Title: Spark Energy, Inc. (Form: S-8, Received: 07/31/2014 06:05:52)
Subject: EDGAR Online Pro
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 2014
Registration No. 333-        

 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Spark Energy, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 
Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | | 46-5453215 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2105 CityWest Blvd., Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77042
(713) 600-2600
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)
SPARK ENERGY, INC. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full Title of the Plans)
Gil Melman
Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
2105 CityWest Blvd., Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77042
(713) 600-2600
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent For Service)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).
 
Large accelerated filer | | ☐ | | Accelerated filer | | ☐
Non-accelerated filer | | ⌧ | | Smaller reporting company | | ☐

 
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
Title of securities to be registered | | Amount to be Registered (1) | | Proposed maximum offering price per share (2) | | Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (2) | | Amount of registration fee
Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”) | | 1,375,000 shares | | $18.02 | | $24,777,500 | | $3,192
 
(1) | Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement also covers any additional shares of Common Stock that become issuable pursuant to the Spark Energy, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration that results in an increase in the number of shares of outstanding Common Stock.
(2) | Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rules 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act, and is based on a price of $18.02 per share, which is the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as reported by the NASDAQ on July 29, 2014.

 

PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Spark Energy, Inc. (the “Company” or the “Registrant”) will send or give to all participants in the Spark Energy, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) the document(s) containing the information required by Part I of Form S-8, as specified in Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act. In accordance with Rule 428 of the Securities Act and the requirements of Part I of Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission, either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. The Company shall maintain a file of such documents in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Upon request, the Company shall furnish to the Commission or its staff a copy or copies of all of the documents included in such file.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
Except to the extent that information is deemed furnished and not filed pursuant to securities laws and regulations, the following documents have been filed by the Company with the Commission and are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and will be deemed to be a part hereof:
 
| (a) | The Registrant’s prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (File No. 333-196375) on July 29, 2014 relating to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-196375), originally filed with the Commission on May 29, 2014, including any amendment thereto;
 
| (b) | All other reports filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Registration Statement on Form S-1 referred to in (a) above; and
 
| (c) | The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock included in the Registrant’s Form 8-A (File No. 001-36559), filed with the Commission on July 22, 2014, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating, changing or otherwise modifying such description.
Except to the extent that information is deemed furnished and not filed pursuant to securities laws and regulations, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall also be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the dates of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Delaware General Corporation Law
Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions (i.e., actions by or in the right of the corporation), except that indemnification extends only to expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action and the statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable to the corporation.
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
The Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that limit the liability of the Company’s directors and officers for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Consequently, the Company’s directors will not be personally liable to it or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except liability (1) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its shareholders, (2) for any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law; (3) under Section 174 of the DGCL regarding unlawful dividends or stock purchases; or (4) for any transaction from which the person derived an improper personal benefit. Any amendment to, or repeal of, these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission or claim that occurred or arose prior to that amendment or repeal. If the DGCL is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors or officers of corporations, then the personal liability of the Company’s directors and officers will be further limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.
D&O Insurance and Indemnification Agreements
The Company will enter into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and officers containing provisions that are in some respects broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the DGCL. The indemnification agreements require the Company, among other things, to indemnify its directors against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors and to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. The Company also intends to enter into indemnification agreements with its future directors and officers.
The Company also intends to maintain liability insurance policies that indemnify its directors and officers against various liabilities, including certain liabilities under arising under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, which may be incurred by them in their capacity as such.
Underwriting Agreement
The Underwriting Agreement entered into on July 28, 2014 in connection with the Company’s initial public offering provides for indemnification of the Company’s directors and officers by the underwriters against certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act or otherwise in connection with such initial public offering.
Long-Term Incentive Plan
The Plan provides that the committee that administers the Plan (the “Committee”) and all members thereof are entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to them by any officer or employee of the Company, any of the Company’s subsidiaries, the Company’s legal counsel, independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of this Plan. Members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be indemnified and held harmless by the Registrant with respect to any such action or determination.

The above discussion of Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws, the Company’s maintenance of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and indemnification agreements is not intended to be exhaustive and is respectively qualified in its entirety by such statute and documents.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Unless otherwise indicated below as being incorporated by reference to another filing of the Company with the Commission, each of the following exhibits is filed herewith:
 
| 4.1 | Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-196375) filed with the Commission on June 30, 2014).
 
| 4.2 | Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-196375) filed with the Commission on June 30, 2014).
 
| 4.3* | Spark Energy, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan.
 
| 4.4 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-196375) filed with the Commission on June 30, 2014).
 
| 4.5 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Notice of Grant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-196375) filed with the Commission on June 30, 2014).
 
| 5.1* | Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered.
 
| 23.1* | Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).
 
| 23.2* | Consent of KPMG LLP.
 
| 24.1* | Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement).

* | Filed herewith.

Item 9. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
3. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on July 30, 2014.
 
SPARK ENERGY, INC.
By: | | /s/ Nathan Kroeker
| | Nathan Kroeker
| | President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below hereby appoints Gil Melman, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution or re-substitution, for such person and in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign on such person’s behalf, individually and in each capacity stated below, any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, and to sign any and all additional registration statements relating to the same offering of securities of the Registration Statement that are filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on July 30, 2014.
 
Signature | | Title
/s/ W. Keith Maxwell | |
W. Keith Maxwell | | Chairman of the Board, Director
/s/ Nathan Kroeker | |
Nathan Kroeker | | Director, President and Chief Executive ( Principal Executive Officer )
/s/ Georganne Hodges | |
Georganne Hodges | | Chief Financial Officer ( Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer )
/s/ James G. Jones II | |
James G. Jones II | | Director
/s/ John Eads | |
John Eads | | Director
/s/ Kenneth M. Hartwick | |
Kenneth M. Hartwick | | Director

INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit Number | | Description
4.1 | | Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-196375) filed with the Commission on June 30, 2014).
4.2 | | Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-196375) filed with the Commission on June 30, 2014).
4.3* | | Spark Energy, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan.
4.4 | | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-196375) filed with the Commission on June 30, 2014).
4.5 | | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Notice of Grant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-196375) filed with the Commission on June 30, 2014).
5.1* | | Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered.
23.1* | | Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).
23.2* | | Consent of KPMG LLP.
24.1* | | Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement).

* | Filed herewith.

Exhibit 4.3
SPARK ENERGY, INC.
LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose . The purpose of the Spark Energy, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide a means through which Spark Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and its Subsidiaries and Parents may attract and retain able persons as employees, directors and consultants of the Company, and its Subsidiaries and Parents, and to provide a means whereby those persons upon whom the responsibilities of the successful administration and management of the Company, and its Subsidiaries and Parents, rest, and whose present and potential contributions to the welfare of the Company, and its Subsidiaries and Parents, are of importance, can acquire and maintain stock ownership, or awards the value of which is tied to the performance of the Company, thereby strengthening their concern for the welfare of the Company, and its Subsidiaries and Parents, and their desire to remain employed. A further purpose of this Plan is to provide such employees, directors and consultants with additional incentive and reward opportunities designed to enhance the profitable growth of the Company. Accordingly, this Plan primarily provides for the granting of Incentive Stock Options, options which do not constitute Incentive Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Dividend Equivalents, Bonus Stock, Other Stock-Based Awards, Annual Incentive Awards, Performance Awards, or any combination of the foregoing, as is best suited to the circumstances of the particular individual as provided herein.
2. Definitions . For purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below, in addition to such terms defined in Section 1 hereof:
(a) “Annual Incentive Award” means a conditional right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 8(c) hereof to receive a cash payment, Stock or other Award, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, after the end of a specified year.
(b) “Award” means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Bonus Stock, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award, Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award, together with any other right or interest granted to a Participant under this Plan.
(c) “Beneficiary” means one or more persons, trusts or other entities which have been designated by a Participant, in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the Committee, to receive the benefits specified under this Plan upon such Participant’s death or to which Awards or other rights are transferred if and to the extent permitted under Section 10(b) hereof. If, upon a Participant’s death, there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary means the persons, trusts or other entities entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.
(d) “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.
(e) “Bonus Stock” means Stock granted as a bonus pursuant to Section 6(f).
 
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(f) “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in the state of Texas are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(g) “Change in Control” means, except as otherwise provided in an Award agreement, the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) The consummation of an agreement to acquire or a tender offer for beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act by any Person, of 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided , however , that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company or (D) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of paragraph (iii) below;
(ii) Individuals who constitute the Incumbent Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board;
(iii) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or an acquisition of assets of another entity (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination represent or are converted into or exchanged for securities that represent or are convertible into more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock or common equity interests and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or other governing body, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that as a result of such transaction owns the Company, or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (B) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or the entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock or common equity interests of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or other governing body of such entity to the extent that such ownership results solely from ownership of the Company that existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors or similar governing body of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or
(iv) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
 
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award that provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules, then the transaction or event described in subsection (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above with respect to such Award must also constitute a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5), and as relates to the holder of such Award, to the extent required to comply with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.
(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.
(i) “Committee” means a committee of two or more directors designated by the Board to administer this Plan; provided , however , that, to the extent administration of this Plan by “outside directors” is required in order to qualify for tax deductibility under section 162(m) of the Code, the Board may require that the Committee consist solely of two or more directors who are a Qualified Members.
(j) “Covered Employee” means an Eligible Person who is a Covered Employee as specified in Section 8(e) of this Plan.
(k) “Dividend Equivalent” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(g), to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.
(l) “Effective Date” means July 28, 2014.
(m) “Eligible Person” means all officers and employees of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, and other persons who provide services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, including directors of the Company. An employee on leave of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents for purposes of eligibility for participation in this Plan. With respect to the grant of an ISO, Eligible Person shall mean an employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) of the Company.
(n) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.
(o) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any specified date, (i) if the Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Stock, as reported on the stock exchange composite tape on that date (or if no sales occur on that date, on the last preceding date on which such sales of the Stock are so reported) or as determined in such other manner as the Committee deems appropriate (provided, that, to the extent necessary, such manner is consistent with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules); (ii) if the Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange but is traded over the counter at the time a determination of its fair market value is required to be made under the Plan, the average between the reported high and low bid and asked prices of Stock on the most recent date on which Stock was publicly traded or as determined in such other manner as the Committee deems appropriate (provided, that, to the extent necessary, such manner is consistent with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules); (iii) in the event Stock is not publicly traded at the time a determination of
 
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its value is required to be made under the Plan, the amount determined by the Committee in its discretion in such manner as it deems appropriate, taking into account all factors the Committee deems appropriate including, without limitation, the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules; or (iv) on the date of a Qualifying Public Offering of Stock, the offering price under such Qualifying Public Offering.
(p) “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means any Option intended to be and designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
(q) “Incumbent Board” means the portion of the Board constituted of the individuals who are members of the Board as of the Effective Date and any other individual who becomes a director of the Company after the Effective Date and whose election or appointment by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of 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 a Person other than the Incumbent Board.
(r) “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules” means the limitations or requirements of section 409A of the Code and the guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(s) “Option” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(b) hereof, to purchase Stock or other Awards at a specified price during specified time periods.
(t) “Other Stock-Based Awards” means Awards granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(i) hereof.
(u) “Parent” means any corporation or other entity which owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest of the Company.
(v) “Participant” means a person who has been granted an Award under this Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.
(w) “Performance Award” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 8 hereof, to receive Awards based upon performance criteria specified by the Committee.
(x) “Person” means any person or entity of any nature whatsoever, specifically including an individual, a firm, a company, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, a trust or other entity; a Person, together with that Person’s affiliates and associates (as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, provided that “registrant” as used in Rule 12b-2 shall mean the Company), and any Persons acting as a partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, association, syndicate or other group (whether or not formally organized), or otherwise acting jointly or in concert or in a coordinated or
 
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consciously parallel manner (whether or not pursuant to any express agreement), for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of securities of the Company with such Person, shall be deemed a single “Person.”
(y) “Qualifying Public Offering” means a firm commitment underwritten public offering of Stock for cash where the shares of Stock registered under the Securities Act are listed on a national securities exchange.
(z) “Qualified Member” means a member of the Committee who is a “nonemployee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) and an “outside director” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.162-27 under section 162(m) of the Code.
(aa) “Restricted Stock” means Stock granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(d) hereof, that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.
(bb) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(e) hereof, to receive Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of a specified deferral or vesting period.
(cc) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under section 16 of the Exchange Act, as from time to time in effect and applicable to this Plan and Participants.
(dd) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor law, as it may be amended from time to time.
(ee) “Stock” means the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and such other securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) for Stock pursuant to Section 9.
(ff) “Stock Appreciation Rights” or “SAR” means a right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(c) hereof.
(gg) “Subsidiary” means with respect to the Company, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.
3. Administration .
(a) Authority of the Committee . This Plan shall be administered by the Committee except to the extent the Board elects to administer this Plan, in which case references herein to the “Committee” shall be deemed to include references to the “Board.” Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and Rule 16b-3, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to (i) adopt, amend, and rescind administrative and interpretive rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (ii) determine the Eligible Persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted; (iii) determine the amount of cash and/or the number of shares of Stock, as applicable Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units, Restricted
 
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Stock Awards, Dividend Equivalents, Bonus Stock, Other Stock-Based Awards, Annual Incentive Awards, Performance Awards, or any combination thereof, that shall be the subject of each Award; (iv) determine the terms and provisions of each Award agreement (which need not be identical), including provisions defining or otherwise relating to (A) the term and the period or periods and extent of exercisability of the Options, (B) the extent to which the transferability of shares of Stock issued or transferred pursuant to any Award is restricted, (C) except as otherwise provided herein, the effect of termination of employment, or the service relationship with the Company, of a Participant on the Award, and (D) the effect of approved leaves of absence (consistent with any applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue Service); (v) accelerate the time of vesting or exercisability of any Award that has been granted; (vi) construe the respective Award agreements and the Plan; (vii) make determinations of the Fair Market Value of the Stock pursuant to the Plan; (viii) delegate its duties under the Plan (including, but not limited to, the authority to grant Awards) to such agents as it may appoint from time to time, provided that the Committee may not delegate its duties where such delegation would violate state corporate law, or with respect to making Awards to, or otherwise with respect to Awards granted to, Eligible Persons who are subject to section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or who are Covered Employees receiving Awards that are intended to constitute “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code; (ix) subject to Section 10(f), terminate, modify or amend the Plan; (x) subject to the limitations set forth herein, amend any Award agreement; and (xi) make all other determinations, perform all other acts, and exercise all other powers and authority necessary or advisable for administering the Plan, including the delegation of those ministerial acts and responsibilities as the Committee deems appropriate. Subject to Rule 16b-3 and section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, in any Award, or in any Award agreement in the manner and to the extent it deems necessary or desirable to carry the Plan into effect, and the Committee shall be the sole and final judge of that necessity or desirability. The determinations of the Committee on the matters referred to in this Section 3(a) shall be final and conclusive.
(b) Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority . At any time that a member of the Committee is not a Qualified Member, any action of the Committee relating to an Award granted or to be granted to an Eligible Person who is then subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company, or relating to an Award intended by the Committee to qualify as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder, may be taken either (i) by a subcommittee, designated by the Committee, composed solely of two or more Qualified Members, (ii) by the Board or (iii) by the Committee but with each such member who is not a Qualified Member abstaining or recusing himself or herself from such action; provided , however , that, upon such abstention or recusal, the Committee remains composed solely of two or more Qualified Members. Such action, authorized by such a subcommittee or by the Committee upon the abstention or recusal of such non-Qualified Member(s), shall be the action of the Committee for purposes of this Plan. Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons, including the Company, its Subsidiaries, Parents, stockholders, Participants, Beneficiaries, and transferees under Section 10(b) hereof or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The Committee may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
 
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Parents, or committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform such functions, including administrative functions, as the Committee may determine, to the extent that such delegation will not result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company and will not cause Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code to fail to so qualify. The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan.
(c) Limitation of Liability . The Committee and each member thereof shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, the Company’s legal counsel, independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of this Plan. Members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to this Plan, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be indemnified and held harmless by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.
(d) No Repricing of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights . Other than pursuant to Section 9, neither the Board nor the Committee may provide for the repricing or exchange of underwater Options or SARs for cash consideration, other Awards, or Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the original exercise price of such underwater Options or SARs, unless such repricing or exchange receives the approval of a majority of the holders of the Stock.
4. Stock Subject to Plan .
(a) Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery . Subject to adjustment in a manner consistent with any adjustment made pursuant to Section 9, the total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance in connection with Awards under this Plan shall not exceed 1,375,000 shares, and such total will be available for the issuance of Incentive Stock Options.
(b) Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards . Subject to Section 4(e), no Award may be granted if the number of shares of Stock to be delivered in connection with such Award exceeds the number of shares of Stock remaining available under this Plan minus the number of shares of Stock issuable in settlement of or relating to then-outstanding Awards. The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.
(c) Availability of Shares Not Issued under Awards . Shares of Stock subject to an Award under this Plan that expire or are canceled, forfeited, exchanged, settled in cash or otherwise terminated, including (i) shares forfeited with respect to Restricted Stock, (ii) shares tendered or withheld in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or taxes relating to an Award and (iii) shares that were subject to an Option or an SAR and were not issued or
 
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delivered upon the net settlement or net exercise of such Option or SAR, shall be available again for issuance in connection with Awards under the Plan, except that if any such shares could not again be available for Awards to a particular Participant under any applicable law or regulation, such shares shall be available exclusively for Awards to Participants who are not subject to such limitation.
(d) Stock Offered . The shares to be delivered under the Plan shall be made available from (i) authorized but unissued shares of Stock, (ii) Stock held in the treasury of the Company, or (iii) previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company, including shares purchased on the open market.
5. Eligibility . Awards may be granted under this Plan only to Persons who are Eligible Persons at the time of grant thereof.
6. Specific Terms of Awards .
(a) General . Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 10(f)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment by the Participant, or termination of the Participant’s service relationship with the Company, and terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award. The Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under this Plan; provided , however , that the Committee shall not have any discretion to accelerate, waive or modify any term or condition of an Award that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of section 162(m) of the Code if such discretion would cause the Award to not so qualify or to accelerate the terms of payment of any Award that provides for a deferral of compensation under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules if such acceleration would subject a Participant to additional taxes under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.
(b) Options . The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Exercise Price . The exercise price per share of Stock subject to an Option shall not be less than the greater of (1) the par value per share of the Stock and (2) 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock as of the date of grant of the Option (or in the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or any subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code), 110% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock on the date of grant); provided, however, nothing in this Section 6(b)(i) is intended to limit the ability of the Company to assume or otherwise grant Options in substitution of awards in connection with any merger, stock purchase, recapitalization or other corporate transaction.
 
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(ii) Time and Method of Exercise . The Committee shall determine the time or times at which or the circumstances under which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the methods by which such Exercise Price may be paid or deemed to be paid, the form of such payment, including without limitation cash, Stock, other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or any Subsidiary, or other property (including notes or other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis), and the methods by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, including, but not limited to, the delivery of Restricted Stock subject to Section 6(d). In the case of an exercise whereby the Exercise Price is paid with Stock, such Stock shall be valued as of the date of exercise. The Award agreement governing each Option shall set forth the last date that the Option may be exercised (the “Option Expiration Date”) and may provide (A) for the automatic exercise of such Option on the Option Expiration Date if the exercise price per share of the Stock under the Option is less than the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock on the Option Expiration Date and the Participant has not previously exercised such Option, or (B) except with respect to an ISO, that in the event trading in the Stock is prohibited by applicable law, the term of the Option shall automatically be extended until the date that is 30 days after such prohibition is lifted, to the extent that such extension does not cause the Participant to become subject to taxation under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan Rules.
(iii) ISOs . The terms of any ISO granted under this Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of section 422 of the Code. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9, no term of this Plan relating to ISOs (including any SAR in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under this Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either this Plan or any ISO under section 422 of the Code, unless the Participant has first requested the change that will result in such disqualification. ISOs shall not be granted more than ten years after the earlier of the adoption of this Plan or the approval of this Plan by the Company’s stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock subject to an ISO and the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of stock of any parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) subject to any other ISO (within the meaning of section 422 of the Code)) of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) that first becomes purchasable by a Participant in any calendar year may not (with respect to that Participant) exceed $100,000, or such other amount as may be prescribed under section 422 of the Code or applicable regulations or rulings from time to time. As used in the previous sentence, Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the date the ISOs are granted. Failure to comply with this provision shall not impair the enforceability or exercisability of any Option, but shall cause the excess amount of shares to be reclassified in accordance with the Code.
(iv) Service Providers to Parents . To the extent an Option is granted to an Eligible Person who is an employee or service provider to any Parent of the Company, such Option is intended to be designed in a manner that is intended to comply with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.
 
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(c) Stock Appreciation Rights . The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Right to Payment . An SAR shall confer on the Participant to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the Committee; provided, however , that the grant price per share of the Stock under each SAR shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of the Stock on the date the SAR is granted.
(ii) Rights Related to Options . An SAR granted pursuant to an Option shall entitle a Participant, upon exercise, to surrender that Option or any portion thereof, to the extent unexercised, and to receive payment of an amount computed pursuant to Section 6(c)(ii)(B). That Option shall then cease to be exercisable to the extent surrendered. SARs granted in connection with an Option shall be subject to the terms of the Award agreement governing the Option, which shall comply with the following provisions in addition to those applicable to Options:
(A) An SAR granted in connection with an Option shall be exercisable only at such time or times and only to the extent that the related Option is exercisable and shall not be transferable except to the extent that the related Option is transferable.
(B) Upon the exercise of an SAR related to an Option, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company of an amount determined by multiplying:
(1) the difference obtained by subtracting the Exercise Price with respect to a share of Stock specified in the related Option from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR, by
(2) the number of shares as to which that SAR has been exercised.
(iii) Right Without Option . An SAR granted independent of an Option shall be exercisable as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award agreement governing the SAR, which Award agreement shall comply with the following provisions:
(A) Each Award agreement shall state the total number of shares of Stock to which the SAR relates.
(B) Each Award agreement shall state the time or periods in which the right to exercise the SAR or a portion thereof shall vest and the number of shares of Stock for which the right to exercise the SAR shall vest at each such time or period.
(C) Each Award agreement shall state the date at which the SARs shall expire if not previously exercised.
 
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(D) Each SAR shall entitle a Participant, upon exercise thereof, to receive payment of an amount determined by multiplying:
(1) the difference obtained by subtracting the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant of the SAR from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of that SAR, by
(2) the number of shares as to which the SAR has been exercised.
(iv) Terms . Except as otherwise provided herein, the Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under which an SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, whether or not an SAR shall be in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR. SARs may be either freestanding or in tandem with other Awards. The Award Agreement governing each SAR shall set forth the last date that the SAR may be exercised (the “SAR Expiration Date”), and may provide (A) for the automatic exercise of such SAR on the SAR Expiration Date if the exercise price per share of the Stock under the SAR is less than the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock on the SAR Expiration Date and the Participant has not previously exercised such SAR, or (B) that in the event trading in the Stock is prohibited by applicable law, the term of the SAR shall automatically be extended until the date that is 30 days after such prohibition is lifted, to the extent that such extension does not cause the Participant to become subject to taxation under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan Rules.
(v) Service Providers to Parents . To the extent an SAR is granted to an Eligible Person who is an employee or service provider to any Parent of the Company, such SAR is intended to be designed in a manner that is intended to comply with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.
(d) Restricted Stock . The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Grant and Restrictions . Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine at the date of grant or thereafter. During the restricted period applicable to the Restricted Stock, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.
(ii) Certificates for Stock . Restricted Stock granted under this Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.
 
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(iii) Dividends and Splits . As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require or permit a Participant to elect that any cash dividends paid on a share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock, applied to the purchase of additional Awards under this Plan or deferred without interest to the date of vesting of the associated Award of Restricted Stock; provided , that, to the extent applicable, any such election will be made in a manner intended to comply with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Stock distributed in connection with a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property (other than cash) distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Stock or other property has been distributed.
(e) Restricted Stock Units . The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Units, which are rights to receive Stock or cash (or a combination thereof) at the end of a specified deferral period (which may or may not be coterminous with the vesting schedule of the Award), to Eligible Persons, subject to the following terms and conditions:
(i) Award and Restrictions . Settlement of an Award of Restricted Stock Units shall occur upon expiration of the deferral period specified for such Restricted Stock Unit by the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Participant). In addition, Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may impose, if any, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at earlier specified times (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine. Restricted Stock Units shall be satisfied by the delivery of cash or Stock in the amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of shares of Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Units, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter.
(ii) Dividend Equivalents . Dividend Equivalents may be granted in connection with Restricted Stock Units. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at date of grant, Dividend Equivalents on the specified number of shares of Stock covered by an Award of Restricted Stock Units shall be either (A) paid with respect to such Restricted Stock Units on the dividend payment date in cash or in shares of unrestricted Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, or (B) deferred with respect to such Restricted Stock Units and the amount or value thereof automatically deemed reinvested in additional Restricted Stock Units other Awards or other investment vehicles, as the Committee shall determine or permit the Participant to elect (in a manner, to the extent applicable, that complies with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules).
(f) Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations . The Committee is authorized to grant Stock as a bonus, or to grant Stock or other Awards in lieu of obligations to pay cash or deliver other property under this Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, provided that, in the case of Participants subject to section 16 of the Exchange
 
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Act, the amount of such grants remains within the discretion of the Committee to the extent necessary to ensure that acquisitions of Stock or other Awards are exempt from liability under section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Stock or Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as shall be determined by the Committee. In the case of any grant of Stock to an officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents in lieu of salary or other cash compensation, the number of shares granted in place of such compensation shall be reasonable, as determined by the Committee.
(g) Dividend Equivalents . The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to a Participant, entitling the Participant to receive cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments. Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award. The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Stock, Awards, or other investment vehicles, and subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the Committee may specify.
(h) Other Awards . The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of this Plan, including without limitation convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Stock, purchase rights for Stock, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Stock or the value of securities of or the performance of specified Subsidiaries of the Company. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such other Stock-Based Awards. Stock delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(h) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, as the Committee shall determine. Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other Award under this Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 6(h).
7. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards .
(a) Termination of Employment . Except as provided herein, the treatment of an Award upon a termination of employment or any other service relationship by and between a Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary or Parent shall be specified in the agreement controlling such Award.
(b) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards . Awards granted under this Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, or of any business entity to be acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any other right of an Eligible Person to receive payment from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents. Such additional, tandem and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time. If an
 
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Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other Award in consideration for the grant of the new Award. Awards under this Plan may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, in which the value of Stock subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation. Awards granted pursuant to the preceding sentence are intended to be designed, awarded and settled in a manner that does not result in additional taxes under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.
(c) Term of Awards . Except as specified herein, the term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee; provided , that in no event shall the term of any Option or SAR exceed a period of ten years (or such shorter term as may be required in respect of an ISO under section 422 of the Code).
(d) Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals . Subject to the terms of this Plan and any applicable Award agreement, payments to be made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis; provided , however , that any such deferred payment will be set forth in the agreement evidencing such Award and/or otherwise made in a manner that is intended not to result in additional taxes under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules. Except as otherwise provided herein, the settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Stock in connection with such settlement, in the discretion of the Committee or upon occurrence of one or more specified events (in addition to a Change in Control). Installment or deferred payments may be required by the Committee (subject to Section 10(c) of this Plan, including the consent provisions thereof in the case of any deferral of an outstanding Award not provided for in the original Award agreement) or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee and intended to be in compliance with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules. Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents or other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Stock. Any deferral shall only be allowed as is provided in a separate deferred compensation plan adopted by the Company and shall be made with the intent to comply with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules. This Plan shall not constitute an “employee benefit plan” for purposes of section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
(e) Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability . It is the intent of the Company that the grant of any Awards to or other transaction by a Participant who is subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be exempt from such section pursuant to an applicable exemption (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be non-exempt by such Participant). Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any Award agreement does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 as then applicable to any such transaction, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that such Participant shall avoid liability under section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
 
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(f) Restrictive Covenants . Each Participant to whom an Award is granted under the Plan may be required to agree in writing, as a condition to the granting of such Award, to comply with certain non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that are contained in the Award Agreement applicable to such Award or otherwise applicable to the Participant (a “Restrictive Covenant Agreement”); provided, however , to the extent a legally binding right to an Award within the meaning of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules is created with respect to a Participant, such Restrictive Covenant Agreement must be entered into by such Participant within 30 days following the creation of such legally binding right.
8. Performance and Annual Incentive Awards .
(a) Performance Conditions . The right of an Eligible Person to receive a grant, and the right of a Participant to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Committee. The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions, and may exercise its discretion to reduce or increase the amounts payable under any Award subject to performance conditions, except as limited under Sections 8(b) and 8(c) hereof in the case of a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under section 162(m) of the Code.
(b) Performance Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees . If the Committee determines that a Performance Award to be granted to an Eligible Person who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of section 162(m) of the Code, the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Award may be contingent upon achievement of preestablished performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 8(b).
(i) Performance Goals Generally . The performance goals for such Performance Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria or individual performance criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 8(b), which level may also be expressed in terms of a specified increase or decrease in the particular criteria compared to a past period. Performance goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder (including Treasury Regulation §1.162-27 and successor regulations thereto), including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being “substantially uncertain” at the time the Committee actually establishes the performance goal or goals. The Committee may determine that such Performance Awards shall be granted, exercised, and/or settled upon achievement of any one performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Awards. Performance goals may differ for Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.
(ii) Business and Individual Performance Criteria
 
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(A) Business Criteria . One or more of the following business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or for specified Subsidiaries or business or geographical units of the Company (except with respect to the total stockholder return and earnings per share criteria), shall be used by the Committee in establishing performance goals for such Performance Awards: (1) earnings per share; (2) increase in revenues; (3) increase in cash flow; (4) increase in cash flow from operations; (5) increase in cash flow return; (6) return on net assets; (7) return on assets; (8) return on investment; (9) return on capital; (10) return on equity; (11) economic value added; (12) operating margin; (13) contribution margin; (14) net income; (15) net income per share; (16) pretax earnings; (17) pretax earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”); (18) pretax operating earnings after interest expense and before incentives, service fees, and extraordinary or special items; (19) total stockholder return; (20) debt reduction; (21) market share; (22) change in the Fair Market Value of the Stock; (23) operating income; (24) lease operating expenses; (25) retail gross margin; (26) adjusted EBITDA; (27) margin under contract; and (28) any of the above goals determined on an absolute or relative basis or as compared to the performance of a published or special index deemed applicable by the Committee including, but not limited to, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index or a group of comparable companies. One or more of the foregoing business criteria shall also be exclusively used in establishing performance goals for Annual Incentive Awards granted to a Covered Employee under Section 8(c) hereof that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may exclude the impact of any of the following events or occurrences which the Committee determines should appropriately be excluded: (a) asset write-downs; (b) litigation, claims, judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax law or other such laws or regulations affecting reported results; (d) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs; (e) any extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring items as described in the Accounting Standards Codification Topic 225, as the same may be amended or superseded from time to time; (f) any change in accounting principles as defined in the Accounting Standards Codification Topic 250, as the same may be amended or superseded from time to time; (g) any loss from a discontinued operation as described in the Accounting Standards Codification Topic 360, as the same may be amended or superseded from time to time; (h) goodwill impairment charges; (i) operating results for any business acquired during the calendar year; (j) third party expenses associated with any acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and (k) to the extent set forth with reasonable particularity in connection with the establishment of performance goals, any other extraordinary events or occurrences identified by the Committee.
(B) Individual Performance Criteria . The grant, exercise and/or settlement of Performance Awards may also be contingent upon individual performance goals established by the Committee. If required for compliance with section
162(m) of the Code, such criteria shall be approved by the stockholders of the Company.
(iii) Performance Period; Timing for Establishing Performance Goals . Achievement of performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured over a performance period of up to ten years, as specified by the Committee. Performance goals shall be established not later than 90 days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such Performance Awards, or at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based compensation” under section
162(m) of the Code.
 
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(iv) Performance Award Pool . The Committee may establish a Performance Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring performance of the Company in connection with Performance Awards. The amount of such Performance Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof during the given performance period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with
Section 8(b)(iii) hereof. The Committee may specify the amount of the Performance Award pool as a percentage of any of such criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such criteria.
(v) Settlement of Performance Awards; Other Terms . After the end of each performance period, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of (A) the Performance Award pool, and the maximum amount of the potential Performance Award payable to each Participant in the Performance Award pool, or (B) the amount of the potential Performance Award otherwise payable to each Participant. Settlement of such Performance Awards shall be in cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Performance Awards, but may not exercise discretion to increase any such amount payable to a Covered Employee in respect of a Performance Award subject to this Section 8(b). The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of Performance Awards.
(c) Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees . If the Committee determines that an Annual Incentive Award to be granted to an Eligible Person who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of section 162(m) of the Code, the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award shall be contingent upon achievement of preestablished performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 8(c).
(i) Potential Annual Incentive Awards . Not later than the end of the 90 th day of each applicable year, or at such other date as may be required or permitted in the case of Awards intended to be “performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall determine the Eligible Persons who will potentially receive Annual Incentive Awards, and the amounts potentially payable thereunder, for that fiscal year, either out of an Annual Incentive Award pool established by such date under Section 8(c)(i) hereof or as individual Annual Incentive Awards. The amount potentially payable, with respect to Annual Incentive Awards, shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof in the given performance year, as specified by the Committee.
(ii) Annual Incentive Award Pool . The Committee may establish an Annual Incentive Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring performance of the Company in connection with Annual Incentive Awards. The amount of such Annual Incentive Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof during the given performance period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with Section 8(b)(iii)
 
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hereof. The Committee may specify the amount of the Annual Incentive Award pool as a percentage of any of such business criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such business criteria.
(iii) Payout of Annual Incentive Awards . After the end of each applicable year, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of (A) the Annual Incentive Award pool, and the maximum amount of the potential Annual Incentive Award payable to each Participant in the Annual Incentive Award pool, or (A) the amount of the potential Annual Incentive Award otherwise payable to each Participant. The Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the amount payable to any Participant as a final Annual Incentive Award shall be reduced from the amount of his or her potential Annual Incentive Award, including a determination to make no final Award whatsoever, but may not exercise discretion to increase any such amount in the case of an Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which an Annual Incentive Award shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end of the applicable year or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award.
(d) Written Determinations . All determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of performance goals, the amount of any Performance Award pool or potential individual Performance Awards, the achievement of performance goals relating to and final settlement of Performance Awards under Section 8(b), the amount of any Annual Incentive Award pool or potential individual Annual Incentive Awards, the achievement of performance goals relating to and final settlement of Annual Incentive Awards under Section 8(c) shall be made in writing in the case of any Award intended to qualify under section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may not delegate any responsibility relating to such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards.
(e) Status of Section 8(b) and Section 8(c) Awards under Section 162(m) of the Code . It is the intent of the Company that Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards under Sections 8(b) and 8(c) hereof granted to Persons who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered Employees within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder (including Treasury Regulation §1.162-27 and successor regulations thereto) shall, if so designated by the Committee, constitute “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, the terms of Sections 8(b), (c), (d) and (e), including the definitions of Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a given Eligible Person will be a Covered Employee with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered Employee as used herein shall mean only a Person designated by the Committee, at the time of grant of a Performance Award or an Annual Incentive Award, who is likely to be a Covered Employee with respect to that fiscal year. If any provision of this Plan as in effect on the date of adoption of any agreements relating to Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards that are designated as intended to comply with section 162(m) of the Code does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of section 162(m) of the Code or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such
 
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requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8(e) or elsewhere in this Plan, the Company intends to rely on the transition relief set forth in Treasury Regulation § 1.162-27(f), and hence the deduction limitation imposed by section 162(m) of the Code will not be applicable to the Company until the earliest to occur of (i) the material modification of the Plan within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.162-27(h)(1)(iii); (ii) the issuance of the number of shares of Stock set forth in Section 4(a); or (iii) the first meeting of shareholders of the Company at which directors are to be elected that occurs after December 31, 20     (the “Transition Period”), and during the Transition Period, Awards to Covered Employees shall only be required to comply with the transition relief described in this Section 8(e).
9. Subdivision or Consolidation; Recapitalization; Change in Control; Reorganization .
(a) Existence of Plans and Awards . The existence of this Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Stock 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. In no event will any action taken by the Committee pursuant to this Section 9 result in the creation of deferred compensation within the meaning of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan Rules.
(b) Subdivision or Consolidation of Shares . The terms of an Award and the number of shares of Stock authorized pursuant to Section 4 for issuance under the Plan shall be subject to adjustment from time to time, in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall subdivide as a whole (by reclassification, by a Stock split, by the issuance of a distribution on Stock payable in Stock, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a greater number of shares of Stock, then, (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock available for the Plan or in connection with Awards as provided in Section 4 shall be increased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be increased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the exercise price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be reduced proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.
(ii) If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall consolidate as a whole (by reclassification, by reverse Stock split, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a lesser number of shares of Stock, (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock for the Plan or available in connection with Awards as provided in Section 4 shall be decreased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or
 
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securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be decreased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the exercise price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be increased proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.
(iii) Whenever the number of shares of Stock subject to outstanding Awards and the price for each share of Stock subject to outstanding Awards are required to be adjusted as provided in this Section 9(b), the Committee shall promptly prepare a notice setting forth, in reasonable detail, the event requiring adjustment, the amount of the adjustment, the method by which such adjustment was calculated, and the change in price and the number of shares of Stock, other securities, cash, or property purchasable subject to each Award after giving effect to the adjustments. The Committee shall promptly provide each affected Participant with such notice.
(iv) Adjustments under Sections 9(b)(i) and (ii) shall be made by the Committee, and its determination as to what adjustments shall be made and the extent thereof shall be final, binding, and conclusive. No fractional interest shall be issued under the Plan on account of any such adjustments.
(c) Corporate Recapitalization . If the Company recapitalizes, reclassifies its capital stock, or otherwise changes its capital structure (a “recapitalization”) without the occurrence of a Change in Control, the number and class of shares of Stock covered by an Option or an SAR theretofore granted shall be adjusted so that such Option or SAR shall thereafter cover the number and class of shares of stock and securities to which the holder would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the recapitalization if, immediately prior to the recapitalization, the holder had been the holder of record of the number of shares of Stock then covered by such Option or SAR and the share limitations provided in Sections 4 and 5 shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with the recapitalization and the exercise prices and grant prices of such Awards shall, to the extent applicable, be adjusted accordingly.
(d) Additional Issuances . Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock 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, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share, if applicable.
(e) Change in Control . Upon a Change in Control the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without the consent or approval of any holder, shall affect one or more of the following alternatives, which may vary among individual holders and which may vary among Options or SARs (collectively “Grants”) held by any individual holder: (i) accelerate the time at which Grants then outstanding may be exercised so that such Grants may be exercised in full for a limited period of time on or before a specified date (before or after such Change in Control) fixed by the Committee, after which specified date all unexercised Grants and all rights of
 
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holders thereunder shall terminate, (ii) require the mandatory surrender to the Company by selected holders of some or all of the outstanding Grants held by such holders (irrespective of whether such Grants are then exercisable under the provisions of this Plan) as of a date, before or after such Change in Control, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Grants and pay to each holder an amount of cash (or other consideration including securities or other property) per share equal to the excess, if any, of the amount calculated in Section 9(f) (the “Change in Control Price”) of the shares subject to such Grants over the exercise price(s) under such Grants for such shares (except that to the extent the exercise price under any such Grant is equal to or exceeds the Change in Control Price, in which case no amount shall be payable with respect to such Grant), or (iii) make such adjustments to Grants then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change in Control; provided , however , that the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to Grants then outstanding; provided , further, however, that the right to make such adjustments shall include, but not require or be limited to, the modification of Grants such that the holder of the Grant shall be entitled to purchase or receive (in lieu of the total number of shares of Stock as to which an Option or SAR is exercisable (the “Total Shares”) or other consideration that the holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase or receive under the Grant (the “Total Consideration”)), the number of shares of stock, other securities, cash or property to which the Total Consideration would have been entitled to in connection with the Change in Control (A) (in the case of Options), at an aggregate exercise price equal to the exercise price that would have been payable if the Total Shares had been purchased upon the exercise of the Grant immediately before the consummation of the Change in Control and (B) in the case of SARs, if the SARs had been exercised immediately before the occurrence of the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a Change in Control that constitutes an “equity restructuring” that would be subject to a compensation expense pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation , or any successor accounting standard, the provisions in Section 9(b) above shall control to the extent they are in conflict with the discretionary provisions of this Section 9(e); provided, however, that nothing in this Section 9(e) or in Section 9(b) above shall be construed as providing any Participant or any beneficiary of an Award any rights with respect to the “time value,” “economic opportunity” or “intrinsic value” of an Award or limiting in any manner the Committee’s actions that may be taken with respect to an Award as set forth in this Section 9(e) or in Section 9(b) above.
(f) Change in Control Price . The “Change in Control Price” shall equal the amount determined in the following clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), whichever is applicable, as follows: (i) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any merger or consolidation, (ii) the per share Fair Market Value of the Stock immediately before the Change in Control without regard to assets sold in the Change in Control and assuming the Company has received the consideration paid for the assets in the case of a sale of the assets, (iii) the amount distributed per share of Stock in a dissolution transaction, (iv) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any tender offer or exchange offer whereby a Change in Control takes place, or (v) if such Change in Control occurs other than pursuant to a transaction described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this Section 9(f), the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock that may otherwise be obtained with respect to such Grants or to which such Grants track, as determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the date of cancellation and surrender of such Grants. In the event that the consideration offered to stockholders of the Company in any transaction described in this Section 9(f) or in Section 9(e) consists of anything
 
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other than cash, the Committee shall determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration offered which is other than cash and such determination shall be binding on all affected Participants to the extent applicable to Awards held by such Participants.
(g) Impact of Corporate Events on Awards Generally . In the event of a Change in Control or changes in the outstanding Stock by reason of a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange or other relevant change in capitalization occurring after the date of the grant of any Award and not otherwise provided for by this Section 9, any outstanding Awards and any Award agreements evidencing such Awards shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee at its discretion, which adjustment may, in the Committee’s discretion, be described in the Award agreement and may include, but not be limited to, adjustments as to the number and price of shares of Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards, accelerated vesting (in full or in part) of such Awards, conversion of such Awards into awards denominated in the securities or other interests of any successor Person, or the cash settlement of such Awards in exchange for the cancellation thereof. In the event of any such change in the outstanding Stock, the aggregate number of shares of Stock available under this Plan may be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive.
10. General Provisions .
(a) Transferability .
(i) Permitted Transferees . The Committee may, in its discretion, permit a Participant to transfer all or any portion of any Award, or authorize all or a portion of an Option or SAR to be granted to an Eligible Person to be on terms which permit transfer by such Participant; provided that, in either case the transferee or transferees must be any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, 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, in each case with respect to the Participant, an individual sharing the Participant’s household (other than a tenant or employee of the Company), a trust in which any of the foregoing individuals have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which any of the foregoing individuals (or the Participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which any of the foregoing individuals (or the Participant) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests (collectively, “Permitted Transferees”); provided further that, (X) there may be no consideration for any such transfer and (Y) subsequent transfers of Awards transferred as provided above shall be prohibited except subsequent transfers back to the original holder of the Awards and transfers to other Permitted Transferees of the original holder. Agreements evidencing Awards with respect to which such transferability is authorized at the time of grant must be approved by the Committee, and must expressly provide for transferability in a manner consistent with this Section 10(a)(i).
(ii) Domestic Relations Orders . An Award may be transferred, to a Permitted Transferee, pursuant to a domestic relations order entered or approved by a court of competent jurisdiction upon delivery to the Company of written notice of such transfer and a certified copy of such order.
 
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(iii) Other Transfers . Except as expressly permitted by Sections 10(a)(i) and 10(a)(ii), Awards shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10, an Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
(iv) Effect of Transfer . Following the transfer of any Award as contemplated by Sections 10(a)(i), 10(a)(ii) and
10(a)(iii), (A) such Award shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer, provided that the term “Participant” shall be deemed to refer to the Permitted Transferee, the recipient under a qualified domestic relations order, or the estate or heirs of a deceased Participant or other transferee, as applicable, to the extent appropriate to enable the Participant to exercise the transferred Award in accordance with the terms of this Plan and applicable law and (B) the provisions of the Award relating to exercisability shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Participant and, following the occurrence of any applicable events described therein the Awards shall be exercisable by the Permitted Transferee, the recipient under a qualified domestic relations order, or the estate or heirs of a deceased Participant, as applicable, only to the extent and for the periods that would have been applicable in the absence of the transfer.
(v) Procedures and Restrictions . Any Participant desiring to transfer an Award as permitted under Sections 10(a)(i), 10(a)(ii) or 10(a)(iii) shall make application therefor in the manner and time specified by the Committee and shall comply with such other requirements as the Committee may require to assure compliance with all applicable securities laws. The Committee shall not give permission for such a transfer if (A) it would give rise to short swing liability under section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or (B) it may not be made in compliance with all applicable federal, state and foreign securities laws.
(vi) Registration . To the extent the issuance to any Permitted Transferee of any shares of Stock issuable pursuant to Awards transferred as permitted in this Section 10(a) is not registered pursuant to the effective registration statement of the Company generally covering the shares to be issued pursuant to this Plan to initial holders of Awards, the Company shall not have any obligation to register the issuance of any such shares of Stock to any such transferee.
(b) Taxes . The Company and any of its Subsidiaries or Parents are authorized to withhold from any Award granted, or any payment relating to an Award under this Plan, including from a distribution of Stock, amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Stock or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant’s tax obligations, either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Affiliates may, in its sole discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement, withhold or permit the Participant to elect to have the Company withhold a sufficient number of shares of Stock that are otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to an Award (or allow the surrender of shares of Stock by the Participant to the Company). The
 
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number of shares of Stock that may be so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of shares of Stock that have a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates for U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. income and social insurance taxes and payroll taxes, as determined by the Committee.
(c) Changes to this Plan and Awards . The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate this Plan or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards under this Plan without the consent of stockholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to this Plan, including any increase in any share limitation, shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders not later than the annual meeting next following such Board action if such stockholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock may then be listed or quoted, and the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such changes to this Plan to stockholders for approval; provided , that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award theretofore granted and any Award agreement relating thereto, except as otherwise provided in this Plan; provided , however , that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under such Award. For purposes of clarity, any adjustments made to Awards pursuant to Section 9 will be deemed not to materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award and therefore may be made without the consent of affected Participants.
(d) Limitation on Rights Conferred under Plan . Neither this Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s employment or service relationship at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under this Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and/or employees and/or other service providers, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Stock in accordance with the terms of an Award.
(e) Unfunded Status of Awards . This Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for certain incentive awards.
(f) Nonexclusivity of this Plan . Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including incentive arrangements and awards which do not qualify under section 162(m) of the Code. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed to prevent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents from taking any corporate action which is deemed by the Company or such Subsidiary or Parent to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on this Plan or any Award made under this Plan. No employee, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents as a result of any such action.
 
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(g) Fractional Shares . No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
(h) Severability . If any provision of this Plan is held to be illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof, but such provision shall be fully severable and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein. If any of the terms or provisions of this Plan or any Award agreement conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (as those terms or provisions are applied to Eligible Persons who are subject to section 16(b) of the Exchange Act) or section 422 of the Code (with respect to Incentive Stock Options), then those conflicting terms or provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent they so conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (unless the Board or the Committee, as appropriate, has expressly determined that the Plan or such Award should not comply with Rule 16b-3) or section 422 of the Code. With respect to Incentive Stock Options, if this Plan does not contain any provision required to be included herein under section 422 of the Code, that provision shall be deemed to be incorporated herein with the same force and effect as if that provision had been set out at length herein; provided , further, that, to the extent any Option that is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option cannot so qualify, that Option (to that extent) shall be deemed an Option not subject to section 422 of the Code for all purposes of the Plan.
(i) Governing Law . All questions arising with respect to the provisions of the Plan and Awards shall be determined by application of the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflict of law provisions thereof, except to the extent Delaware law is preempted by federal law. The obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Stock hereunder is subject to applicable federal and state laws and to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale, or delivery of such Stock.
(j) Conditions to Delivery of Stock . Nothing herein or in any Award granted hereunder or any Award agreement shall require the Company to issue any shares with respect to any Award if that issuance would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, constitute a violation of the Securities Act or any similar or superseding statute or statutes, any other applicable statute or regulation, or the rules of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect. At the time of any exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or at the time of any grant of a Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, or other Award the Company may, as a condition precedent to the exercise of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right or settlement of any Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or other Award, require from the Participant (or in the event of his or her death, his or her legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) such written representations, if any, concerning the holder’s intentions with regard to the retention or disposition of the shares of Stock being acquired pursuant to the Award and such written covenants and agreements, if any, as to the manner of disposal of such shares as, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, may be necessary to ensure that any disposition by that holder (or in the event of the holder’s death, his or her legal representatives, heirs, legatees,
 
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or distributees) will not involve a violation of the Securities Act or any similar or superseding statute or statutes, any other applicable state or federal statute or regulation, or any rule of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect. No Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable and no settlement of any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit shall occur with respect to a Participant unless and until the holder thereof shall have paid cash or property to, or performed services for, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents that the Committee believes is equal to or greater in value than the par value of the Stock subject to such Award.
(k) Clawback . The Committee shall have the right to provide, in an Award Agreement or otherwise, or to require a Participant to agree by separate written or electronic instrument, that all Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by the Participant upon any receipt or exercise of any Award or upon the receipt or resale of any shares of Stock underlying the Award) shall be subject to the provisions of any clawback policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any clawback policy adopted to comply with the requirements of applicable law, including without limitation the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent set forth in such clawback policy and/or in the applicable Award Agreement.
(l) Section 409A of the Code . In the event that any Award granted pursuant to this Plan provides for a deferral of compensation within the meaning of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules, it is the general intention, but not the obligation, of the Company to design such Award to comply with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules and such Award should be interpreted accordingly. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan or an Award agreement to the contrary, if any payment or benefit provided for under an Award would be subject to additional taxes and interest under section 409A of the Code if the Participant’s receipt of such payment or benefit is not delayed in accordance with the requirements of section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then such payment or benefit shall not be provided to the Participant (or the Participant’s estate, if applicable) until the earlier of (i) the date of the Participant’s death or (ii) the date that is six months after the date of the Participant’s “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.
(m) Plan Effective Date and Term . This Plan was adopted by the Board and approved by the sole stockholder of the Company on July 21, 2014, to be effective on the Effective Date. No Awards may be granted under this Plan on and after July 21, 2024.
 
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Exhibit 5.1

July 30, 2014
Spark Energy, Inc.
2105 CityWest Blvd., Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77042
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Spark Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of the offer and sale of up to an aggregate of 1,375,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 2014, which shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Spark Energy, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”).
In reaching the opinions set forth herein, we have examined and are familiar with originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents and records of the Company and such statutes, regulations and other instruments as we deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of this opinion, including (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) certain resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the Company, (iii) the Plan, and (iv) such other certificates, instruments, and documents as we have considered necessary for purposes of this opinion letter. As to any facts material to our opinions, we have made no independent investigation or verification of such facts and have relied, to the extent that we deem such reliance proper, upon representations of public officials and officers or other representatives of the Company.
We have assumed (i) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (ii) the genuineness of all signatures, (iii) the authority of all persons signing all documents submitted to us on behalf of the parties to such documents, (iv) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (v) the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies, (vi) that all information contained in all documents reviewed by us is true, correct and complete and (vii) that the Common Stock will be issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
Based on the foregoing and subject to the limitations set forth herein, and having due regard for the legal considerations we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that the Common Stock has been duly authorized and, when shares of Common Stock are issued by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the instruments executed pursuant to the Plan, as applicable, which govern the awards to which shares of Common Stock relate, the shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
This opinion is limited in all respects to the Delaware General Corporation Law. We express no opinion as to any other law or any matter other than as expressly set forth above, and no opinion on any other matter may be inferred or implied herefrom. The opinions expressed herein are rendered as of the date hereof and we expressly disclaim any obligation to update this letter or advise you of any change in any matter after the date hereof.
 
Vinson & Elkins LLP Attorneys at Law | | First City Tower, 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500
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Moscow New York Palo Alto Riyadh Tokyo Washington | | Tel  +1.713.758.2222  Fax  +1.713.758.2346  www.velaw.com

Spark Energy, Inc. July 30, 2014 Page 2
This opinion letter may be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.
 
Very truly yours,
/s/ VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.

Exhibit 23.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors of Spark Energy, Inc.:
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement on Form S-8 of Spark Energy, Inc. of our report dated April 25, 2014, with respect to the combined balance sheets of Spark Energy, Inc. as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related combined statements of operations and comprehensive income, member’s equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2013, and our report dated April 25, 2014, with respect to the balance sheet of Spark Energy, Inc. as of April 22, 2014, which reports appear in the registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-196375) of Spark Energy, Inc. dated July 28, 2014 and the related prospectus.
/s/ KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP
Houston, Texas
July 30, 2014