Exhibit 10.1
GOLDEN EAGLE INTERNATIONAL,
INC.
REVISED 2009 EQUITY INCENTIVE
PLAN
Effective Date: October 7,
2009
Approved by the Board of
Directors on October 7, 2009
Approved by the Stockholders on
__________, 2009
Table of Contents
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Page
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ARTICLE I
INTRODUCTION
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1
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1.1 Establishment
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1
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1.2 Purpose
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1
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ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
2.1 Definitions
2.2 Gender
and Number
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1
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5
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ARTICLE III
PLAN ADMINISTRATION
3.1 General
3.2 Delegation
by Committee
3.3 Contractual
Limitations
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5
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ARTICLE IV
STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
4.1 Number
of Shares
4.2 Other
Shares of Stock
4.3 Adjustments
for Stock Split, Stock Dividend, Etc
4.4 Other
Distributions and Changes in the Stock
4.5 General
Adjustment Rules
4.6 Determination
by the Committee, Etc.
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6
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ARTICLE V
CHANGE IN CONTROL
5.1 Change
in Control Provisions Applicable at the Discretion of the
Committee
5.2 Additional
Provisions Related to Options.
5.3 Company
Actions
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7
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ARTICLE VI
PARTICIPATION
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ARTICLE VII
OPTIONS
7.1 Grant
of Options
7.2 Stock
Option Agreements
7.3 Restrictions
on Incentive Options
7.4 Transferability
7.5 Stockholder
Privileges
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10
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ARTICLE VIII
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
8.1 Grant
of Restricted Stock Awards
8.2 Restrictions
8.3 Privileges
of a Stockholder, Transferability
8.4 Enforcement
of Restrictions
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13
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ARTICLE IX
OTHER GRANTS
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14
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ARTICLE X
RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS
10.1 Employment
or Service
10.2 Nontransferability
of Awards
10.3 No
Plan Funding
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ARTICLE XI
GENERAL RESTRICTIONS
11.1 Investment
Representations
11.2 Compliance
with Securities Laws
11.3 Changes
in Accounting or Tax Rules
11.4 Stockholder
Agreements
11.5 Lock-Up
Period
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ARTICLE XII
PLAN AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION
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16
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ARTICLE XIII
WITHHOLDING
13.1 Withholding
Requirement
13.2 Withholding
With Stock
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17
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ARTICLE XIV
REQUIREMENTS OF LAW
14.1 Requirements
of Law
14.2 Federal
Securities Law Requirements
14.3 Section
409A
14.4 Participant’s
Representations
14.5 Governing
Law
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17
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ARTICLE XV
DURATION OF THE PLAN
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18
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ARTICLE XVI
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PLAN
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18
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ii
GOLDEN EAGLE INTERNATIONAL,
INC.
REVISED 2009 EQUITY INCENTIVE
PLAN
ARTICLE I
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Establishment
Golden Eagle International,
Inc., a Colorado corporation (the “ Company
”), adopts this Revised 2009 Equity Incentive
Plan (the “ Revised Plan ” or
“ Plan ”), effective as of the Effective Date
(as defined in Article II below). The Revised Plan is
established for selected employees, consultants and advisors and
non-employee directors of the Company and its Affiliates (as
defined in Article II below). The Plan permits the grant
of incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, non-qualified
stock options, restricted stock awards, and other stock grants to
selected employees, consultants and advisors and non-employee
directors of the Company and its Affiliates.
1.2
Purpose
The purpose of the Plan
is to provide financial incentives for selected employees,
consultants and advisors, and non-employee directors of the Company
and its Affiliates, thereby promoting the long-term growth and
financial success of the Company by (a) attracting and retaining
the most qualified officers, directors, key employees, and other
persons, (b) strengthening the capability of the Company and its
Affiliates to develop, maintain and direct a competent management
team, (c) providing an effective means for selected employees,
consultants and advisors and non-employee directors to acquire and
maintain a direct proprietary interest in the operations and future
success of the Company, (d) motivating employees to achieve
long-range performance goals and objectives, and (e) providing
incentive compensation opportunities competitive with those of
other organizations.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
2.1
Definitions The following terms shall have the
meanings set forth below:
(a)
“Affiliate” means, with respect to the
Company, (i) any Subsidiary of the Company, and (ii) any other
corporation or entity that is affiliated with the Company through
stock ownership or otherwise and is designated as an
“Affiliate” by the Board, provided, however, that for
purposes of Incentive Options granted pursuant to the Plan, an
“Affiliate” means any parent or subsidiary of the
Company as defined in Section 424 of the Code.
(b)
“Award” means an Option, a
Restricted Stock Award, grants of Stock pursuant to Article IX or
other issuances of Stock hereunder.
(c) “Award
Agreement” means an Option Agreement, Restricted
Stock Agreement or a written agreement evidencing any other Award
under this Plan.
(d)
“Board” means the Board of
Directors of the Company.
(e)
“Change in Control” means any of the
following:
1
(i) Merger;
Reorganization . Any consolidation or merger of the
Company with or into any other corporation or other entity or
person, or any other corporate reorganization, in which the
stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such
consolidation, merger or reorganization, own less than 50% of the
voting power of the surviving or successor entity immediately after
such consolidation, merger or reorganization, or any transaction or
series of related transactions to which the Company is a party in
which in excess of 50% of the Company’ voting power is
transferred, excluding (A) any consolidation or merger effected
exclusively to change the domicile of the Company, (B) any
transaction or series of transactions principally for bona fide
equity financing purposes in which cash is received by the Company
or any successor or indebtedness of the Company is cancelled or
converted or a combination thereof or (C) any transaction or series
of transactions for the purpose of creating a holding company that
will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons
who held the Company’s securities immediately before such
transaction or series of transactions; or
(ii) Other
Transactions . A sale, lease or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
(f)
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as it may be amended from time to time.
(g)
“Committee” means the Board, or if so
delegated by the Board, a committee consisting of not less than two
members of the Board who are empowered hereunder to take actions in
the administration of the Plan. If applicable, the Committee shall
be so constituted at all times as to permit the Plan to comply with
Rule 16b-3 or any successor rule promulgated under the
Exchange Act. Except as provided in Section 3.2,
the Committee shall select Participants from Eligible Employees,
Eligible Consultants and Eligible Non-Employee Directors of the
Company and its Affiliates and shall determine the Awards to be
made pursuant to the Plan and the terms and conditions
thereof.
(h)
“Company” has the meaning given to that
term in Section 1.1 hereof.
(i)
“Disabled” or
“Disability” means total and permanent
disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the
Code.
(j) Domestic
Relations Order means any judgment, decree, or order
(including approval of a property settlement agreement) that is
made pursuant to a state domestic relations law and that relates to
the provision of child support, alimony payments, or marital
property rights to a spouse, former spouse, child, or other
dependent of a Participant.
(k)
“Effective Date” means the original
effective date of the Revised Plan, October 7, 2009.
(l)
“Eligible Consultants” means those
consultants and advisors to the Company or an Affiliate who are
determined, by the Committee, to be individuals (i) whose services
are important to the Company or an Affiliate and who are eligible
to receive Awards, other than Incentive Options, under the Plan,
and (ii) who meet the conditions for eligibility under such other
exemptions from registration under the Securities Act as may be
applicable.
(m)
“Eligible Employees” means those
employees (including, without limitation, officers and directors
who are also employees) of the Company or any Affiliate, upon whose
judgment, initiative and efforts the Company is, or will become,
largely dependent for the successful conduct of its
business. For purposes of the Plan, an employee is any
individual who provides services to the Company or any Affiliate as
a common law employee and whose remuneration is subject to the
withholding of federal income tax pursuant to Section 3401 of
the Code. The term “Eligible Employee” shall
not include any individual (A) who provides services to the
Company or an Affiliate under an agreement, contract, or any other
arrangement pursuant to which the individual is initially
classified as an independent contractor or (B) whose
remuneration for services has not been treated initially as subject
to the withholding of federal income tax pursuant to
Section 3401 of the Code even if the individual is
subsequently reclassified as a common law employee as a result of a
final decree of a court of competent jurisdiction or the settlement
of an administrative or judicial proceeding. Leased
employees may, in the discretion of the Committee, be treated as
employees under this Plan.
2
(n)
“Eligible Non-Employee Director” means
any person serving on the Board who is not an employee of the
Company or any Affiliate.
(o)
“Exchange Act” means the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to
time.
(p) “Fair
Market Value” means, as of a given date, (i) the
closing price of a Share on the principal stock exchange on which
the Stock is then trading, if any (or as reported on any composite
index that includes such principal exchange) on such date, or if
Shares were not traded on such date, then on the next preceding
date on which a trade occurred; or (ii) if the Stock is not
traded on an exchange but is quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or a
successor quotation system, the mean between the closing
representative bid and asked prices for the Stock on such date as
reported by the OTC Bulletin Board or such successor quotation
system; or (iii) if the Stock is not publicly traded on an
exchange and not quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or a successor
quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be
determined by the Committee acting in good faith.
(q)
“Forfeiture Restrictions” has the meaning
given to that term in Section 8.2 hereof.
(r)
“Incentive Option” means an Option
designated as such and granted in accordance with Section 422
of the Code.
(s)
“Misconduct” means, unless explicitly
provided for otherwise in an Award Agreement, any of the following:
(i) violation of any material term of any written employment
agreement entered into between the Company (or any of its
Affiliates) and the Option Holder; (ii) any grossly negligent,
fraudulent, criminal, malicious or willful act or failure to act on
the part of Option Holder, or any other conduct on Option Holder's
part intended to or likely to injure the business or reputation of
the Company or any of its Affiliates, but shall not include the
death or Disability of Option Holder or any absence due to his or
her illness, incapacity or injury as specifically permitted by any
written employment agreement between the Company (or any of its
Affiliates) and Option Holder; (iii) failure to meet the job
performance expectations of the Company or any of its Affiliates
after having received written or verbal notice of the expectations
and giving Option Holder a reasonable period of time to meet
expectations; (iv) theft, misuse or misappropriation of
property, money or time of the Company or any of its Affiliates;
(v) being intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or
drugs (not prescribed by a physician) while at work or performing
work-related activities; (vii) disloyalty or breach of Option
Holder's fiduciary duty(ies); (viii) any material unauthorized
use or disclosure by such person of confidential information or
trade secrets of the Company or any of its Affiliates; or
(ix) any other reason in the policies of the Company or any of
its Affiliates that would be grounds for discharge of employees of
the Company or such Affiliate. For purposes of this
definition, the terms “Company” and
“Affiliate” shall include any Successor of the Company
and/or such Affiliate. The foregoing definition shall
not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Company or any
Affiliate (or its respective Successor) to discharge or dismiss the
Option Holder from the Service of the Company or any Affiliate (or
its respective Successor) for any other acts or omissions, but such
other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of the
Plan, to constitute grounds for termination for
Misconduct.
3
(t)
“Non-Qualified Option” means any Option
other than an Incentive Option.
(u)
“Option” means a right to purchase Stock
at a stated or formula price for a specified period of
time. Options granted under the Plan shall be either
Incentive Options or Non-Qualified Options.
(v)
“Option Agreement” has the meaning given
to that term in Section 7.2 hereof.
(w)
“Option Holder” means a Participant who
has been granted one or more Options under the Plan.
(x)
“Option Period” means the period of time,
determined by the Committee, during which an Option may be
exercised by the Option Holder.
(y)
“Option Price” has the meaning given to
that term in Subsection 7.2(b) hereof.
(z)
“Participant” means an Eligible Employee,
Eligible Consultant, or Eligible Non-Employee Director designated
by the Committee from time to time during the term of the Plan to
receive one or more Awards available under the Plan.
(aa)
“Plan” has the meaning given to that term
in Section 1.1 hereof.
(bb)
“Repurchase Rights” has the meaning given
to that term in Subsection 7.2(d) hereof.
(cc)
“Restricted Stock Agreement” has the
meaning given to that term in Section 8.1 hereof.
(dd)
“Restricted Stock Award” means an award
of Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to ARTICLE VIII that is
subject to certain restrictions imposed in accordance with the
provisions of such Section.
(ee)
“Section 16” has the meaning given to
that term in Subsection 13.2(c) hereof.
(ff)
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act
of 1933, as it may be amended from time to time.
(gg)
“Service ” means
service to the Company or an Affiliate as an
employee, a non-employee director or a consultant or advisor,
except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in an Award
Agreement. The Committee determines which leaves of
absence count toward Service, and when Service terminates for all
purposes under the Plan. Further, unless otherwise
determined by the Committee, a Participant’s Service shall
not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in
capacity in which the Participant provides Service to the Company
or an Affiliate or a transfer between the Company and its
Affiliates; provided there is no interruption or other termination
of Service.
(hh)
“Share” means one whole share of
Stock.
(ii)
“Stock” means the $0.0001 par value
common stock of the Company.
(jj) “
Subsidiary ” means any corporation more than
50% of the outstanding voting securities of which are owned by the
Company or any other Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, or a
partnership or limited liability company in which the Company or
any Subsidiary is a general partner or manager or holds interests
entitling it to receive more than 50% of the profits or losses of
the partnership or limited liability company.
4
(kk) “
Successor ” has the meaning given to that term in
Subsection 5.2(a) hereof.
(ll) “Tax
Date” has the meaning given to that term in Section
13.2 hereof.
. Except when otherwise indicated by
the context, the masculine gender shall also include the feminine
gender, and the definition of any term herein in the singular shall
also include the plural.
ARTICLE
III
PLAN
ADMINISTRATION
3.1
General . The Plan shall be administered by
the Committee. In accordance with the provisions of the
Plan, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, select the
Participants from among the Eligible Employees, Eligible
Consultants and Eligible Non-Employee Directors, determine the
Awards to be made pursuant to the Plan, or shares of Stock to be
issued thereunder and the time at which such Awards are to be made,
fix the Option Price, period and manner in which an Option becomes
exercisable, establish the duration and nature of Restricted Stock
Award restrictions, establish the terms and conditions applicable
to, and establish such other terms and requirements of the various
compensation incentives under the Plan as the Committee may deem
necessary or desirable, and consistent with the terms of the
Plan. The Committee shall determine the form or forms of
the agreements with Participants that shall evidence the particular
provisions, terms, conditions, rights and duties of the Company and
the Participants with respect to Awards granted pursuant to the
Plan, which provisions need not be identical except as may be
provided herein; provided, however, that Eligible Consultants and
Eligible Non-Employee Directors shall not be eligible to receive
Incentive Options. The Committee may from time to time
adopt such rules and regulations for carrying out the purposes of
the Plan as it may deem proper and in the best interests of the
Company. The Committee may correct any defect, supply
any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any
agreement entered into hereunder in the manner and to the extent it
shall deem expedient and it shall be the sole and final judge of
such expediency. The Committee and each member thereof,
and any person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the
Committee, shall be entitled, in good faith, to rely or act upon
any report or other information furnished by any executive officer,
other officer or employee of the Company or its Affiliates or the
Company’s auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting
in the administration of the Plan. Members of the
Committee, any person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the
Committee, and any officer or employee of the Company or its
Affiliates 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 extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by
the Company with respect to any such action or
determination. The determinations, interpretations and
other actions of the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the
Plan shall be binding and conclusive for all purposes and on all
persons.
3.2
Delegation by
Committee . The Committee may, from time to
time, delegate, to specified officers of the Company, the power and
authority to grant Awards under the Plan to specified groups of
Eligible Employees, Eligible Consultants and Eligible Non-Employee
Directors, subject to such restrictions and conditions as the
Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose. The
delegation shall be as broad or as narrow as the Committee shall
determine. To the extent that the Committee has
delegated the authority to determine certain terms and conditions
of an Award, all references in the Plan to the Committee’s
exercise of authority in determining such terms and conditions
shall be construed to include the officer or officers to whom the
Committee has delegated the power and authority to make such
determination. At any time that the Company is subject
to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act or has a class of
securities registered under the Exchange Act, the power and
authority to grant Awards to any Eligible Employee, Eligible
Consultant or Eligible Non-Employee Director who is covered by
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act shall not be delegated by
the Committee.
5
3.3
Contractual
Limitations . The Committee shall in exercising
its discretion under the Plan comply with all contractual
obligations of the Company in effect from time to time, whether
contained in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation,
By-laws or other binding contract.
ARTICLE IV
STOCK SUBJECT TO THE
PLAN
4.1
Number of Shares
. (a) The
maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the
Plan pursuant to Awards is 750,000,000 Shares. Upon
exercise of an option (whether granted under this Plan or
otherwise), the Shares issued upon exercise of such option shall no
longer be considered to be subject to an outstanding Award or
option for purposes of the immediately preceding
sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, no Award granted hereunder shall become void or
otherwise be adversely affected solely because of a change in the
number of Shares of the Company that are issued and outstanding
from time to time, provided that changes to the issued and
outstanding Shares may result in adjustments to outstanding Awards
in accordance with the provisions of this ARTICLE IV. The maximum
number of Shares that may be issued under Incentive Options is
750,000,000 Shares.
(b) The
Shares may be either authorized and unissued Shares or previously
issued Shares acquired by the Company. The maximum
numbers may be increased from time to time by approval of the Board
and by the stockholders of the Company if, in the opinion of
counsel for the Company, stockholder approval is
required. Stockholder approval shall not be required for
increases solely pursuant to Section 4.3 below. The
Company shall at all times during the term of the Plan and while
any Options are outstanding retain as authorized and unissued Stock
at least the number of Shares from time to time required under the
provisions of the Plan, or otherwise assure itself of its ability
to perform its obligations hereunder.
4.2
Other Shares of Stock
. Any Shares that are
subject to an Option that expires or for any reason is terminated
unexercised, any Shares that are subject to an Award (other than an
Option) and that are forfeited, and any Shares withheld for the
payment of taxes or received by the Company as payment of the
exercise price of an Option shall automatically become available
for use under the Plan.
4.3
Adjustments for Stock Split,
Stock Dividend, Etc. If the Company shall at any time
increase or decrease the number of its authorized or outstanding
Shares (or both its authorized and outstanding shares) or change in
any way the rights and privileges of such Shares by means of the
payment of a stock dividend or any other distribution upon such
Shares payable in Stock, or through a stock split, subdivision,
consolidation, combination, reclassification or recapitalization
involving the Stock, then in relation to the Stock that is affected
by one or more of the above events, the numbers, exercise price,
rights and privileges of the following shall be increased,
decreased or changed in like manner as if they had been issued and
outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable at the time of such
occurrence: (i) the Shares as to which Awards may
be granted under the Plan, (ii) the Shares then included in
each outstanding Award granted hereunder, (iii) the maximum
number of Shares available for grant pursuant to Incentive Options,
and (iv) the number of Shares subject to a delegation of
authority under Section 3.2 of this Plan.
6
4.4
Other Distributions and Changes
in the Stock If
(a) The Company shall
at any time distribute with respect to the Stock assets or
securities of persons other than the Company (excluding (i) cash or
(ii) distributions referred to in Section 4.3), or
(b) The Company shall
at any time grant to the holders of its Stock rights to subscribe
pro rata for additional shares thereof or for any other securities
of the Company, or
(c) There shall be any
other change (except as described in Section 4.3) in the
number or kind of outstanding Shares or of any stock or other
securities into which the Stock shall be changed or for which it
shall have been exchanged,
then the
Committee shall make an equitable adjustment, in such manner as the
Committee deems appropriate, to the number, class and kind of
Shares subject to outstanding Awards and, if applicable, the Option
Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 4.4, pursuant to Section 8.3 below, a Participant
holding Stock received as a Restricted Stock Award shall have the
right to receive all amounts, including cash and property of any
kind, distributed with respect to the Stock after such Restricted
Stock Award was granted upon the Participant’s becoming a
holder of record of the Stock.
4.5
General Adjustment
Rules . No
adjustment or substitution provided for in this ARTICLE IV shall
require the Company to sell a fractional Share under any Option, or
otherwise issue a fractional Share, and the total substitution or
adjustment with respect to each Option and other Award shall be
limited by deleting any fractional Share. In the case of
any such substitution or adjustment, the aggregate Option Price for
the total number of Shares then subject to an Option shall remain
unchanged but the Option Price per Share under each such Option
shall be equitably adjusted by the Committee to reflect the greater
or lesser number of Shares or other securities into which the Stock
subject to the Option may have been changed, and appropriate
adjustments shall be made to other Awards to reflect any such
substitution or adjustment.
7
4.6
Determination by the Committee,
Etc. Adjustments under this ARTICLE IV
shall be made by the Committee, whose determinations with regard
thereto shall be final and binding upon all parties
thereto.
ARTICLE V
CHANGE IN CONTROL
5.1
Change in Control Provisions
Applicable at the Discretion of the Committee
(a) Unless the Option
Agreement provides to the contrary pursuant to Section 7.2(d), the
Award shall automatically accelerate and vest in full or in part
upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (and any Forfeiture
Restrictions or Repurchase Rights of the Company with respect to
unvested Shares received pursuant to the Award shall immediately
terminate), whether or not the Award is to be assumed in the Change
in Control or the Forfeiture Restrictions or Repurchase Rights of
the Company would otherwise continue in effect pursuant to the
Change in Control.
(b) Unless the Option
Agreement provides to the contrary pursuant to Section 7.2(d), all
of the Shares subject to each Option will automatically vest on an
accelerated basis should the Option Holder’s Service
terminate by reason of an involuntary termination within a
designated period (12 months, unless otherwise set forth by the
Committee but not to exceed 18 months