally
delivered; when delivered by courier, if delivered by commercial courier service; five (5) business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; and when receipt is
mechanically acknowledged, if telecopied.
(b) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and each other
provision of this Agreement shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.
(c) No Rights to Continued Service. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as
giving the Participant any right to be retained, in any position, as an employee, consultant or
director of the Company or its Subsidiaries or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the
right of the Company or its Subsidiaries, which are hereby expressly reserved, to remove, terminate
or discharge the Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever.
(d) Bound by Plan. By signing this Agreement, the Participant acknowledges that he has
received a copy of the Plan and has had an opportunity to review the Plan and agrees to be bound by
all the terms and provisions of the Plan.
(e) Successors. The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the Company and its successors and assigns, and of the Participant and the beneficiaries,
executors, administrators, heirs and successors of the Participant.
(f) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Plan contain the entire agreement and
understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein and
supersedes all prior communications, representations and negotiations in respect
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thereto. No change, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid
unless the same is in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
(g) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the
laws of the State of Nevada without regard to principles of conflicts of law thereof, or principals
of conflicts of laws of any other jurisdiction that could cause the application of the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the State of Nevada.
(h) Signature in Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which
shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the
same instrument.
(i) Electronic Signatures. Delivery of a copy of this Agreement bearing an original signature
by facsimile transmission (whether directly from one facsimile device to another by means of a
dial-up connection or whether mediated by the worldwide web), by electronic mail in “portable
document format” (“.pdf”) form, or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original
graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of
the paper document bearing the original signature. “Originally signed” or “original signature”
means or refers to a signature that has not been mechanically or electronically reproduced.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page to follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day first
written above.
| UNITED FUEL & ENERGY CORPORATION |
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| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
| Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||||
| Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary |
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| /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||||
| XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX | ||||
[Signature page to Restricted Stock Agreement]
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