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A copy of our Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 20212022 accompanies this proxy statement. Such annual report is not part of the proxy solicitation materials.

Upon receipt of a written request, we will furnish to any shareholder without charge a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K (without exhibits) for fiscal 20212022 required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, upon written request, we will furnish copies of the exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for a fee that covers our reasonable expenses in furnishing such exhibits. Such written requests should be directed to Ted D. Bellard, Corporate Secretary, Catalyst Bancorp, 235 North Court Street, Opelousas, Louisiana 70570. The Form 10-K is not part of the proxy solicitation materials.

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Management is not aware of any business to come before the annual meeting other than the matters described above in this proxy statement. However, if any other matters should properly come before the meeting, it is intended that the proxies solicited hereby will be voted with respect to those other matters in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting the proxies.

The cost of the solicitation of proxies will be borne by Catalyst Bancorp. We will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending the proxy materials to the beneficial owners of our common stock. In addition to solicitations by mail, our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies personally or by telephone without additional compensation.

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Appendix A

CATALYST BANCORP, INC.

2022 STOCK OPTION PLAN

ARTICLE I

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN

Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (the “Corporation”) hereby establishes this 2022 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

The purpose of this Plan is to retain personnel of experience and ability in key positions by providing Employees and Non-Employee Directors with a proprietary interest in the Corporation and its Subsidiary Companies as compensation for their contributions to the Corporation and the Subsidiary Companies and as an incentive to make such contributions in the future and rewarding Employees and Non-Employee Directors for outstanding performance. All Incentive Stock Options issued under this Plan are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder, and all provisions hereunder shall be read, interpreted and applied with that purpose in mind. Each recipient of an Option hereunder is advised to consult with his or her personal tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences under federal, state, local and other tax laws of the receipt and/or exercise of an Option hereunder.

ARTICLE III

DEFINITIONS

The following words and phrases when used in this Plan with an initial capital letter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, shall have the meanings set forth below. Wherever appropriate, the masculine pronouns shall include the feminine pronouns and the singular shall include the plural.

3.01          “Advisory Director” means a person appointed to serve as an advisory or emeritus director by the Board of either the Corporation or the Bank or any successors thereto.

3.02          “Bank” means St. Landry Homestead Federal Savings Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation.

3.03          “Beneficiary” means the person or persons designated by an Optionee to receive any benefits payable under the Plan in the event of such Optionee’s death. Such person or persons shall be designated in writing on forms provided for this purpose by the Committee and may be changed from time to time by similar written notice to the Committee. In the absence of a written designation, the Beneficiary shall be the Optionee’s surviving spouse, if any, or if none, his or her estate.

3.04          “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

3.05         “Change in Control” shall mean a change in the ownership of the Corporation or the Bank, a change in the effective control of the Corporation or the Bank or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Corporation or the Bank, in each case as provided under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder. In no event, however, shall a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred as a result of any acquisition of securities or assets of the Corporation, the Bank or a subsidiary of either of them, by the Corporation, the Bank, any subsidiary of either of them, or by any employee benefit plan maintained by any of them. For purposes of this Section 3.05, the term “person” shall include the meaning assigned to it under Sections 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act.

3.06          “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

3.07          “Committee” means a committee of two or more directors appointed by the Board pursuant to Article IV hereof.

3.08          “Common Stock” means shares of the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Corporation.

3.09      “Director” means a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company or any successors thereto, including Non-Employee Directors as well as Officers and Employees serving as Directors.

3.10          “Disability” means in the case of any Optionee that the Optionee: (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Corporation or the Bank (or would have received such benefits for at least three months if he had been eligible to participate in such plan).

3.11          “Effective Date” means the date upon which the Corporation’s shareholders approve this Plan pursuant to Article XIV hereof.

3.12          “Employee” means any person who is employed by the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company, or is an Officer of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company, but not including directors who are not also Officers of or otherwise employed by the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company.

3.13          “Employer Group” means the Corporation and any Subsidiary Company which, with the consent of the Board, agrees to participate in the Plan.

3.14          “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

3.15          “Exercise Price” means the price at which a share of Common Stock may be purchased by an Optionee pursuant to an Option.

3.16         “Fair Market Value” shall be equal to the fair market value per share of the Corporation’s Common Stock on the date an Option is granted. For purposes hereof, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the closing sale price of a share of Common Stock on the date in question (or, if such day is not a trading day in the U.S. markets, on the nearest preceding trading day), as reported with respect to the principal market (or the composite of the markets, if more than one) or national quotation system in which such shares are then traded, or if no such closing prices are reported, the mean between the high bid and low asked prices that day on the principal market or national quotation system then in use, or if the Common Stock is not readily tradable on an established securities market, the Fair Market Value shall be based upon a reasonable valuation method that complies with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder.

3.17       “Incentive Stock Option” means any Option granted under this Plan which the Board intends (at the time it is granted) to be an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or any successor thereto.

3.18        “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board (including advisory boards, if any) of the Corporation or any Subsidiary Company or any successor thereto, including an Advisory Director of the Board of the Corporation and/or any Subsidiary Company, or a former Officer or Employee of the Corporation and/or any Subsidiary Company serving as a Director or Advisory Director, who is not an Officer or Employee of the Corporation or any Subsidiary Company.

3.19          “Non-Qualified Option” means any Option granted under this Plan which is not an Incentive Stock Option.

3.20          “Officer” means an Employee whose position in the Corporation or Subsidiary Company is that of a corporate officer, as determined by the Board.

3.21          “Option” means a right granted under this Plan to purchase Common Stock.

3.22          “Optionee” means an Employee or Non-Employee Director or former Employee or Non-Employee Director to whom an Option is granted under the Plan.

3.23          “OCC” means the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

3.24          “Retirement” means:

  (a)        A termination of employment which constitutes a “retirement” at the “normal retirement age” or later under the Corporation’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) or such other qualified pension benefit plan maintained by the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company as may be designated by the Board or the Committee, or, if no such plan is applicable, which would constitute “retirement” under the ESOP, if such individual were a participant in that plan, provided, however, that the provisions of this subsection (a) will not apply as long as an Optionee continues to serve as a Non-Employee Director, including service as an Advisory Director.

  (b)    With respect to Non-Employee Directors, retirement means retirement from service on the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company or any successors thereto (including retirement from service as an Advisory Director to the Corporation or any Subsidiary Company) after reaching normal retirement age as established by the Corporation.

3.25          “Stock Option Agreement” means the written agreement setting forth the number of shares subject to the Option, the exercise price thereof, designating the Option as an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Option and such other terms of the Option as the Committee shall deem appropriate.

3.26        “Subsidiary Company” means those subsidiaries of the Corporation, including the Bank, which meet the definition of “subsidiary corporations” set forth in Section 424(f) of the Code, at the time of granting of the Option in question.

ARTICLE IV

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

4.01Duties of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Committee, as appointed from time to time by the Board pursuant to Section 4.02. The Committee shall have the authority to adopt, amend and rescind such rules, regulations and procedures as, in its opinion, may be advisable in the administration of the Plan, including, without limitation, rules, regulations and procedures which (i) address matters regarding the satisfaction of an Optionee’s tax withholding obligation pursuant to Section 12.02 hereof, (ii) to the extent permissible by applicable law and regulation, include arrangements to facilitate the Optionee’s ability to borrow funds for payment of the exercise or purchase price of an Option, if applicable, from securities brokers and dealers, and (iii) subject to any legal or regulatory restrictions or limitations, include arrangements which provide for the payment of some or all of such exercise or purchase price by delivery of previously owned shares of Common Stock or other property and/or by withholding some of the shares of Common Stock which are being acquired. The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provisions of the Plan, any rule, regulation or procedure adopted by it pursuant thereto or of any Option shall be final and binding in the absence of action by the Board.

4.02Appointment and Operation of the Committee. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by, and will serve at the pleasure of, the Board. Unless and until changed by the Board, the Compensation Committee of the Board is designated as the Committee to administer and interpret the Plan. The Board from time to time may remove members from, or add members to, the Committee, provided the Committee shall continue to consist of two or more members of the Board, each of whom shall be a Non-Employee Director, as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i) of the Exchange Act or any successor thereto. In addition, each member of the Committee shall be an “independent director” as such term is defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Marketplace Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market or any successor thereto. The Committee shall act by vote or written consent of a majority of its members. Subject to the express provisions and limitations of the Plan, the Committee may adopt such rules, regulations and procedures as it deems appropriate for the conduct of its affairs. It may appoint one of its members to be chairman and any person, whether or not a member, to be its secretary or agent. The Committee shall report its actions and decisions to the Board at appropriate times but in no event less than one time per calendar year.

4.03Revocation for Misconduct; Forfeiture Events.

(a)         The Board or the Committee may by resolution immediately revoke, rescind and terminate any Option, or portion thereof, to the extent not yet vested, previously granted or awarded under this Plan to an Employee who is discharged from the employ of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company for cause, which, for purposes hereof, shall mean termination because of the Employee’s personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated duties, willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order. Options granted to a Non-Employee Director who is removed for cause pursuant to the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or the Bank’s Charter and Bylaws or the constituent documents of such other Subsidiary Company on whose board he serves shall terminate as of the effective date of such removal.

(b)         If the Corporation is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Corporation with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws as a result of misconduct, then any Optionee who is subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 shall reimburse the Corporation for any equity-based compensation received by such Optionee from the Corporation during the twelve month period following the first public issuance or filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.

In addition, in the event of an accounting restatement, the Committee may specify in any Stock Option Agreement that any Optionee reimburse the Corporation for any benefit or gain realized from any Option granted hereunder in the event the accounting restatement reduces the value of the Option had the results been properly reported.

4.04Limitation on Liability. Neither the members of the Board nor any member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan, any rule, regulation or procedure adopted by it pursuant thereto or any Options granted under it. If a member of the Board or the Committee 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, by reason of anything done or not done by him in such capacity under or with respect to the Plan, the Corporation shall, subject to the requirements of applicable laws and regulations, indemnify such member against all liabilities and 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 the best interests of the Corporation and its Subsidiary Companies and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In addition, the Corporation shall pay ongoing expenses incurred by such member if a majority of disinterested directors concludes that such member may ultimately be entitled to indemnification, provided, however, that before making advance payment of expenses, the Corporation shall obtain an agreement that the Corporation will be repaid if such member is later determined not to be entitled to such indemnification.

4.05Compliance with Law and Regulations. All Options granted hereunder shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations and to such approvals by any government or regulatory agency as may be required. The Corporation shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates for shares of Common Stock prior to the completion of any registration or qualification of or obtaining of consents or approvals with respect to such shares under any federal or state law or any rule or regulation of any government body, which the Corporation shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable. Moreover, no Option may be exercised if such exercise would be contrary to applicable laws and regulations.

4.06Restrictions on Transfer. The Corporation may place a legend upon any certificate representing shares acquired pursuant to an Option granted hereunder noting that the transfer of such shares may be restricted by applicable laws and regulations.

4.07No Deferral of Compensation Under Section 409A of the Code. All Options granted under the Plan are designed to not constitute a deferral of compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary, all of the terms and conditions of any Options granted under this Plan shall be designed to satisfy the exemption for stock options set forth in the regulations issued under Section 409A of the Code. Both this Plan and the terms of all Options granted hereunder shall be interpreted in a manner that requires compliance with all of the requirements of the exemption for stock options set forth in the regulations issued under Section 409A of the Code. No Optionee shall be permitted to defer the recognition of income beyond the exercise date of a Non-Qualified Option or beyond the date that the Common Stock received upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option is sold.

ARTICLE V

ELIGIBILITY

Options may be granted to such Employees or Non-Employee Directors of the Corporation and its Subsidiary Companies as may be designated from time to time by the Board or the Committee. Options may not be granted to individuals who are not Employees or Non-Employee Directors of either the Corporation or its Subsidiary Companies. Non-Employee Directors shall be eligible to receive only Non-Qualified Options.

ARTICLE VI

COMMON STOCK COVERED BY THE PLAN

6.01Option Shares. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to this Plan, subject to adjustment as provided in Article IX, shall be 529,000. None of such shares shall be the subject of more than one Option at any time, but if an Option as to any shares is surrendered before exercise, or expires or terminates for any reason without having been exercised in full, or for any other reason ceases to be exercisable, the number of shares covered thereby shall again become available for grant under the Plan as if no Options had been previously granted with respect to such shares. During the time this Plan remains in effect, the aggregate grants of Options to each Employee and each Non-Employee Director shall not exceed 25% and 5% of the shares of Common Stock initially available under the Plan, respectively, and Options granted to Non-Employee Directors in the aggregate may not exceed 30% of the number of shares initially available under this Plan, in each case subject to adjustment as provided in Article IX.

6.02Source of Shares. The shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or shares purchased by the Corporation on the open market or from private sources for use under the Plan.

ARTICLE VII

DETERMINATION OF

OPTIONS, NUMBER OF SHARES, ETC.

The Board or the Committee shall, in its discretion, determine from time to time which Employees or Non-Employee Directors will be granted Options under the Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to each Option, and whether each Option will be an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option. In making all such determinations there shall be taken into account the duties, responsibilities and performance of each respective Employee and Non-Employee Director, his or her present and potential contributions to the growth and success of the Corporation, his or her salary or other compensation and such other factors as the Board or the Committee shall deem relevant to accomplishing the purposes of the Plan. The Board or the Committee may but shall not be required to request the written recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation other than with respect to Options to be granted to such executive officer.

ARTICLE VIII

OPTIONS

Each Option granted hereunder shall be on the following terms and conditions:

8.01Stock Option Agreement. The proper Officers on behalf of the Corporation and each Optionee shall execute a Stock Option Agreement which shall set forth the total number of shares of Common Stock to which it pertains, the exercise price, whether it is a Non-Qualified Option or an Incentive Stock Option, and such other terms, conditions, restrictions and privileges as the Board or the Committee in each instance shall deem appropriate, provided they are not inconsistent with the terms, conditions and provisions of this Plan. Each Optionee shall receive a copy of his executed Stock Option Agreement. Any Option granted with the intention that it will be an Incentive Stock Option but which fails to satisfy a requirement for Incentive Stock Options shall continue to be valid and shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Option.

8.02Option Exercise Price.

(a)         Incentive Stock Options. The per share price at which the subject Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option shall be no less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted, except as provided in Section 8.09(b), and subject to any applicable adjustment pursuant to Article IX hereof.

(b)         Non-Qualified Options. The per share price at which the subject Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of a Non-Qualified Option shall be no less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the time such Non-Qualified Option is granted, subject to any applicable adjustment pursuant to Article IX hereof.

(c)         Prohibition Against Option Repricing. Except for capital adjustments pursuant to Article IX, neither the Committee nor the Board shall make any adjustment or amendment that reduces or would have the effect of reducing the Exercise Price of an Option previously granted under the Plan, whether through amendment, cancellation (including cancellation in exchange for a cash payment in excess of the Option’s in-the-money value) or replacement grants, or other means.

8.03Vesting and Exercise of Options.

(a)         General Rules. Incentive Stock Options and Non-Qualified Options shall become vested and exercisable at a rate no more rapid than 20% per year, commencing one year from the date of grant as shall be determined by the Committee, and the right to exercise shall be cumulative. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as provided in Section 8.03(b) hereof, no vesting shall occur on or after an Employee’s employment and/or service as a Non-Employee Director (which, for purposes hereof, shall include service as an Advisory Director) with the Corporation and all Subsidiary Companies is terminated. In determining the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Options are vested and/or exercisable, fractional shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole number, provided that such fractional shares shall be aggregated and deemed vested on the final date of vesting.

(b)         Accelerated Vesting. Notwithstanding the general rule contained in Section 8.03(a), all Options granted under this Plan shall become vested and exercisable in full as of the effective date of a Change in Control.

8.04Duration of Options.

(a)         General Rule. Except as provided in Sections 8.04(b) and 8.09, each Option or portion thereof granted to Employees and Non-Employee Directors shall be exercisable at any time on or after it vests and becomes exercisable until the earlier of (i) ten (10) years after its date of grant or (ii) six (6) months after the date on which the Optionee ceases to be employed (or in the service of the Board of Directors) by the Corporation and all Subsidiary Companies, unless the Board of Directors or the Committee in its discretion decides at the time of grant to extend such period of exercise to a period not exceeding three (3) years. In no event shall an Option be exercisable more than ten (10) years after its date of grant. In the event an Incentive Stock Option is not exercised within 90 days of the effective date of termination of the Optionee’s status as an Employee, the tax treatment accorded Incentive Stock Options by the Code may not be available. In addition, the accelerated vesting of Incentive Stock Options provided by Section 8.03(b) may result in all or a portion of such Incentive Stock Options no longer qualifying as Incentive Stock Options.

(b)         Exception for Termination Due to Disability, Retirement, Change in Control or Death. Unless the Board or the Committee shall specifically state otherwise at the time an Option is granted: (i) if an Employee terminates his employment with the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company as a result of Disability or Retirement without having fully exercised his Options, the Employee shall have the right, during the one (1) year period following his termination due to Disability or Retirement, to exercise his vested Options, and (ii) if a Non-Employee Director terminates his service as a director (including service as an Advisory Director) with the Corporation and all Subsidiary Companies as a result of Disability or Retirement without having fully exercised his Options, the Non-Employee Director shall have the right, during the one (1) year period following his termination due to Disability or Retirement, to exercise his vested Options.

Subject to the provisions of Article IX hereof, unless the Board or the Committee shall specifically state otherwise at the time an Option is granted, if an Employee or Non-Employee Director terminates his employment or service with the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company following a Change in Control without having fully exercised his Options, the Optionee shall have the right to exercise such Options during the period ending on the earlier of (i) the last day of the original ten (10) year term (five (5) year term for options subject to Section 8.09(b)) or (ii) the day which is eighteen (18) months after the date on which employment or service terminates.

If an Optionee dies while in the employ or service of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company or terminates employment or service with the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company as a result of Disability or Retirement and dies without having fully exercised his Options, the executors, administrators, legatees or distributees of his estate shall have the right, during the one (1) year period following his death, to exercise his vested Options.

In no event, however, shall any Option be exercisable beyond the earlier of (i) ten (10) years from the date it was granted, or (ii) with respect to incentive stock options subject to Section 8.09(b), the original expiration date of the Option.

(c)         Regulatory Provision. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the provisions of this Plan and any Options granted hereunder are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with Section 18(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k), and the regulations promulgated under 12 C.F.R. Part 359.

8.05Nonassignability. Options shall not be transferable by an Optionee except by will or the laws of descent or distribution, and during an Optionee’s lifetime shall be exercisable only by such Optionee or the Optionee’s guardian or legal representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any other provision of this Plan, an Optionee who holds Non-Qualified Options may transfer such Options to his immediate family or to a duly established trust for the benefit of one or more of these individuals. For purposes hereof, “immediate family” includes but is not necessarily limited to, the Optionee’s spouse, children (including step children), parents, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Options so transferred may thereafter be transferred only to the Optionee who originally received the grant or to an individual or trust to whom the Optionee could have initially transferred the Option pursuant to this Section 8.05. Options which are transferred pursuant to this Section 8.05 shall be exercisable by the transferee according to the same terms and conditions as applied to the Optionee.

8.06Manner of Exercise. Options may be exercised in part or in whole and at one time or from time to time. The procedures for exercise shall be set forth in the written Stock Option Agreement provided for in Section 8.01 above.

8.07Payment for Shares. Payment in full of the purchase price for shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of any Option shall be made to the Corporation upon exercise of the Option. All shares sold under the Plan shall be fully paid and nonassessable. Payment for shares may be made by the Optionee (i) in cash or by check, (ii) by delivery of a properly executed exercise notice, together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell the shares and then to properly deliver to the Corporation the amount of sale proceeds to pay the exercise price, all in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, or (iii) at the discretion of the Board or the Committee, by delivering shares of Common Stock (including shares acquired pursuant to the previous exercise of an Option) equal in fair market value to the purchase price of the shares to be acquired pursuant to the Option, by withholding some of the shares of Common Stock which are being purchased upon exercise of an Option, or any combination of the foregoing.

8.08Voting and Dividend Rights. No Optionee shall have any voting or dividend rights or other rights of a shareholder in respect of any shares of Common Stock covered by an Option prior to the time that his name is recorded on the Corporation’s shareholder ledger as the holder of record of such shares acquired pursuant to an exercise of an Option.

8.09Additional Terms Applicable to Incentive Stock Options. All Options issued under the Plan which are designated as Incentive Stock Options will be subject, in addition to the terms detailed in Sections 8.01 to 8.08 above, to those contained in this Section 8.09.

(a)         Amount Limitation. Notwithstanding any contrary provisions contained elsewhere in this Plan and as long as required by Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted, of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Optionee during any calendar year, under this Plan and stock options that satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code under any other stock option plans maintained by the Corporation (or any parent or Subsidiary Company), shall not exceed $100,000.

(b)         Limitation on Ten Percent Shareholders. The price at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an individual who, at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns, directly or indirectly, more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock issued to shareholders of the Corporation or any Subsidiary Company, shall be no less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock of the Corporation at the time of grant, and such Incentive Stock Option shall by its terms not be exercisable after the earlier of the date determined under Section 8.04 or the expiration of five (5) years from the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted.

(c)         Notice of Disposition; Withholding; Escrow. An Optionee shall immediately notify the Corporation in writing of any sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition (or action constituting a disqualifying disposition within the meaning of Section 421 of the Code) of any shares of Common Stock acquired through exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, within two (2) years after the grant of such Incentive Stock Option or within one (1) year after the acquisition of such shares, setting forth the date and manner of disposition, the number of shares disposed of and the price at which such shares were disposed of. The Corporation shall be entitled to withhold from any compensation or other payments then or thereafter due to the Optionee such amounts as may be necessary to satisfy any minimum withholding requirements of federal or state law or regulation and, further, to collect from the Optionee any additional amounts which may be required for such purpose. The Committee may, in its discretion, require shares of Common Stock acquired by an Optionee upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option to be held in an escrow arrangement for the purpose of enabling compliance with the provisions of this Section 8.09(c).

(d)         Time Period for Grants. Incentive Stock Options must be granted within 10 years from the date the Board adopted the Plan, which date of adoption was March 23, 2022.

ARTICLE IX

ADJUSTMENTS FOR CAPITAL CHANGES

9.01 General Adjustments. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under this Plan, the number of shares to which any Option relates, the maximum number of shares that can be covered by Options to each Employee, each Non-Employee Director and Non-Employee Directors as a group and the exercise price per share of Common Stock under any Option shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock issued subsequent to the Effective Date of this Plan resulting from a split, subdivision or consolidation of shares or any other capital adjustment, the payment of a stock dividend, or other increase or decrease in such shares effected without receipt or payment of consideration by the Corporation.

9.02Adjustments for Mergers and Other Corporate Transactions. If, upon a merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation, recapitalization or the like of the Corporation, the shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock shall be exchanged for other securities of the Corporation or of another corporation, each Option shall be converted, subject to the conditions herein stated, into the right to purchase or acquire such number of shares of Common Stock or amount of other securities of the Corporation or such other corporation as were exchangeable for the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation which such Optionee would have been entitled to purchase or acquire except for such action, and appropriate adjustments shall be made to the per share exercise price of outstanding Options, provided that in each case the number of shares or other securities subject to the substituted or assumed stock option and the exercise price thereof shall be determined in a manner that satisfies the requirements of Treasury Regulation §1.424‑1 and the regulations issued under Section 409A of the Code so that the substituted or assumed option is not deemed to be a modification of the outstanding Options. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, the term of any Option granted hereunder and the property which the Optionee shall receive upon the exercise or termination thereof shall be subject to and be governed by the provisions regarding the treatment of any such Options set forth in a definitive agreement with respect to a Change in Control entered into by the Corporation to the extent any such Option remains outstanding and unexercised upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by such definitive agreement.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

The Board may, by resolution, at any time terminate or amend the Plan with respect to any shares of Common Stock as to which Options have not been granted, subject to applicable federal banking regulations and any required shareholder approval or any shareholder approval which the Board may deem to be advisable for any reason, such as for the purpose of obtaining or retaining any statutory or regulatory benefits under tax, securities or other laws or satisfying any applicable stock exchange listing requirements. The Board may not, without the consent of the holder of an Option, alter or impair any Option previously granted or awarded under this Plan except as provided by Article IX hereof or except as specifically authorized herein.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall the Board of Directors without shareholder approval amend the Plan (nor shall the Board of Directors or the Committee amend an Option granted hereunder) in any manner that effectively allows the repricing of any Option previously granted under the Plan either through a reduction in the Exercise Price or through the cancellation and regrant of a new Option in exchange for the cancelled Option (except as permitted pursuant to Article IX in connection with a change in the Corporation’s capitalization).

ARTICLE XI

EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

Neither the Plan nor the grant of any Options hereunder nor any action taken by the Committee or the Board in connection with the Plan shall create any right on the part of any Employee or Non-Employee Director of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company to continue in such capacity.

ARTICLE XII

WITHHOLDING

12.01Tax Withholding. The Corporation may withhold from any cash payment made under this Plan sufficient amounts to cover any applicable minimum withholding and employment taxes, and if the amount of such cash payment is insufficient, the Corporation may require the Optionee to pay to the Corporation the amount required to be withheld as a condition to delivering the shares acquired pursuant to an Option. The Corporation also may withhold or collect amounts with respect to a disqualifying disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, as provided in Section 8.09(c).

12.02Methods of Tax Withholding. The Board or the Committee is authorized to adopt rules, regulations or procedures which provide for the satisfaction of an Optionee’s tax withholding obligation by the retention of shares of Common Stock to which the Employee would otherwise be entitled pursuant to an Option and/or by the Optionee’s delivery of previously owned shares of Common Stock or other property.

ARTICLE XIII

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PLAN; TERM

13.01Effective Date of the Plan. This Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date, and Options may be granted hereunder no earlier than the date this Plan is approved by shareholders of the Corporation pursuant to Article XIV hereof and no later than the termination of the Plan.

13.02Term of Plan. Unless sooner terminated, this Plan shall remain in effect for a period of ten (10) years ending on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. Termination of the Plan shall not affect any Options previously granted and such Options shall remain valid and in effect until they have been fully exercised or earned, are surrendered or by their terms or the terms hereof expire or are forfeited.

ARTICLE XIV

SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL

The Corporation shall submit this Plan to shareholders for approval at a meeting of shareholders of the Corporation held within twelve (12) months following the date upon which the Board adopts this Plan in order to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and regulations thereunder. In addition to any other shareholder approvals that may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Corporation, this Plan is subject to approval by a majority of the total votes eligible to be cast at a duly called meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders.

ARTICLE XV

MISCELLANEOUS

To the extent not governed by federal law, this Plan shall be construed under the laws of the State of Louisiana.

Appendix B

CATALYST BANCORP, INC.

2022 RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN AND TRUST AGREEMENT

ARTICLE I

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN AND TRUST

1.01         Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (the “Corporation”) hereby establishes the 2022 Recognition and Retention Plan (the “Plan”) and Trust (the “Trust”) upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated in this 2022 Recognition and Retention Plan and Trust Agreement (the “Agreement”).

1.02         The Trustee hereby accepts this Trust and agrees to hold the Trust assets existing on the date of this Agreement and all additions and accretions thereto upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

The purpose of the Plan is to retain personnel of experience and ability in key positions by providing Employees and Non-Employee Directors with a proprietary interest in the Corporation and its Subsidiary Companies as compensation for their contributions to the Corporation and the Subsidiary Companies and as an incentive to make such contributions in the future. Each Recipient of a Plan Share Award hereunder is advised to consult with his or her personal tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences under federal, state, local and other tax laws of the receipt of a Plan Share Award hereunder.

ARTICLE III

DEFINITIONS

The following words and phrases when used in this Agreement with an initial capital letter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, shall have the meanings set forth below. Wherever appropriate, the masculine pronouns shall include the feminine pronouns and the singular shall include the plural.

3.01         “Advisory Director” means a person appointed to serve as an advisory or emeritus director by the Board of either the Corporation or the Bank or any successors thereto.

3.02         “Bank” means St. Landry Homestead Federal Savings Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation.

3.03         “Beneficiary” means the person or persons designated by a Recipient to receive any benefits payable under the Plan in the event of such Recipient’s death. Such person or persons shall be designated in writing on forms provided for this purpose by the Committee and may be changed from time to time by similar written notice to the Committee. In the absence of a written designation, the Beneficiary shall be the Recipient’s surviving spouse, if any, or if none, his or her estate.

3.04          “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

3.05        “Change in Control” shall mean a change in the ownership of the Corporation or the Bank, a change in the effective control of the Corporation or the Bank or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Corporation or the Bank, in each case as provided under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder. In no event, however, shall a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred as a result of any acquisition of securities or assets of the Corporation, the Bank or a subsidiary of either of them, by the Corporation, the Bank, any subsidiary of either of them, or by any employee benefit plan maintained by any of them. For purposes of this Section 3.05, the term “person” shall include the meaning assigned to it under Sections 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act.

3.06          “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

3.07          “Committee” means the committee appointed by the Board pursuant to Article IV hereof.

3.08          “Common Stock” means shares of the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Corporation.

3.09      “Director” means a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company or any successors thereto, including Non-Employee Directors as well as Officers and Employees serving as Directors.

3.10          “Disability” means in the case of any Recipient that the Recipient: (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Corporation or the Bank (or would have received such benefits for at least three months if he had been eligible to participate in such plan).

3.11          “Effective Date” means the date upon which the Corporation’s shareholders approve this Plan.

3.12         “Employee” means any person who is employed by the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company or is an Officer of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company, but not including directors who are not also Officers of or otherwise employed by the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company.

3.13         “Employer Group” means the Corporation and any Subsidiary Company which, with the consent of the Board, agrees to participate in the Plan.

3.14          “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

3.15          “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board (including advisory boards, if any) of the Corporation or any Subsidiary Company or any successor thereto, including an Advisory Director of the Board of the Corporation and/or any Subsidiary Company or a former Officer or Employee of the Corporation and/or any Subsidiary Company serving as a Director or Advisory Director who is not an Officer or Employee of the Corporation or any Subsidiary Company.

3.16          “Officer” means an Employee whose position in the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company is that of a corporate officer, as determined by the Board.

3.17          “Plan Shares” or “Shares” means shares of Common Stock which may be distributed to a Recipient pursuant to the Plan.

3.18        “Plan Share Award” or “Award” means a right granted under this Plan to receive a distribution of Plan Shares upon completion of the service requirements described in Article VII hereof.

3.19         “Recipient” means an Employee or Non-Employee Director or former Employee or Non-Employee Director who receives a Plan Share Award under the Plan.

3.20         “Subsidiary Company” means those subsidiaries of the Corporation, including the Bank, which meet the definition of “subsidiary corporations” set forth in Section 424(f) of the Code, at the time of the granting of the Plan Share Award in question.

3.21          “Trustee” means such firm, entity or persons approved by the Board to hold legal title to the Plan and the Plan assets for the purposes set forth herein.

ARTICLE IV

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

4.01Duties of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Committee, which shall consist of two or more members of the Board, each of whom shall be a Non-Employee Director, as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i) of the Exchange Act. In addition, each member of the Committee shall be an “independent director” as such term is defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Marketplace Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market or any successor thereto. Unless and until changed by the Board, the Compensation Committee of the Board is designated as the Committee to administer and interpret this Plan. The Committee shall have all of the powers allocated to it in this and other sections of the Plan. The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provisions of the Plan or of any Plan Share Award granted hereunder shall be final and binding in the absence of action by the Board. The Committee shall act by vote or written consent of a majority of its members. Subject to the express provisions and limitations of the Plan, the Committee may adopt such rules, regulations and procedures as it deems appropriate for the conduct of its affairs. The Committee shall report its actions and decisions with respect to the Plan to the Board at appropriate times, but in no event less than once per calendar year.

4.02Role of the Board. The members of the Committee and the Trustee shall be appointed or approved by, and will serve at the pleasure of, the Board. The Board may in its discretion from time to time remove members from, or add members to, the Committee, and may remove or replace the Trustee, provided that any directors who are selected as members of the Committee shall be Non-Employee Directors.

4.03Revocation for Misconduct; Forfeiture Events.

(a)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Board or the Committee may by resolution immediately revoke, rescind and terminate any Plan Share Award, or portion thereof, to the extent not yet vested, previously granted or awarded under this Plan to an Employee who is discharged from the employ of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company for cause, which, for purposes hereof, shall mean termination because of the Employee’s personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated duties, willful violation of any law, rule, or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order. Unvested Plan Share Awards to a Non-Employee Director who is removed for cause pursuant to the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or the Bank’s Charter or Bylaws or the constituent documents of such other Subsidiary Company on whose board he or she serves shall terminate as of the effective date of such removal.

(b)         If the Corporation is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Corporation with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws as a result of misconduct, then any Recipient who is subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 shall reimburse the Corporation for any equity-based compensation received by such Recipient from the Corporation during the twelve month period following the first public issuance or filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.

In addition, in the event of an accounting restatement, the Committee may specify in any Plan Share Award Agreement, as defined in Section 6.02, that any Recipient reimburse the Corporation for any benefit or gain realized from any Award granted hereunder in the event the accounting restatement reduces the value of the Award had the results been properly reported.

4.04Limitation on Liability. No member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Plan Shares or Plan Share Awards granted under it. If a member of the Board or the Committee 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, by reason of anything done or not done by him in such capacity under or with respect to the Plan, the Corporation shall, subject to the requirements of applicable laws and regulations, indemnify such member against all liabilities and 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 the best interests of the Corporation and any Subsidiary Companies and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In addition, the Corporation shall pay ongoing expenses incurred by such member if a majority of disinterested directors concludes that such member may ultimately be entitled to indemnification, provided, however, that before making advance payment of expenses, the Corporation shall obtain an agreement that the Corporation will be repaid if such member is later determined not to be entitled to such indemnification.

4.05Compliance with Laws and Regulations. All Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations and to such approvals by any government or regulatory agency or shareholders as may be required. The Corporation shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates for shares of Common Stock prior to the completion of any registration or qualification of or obtaining of consents or approvals with respect to such shares under any federal or state law or any rule or regulation of any government body, which the Corporation shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable.

4.06Restrictions on Transfer. The Corporation may place a legend upon any certificate representing shares issued pursuant to a Plan Share Award noting that such shares may be restricted by applicable laws and regulations.

4.07No Deferral of Compensation Under Section 409A of the Code. All awards granted under the Plan are designed to not constitute a deferral of compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary, all of the terms and conditions of any Awards granted under this Plan shall be designed to satisfy the exemption for restricted stock awards set forth in the regulations issued under Section 409A of the Code. Both this Plan and the terms of all Awards granted hereunder shall be interpreted in a manner that requires compliance with all of the requirements of the exemption for restricted stock awards set forth in the regulations issued under Section 409A of the Code. No Recipient shall be permitted to defer the recognition of income beyond the vesting date of an Award.

ARTICLE V

CONTRIBUTIONS

5.01Amount and Timing of Contributions. The Board shall determine the amount (or the method of computing the amount) and timing of any contributions by the Corporation and any Subsidiary Companies to the Trust established under this Plan. Such amounts may be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock and shall be paid to the Trust at the designated time of contribution. No contributions by Employees or Non-Employee Directors shall be permitted.

5.02Investment of Trust Assets; Number of Plan Shares. Subject to Section 8.02 hereof, the Trustee shall invest all of the Trust’s assets primarily in Common Stock. The aggregate number of Plan Shares available for distribution pursuant to this Plan shall be 211,600 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9.01 hereof, which shares shall be purchased (from the Corporation and/or, if permitted by applicable regulations, from shareholders thereof) by the Trust with funds contributed by the Corporation. During the time this Plan remains in effect, Awards to each Employee and each Non-Employee Director shall not exceed 25% and 5% of the shares of Common Stock initially available under the Plan, respectively, and Plan Share Awards to Non-Employee Directors in the aggregate shall not exceed 30% of the number of shares initially available under this Plan, in each case subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9.01 hereof.

ARTICLE VI

ELIGIBILITY; ALLOCATIONS

6.01Awards. Plan Share Awards may be made to such Employees and Non-Employee Directors as may be selected by the Board or the Committee. In selecting those Employees to whom Plan Share Awards may be granted and the number of Shares covered by such Awards, the Board or the Committee shall consider the duties, responsibilities and performance of each respective Employee and Non-Employee Director, his or her present and potential contributions to the growth and success of the Corporation, his or her salary or other compensation and such other factors as deemed relevant to accomplishing the purposes of the Plan. The Board or the Committee may but shall not be required to request the written recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation other than with respect to Plan Share Awards to be granted to such executive officer.

6.02Form of Allocation. As promptly as practicable after the grant of an Award pursuant to Section 6.01, the Board or the Committee shall notify the Recipient in writing of the grant of the Award, the number of Plan Shares covered by the Award, and the terms upon which the Plan Shares subject to the Award shall be distributed to the Recipient (the “Plan Share Award Agreement”). The Board or the Committee shall maintain records as to all grants of Plan Share Awards under the Plan.

6.03Grants Not Required to any Specific Employee or Non-Employee Director. No Employee or Non-Employee Director shall have any right or entitlement to receive a Plan Share Award hereunder, with such Awards being at the total discretion of the Board or the Committee.

6.04Performance Awards. Subject to the limitations of this Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion, grant performance awards to eligible Recipients upon such terms and conditions and at such times as the Committee shall determine. Performance awards may be in the form of performance Shares. An award of a performance share is a grant of a right to receive Shares that is contingent upon the achievement of performance or other objectives during a specified period.

Subject to the terms of this Plan and the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the Committee has the authority to determine the nature, length and starting date of the period during which a Participant may earn a performance award and will determine the conditions that must be met for a performance award to be granted or to vest or be earned. These conditions may include specific performance objectives, continued service or employment for a certain period of time, or a combination of such conditions. Performance awards granted under the Plan may be based on one or more of the following business criteria: basic earnings per common share, basic cash earnings per common share, diluted earnings per common share, diluted cash earnings per common share, net income, cash earnings, net interest income, non-interest income, general and administrative expense to average assets ratio, cash general and administrative expense to average assets ratio, efficiency ratio, cash efficiency ratio, return on average assets, cash return on average assets, return on average stockholders’ equity, cash return on average stockholders’ equity, return on average tangible stockholders’ equity, cash return on average tangible stockholders’ equity, core earnings, operating income, operating efficiency ratio, net interest rate spread, loan production volume, non-performing loans, cash flows, strategic business objectives consisting of one or more objectives based upon meeting specified cost targets, business expansion goals and goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures, or goals relating to capital raising and capital management, or any combination of the foregoing. Each goal may be expressed on an absolute and/or relative basis, may be based on or otherwise employ comparisons based on internal targets, past performance of the Corporation or any subsidiary, operating unit or division of the Corporation and/or the past or current performance of other companies, and in the case of earnings-based measures, may use or employ comparisons relating to capital, stockholders’ equity and/or shares of common stock outstanding, or to assets or net assets.

No later than ninety (90) days following the commencement of a performance period, the Committee shall, in writing (i) select the performance goal or goals applicable to the performance period, (ii) establish the various targets and bonus amounts that may be earned for such performance period and (iii) specify the relationship between the performance goals and targets and the amounts to be earned by each Participant for the performance period. The achievement of the performance goal or goals must be substantially uncertain at the time the Committee establishes such goal(s). Prior to the vesting or earning of any performance Shares, the Committee must certify in writing that the performance goal or goals were achieved. The maximum number of performance Shares that can be granted to any Recipient during the time this Plan remains in effect shall equal the maximum amount applicable to such Recipient under Section 5.02 of this Plan.

ARTICLE VII

EARNING AND DISTRIBUTION OF PLAN SHARES; VOTING RIGHTS

7.01Earning Plan Shares; Forfeitures.

  (a)         General Rules. Subject to the terms hereof, Plan Share Awards shall be earned by a Recipient at a rate no more rapid than twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate number of Shares covered by the Award as of each annual anniversary of the date of grant of the Award, with such vesting rate to be determined by the Committee. If the employment of an Employee or service as a Non-Employee Director (including for purposes hereof service as an Advisory Director) is terminated before the Plan Share Award has been completely earned for any reason (except as specifically provided in subsection (b) below), the Recipient shall forfeit the right to any Shares subject to the Award which have not theretofore been earned. In the event of a forfeiture of the right to any Shares subject to an Award, such forfeited Shares shall become available for grant pursuant to Section 6.01 hereof as if no Award had been previously granted with respect to such Shares. No fractional shares shall be distributed pursuant to this Plan. In determining the number of Shares which are earned as of any annual anniversary date, fractional shares shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, provided that such fractional Shares shall be aggregated and distributed on the final date of vesting.

  (b)         Exception for Change in Control. Notwithstanding the general rule contained in Section 7.01(a), all Plan Shares subject to a Plan Share Award held by a Recipient shall be deemed earned as of the effective date of a Change in Control.

7.02Distribution of Dividends. Any cash dividends, stock dividends or returns of capital declared in respect of each unvested Plan Share Award will be held by the Trust for the benefit of the Recipient on whose behalf such Plan Share Award is then held by the Trust, and such dividends or returns of capital will be paid out proportionately by the Trust to the Recipient thereof as soon as practicable after the Plan Share Award becomes earned.

7.03Distribution of Plan Shares.

  (a)         Timing of Distributions: General Rule. Plan Shares shall be distributed to the Recipient or his or her Beneficiary, as the case may be, as soon as practicable after they have been earned.

  (b)         Form of Distributions. All Plan Shares, together with any Shares representing stock dividends, shall be distributed in the form of Common Stock. One share of Common Stock shall be given for each Plan Share earned and distributable. Payments representing cash dividends shall be made in cash.

  (c)         Withholding. The Trustee may withhold from any cash payment or Common Stock distribution made under this Plan sufficient amounts to cover any applicable withholding and employment taxes, and if the amount of a cash payment is insufficient, the Trustee may require the Recipient or Beneficiary to pay to the Trustee the amount required to be withheld as a condition of delivering the Plan Shares. The Trustee shall pay over to the Corporation or any Subsidiary Company which employs or employed such Recipient any such amount withheld from or paid by the Recipient or Beneficiary.

  (d)         Restrictions on Selling of Plan Shares. Plan Share Awards may not be sold, assigned, pledged or otherwise disposed of prior to the time that they are earned and distributed pursuant to the terms of this Plan. Upon distribution, the Board or the Committee may require the Recipient or his Beneficiary, as the case may be, to agree not to sell or otherwise dispose of his distributed Plan Shares except in accordance with all then applicable federal and state securities laws, and the Board or the Committee may cause a legend to be placed on the stock certificate(s) representing the distributed Plan Shares in order to restrict the transfer of the distributed Plan Shares for such period of time or under such circumstances as the Board or the Committee, upon the advice of counsel, may deem appropriate.

7.04Voting of Plan Shares. All shares of Common Stock held by the Trust shall be voted by the Trustee in its discretion. Recipients of Plan Share Awards shall have no voting rights until the Common Stock is earned and distributed pursuant to the terms of the Plan Share Award.

7.05Nontransferable. Plan Share Awards and rights to Plan Shares shall not be transferable by a Recipient, and during the lifetime of the Recipient, Plan Shares may only be earned by and paid to a Recipient who was notified in writing of an Award by the Committee pursuant to Section 6.02. No Recipient or Beneficiary shall have any right in or claim to any assets of the Plan or Trust, nor shall the Corporation or any Subsidiary Company be subject to any claim for benefits hereunder.

ARTICLE VIII

TRUST

8.01Trust. The Trustee shall receive, hold, administer, invest and make distributions and disbursements from the Trust in accordance with the provisions of this Plan and Trust and the applicable directions, rules, regulations, procedures and policies established by the Committee pursuant to this Plan.

8.02Management of Trust. It is the intent of this Plan and Trust that the Trustee shall have complete authority and discretion with respect to the arrangement, control and investment of the Trust, and that the Trustee shall invest all assets of the Trust in Common Stock to the fullest extent practicable, except to the extent that the Trustee determines that the holding of monies in cash or cash equivalents is appropriate to meet the obligations of the Trust. In performing its duties, the Trustee shall have the power to do all things and execute such instruments as may be deemed necessary or proper, including the following powers:

(a)         To invest up to one hundred percent (100%) of all Trust assets in Common Stock without regard to any law now or hereafter in force limiting investments for trustees or other fiduciaries. The investment authorized herein may constitute the only investment of the Trust, and in making such investment, the Trustee is authorized to purchase Common Stock from the Corporation or from any other source, and such Common Stock so purchased may be outstanding or newly issued shares.

(b)         To invest any Trust assets not otherwise invested in accordance with (a) above, in such deposit accounts, and certificates of deposit, obligations of the United States Government or its agencies or such other investments as shall be considered the equivalent of cash.

(c)         To cause stocks, bonds or other securities to be registered in the name of a nominee, without the addition of words indicating that such security is an asset of the Trust (but accurate records shall be maintained showing that such security is an asset of the Trust).

(d)         To hold cash without interest in such amounts as may in the opinion of the Trustee be reasonable for the proper operation of the Plan and Trust.

(e)         To employ brokers, agents, custodians, consultants and accountants.

(f)         To hire counsel to render advice with respect to its rights, duties and obligations hereunder, and such other legal services or representation as it may deem desirable.

(g)         To hold funds and securities representing the amounts to be distributed to a Recipient or his Beneficiary as a consequence of a dispute as to the disposition thereof, whether in a segregated account or held in common with other assets of the Trust.

Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, the Trustee shall not be required to make any inventory, appraisal or settlement or report to any court, or to secure any order of court for the exercise of any power herein contained, or give bond.

8.03Records and Accounts. The Trustee shall maintain accurate and detailed records and accounts of all transactions of the Trust, which shall be available at all reasonable times for inspection by any legally entitled person or entity to the extent required by applicable law, or any other person determined by the Board or the Committee.

8.04Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in the operation and administration of this Plan shall be borne by the Corporation or, in the discretion of the Corporation, the Trust.

8.05Indemnification. Subject to the requirements of applicable laws and regulations, the Corporation shall indemnify, defend and hold the Trustee harmless against all claims, expenses and liabilities arising out of or related to the exercise of the Trustee’s powers and the discharge of its duties hereunder, unless the same shall be due to its gross negligence or willful misconduct.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

9.01Adjustments for Capital Changes. The aggregate number of Plan Shares available for distribution pursuant to the Plan Share Awards, the number of Shares to which any unvested Plan Share Award relates and the maximum number of Plan Shares which may be granted to any Employee, to any Non-Employee Director or to all Non-Employee Directors as a group shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock issued subsequent to the effective date of this Plan resulting from any split, subdivision or consolidation of shares or other capital adjustment, the payment of a stock dividend or other increase or decrease in such shares effected without receipt or payment of consideration by the Corporation. If, upon a merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation, recapitalization or the like of the Corporation or of another corporation, the shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock shall be exchanged for other securities of the Corporation or of another corporation, each Recipient of a Plan Share Award shall be entitled, subject to the conditions herein stated, to receive such number of shares of Common Stock or amount of other securities of the Corporation or such other corporation as were exchangeable for the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation which such Recipients would have been entitled to receive except for such action.

9.02Amendment and Termination of Plan. The Board may, by resolution, at any time amend or terminate the Plan, subject to any required shareholder approval or any shareholder approval which the Board may deem to be advisable for any reason, such as for the purpose of obtaining or retaining any statutory or regulatory benefits under tax, securities or other laws or satisfying any applicable stock exchange listing requirements. The Board may not, without the consent of the Recipient, alter or impair his Plan Share Award except as specifically authorized herein. Termination of this Plan shall not affect Plan Share Awards previously granted, and such Plan Share Awards shall remain valid and in effect until they (a) have been fully earned, (b) are surrendered, or (c) expire or are forfeited in accordance with their terms.

9.03Employment or Service Rights. Neither the Plan nor any grant of a Plan Share Award or Plan Shares hereunder nor any action taken by the Trustee, the Committee or the Board in connection with the Plan shall create any right on the part of any Employee or Non-Employee Director to continue in such capacity.

9.04Voting and Dividend Rights. No Recipient shall have any voting or dividend rights or other rights of a shareholder in respect of any Plan Shares covered by a Plan Share Award except as expressly provided in Sections 7.02 and 7.04 above, prior to the time said Plan Shares are actually earned and distributed to him.

9.05Governing Law. To the extent not governed by federal law, the Plan and Trust shall be governed by the laws of the State of Louisiana.

9.06Effective Date. This Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date, and Awards may be granted hereunder no earlier than the date this Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Corporation and prior to the termination of the Plan. The implementation of this Plan is subject to the approval of the Plan by a majority of the total votes eligible to be cast at a duly called meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders.

9.07Term of Plan. This Plan shall remain in effect until the earlier of (i) ten (10) years from the Effective Date, (ii) termination by the Board, or (iii) the distribution to Recipients and Beneficiaries of all the assets of the Trust.

9.08Tax Status of Trust. It is intended that the Trust established hereby be treated as a Grantor Trust of the Corporation under the provisions of Section 671 et seq. of the Code, as the same may be amended from time to time.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officers and the initial Trustees of the Trust established pursuant hereto have duly and validly executed this Agreement, all on this 23^rd day of March 2022.

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