RAND LOGISTICS, INC.
RESTRICTED SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT
* * * * *
Participant: Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx Date: January 17, 2007
Number of
Restricted Shares granted: 85,000
* * * * *
THIS AWARD AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of the Grant Date
specified above, is entered into by and between Rand Logistics, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and the Participant specified above;
WHEREAS, it has been determined that it would be in the best
interests of the Company to grant the Restricted Shares provided herein to the
Participant; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
premises hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration,
the parties hereto hereby mutually covenant and agree as follows:
1. Grant of Restricted Share Award. The Company hereby grants to the
Participant, as of the Grant Date specified above, an award of the number of
shares of the Company's Common Stock specified above, subject to the terms and
conditions contained in this Agreement (the "Restricted Shares"). The
Participant agrees and understands that nothing contained in this Agreement
provides, or is intended to provide, the Participant with any protection against
potential future dilution of the Participant's stockholder interest in the
Company for any reason.
2. Vesting. The Restricted Shares subject to this grant shall become
unrestricted and vested as follows:
o 44% on the Grant Date (the "Withheld Shares");
o 50% on March 31, 2007 (including any amount previously vested), provided
the Participant is then employed by the Company and/or one of its Subsidiaries;
o 75% on March 31, 2008 (including any amount previously vested), provided
the Participant is then employed by the Company and/or one of its Subsidiaries;
and
o 100% on March 31, 2009, provided the Participant is then employed by the
Company and/or one of its Subsidiaries.
2.2 If the Participant's employment with the Company and/or its
subsidiaries terminates as a result of (i) the Company terminating the
Participant's employment for Cause (as defined below) or (ii) the Participant
terminating his employment without Good Reason (as defined below), in each case,
prior to the vesting of all or any portion of the Restricted Shares awarded
under this Agreement, then such Restricted Shares shall immediately be cancelled
and the Participant shall forfeit any rights or interests in and with respect to
any such Restricted Shares. The Company may, in its sole discretion, determine,
prior to or within ninety (90) days after the date of any such termination, that
all or a portion of any the Participant's unvested Restricted Shares shall not
be so cancelled and forfeited.
2.3 If the Participant's employment with the Company and/or its
subsidiaries terminates for any reason other than by the Company for Cause or by
the Participant without Good Reason (i.e., death, permanent disability, by the
Company without Cause, by Participant for Good Reason), then the Participant
shall become 100% vested in the Restricted Shares awarded under this Agreement
as of the date of any such termination.
2.4 In the event of a Change of Control (as defined below), all
restrictions, terms and conditions applicable to the Restricted Shares shall be
deemed lapsed and satisfied as of the date of the Change of Control.
2.5 For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "Cause" shall mean
(i) the Participant's conviction of a criminal offence involving
fraud, larceny, misappropriation of funds, embezzlement or
dishonesty;
(ii) receipt by or on behalf of Participant or any member of
Participant's immediate family of any personal profit arising
out of or in connection with a transaction to which the
Company or any affiliate of the Company is party without
making full prior disclosure to the Company or such affiliate;
(iii) any misfeasance, nonfeasance or malfeasance by Participant
which causes material harm to the Company or an affiliate;
(iv) the Participant's failure to follow and carry out the lawful
instructions of his superior;
(v) the Participant having been under the influence of drugs
(other than prescription medicine or other medically-related
drugs to the extent that they are taken in accordance with
their directions) or alcohol during the performance of his
duties (it being understood that Participant may attend
industry functions at which alcohol will be consumed), or
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while otherwise under the influence of drugs or alcohol the
Participant having engaged in inappropriate conduct; or
(vi) the Participant having engaged in behavior that would
constitute grounds for liability for sexual harassment or
discrimination.
(b) "Change of Control" shall mean (A) the consummation of a merger,
reorganization, consolidation or other transaction involving the Company, or
sale of voting stock by the shareholders of the Company, in each case following
which the holders of voting stock of the Company immediately prior to the
consummation of such transaction do not hold at least 50.1% of the voting stock
of the surviving entity, (B) the sale of all or substantially all the assets of
the Company, or (C) a series of related transactions which has the effects
referred to in clause (A) or (B) of this sentence.
(c) "Good Reason" shall mean the material diminution of the Participant's
titles, duties and authorities or the Company assigning to the Participant
duties or responsibilities inconsistent with or inappropriate for his position
with the Company, in each case, without the Participant's written consent and
after notice to the Company of, and reasonable opportunity for the Company to
cure, such alleged Good Reason;
3. Delivery of Restricted Shares. There shall be issued a stock
certificate (or certificates) in respect of the Restricted Shares. Such stock
certificate(s) shall be registered in the name of such Participant, and shall
bear, among other required legends, the following legend:
"THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED
HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION,
FORFEITURE EVENTS) CONTAINED IN THE AWARD AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE
REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF AND RAND LOGISTICS, INC. A COPY OF SUCH AWARD AGREEMENT
IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF RAND LOGISTICS, INC., 000 XXXXX
XXXXXX, 00XX XXXXX, XXX XXXX, XXX XXXX 00000. RAND LOGISTICS, INC. WILL FURNISH
TO THE RECORDHOLDER OF THE CERTIFICATE, WITHOUT CHARGE AND UPON WRITTEN REQUEST
AT ITS PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS, A COPY OF SUCH AWARD AGREEMENT. RAND
LOGISTICS, INC. RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO RECORD THE TRANSFER OF THIS
CERTIFICATE UNTIL ALL SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE SATISFIED, ALL SUCH TERMS ARE
COMPLIED WITH AND ALL SUCH CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED."
Such stock certificate evidencing such shares shall, in the sole discretion of
the Company, be deposited with and held in custody by the Company until the
restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and all of the terms and conditions
applicable to such grant shall have been satisfied. After the lapse of the
restrictions above in respect of the Restricted Shares, a new certificate,
without the legend set forth above, shall be delivered to the Participant for
the number of shares of Common Stock which are no longer subject to such
restrictions, terms and conditions.
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4. Non-transferability. Prior to the vesting of the Restricted Shares, no
voluntary or involuntary sale, transfer, pledge, encumbrance or other
disposition or hypothecation of Restricted Shares after issuance thereof to the
Participant (or of any shares subsequently issued in respect of such shares,
whether as a stock dividend or otherwise), shall or may, be made or suffered by
the Participant or such Participant's estate, designated beneficiary or other
legal representative. Following the vesting of the Restricted Shares, the shares
may be transferred, sold, pledged, hypothecated or encumbered in accordance with
all applicable federal and state securities laws and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
5. Notices. Any notice which may be required or permitted under this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person, or via facsimile
transmission, overnight courier service or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, properly addressed as follows:
5.1 If such notice is to the Company, to the attention of the
Secretary of Rand Logistics, Inc., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, 00000, or at such other address as the Company, by notice to the
Participant, shall designate in writing from time to time.
5.2 If such notice is to the Participant, at his or her address as
shown on the Company's records, or at such other address as the Participant, by
notice to the Company, shall designate in writing from time to time.
6. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference to the
principles of conflict of laws thereof.
7. Compliance with Laws. The issuance of the Restricted Shares or Common
Stock pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to, and shall comply with, any
applicable requirements of any federal and state securities laws, rules and
regulations (including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the respective rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder) and any other law or regulation applicable
thereto. The Company shall not be obligated to issue any of the Restricted
Shares or Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement if such issuance would violate
any such requirements.
8. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement contains the entire
agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
contained herein, and supersedes all prior agreements or prior understandings,
whether written or oral, between the parties relating to such subject matter.
This Agreement may only be modified or amended by a writing signed by both the
Company and the Participant.
9. Binding Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of, be binding upon, and be enforceable by the Company and its
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successors and assigns. The Participant shall not assign any part of this
Agreement without the prior express written consent of the Company.
10. Tax Withholding. The Participant has informed the Company that he
intends to make an 83(b) election with respect to the Restricted Shares. The
Participant and the Company hereby agree that the Company shall withhold the
Withheld Shares to satisfy its tax withholding requirements.
11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
12. Headings. The titles and headings of the various sections of this
Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be
deemed to be a part of this Agreement.
13. Further Assurances. Each party hereto shall do and perform (or shall
cause to be done and performed) all such further acts and shall execute and
deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as
any party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and
accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated thereunder.
14. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of
this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or
enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or the
validity, legality or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any
other jurisdiction, it being intended that all rights and obligations of the
parties hereunder shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed
by its duly authorized officer, and the Participant has hereunto set his hand,
all as of the Grant Date specified above.
RAND LOGISTICS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. XxXxxx, Xx.
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Name: Xxxxxx X. XxXxxx, Xx.
Title: Chief Financial Officer
/s/ XXXXXX XXXX
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XXXXXX XXXX
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