INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT Pursuant to the United Fuel & Energy Corporation (TWO YEAR)
Pursuant
to the
United
Fuel & Energy Corporation
2005
Equity Incentive Plan
(TWO
YEAR)
Name
of
Optionee: ________________
Date
of
Grant: ________________
Number
of
Shares: ________________
Exercise
Price per Share: $___
Expiration
Date: ________________
Post-Termination
Exercise Period: Three
(3)
Months
This
INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the “Option
Agreement”)
is
made as of ________________ between United Fuel & Energy Corporation, a
Nevada corporation (the “Company”),
and
the above-named individual, an employee of the Company or one of its
Subsidiaries (the “Optionee”),
to
record the granting of an incentive stock option pursuant to the Company's
2005
Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).
Terms
used herein that are defined in the Plan shall have the meanings ascribed to
them in the Plan. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of this Option
Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the Plan’s terms shall supersede and
replace the conflicting terms herein.
1. Grant
of Option.
The
Company hereby grants to the Optionee, as of the Grant Date, an option to
purchase up to the number of Option Shares specified in the Grant Notice (the
“Option”).
The
Option Shares shall be purchasable from time to time during the option term
specified in Section 2 at the Exercise Price. This Option is intended to qualify
as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code
(“Incentive
Stock Option”).
However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate
Fair
Market Value of Shares subject to Options designated as Incentive Stock Options
which become exercisable for the first time by the Optionee during any calendar
year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds
$100,000, such excess Options, to the extent of the Shares covered thereby
in
excess of the foregoing limitation, shall be treated as Non-Statutory Options.
For this purpose, Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the
order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall
be determined as of the date the Option with respect to such Option Shares
is
awarded. For purposes hereof, “Non-Statutory
Stock Option”
means
an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
2. Option
Term.
Unless
the Optionee directly or by attribution owns more than ten percent (10%) of
the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any
Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, this option shall have a term of ten (10)
years measured from the Grant Date and shall accordingly expire at the close
of
business on the Expiration Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with
Section 5. If the Optionee owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Parent
or
Subsidiary of the Company, then this option shall have a term of five (5) years
measured from the Grant Date.
3. Limited
Transferability.
During
Optionee’s lifetime, this option shall be exercisable only by Optionee and shall
not be assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution following Optionee’s death.
4. Dates
of Exercise.
This
option shall become exercisable for the Option Shares in one or more
installments as specified in the Grant Notice. As the option becomes exercisable
for such installments, those installments shall accumulate and the option shall
remain exercisable for the accumulated installments until the Expiration Date
or
sooner termination of the option term under Section 5. This Option shall become
exercisable pursuant to Section 10, providing for the exercisability or
termination of this Option in the event of a Corporate Transaction.
5. Cessation
of Service.
The
option term specified in Section 2 shall terminate (and this option shall cease
to be outstanding) prior to the Expiration Date should any of the following
events occur:
(a) If
the
Optionee’s service is Terminated for any reason except death or Disability, then
the Optionee may not exercise this option on or after the Termination Date.
The
Option Agreement will be terminated as of the Termination Date.
(b) If
the
Optionee’s service is Terminated because of the Optionee’s death or Disability,
then the unvested portion of this option shall fully vest and this option may
be
exercised in full but must be exercised by the Optionee (or the Optionee’s legal
representative or authorized assignee) no later than six (6) months after the
Termination Date.
(c) Notwithstanding
the provisions above, if the Optionee’s service is Terminated for Cause, neither
the Optionee, the Optionee’s estate nor such other person who may then hold this
option shall be entitled to exercise it.
6. |
Incentive
Stock Option Provisions.
|
2
(a) Change
in Status of Optionee.
In the
event of the Optionee’s change in status from Employee, Director or Consultant
to any other status of Employee, Director or Consultant, with respect to any
Incentive Stock Option that shall remain in effect after a change in status
from
Employee to Director or Consultant, such Incentive Stock Option shall cease
to
be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated as a Non-Statutory
Option on the day three (3) months and one (1) day following such change in
status. Except as provided in Sections 6(b) and (c) below, to
the
extent that the Option was unvested on the Termination Date, or if the Optionee
does not exercise the vested portion of the Option within the Post-Termination
Exercise Period, the Option shall terminate. For purposes hereof: “Employee”
means
any person, including an Officer or Director, who is an employee of the Company
or any Related Entity; the payment of a director’s fee by the Company or a
Related Entity shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the
Company; “Director”
means a
member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity;
“Consultant”
means
any person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely with respect to
rendering services in such person’s capacity as a Director) who is engaged by
the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory services
to
the Company or such Related Entity; and “Related
Entity”
means
any Parent, Subsidiary and any business, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company or other entity in which the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary
holds a substantial ownership interest, directly or indirectly.
(b) Disability
of Optionee.
In the
event the Optionee’s service is Terminated as a result of his or her Disability,
the Optionee may, but only within twelve (12) months from the Termination Date
(and in no event later than the Expiration Date), exercise the portion of the
Option that was vested on the Termination Date; provided, however, that if
such
Disability is not a “disability” as such term is defined in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code and the Option is an Incentive Stock Option,
such Incentive Stock Option shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock
Option and shall be treated as a Non-Statutory Option on the day three (3)
months and one (1) day following the Termination Date. To the extent that the
Option was unvested on the Termination Date, or if the Optionee does not
exercise the vested portion of the Option within the time specified herein,
the
Option shall terminate. “Disability”
shall
mean as defined the under the long-term disability policy of the Company or
the
Related Entity to which the Optionee provides services regardless of whether
the
Optionee is covered by such policy. If the Company or the Related Entity to
which the Optionee provides service does not have a long-term disability plan
in
place, “Disability”
means
that an Optionee is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions
of
the position held by the Optionee by reason of any medically determinable
physical or mental impairment. A Optionee will not be considered to have
incurred a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment
sufficient to satisfy the Committee in its discretion.
(c) Death
of Optionee.
In the
event of the Termination of the Optionee’s service as a result of his or her
death, or in the event of the Optionee’s death during the Post-Termination
Exercise Period or during the twelve (12) month period following the Optionee’s
Termination of service as a result of his or her Disability, the Optionee’s
estate, or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest
or
inheritance, may exercise the portion of the Option that was vested at the
date
of termination, within twelve (12) months from the date of death (but in no
event later than the Expiration Date). To the extent that the Option was
unvested on the date of death, or if the vested portion of the Option is not
exercised within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.
“Post-Termination
Exercise Period”
means
the period specified in this Agreement of not less than three (3)
months commencing
on the date of Termination (other than termination by the Company or any Related
Entity for Cause) of the Optionee’s service, or such longer period as may be
applicable upon death or Disability.
3
(d) Transferability
of Option.
The
Option, if an Incentive Stock Option, may not be transferred in any manner
other
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised
during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee. The Option, if a
Non-Statutory Option may be transferred by will, by the laws of descent and
distribution, and to the extent and in the manner authorized by the Committee,
to members of the Optionee’s Immediate Family. The
terms
of the Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs and
successors of the Optionee. “Immediate
Family”
means
any child, xxxxxxxxx, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse,
sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,
brother-in-law, or sister-in-law and shall also include adoptive relationships.
7. Adjustment
in Option Shares.
Should
any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock
dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other
change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Company’s
receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made to (i) the
total
number and/or class of securities subject to this option and (ii) the Exercise
Price in order to reflect such change and thereby preclude a dilution or
enlargement of benefits hereunder.
8. Shareholder
Rights.
The
holder of this option shall not have any shareholder rights with respect to
the
Option Shares until such person shall have exercised the option, paid the
Exercise Price and become a holder of record of the purchased shares.
9. Manner
of Exercising Option.
(a) In
order
to exercise this option with respect to all or any part of the Option Shares
for
which this option is at the time exercisable, the Optionee (or any other person
or persons exercising the option) must take the following actions:
(i) Execute
and deliver to the Company a written notice setting forth the number of Option
Shares for which the option is exercised.
(ii) Pay
the
aggregate Exercise Price for the purchased shares in cash or in one or more
of
the following forms:
(A) by
cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the Optionee;
(B) if
approved by the Committee, by surrender of shares that either: (1) have been
owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months and have been paid for within
the meaning of SEC Rule 144 (and, if such shares were purchased from the Company
by use of a promissory note, such note has been fully paid with respect to
such
shares); or (2) were obtained by the Optionee in the public market;
4
(C) if
approved by the Committee, by tender of a full recourse promissory note having
such terms as may be approved by the Committee and bearing interest at a rate
sufficient to avoid imputation of income under Sections 483 and 1274 of the
Code; provided, however, that the Optionee, if not an employee or director
of
the Company, will not be entitled to purchase Option Shares with a promissory
note unless the note is adequately secured by collateral other than the Option
Shares;
(D) if
approved by the Committee, by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the
Optionee for services rendered;
(E) with
respect only to purchases upon exercise of an Option, and provided that a public
market for the Company’s stock exists:
(1) through
a
“same day sale” commitment from the Optionee and a broker-dealer that is a
member of the National Association of Securities Dealers (an “NASD
Dealer”)
whereby the Optionee irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to sell
a
portion of the Shares so purchased to pay for the Exercise Price, and whereby
the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Shares to forward
the
Exercise Price directly to the Company; or
(2) through
a
“margin” commitment from the Optionee and a NASD Dealer whereby the Optionee
irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to pledge the Shares so purchased
to the NASD Dealer in a margin account as security for a loan from the NASD
Dealer in the amount of the Exercise Price, and whereby the NASD Dealer
irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Shares to forward the Exercise Price
directly to the Company; or
(F) by
any
combination of the foregoing. Except to the extent the sale and remittance
procedure is utilized in connection with the option exercise, payment of the
Exercise Price must accompany the written notice delivered to the Company in
connection with the option exercise.
(iii) Furnish
to the Company appropriate documentation that the person or persons exercising
the option (if other than Optionee) have the right to exercise this
option.
(iv) Execute
and deliver to the Company such written representations as may be requested
by
the Company in order for it to comply with the applicable requirements of
federal and state securities laws.
(v) Make
appropriate arrangements with the Company for the satisfaction of all federal,
state and local income and employment tax withholding requirements applicable
to
the option exercise.
5
(b) As
soon
as practical after the Exercise Date, the Company shall issue to or on behalf
of
the Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising this option) a
certificate for the purchased Option Shares, with the appropriate legends
affixed thereto.
(c) In
no
event may this option be exercised for any fractional shares.
10. |
Corporate
Transactions.
|
(a)
Termination
of Award to Extent Not Assumed in Corporate Transaction.
Effective upon the consummation of a Corporate Transaction, this Option shall
terminate subject to the provisions of this Section 10. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Option shall not terminate to the extent that it is Assumed
in
connection with the Corporate Transaction. “Assumed”
means
that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction either (i) the Award is expressly
affirmed by the Company or (ii) the contractual obligations represented by
the
Award are expressly assumed (and not simply by operation of law) by the
successor entity or its Parent in connection with the Corporate Transaction
with
appropriate adjustments to the number and type of securities of the successor
entity or its Parent subject to the Award and the exercise or purchase price
thereof which at least preserves the compensation element of the Award existing
at the time of the Corporate Transaction as determined in accordance with the
instruments evidencing the agreement to assume the Award.
(b)
Acceleration
of Award Upon Corporate Transaction.
In the
event of a Corporate Transaction:
(i)
for
the
portion of the Award hereunder that is Assumed or replaced by the successor
entity with a comparable award, then this Award (if Assumed), the replacement
award (if replaced) automatically shall become fully vested and exercisable
for
all of the Shares at the time represented by such Assumed or replaced portion
of
the Award, immediately upon Termination of the Optionee’s service if such
service is Terminated by the successor company or the Company without Cause
within twelve (12) months after
the
Corporate Transaction; and
(ii)
for
the
portion of the Award hereunder that is neither Xxxxxxx nor replaced by the
successor entity with a comparable award, such portion of this Award shall
automatically become fully vested and exercisable for all of the Shares at
the
time represented by such portion of this Award, immediately prior to the
specified effective date of such Corporate Transaction, provided that the
Optionee’s service has not Terminated prior to such date.
(c)
Effect
of Acceleration on Incentive Stock Options.
If this
Option is an Incentive Stock Option, and if it is accelerated under this
Section 10 in connection with a Corporate Transaction, this Option shall
remain exercisable as an Incentive Stock Option under the Code only to the
extent the $100,000 dollar limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code
is not
exceeded.
6
11. Compliance
with Laws and Regulations.
(a) The
exercise of this option and the issuance of the Option Shares upon such exercise
shall be subject to compliance by the Company and Optionee with all applicable
requirements of law relating thereto and with all applicable regulations of
any
stock exchange (or the Nasdaq Stock Market or Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board,
if applicable) on which the Common Stock may be listed for trading at the time
of such exercise and issuance.
(b) The
inability of the Company to obtain approval from any regulatory body having
authority deemed by the Company to be necessary to the lawful issuance and
sale
of any Common Stock pursuant to this option shall relieve the Company of any
liability with respect to the non-issuance or sale of the Common Stock as to
which such approval shall not have been obtained. The Company, however, shall
use its best efforts to obtain all such approvals.
12. Successors
and Assigns.
Except
to the extent otherwise provided in Sections 3 and 6, the provisions of this
Option Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Company
and its successors and assigns and the Optionee, the Optionee’s assigns and the
legal representatives, heirs and legatees of the Optionee’s estate.
13. Notices.
Any
notice required to be given under this Option Agreement shall be in writing
and
shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or three (3) days after deposit
in the U.S. mail, registered or certified, postage prepaid and properly
addressed to the party entitled to such notice Any notice required to be given
to the Company under the terms of this Option Agreement shall be in writing
and
addressed to the Company at its principal corporate offices. Any notice required
to be given or delivered to the Optionee shall be in writing and addressed
to
the Optionee at the address indicated below the Optionee’s signature line on the
Grant Notice or at such other address as the Optionee may designate by ten
(10)
days advance written notice under this paragraph to all other parties to this
Option Agreement.
14. Construction.
This
Option Agreement and the option evidenced hereby are made and granted pursuant
to the Plan and are in all respects limited by and subject to the terms of
the
Plan. All decisions of the Committee with respect to any question or issue
arising under the Plan or this Option Agreement shall be conclusive and binding
on all persons having an interest in this option.
15. Governing
Law.
The
interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Option Agreement shall
be
governed by the laws of the State of Texas without resort to that State’s
conflict-of-laws rules. For the purpose of litigating any dispute that arises
under this Award Option Agreement, the parties hereby consent to exclusive
jurisdiction in Texas and agree that such litigation shall be conducted in
the
federal or state courts located in Midland, Texas.
16. Shareholder
Approval.
If the
Option Shares covered by this Option Agreement exceed, as of the Grant Date,
the
number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan as last
approved by the shareholders, then this option shall be void with respect to
such excess shares, unless shareholder approval of an amendment sufficiently
increasing the number of shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan is
obtained in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.
7
17. Discretionary
Plan; Employment.
The
Plan is discretionary in nature and may be suspended or terminated by the
Company at any time. With respect to the Plan, (a) each grant of an Option
is a
one-time benefit which does not create any contractual or other right to receive
future grants of Options, or benefits in lieu of Options; (b) all determinations
with respect to any such future grants, including, but not limited to, the
times
when the Option shall be granted, the number of Shares subject to each Option,
the Option Price, and the times when each Option shall be exercisable, will
be
at the sole discretion of the Company; (c) if the Optionee is an Employee,
the
Optionee’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to further or
continued employment with the Optionee’s employer and shall not interfere with
the ability of the Optionee’s employer to terminate the Optionee’s employment
relationship at any time with or without cause; (d) the Optionee’s participation
in the Plan is voluntary; (e) the Option is not part of normal and expected
compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, redundancy,
end of service payment, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement
benefits, or similar payments; (f) the future value of the Shares underlying
the
Options is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty; (g) if the underlying
Shares do not increase in value, the Option will have no value; and (h) the
ability of the Optionee to sell Shares acquired pursuant to this Option may
be
limited by applicable securities laws.
18. Grant/Exercise
Subject to Applicable Regulatory Approvals.
Any
grant of Options under the Plan is specifically conditioned on, and subject
to,
any required regulatory approvals. If necessary approvals for the grant or
exercise are not obtained, the Options may be cancelled or rescinded, or they
may expire, as determined by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion.
The Company may restrict the exercise of any Option if the Shares issuable
pursuant to the Option have not yet been registered pursuant to the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended; provided, however, this limitation shall not apply
during the six (6) months immediately prior to the Expiration Date or if the
Optionee agrees in writing that the Shares issuable upon the exercise will
be
restricted securities and bear a restrictive legend.
[Signature
Page Follows]
8
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Option Agreement on this 19th
day of September 2005.
COMPANY:
United
Fuel & Energy Corporation
a
Nevada
corporation
By:
____________________________________________
Name:
Title:
OPTIONEE:
____________________________________________
Name:
Address:_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
S-1
APPENDIX
The
following definitions shall be in effect under the Option
Agreement:
1. Agreement
or
Option
Agreement
shall
mean this Stock Option Agreement.
2. Code
shall
mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
3. Common
Stock
shall
mean the Company’s common stock.
4. Corporate
Transaction
shall
mean:
(a) a
dissolution or liquidation of the Company;
(b) a
merger
or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other
than a merger or consolidation with a wholly-owned subsidiary, a reincorporation
of the Company in a different jurisdiction, or other transaction in which there
is no substantial change in the stockholders of the Company or their relative
stock holdings and the Awards granted under this Plan are assumed, converted
or
replaced by the successor corporation, which assumption will be binding on
all
Participants);
(c) a
merger
in which the Company is the surviving corporation but after which the
stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger (other than any
stockholder that merges, or which owns or controls another corporation that
merges, with the Company in such merger) cease to own their shares or other
equity interest in the Company;
(d) the
sale
of substantially all of the assets of the Company; or
(e) the
acquisition, sale, or transfer of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of
the
Company by tender offer or similar transaction, any or all outstanding Awards
may be assumed, converted or replaced by the successor corporation (if any),
which assumption, conversion or replacement will be binding on all
Participants.
5. Exercise
Date
shall
mean the date on which the option shall have been exercised in accordance with
Section 9 of the Agreement.
6. Exercise
Price
shall
mean the exercise price payable per Option Share as specified in the Grant
Notice.
7. Expiration
Date
shall
mean the date on which the option expires as specified in the Grant
Notice.
8.
Grant
Date
shall
mean the date of grant of the option as specified in the Grant
Notice.
A-1
9. Grant
Notice
shall
mean the Notice of Grant of Stock Option accompanying the Agreement, pursuant
to
which Optionee has been informed of the basic terms of the option evidenced
hereby.
10. Incentive
Stock Option
shall
mean an option which satisfies the requirements of Code Section
422.
11. Non-Statutory
Option
shall
mean an option not intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section
422.
12. Option
Shares
shall
mean the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the option.
13. Optionee
shall
mean the person to whom the option is granted as specified in the Grant
Notice.
14. Vesting
Schedule
shall
mean the vesting schedule specified in the Grant Notice pursuant to which the
Optionee is to vest in the Option Shares in a series of installments over his
or
her period of service.
A-2