COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS ASSURANCE AGREEMENT

Section 1. Term of Agreement

Section 2. Severance Benefits

2.1. Right to Severance Benefits.  The Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company Severance Benefits as described in Paragraph 2.3 and Section 3 herein, if during the term of this Agreement there has been a Change in Control of the Company and if, within the Extended Period, the Executive’s employment shall end as a result of a Qualifying Termination (as defined in Paragraph 2.2 below).  The Severance Benefits described in Paragraphs 2.3(a) and 2.3(b) herein shall be paid in cash to the Executive in a single lump sum as soon as practicable following the Qualifying Termination, but in no event later than thirty (30) calendar days from such date.  Notwithstanding the

foregoing, Severance Benefits which become due pursuant to the circumstances described in Paragraph 4.1 shall be paid immediately.

2.2. Qualifying Termination.  The occurrence of any one or more of the following events (each, a “Qualifying Termination”) shall trigger the payment of Severance Benefits to the Executive:

(a) The involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment without Cause (as defined in Paragraph 2.6 below) either within the six (6) month period preceding a Change in Control or within the Extended Period; and

(b) The Executive’s voluntary termination of employment for Good Reason (as defined in Paragraph 2.5 below) within the Extended Period.

2.3. Description of Severance Benefits.  In the event that the Executive becomes entitled to receive Severance Benefits, as provided in Paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2 above, the Company shall, within the time limits stated in Paragraph 2.1, pay, or cause to be paid, to the Executive and provide, or cause to be provided, the Executive with the following:

(a) A lump-sum cash amount equal to the Executive’s unpaid Base Salary, accrued vacation pay, unreimbursed business expenses, and all other items earned by and owed to the Executive through and including the date of the Qualifying Termination.  Such payment shall constitute full satisfaction for these amounts owed to the Executive.

(b) A lump-sum cash amount equal to two (2) multiplied by the sum of (i) the greater of the Executive’s annual rate of Base Salary in effect upon the date of the Qualifying Termination, or the Executive’s annual rate of Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control; and (ii) Executive’s Bonus Amount.

(c) Immediate 100% vesting of all stock options, and any other awards which had been provided to the Executive by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any incentive compensation plan.

(d) At the exact same cost to the Executive, and at the same coverage level as in effect as of the Executive’s date of Qualifying Termination (subject to changes in coverage levels applicable to all employees generally), a continuation of the Executive’s (and the Executive’s eligible dependents’) health insurance coverage for a period of time following the Qualifying Termination equal to the shorter of (i) twenty-four (24) months or (ii) the maximum period allowed pursuant to any one or more of the provisions of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) which would be exempt from the definition of “deferred compensation” thereunder (the “benefit continuation period”);  provided, however, that such continuation of health insurance coverage shall be provided only to the extent that it does not result in any additional tax or other penalty being imposed on the Company by reason of the provision of such continuation coverage causing a violation of Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act during a period of time Section 2716 is enforced by the Internal Revenue Service through Code Section 4980D.  The applicable COBRA health insurance benefit continuation period shall begin at the end of this benefit continuation period.  The providing of health insurance benefits by the Company shall be discontinued prior to the end of the benefit continuation period in the event that the Executive subsequently becomes covered under the health insurance coverage of a subsequent employer which does not contain any

exclusion or limitation with respect to any preexisting condition of the Executive or the Executive’s eligible dependents.  For purposes of enforcing this offset provision, the Executive shall have the duty to inform the Company as to the terms and conditions of any subsequent employment and the corresponding benefits earned from such employment.  The Executive shall provide, or cause to provide, to the Company in writing correct, complete, and timely information concerning the same.

(e) The Executive shall be entitled to receive standard outplacement services from a nationally recognized outplacement firm of the Executive’s selection, for a period of up to one (1) year from the Executive’s date of Qualifying Termination.  However, such service shall be at the Company’s expense to a maximum amount not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).

2.4. Definition of “Change in Control.”   “Change in Control” of the Company means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon, the first to occur of any of the following events:

(a) Any Person other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing thirty‑three percent (33%) or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or

(b) During any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company and any new Director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

(c) Consummation of:  (i) a merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party if the stockholders before such merger or consolidation do not, as a result of such merger or consolidation, own, directly or indirectly, more than sixty‑seven percent (67%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the entity resulting from such merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the combined voting power of the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before such merger or consolidation; or (ii) a complete liquidation or dissolution or an agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

2.5. Definition of “Good Reason.”  “Good Reason” shall mean, without the Executive’s express written consent, the occurrence of any one or more of the following within the Extended Period:

(a) A material reduction or alteration in the nature or status of the Executive’s authorities, duties or responsibilities from those in effect as of ninety (90) calendar days prior to the Change in Control.

(b) The requirement that the Executive be based at a location in excess of twenty-five (25) miles from the location of the Executive’s principal job location or office immediately prior to the Change in Control; except for required travel for business to an extent consistent with the Executive’s then present business travel obligations.

(c) A  material reduction of the Executive’s Base Salary and/or other benefits or perquisites in effect on the Effective Date, or as the same shall be increased from time to time; provided, however, that a change to, or replacement of, an existing benefit or perquisite will not give rise to a “Good Reason” if such change or replacement is implemented with respect to all employees generally.

(d) The Company, or any successor company, commits a material breach of any provision of this Agreement including, but not limited to the Company failing to obtain the assumption of, or the successor company refusing to assume the obligations of this Agreement pursuant to Paragraph 4.1 herein within the Extended Period.

2.6. Definition of “Cause.”  “Cause” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following:

(a) A demonstrably willful and deliberate act or failure to act by the Executive (other than as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which is committed in bad faith, without reasonable belief that such action or inaction is in the best interests of the Company, which causes actual material financial injury to the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, and which act or inaction is not remedied within fifteen (15) business days of written notice from the Company or the subsidiary for which the Executive works; or

(b) The Executive’s conviction for committing an act of fraud, embezzlement, theft, or any other act constituting a felony involving moral turpitude which causes material harm, financial or otherwise, to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

2.7. Other Defined Terms.  The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(a) “Base Salary” means, at any time, the then-regular annual rate of pay which the Executive is receiving as salary, excluding amounts: (i) designated by the Company as payment toward reimbursement of expenses; of (ii) received under incentive or other bonus plans, regardless of whether or not the amounts are deferred.

(b) “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

(c) “Bonus Amount” means the average of the annual cash bonuses paid to the Executive for the three (3) calendar years immediately preceding the year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs, including cash bonuses that are deferred pursuant to any deferral election by Executive under a tax-qualified or non-qualified retirement or deferral plan maintained by the Company, or any of its subsidiaries.

(d) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(e) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto.

(f) “Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

Section 3. Excise Tax

3.1. Excise Tax Payment.  If any portion of the Severance Benefits or any other payment under this Agreement, or under any other agreement with, or plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including but not limited to stock options and other long-term incentives (in the aggregate “Total Payments”) would constitute an “excess parachute payment,” such that a golden parachute excise tax is due, the Company shall provide, or cause to be provided, to the Executive, in cash, an additional payment in an amount to cover the full cost of any excise tax and the Executive’s state and federal income and employment taxes on this additional payment (cumulatively, the “Gross-Up Payment”).  This Gross-Up Payment shall be made as soon as possible following the date of the Executive’s Qualifying Termination, but in no event later than thirty (30) calendar days after such date.

3.2. Subsequent Recalculation.  In the event the Internal Revenue Service subsequently adjusts the excise tax computation herein described, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for the full amount necessary to make the Executive whole on an after-tax basis (less any amounts received by the Executive that the Executive would not have received had the computations initially been computed as subsequently adjusted), including the value of any underpaid excise tax, and any related interest and/or penalties due to the Internal Revenue Service, provided that any reimbursements under this Paragraph 3.2 must be paid to the Executive by the end of the Executive’s taxable year following the tax year in which the Executive remits the related taxes.

Section 4. Successors and Assignments

4.1. Successors.  The Company will require any successor (whether via a Change in Control, direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.

4.2. Assignment by Executive.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees.  If an Executive should die while any amount is still payable to the Executive hereunder, had the Executive continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive’s devisee, legatee, or other designee, or if there is no such designee, to the Executive’s estate.

Section 5. Restrictive Covenants

5.1. Confidentiality.  The Executive acknowledges that the nature of the Executive’s employment shall require that the Company produce and allow the Executive access to records, data, trade secrets and information that are not available to the public regarding the Company and its subsidiaries (“Confidential Information”).  The Executive shall hold in confidence and not directly or indirectly disclose any Confidential Information to third parties unless: (i) disclosure becomes reasonably necessary in connection with the Executive’s performance of the Executive’s duties of employment with the Company or its subsidiaries; (ii) the Confidential Information lawfully becomes available to the public from other sources; (iii) the Executive is authorized in writing by the Company to disclose the Confidential Information; or (iv) the Executive is required to make disclosure of the Confidential Information by law or pursuant to the authority of any administrative agency or judicial body.

5.2. Non-Solicitation.  As an essential ingredient and in consideration of the Executive’s employment by the Company and the Executive’s opportunity to participate in the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan or another equity incentive plan maintained by the Company, the Executive shall not, during the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and for a period of one (1) year after termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company (and its subsidiaries) for any reason (the “Restrictive Period”) and regardless of when such termination of employment occurs, do any of the following (the “Restrictive Covenant”): directly or indirectly, for the Executive or any bank, savings and loan association, credit union or similar financial institution (a “Financial Institution”): (i) induce or attempt to induce any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee who previously reported to the Executive, to leave the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (ii) in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any such officer or employee; (iii) employ, or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, any such officer or employee; or (iv) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any of their respective customers, suppliers, licensees or business relations where the Executive had personal contact with, or has accessed Confidential Information in the preceding twelve (12) months with respect to, such customers, suppliers, licensees or business relations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any party identified on Schedule A hereto shall be excluded from the scope of the Restrictive Covenant.

5.3. Acknowledgment of Covenants.  The parties hereto acknowledge that the Executive’s services are of a special, extraordinary, and intellectual character which gives him unique value, and that the business of the Company and its subsidiaries is highly competitive, and that violation of any of the covenants provided in this Section 5 would cause immediate, immeasurable, and irreparable harm, loss

and damage to the Company not adequately compensable by a monetary award.  The Executive acknowledges that the time and scope of activity restrained by the provisions of this Section 5 are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint than is necessary to protect the goodwill of the Company’s business.  The Executive further acknowledges that he and the Company have negotiated and bargained for the terms of this Agreement and that the Executive has received adequate consideration for entering into the Agreement, including without limitation, the Executive’s employment by the Company and the Executive’s opportunity to participate in 2014 Equity Incentive Plan and any other equity incentive plan or other similar plan maintained by the Company.  In the event of any such breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any one or more of such covenants, the Company shall be entitled to such equitable and injunctive relief as may be available to restrain the Executive from violating the provisions hereof.  Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies available at law or in equity for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages and the immediate termination of the employment of the Executive hereunder.

Section 6. Miscellaneous

6.1. Administration.

(a) Administration.  This Agreement shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company, or by a Committee of the Board consisting of Board members designated by the Board (the “Compensation Committee”).  The Compensation Committee (with the approval of the Board, if the Board is not the Compensation Committee) is authorized to interpret this Agreement, to prescribe and rescind rules and regulations, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement.  In fulfilling its administrative duties hereunder, the Compensation Committee may rely on outside counsel, independent accountants, or other consultants to render advice or assistance.

(b) Claims Procedure.  If the Executive believes that he is being denied a benefit to which he is entitled under the Agreement, he may file a written request for such benefit with the Company, setting forth his claim.  Upon receipt of the claim, the Company shall advise the Executive that a reply will be forthcoming within 15 days and shall, in fact, deliver such reply with such period.  The Company may, however, extend the reply period for an additional fifteen (15) days for reasonable cause.  If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Company shall adopt a written opinion, using language calculated to be understood by the Executive, setting forth:

(i)

The specific reason or reasons for such denied;

(ii)

The specific reference to pertinent provisions of this Agreement on which such denial is based;

(iii)

A description of any additional material or information necessary for the Executive to perfect his claim and an explanation why such material or such information is necessary;

(iv)

Appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Executive wishes to submit the claim for review; and

(v)

The time limits for requesting the review under (c) below.

(c) Request for Claim Decision Review.  Within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Executive of the written opinion described above, the Executive may request in writing that the President of the Company review the description of the Company.  Such request must be addressed to the President of the Company, at its then principal place of business.  The Executive of his duly authorized

representative may, but need not, review the pertinent documents and submit issues and comments in writing for consideration by the Company.  If the Executive does not request a review of the Company’s determination by the President of the Company within such 30-day period, he shall be barred and estopped from challenging the Company’s determination.  Within thirty (30) days after the President’s receipt of a request for review, he will review the Company’s determination.  After considering all materials presented by the Executive, the President will render a written opinion, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Executive, setting forth specific reasons for the decision and containing specific references to the pertinent provisions of this Agreement on which the decision is based.

6.2. Notices.  Any notice required to be delivered to the Company, the Compensation Committee or the President of the Company by the Executive hereunder shall be properly delivered to the Company when personally delivered to (including by a reputable overnight courier), or actually received through the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, by:

Section 7. Contractual Rights and Legal Remedies

7.1. Contractual Rights to Benefits.   This Agreement establishes in the Executive a right to the benefits to which the Executive is entitled hereunder.  However, except as expressly stated herein, nothing herein contained shall require or be deemed to require, or prohibit or be deemed to prohibit, the Company to segregate, earmark, or otherwise set aside any funds or other assets, in trust or otherwise, to provide for any payments to be made or required hereunder.

7.2. Legal Fees and Expenses.  The Company shall pay all legal fees, costs of litigation, prejudgment interest, and other expenses which are incurred in good faith by the Executive as a result of the Company’s refusal to provide the Severance Benefits to which the Executive becomes entitled under this Agreement; provided that any such reimbursement to Executive must be made in compliance with any applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code and Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv).

7.3. Arbitration.  The Executive shall have the right and option to elect (in lieu of litigation) to have any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement settled by arbitration, conducted before a panel of three (3) arbitrators sitting in a location selected by the Executive within fifty (50) miles from the location of his or her job with the Company, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect.  The Executive’s election to arbitrate, as herein provided, and the decision of the arbitrators in that proceeding, shall be binding on the Company and Executive.

7.4. Unfunded Agreement.  This Agreement is intended to be an unfunded general asset promise for a select, highly compensated member of the Company’s management and, therefore, is

intended to be exempt from the substantive provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 as amended.

7.5. Exclusivity of Benefits.  Unless specifically provided herein, neither the provisions of this Agreement nor the benefits provided hereunder shall reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way diminish the Executive’s rights as an employee of the Company, whether existing now or hereafter, under any compensation and/or benefit plans (qualified or nonqualified), programs, policies, or practices provided by the Company, for which the Executive may qualify.

7.6. Includable Compensation.  Severance Benefits provided hereunder shall not be considered “includable compensation” for purposes of determining the Executive’s benefits under any other plan or program of the Company.

7.7. Deferred Compensation.  If any amount or benefit provided hereunder would be considered “deferred compensation” as defined under Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance issued thereunder (“Deferred Compensation”), the Company reserves the absolute right (including the right to delegate such right) to unilaterally amend this Agreement, without the consent of the Executive, to avoid the application of, or to maintain compliance with, Code Section 409A.  Any amendment by the Company to this Agreement pursuant to this Paragraph 7.7 shall maintain, to the extent practicable, the original intent of the applicable provision without violating Code Section 409A.  Any discretionary authority retained by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall not be applicable to any amount or benefit which is determined to constitute Deferred Compensation, if such discretionary authority would contravene Code Section 409A.  In addition, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if at the time of a termination of employment Executive is a “specified employee” as defined in Code Section 409A, and the regulations and guidance thereunder in effect at the time of such termination, and then only as and to the extent required by such provisions, the date of payment of any payments otherwise provided hereunder shall be delayed for a period of up to six (6) months following the date of termination.

7.8. Employment Status.  Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to create an employment agreement between the Company and the Executive providing for the employment of the Executive by either the Company or any of its subsidiaries for any fixed period of time.  The Executive’s employment is terminable at will by the Company, or one of its subsidiaries, or the Executive and each shall have the right to terminate the Executive’s employment at any time, with or without Cause, subject to the Company’s obligation to provide Severance Benefits as required hereunder.

7.9. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior discussion, negotiations, and agreements concerning the subject matter hereof, including, but not limited to, any prior severance agreement made between the Executive and the Company. 

7.10. Tax Withholding.  The Company shall withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city, or other taxes as legally required to be withheld.

7.11. Waiver of Rights.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the Executive’s acceptance of Severance Benefits, the Gross-Up Payment (if applicable), and any other payments required hereunder shall be deemed to be a waiver of all rights and claims of the Executive against the company pertaining to any matters arising under this Agreement.

7.12. Severability.  In the event any provision of the Agreement shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Agreement, and the Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

7.13. Applicable Law.  To the extent not preempted by the laws of the United States, the laws of the State of Illinois shall be the controlling law in all matters relating to the Agreement.