ZBB ENERGY CORPORATION RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
Exhibit
4.3
ZBB
ENERGY CORPORATION
2010
OMNIBUS LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
GRANTED
TO
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GRANT
DATE
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NUMBER
OF RESTRICTED
STOCK
UNITS
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Note: The
number of Restricted Stock Units is based on a “divisor price” of $[XX.XX], which is the
closing price per Share for the business day immediately preceding the
grant
date.
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This
Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement and all Exhibits hereto (the “Agreement”)
is made between ZBB Energy Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the “Company”),
and you, a Service Provider to the Company.
The
Company sponsors the ZBB Energy Corporation 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the
“Stock Plan”). A Prospectus describing the Stock Plan has been
delivered to you. The Stock Plan itself is available upon request,
and its terms and provisions are incorporated herein by
reference. When used herein, the terms which are defined in the Stock
Plan shall have the meanings given to them in the Stock Plan, as modified herein
(if applicable).
The
Restricted Stock Units covered by this Agreement are subject to the following
terms and provisions:
1.
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Subject
to the terms and conditions of the Stock Plan and this Agreement, the
Company awards to you the number of Restricted Stock Units shown
above. Each Restricted Stock Unit shall have a value equal to the
Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock (a
“Share”).
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2.
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You
acknowledge having read the Prospectus and agree to be bound by all the
terms and conditions of the Stock Plan and this
Agreement.
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3.
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The
Restricted Stock Units covered by this Award shall become earned by, and
payable to, you in the amounts and on the dates shown on the enclosed
Exhibit
A.
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4.
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On
the first day of each calendar year while you remain a or Service
Provider, you shall be granted, automatically a number of additional
Restricted Stock Units equal to (i) the aggregate amount of dividends (or
distributions) which would have been received by a shareholder holding a
number of Shares equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units covered by
this Agreement on the record date of any such dividend or distribution on
such date, divided by (ii) the Average Trading Price for the preceding
calendar year. Additional Restricted Stock Units granted under this
paragraph shall vest and be distributed on the same terms and in the same
proportions as the Restricted Stock Units to which the dividends and
distributions relate. “Average Trading Price” means the average of the
Fair Market Values on the last trading day of each full quarter included
within the measurement year.
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5.
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You
agree that you shall comply with (or provide adequate assurance as to
future compliance with) all applicable securities laws and income tax laws
as determined by the Company as a condition precedent to the delivery of
any Shares pursuant to this Agreement. In addition, you agree that,
upon request, you will furnish a letter agreement providing that (i) you
will not distribute or resell any of said Shares in violation of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (ii) you will indemnify and hold the
Company harmless against all liability for any such violation and (iii)
you will accept all liability for any such
violation.
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6.
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You
may designate a beneficiary to receive payment in connection with the
Restricted Stock Units awarded hereunder in the event of your death while
in service with the Company in accordance with the Company’s beneficiary
designation procedures, as in effect from time to time. If you do
not designate a beneficiary or if your designated beneficiary does not
survive you, then your beneficiary will be your
estate.
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7.
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The
existence of this Award shall not affect in any way the right or power of
the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all
adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the
Company’s capital structure or its business, or any merger or
consolidation of the Company, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred
or prior preference stocks ahead of or convertible into, or otherwise
affecting the Company’s common stock or the rights thereof, or the
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all
or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or
proceeding, whether of a similar character or
otherwise.
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8.
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The
Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents
related to this grant or future Awards that may be granted under the Stock
Plan by electronic means or request your consent to participate in the
Stock Plan by electronic means. You hereby consent to receive such
documents by electronic delivery and, if requested, agree to participate
in the Stock Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and
maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the
Company.
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Any
notice which either party hereto may be required or permitted to give to the
other shall be in writing and may be delivered personally, by intraoffice mail,
by fax, by electronic mail or other electronic means, or via a postal service,
postage prepaid, to such electronic mail or postal address and directed to such
person as the Company may notify you from time to time; and to you at your
electronic mail or postal address as shown on the records of the Company from
time to time, or at such other electronic mail or postal address as you, by
notice to the Company, may designate in writing from time to time.
9.
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Regardless
of any action the Company t takes with respect to any or all income tax,
payroll tax or other tax-related withholding (Tax-Related Items), you
acknowledge that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items owed by
you is and remains your responsibility and that the Company (i) makes no
representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related
Items in connection with any aspect of the grant of Restricted Stock
Units, including the grant and vesting of the Restricted Stock Units the
subsequent sale of Shares acquired upon the vesting of the Restricted
Stock Units and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) does not commit to
structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Restricted Stock
Units to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related
Items.
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In the
event the Company determines that it must withhold any Tax-Related Items as a
result of your participation in the Stock Plan, you agree as a condition of the
grant of the Restricted Stock Units to make arrangements satisfactory to the
Company to enable it to satisfy all withholding requirements, including, but not
limited to, withholding any applicable Tax-Related Items from the pay-out of the
Restricted Stock Units. In addition, you authorize the Company to
fulfill its withholding obligations by all legal means, including, but not
limited to: withholding Tax-Related Items from your other cash
compensation the Company pays to you; withholding Tax-Related Items from the
cash proceeds, if any, received upon sale of any Shares received in payment for
your Restricted Stock Units; and at the time of payment, withholding Shares
sufficient to meet minimum withholding obligations for Tax-Related
Items. The Company may refuse to issue and deliver Shares in payment
of any earned Restricted Stock Units if you fail to comply with any withholding
obligation.
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10.
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The
validity, construction and effect of this Agreement are governed by, and
subject to, the laws of the State of Wisconsin, as provided in the Stock
Plan.
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11.
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In
the event any provision of this Agreement shall be held illegal or invalid
for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the
remaining parts of the Agreement, and the Agreement shall be construed and
enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
This Agreement constitutes the final understanding between you and the
Company regarding the Restricted Stock Units. Any prior agreements,
commitments or negotiations concerning the Restricted Stock Units are
superseded. Subject to the terms of the Stock Plan, this
Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument signed by both
parties.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its
duly authorized officer, and you have hereunto set your hand, all effective as
of the Grant Date listed above.
ZBB
ENERGY CORPORATION
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GRANTEE
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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EXHIBIT
A
ZBB
Energy Corporation
2010
Long-Term Incentive Plan
Vesting
and Payment of Restricted Stock Units
(a) Vesting
Schedule. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c),
the Restricted Stock Units shall become earned and vested in the following
installments, if you remain a Service Provider through each of the vesting dates
as follows:
[Insert
vesting terms]
(b) Impact
of Separation from Service. If you have a Separation from
Service prior to any of the above vesting date(s) for any reason (including your
death or disability), then any Restricted Stock Units that had not yet become
earned and vested under paragraph (a) above shall be immediately canceled as of
the date of such Separation from Service. For purposes of this Award,
a “Separation from Service” means your “separation from service” with the
Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
(c) Timing
and Form of Payment. Any Restricted Stock Units that become
earned and vested shall be payable to you at [insert payment
terms]. Payment shall be made in the form of one Share for each
Restricted Stock Unit that is payable.
(d) Section
409A. This Award is intended to comply with the requirements
of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable. Notwithstanding any
provision of the Plan or this Agreement to the contrary, the Award shall be
interpreted, operated and administered consistent with this
intent.