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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.          )

 

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SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To be Held on February 1, 2016

December [    ], 2015

Dear ION Stockholders:

        You are cordially invited to attend a Special Meeting of Stockholders (the "Special Meeting") of ION Geophysical Corporation (the "Company"), which will be held on Monday, February 1, 2016, at 10:30 a.m., Central Time, in the offices of the Company located at 2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77042-2839.

        During the Special Meeting, stockholders will vote on the following items:

1.

An amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to (i) effect a reverse stock split of our common stock at a ratio selected by our Board of Directors (or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors) from within a range of between 1-for-5 and 1-for-15, inclusive, and, (ii) if and when the reverse stock split is effected, proportionately reduce the number of authorized shares of our common stock by the selected reverse split ratio;



2.

An amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of our common stock from 200 million to 400 million; and



3.

Subject to stockholder approval and implementation of the reverse stock split, certain amendments to the Company's 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan to, if and when the reverse stock split is effected, increase (i) the total number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under the 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan and (ii) the maximum number of such shares that may be granted in the form of full-value awards.

        While approval of Proposals 1 or 2 will not be conditioned on the approval of any other proposals, the approval of Proposal 3 will be conditioned on the approval of Proposal 1. The accompanying Special Meeting Proxy Statement contains complete details on these proposals.

        Your understanding of, and participation in, the Special Meeting is important, regardless of the number of shares you hold. To ensure your representation, we encourage you to vote your shares as soon as practicable.

        Thank you for your continued support of ION Geophysical Corporation. We look forward to seeing you on February 1, 2016.

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ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION
2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77042-2839
(281) 933-3339

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To be Held on February 1, 2016

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        ION Geophysical Corporation (the "Company") will hold a Special Meeting of Stockholders (the "Special Meeting") in the offices of the Company located at 2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77042-2839, on Monday, February 1, 2016, at 10:30 a.m., Central Time, to:

1.

Adopt an amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to (i) effect a reverse stock split of our common stock at a ratio selected by our Board of Directors (or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors) from within a range of between 1-for-5 and 1-for-15, inclusive, and, (ii) if and when the reverse stock split is effected, proportionately reduce the number of authorized shares of our common stock by the selected reverse split ratio;



2.

Adopt an amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of our common stock from 200 million to 400 million; and



3.

Approve, subject to stockholder approval and implementation of the reverse stock split, certain amendments to the Company's 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan to, if and when the reverse stock split is effected, increase (i) the total number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under the 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan and (ii) the maximum number of such shares that may be granted in the form of full-value awards.

        While approval of Proposals 1 or 2 will not be conditioned on the approval of any other proposals, the approval of Proposal 3 will be conditioned on the approval of Proposal 1.

        ION's Board of Directors has set December 18, 2015 as the record date for the Special Meeting. This means that owners of ION common stock at the close of business on that date are entitled to receive this notice and vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the Special Meeting. Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote. As of the record date, there were [            ] shares of our common stock outstanding.

        If you are the registered owner of shares of our common stock as of the record date, you may vote those shares by attending the Special Meeting and voting in person.

        Your vote is very important, and your prompt cooperation in voting your proxy is greatly appreciated. If you are unable to attend the meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy in any one of the following three ways:

•

VIA THE INTERNET, which we encourage if you have Internet access, at the address shown on your proxy card;



•

BY TELEPHONE, using the toll-free telephone number shown on the proxy card; or

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BY MAIL, by completing, signing and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope.

December [    ], 2015
Houston, Texas

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ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION
2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77042-2839
(281) 933-3339

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PROXY STATEMENT

FOR SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To be Held on February 1, 2016

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GENERAL INFORMATION

        This Special Meeting Proxy Statement ("Proxy Statement") is furnished to stockholders of ION Geophysical Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the "Board") for use at the Company's Special Meeting of Stockholders (the "Special Meeting") to be held on Monday, February 1, 2016, at 10:30 a.m., Central Time, in the offices of the Company located at 2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77042-2839, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.

        The proxy materials, including this Proxy Statement and the proxy card, are first being distributed and made available on or about December [    ], 2015. The mailing address of our principal executive offices is 2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77042-2839. All properly completed and returned proxies for the Special Meeting will be voted at the Special Meeting in accordance with the directions given in the proxy, unless the proxy is revoked before the Special Meeting. The proxies also may be voted at any adjournments or postponements of the Special Meeting.

        As stated in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders, we will hold the Special Meeting to:

1.

Adopt an amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to (i) effect a reverse stock split of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"), at a ratio selected by our Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) from within a range of between 1-for-5 and 1-for-15, inclusive, and, (ii) if and when the reverse stock split is effected, proportionately reduce the number of authorized shares of our Common Stock by the selected reverse split ratio;



2.

Adopt an amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of our Common Stock from 200 million to 400 million; and



3.

Approve, subject to stockholder approval and implementation of the reverse stock split, certain amendments to the Company's 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "2013 LTIP") to, if and when the reverse stock split is effected, increase (i) the total number of shares of our Common Stock available for issuance under the 2013 LTIP and (ii) the maximum number of such shares that may be granted in the form of full-value awards.

        While approval of Proposals 1 or 2 will not be conditioned on the approval of any other proposals, the approval of Proposal 3 will be conditioned on the approval of Proposal 1.

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        On August 11, 2015, we were notified by the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") that the average closing price of the Common Stock had fallen below $1.00 per share over a period of 30 consecutive trading days, which is the minimum average share price required by the NYSE under Section 802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. We have six months following receipt of the NYSE's notice to regain compliance with the NYSE's minimum share price requirement. We can regain compliance at any time during the six-month cure period if on the last trading day of any calendar month during the cure period the Common Stock has a closing share price of at least $1.00 and an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of such month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we determine that we must cure the price condition by taking an action that will require approval of our stockholders, we may also regain compliance by: (i) obtaining the requisite stockholder approval by no later than our next annual meeting, (ii) implementing the action promptly thereafter and (iii) the price of the Common Stock promptly exceeding $1.00 per share, and the price remaining above that level for at least the following 30 trading days.

        A delisting of the Common Stock from the NYSE would negatively impact us because it would: (i) reduce the liquidity and market price of the Common Stock; (ii) reduce the number of investors willing to hold or acquire the Common Stock, which could negatively impact our ability to raise equity financing; (iii) limit our ability to use a registration statement to offer and sell freely tradable securities, thereby preventing us from accessing the public capital markets, and (iv) impair our ability to provide equity incentives to our employees. The Board has adopted a proposed amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and recommends that stockholders approve such amendment, for the purpose of increasing the price of our Common Stock in order to regain compliance with this listing requirement.

        Only owners of record of our outstanding shares of Common Stock on December 18, 2015 are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement of the Special Meeting. Each owner of Common Stock on the record date is entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held. As of the record date, there were [                ] shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.

        Our Amended and Restated Bylaws (the "Bylaws") provide that business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in a resolution approved by a majority of the Board or a committee designated for such purpose by the Board.

        Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting to be held on February 1, 2016: This Proxy Statement is available at: www.iongeo.com under "Investor Relations—Investor Materials—Annual Reports, Quarterly Reports & Proxy Statement."

        You may vote your shares prior to the Special Meeting by following the instructions provided in this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card.

        When used in this Proxy Statement, "ION Geophysical," "ION," "Company," "we," "our," "ours" and "us" refer to ION Geophysical Corporation.

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ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING

What is a proxy and proxy statement?

        A proxy is your legal designation of another person to vote the stock you own on your behalf. That other person is referred to as a "proxy." Our Board has designated R. Brian Hanson and James M. Lapeyre, Jr. as proxies for the Special Meeting. By completing and submitting the enclosed proxy card, you are giving Mr. Hanson and Mr. Lapeyre the authority to vote your shares in the manner you indicate on your proxy card. A proxy statement is a document that the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") require us to give you when we ask you to sign a proxy card designating individuals as proxies to vote on your behalf.

Who is soliciting my proxy?

        Our Board is soliciting proxies on its behalf to be voted at the Special Meeting. All costs of soliciting the proxies will be paid by ION. Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to banks, brokers, nominees and other fiduciaries and custodians to forward to beneficial owners of the Common Stock held by such persons. ION will reimburse such persons for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding solicitation materials. In addition to solicitations by mail, some of ION's directors, officers and other employees, without extra compensation, might supplement this solicitation by telephone, personal interview or other communication. ION has also retained Georgeson Inc. to assist with the solicitation of proxies from banks, brokers, nominees and other holders, for a fee not to exceed $11,000 plus reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses. We may also ask our proxy solicitor to solicit proxies on our behalf by telephone for a fixed fee of $6.00 per phone call and $3.50 per telephone vote, plus reimbursement for expenses.

What are the voting rights of holders of Common Stock?

        Each outstanding share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter considered at the Special Meeting.

What is the difference between a "stockholder of record" and a stockholder who holds stock in "street name"?

        If your shares are registered directly in your name, you are a stockholder of record. If your shares are registered in the name of your broker, bank or similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name.

Where will the Special Meeting be held?

        The Special Meeting will be held on the 4^th Floor of 2105 CityWest Boulevard in Houston, Texas.

        Directions:    The site for the meeting is located on CityWest Boulevard off of West Sam Houston Parkway South ("Beltway 8"), near the intersection of Beltway 8 and Briar Forest Drive. Traveling south on the Beltway 8 feeder road after Briar Forest Drive, turn right on Del Monte Drive. Enter Garage Entrance 3 on your immediate left. Advise the guard that you are attending the ION Special Meeting. You may be required to show your driver's license or other photo identification. The guard will then direct you where to park in the visitors section of the parking garage. The guard can also direct you to 2105 CityWest Boulevard, which is directly south of the garage. Once in the building, check in with the security desk and then take the elevators to the 4^th floor.

What is the record date and what does it mean?

        The record date for the Special Meeting is December 18, 2015. The record date is established by the Board as required by Delaware law (the state in which we are incorporated). Holders of Common

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Stock at the close of business on the record date are entitled to receive notice of the meeting and vote at the meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.

How do I vote?

        You may vote your shares in four different ways:

1.

Via the Internet.    You may vote your shares via the Internet by following the instructions on your proxy card. If you own your shares in "street name" or in a nominee account, you may place your vote through the Internet by following the instructions on the proxy card provided by your broker, bank or other holder of record.



2.

By Telephone.    You may vote your shares by telephone by calling the toll-free telephone number provided on the proxy card. If you own your shares in "street name" or in a nominee account, you may place your vote by telephone by following the instructions on the proxy card provided by your broker, bank or other holders of record.



3.

By Mail.    Mark your voting instructions on, and sign and date, the proxy card and return it to Jamey S. Seely, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, ION Geophysical Corporation, 2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77042-2839. If you mail your proxy card, Ms. Seely must receive it before the polls close at the Special Meeting.



4.

In Person.    You may deliver your completed proxy in person at the Special Meeting. If your shares are held in "street name" or a nominee account, you will need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares in order to vote at the Special Meeting. The Board recommends that you vote by one of the three methods above even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting.

How do I revoke my proxy or change my voting instructions?

        You may revoke your proxy or change your voting instructions in four ways:

1.

Submit voting instructions again by telephone or the Internet.    If you are a "street name" stockholder, you must follow instructions found on the voting instruction card provided by your broker or other "street" nominee, or contact your broker or other "street" nominee in order to revoke your previously given proxy.



2.

Submit a new proxy card bearing a later date than the one you wish to revoke.    A valid later-dated proxy will automatically revoke any proxy previously submitted by you. If you own your shares in "street name," because your broker or other "street" nominee is actually the record owner, you must obtain a new proxy card from the broker or other "street" nominee. If you are a holder of record, then you must obtain a new proxy card from ION's transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services, at1.888.360.9508. We must receive your new proxy card before the Special Meeting begins.



3.

Write to Jamey S. Seely, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, ION Geophysical Corporation, 2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77042-2839.    Your letter should contain the name in which your shares are registered, your control number, the date of the proxy you wish to revoke or change, your new voting instructions, if applicable, and your signature. Ms. Seely must receive your letter before the Special Meeting begins.



4.

Attend the Special Meeting and vote in person as described above (or by personal representative with an appropriate proxy).    Attendance at the meeting will not by itself revoke a previously granted proxy; to alter your prior instructions, you must vote your shares during the Special Meeting.

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What constitutes a quorum?

        The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock constitutes a quorum. We need a quorum of stockholders to hold a validly convened Special Meeting. If you have submitted your proxy, your shares will be counted toward the quorum. If a quorum is not present, the chairman may adjourn the meeting, without prior notice other than by announcement at the meeting, until the required quorum is present. As of the record date, [                    ] shares of Common Stock were outstanding. Thus, the presence of the holders of Common Stock representing at least [                    ] shares will be required to establish a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum.

What are my voting choices when voting on Proposal 1 and what vote is needed to approve Proposal 1?

        In voting to approve the proposal to adopt an amendment to the Restated Certificate of Formation to effect a reverse stock split and, if and when such reverse stock split is effected, proportionately reduce the number of authorized shares of our Common Stock by the selected reverse split ratio, stockholders may vote in one of the following ways:

(a)

for the proposal,



(b)

against the proposal, or



(c)

abstain from voting on the proposal.

        The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting is required to adopt such amendment. An abstention has the same effect as a vote "against" the proposal.

        The Board recommends a vote "FOR" this proposal.

What are my voting choices when voting on Proposal 2 and what vote is needed to approve Proposal 2?

        In voting to approve the proposal to adopt an amendment to the Restated Certificate of Formation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 200 million to 400 million, stockholders may vote in one of the following ways:

(a)

for the proposal,



(b)

against the proposal, or



(c)

abstain from voting on the proposal.

        The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting is required to adopt such amendment. An abstention has the same effect as a vote "against" the proposal.

        The Board recommends a vote "FOR" this proposal.

What are my voting choices when voting on Proposal 3 and what vote is needed to approve Proposal 3?

        In voting to approve amendments to the 2013 LTIP to, if and when the reverse stock split is effected, increase (i) the total number of shares of our Common Stock available for issuance under the

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2013 LTIP and (ii) the maximum number of such shares that may be granted in the form of full-value awards, stockholders may vote in one of the following ways:

(a)

for the proposal,



(b)

against the proposal, or



(c)

abstain from voting on the proposal.

        The proposal to approve the amendments to the 2013 LTIP requires a majority of the votes cast on the proposal, provided that the total votes cast on the proposal represents over 50% of the total number of outstanding shares of our Common Stock.

        While stockholders may cast their votes separately on each of the proposals contained in this Proxy Statement, the approval of Proposal 3 will be conditioned on the approval of Proposal 1.

        The Board recommends a vote "FOR" this proposal.

Could other matters be decided at the Special Meeting?

        No. Our Bylaws provide that business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in a resolution approved by a majority of the Board or a committee designated for such purpose by the Board.

What if a stockholder does not specify a choice for a matter when submitting their proxy?

        Stockholders should specify their choice for each matter on their proxy. If no instructions are given, proxies that are properly submitted will be voted "FOR" the proposal to effect the reverse stock split and, if and when the reverse stock split is effected, proportionately reduce the number of authorized shares of our Common Stock by the selected reverse split ratio, "FOR" the proposal to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock and "FOR" the proposal to approve the amendments to the 2013 LTIP.

What are broker non-votes?

        A broker non-vote occurs when the broker is unable to vote on a proposal because the proposal is not routine and the beneficial owner has not provided any voting instructions to the broker on that matter. NYSE rules determine whether proposals are routine or not routine. If a proposal is routine, a broker holding shares for an owner in street name may vote for the proposal without voting instructions. If a proposal is not routine, the broker may vote on the proposal only if the owner has provided voting instructions. If a broker does not receive voting instructions for a non-routine proposal, the broker will return a proxy card without a vote on that proposal, which is usually referred to as a "broker non-vote." The proposal to effect the reverse stock split and proportionately reduce the number of authorized shares of Common Stock by the selected reverse split ratio and the proposal to amend our 2013 LTIP are not considered to be routine matters under current NYSE rules, so your broker will not have discretionary authority to vote your shares held in street name on those matters. The proposal to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 200 million to 400 million is considered to be a routine matter on which brokers will be permitted to vote your shares without instructions from you.

Will I have electronic access to the proxy materials?

        The proxy materials are posted on ION's Internet website at www.iongeo.com under "Investor Relations—Investor Materials—Annual Reports, Quarterly Reports & Proxy Statement."

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

        Except as otherwise set forth below, the following table sets forth information as of December 4, 2015, with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock owned by (i) each person known by us to be a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our Common Stock, (ii) each named executive officer and director of the Company and (iii) all of our directors and executive officers as a group. Except where information was otherwise known by us, we have relied solely upon filings of Schedules 13D and 13G to determine the number of shares of our Common Stock owned by each person known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our Common Stock as of such date.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

        Introductory note: Under the rules of the SEC, because our stockholders will be taking action with respect to the 2013 LTIP at the Special Meeting, we are required to furnish the following information with respect to our executive compensation. In accordance with these rules, all information in the following "Executive Compensation" section of this Proxy Statement has been taken from our proxy statement for our 2015 Annual Meeting held May 20, 2015. The following discussion of executive compensation contains descriptions of various employee benefit plans and employment-related agreements. These descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text or detailed descriptions of the plans and agreements, which are filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

        This Compensation Discussion and Analysis provides an overview of the Compensation Committee of our Board, a discussion of the background and objectives of our compensation programs for our senior executives, and a discussion of all material elements of the compensation of each of the executive officers identified in the following table, whom we refer to as our named executive officers:

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Executive Summary

        General.    The objectives and major components of our executive compensation program did not materially change from 2014 to 2015. While we regularly review and fine-tune our compensation programs, we believe consistency in our compensation program and philosophy is important to effectively motivate and reward top-level management performance and for the creation of stockholder value. We continue to provide our named executive officers with total annual compensation that includes three principal elements: base salary, performance-based annual incentive cash compensation and long-term equity-based incentive awards. Elements of our compensation program continue to be performance-based, and a significant portion of each executive's total annual compensation is at risk and dependent upon our Company's achievement of specific, measurable performance goals. Our performance-based pay is designed to align our executive officers' interests with those of our stockholders and to promote the creation of stockholder value, without encouraging excessive risk-taking. In addition, our equity programs, combined with our executive share ownership requirements, are designed to reward long-term stock performance.

        Base salaries for several of our named executive officers were increased in January 2015, consistent with our usual base salary review process and practice. Payments under our annual bonus incentive plan for 2014 reflected our performance and the level of achievement of our 2014 plan performance goals. In 2014, the Compensation Committee determined that the bonus available for awards paid to our named executive officers under the 2014 plan should be based on our consolidated adjusted operating income and cash flow generation during the fiscal year. In early 2015, the Compensation Committee reviewed the Company's adjusted operating income and cash flow production and approved the bonus for each named executive based on individual and company performance. In approving the individual awards to our named executive officers in February 2015, the Compensation Committee noted that our named executive officers' efforts had enabled us to drive our financial performance during a challenging economic period for the seismic industry while, at the same time, improving our liquidity and positioning us to take advantage of the next upturn in the energy cycle. In addition, the Compensation Committee determined that each named executive officer had individually performed at or above the expected level and was a significant contributor to our overall financial performance for the year.

        The annual grants made to our named executive officers under our long-term stock incentive plan on March 1, 2014 were generally consistent with grants made to named executive officers in previous years.

        Consideration of Say-On-Pay Result.    At our 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 21, 2014, our stockholders approved all of our director nominees and proposals, including a non-binding advisory ("say-on-pay") vote to approve the compensation of our executive officers. In the advisory executive compensation vote, over 98% of the votes cast on the proposal voted in favor of our executive compensation. Our general goal since our 2014 Annual Meeting has been to continue to act consistently with the established practices that were overwhelmingly approved by our stockholders. We believe that we have accomplished that goal. In addition, because our stockholders voted in a non-binding advisory vote held at our 2011 Annual Meeting in favor of our holding an advisory ("say-on-frequency") vote on executive compensation every year, we will continue to hold an annual advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers. When and if our Board determines that it is in the best interest of our Company to hold our say-on-pay vote with a different frequency, we will propose such a change to our stockholders at the next annual meeting of stockholders to be held following the 'Board's determination. Presently, under SEC rules, we are not required to hold another say-on-frequency vote again until our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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Corporate Governance

Compensation Committee

        The Compensation Committee of our Board reviews and approves, or recommends to the Board for approval, all salary and other remuneration for our executive officers and oversees matters relating to our employee compensation and benefit programs. No member of the Compensation Committee is an employee of ION. The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee satisfies the definition of "independent" as established in the NYSE corporate governance listing standards. In determining the independence of each member of the Compensation Committee, the Board considered all factors specifically relevant to determining whether the director has a relationship to our company that is material to the director's ability to be independent from management in the execution of his duties as a Compensation Committee member, including, but not limited to:

•

the source of compensation of the director, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee paid by us to the director; and



•

whether the director is affiliated with our company, a subsidiary or affiliate.

        When considering the director's affiliation with us for purposes of independence, the Board considered whether the affiliate relationship places the director under the direct or indirect control of our company or its senior management, or creates a direct relationship between the director and members of senior management, in each case, of a nature that would impair the director's ability to make independent judgments about our executive compensation.

        The Compensation Committee operates pursuant to a written charter that sets forth its functions and responsibilities. A copy of the charter can be viewed on our website at http://ir.iongeo.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=101545&p=irol-govhighlights. For a description of the responsibilities of the Compensation Committee, see "Item 1.—Election of Directors—Committees of the Board—Compensation Committee" above.

        During 2014, the Compensation Committee met in person or by conference call four times. In addition, the Compensation Committee took action by unanimous written consent, as permitted under Delaware law and our Bylaws, two times during 2014, primarily to approve individual non-executive employee grants of restricted stock and stock options. We believe that each of these individual grants made by unanimous written consent of the Compensation Committee complied with the applicable grant date requirements under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic (ASC) 718, "Compensation—Stock Compensation" ("ASC Topic 718").

Compensation Consultants

        The Compensation Committee has the authority and necessary funding to engage, terminate and pay compensation consultants, independent legal counsel and other advisors in its discretion. Prior to retaining any such compensation consultant or other advisor, the Compensation Committee evaluates the independence of such advisor and also evaluates whether such advisor has a conflict of interest. During 2011, the Compensation Committee engaged Performensation Consulting, an equity compensation consulting firm, to provide advisory services with regard to the preparation of our 2011 proxy statement and to provide the Compensation Committee with analysis on the number of shares to propose to stockholders to add to our stock plan at our 2011 Annual Meeting for future grants to employees and directors. During 2011, the Compensation Committee also engaged Aon Hewitt as its consultant in connection with the promotion of Mr. Hanson to Chief Executive Officer. From 2012-2014, at the recommendation of our management, the Compensation Committee has approved and engaged Performensation Consulting to provide advisory services with regard to the preparation of our proxy statements.

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        From 2011 to date, neither of Performensation Consulting nor Aon Hewitt has received compensation, or advised our Company or our executive officers, on matters outside the scope of their respective engagements by the Compensation Committee.

        The Compensation Committee has considered the independence of Performensation Consulting in light of SEC rules and NYSE listing standards. Among the factors considered by the Compensation Committee were the following:

•

other services provided to our Company by Performensation Consulting;



•

the amount of fees paid by us as a percentage of Performensation Consulting's total revenues;



•

policies or procedures maintained by Performensation Consulting that are designed to prevent a conflict of interest;



•

any business or personal relationships between the individual consultants involved in the engagement and any member of the Compensation Committee;



•

any of our Common Stock owned by the individual consultants involved in the engagement; and



•

any business or personal relationships between our executive officers and Performensation Consulting or the individual consultants involved in the engagement.

        The Compensation Committee discussed these considerations and concluded that the work of Performensation Consulting did not raise any conflict of interest.

Role of Management in Establishing and Awarding Compensation

        On an annual basis, our Chief Executive Officer, with the assistance of our Human Resources department, recommends to the Compensation Committee any proposed increases in base salary, bonus payments and equity awards for our executive officers other than himself. No executive officer is involved in determining his own salary increase, bonus payment or equity award. When making officer compensation recommendations, our Chief Executive Officer takes into consideration compensation benchmarks, which include industry standards for similar sized organizations serving similar markets, as well as comparable positions, the level of inherent importance and risk associated with the position and function, and the executive's job performance over the previous year. See "—Objectives of Our Executive Compensation Programs—Benchmarking" and "—Elements of Compensation—Base Salary" below.

        Our Chief Executive Officer, with the assistance of our Human Resources department and input from our executive officers and other members of senior management, also formulates and proposes to the Compensation Committee an employee bonus incentive plan for the ensuing year. For a description of our process for formulating the employee bonus incentive plan and the factors that we consider, see "—Elements of Compensation—Bonus Incentive Plan" below.

        The Compensation Committee reviews and approves all compensation and awards to executive officers and all bonus incentive plans. With respect to equity compensation awarded to employees other than executive officers, the Compensation Committee reviews and approves all grants of restricted stock and stock options above 5,000 shares, generally based upon the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer, and has delegated option and restricted stock granting authority to the Chief Executive Officer as permitted under Delaware law for grants to non-executive officers of up to 5,000 shares.

        On its own initiative, at least once a year, the Compensation Committee reviews the performance and compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and, following discussions with the Chief Executive Officer and other members of the Board, establishes his compensation level. Where it deems appropriate, the Compensation Committee will also consider market compensation information from

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independent sources. See "—Objectives of Our Executive Compensation Programs—Benchmarking" below.

        Certain members of our senior management generally attend most meetings of the Compensation Committee, including our Chief Executive Officer, our Senior Vice President—Global Human Resources, and our Executive Vice President/General Counsel/Corporate Secretary. However, no member of management votes on items being considered by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee and Board do solicit the views of our Chief Executive Officer on compensation matters, particularly as they relate to the compensation of the other named executive officers and the other members of senior management reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee often conducts an executive session during each meeting, during which members of management are not present.

Objectives of Our Executive Compensation Programs

General Compensation Philosophy and Policy

        Through our compensation programs, we seek to achieve the following general goals:

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attract and retain qualified and productive executive officers and key employees by providing total compensation competitive with that of other executives and key employees employed by companies of similar size, complexity and industry of business;



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encourage our executives and key employees to achieve strong financial and operational performance;



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structure compensation to create meaningful links between corporate performance, individual performance and financial rewards;



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align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders by providing a significant portion of total pay in the form of stock-based incentives;



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encourage long-term commitment to our Company; and



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limit corporate perquisites to seek to avoid perceptions both within and outside of our Company of "soft" compensation.

        Our governing principles in establishing executive compensation have been:

        Long-Term and At-Risk Focus.    Compensation opportunities should be composed of long-term, at-risk pay to focus our management on the long-term interests of our Company. Base salary, annual incentives and employee benefits should be close to competitive levels when compared to similarly-situated companies.

        Equity Orientation.    Equity-based plans should comprise a major part of the at-risk portion of total compensation to instill ownership thinking and to link compensation to corporate performance and stockholder interests.

        Competitive.    We emphasize total compensation opportunities consistent on average with our peer group of companies. Competitiveness of annual base pay and annual incentives is independent of stock performance. However, overall competitiveness of total compensation is generally contingent on long-term, stock-based compensation programs.

        Focus on Total Compensation.    In making decisions with respect to any element of an executive officer's compensation, the Compensation Committee considers the total compensation that may be awarded to the executive officer, including salary, annual bonus and long-term incentive compensation. These total compensation reports are prepared by our Human Resources department and present the

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dollar amount of each component of the named executive officers' compensation, including current cash compensation (base salary, past bonus and eligibility for future bonus), equity awards and other compensation. The overall purpose of these total compensation reports is to bring together, in one place, all of the elements of actual and potential compensation of our named executive officers so that the Compensation Committee may analyze both the individual elements of compensation (including the compensation mix) as well as the aggregate total amount of actual and projected compensation. In its most recent review of total compensation reports, the Compensation Committee determined that annual compensation amounts for our Chief Executive Officer and our other named executive officers remained generally consistent with the Compensation Committee's expectations. However, the Compensation Committee reserves the right to make changes that it believes are warranted.

        Internal Pay Equity.    Our core compensation philosophy is to pay our executive officers competitive levels of compensation that best reflect their individual responsibilities and contributions to our Company, while providing incentives to achieve our business and financial objectives. While comparisons to compensation levels at other companies (discussed below) are helpful in assessing the overall competitiveness of our compensation program, we believe that our executive compensation program also must be internally consistent and equitable in order for our Company to achieve our corporate objectives. Each year our Human Resources department reports to the Compensation Committee the total compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer and all other senior executives, which includes a comparison for internal pay equity purposes. Over time, there have been variations in the comparative levels of compensation of executive officers and changes in the overall composition of the management team and the overall accountabilities of the individual executive officers; however, we and the Compensation Committee are satisfied that total compensation received by executive officers reflects an appropriate differential for executive compensation.

        These principles apply to compensation policies for all of our executive officers and key employees. We do not follow the principles in a mechanistic fashion; rather, we apply experience and judgment in determining the appropriate mix of compensation for each individual. This judgment also involves periodic review of discernible measures to determine the progress each individual is making toward agreed-upon goals and objectives.

Benchmarking

        When making compensation decisions, we also look at the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers relative to the compensation paid to similarly-situated executives at companies that we consider to be our industry and market peers—a practice often referred to as "benchmarking." We believe, however, that a benchmark should be just that—a point of reference for measurement—but not the determinative factor for our executives' compensation. The purpose of the comparison is not to supplant the analyses of internal pay equity, total wealth accumulation and the individual performance of the executive officers that we consider when making compensation decisions. Because the comparative compensation information is just one of the several analytic tools that are used in setting executive compensation, the Compensation Committee has discretion in determining the nature and extent of its use. Further, given the limitations associated with comparative pay information for setting individual executive compensation, including the difficulty of assessing and comparing wealth accumulation through equity gains, the Compensation Committee may elect to not use the comparative compensation information at all in the course of making compensation decisions.

        In most years, at least once each year, our Human Resources department, under the oversight of the Compensation Committee, reviews data from market surveys, independent consultants and other sources to assess our competitive position with respect to base salary, annual incentives and long-term incentive compensation. When reviewing compensation data in November 2014, we utilized data primarily from Radford salary surveys, the Mercer U.S. Compensation Planning Survey, TowersWatson executive salary survey and Frost's 2014 Oilfield Manufacturing and Services Industry Executive

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Compensation Survey ("OFMS Survey"). The survey information from most of these resources covered a broad range of industries and companies. However, the 2014 OFMS Survey compiled proxy compensation data from 53 oilfield services companies and survey results from the following 19 oilfield services companies:

        Each year, the administrators of the OFMS Survey in their discretion make adjustments to the list of companies included in the survey. As a result, the above list of companies included in the 2014 OFMS Survey is slightly different from the list of companies included in the OFMS Survey for 2013 and previous years and will likely be different from the list of companies to be included in future OFMS Surveys.

        The overall results of the compensation surveys provide the starting point for our compensation analysis. We believe that the surveys contain relevant compensation information from companies that are representative of the sector in which we operate, have relative size as measured by market capitalization and experience relative complexity in the business and the executives' roles and responsibilities. Beyond the survey numbers, we look extensively at a number of other factors, including our estimates of the compensation at our most comparable competitors and other companies that were closest to our Company in size, profitability and complexity. We also consider an individual's current performance, the level of corporate responsibility, and the employee's skills and experience, collectively, in making compensation decisions.

        In the case of our Chief Executive Officer and some of our other executive officers, we also consider our Company's performance during the person's tenure and the anticipated level of compensation that would be required to replace the person with someone of comparable experience and skill.

        In addition to our periodic review of compensation, we also regularly monitor market conditions and will adjust compensation levels from time to time as necessary to remain competitive and retain our most valuable employees. When we experience a significant level of competition for retaining current employees or hiring new employees, we will typically reevaluate our compensation levels within that employee group in order to ensure our competitiveness.

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Elements of Compensation

        The primary components of our executive compensation program are as follows:

        Below is a summary of each component:

Base Salary

        General.    The general purpose of base salary for our executive officers is to create a base of cash compensation for the officer that is consistent on average with the range of base salaries for executives in similar positions and with similar responsibilities at comparable companies. In addition to salary norms for persons in comparable positions at comparable companies, base salary amounts may also reflect the nature and scope of responsibility of the position, the expertise of the individual employee and the competitiveness of the market for the employee's services. Base salaries of executives other than our Chief Executive Officer may also reflect our Chief Executive Officer's evaluation of the individual executive officer's job performance. As a result, the base salary level for each individual may be above or below the target market value for the position. The Compensation Committee also recognizes that the Chief Executive Officer's compensation should reflect the greater policy- and decision-making authority that he holds and the higher level of responsibility he has with respect to our strategic direction and our financial and operating results. At December 31, 2014, our Chief Executive Officer's annual base salary was 48% higher than the annual base salary for the next highest-paid named executive officer and 60% higher than the average annual base salary for all of our other named executive officers. The Compensation Committee does not intend for base salaries to be the vehicle for long-term capital and value accumulation for our executives.

        2014 Actions.    In typical years, base salaries are reviewed at least annually and may also be adjusted from time to time to realign salaries with market levels after taking into account individual responsibilities and changes in responsibilities, performance and contribution to ION, experience, impact on total compensation, relationship of compensation to other ION officers and employees, and changes in external market levels. Salary increases for executive officers do not follow a preset schedule or formula but do take into account changes in the market and individual circumstances.

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        All of our named executive officers received an increase in base salary in January 2015, as described below:

Bonus Incentive Plan

        Our employee annual bonus incentive plan is intended to promote the achievement each year of the Company's performance objectives, the employee's particular business unit's performance objectives and to recognize those employees who contributed to the Company's achievements. The plan provides cash compensation that is at-risk on an annual basis by establishing bonus pools for each business unit contingent on achievement of annual business and operating objectives. The plan also provides for individual awards designed to reward Company and individual performance. This provides all participating employees the opportunity to share in the Company's performance through the achievement of established financial and individual objectives. The financial and individual objectives within the plan are intended to measure an increase in the value of our Company.

        In recent years, we have adopted a bonus incentive plan with regard to each year. Performance under the annual bonus incentive plan is measured with respect to the designated plan fiscal year.

        Payments under the plan are paid in cash in an amount reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee and are ordinarily made in the first quarter following the completion of a fiscal year, after the financial results for that year have been determined.

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        Our annual bonus incentive plan is usually consistent with our operating plan for the same year. In late 2013, we prepared a consolidated company operating budget for 2014 and individual operating budgets for each operating unit. The budgets took into consideration our views on market opportunities, customer and sale opportunities, technology enhancements for new products, product manufacturing and delivery schedules and other operating factors known or foreseeable at the time. The Board analyzed the proposed budgets with management extensively and, after analysis and consideration, the Board approved the consolidated 2014 operating plan. During late 2013, our Chief Executive Officer worked with our Human Resources department and members of senior management to formulate our 2014 bonus incentive plan, consistent with the 2014 operating plans approved by the Board.

        At the beginning of 2014, the Compensation Committee approved our 2014 bonus incentive plan for executives and certain designated non-executive employees. The computation of awards generated under the plan is required to be approved by the Compensation Committee. In February 2015, the Compensation Committee reviewed the Company's actual performance against each of the plan performance goals established at the beginning of 2014 and evaluated the individual performance during the year of each participating named executive officer. The results of operations of the Company for 2014 and individual performance evaluations determined the appropriate payouts under the annual bonus incentive plan.

        The Compensation Committee has discretion in circumstances it determines are appropriate to authorize discretionary bonus awards that might exceed amounts that would otherwise be payable under the terms of the bonus incentive plan. These discretionary awards can be payable in cash, stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units or a combination thereof. Any stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units awarded would be granted under one of our existing long-term equity compensation plans. The Compensation Committee also has the discretion, in appropriate circumstances, to grant a lesser bonus award, or no bonus award at all, under the bonus incentive plan.

        As described above, our bonus incentive plans are designed for payouts that generally track the financial performance of our Company. The general intent of the plans is to reward key employees when the Company and the employee perform well and not reward them when the Company and the employee do not perform well. In most years when company financial performance is strong, cash bonus payments are generally higher. Likewise, when our financial performance is low as compared to our internal targets and plans, cash bonus payments are generally lower. There are occasionally exceptions to this general trend. For example, in 2008 and 2011, we achieved improved financial performance over the previous year, but average cash bonus awards under our annual bonus incentive plans were relatively lower because we did not achieve our internal financial and growth objectives for the relevant years. In 2012, we achieved improved financial performance over the previous year, but our average bonus award paid to our named executive officers remained at approximately the same level as 2011 because our internal financial objectives for 2012 were higher than in 2011. This history demonstrates a clear and consistent link between our executive officer bonus incentive compensation and our performance.

        Below are general descriptions of our 2014 bonus incentive plan and our company performance criteria applicable to the plan.

        2014 Bonus Incentive Plan.    The purpose of the 2014 bonus incentive plan was to provide an incentive for our participating employees to achieve their highest level of individual and business unit performance and to align the employees to accomplish and share in the achievement of our Company's 2014 strategic and financial goals.

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        The bonus program includes a three step process:

        1.     The total bonus pool is established in our annual operating plan based on approximate percentages of base salary and our expected headcount. As discussed below, the total bonus pool consists of a fixed portion available for awards to eligible employees regardless of the Company's financial performance, and a variable portion available for distribution to eligible employees only to the extent the Company satisfies the designated financial performance criteria (i.e., consolidated adjusted operating income and cash flow).

        2.     The total bonus pool is allocated among our business units based on satisfaction of the designated financial performance criteria.

        3.     Once the bonus pool for each business unit is funded, individual bonuses are determined by business unit managers by evaluating each eligible employee's individual and team performance, and the computation of individual awards is approved by the Compensation Committee.

        Although achievement of our cash flow and consolidated adjusted operating income targets establish a guideline funding level of the bonus pool available to our named executive officers, actual amounts paid to our named executive officers are at the discretion of the Compensation Committee based on its overall assessment of other qualitative and quantitative corporate and individual criteria, generally in accordance with the compensation philosophy and policy described above.

        Designated employees, including our named executive officers, were eligible to participate in our 2014 bonus incentive plan. Under the 2014 plan, approximately 25% of the funds allocated for distribution were available for awards to eligible employees regardless of the Company's 2014 financial performance, and approximately 75% of the funds allocated for distribution were available for distribution to eligible employees only to the extent the Company satisfied the designated 2014 financial performance criteria. In addition, the 2014 plan was structured so that the total amount of funds available for distribution increased as the Company's financial performance and cash flow increased, up to a maximum funding level of 200%. As a result, the amount of total dollars available for distribution under the bonus incentive plan was largely dependent on the Company's achievement of financial objectives.

        Our 2014 bonus incentive plan established a dual emphasis on 2014 target consolidated adjusted operating income and cash flow generation as the performance goals.

        Consolidated adjusted operating income is equal to revenues minus expense related to manufacturing or costs of performing services, sales, marketing, research and development and general and administrative costs.

        Cash flow generation is the cash ION records in its bank accounts globally, based on the collection of customer payments, offset by the payment of vendors, employee payroll, taxes, utilities, and similar matters, excluding cash from external funding arrangements and interest payments.

        Cash flow generation and consolidated adjusted operating income were selected as the most appropriate performance goals for our 2014 plan because the Compensation Committee believed that cash flow generation and consolidated adjusted operating income were the best indicators of our Company's overall business trends and performance at that time and evidenced a direct correlation with the interests of our stockholders and our Company's performance. When determining whether financial targets have been achieved under the 2014 plan, the Compensation Committee has the discretion to modify or revise the targets as necessary to reflect any significant beneficial or adverse change that results in a substantial positive or negative effect on our performance as a whole, such as sales of assets, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs or unanticipated matters such as economic conditions, indicators of growth or recession in our business segments, nature of our operations or changes in or effect of applicable laws, regulations or accounting practices.

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        Under the plan, every participating named executive officer other than our Chief Executive Officer had the opportunity to earn up to 200% of his target depending on performance of our Company against the designated performance goals and performance of the executive against personal criteria determined at the beginning of 2014 by our Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee has the discretion to determine the amounts of individual bonus awards. Under separate terms approved by the Compensation Committee and contained in his employment agreement, Mr. Hanson, who served as our Chief Executive Officer during 2014, participated in the plan with potential to earn a target incentive payment of 75% of his base salary, depending on achievement of the Company's target consolidated performance goals and pre-designated personal critical success factors, and a maximum of 150% of his base salary upon achievement of the maximum consolidated performance goal and his personal goals. Our Chief Executive Officer typically carries a higher target and maximum bonus incentive plan percentage as compared to our other named executive officers as a result of his leadership role in setting company policy and strategic planning.

        Performance Criteria.    In 2014, the Compensation Committee approved a plan that placed equal importance on operating income and cash flow generation as the criteria for consideration of bonus awards to the named executive officers and other covered employees under our 2014 bonus incentive plan:

 

        Where an employee is primarily involved in a particular business unit, the financial performance criteria under the bonus incentive plan are weighted toward the operational performance of the employee's business unit rather than consolidated company performance. The "Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation" column of the 2014 Summary Compensation Table below reflects the payments that our named executive officers earned and received under our 2014 bonus incentive plan, and the "Bonus" column of the same table reflects any discretionary cash bonus payments received by our named executive officers during 2014. Our 2014 cash flow generation exceeded the target performance criteria under our 2014 bonus incentive plan but our operating income did not meet the target criteria under the plan.

        In addition to overall company performance, when considering the 2014 bonus incentive plan awards paid to our named executive officers, the Compensation Committee also considered the individual performances and accomplishments of each officer. For example, when considering the bonus award paid to Mr. Hanson, among the factors the Compensation Committee took into consideration was Mr. Hanson's effective leadership in our achievement of several important strategic objectives during the year, such as our further re-focusing the strategies and organization of the Company to prepare for the challenges associated with low oil prices, our development of our seabed strategy and management of the OceanGeo ocean-bottom joint venture. When considering the bonus award paid to Mr. Williamson, among the factors the Compensation Committee took into consideration were the 2014 financial performance of his GeoVentures Division and his efforts to reduce the amount of risk associated with the business portfolio. When considering the bonus award paid to Mr. Hulme, among the factors the Compensation Committee took into consideration were his management of the business and the positive financial results achieved in light of the new and start-up nature of OceanGeo. When considering the bonus award paid to Mr. Bate, among the factors the Compensation Committee took into consideration were the positive 2014 financial results of his efforts for the Company prior to becoming Chief Financial Officer and his promotion to Chief Financial Officer. When considering the

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bonus award paid to Mr. Usher, among the factors the Compensation Committee took into consideration were the 2014 financial results of his GeoScience Division and his role in reorganizing the Division into a broader group within the Company. When considering the bonus award paid to Mr. Heinlein, among the factors the Compensation Committee took into consideration was his progress towards goals prior to his departure. The total compensation paid to each named executive officer is set forth in the graph titled "Summary Compensation Table".

        The Compensation Committee reviews the annual bonus incentive plan each year to ensure that the key elements of the plan continue to meet the objectives described above.

Long-Term Stock-Based Incentive Compensation

        We have structured our long-term incentive compensation to provide for an appropriate balance between rewarding performance and encouraging employee retention and stock ownership. There is no pre-established policy or target for the allocation between either cash or non-cash or short-term and long-term incentive compensation; however, at executive management levels, the Compensation Committee strives for compensation to increasingly focus on longer-term incentives. In conjunction with the Board, executive management is responsible for setting and achieving long-term strategic goals. In support of this responsibility, compensation for executive management, and most particularly our Chief Executive Officer, tends to be weighted towards rewarding long-term value creation for stockholders. The below table illustrates the mix of total compensation received by Mr. Hanson, our CEO, and our other current named executive officers during 2014:

        For 2014, there were three forms of long-term equity incentives utilized for executive officers and key employees: stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units. Our long-term incentive plans have provided the principal method for our executive officers to acquire equity or equity-linked interests in our Company. Of the total stock option or restricted stock employee awards made by ION during 2014, 70% were in the form of stock options and 30% were in the form of restricted stock or restricted stock units. Our 2013 LTIP limits the number of awards we can grant under the plan in the form of full-value awards, such as restricted stock and restricted stock units, to 1,300,000 shares, or less than 35% of the total shares authorized for grant under the plan.

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        Stock Options.    Under our equity plans, stock options may be granted having exercise prices equal to the closing price of our stock on the date before the date of grant. In any event, all awards of stock options are made at or above the market price at the time of the award. The Compensation Committee will not grant stock options having exercise prices below the market price of our stock on the date of grant, and will not reduce the exercise price of stock options (except in connection with adjustments to reflect recapitalizations, stock or extraordinary dividends, stock splits, mergers, spin-offs and similar events, as required by the relevant plan) without the consent of our stockholders. Our stock options generally vest ratably over four years, based on continued employment, and the terms of our 2013 LTIP require stock options granted under that plan to follow that vesting schedule unless the Compensation Committee approves a different schedule when approving the grant. Prior to the exercise of an option, the holder has no rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares subject to such option, including voting rights and the right to receive dividends or dividend equivalents. New option grants normally have a term of ten years.

        The purpose of stock options is to provide equity compensation with value that has been traditionally treated as entirely at-risk, based on the increase in our stock price and the creation of stockholder value. Stock options also allow our executive officers and key employees to have equity ownership and to share in the appreciation of the value of our stock, thereby aligning their compensation directly with increases in stockholder value. Stock options only have value to their holder if the stock price appreciates in value from the date options are granted.

        Stock option award decisions are generally based on past business and individual performance. In determining the number of options to be awarded, we also consider the grant recipient's qualitative and quantitative performance, the size of stock option and other stock based awards in the past, and expectations of the grant recipient's future performance. In 2014, a total of 147 employees received option awards, covering 1,736,400 shares of our Common Stock. In 2014, the named executive officers received option awards for a total of 420,000 shares, or approximately 24% of the total options awarded in 2014.

        Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.    We use restricted stock and restricted stock units to focus executives on our long-term performance and to help align their compensation more directly with stockholder value. Vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units typically occurs ratably over three years, based solely on continued employment of the recipient-employee, and the terms of our 2013 LTIP require restricted stock and restricted stock units granted under that plan to follow that vesting schedule unless the Compensation Committee approves a different schedule when approving the grant. In 2014, 147 employees received restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards, covering an aggregate of 727,550 shares of restricted stock and shares underlying restricted stock units. The named executive officers received awards totaling 175,000 shares of restricted stock in 2014, or approximately 24% of the total shares of restricted stock awarded to employees in 2014.

        Awards of restricted stock units have been made to certain of our foreign employees in lieu of awards of restricted stock. Restricted stock units provide certain tax benefits to our foreign employees as the result of foreign law considerations, so we expect to continue to award restricted stock units to designated foreign employees for the foreseeable future.

        The Compensation Committee reviews the long-term incentive program each year to ensure that the key elements of this program continue to meet the objectives described above.

        Approval and Granting Process.    As described above, the Compensation Committee reviews and approves all stock option, restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards made to executive officers, regardless of amount. With respect to equity compensation awarded to employees other than executive officers, the Compensation Committee reviews and approves all grants of restricted stock, stock options and restricted stock units above 5,000 shares, generally based upon the recommendation of our Chief Executive Officer. Committee approval is required for any grant to be made to an executive officer in

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any amount. The Compensation Committee has granted to our Chief Executive Officer the authority to approve grants to any employee other than an executive officer of (i) up to 5,000 shares of restricted stock and (ii) stock options for not more than 5,000 shares. Our Chief Executive Officer is also required to provide a report to the Compensation Committee of all awards of options and restricted stock made by him under this authority. We believe that this policy is beneficial because it enables smaller grants to be made more efficiently. This flexibility is particularly important with respect to attracting and hiring new employees, given the increasingly competitive market for talented and experienced technical and other personnel in locales in which our employees work.

        All grants of restricted stock, restricted stock units and stock options to employees or directors are granted on one of four designated quarterly grant dates during the year: March 1, June 1, September 1 or December 1. The Compensation Committee approved these four dates because they are not close to any dates on which earnings announcements or other announcements of material events would normally be made by us. For an award to a current employee, the grant date for the award is the first designated quarterly grant date that occurs after approval of the award. For an award to a newly hired employee who is not yet employed by us at the time the award is approved, the grant date for the award is the first designated quarterly grant date that occurs after the new employee commences work. We believe that this process of fixed quarterly grant dates is beneficial because it serves to remove any perception that the grant date for an award could be capable of manipulation or change for the benefit of the recipient. In addition, having all grants occur on a maximum of four days during the year simplifies certain fair value accounting calculations related to the grants, thereby minimizing the administrative burden associated with tracking and calculating the fair values, vesting schedules and tax-related events upon vesting of restricted stock and also lessening the opportunity for inadvertent calculation errors.

        Beginning March 1, 2015, the Compensation Committee decided that all awards of restricted stock, stock options and share appreciation rights will be made in annual grants occurring on March 1 of each year. In 2014, the Company awarded annual equity grants on March 1. Prior to 2014, annual equity awards were made on December 1 of each year. After review and careful consideration by the Compensation Committee, the Company decided to continue the practice that began in 2014 of making annual awards on March 1 of each year. This date was selected because (i) it enables the Board and Compensation Committee to consider individual performance after the full year has been completed, (ii) it simplifies the annual budgeting process by having the expense resulting from the equity award incurred at the same time as incentive compensation and (iii) the date aligns with the time the Company normally pays annual incentive bonuses. Awards made in connection with significant promotions, new hires, new directors joining the Board or unusual circumstances, including but not limited to its employees and directors, will be granted on one of four designated dates during the year: March 1, June 1, September 1 or December 1.

        Beginning in 2015, and due in part to the steep decline in energy company equity prices, the Committee authorized grants under the 2008 Stock Appreciation Rights Plan to key employees with vesting based on a set of performance metrics. The grants were authorized after consulting with the Committee's compensation expert and upon the evaluation of market-based metrics of compensation. In addition to the performance metrics, employees participating in the plan would also be required to have minimum tenure requirements to create an environment of employment stability.

Clawback Policy

        We have a Compensation Recoupment Policy (commonly referred to as a "clawback" policy), which provides that, in the event of a restatement of our financial results due to material noncompliance with applicable financial reporting requirements, the Board will, if it determines appropriate and subject to applicable laws and the terms and conditions of our applicable stock plans, programs or arrangements, seek reimbursement of the incremental portion of performance-based

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compensation, including performance-based bonuses and long-term incentive awards, paid to current or former executive officers within three years of the restatement date, in excess of the compensation that would have been paid had the compensation amount been based on the restated financial results.

Personal Benefits, Perquisites and Employee Benefits

        Our Board and executives have concluded that we will not offer most perquisites traditionally offered to executives of similarly-sized companies. As a result, perquisites and any other similar personal benefits offered to our executive officers are substantially the same as those offered to our general salaried employee population. These offered benefits include medical and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, a vision plan, charitable gift matching (up to designated limits), a 401(k) plan with a company match of certain levels of contributions, flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care and other customary employee benefits. Business-related relocation benefits may be reimbursed on a case-by-case basis. We intend to continue applying our general policy of not providing specific personal benefits and perquisites to our executives; however, we may, in our discretion, revise or add to any executive's personal benefits and perquisites if we deem it advisable.

Risk Management Considerations

        The Compensation Committee believes that our Company's bonus and equity programs create incentives for employees to create long-term stockholder value. The Compensation Committee has considered the concept of risk as it relates to the Company's compensation programs and has concluded that the Company's compensation programs do not encourage excessive or inappropriate risk-taking. Several elements of the compensation programs are designed to promote the creation of long-term value and thereby discourage behavior that leads to excessive risk:

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The compensation programs consist of both fixed and variable compensation. The fixed (or salary) portion is designed to provide a steady income regardless of the Company's stock price performance so that executives do not focus exclusively on stock price performance to the detriment of other important business metrics. The variable (cash bonus and equity) portions of compensation are designed to reward both short- and long-term corporate performance. The Compensation Committee believes that the variable elements of compensation are a sufficient percentage of overall compensation to motivate executives to produce positive short- and long-term corporate results, while the fixed element is also sufficiently high such that the executives are not encouraged to take unnecessary or excessive risks in doing so.



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The financial metrics used to determine the amount of an executive's bonus are measures the Compensation Committee believes contribute to long-term stockholder value and ensure the continued viability of the Company. Moreover, the Compensation Committee attempts to set ranges for these measures that encourage success without encouraging excessive risk taking to achieve short-term results. In addition, the overall maximum bonus for each participating named executive officer other than our Chief Executive Officer is not expected to exceed 100% of the executive's base salary under the bonus plan, and the overall bonus for our Chief Executive Officer under his employment agreement will not exceed 150% of his base salary under the bonus plan, in each case no matter how much the Company's financial performance exceeds the ranges established at the beginning of the year.



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We have strict internal controls over the measurement and calculation of the financial metrics that determine the amount of an executive's bonus, designed to keep it from being susceptible to manipulation by an employee, including our executives.



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Stock options become exercisable over a four-year period and remain exercisable for up to ten years from the date of grant, encouraging executives to look to long-term appreciation in equity values.

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Restricted stock becomes exercisable over a three-year period, again encouraging executives to look to long-term appreciation in equity values.



•

Senior executives, including our named executive officers, are required to acquire over time and hold shares of our Company's stock having a value of between one and four times the executive's annual base salary, depending on the level of the executive. The Compensation Committee believes that the stock ownership guidelines provide a considerable incentive for management to consider the Company's long-term interests, since a portion of their personal investment portfolio consists of our Common Stock.



•

In addition, we do not permit any of our executive officers or directors to enter into any derivative or hedging transactions involving our stock, including short sales, market options, equity swaps and similar instruments, thereby preventing executives from insulating themselves from the effects of poor Company stock price performance. Please refer to "—Stock Ownership Requirements; Hedging Policy" below.



•

We have a compensation recoupment (clawback) policy that provides, in the event of a restatement of our financial results due to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements, for reimbursement of the incremental portion of performance-based compensation, including performance-based bonuses and long-term incentive awards, paid to current or former executive officers within three years of the restatement date, in excess of the compensation that would have been paid had such compensation amount been based on the restated financial results. Please refer to "—Clawback Policy" above.

Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers

        Our Bylaws provide certain rights of indemnification to our directors and employees (including our executive officers) in connection with any legal action brought against them by reason of the fact that they are or were a director, officer, employee or agent of our Company, to the full extent permitted by law. Our Bylaws also provide, however, that no such obligation to indemnify exists as to proceedings initiated by an employee or director against us or our directors unless (a) it is a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated to enforce a right to indemnification or (b) was authorized or consented to by our Board.

        As discussed below, we have also entered into employment agreements with certain of our executive officers that provide for us to indemnify the executive to the fullest extent permitted by our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. The agreements also provide that we will provide the executive with coverage under our directors' and officers' liability insurance policies to the same extent as provided to our other executives.

Stock Ownership Requirements; Hedging Policy

        We believe that broad-based stock ownership by our employees (including our executive officers) enhances our ability to deliver superior stockholder returns by increasing the alignment between the interests of our employees and our stockholders. Accordingly, the Board has adopted stock ownership requirements applicable to each of our senior executives, including our named executive officers. The policy requires each executive to retain direct ownership of at least 50% of all shares of our Company's stock received upon exercise of stock options and vesting of awards of restricted stock or restricted stock units until the executive owns shares having an aggregate value equal to the following multiples of the executive's annual base salary:

President and Chief Executive Officer—4x
Executive Vice President—2x
Senior Vice President—1x

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        As of the date of this Proxy Statement, all of our senior executives were in compliance with the stock ownership requirements. In addition, we do not permit any of our executive officers or directors to enter into any derivative or hedging transactions with respect to our stock, including short sales, market options, equity swaps and similar instruments.

Impact of Regulatory Requirements and Accounting Principles on Compensation

        The financial reporting and income tax consequences to our Company of individual compensation elements are important considerations for the Compensation Committee when it is analyzing the overall level of compensation and the mix of compensation among individual elements. Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and the related federal treasury regulations, we may not deduct annual compensation in excess of $1 million paid to certain employees—generally our Chief Executive Officer and our four other most highly compensated executive officers—unless that compensation qualifies as "performance-based" compensation. Overall, the Compensation Committee seeks to balance its objective of ensuring an effective compensation package for the executive officers with the need to maximize the immediate deductibility of compensation—while ensuring an appropriate (and transparent) impact on reported earnings and other closely followed financial measures.

        In making its compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee has considered the limitations on deductibility within the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) and its related Treasury regulations. As a result, the Compensation Committee has designed much of the total compensation packages for the executive officers to qualify for the exemption of "performance-based" compensation from the deductibility limit. However, the Compensation Committee does have the discretion to design and use compensation elements that may not be deductible within the limitations under Section 162(m), if the Compensation Committee considers the tax consequences and determines that those elements are in our best interests. To maintain flexibility in compensating executive officers in a manner designed to promote varying corporate goals, we have not adopted a policy that all compensation must be deductible.

        Certain payments to our named executive officers under our 2014 annual incentive plan may not qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) because the awards were calculated and paid in a manner that may not meet the requirements under Section 162(m) and the related Treasury regulations. Given the rapid changes in our business and industry that have occurred during recent years and those that may occur in 2015 and subsequent years, we believe that we are better served in implementing a plan that provides for adjustments and discretionary elements for our senior executives' incentive compensation, rather than ensuring that we implement all of the requirements and limitations under Section 162(m) into these incentive plans.

        Likewise, the impact of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code is taken into account, and our executive compensation plans and programs are, in general, designed to comply with the requirements of that section so as to avoid possible adverse tax consequences that may result from non-compliance.

        For accounting purposes, we apply the guidance in ASC Topic 718 to record compensation expense for our equity-based compensation grants. ASC Topic 718 is used to develop the assumptions necessary and the model appropriate to value the awards as well as the timing of the expense recognition over the requisite service period, generally the vesting period, of the award.

        Executive officers will generally recognize ordinary taxable income from stock option awards when a vested option is exercised. We generally receive a corresponding tax deduction for compensation expense in the year of exercise. The amount included in the executive officer's wages and the amount we may deduct is equal to the Common Stock price when the stock options are exercised less the exercise price, multiplied by the number of shares under the stock options exercised. We do not pay or reimburse any executive officer for any taxes due upon exercise of a stock option. We have not

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historically issued any tax-qualified incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.

        Executives will generally recognize taxable ordinary income with respect to their shares of restricted stock at the time the restrictions lapse (unless the recipient elects to accelerate recognition as of the date of grant). Restricted stock unit awards are generally subject to ordinary income tax at the time of payment or issuance of unrestricted shares of stock. We are generally entitled to a corresponding federal income tax deduction at the same time the executive recognizes ordinary income.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

        The following table summarizes the compensation paid to or earned by our named executive officers at December 31, 2014.

Discussion of Summary Compensation Table

        Stock Awards Column.    All of the amounts in the "Stock Awards" column reflect the grant-date fair value of awards of restricted stock made during the applicable fiscal year (excluding any impact of assumed forfeiture rates) under either our 2004 LTIP or 2013 LTIP. While unvested, a holder of restricted stock is entitled to the same voting rights as all other holders of Common Stock. In each case, unless stated otherwise below, the awards of shares of restricted stock vest in one-third increments each year, over a three-year period. The values contained in the Summary Compensation Table under the Stock Awards column are based on the grant date fair value of all stock awards

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(excluding any impact of assumed forfeiture rates). In addition to the grants and awards in 2014 described in the "2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards" table below:

•

On December 1, 2012, Mr. Hanson received an award of 45,000 shares of restricted stock.



•

On December 1, 2013, Mr. Hanson received an award of 60,000 shares of restricted stock.



•

On December 1, 2012, Mr. Williamson received an award of 15,000 shares of restricted stock.



•

On December 1, 2013, Mr. Williamson received an award of 20,000 shares of restricted stock.



•

In connection with his hire on November 30, 2012, as Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, GeoScience Division, on December 1, 2012, Mr. Usher received an award of 50,000 shares of restricted stock.



•

On December 1, 2013, Mr. Usher received an award of 20,000 shares of restricted stock.



•

On December 1, 2013, Mr. Hulme received an award of 15,000 shares of restricted stock.



•

Mr. Heinlein received an award of 5,000 shares of restricted stock on December 1, 2012 and 15,000 shares of restricted stock on December 1, 2013. Mr. Heinlein's employment with ION ended on December 31, 2014. As a result of the termination of his employment, 26,666 shares of restricted stock held by Mr. Heinlein were forfeited on December 31, 2014.

        Option Awards Column.    All of the amounts shown in the "Option Awards" column reflect stock options granted under either our 2004 LTIP or 2013 LTIP. In each case, unless stated otherwise below, the options vest 25% each year over a four-year period. The values contained in the Summary Compensation Table under the Stock Options column are based on the grant date fair value of all option awards (excluding any impact of assumed forfeiture rates). For a discussion of the valuation assumptions for the awards, see Note 9, Stockholders' Equity and Stock-Based Compensation—Valuation Assumptions, in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. All of the exercise prices for the options equal or exceed the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the date of grant. In addition to the grants and awards in 2014 described in the "2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards" table below:

•

On December 1, 2012, Mr. Hanson received an award of options to purchase 75,000 shares of our Common Stock for an exercise price of $5.96 per share.



•

On December 1, 2013, Mr. Hanson received an award of options to purchase 100,000 shares of our Common Stock for an exercise price of $3.86 per share.



•

On December 1, 2012, Mr. Williamson received an award of options to purchase 50,000 shares of our Common Stock for an exercise price of $5.96 per share.



•

On December 1, 2013, Mr. Williamson received an award of options to purchase 60,000 shares of our Common Stock for an exercise price of $3.86 per share.



•

On December 1, 2013, Mr. Hulme received an award of options to purchase 50,000 shares of our Common Stock for an exercise price of $3.86 per shares.



•

In connection with his hire on November 30, 2012, as Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, GeoScience Division, on December 1, 2012, Mr. Usher received an award of options to purchase 50,000 shares of our Common Stock for an exercise price of $5.96 per share.



•

On December 1, 2013, Mr. Usher received an award of options to purchase 60,000 shares of our Common Stock for an exercise price of $3.86 per share.



•

On December 1, 2012, Mr. Heinlein received an award of options to purchase 25,000 shares of our Common Stock for an exercise price of $5.96 per share; and on December 1, 2013,

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Mr. Heinlein received an award of options to purchase 40,000 shares at $3.86 per share. Mr. Heinlein's employment with ION ended on December 31, 2014. As a result of the termination of his employment, unvested options to purchase 125,500 shares of our Common Stock held by Mr. Heinlein were forfeited on December 31, 2014.

        Other Columns.    Mr. Usher was hired as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, GeoScience Division, on November 30, 2012. In connection with his hire, Mr. Usher received a sign-on bonus of $125,000.

        All payments of non-equity incentive plan compensation reported for 2014 were made in February 2015 with regard to the 2014 fiscal year and were earned and paid pursuant to our 2014 incentive plan.

        We do not sponsor for our employees (i) any defined benefit or actuarial pension plans (including supplemental plans), (ii) any non-tax-qualified deferred compensation plans or arrangements or (iii) any nonqualified defined contribution plans.

        Our general policy is that our executive officers do not receive any executive "perquisites," or any other similar personal benefits that are different from what our salaried employees are entitled to receive. We provide the named executive officers with certain group life, health, medical and other non-cash benefits generally available to all salaried employees, which are not included in the "All Other Compensation" column in the Summary Compensation Table pursuant to SEC rules. With the exception of reimbursements of moving expenses received by Mr. Heinlein, the amounts shown in the "All Other Compensation" column solely consist of employer matching contributions to ION's 401(k) plan. Mr. Heinlein was hired in November 2011 as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and was reimbursed $103,302 for moving expenses incurred in 2013 and $65,805 for moving expenses incurred in 2014.

2014 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

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Employment Agreements

        In recent years, we have not entered into employment agreements with employees other than our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. We have generally entered into employment agreements with employees only when the employee holds an executive officer position and we believe that an employment agreement is desirable for us to obtain a measure of assurance as to the executive's continued employment in light of prevailing market competition for the particular position held by the executive officer, or where we determine that an employment agreement is necessary and appropriate to attract an executive in light of market conditions, the prior experience of the executive or practices at ION with respect to other similarly situated employees.

        The following discussion describes the material terms of our existing executive employment agreements with our named executive officers:

R. Brian Hanson

        In connection with his appointment as our President and Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2012, Mr. Hanson entered into a new employment agreement. The agreement provides for Mr. Hanson to serve as our President and Chief Executive Officer for an initial term of three years, with automatic two-year renewals thereafter. Any change of control of our Company after January 1, 2013 will cause

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the remaining term of Mr. Hanson's employment agreement to automatically adjust to a term of three years, which will commence on the effective date of the change of control.

        The agreement provides for Mr. Hanson to receive an initial base salary of $450,000 per year and be eligible to receive an annual performance bonus under our incentive compensation plan, with a target incentive plan bonus amount equal to 75% of his base salary and with a maximum incentive plan bonus amount equal to 150% of his base salary.

        Under the agreement, and as approved by the Compensation Committee, Mr. Hanson will be entitled to receive grants of (i) options to purchase shares of our Common Stock and (ii) shares of our restricted stock. Mr. Hanson will also be eligible to participate in other equity compensation plans that are established for our key executives, as approved by the Compensation Committee. In the agreement, we also agreed to indemnify Mr. Hanson to the fullest extent permitted by our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and to provide him coverage under our directors' and officers' liability insurance policies to the same extent as other company executives.

        We may at any time terminate our employment agreement with Mr. Hanson for "Cause" if Mr. Hanson (i) willfully and continuously fails to substantially perform his obligations, (ii) willfully engages in conduct materially and demonstrably injurious to our property or business (including fraud, misappropriation of funds or other property, other willful misconduct, gross negligence or conviction of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude) or (iii) commits a material breach of the agreement. In addition, we may at any time terminate the agreement if Mr. Hanson suffers permanent and total disability for a period of at least 180 consecutive days, or if Mr. Hanson dies. Mr. Hanson may terminate his employment agreement for "Good Reason" if we breach any material provision of the agreement, we assign to Mr. Hanson any duties materially inconsistent with his position, we materially reduce his duties, functions, responsibilities, budgetary or other authority, or take other action that results in a diminution in his office, position, duties, functions, responsibilities or authority, we relocate his workplace by more than 50 miles, or we elect not to extend the term of his agreement.

        In his agreement, Mr. Hanson agrees not to compete against us, assist any competitor, attempt to solicit any of our suppliers or customers, or solicit any of our employees, in any case during his employment and for a period of two years after his employment ends. The employment agreement also contains provisions relating to protection of our confidential information and intellectual property. The agreement does not contain any tax gross-up benefits.

        For a discussion of the provisions of Mr. Hanson's employment agreement regarding compensation to Mr. Hanson in the event of a change of control affecting our Company or his termination by us without cause or by him for good reason, see "—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control—R. Brian Hanson" below.

Steven A. Bate

        In connection with his appointment as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on November 13, 2014, Mr. Bate entered into an employment agreement. The agreement provides for Mr. Bate to serve as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for an initial term of three years, with automatic one-year renewals thereafter. Any change of control of our Company after November 13, 2015 will cause the remaining term of Mr. Bate's employment agreement to automatically adjust to a term of two years, which will commence on the effective date of the change of control.

        The agreement provides for Mr. Bate to receive an initial base salary of $375,000 per year and be eligible to receive an annual performance bonus under our incentive compensation plan, with a target incentive plan bonus amount equal to 50% of his base salary beginning in 2015.

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        Under the agreement, Mr. Bate will be entitled to receive grants of (i) options to purchase shares of our Common Stock and (ii) shares of our restricted stock. Mr. Bate will also be eligible to participate in other equity compensation plans that are established for our key executives, as approved by the Compensation Committee. In the agreement, we also agreed to indemnify Mr. Bate to the fullest extent permitted by our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and to provide him coverage under our directors' and officers' liability insurance policies to the same extent as other Company executives.

        We may at any time terminate our employment agreement with Mr. Bate for "Cause" if Mr. Bate (i) willfully and continuously fails to substantially perform his obligations, (ii) willfully engages in conduct materially and demonstrably injurious to our property or business (including fraud, misappropriation of funds or other property, other willful misconduct, gross negligence or conviction of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude) or (iii) commits a material breach of the agreement. In addition, we may at any time terminate the agreement if Mr. Bate suffers permanent and total disability for a period of at least 180 consecutive days, or if Mr. Bate dies. Mr. Bate may terminate his employment agreement for "Good Reason" if we breach any material provision of the agreement, we assign to Mr. Bate any duties materially inconsistent with his position, we materially reduce his duties, functions, responsibilities, budgetary or other authority, or take other action that results in a diminution in his office, position, duties, functions, responsibilities or authority, or we relocate his workplace by more than 50 miles.

        In his agreement, Mr. Bate agrees not to compete against us, assist any competitor, attempt to solicit any of our suppliers or customers, or solicit any of our employees, in any case during his employment and for a period of twelve months after his employment ends. The employment agreement also contains provisions relating to protection of our confidential information and intellectual property.

        For a discussion of the provisions of Mr. Bate's employment agreement regarding compensation to Mr. Bate in the event of a change of control affecting our Company or his termination by us without cause or by him for good reason, see "—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control—Steven A. Bate" below.

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

        The following table sets forth information concerning unexercised stock options (including outstanding stock appreciation rights, or SARs) and shares of restricted stock held by our named executive officers at December 31, 2014:

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2014 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

        The following table sets forth certain information with respect to option and stock exercises by the named executive officers during the year ended December 31, 2014:

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

        Under the terms of our equity-based compensation plans and our employment agreements, our Chief Executive Officer and certain of our other named executive officers are entitled to payments and benefits upon the occurrence of specified events including termination of employment (with and without cause) and upon a change in control of our Company. The specific terms of these arrangements, as well as an estimate of the compensation that would have been payable had they been triggered as of December 31, 2014, are described in detail below. In the case of each employment agreement, the terms of these arrangements were established through the course of arms-length negotiations with each executive officer, both at the time of hire and at the times of any later amendment. As part of these negotiations, the Compensation Committee analyzed the terms of the same or similar arrangements for comparable executives employed by companies in our industry group. This approach was used by the Compensation Committee in setting the amounts payable and the triggering events under the arrangements. The termination of employment provisions of the employment agreements were entered into in order to address competitive concerns by providing those individuals with a fixed amount of compensation that would offset the potential risk of leaving their prior employer or foregoing other opportunities in order to join our Company. At the time of entering into these arrangements, the Compensation Committee considered the aggregate potential obligations of our Company in the context of the desirability of hiring the individual and the expected compensation upon joining us. However, these contractual severance and post-termination arrangements have not affected the decisions the Compensation Committee has made regarding other compensation elements and the rationale for compensation decisions made in connection with these arrangements.

        The following summaries set forth estimated potential payments payable to each of our named executive officers upon termination of employment or a change of control of our Company under their current employment agreements and our stock plans and other compensation programs as if his employment had so terminated for these reasons, or the change of control had so occurred, on December 31, 2014. The Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, agree to revise, amend or add to the benefits if it deems advisable. For purposes of the following summaries, dollar amounts are estimates based on annual base salary as of December 31, 2014, benefits paid to the named executive officer in fiscal 2014 and stock and option holdings of the named executive officer as of December 31, 2014. The summaries assume a price per share of Common Stock of $2.75, which was the closing price per share on December 31, 2014, as reported on the NYSE. The actual amounts to be paid to the named executive officers can only be determined at the time of each executive's separation from the Company.

        The amounts of potential future payments and benefits as set forth in the tables below, and the descriptions of the assumptions upon which such future payments and benefits are based and derived,

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may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are estimates of payments and benefits to certain of our executives upon their termination of employment or a change in control, and actual payments and benefits may vary materially from these estimates. Actual amounts can only be determined at the time of such executive's actual separation from our Company or the time of such change in control event. Factors that could affect these amounts and assumptions include the timing during the year of any such event, the Company's stock price, unforeseen future changes in our Company's benefits and compensation methodology and the age of the executive.

R. Brian Hanson

        Termination and Change of Control.    Mr. Hanson is entitled to certain benefits under his employment agreement upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

•

we terminate his employment other than for cause, death or disability;



•

Mr. Hanson resigns for "good reason"; or



•

a "change in control" involving our Company occurs and, within 12 months following the change in control, (a) we or our successor terminate Mr. Hanson's employment or (b) Mr. Hanson terminates his employment after we or our successor (i) elect not to extend the term of his employment agreement, (ii) assign to Mr. Hanson duties inconsistent with his CEO position, duties, functions, responsibilities, authority or reporting relationship to the Board under his employment agreement, (iii) become a privately-owned company as a result of a transaction in which Mr. Hanson does not participate within the acquiring group, (iv) are rendered a subsidiary or division or other unit of another company; or (v) take any action that would constitute "good reason" under his employment agreement.

        Under Mr. Hanson's employment agreement, a "change in control" occurs upon any of the following (which we refer to in this section as an "Employment Agreement Change of Control"):

        (1)   the acquisition by a person or group of beneficial ownership of 40% or more of our outstanding shares of Common Stock other than any acquisitions directly from ION, acquisitions by ION or an employee benefit plan maintained by ION, or certain permitted acquisitions in connection with a "Merger" (as defined in sub-paragraph (3) below);

        (2)   changes in directors on our board of directors such that the individuals that constitute the entire board cease to constitute at least a majority of directors of the board, other than new directors whose appointment or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then constituting the entire board of directors (except in the case of election contests);

        (3)   consummation of a "Merger"—that is, a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar business combination involving ION—unless (i) owners of ION Common Stock immediately following such business combination together own more than 50% of the total outstanding stock or voting power of the entity resulting from the business combination in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of ION voting securities immediately prior to such Merger and (ii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Merger (or its parent corporation) were members of our board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for the Merger; or

        (4)   the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets.

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        Upon the occurrence of any of the above events and conditions, Mr. Hanson would be entitled to receive the following (less applicable withholding taxes and subject to compliance with non-compete, non-solicit and no-hire obligations):

•

over a two-year period, a cash amount equal to two times his annual base salary and two times his target bonus amount in effect for the year of termination;



•

a prorated portion of any unpaid target incentive plan bonus for the year of termination; and



•

continuation of insurance coverage for Mr. Hanson as of the date of his termination for a period of two years at the same cost to him as prior to the termination.

        In addition, upon the occurrence of any of the above events or conditions, the vesting period for all of Mr. Hanson's unvested equity awards granted on or after January 1, 2012 having a remaining vesting period of two years or less as of the date of termination will immediately accelerate to vest in full. In such event, all restrictions on the awards will thereupon be immediately lifted and the exercise period of all outstanding vested stock options (including the option awards that have been so accelerated) granted on or after January 1, 2012 will continue in effect until the earlier of (a) two years after the date of termination or (b) the expiration of the full original term, as specified in each applicable stock option agreement.

        Change of Control Under Equity Compensation Plans.    Mr. Hanson and our other named executive officers currently hold outstanding awards under one or more of the following three equity compensation plans: our 2004 LTIP, 2013 LTIP and our Stock Appreciation Rights Plan. Under these plans, a "change of control" will be deemed to have occurred upon any of the following (which we refer to in this section as a "Plan Change of Control"):

        (1)   the acquisition by a person or group of beneficial ownership of 40% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock other than acquisitions directly from ION, acquisitions by ION or an employee benefit plan maintained by ION, or certain permitted acquisitions in connection with a business combination described in sub-paragraph (3) below;

        (2)   changes in directors such that the individuals that constitute the entire board of directors cease to constitute at least a majority of directors of the board, other than new directors whose appointment or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then constituting the entire board of directors (except in the case of election contests);

        (3)   consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar business combination involving ION, unless (i) owners of our Common Stock immediately following such transaction together own more than 50% of the total outstanding stock or voting power of the entity resulting from the transaction and (ii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from the transaction were members of our board of directors at the time the agreement for the transaction is signed; or

        (4)   the sale of all or substantially all of our assets.

        Upon any such "Plan Change of Control," all of Mr. Hanson's stock options granted to him under the 2004 LTIP or the 2013 LTIP will become fully exercisable, and all restricted stock awards granted to him under the 2004 LTIP or the 2013 LTIP will automatically accelerate and become fully vested. In addition, any change of control of our Company will cause the remaining term of Mr. Hanson's employment agreement to automatically adjust to two years, commencing on the effective date of the change of control.

        We believe the double-trigger change-of-control benefit referenced above maximizes stockholder value because it motivates Mr. Hanson to remain in his position for a sufficient period of time following a change of control to ensure a smoother integration and transition for the new owners.

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Given his experience with our Company and within the seismic industry as our CFO and CEO, we believe Mr. Hanson's severance structure is in our best interest because it ensures that for a two-year period after leaving our employment, Mr. Hanson will not be in a position to compete against us or otherwise adversely affect our business.

        Death, Disability or Retirement.    Upon his death or disability, all options and restricted stock that Mr. Hanson holds would automatically accelerate and become fully vested. Upon his retirement, all options that Mr. Hanson holds would automatically accelerate and become fully vested. No shares of restricted stock held by Mr. Hanson would automatically accelerate and become fully vested upon his retirement.

        Termination by Us for Cause or by Mr. Hanson Other Than for Good Reason.    Upon any termination by us for cause or any resignation by Mr. Hanson for any reason other than for "good reason" (as defined in his employment agreement), Mr. Hanson is not entitled to any payment or benefit other than the payment of unpaid salary and possibly accrued and unused vacation pay.

        Mr. Hanson's currently-held vested stock options and SARs will remain exercisable after his termination of employment, death, disability or retirement for periods of between three months and one year following such event, depending on the event and the terms of the applicable plan and grant agreement. If Mr. Hanson is terminated for cause, all of his vested and unvested stock options and unvested restricted stock will be immediately forfeited. We have not agreed to provide Mr. Hanson any additional payments in the event any payment or benefit under his employment agreement is determined to be subject to the excise tax for "excess parachute payments" under U.S. federal income tax rules, or any other "tax gross-ups" under this employment agreement.

        Assuming Mr. Hanson's employment was terminated under each of these circumstances or a change of control occurred on December 31, 2014, his payments and benefits would have an estimated value as follows (less applicable withholding taxes):

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Kenneth G. Williamson

        Mr. Williamson is not entitled to receive any contractual severance pay if we terminate his employment without cause. Upon a "Plan Change of Control" (see "—R. Brian Hanson—Change of Control Under Equity Compensation Plans" above), all of his unvested stock options granted to him under the 2004 LTIP or the 2013 LTIP will become fully exercisable and all restricted stock awards granted to him under the 2004 LTIP or the 2013 LTIP will automatically accelerate and become fully vested. Upon his death or disability, all options and restricted stock that Mr. Williamson holds would automatically accelerate and become fully vested. Upon his retirement, all options that Mr. Williamson holds would automatically accelerate and become fully vested. No shares of restricted stock held by Mr. Williamson would automatically accelerate and become fully vested upon his retirement.

        The vested stock options held by Mr. Williamson will remain exercisable after his termination of employment, death, disability or retirement for periods of between three months and one year following such event, depending on the event and the terms of the applicable stock plan and grant agreement. If Mr. Williamson is terminated for cause, all of his vested and unvested stock options and unvested restricted stock will be immediately forfeited.

        Assuming his employment was terminated under each of these circumstances or a change of control occurred on December 31, 2014, his payments and benefits would have an estimated value as follows (less applicable withholding taxes):

Colin T. Hulme

        Mr. Hulme is not entitled to receive any contractual severance pay if we terminate his employment without cause. Upon a "Plan Change of Control" (see "—R. Brian Hanson—Change of Control Under Equity Compensation Plans" above), all of his unvested stock options granted to him under the 2004 LTIP or the 2013 LTIP will become fully exercisable and all restricted stock awards granted to him under the 2004 LTIP or the 2013 LTIP will automatically accelerate and become fully vested. Upon his

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death or disability, all options and restricted stock that Mr. Hulme holds would automatically accelerate and become fully vested.

        Upon his retirement, all options that Mr. Hulme holds would automatically accelerate and become fully vested. No shares of restricted stock held by Mr. Hulme would automatically accelerate and become fully vested upon his retirement. The vested stock options held by Mr. Hulme will remain exercisable after his termination of employment, death, disability or retirement for periods of between three months days and one year following such event, depending on the event and the terms of the applicable stock plan and grant agreement. If Mr. Hulme is terminated for cause, all of his vested and unvested stock options and unvested restricted stock will be immediately forfeited.

        Assuming his employment was terminated under each of these circumstances or a change of control occurred on December 31, 2014, his payments and benefits would have an estimated value as follows (less applicable withholding taxes):

Steven A. Bate

        Termination and Change of Control.    Mr. Bate is entitled to certain benefits under his employment agreement upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

•

we terminate his employment other than for cause, death or disability;



•

Mr. Bate resigns for "good reason"; or



•

an "Employment Agreement Change of Control" (see "—R. Brian Hanson—Termination and Change of Control" above) involving our Company occurs and, within 12 months following the change in control, (a) we or our successor terminate Mr. Bate's employment or (b) Mr. Bate terminates his employment after we or our successor (i) elect not to extend the term of his employment agreement, (ii) assign to Mr. Bate duties inconsistent with his CFO position, duties, functions, responsibilities, authority or reporting relationship to the Board under his employment agreement, (iii) become a privately-owned company as a result of a transaction in which Mr. Bate does not participate within the acquiring group, (iv) are rendered a subsidiary or division or other unit of another company; or (v) take any action that would constitute "good reason" under his employment agreement.

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        Upon the occurrence of any of the above events and conditions, Mr. Bate would be entitled to receive the following (less applicable withholding taxes and subject to compliance with non-compete, non-solicit and no-hire obligations):

•

over a two-year period, a cash amount equal to two times his annual base salary in effect for the year of termination;



•

a prorated portion of any unpaid target incentive plan bonus for the year of termination; and



•

continuation of insurance coverage for Mr. Bate as of the date of his termination for a period of eighteen months at the same cost to him as prior to the termination.

        Change of Control Under Equity Compensation Plans.    Upon a "Plan Change of Control", (see "—R. Brian Hanson—Change of Control Under Equity Compensation Plans" above), all of Mr. Bate's stock options granted to him under the 2004 LTIP or the 2013 LTIP will become fully exercisable, and all restricted stock awards granted to him under the 2004 LTIP or the 2013 LTIP will automatically accelerate and become fully vested. In addition, any change of control of our Company will cause the remaining term of Mr. Bate's employment agreement to automatically adjust to two years, commencing on the effective date of the change of control.

        Upon his death or disability, all options and restricted stock that Mr. Bate holds would automatically accelerate and become fully vested. Upon his retirement, all options that Mr. Bate holds would automatically accelerate and become fully vested. No shares of restricted stock held by Mr. Bate would automatically accelerate and become fully vested upon his retirement.

        Upon any termination by us for cause or any resignation by Mr. Bate for any reason other than for "good reason" (as defined in his employment agreement), Mr. Bate is not entitled to any payment or benefit other than the payment of unpaid salary and possibly accrued and unused vacation pay.

        Mr. Bate's currently-held vested stock options will remain exercisable after his termination of employment, death, disability or retirement for periods of between three months and one year following such event, depending on the event and the terms of the applicable plan and grant agreement. If Mr. Bate is terminated for cause, all of his vested and unvested stock options and unvested restricted stock will be immediately forfeited.

        Assuming Mr. Bate employment was terminated under each of these circumstances or a change of control occurred on December 31, 2014, his payments and benefits would have an estimated value as follows (less applicable withholding taxes):

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Christopher T. Usher

        Mr. Usher is not entitled to receive any contractual severance pay if we terminate his employment without cause. Upon a "Plan Change of Control" (see "—R. Brian Hanson—Change of Control Under Equity Compensation Plans" above), all of his unvested stock options granted to him under the 2004 LTIP or the 2013 LTIP will become fully exercisable and all restricted stock awards granted to him under the 2004 LTIP or the 2013 LTIP will automatically accelerate and become fully vested. Upon his death or disability, all options and restricted stock that Mr. Usher holds would automatically accelerate and become fully vested. Upon his retirement, all options that Mr. Usher holds would automatically accelerate and become fully vested. No shares of restricted stock held by Mr. Usher would automatically accelerate and become fully vested upon his retirement.

        The vested stock options held by Mr. Usher will remain exercisable after his termination of employment, death, disability or retirement for periods of between three months and one year following such event, depending on the event and the terms of the applicable stock plan and grant agreement. If Mr. Usher is terminated for cause, all of his vested and unvested stock options and unvested restricted stock will be immediately forfeited.

        Assuming his employment was terminated under each of these circumstances or a change of control occurred on December 31, 2014, his payments and benefits would have an estimated value as follows (less applicable withholding taxes):

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2014 Pension Benefits And Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

        None of our named executive officers participates or has account balances in (i) any qualified or non-qualified defined benefit plans or (ii) any non-qualified defined contribution plans or other deferred compensation plans maintained by us.

Equity Compensation Plan Information
(as of December 31, 2014)

        The following table provides certain information regarding our equity compensation plans under which equity securities are authorized for issuance, categorized by (i) the equity compensation plans previously approved by our stockholders and (ii) the equity compensation plans not previously approved by our stockholders:

        Following is a brief description of the material terms of the equity compensation plan that was not approved by our stockholders:

        ION Geophysical Corporation—ARAM Systems Employee Inducement Stock Option Program.    In connection with our acquisition of all of the capital stock of ARAM Systems, Ltd and its affiliates in September 2008, we entered into employment inducement stock option agreements with 48 key employees of ARAM as material inducements to their joining ION. The terms of these stock options are for 10 years, and the options become exercisable in four equal installments each year with respect to 25% of the shares each on the first, second, third and fourth consecutive anniversary dates of the date of grant. The options may be sooner exercised upon the occurrence of a "change of control" of ION. The number of shares of Common Stock covered by each option is subject to adjustment to prevent dilution resulting from stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations or similar transactions.

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        A description of our Stock Appreciation Rights Plan has not been provided in this sub-section because awards of SARs made under that plan may be settled only in cash.

Director Compensation

        ION employees who are also directors do not receive any fee or remuneration for services as members of our Board. We currently have seven non-employee directors who qualify for compensation as directors. In addition to being reimbursed for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that the director incurs attending Board meetings and functions, our outside directors receive an annual retainer fee of $46,000. In addition, our Chairman of the Board receives an annual retainer fee of $25,000, our Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an annual retainer fee of $20,000, our Chairman of the Compensation Committee receives an annual retainer fee of $15,000, our Chairman of the Governance Committee receives an annual retainer fee of $10,000 and each co-Chairman of the Finance Committee receives an annual retainer fee of $5,000. Our non-employee directors also receive, in cash, $2,000 for each Board meeting attended and $2,000 for each committee meeting attended (unless the committee meeting is held in conjunction with a Board meeting, in which case the fee for committee meeting attendance is $1,000) and $1,000 for each Board or committee meeting attended via teleconference.

        Each non-employee director also receives an initial grant of 8,000 vested shares of our Common Stock on the first quarterly grant date after joining the Board and follow-on grants each year of a number of shares of our Common Stock equal in market value to $110,000, up to an annual grant of 25,000 shares per director.

        The following table summarizes the compensation earned by ION's non-employee directors in 2014:

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        As of December 31, 2014, our non-employee directors held the following unvested and unexercised ION equity awards:

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee satisfies the definition of "independent" as established under the NYSE corporate governance listing standards. No member of the Compensation Committee is, or was during 2014, an officer or employee of ION. Mr. Lapeyre is President and Chief Executive Officer and a significant equity owner of Laitram, L.L.C, which has had a business relationship with ION since 1999. During 2014, we paid Laitram and its affiliates a total of approximately $2.4 million, which consisted of approximately $2.2 million for manufacturing services, and $0.2 million for reimbursement of costs related to providing administrative and other back-office support services in connection with our Louisiana marine operations. See "Board of Directors and Corporate Governance—Certain Transactions and Relationships" in our proxy statement for our 2015 Annual Meeting held May 20, 2015. During 2014:

•

No executive officer of ION served as a member of the Compensation Committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director or on the Compensation Committee of ION; and



•

No executive officer of ION served as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee of ION.

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PROPOSAL 1:
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT TO RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO EFFECT
REVERSE STOCK SPLIT AND PROPORTIONATELY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

        The first proposal to be voted on is adoption of a series of alternative amendments to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a Reverse Stock Split (as defined below) of our Common Stock at any time prior to May 17, 2017 and, if and when the Reverse Stock Split is effected, to contemporaneously amend our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to proportionately reduce the number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is authorized to issue by the selected reverse split ratio.

        On December 4, 2015, the Board adopted resolutions (1) adopting and declaring advisable a series of alternative amendments to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect, at the discretion of the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board), a reverse stock split at a ratio selected by our Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) from within a range of between 1-for-5 and 1-for-15, inclusive (each of which is referred to in this Proxy Statement as a "Reverse Stock Split"), and contemporaneously with such Reverse Stock Split, to effect a proportionate reduction in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from either (i) 200,000,000 to a number between 40,000,000 and 13,333,333, inclusive, or (ii) if the Authorized Share Increase Amendment (as defined below) is adopted by our stockholders as described below in "Proposal 2: Adoption of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation to Increase the Number of Authorized Shares of Common Stock" and such Authorized Share Increase Amendment is filed and has become effective, from 400,000,000 to a number between 80,000,000 and 26,666,666, inclusive (collectively, the "Reverse Stock Split Amendments"), (2) directing that the Reverse Stock Split Amendments be submitted to the holders of our Common Stock for their adoption, and (3) recommending that the holders of our Common Stock adopt the Reverse Stock Split Amendments.

        The actual number of authorized shares of our Common Stock after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split, if and when effected, will depend on (i) the Reverse Stock Split ratio that is ultimately selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) and (ii) whether the Authorized Share Increase Amendment is adopted and effected. The tables below illustrate certain possible Reverse Stock Split ratios, identified as Examples A-V (Examples A-K may be effected if the Authorized Share Increase Amendment is not adopted or effected and Examples L-V may be effected if the Authorized Share Increase Amendment is adopted and effected), together with (a) the implied number of shares of Common Stock that would be authorized for each of these possible ratios based on 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock currently authorized under our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and (b) the implied number of issued and outstanding shares of our Common Stock

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resulting from a Reverse Stock Split in accordance with such ratio, based on 163,927,012 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding as of December 4, 2015:

        Upon adoption of the Reverse Stock Split Amendments by the stockholders, the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) will have the authority, but not the obligation, in its sole discretion, at any time prior to May 17, 2017, to elect without further action on the part of the stockholders, as it determines to be in the best interests of the Company, whether to effect a Reverse Stock Split and, if so, to determine the Reverse Stock Split ratio from within the approved range of ratios above and to effect the Reverse Stock Split Amendments by filing an amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation substantially in the form of the Certificate of Amendment attached as Annex A to this Proxy Statement (the "Form of Amendment"). The Form of Amendment contemplates the inclusion of a Reverse Stock Split ratio within the above range of ratios and

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corresponding adjustment to the total numbers of authorized shares of Common Stock and capital stock of the Company, as indicated by the bracketed language included in the Form of Amendment. The values in the Form of Amendment will be inserted based upon (i) the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) and (ii) whether the Authorized Share Increase Amendment has been adopted by stockholders and effected by the Board. Only the applicable Reverse Stock Split Amendment providing for the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and become effective. Upon such an event, the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) shall abandon all other Reverse Stock Split Amendments.

        If the Reverse Stock Split is effected, a corresponding proportionate reduction in the number of authorized shares of our Common Stock will be effected as set forth in the tables above and as further described below under "Effect of the Reverse Stock Split on Holders of Outstanding Common Stock" and "Authorized Shares." The reduction in authorized shares as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will not affect any stockholder's proportionate voting power or other rights (other than as a result of the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares as described under "Fractional Shares" below). If the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) abandons the Reverse Stock Split, there will be no reduction in the number of authorized shares of our Common Stock.

        The Board believes that stockholder adoption of a range of Reverse Stock Split ratios (as opposed to adoption of a single reverse stock split ratio or a set of fixed ratios) provides maximum flexibility to achieve the purposes of a reverse stock split and, therefore, is in the best interests of the Company. In determining a ratio following the receipt of stockholder adoption, the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) may consider, among other things, factors such as:

•

the historical trading price and trading volume of our Common Stock;



•

the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding;



•

the then-prevailing trading price and trading volume of our Common Stock and the anticipated impact of the Reverse Stock Split on the trading market for our Common Stock;



•

the anticipated impact of a particular ratio on our ability to reduce administrative and transactional costs;



•

the continued listing requirements of the NYSE; and



•

prevailing general market and economic conditions.

        The Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) reserves the right to elect to abandon any or all of the Reverse Stock Split Amendments, notwithstanding stockholder adoption thereof, if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the Reverse Stock Split is no longer in the best interests of the Company.

        Depending on the ratio for the Reverse Stock Split selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board), a certain number of shares of existing Common Stock, which number shall be between five and 15, as selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board), will automatically be reclassified and combined into one validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, subject to the treatment of fractional share interests as described under "Fractional Shares" below. The number of shares of Common Stock existing immediately prior to the Effective Time (defined below) will therefore be proportionately reduced by an amount based upon the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board). If the Reverse Stock Split Amendments are adopted by our stockholders and the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) elects to effect the Reverse Stock Split at any time prior to May 17, 2017, a Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation (each a "Reverse Stock Split Amendment Certificate") that sets forth the

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applicable Reverse Stock Split Amendments and provides for the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) in its sole discretion will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with immediate effect (the "Effective Time"). At the Effective Time, all other Reverse Stock Split Amendments will be automatically abandoned.

        The Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) will determine the exact timing of the filing of the Reverse Stock Split Amendment Certificate based on its evaluation as to when the filing would be the most advantageous to the Company and its stockholders. If a Reverse Stock Split Amendment Certificate has not been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware prior to May 17, 2017, then the Reverse Stock Split and all of the Reverse Stock Split Amendments will be automatically abandoned.

        To avoid the existence of fractional shares of our Common Stock, stockholders of record who would otherwise hold fractional shares as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will be entitled to receive cash (without interest) as described under "Fractional Shares" below.

        The Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) reserves the right to abandon the Reverse Stock Split without further action by our stockholders at any time before the effectiveness of any Reverse Stock Split Amendment Certificate even if the Reverse Stock Split Amendments have been adopted by our stockholders. By voting for the adoption of the Reverse Stock Split Amendments, you are expressly also authorizing the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) to determine not to proceed with, and abandon, the Reverse Stock Split if it should so decide.

Purpose of the Reverse Stock Split Amendments

        Our Common Stock is currently listed on the NYSE. In order for our Common Stock to continue to be listed on the NYSE, we must comply with various listing standards, including that we maintain a minimum average closing price of at least $1.00 per share of Common Stock during a consecutive 30 trading-day period.

        On August 11, 2015, we were notified by the NYSE that the average closing price of the Common Stock had fallen below $1.00 per share over a period of 30 consecutive trading days, which is the minimum average share price required by the NYSE under Section 802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. We have six months following receipt of the NYSE's notice to regain compliance with the NYSE's minimum share price requirement. We can regain compliance at any time during the six-month cure period if on the last trading day of any calendar month during the cure period the Common Stock has a closing share price of at least $1.00 and an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of such month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we determine that we must cure the price condition by taking an action that will require approval of our stockholders, we may also regain compliance by: (i) obtaining the requisite stockholder approval by no later than our next annual meeting, (ii) implementing the action promptly thereafter and (iii) the price of the Common Stock promptly exceeding $1.00 per share, and the price remaining above that level for at least the following 30 trading days.

        A delisting of the Common Stock from the NYSE would negatively impact us because it would: (i) reduce the liquidity and market price of the Common Stock; (ii) reduce the number of investors willing to hold or acquire the Common Stock, which could negatively impact our ability to raise equity financing; (iii) limit our ability to use a registration statement to offer and sell freely tradable securities, thereby preventing us from accessing the public capital markets, and (iv) impair our ability to provide equity incentives to our employees. The Board has adopted the proposed Reverse Stock Split Amendments and recommends that stockholders adopt such amendments for the purpose of increasing the price of our Common Stock in order to regain compliance with this listing requirement.

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        In addition, the Board believes that increasing the price of our Common Stock will make it more attractive to a broader range of institutional and other investors, since the current market price of our Common Stock may affect its acceptability to certain institutional investors, professional investors and other members of the investing public. Many brokerage houses and institutional investors have internal policies and practices that either prohibit them from investing in low-priced stocks or tend to discourage individual brokers from recommending low-priced stocks to their customers. In addition, some of those policies and practices may make the processing of trades in low-priced stocks economically unattractive to brokers. Moreover, because brokers' commissions on low-priced stocks generally represent a higher percentage of the stock price than commissions on higher-priced stocks, the current average price per share of Common Stock can result in individual stockholders paying transaction costs representing a higher percentage of their total share value than would be the case if the share price were substantially higher. We believe that the Reverse Stock Split will make our Common Stock a more attractive and cost-effective investment for many investors, which may enhance the liquidity of the holders of our Common Stock.

        Reducing the number of outstanding shares of our Common Stock through the Reverse Stock Split Amendments is intended, absent other factors, to increase the per share market price of our Common Stock. However, other factors, such as our financial results, market conditions and the market perception of our business may adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock. As a result, even if a Reverse Stock Split is effected, it may not result in the intended benefits described above, including compliance with the NYSE listing requirements, the market price of our Common Stock may not increase following the Reverse Stock Split or even if it does, the market price of our Common Stock may decrease in the future. Additionally, the market price per share of our Common Stock after the Reverse Stock Split may not increase in proportion to the reduction in the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding before the Reverse Stock Split. Accordingly, the total market capitalization of our Common Stock after the Reverse Stock Split may be lower than the total market capitalization before the Reverse Stock Split.

        Finally, we believe that a Reverse Stock Split and a corresponding reduction in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock will provide the Company and its stockholders with other benefits. Currently, the fees we pay to list our shares on the NYSE are based on the number of shares we have outstanding. Also, the fees we pay for custody and clearing services, the fees we pay to the SEC to register securities for issuance and the costs of our proxy solicitations are frequently based on or related to the number of shares being held, cleared or registered, as applicable. Reducing the number of shares that are outstanding and that will be issued in the future may reduce the amount of fees and taxes that we pay to these organizations and agencies, as well as other organizations and agencies that levy charges based on the number of shares rather than the value of the shares.

Effect of the Reverse Stock Split on Holders of Outstanding Common Stock

        If adopted and effected, the Reverse Stock Split will take effect simultaneously and in the same ratio for all outstanding shares of our Common Stock. The Reverse Stock Split will affect all holders of our Common Stock uniformly and will not affect any stockholder's percentage ownership interest in us, except to the extent that the Reverse Stock Split would result in any holder of our Common Stock receiving cash in lieu of fractional shares. As described below under "Fractional Shares", holders of Common Stock otherwise entitled to fractional shares as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will receive a cash payment in lieu of the fractional shares. In addition, the Reverse Stock Split will not affect any stockholder's proportionate voting power (subject to the treatment of fractional shares).

        The principal effects of the Reverse Stock Split will be that:

•

depending on the ratio for the Reverse Stock Split selected by our Board (or any authorized committee of the Board), a certain number of shares of existing Common Stock, which number

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shall be between five and 15, inclusive, as selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board), will automatically be reclassified and combined into one validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof;

•

based upon the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by our Board (or any authorized committee of the Board), the aggregate number of equity-based awards that remain available to be granted under our equity incentive plans and other benefit plans will be reduced proportionately to reflect such Reverse Stock Split ratio selected;



•

based upon the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by our Board (or any authorized committee of the Board), proportionate adjustments will be made to the per-share exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of our outstanding stock options, as well as to the number of shares that would be owned upon vesting of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units, which will result in approximately the same aggregate price that would have been required to be paid upon exercise of such options, as well as the same number of shares that would have been owned upon vesting of such restricted stock awards or units, immediately preceding the Reverse Stock Split;



•

the aggregate number of shares issuable pursuant to outstanding stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units or other equity-based awards made under our equity incentive plans will be reduced proportionately based upon the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by our Board (or any authorized committee of the Board); and



•

the number of authorized shares of our Common Stock will contemporaneously and correspondingly be reduced based upon the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by our Board (or any authorized committee of the Board).

        After the Effective Time, our Common Stock will have a new Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures ("CUSIP") number, which number is used to identify our equity securities, and stock certificates with the old CUSIP number will need to be exchanged for stock certificates with the new CUSIP number by following the procedures described below.

        The Reverse Stock Split is not intended to be a first step in a series of steps leading to a "going private transaction" pursuant to Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act. Implementing the Reverse Stock Split would not be reasonably likely to result in or produce a going private effect.

        Beneficial Holders of Common Stock.    Upon the implementation of the Reverse Stock Split, we intend to treat shares held by stockholders in "street name" (i.e., through a bank, broker, custodian or other nominee) in the same manner as registered stockholders whose shares are registered in their names. Banks, brokers, custodians or other nominees will be instructed to effect the Reverse Stock Split for their beneficial holders holding our Common Stock in street name. However, these banks, brokers, custodians or other nominees may have different procedures than registered stockholders for processing the Reverse Stock Split and making payment for fractional shares. If a stockholder holds shares of our Common Stock with a bank, broker, custodian or other nominee and has any questions in this regard, stockholders are encouraged to contact their bank, broker, custodian or other nominee.

        Registered "Book-Entry" Holders of Common Stock.    Certain of our registered holders of Common Stock may hold some or all of their shares electronically in book-entry form with our transfer agent. These stockholders do not have stock certificates evidencing their ownership of the Common Stock. They are, however, provided with a statement reflecting the number of shares registered in their accounts. If a stockholder holds registered shares in book-entry form with the transfer agent, they will be sent a transmittal letter by our transfer agent after the Effective Time and will need to return a properly completed and duly executed transmittal letter in order to receive any cash payment in lieu of

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fractional shares or any other distributions, if any, that may be declared and payable to holders of record following the Reverse Stock Split.

        Holders of Certificated Shares of Common Stock.    Stockholders of record at the Effective Time holding shares of our Common Stock in certificated form (the "Old Certificates") will be sent a transmittal letter by our transfer agent after the Effective Time and, following a determination by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) that shall apply to all holders of the Old Certificates, these holders will receive in exchange for their Old Certificates either (i) registered shares in book-entry form or (ii) new certificates (the "New Certificates"), in each case representing the appropriate number of whole shares of our Common Stock following the Reverse Stock Split.

        The letter of transmittal will contain the necessary materials and instructions on how a stockholder should surrender his, her or its Old Certificates representing shares of our Common Stock to the transfer agent. No registered shares in book-entry form or New Certificates will be delivered to a stockholder until the stockholder has surrendered all Old Certificates, together with a properly completed and executed letter of transmittal, to our transfer agent. Stockholders will then receive either a statement reflecting the shares in book-entry form registered in their accounts or New Certificates representing the number of whole shares of Common Stock for which their shares of our Common Stock were combined as a result of the Reverse Stock Split.

        Until surrendered, outstanding Old Certificates will only represent the number of whole shares of our Common Stock following the Reverse Stock Split to which the shares formerly represented by the Old Certificate were combined into as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders must exchange their Old Certificates in order to effect transfers or deliveries of shares on the NYSE.

        Any Old Certificates submitted for exchange, whether because of a sale, transfer or other disposition of stock, will automatically be exchanged, based upon the determination by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board), for registered shares in book-entry form or New Certificates. If an Old Certificate bears a restrictive legend, the registered shares in book-entry form or New Certificate will bear the same restrictive legend. If a stockholder is entitled to a payment in lieu of any fractional share interest, the payment will be made as described below under "Fractional Shares." Stockholders should not destroy any stock certificate(s) and should not submit any stock certificate(s) until requested to do so.

Fractional Shares

        We do not currently intend to issue fractional shares in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Therefore, we do not expect to issue certificates representing fractional shares. Stockholders of record who would otherwise hold fractional shares because the number of shares of Common Stock they hold before the Reverse Stock Split is not evenly divisible by the split ratio ultimately selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) will be entitled to receive cash (without interest and subject to applicable withholding taxes) in lieu of the fractional shares from our transfer agent. Our transfer agent will aggregate all fractional share interests following the Reverse Stock Split and sell the fractional shares resulting therefrom into the market. The total amount of cash that will be paid to the stockholders of record who would otherwise hold fractional shares following the Reverse Stock Split will be an amount equal to the net proceeds (after customary brokerage commissions and other expenses) attributable to such sale. Stockholders of record who would otherwise hold fractional shares as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will be paid such proceeds on a pro rata basis, depending on the fractional amount of shares that they owned. If a stockholder who holds shares in certificated form is entitled to a payment in lieu of any fractional shares, the stockholder will receive a check as soon as practicable after the Effective Time and after the stockholder has submitted an executed transmittal letter and surrendered all Old Certificates, as described under "Holders of Certificated Shares of Common Stock" above. If a stockholder holds shares of our Common Stock with a bank, broker,

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custodian or other nominee, those stockholders should contact their bank, broker, custodian or other nominee for information on the treatment and processing of fractional shares by their bank, broker, custodian or other nominee. By signing and cashing the check, stockholders will warrant that they owned the shares of Common Stock for which they received a cash payment. The cash payment is subject to applicable federal and state income tax and state abandoned property laws. Stockholders will not be entitled to receive interest for the period of time between the Effective Time and the date payment is received.

        After the Reverse Stock Split, a stockholder will have no further interest in the Company with respect to its fractional share interest and persons otherwise entitled to a fractional share will not have any voting, dividend or other rights with respect thereto except the right to receive a cash payment as described above.

Authorized Shares

        If and when the Reverse Stock Split is effected, the number of authorized shares of our Common Stock will contemporaneously be reduced in proportion to the Reverse Stock Split ratio.

        The actual number of authorized shares after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split, if implemented, will depend on the Reverse Stock Split ratio that is ultimately selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) and whether the Authorized Share Increase Amendment is adopted. For illustration, the tables set forth under "Proposal 1: Adoption of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect Reverse Stock Split and proportionately reduce the number of authorized shares of Common Stock" above show possibilities for the number of authorized shares of Common Stock under certain Reverse Stock Split ratios.

        As a result of the reduction in authorized shares of Common Stock that will occur if and when the Reverse Stock Split is effected, the same proportion of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to shares of Common Stock authorized and issued (or reserved for issuance) would be maintained as of the Effective Time. If the Reverse Stock Split is abandoned by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board), it will also abandon the reduction in the number of authorized shares.

Accounting Matters

        The proposed amendments to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation will not affect the par value of our Common Stock per share, which will remain at $0.01. As a result, as of the Effective Time, the stated capital attributable to Common Stock on our balance sheet will be reduced proportionately to the Reverse Stock Split ratio, and the additional paid-in capital account will be credited with the amount by which the stated capital is reduced. Reported per share net income or loss will be higher because there will be fewer shares of Common Stock outstanding.

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reverse Stock Split

        The following summary describes certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split to holders of our Common Stock. This summary does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to any particular holder of our Common Stock, including tax considerations that arise from rules of general application to all taxpayers or to certain classes of taxpayers or that are generally assumed to be known by investors. This summary also does not address the tax consequences to (i) persons that may be subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law, such as banks, insurance companies, thrift institutions, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, tax-exempt organizations, partnerships (or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and investors therein, "U.S. holders" (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, U.S. expatriates, persons subject to

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the alternative minimum tax, persons who acquired our Common Stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation, traders in securities that elect to mark to market and dealers in securities or currencies, (ii) persons that hold our Common Stock as part of a position in a "straddle" or as part of a "hedging," "conversion" or other integrated investment transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or (iii) persons that do not hold our Common Stock as "capital assets" (generally, property held for investment). This summary is based on the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, U.S. Treasury regulations, administrative rulings and judicial authority, all as in effect as of the date hereof. Subsequent developments in U.S. federal income tax law, including changes in law or differing interpretations, which may be applied retroactively, could have a material effect on the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split. This summary does not address the Medicare tax on net investment income or the effects of any state, local or foreign tax laws. Each holder of our Common Stock should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state and local, and foreign income and other tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.

        If a partnership (or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our Common Stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships that hold our Common Stock, and partners in such partnerships, should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.

        U.S. Holders.    The discussion in this section is addressed to "U.S. holders." A "U.S. holder" is a beneficial owner of our Common Stock that is a citizen or individual resident of the United States, a corporation (or other entity classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or otherwise subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a net income basis in respect of our Common Stock. The Reverse Stock Split should be treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, except as described below with respect to cash in lieu of fractional shares, no gain or loss should be recognized upon the Reverse Stock Split. Accordingly, the aggregate tax basis in the Common Stock received pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split should equal the aggregate tax basis in the Common Stock surrendered (excluding the portion of the tax basis that is allocable to any fractional share), and the holding period for the Common Stock received should include the holding period for the Common Stock surrendered. A U.S. holder who receives cash in lieu of a fractional share of our Common Stock pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split should recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the U.S. holder's tax basis in the shares of our Common Stock surrendered that is allocated to the fractional share of our Common Stock. The capital gain or loss should be long term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder's holding period for our Common Stock surrendered exceeded one year at the Effective Time. The deductibility of net capital losses by individuals and corporations is subject to limitations.

        U.S. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding.    Information returns generally will be required to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") with respect to the payment of cash in lieu of a fractional share of our Common Stock pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split, unless a U.S. holder is an exempt recipient. In addition, U.S. holders may be subject to a backup withholding tax (at the current applicable rate of 28%) on the payment of this cash if they do not provide their taxpayer identification numbers in the manner required or otherwise fail to comply with applicable backup withholding tax rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or allowed as a credit against the U.S. holder's federal income tax liability, if any, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

        Non-U.S. Holders.    The discussion in this section is addressed to "non-U.S. holders." A non-U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of our Common Stock that is neither a U.S. holder nor a partnership (or

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other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes). Generally, non-U.S. holders will not recognize any gain or loss upon the Reverse Stock Split. In particular, except as described in the next paragraph, gain will not be recognized with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share unless (a) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a non-U.S. holder's permanent establishment in the United States) or (b) with respect to non-U.S. holders who are individuals, the non-U.S. holder is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the Reverse Stock Split and certain other conditions are met.

        A non-U.S. holder may be subject to U.S. federal income tax and/or withholding tax under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 ("FIRPTA") with respect to the cash received in lieu of a fractional share of our Common Stock if it owned (or is deemed to have owned) more than 5% of our Common Stock at some point during the shorter of the five years preceding the Effective Time and the holder's holding period for the Common Stock (a "significant holder"). This summary does not address the FIRPTA treatment of significant holders. Significant holders should consult their own tax advisors about how the FIRPTA rules would apply to them.

        U.S. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax.    In general, backup withholding and information reporting will not apply to the payment of cash in lieu of a fractional share of our Common Stock to a non-U.S. holder pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split if the non-U.S. holder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is a non-U.S. holder and the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know to the contrary. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or allowed as a credit against the non-U.S. holder's U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that certain required information is timely furnished to the IRS. In certain circumstances the amount of cash paid to a non-U.S. holder in lieu of a fractional share of our Common Stock, the name and address of the beneficial owner and the amount, if any, of tax withheld may be reported to the IRS.

No Appraisal Rights

        Under Delaware law and our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, holders of our Common Stock will not be entitled to dissenter's rights or appraisal rights with respect to the Reverse Stock Split Amendments.

Effective Date

        If the Reverse Stock Split Amendments are adopted by our stockholders, the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) will have the authority, but not the obligation, in its sole discretion, at any time prior to May 17, 2017, to elect without further action on the part of the stockholders, as it determines to be in the best interests of the Company, whether to effect a Reverse Stock Split and, if so, to select a Reverse Stock Split ratio within the approved range of ratios and to effect the Reverse Stock Split by filing an amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

        The Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) reserves the right to abandon the Reverse Stock Split without further action by our stockholders at any time before the effectiveness of any Reverse Stock Split Amendment Certificate even if the Reverse Stock Split Amendments have been adopted by our stockholders.

Interests of Certain Persons in Proposal 1

        Certain of our officers and directors have an interest in Proposal 1 as a result of their ownership of shares of our Common Stock. However, we do not believe that our officers or directors have interests in Proposal 1 that are different from or greater than those of any of our other stockholders.

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If Proposal 1 is Not Adopted

        If Proposal 1 is not adopted, we may be unable to maintain the listing of our Common Stock on the NYSE, which could adversely affect the liquidity and marketability of our Common Stock.

Required Vote

        The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting is required to adopt the Reverse Stock Split Amendments.

The Board unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" adoption of the Reverse Stock Split Amendments.

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PROPOSAL 2:
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT TO RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

        The second proposal to be voted on is adoption of the amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is authorized to issue from 200 million to 400 million.

        On December 4, 2015, the Board adopted resolutions (1) adopting and declaring advisable an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of our Common Stock from 200 million to 400 million shares (the "Authorized Share Increase Amendment") and (2) directing that the Authorized Share Increase Amendment be submitted to the holders of our Common Stock for their adoption, and (3) recommending that the holders of our Common Stock adopt the Authorized Share Increase Amendment.

        The proposed Authorized Share Increase Amendment will increase the number of shares of Common Stock the Company is authorized to issue from 200 million to 400 million shares. The proposed Authorized Share Increase Amendment is set forth in the Form of Certificate of Amendment attached as Annex B to this Proxy Statement.

        If the Authorized Share Increase Amendment is adopted by the Company's stockholders and the Reverse Stock Split and proportional reduction in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock is not adopted or effected, we will have 222,282,879 shares of Common Stock available for general corporate purposes (after taking into account the 163,927,012 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, the 2,954,539 shares of treasury stock and the 10,835,570 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company's equity incentive plans as of December 4, 2015).

Purpose of the Proposed Increase to the Number of Shares of Common Stock

        As of December 4, 2015, there were 163,927,012 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, 2,954,539 shares of treasury stock and 10,835,570 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company's equity incentive plans (if the proposed amendments to the Company's 2013 LTIP described in more detail under "Proposal 3: Approval of Amendments to the 2013 LTIP" below are approved by stockholders, then additional shares of Common Stock would be reserved for issuance under the 2013 LTIP). Accordingly, as of that date, the Company had only 22,282,879 shares of Common Stock available for issuance, which represents only 11.1% of the Company's authorized common share capital.

        The Board believes that the number of shares of Common Stock presently available for future issuance under our Restated Certificate of Incorporation does not provide us with sufficient flexibility to issue shares and other instruments convertible into Common Stock for future corporate purposes and, accordingly, the Board is proposing to increase the number of authorized shares to ensure that the Company has that flexibility. The Board believes this additional flexibility is particularly important to maintaining the Company's liquidity and capital structure, particularly in light of the market conditions currently facing the industry in which the Company operates. If this proposal is adopted by our stockholders, then we may issue shares of Common Stock in the future in connection with, among other things, debt-for-equity exchanges or other refinancings or restructurings of our existing indebtedness, additional public or private stock offerings, acquisitions and other strategic transactions, equity incentives for employees, the payment of stock dividends, stock splits or other recapitalizations.

        In addition, although the Company has no present plans to issue additional Common Stock, except for shares reserved for future issuance under the Company's equity plans, adoption of the proposed Authorized Share Increase Amendment will allow the Company to act promptly in the event corporate

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opportunities such as refinancing or restructuring opportunities or other strategic developments requiring the issuance of additional shares of Common Stock arise.

        The Board believes that if an increase in the authorized number of shares of Common Stock were postponed until an actual need arose, the delay and expense incident to obtaining stockholder adoption of the Authorized Share Increase Amendment at that time would significantly impair the Company's ability to meet financing goals or other objectives. Failure of the stockholders to adopt the proposed Authorized Share Increase Amendment would adversely affect the Company's ability to pursue these opportunities.

        The issuance of the additional shares of Common Stock may have the effect of diluting the stock ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of the Company. Although the Board has no present intention of doing so, the Company's authorized but unissued Common Stock could be issued in one or more transactions that would make a takeover of the Company more difficult or costly and less likely. The proposed Authorized Share Increase Amendment is not being recommended in response to any specific effort of which we are aware to obtain control of the Company, nor is the Board currently proposing to stockholders any anti-takeover measures.

        The Authorized Share Increase Amendment does not change the terms of the Common Stock. All shares of Common Stock, including those now authorized and those that would be authorized by the proposed Authorized Share Increase Amendment, are equal in rank and have the same voting rights, the same rights to dividends and the same liquidation rights. However, stockholders should consider that additional issuances of Common Stock could have a dilutive effect on the earnings per share, voting power and shareholdings of current stockholders.

        Authorized shares of Common Stock may be issued by the Board from time to time without further stockholder approval or adoption, except in situations where stockholder approval or adoption is required by state law or the rules of the NYSE. Except for BGP's preemptive rights pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement that we entered into with BGP, stockholders of the Company have no preemptive right to acquire additional shares of Common Stock, which means that current stockholders (other than BGP) do not have a right to purchase any new issue of shares of Common Stock in order to maintain their proportionate ownership interest in the Company.

        In the event that the Authorized Share Increase Amendment and the Reverse Stock Split Amendments that are the subject of Proposal 1 are both adopted by the Company's stockholders, and the Reverse Stock Split is subsequently effected, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock will be subject to adjustment as contemplated by Proposal 1 and as discussed in more detail under "Proposal 1: Adoption of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect Reverse Stock Split and proportionately reduce the number of authorized shares of Common Stock—Authorized Shares" above.

No Appraisal Rights

        Under Delaware law and our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, holders of our Common Stock will not be entitled to dissenter's rights or appraisal rights with respect to the Authorized Share Increase Amendment.

Effective Date

        If the Authorized Share Increase Amendment is adopted by our stockholders, it will become effective upon the filing of the Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which we currently expect would occur promptly after the Special Meeting, assuming adoption by our stockholders.

        The Board reserves the right to abandon the Authorized Share Increase Amendment without further action by our stockholders at any time before the effectiveness of the Authorized Share

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Increase Amendment even if the Authorized Share Increase Amendment has been adopted by our stockholders.

Interests of Certain Persons in Proposal 2

        Certain of our officers and directors have an interest in Proposal 2 as a result of their ownership of shares of our Common Stock. However, we do not believe that our officers or directors have interests in Proposal 2 that are different from or greater than those of any of our other stockholders.

Required Vote

        The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting is required to adopt the Authorized Share Increase Amendment.

The Board unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" adoption of the Authorized Share Increase Amendment.

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PROPOSAL 3:
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE 2013 LTIP

        The third proposal to be voted on is approval, subject to stockholder approval and implementation of the Reverse Stock Split, of certain amendments to the Company's 2013 LTIP to increase (i) the total number of shares of our Common Stock available for issuance under the 2013 LTIP by a number of shares between 1,000,000 and 3,000,000, inclusive, on a post Reverse Stock Split basis to an aggregate number of shares of between 1,248,667 and 3,746,000, inclusive, after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split, and (ii) the maximum number of such shares that may be granted in the form of full-value awards, such as restricted stock, restricted stock units or other awards in which the recipient receives the entire value of each share that vests, by a number of shares between 976,180 and 325,393, inclusive, on a post Reverse Stock Split basis to an aggregate number of shares of between 412,060 and 1,236,180, inclusive, after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split.

        The proposed amendments to the 2013 LTIP are conditioned upon stockholder approval of the Reverse Stock Split and implementation of the Reverse Stock Split by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board). As discussed in more detail under "Proposal 1: Adoption of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect Reverse Stock Split and proportionately reduce the number of authorized shares of Common Stock" above, upon adoption of the Reverse Stock Split Amendments by the stockholders, the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) will have the authority, but not the obligation, in its sole discretion, at any time prior to May 17, 2017, to elect without further action on the part of the stockholders, as it determines to be in the best interests of the Company, whether to effect a Reverse Stock Split and, if so, to determine the Reverse Stock Split ratio from within the approved range of ratios above and to effect the Reverse Stock Split Amendments by filing an amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation substantially in the form of the Form of Amendment. The actual increases in the number of shares of our Common Stock available for issuance under the 2013 LTIP and the number of such shares that may be granted in the form of full-value awards after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split will be based on the Reverse Stock Split ratio that is ultimately selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board). The table below shows the implied aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that would be available for issuance under the 2013 LTIP and the implied maximum number of such shares that may be granted in the form of full-value awards based on the proposed increases for each of the following possible reverse split ratio scenarios:

        In the event that the proposed amendments to the 2013 LTIP are approved by stockholders and the Reverse Stock Split Amendments that are the subject of Proposal 1 are adopted by the Company's

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stockholders and the Reverse Stock Split is subsequently effected, then and only then would the proposed amendments to 2013 LTIP become effective. If the proposed amendments to the 2013 LTIP are approved by stockholders but either the Reverse Stock Split Amendments are not adopted by the Company's stockholders or the Reverse Stock Split is not effected, then the proposed amendments to the 2013 LTIP will not be effected.

        In February 2013, our Compensation Committee and Board adopted the 2013 LTIP, and the 2013 LTIP was approved by our stockholders at our 2013 Annual Meeting. On December 4, 2015, our Compensation Committee and Board adopted, subject to stockholder approval and the Reverse Stock Split being effected, the proposed amendments to the 2013 LTIP. We have not previously proposed any amendments increasing the total number of shares of our Common Stock available for issuance under the 2013 LTIP or any increases to the maximum number of shares that may be granted in the form of full-value awards.

        Our Board believes it is desirable to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the 2013 LTIP and the maximum number of such shares that may be granted in the form of full-value awards in order to (i) continue to promote stockholder value by providing appropriate incentives to key employees and certain other individuals who perform services for our Company and (ii) continue awarding our non-employee directors with stock options, restricted stock and other forms of equity compensation as a means to retain capable directors and attract and recruit qualified new directors in a manner that promotes ownership of a proprietary interest in our Company. As of December 4, 2015, without giving effect to the proposed amendments, there were 1,572,199 shares issued or committed for issuance under outstanding options or other awards under the 2013 LTIP and only 1,418,680 shares available for future grant and issuance to our employees and non-employee directors. The Board believes this number of shares is insufficient to sustain our equity compensation objectives, given current market conditions and the current trading price of our Common Stock, which had a closing price on the NYSE of $0.51 on December 4, 2015, and believes that the increases in the number of shares available for issuance under our 2013 LTIP Plan is essential to permit our management to continue to provide long-term, equity-based incentives to present and future employees and directors.

Description of the 2013 LTIP

        The material features of the 2013 LTIP are described below. The complete text of the 2013 LTIP, including the proposed amendments, is included as Annex C to this Proxy Statement. The following summary is qualified by reference to the copy of such amended 2013 LTIP that is attached as Annex C to this Proxy Statement.

        General.    The 2013 LTIP is not subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and is not a "qualified plan" within the meaning of section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code. The primary objective of the 2013 LTIP is to promote the long-term financial success of our Company and to increase stockholder value by: (a) encouraging the commitment of directors and key employees and consultants, (b) motivating superior performance of key employees and consultants by means of long-term performance-related incentives, (c) encouraging and providing directors and key employees and consultants with a program for obtaining ownership interests in our Company that link and align their personal interests to those of our stockholders, (d) attracting and retaining directors and key employees and consultants by providing competitive incentive compensation opportunities and (e) enabling directors and key employees and consultants to share in the long-term growth and success of our Company.

        The 2013 LTIP is administered by the Compensation Committee. The 2013 LTIP provides for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance share awards, performance units, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other equity-based awards that provide similar benefits. Certain awards under the 2013 LTIP may be paid in cash or Common Stock, as determined by the

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Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has discretion to select the participants who will receive awards and to determine the type, size and terms of each award. Eligible participants under the 2013 LTIP include our non-employee directors, key employees and independent consultants. The Compensation Committee will also make all other determinations that it decides are necessary or desirable in the interpretation and administration of the 2013 LTIP. At the present time, all members of our Board other than R. Brian Hanson are considered non-employee directors for purposes of the 2013 LTIP.

        Shares Subject to the 2013 LTIP.    If our stockholders approve the proposed amendments to the 2013 LTIP, the proposed amendments to the 2013 LTIP will become effective immediately following the Effective Time of the Reverse Stock Split. If the Reverse Stock Split is not effected, the proposed amendments to the 2013 LTIP will not become effective, even if approved by our stockholders.

        The form of the amended 2013 LTIP, included as Annex C, contemplates corresponding adjustments to the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the 2013 LTIP and the maximum number of such shares that may be granted in the form of full-value awards based on the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board), as indicated by the bracketed language included in the form of the amended 2013 LTIP. The values in the form of the amended 2013 LTIP will be inserted based upon the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) as set forth in the tables above. Only the applicable amendment corresponding to the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) will become effective. Upon such an event, all other potential amendments to the 2013 LTIP will be abandoned.

        Upon the effectiveness of the proposed amendments to the 2013 LTIP, the Compensation Committee will be able to grant awards covering at any one time up to a number of shares of Common Stock between 1,248,667 and 3,746,000 (depending on which Reverse Split ratio is ultimately selected) on a post Reverse Stock Split basis, with a maximum number of between 976,180 and 325,393 (depending on which Reverse Split ratio is ultimately selected) of such shares being granted in the form of full-value awards on a post Reverse Stock Split basis. Under the current 2013 LTIP, the Compensation Committee is able to grant awards covering at any one time up to 3,730,000 shares of Common Stock on a pre Reverse Stock Split basis, with a maximum of 1,300,000 of such shares being granted in the form of full-value awards on a pre Reverse Stock Split basis.

        The number of shares of Common Stock authorized under the 2013 LTIP and any awards outstanding under the 2013 LTIP is subject to adjustment to prevent the dilution of rights of plan participants resulting from stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations or similar transactions. The approval by stockholders of the proposed amendments to the 2013 LTIP authorizing the grant of additional shares of Common Stock and the subsequent grant of awards under the amended 2013 LTIP will have a dilutive impact on the Company's stockholders. In determining the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2013 LTIP, we were mindful of the dilutive impact it will have on stockholders and determined this was the appropriate amount to reserve to fund future equity grants to employees and directors over the next several years. This number of shares will, on a post Reverse Stock Split basis, constitute approximately 11.4% of the total number of shares of our issued and outstanding Common Stock based on the total number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of December 4, 2015. By comparison, the number of shares currently reserved under the 2013 LTIP, on a pre Reverse Stock Split basis, represents approximately 2.3% of the total number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of December 4, 2015. As of December 4, 2015, there were outstanding options and other equity awards with respect to 8,609,280 shares of our Common Stock, which represents approximately 5.3% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of that date. None of our outstanding stock options are in-the-money as of December 4, 2015, and the weighted average exercise price of our outstanding stock options is $5.92 per share. The exercise prices of outstanding options and SARs will be adjusted to reflect any Reverse Stock Split. For further

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information regarding our equity compensation plans, please see the information set forth above in "Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Stock-Based Incentive Compensation."

        Awards under the 2013 LTIP.    Under the 2013 LTIP, the Compensation Committee may grant awards in the form of Incentive Stock Options (ISOs), as defined in section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, "nonstatutory" stock options (NSOs), shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights (SARs), performance shares, performance units and other stock-based awards. ISOs and NSOs together are referred to as "options" for purposes of this description of the 2013 LTIP. The terms of each award are reflected in an incentive agreement between our Company and the participant.

        Options.    Generally, options must be exercised within ten years of the grant date, except with respect to ISO grants to a 10% or greater stockholder, which are required to be exercised within five years. The exercise price of each option may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant, or 110% in the case of an ISO grant to a 10% or greater stockholder. To the extent the aggregate fair market value of shares of Common Stock for which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by any employee during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, those options must be treated as NSOs. The exercise price of each option is payable in cash or, in the Compensation Committee's discretion, by the delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the optionee, or by any combination of these methods. No option issued under the 2013 LTIP may be repriced, replaced or regranted through cancellation or by lowering the option exercise price of a previously granted option.

        Restricted Stock/Restricted Stock Units.    Included in this category of awards are nonperformance-based grants of shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units that vest over a period of time based on the participant's continuing employment with ION or its subsidiaries. Unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise at the date of grant, shares of restricted stock will carry full voting rights. Certificates for unrestricted shares of Common Stock will be delivered electronically to the participant when the restrictions on the restricted stock lapse. The Compensation Committee may also grant restricted stock units under the 2013 LTIP, which entitle the participant to the issuance of shares of our Common Stock when the restrictions on the units awarded lapse.

        SARs.    Upon the exercise of a SAR, the holder will receive cash, Common Stock, or a combination thereof, the aggregate value of which equals the amount by which the fair market value per share of the Common Stock on the exercise date exceeds the exercise price of the SAR, multiplied by the number of shares underlying the exercised portion of the SAR. SARs are subject to such conditions and are exercisable at such times as determined by the Compensation Committee, but the exercise price per share must at least be equal to the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.

        Performance Shares.    Performance shares are awards of Common Stock contingent upon the degree to which performance objectives selected by the Compensation Committee are achieved during a specified period, subject to adjustment by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee establishes performance objectives that may be based upon Company, business segment, participant or other performance objectives as well as the period during which such performance objectives are to be achieved. Examples of performance criteria include, but are not limited to, pre-tax or after-tax profit levels, including: earnings per share, earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, net operating profits after tax, and net income; total shareholder return; return on assets, equity, capital or investment; cash flow and cash flow return on investment; economic value added and economic profit; growth in earnings per share; levels of operating expense and maintenance expense or measures of customer satisfaction and customer service as determined from time to time, including the relative improvement therein. The Compensation

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Committee may make such adjustments in the computation of any performance measure, provided that any such modification does not prevent an award from qualifying for the "Performance-Based Exception" under section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, which is described below. Performance shares may be awarded alone or in conjunction with other awards. Payment of performance shares may be made only in shares of Common Stock.

        Performance Units.    Performance units are awards of a right to receive shares of Common Stock contingent upon the degree to which performance objectives selected by the Compensation Committee are achieved during a specified period, subject to adjustment by the Compensation Committee. The establishment and types of performance objectives with regard to performance units is the same as described above with regard to performance shares. Performance units may be awarded alone or in conjunction with other awards. Payment on performance units may be made in shares of Common Stock or in cash.

        Other Stock-Based Awards.    Other stock-based awards are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise related to, shares of Common Stock. Other types of stock-based awards include, without limitation, deferred stock, purchase rights, shares of Common Stock awarded which are not subject to any restrictions or conditions, convertible or exchangeable debentures, other rights convertible into shares, incentive awards valued by reference to the value of securities of or the performance of a specified subsidiary, division or department, and settlement in cancellation of rights of any person with a vested interest in any other plan, fund, program or arrangement that is or was sponsored or maintained by our Company or any subsidiary, or in which our Company or any subsidiary participated. Subject to the terms of the 2013 LTIP, the Compensation Committee may determine the terms and conditions of any stock-based awards, and those terms are to be set forth in the incentive agreement with the participant.

        Supplemental Payments.    The Compensation Committee, either at the time of grant or at the time of exercise of an NSO or SAR or the time of vesting of performance shares, may provide for a supplemental payment by our Company to the participant in an amount specified by the Compensation Committee. The supplemental payment amount shall not exceed the amount necessary to pay the federal and state income tax payable with respect to the exercise of the NSO or SAR, the vesting of the performance shares and the receipt of a supplemental payment in connection therewith, assuming the participant is taxed at either the maximum effective income tax rate or at a lower tax rate, as deemed appropriate by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee shall have the discretion to grant supplemental payments that are payable in Common Stock or cash, determined by the Compensation Committee at the time of the payment.

        Termination of Employment and Change in Control.    Except as otherwise provided in the applicable incentive agreement, if a participant's employment or other service is terminated other than due to his death, disability, retirement or for cause, any non-vested portion of stock options or other applicable awards will terminate and no further vesting will occur. In such event, the then-exercisable options and awards will remain exercisable until the earlier of the expiration date set forth in the incentive agreement or three months after the date of termination of employment. If termination of employment is due to disability or death, (a) any restrictions on stock-based awards will be deemed satisfied and all outstanding options will accelerate and become immediately exercisable and (b) the participant's then exercisable options will remain exercisable until the earlier of the expiration date of such options or one year following termination. If termination of employment is due to retirement with at least five years of service, (a) all non-vested shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units and other awards other than stock options will terminate and no further vesting will occur, (b) all outstanding non-vested stock options will accelerate and become immediately exercisable and (c) the participant's then exercisable options will remain exercisable until the earlier of the expiration date of such options or one year following termination. Upon termination for cause, all vested and non-vested options and

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unvested restricted stock will expire at the effective date of termination. Upon a "change in control" (as defined below), any restrictions on stock-based awards will be deemed satisfied, all outstanding options and SARs will accelerate and become immediately exercisable and all the performance shares and any other stock-based awards will become fully vested and deemed earned in full.

        Under the 2013 LTIP, a "change in control" will be deemed to have occurred upon any one or more of the following:

        (1)   the acquisition by a person or group of beneficial ownership of 40% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock other than acquisitions directly from ION, acquisitions by ION or an employee benefit plan maintained by ION, or certain permitted acquisitions in connection with a business combination described in sub-paragraph (3) below;

        (2)   changes in directors such that the individuals that constitute the entire Board cease to constitute at least a majority of directors of the Board, other than new directors whose appointment or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then constituting the entire Board (except in the case of election contests);

        (3)   consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar business combination involving ION, unless (i) owners of our Common Stock immediately following such transaction together own more than 50% of the total outstanding stock or voting power of the entity resulting from the transaction and (ii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from the transaction were members of our Board at the time the agreement for the transaction is signed; or

        (4)   the sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets.

        Transferability.    Awards granted under the 2013 LTIP are not transferable or assignable and cannot be pledged, or otherwise encumbered other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. However, with respect to awards that are not Incentive Stock Options, the Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, authorize all or a portion of the award to be granted on terms that permit transfer by the participant to (i) the members of the participant's immediate family, (ii) a trust or trusts for the exclusive benefit of immediate family members, (iii) a partnership in which immediate family members are the only partners, (iv) any other entity owned solely by immediate family members or (v) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order. Following any permitted transfer, the award shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. The events of termination of employment as set out in the plan shall continue to be applied with respect to the original grantee, and the award shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and for the periods, specified in the incentive agreement.

        Except as provided above, shares of restricted stock and/or restricted stock units may not be sold, transferred, pledged or assigned until the end of the applicable period of restriction established by the Compensation Committee and specified in the incentive agreement (and in the case of restricted stock units, until the date of delivery or other payment), and performance shares and performance units may not be sold, transferred, pledged or assigned until the end of the applicable performance period established by the Compensation Committee and specified in the incentive agreement (and, in the case of performance units, until the date of delivery or other payment), and the performance criteria have been met and confirmed by the Compensation Committee. All rights with respect to restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares and performance units shall be available during the grantee's lifetime only to the grantee, except as otherwise provided in the applicable incentive agreement.

        Performance-Based Exception.    Under section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, we may deduct, for federal income-tax purposes, compensation paid to our chief executive officer and our four other most highly compensated executive officers only to the extent that such compensation does not exceed $1,000,000 for any such individual during any year, excluding compensation that qualifies as

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"performance-based compensation." The 2013 LTIP includes features necessary for certain awards under the plan to qualify as "performance-based compensation." To qualify, stock options granted under the 2013 LTIP to covered individuals must have an exercise price per share that is not less than the fair market value of a share of the Common Stock on the date of grant. Performance shares may qualify for the exemption only if the Compensation Committee establishes in writing objective performance goals for such awards no later than 90 days after the commencement of the performance period and no payments are made to participants pursuant to the awards until the Compensation Committee certifies in writing that the applicable performance goals have been met.

        Federal Tax Consequences.    The U.S. federal income tax discussion that follows is intended for general information only and is based on current regulations. State and local income tax consequences are not discussed, and may vary from locality to locality.

        NSOs.    An optionee who is granted an NSO will not realize taxable income at the time the stock option is granted. In general, an optionee will be subject to tax for the year of exercise on an amount of ordinary income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise over the option exercise price, and, subject to section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and the requirement of reasonableness, ION will receive a corresponding deduction. Income tax withholding requirements apply upon exercise. The optionee's basis in the shares so acquired equal the exercise price plus the amount of ordinary income upon which he is taxed. Upon subsequent disposition of the shares, the optionee will realize long- or short-term capital gain or loss, depending upon the length of time the shares are held after the option is exercised.

        ISOs.    An optionee is not taxed at the time an ISO is granted. The tax consequences upon exercise and later disposition depend upon whether the optionee was an employee of ION or a subsidiary at all times from the date of grant until three months preceding exercise, or one year in the case of death or disability, and on whether the optionee holds the shares for more than one year after exercise and two years after the date of grant of the option. If the optionee satisfies both the employment rule and the holding rule, then, for regular federal income tax purposes, the optionee will not realize income upon exercise of the option and we will not be allowed an income tax deduction. The difference between the option exercise price and the amount realized upon sale or disposition of the shares by the optionee will constitute a long-term capital gain or a long-term capital loss, as the case may be. Neither the employment rule nor the holding rule will apply to the exercise of an option by the estate of an optionee, provided that the optionee satisfied the employment rule as of the date of such optionee's death. If the optionee meets the employment rule but fails to observe the holding rule, a sale of the shares would be considered to be a "disqualifying disposition," in which case the optionee generally recognizes as ordinary income, in the year of the disqualifying disposition, the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the date of exercise over the option exercise price. Any excess of the sales price over the fair market value at the date of exercise will be recognized by the optionee as long-term or short-term capital gain, depending on the length of time the stock was held after the option was exercised. If, however, the sales price is less than the fair market value at the date of exercise, then the ordinary income recognized by the optionee is generally limited to the excess of the sales price over the option exercise price. In both situations, our tax deduction will be limited to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the optionee. Different consequences apply for an optionee who is subject to the alternative minimum tax under the Internal Revenue Code.

        Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.    Restricted stock is generally subject to ordinary income tax at the time the restrictions lapse, unless the recipient has previously elected to accelerate recognition income as of the date of grant. Restricted stock unit awards are generally subject to ordinary income tax at the time of the issuance of unrestricted shares. Unrestricted stock awards are generally subject to ordinary income tax at the time of grant. In each of the foregoing instances, we will

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generally be entitled to a corresponding federal income tax deduction at the same time the participant recognizes ordinary income.

        SARs.    Generally, the recipient of a stand-alone SAR will not recognize taxable income at the time the stand-alone SAR is granted. If an employee receives the appreciation inherent in the SARs in cash, the cash will be taxed as ordinary income to the employee at the time it is received. If an employee receives the appreciation inherent in the SARs in stock, the spread between the then-current market value and the base price will be taxed as ordinary income to the employee at the time it is received. In general, there will be no federal income tax deduction allowed to us upon the grant or termination of SARs. However, upon the settlement of a SAR, we will be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income the recipient is required to recognize as a result of the settlement.

        Performance Shares and Performance Units.    A participant is not taxed upon the grant of performance shares or performance units. Upon receipt of the shares or cash underlying the award, the participant will be taxed at ordinary income tax rates on the amount of cash received or the current fair market value of stock received, and we will be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction. The participant's basis in any shares acquired pursuant to the settlement of performance shares or performance units will be equal to the amount of ordinary income on which he was taxed and, upon subsequent disposition, any gain or loss will be capital gain or loss.

        Withholding.    We have the right to reduce the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable pursuant to the 2013 LTIP by an amount that would have a fair market value equal to the amount of all federal, state or local taxes to be withheld, based on the tax rates then in effect or the tax rates that we reasonably believe will be in effect for the applicable tax year, or to deduct the amount of such taxes from any cash payment to be made to the participant, pursuant to the 2013 LTIP or otherwise.

        The foregoing is only a summary of the effects of U.S. federal income taxation upon plan participants and the Company with respect to the grant and exercise of awards under the 2013 LTIP based on the U.S. federal income tax laws in effect as of the date of this Proxy Statement. It does not intend to be exhaustive and does not discuss the tax consequences arising in the context of the employee's death or the income tax laws of any municipality, state or foreign country in which the employee's income or gain may be taxable or the gift, estate, excise (including application of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code), or any tax law other than U.S. federal income tax law. Because individual circumstances may vary, we advise all participants to consult their own tax advisors concerning the tax implications of awards granted under the 2013 LTIP.

        New Plan Benefits.    It is not possible to predict the individuals who will receive future awards under the 2013 LTIP or the number of shares of Common Stock covered by any future award because such awards are wholly within the discretion of the Compensation Committee. However, please refer to the description of grants made to our named executive officers in the fiscal year 2014 described in the "Executive Compensation—2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards" table above. Grants made to our non-employee directors in the last fiscal year are described under "Executive Compensation—Director Compensation" above. On December 4, 2015, the closing price of a share of our Common Stock on the NYSE was $0.51.

        Termination or Amendment of the 2013 LTIP.    The Board may amend, alter or discontinue the 2013 LTIP at any time. The Board or the Compensation Committee may amend the terms of any award previously granted; however, no amendment or discontinuance may impair the existing rights of any participant without the participant's consent. The Board may not amend the 2013 LTIP without stockholder approval if the amendment would (i) materially increase the benefits received by participants, (ii) materially increase the maximum number of shares that may be issued under the plan, (iii) materially modify the plan's eligibility requirements or (iv) require stockholder approval as a matter of law or under rules of the NYSE.

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        The 2013 LTIP also provides that stock options granted under the plan will not be (i) repriced by lowering the exercise price after grant or (ii) replaced or regranted through cancellation. In addition, we will seek the approval of our stockholders for any amendment if approval is necessary to comply with the Internal Revenue Code, federal or state securities laws or any other applicable rules or regulations. Unless sooner terminated, the 2013 LTIP will expire on May 21, 2023, and no awards may be granted under the 2013 LTIP after that date.

Required Vote

        The proposal to approve the amendments to the 2013 LTIP requires a majority of the votes cast on the proposal, provided that the total votes cast on the proposal represents over 50% of the total number of outstanding shares of our Common Stock.

The Board unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" the approval of the proposal to amend
the 2013 LTIP.

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OTHER MATTERS

        Our Bylaws provide that business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in a resolution approved by a majority of the Board or a committee designated for such purpose by the Board. Accordingly, no business other than Proposals 1, 2 and 3 shall be conducted at the Special Meeting.

SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

        The entire expense of preparing and mailing this Proxy Statement and any other soliciting material (including, without limitation, costs, if any, related to advertising, printing, fees of attorneys, financial advisors, and solicitors, public relations, transportation, and litigation) will be borne by us. In addition to the use of the mails, we or certain of our employees may solicit proxies by telephone, telegram, and personal solicitation; however, no additional compensation will be paid to those employees in connection with such solicitation. We have also retained Georgeson Inc. to assist with the solicitation of proxies from banks, brokers, nominees and other holders, for a fee not to exceed $11,000 plus reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses. We may also ask our proxy solicitor to solicit proxies on our behalf by telephone for a fixed fee of $6.00 per phone call and $3.50 per telephone vote, plus reimbursement for expenses. The entire cost of the proxy solicitation will be borne by us.

        Banks, brokerage houses, and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries will be requested to forward solicitation material to the beneficial owners of our Common Stock that such institutions hold of record, and we will reimburse such institutions for their reasonable out-of-pocket disbursements and expenses.

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXIES

        SEC rules permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements for this Proxy Statement with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single Proxy Statement addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as "householding," potentially provides extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies.

        Once you have received notice from your broker or us that your broker or we will be householding materials to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding, please notify your broker if your shares are held in a brokerage account or notify us at the address or telephone number below if you hold registered shares. If, at any time, you and another stockholder sharing the same address wish to participate in householding, please notify your broker if your shares are held in a brokerage account or notify us if you hold registered shares.

        At any time, you may request a separate copy of this Proxy Statement by sending a written request to Jamey S. Seely, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, ION Geophysical Corporation, 2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77042-2839.

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2016 ANNUAL MEETING

        Stockholder proposals requested to be included in the proxy statement for our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders were required to be received by the Company not later than December 16, 2015. A proper director nomination may be considered at our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders only if the proposal for nomination was received by the Company not later than December 16, 2015. Any proposals should be submitted, in writing, to Jamey S. Seely, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, ION Geophysical Corporation, 2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77042-2839.

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ANNUAL REPORTS

        Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 is available on our website at www.iongeo.com. In addition, we will provide a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 without charge to any stockholder making written request to Jamey S. Seely, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, ION Geophysical Corporation, 2105 CityWest Boulevard, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77042-2839.

        Please note that the contents of these and any other websites referenced in this Proxy Statement are not incorporated by reference herein. Further, our references to the URLs for these and other websites listed in this Proxy Statement are intended to be inactive textual references only.

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        This Proxy Statement has been approved by the Board and is being made available to stockholders by its authority.

Houston, Texas
December [    ], 2015

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Annex A

        The following sets forth the text of the proposed amendments (the "Reverse Stock Split Amendments") to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Form of Amendment"). The Form of Amendment contemplates the inclusion of a Reverse Stock Split ratio within a range of ratios and corresponding total numbers of authorized shares of Common Stock and capital stock of the Company, as indicated by the included bracketed language. These values shall be inserted based upon (i) the Reverse Stock Split ratio to be selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) and (ii) whether the Authorized Share Increase Amendment has been adopted by stockholders and effected by the Board. Only the applicable Reverse Stock Split Amendment providing for the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and become effective. Upon such an event, the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) shall abandon all other Reverse Stock Split Amendments.

FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION

        ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), does hereby certify as follows:

        FIRST: The name of the Corporation is ION Geophysical Corporation.

        SECOND: SECTION 1 of ARTICLE FOURTH of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

        SECTION 1.    Capitalization.    The Corporation is authorized to issue [If the Authorized Share Increase Amendment has not been adopted or effected: a number between 45,000,000 and 18,333,333; if the Authorized Share Increase Amendment has been adopted and effected: a number between 85,000,000 and 31,666,666] shares of capital stock. [If the Authorized Share Increase Amendment has not been adopted or effected: any corresponding number between 40,000,000 and 13,333,333; if the Authorized Share Increase Amendment has been adopted and effected: any corresponding number between 80,000,000 and 26,666,666] of the authorized shares shall be common stock, one cent ($0.01) par value each ("Common Stock"), and five million (5,000,000) of the authorized shares shall be preferred stock, one cent ($0.01) par value each ("Preferred Stock").

        Each holder of shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of the capital stock of the Corporation held by the stockholder, unless otherwise specifically provided pursuant to this Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

        Upon effectiveness (the "Effective Time") pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL") of this Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (this "Certificate of Amendment"), each [a number between five and 15] shares of the Corporation's Common Stock, either issued and outstanding or held by the Corporation in treasury stock immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be reclassified and combined into one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock without any further action by the Corporation or the holder thereof, subject to the treatment of fractional share interests as described below (the "Reverse Stock Split"). No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued as a result of the Reverse Stock Split.

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Stockholders who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive cash (without interest or deduction) from the Corporation's transfer agent in lieu of such fractional shares upon the submission of a transmittal letter by a stockholder holding the shares in book-entry form and, where shares are held in certificated form, upon the surrender of the stockholder's Old Certificates (as defined below), in an amount equal to the proceeds attributable to the sale of the fractional shares resulting from the aggregation and sale by the Corporation's transfer agent of all fractional share interests attributable to the fractional shares otherwise issuable. Until surrendered, each certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Common Stock ("Old Certificates") shall only represent the number of whole shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Common Stock formerly represented by such Old Certificate were combined into as a result of the Reverse Stock Split.

        THIRD: This Certificate of Amendment shall become effective upon filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

        FOURTH: All other provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall remain in full force and effect.

        FIFTH: This Certificate of Amendment was duly adopted in accordance with Section 242 of the DGCL. The board of directors of the Corporation duly adopted resolutions setting forth and declaring advisable this Certificate of Amendment and directed that the proposed amendment be considered by the stockholders of the Corporation. At a special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation held on February 1, 2016 and called in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL, the stockholders of the Corporation duly adopted this Certificate of Amendment.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be duly executed in its corporate name by its duly authorized officer as of the [            ] day of [            ], [            ].

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Annex B

FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION

        ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), does hereby certify as follows:

        FIRST: The name of the Corporation is ION Geophysical Corporation.

        SECOND: SECTION 1 of ARTICLE FOURTH of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

        SECTION 1.    Capitalization.    The Corporation is authorized to issue four hundred five million (405,000,000) shares of capital stock. Four hundred million (400,000,000) of the authorized shares shall be common stock, one cent ($0.01) par value each ("Common Stock"), and five million (5,000,000) of the authorized shares shall be preferred stock, one cent ($0.01) par value each ("Preferred Stock").

        Each holder of shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of the capital stock of the Corporation held by the stockholder, unless otherwise specifically provided pursuant to this Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

        THIRD: This Certificate of Amendment shall become effective upon filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

        FOURTH: All other provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall remain in full force and effect.

        FIFTH: This Certificate of Amendment was duly adopted in accordance with Section 242 of the DGCL. The board of directors of the Corporation duly adopted resolutions setting forth and declaring advisable this Certificate of Amendment and directed that the proposed amendment be considered by the stockholders of the Corporation. At a special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation held on February 1, 2016 and called in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL, the stockholders of the Corporation duly adopted this Certificate of Amendment.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be duly executed in its corporate name by its duly authorized officer as of the [            ] day of [            ], [            ].

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Annex C

        The following sets forth the text of the proposed amendments (the "2013 LTIP Amendments") to the Company's 2013 LTIP (the "Form Amended and Restated 2013 LTIP"). The Form Amended and Restated 2013 LTIP contemplates the Reverse Stock Split being effected, and immediately following such Reverse Stock Split, (i) the total number of shares of our Common Stock available for issuance under the 2013 LTIP changing to a number between 1,248,667 and 3,746,000 and (ii) the maximum number of such shares that may be granted in the form of full-value awards changing to a number between and 412,060 and 1,236,180, as indicated by the included bracketed language. These values shall be inserted based upon the Reverse Stock Split ratio to be selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board). Only the applicable 2013 LTIP Amendments providing for an increase based upon the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by the Board (or any authorized committee of the Board) will become effective.

AMENDED AND RESTATED
2013 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING
TO PLAN GOVERNANCE, COVERAGE AND BENEFITS

        1.1    Purpose    

        The purpose of the Plan is to foster and promote the long-term financial success of ION Geophysical Corporation, a Delaware corporation (including any successors-in-interest, the "Company") and its Subsidiaries and to increase stockholder value by: (a) encouraging the commitment of Directors and selected key Employees and Consultants, (b) motivating superior performance of Directors and key Employees and Consultants by means of long-term performance related incentives, (c) encouraging and providing Directors and selected key Employees and Consultants with a program for obtaining ownership interests in the Company that link and align their personal interests to those of the Company's stockholders, (d) attracting and retaining Directors and selected key Employees and Consultants by providing competitive incentive compensation opportunities, and (e) enabling Directors and selected key Employees and Consultants to share in the long-term growth and success of the Company.

        The Plan provides for payment of various forms of incentive compensation. Except as provided in Section 8.13, it is not intended to be a plan that is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and, as such, the Plan will be interpreted, construed and administered consistent with its status as a plan that is not subject to ERISA.

        This amendment and restatement of the Plan will become effective as of February 1, 2015 (with the Plan having an original effective date of May 22, 2013 (the "Effective Date")). The Plan will commence on the Effective Date, and will remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board to amend or terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to Section 8.6, until all Shares subject to the Plan have been purchased or acquired according to its provisions. However, in no event may any Incentive Award be granted under the Plan after ten (10) years from the Effective Date.

        1.2    Definitions    

        The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

        (a)    Appreciation.    The difference between the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of a SAR and the option exercise price per share of the SAR.

        (b)    Authorized Officer.    The Chairman of the Board, the CEO, any Senior Vice President or Vice President or any other senior officer of the Company to whom any of them delegate the authority to execute any Incentive Agreement for and on behalf of the Company. No officer or director shall be an Authorized Officer with respect to any Incentive Agreement for himself.

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        (c)    Board.    The Board of Directors of the Company.

        (d)    Cause.    Except as otherwise provided by the Committee or as otherwise provided in a Grantee's employment agreement, when used in connection with the termination of a Grantee's Employment or service, shall mean the termination of the Grantee's Employment or Grantee's services as a Director or Consultant by the Company or any Subsidiary by reason of (i) the conviction of the Grantee by a court of competent jurisdiction as to which no further appeal can be taken of a crime involving moral turpitude or a felony; (ii) the proven commission by the Grantee of a material act of fraud upon the Company or any Subsidiary, or any customer or supplier thereof; (iii) the willful and proven misappropriation of any funds or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any customer or supplier thereof; (iv) the willful, continued and unreasonable failure by the Grantee to perform the material duties assigned to him which is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within thirty (30) days after written or electronic notice of such failure is provided to Grantee by the Board or by a designated officer of the Company or a Subsidiary; (v) the knowing engagement by the Grantee in any direct and material conflict of interest with the Company or any Subsidiary without compliance with the Company's or Subsidiary's conflict of interest policy, if any, then in effect; or (vi) the knowing engagement by the Grantee, without the written approval of the Board, in any material activity which competes with the business of the Company or any Subsidiary or which would result in a material injury to the business, reputation or goodwill of the Company or any Subsidiary; or (vii) the material breach by a Consultant of such Grantee's contract with the Company.

        (e)    CEO.    The Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

        (f)    Change in Control.    Any of the events described in and subject to Section 7.7.

        (g)    Code.    The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and other authority promulgated thereunder by the appropriate governmental authority. References herein to any provision of the Code shall refer to any successor provision thereto.

        (h)    Committee.    A committee appointed by the Board consisting of at least two directors, who fulfill the "outside directors" requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, to administer the Plan. The Committee may be the Compensation Committee of the Board, or any subcommittee of the Compensation Committee. The Board shall have the power to fill vacancies on the Committee arising by resignation, death, removal or otherwise. The Board, in its sole discretion, may bifurcate the powers and duties of the Committee among one or more separate committees, or retain all powers and duties of the Committee in a single Committee. The members of the Committee shall serve at the discretion of the Board.

        (i)    Common Stock.    The common stock of the Company, $.01 par value per share, and any class of common stock into which such common shares may hereafter be converted, reclassified, re-capitalized, or exchanged.

        (j)    Consultant.    An independent agent, consultant, attorney, an individual who has agreed to become an Employee within the next six months, or any other individual who is not a Director or employee of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary) and who, in the opinion of the Committee, is in a position to contribute to the growth or financial success of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary), (ii) is a natural person and (iii) provides bona fide services to the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary), which services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction, and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company's securities.

        (k)    Covered Employee.    A named executive officer who is one of the group of covered employees, as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury Regulation § 1.162-27(c) (or its successor), during any such period that the Company is a Publicly Held Corporation.

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        (l)    Deferred Stock.    Shares of Common Stock to be issued or transferred to a Grantee under an Other Stock-Based Award granted pursuant to Section 5 at the end of a specified deferral period, as set forth in the Incentive Agreement pertaining thereto.

        (m)    Director.    Any individual who is a member of the Board.

        (n)    Disability.    As determined by the Committee in its discretion exercised in good faith, a physical or mental condition of the Employee that would entitle him to disability income payments under the Company's long term disability insurance policy or plan for employees, as then effective, if any; or in the event that the Grantee is not covered, for whatever reason, under the Company's long-term disability insurance policy or plan, "Disability" means a permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. A determination of Disability may be made by a physician selected or approved by the Committee and, in this respect, the Grantee shall submit to any reasonable examination by such physician upon request.

        (o)    Employee.    Any employee of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary) within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code who, in the opinion of the Committee, is in a position to contribute to the growth, development or financial success of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary), including, without limitation, officers who are members of the Board.

        (p)    Employment.    Employment by the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or by any corporation issuing or assuming an Incentive Award in any transaction described in Section 424(a) of the Code, or by a parent corporation or a subsidiary corporation of such corporation issuing or assuming such Incentive Award, as the parent-subsidiary relationship shall be determined at the time of the corporate action described in Section 424(a) of the Code. In this regard, neither the transfer of a Grantee from Employment by the Company to Employment by any Parent or Subsidiary, nor the transfer of a Grantee from Employment by any Parent or Subsidiary to Employment by the Company, shall be deemed to be a termination of Employment of the Grantee. Moreover, the Employment of a Grantee shall not be deemed to have been terminated because of an approved leave of absence from active Employment on account of temporary illness, authorized vacation or granted for reasons of professional advancement, education, health, government service or military leave, or during any period required to be treated as a leave of absence by virtue of any applicable statute, Company personnel policy or agreement. Whether an authorized leave of absence shall constitute termination of Employment hereunder shall be determined by the Committee in its discretion. Unless otherwise provided in the Incentive Agreement, the term "Employment" for purposes of the Plan is also defined to include compensatory or advisory services performed by a Consultant for the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

        (q)    Exchange Act.    The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

        (r)    Fair Market Value.    While the Company is a Publicly Held Corporation, the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date in question is deemed to be the closing sales price on the immediately preceding business day, or the nearest preceding business day on which there was a closing sales price, of a share of Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange or other principal securities exchange on which Shares are then listed or admitted to trading, or as quoted on any national interdealer quotation system, if such shares are not so listed. In the case of stock option exercise via the same-day sale or sell-to-cover, Fair Market Value for shares sold shall be deemed to be the sale price.

        (s)    Full-Value Award.    An award of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, unrestricted Common Stock, Performance Shares, Performance Units or other Incentive Award that entitles the Grantee to receive the entire value of each Share upon vesting at no cost to the Grantee. In

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contrast, Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and similar appreciation awards are not Full-Value Awards.

        (t)    Grantee.    Any Employee, Director or Consultant who is granted an Incentive Award under the Plan.

        (u)    Immediate Family.    With respect to a Grantee, the Grantee's child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships.

        (v)    Incentive Agreement.    The written or electronic agreement entered into between the Company and the Grantee setting forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which an Incentive Award is granted under the Plan, as such agreement is further defined in Section 7.1(a).

        (w)    Incentive Award.    A grant of an award under the Plan to a Grantee, including any Nonstatutory Stock Option, Incentive Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or Other Stock-Based Award, as well as any Supplemental Payment.

        (x)    Incentive Stock Option or ISO.    A Stock Option granted by the Committee to an Employee under Section 2 that is designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option and intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code.

        (y)    Insider.    While the Company is a Publicly Held Corporation, an individual who is, on the relevant date, an officer, director or 10% beneficial owner of any class of the Company's equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, all as defined under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

        (z)    Non-Employee Director.    A Director who is not an Employee.

        (aa)    Non-Employee Director Award.    Any Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, or Other Stock-Based Award granted, whether singly or in combination, to a Grantee who is a Non-Employee Director pursuant to such applicable terms, conditions, and limitations as the Board or Committee may establish in accordance with this Plan.

        (bb)    Nonstatutory Stock Option.    A Stock Option granted by the Committee to a Grantee under Section 2 that is not designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option or to which Section 421 of the Code does not apply.

        (cc)    Option Price.    The exercise price at which a Share may be purchased by the Grantee of a Stock Option.

        (dd)    Other Stock-Based Award.    An award granted by the Committee to a Grantee under Section 5 that is not a Nonstatutory Stock Option, SAR, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit and is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is otherwise based upon, Common Stock.

        (ee)    Parent.    Any corporation (whether now or hereafter existing) that constitutes a "Parent" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

        (ff)    Performance-Based Exception.    The performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code, as prescribed in Section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury Regulation § 1.162-27(e) (or its successor), which is applicable during such period that the Company is a Publicly Held Corporation.

        (gg)    Performance Period.    A period of time determined by the Committee over which performance is measured for the purpose of determining a Grantee's right to and the payment value of any Performance Share, Performance Unit or Other Stock-Based Award.

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        (hh)    Performance Share.    An Incentive Award granted by the Committee to a Grantee under Section 3 representing a contingent right to receive Shares of Common Stock at the end of a Performance Period.

        (ii)    Performance Unit.    An Incentive Award granted by the Committee to a Grantee under Section 3 representing a contingent right to receive Shares of Common Stock at the end of a Performance Period, except no Shares are actually awarded to the Grantee on the date of grant.

        (jj)    Period of Restriction.    A period when Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals, or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, in its discretion), as provided in Section 4.

        (kk)    Plan.    2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as set forth herein and as it may be amended from time to time.

        (ll)    Publicly Held Corporation.    A corporation issuing any class of common equity securities required to be registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

        (mm)    Restricted Stock.    An Award granted to a Grantee pursuant to Section 4.

        (nn)    Restricted Stock Unit.    An Award granted to a Grantee pursuant to Section 4, except no Shares are actually awarded to the Grantee on the date of grant.

        (oo)    Retirement.    The voluntary termination of Employment from the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary constituting retirement on any date after the Employee has had at least five years of continuous service and has attained the normal retirement age of 65 years, or such other age as may be designated from time to time by the Committee.

        (pp)    Share.    A share of Common Stock of the Company.

        (qq)    Share Pool.    The number of Shares authorized for issuance under Section 1.4 as adjusted for awards and payouts under Section 1.5 and as adjusted for changes in corporate capitalization under Section 7.5.

        (rr)    Spread.    The difference between the exercise price per Share specified in any SAR grant and the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise of the SAR.

        (ss)    Stock Appreciation Right or SAR.    A Stock Appreciation Right described in Section 2.4.

        (tt)    Stock Option or Option.    Pursuant to Section 2 or Section 6, (i) an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Employee, or (ii) a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted to an Employee, Director or Consultant, whereunder such option the Grantee has the right to purchase Shares of Common Stock. In accordance with Section 422 of the Code, only an Employee of the Company, Parent or Subsidiary may be granted an Incentive Stock Option.

        (uu)    Subsidiary.    Any corporation (whether now or hereafter existing) which constitutes a "subsidiary" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

        (vv)    Supplemental Payment.    Any amount, as described in Sections 2.5, 3.3 and/or 4.3, that is dedicated to payment of income taxes that are payable by the Grantee resulting from an Incentive Award.

        1.3    Plan Administration    

        (a)    Authority of the Committee.    Except as may be limited by law and subject to the provisions herein, the Committee shall have full power to (i) select Grantees who shall participate in the Plan; (ii) determine the sizes, duration and types of Incentive Awards; (iii) determine the terms and conditions of Incentive Awards and Incentive Agreements; (iv) determine whether any

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Shares subject to Incentive Awards will be subject to any restrictions on transfer; (v) construe and interpret the Plan and any Incentive Agreement or other agreement entered into under the Plan; (vi) authorize one or more executive officers of the Company to select Employees to participate in the Plan and to determine the type and size of each Incentive Award to be granted to such employees for awards of 5,000 Shares or less; and (vii) establish, amend, or waive rules for the Plan's administration. Further, the Committee shall make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Notwithstanding the preceding, without the prior approval of the Company's shareholders, any Stock Option previously granted under the Plan shall not be repriced, replaced, or regranted through cancellation, or by lowering the exercise price of a previously granted option, except as provided in Section 7.5.

        (b)    Meetings.    The Committee shall designate a chairman from among its members who shall preside at all of its meetings, and shall designate a secretary, without regard to whether that person is a member of the Committee, who shall keep the minutes of the proceedings and all records, documents, and data pertaining to its administration of the Plan. Meetings shall be held at such times and places as shall be determined by the Committee, and the Committee may hold telephonic meetings.

        (c)    Decisions Binding.    All determinations and decisions made by the Committee shall be made in its discretion pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons including the Company, Employees, Directors, Grantees, and their estates and beneficiaries. The Committee's decisions and determinations with respect to any Incentive Award need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Incentive Awards and Grantees, whether or not such Incentive Awards are similar or such Grantees are similarly situated.

        (d)    Modification of Outstanding Incentive Awards.    Subject to the stockholder approval requirements of Section 8.6, if applicable, the Committee may, in its discretion, provide for the extension of the exercisability of an Incentive Award, accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an Incentive Award, eliminate or make less restrictive any restrictions contained in an Incentive Award, waive any restriction or other provisions of an Incentive Award, or otherwise amend or modify an Incentive Award in any manner that is either (i) not adverse to the Grantee to whom such Incentive Award was granted or (ii) consented to by such Grantee; provided, however, no Stock Option issued under the Plan will be repriced, replaced or regranted through cancellation, or by lowering the Option Price of a previously granted Stock Option and the period during which a Stock Option may be exercised shall not be extended such that the compensation payable under the Stock Option would be subject to the excise tax applicable under Section 409A of the Code. With respect to an Incentive Award that is an incentive stock option (as described in Section 422 of the Code), no adjustment to such option shall be made to the extent constituting a "modification" within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code unless otherwise agreed to by the Grantee in writing. Except as provided in this Plan in connection with a Change of Control or a Corporate Event, the language of this Section 1.3(d) prohibits all forms of repricing, including cash buyouts and Incentive Award exchanges, without stockholder approval.

        (e)    Delegation of Authority.    The Committee may delegate to designated officers or other employees of the Company any of its duties and authority under the Plan pursuant to such conditions or limitations as the Committee may establish from time to time; provided, however, except as provided in Section 1.3(a), the Committee may not delegate to any person the authority to (i) grant Incentive Awards, or (ii) take any action that would contravene the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or the Performance-Based Exception under Section 162(m) of the Code.

        (f)    Expenses of Committee.    The Committee may employ legal counsel, including, without limitation, independent legal counsel and counsel regularly employed by the Company, and other

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agents, as the Committee may deem appropriate for the administration of the Plan. The Committee may rely upon any opinion or computation received from any such counsel or agent. All expenses incurred by the Committee in interpreting and administering the Plan, including, without limitation, meeting expenses and professional fees, shall be paid by the Company.

        (g)    Indemnification.    Each person who is or was a member of the Committee, or of the Board, shall be indemnified by the Company against and from any damage, loss, liability, cost and expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he may be a party or in which he may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan, except for any such act or omission constituting willful misconduct or gross negligence. Such person shall be indemnified by the Company for all amounts paid by him in settlement thereof, with the Company's approval, or paid by him in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him, provided he shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he undertakes to handle and defend it on his own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company's Articles or Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, by contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

        (h)    Awards in Foreign Countries.    The Board shall have the authority to adopt modifications, procedures, sub-plans, and other similar plan documents as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of foreign countries in which the Company or its subsidiaries may operate to assure the viability of the benefits of Incentive Awards made to individuals employed or providing services in such countries and to meet the objectives of the Plan.

        1.4    Shares of Common Stock Available for Incentive Awards    

        Subject to this Section 1.4 and subject to adjustment under Section 7.5, there shall be available for Incentive Awards that are granted wholly or partly in Common Stock (including rights or Options that may be exercised or settled in Common Stock) [a number between 1,248,667 and 3,746,000] Shares of Common Stock.

        The number of Shares of Common Stock that are the subject of Incentive Awards under this Plan, that are forfeited or terminated, expire unexercised, are settled in cash in lieu of Common Stock or in a manner such that all or some of the Shares covered by an Incentive Award are not issued to a Grantee or are exchanged for Incentive Awards that do not involve Common Stock, shall again immediately become available for Incentive Awards hereunder; provided, however, the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued upon exercise of ISOs shall in no event exceed [a number between 1,248,667 and 3,746,000] Shares (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7.5).

        Subject to adjustment under Section 7.5 and the limit set forth above, the following additional limits are imposed under the Plan:

        (a)   At no time shall the number of Shares issued pursuant to Full-Value Awards exceed [a number between 412,060 and 1,236,180] Shares.

        (b)   The maximum number of Shares that may be covered by Incentive Awards granted to any one individual pursuant to Section 2 (relating to Options and SARs) shall be [a number between 1,248,667 and 3,746,000] Shares during any one calendar-year period. To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code, Shares subject to the foregoing limit with respect to which the related Incentive Award described in Section 2 is forfeited, expires, or is canceled shall not again be available for grant under this limit.

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        (c)   For Performance Shares and/or Performance Units that are intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, no more than [a number between 1,248,667 and 3,746,000] Shares may be delivered to any one Grantee for Performance Periods beginning in any one calendar year, regardless of whether the applicable Performance Period during which the Performance Shares and/or Performance Units are earned ends in the same year in which it begins or in a later calendar year; provided that Performance Shares and/or Performance Units described in this paragraph (c) that are intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception shall be subject to the following: (i) If the Performance Shares and/or Performance Units are denominated in Shares but are settled in an equivalent amount of cash, the foregoing limit shall be applied as though the Incentive Award was settled in Shares; and (ii) If delivery of Shares or cash is deferred until after Performance Shares and/or Performance Units have been earned, any adjustment in the amount delivered to reflect actual or deemed investment experience after the date the shares are earned shall be disregarded.

        (d)   For Supplemental Payments that are intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, no more than $2,000,000 may be paid to any one Grantee for Performance Periods beginning in any one calendar year, regardless of whether the applicable Performance Period during which the Supplemental Payment is earned ends in the same year in which it begins or in a later calendar year; provided that Supplemental Payments described in this paragraph (d) that are intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception shall be subject to the following: (i) If a Supplemental Payment is denominated in cash but an equivalent amount of Shares is delivered in lieu of delivery of cash, the foregoing limit shall be applied as though the Supplemental Payment was settled in cash; and (ii) if delivery of Shares or cash is deferred until after the Supplemental Payment has been earned, any adjustment in the amount delivered to reflect actual or deemed investment experience after the date the Supplemental Payment is earned shall be disregarded.

        1.5    Share Pool Adjustments for Awards and Payouts    

        The following Incentive Awards and payouts shall reduce, on a one-Share-for-one-Share basis, the number of Shares authorized for issuance under the Share Pool:

        (a)   Stock Option;

        (b)   SAR;

        (c)   A payout of a Performance Share in Shares;

        (d)   A payout of Performance Units in Shares;

        (e)   Restricted Stock or a payout of Restricted Stock Units in Shares; and

        (f)    A payout of an Other Stock-Based Award in Shares.

        The following transactions shall restore, on a one Share for one Share basis, the number of Shares authorized for issuance under the Share Pool:

        (A)  A payout of an SAR or Other Stock-Based Award in the form of cash;

        (B)  A payout of Performance Units in the form of cash;

        (C)  A payout of Restricted Stock Units in the form of cash;

        (D)  A cancellation, termination, expiration, forfeiture, or lapse for any reason of any Shares subject to an Incentive Award; and

        (E)  Payment of an Option Price with previously acquired Shares or by withholding Shares that otherwise would be acquired on exercise (i.e., the Share Pool shall be increased by the number of Shares turned in or withheld as payment of the Option Price plus any Shares withheld to pay withholding taxes).

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        1.6    Common Stock Available    

        The Common Stock available for issuance or transfer under the Plan shall be made available from Shares now or hereafter (a) held in the treasury of the Company, (b) are authorized but unissued or (c) to be purchased or acquired by the Company. No fractional Shares shall be issued under the Plan; any payment for fractional Shares shall be made in cash.

        1.7    Participation    

        (a)    Eligibility.    Subject to Section 1.3(e), the Committee shall from time to time designate those key Employees, Directors or Consultants, if any, to be granted Incentive Awards under the Plan, the type and number of Incentive Awards granted, and any other terms or conditions relating to the Incentive Awards as it may deem appropriate to the extent consistent with the provisions of the Plan. A Grantee who has been granted an Incentive Award may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Incentive Awards at any time.

        (b)    Incentive Stock Option Eligibility.    No Consultant or Non-Employee Director shall be eligible for the grant of any Incentive Stock Option. In addition, no Employee shall be eligible for the grant of any Incentive Stock Option who owns or would own immediately before the grant of such Incentive Stock Option, directly or indirectly, stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any Parent or Subsidiary. This restriction does not apply if, at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted, the Incentive Stock Option exercise price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Incentive Stock Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant. For the purpose of the immediately preceding sentence, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply for the purpose of determining an Employee's percentage ownership in the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary. This paragraph shall be construed consistent with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

        1.8    Types of Incentive Awards    

        The types of Incentive Awards under the Plan are Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and Supplemental Payments as described in Section 2, Performance Shares, Performance Units and Supplemental Payments as described in Section 3, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Supplemental Payments as described in Section 4, and Other Stock-Based Awards and Supplemental Payments as described in Section 5, and any combination of the foregoing.

SECTION 2

STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

        2.1    Grant of Stock Options    

        The Committee is authorized to grant (a) Nonstatutory Stock Options to Employees, Directors or Consultants and (b) Incentive Stock Options to Employees only, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan, and with such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee shall determine in its discretion. Successive grants may be made to the same Grantee whether or not any Stock Option previously granted to such person remains unexercised.

        2.2    Stock Option Terms    

        (a)    Agreement.    Each grant of a Stock Option shall be evidenced by a written or electronic Incentive Agreement. Among its other provisions, each Incentive Agreement shall set forth, subject to Section 422 of the Code, the extent to which the Grantee shall have the right to exercise the Stock Option following termination of the Grantee's Employment. Such provisions shall be determined in the discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Grantee's Incentive

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Agreement, and need not be uniform among all Stock Options issued pursuant to the Plan. In addition, Incentive Agreement shall state whether the Stock Option is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

        (b)    Number of Shares.    Each Stock Option shall specify the number of Shares of Common Stock to which it pertains.

        (c)    Exercise Price.    The exercise price per Share of Common Stock under each Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in the case of a Stock Option, such exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date the Stock Option is granted (110% in the case of an Incentive Stock Option for 10% or greater shareholders pursuant to Section 1.7(b)). Each Stock Option shall specify the method of exercise, which shall be consistent with the requirements of Section 2.3(a).

        (d)    Term.    In the Incentive Agreement, the Committee shall fix the term of each Stock Option, which shall be not more than ten (10) years from the date of grant (five years for ISO grants to 10% or greater shareholders pursuant to Section 1.7(b)). In the event no term is fixed, such term shall be ten (10) years from the date of grant.

        (e)    Exercise.    The Committee may determine the time or times at which a Stock Option may be exercised in whole or in part. Each Stock Option may specify the required period of continuous Employment and/or the performance objectives to be achieved before the Stock Option or portion thereof will become exercisable. Each Stock Option, the exercise of which, or the timing of the exercise of which, is dependent, in whole or in part, on the achievement of designated performance objectives, may specify a minimum level of achievement in respect of the specified performance objectives below which no Stock Options will be exercisable and a method for determining the number of Stock Options that will be exercisable if performance is at or above such minimum but short of full achievement of the performance objectives. All such terms and conditions shall be as set forth in the Incentive Agreement. If not otherwise designated in the applicable Incentive Agreement or determined by the Committee, and subject to the provisions of the Plan regarding accelerated vesting and termination, each award of Stock Options granted under this Section 2 shall become vested as to 25% of the total number of Shares subject thereto on each of the following dates: (i) the first anniversary of the date of grant, (ii) the second anniversary of the date of grant, (iii) the third anniversary of the date of grant, and (iv) the fourth anniversary of the date of grant.

        (f)    $100,000 Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options.    Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the Shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Grantee during any single calendar year (under the Plan and any other stock option plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries or Parent) exceeds the sum of $100,000, such Incentive Stock Option shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option to the extent in excess of the $100,000 limit, and not an Incentive Stock Option, but all other terms and provisions of such Stock Option shall remain unchanged. This paragraph shall be applied by taking Incentive Stock Options into account in the order in which they were granted and shall be construed in accordance with Section 422(d) of the Code. In the absence of such regulations or other authority, or if such regulations or other authority require or permit a designation of the Options which shall cease to constitute Incentive Stock Options, then such Incentive Stock Options, only to the extent of such excess, shall automatically be deemed to be Nonstatutory Stock Options but all other terms and conditions of such Incentive Stock Options, and the corresponding Incentive Agreement, shall remain unchanged.

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        2.3    Stock Option Exercises    

        (a)    Method of Exercise and Payment.    Stock Options shall be exercised by the delivery of a signed written or company-approved electronic notice of exercise to the Company as of a date set by the Company in advance of the effective date of the proposed exercise. The notice shall set forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised.

        The Option Price upon exercise of any Stock Option shall, pursuant to the exercise methods allowed by the Incentive Agreement, be payable to the Company in full either: (i) in cash or its equivalent, or (ii) by tendering previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the Option Price, or (iii) by withholding Shares which otherwise would be acquired on exercise having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price, or (iv) by any combination of (i), (ii), and (iii) above. In the event of the absence of any specifically allowed exercise methods in the Incentive Agreement, the participant may, subject to applicable law, use any of the methods listed in this Section 2.3(a). Any payment in Shares shall be effected by surrender of such Shares to the Company in good form for transfer and shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date when the Stock Option is exercised. The Company shall not withhold shares, and the Grantee shall not surrender, or attest to the ownership of, Shares in payment of the Option Price if such action would cause the Company to recognize compensation expense (or additional compensation expense) with respect to the Stock Option for financial reporting purposes.

        While the Company is a Publicly Held Corporation, the Committee may also allow the Option Price to be paid with such other consideration as shall constitute lawful consideration for the issuance of Shares (including, without limitation, effecting a "same-day sale" or "sell-to-cover" exercise with a broker or dealer), subject to applicable securities law restrictions and tax withholdings, or by any other means which the Committee determines to be consistent with the Plan's purpose and applicable law.

        As soon as practicable after receipt of a written or electronic notification of exercise and full payment, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to or on behalf of the Grantee, in the name of the Grantee or other appropriate recipient, Share certificates for the number of Shares purchased under the Stock Option. Such delivery shall be effected for all purposes when the Company or a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have deposited such certificates in the appropriate electronic shares transfer system or in the United States mail, addressed to Grantee or other appropriate recipient.

        Subject to Section 7.2 during the lifetime of a Grantee, each Option granted to him shall be exercisable only by the Grantee (or his legal guardian or personal representative in the event of his Disability) or by a broker or dealer acting on his behalf pursuant to a cashless exercise under the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.3(a) .

        (b)    Restrictions on Share Transferability.    The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under (i) any stockholders' agreement, buy/sell agreement, right of first refusal, non-competition, and any other agreement between the Company and any of its securities holders or employees, (ii) any applicable federal securities laws, (iii) the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed and/or quoted, or (iv) any blue sky or state securities law applicable to such Shares. Any certificate issued to evidence Shares issued upon the exercise of an Incentive Award may bear such legends and statements as the Committee shall deem advisable to assure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations.

        Any Grantee or other person exercising an Incentive Award may be required by the Committee to give a written or electronic representation that the Incentive Award and the Shares

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subject to the Incentive Award will be acquired for investment and not with a view to public distribution; provided, however, that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may release any person receiving an Incentive Award from any such representations either prior to or subsequent to the exercise of the Incentive Award.

        (c)    Notification of Disqualifying Disposition of Shares from Incentive Stock Options.    Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, a Grantee who disposes of Shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option by a sale or exchange either (i) within two (2) years after the date of the grant of the Incentive Stock Option under which the Shares were acquired or (ii) within one (1) year after the transfer of such Shares to him pursuant to exercise, shall promptly notify the Company of such disposition, the amount realized and his adjusted basis in such Shares.

        (d)    Proceeds of Option Exercise.    The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Shares pursuant to Stock Options exercised under the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.

        (e)    Information Required in Connection with Exercise of Incentive Stock Option.    The Company shall provide the Grantee with a written statement required by Section 6039 of the Code no later than January 31 of the year following the calendar year during which the Grantee exercises an Option that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

        2.4    Stock Appreciation Rights    

        (a)    Grant.    The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights ("SARs").

        (b)    General Provisions.    The terms and conditions of each SAR shall be evidenced by an Incentive Agreement. The exercise price per share of Common Stock shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the SAR. The term of an SAR shall be determined by the Committee.

        (c)    Exercise.    SARs shall be exercisable at such time and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall specify in the Incentive Agreement for the SAR grant.

        (d)    Settlement.    Upon exercise of an SAR, the holder shall receive, for each Share specified in the SAR grant, an amount equal to the Spread. The Spread shall be payable in cash, Common Stock, or a combination of both, as specified in the Incentive Agreement. The Spread shall be paid within thirty (30) calendar days of the exercise of the SAR. If the Spread is to be paid in Common Stock or cash only, the resulting shares or cash shall be determined by dividing (1) by (2), where (1) is the number of Shares as to which the SAR is exercised multiplied by the Spread in such Shares and (2) is the Fair Market Value of a Share on the exercise date. If a portion of the Spread is to be paid in Shares, the Share amount shall be determined by calculating the amount of cash payable pursuant to the preceding sentence then by dividing (1) as defined herein, minus the amount of cash payable, by (2) as defined herein.

        2.5    Supplemental Payment on Exercise of Nonstatutory Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights    

        The Committee, either at the time of grant or as of the time of exercise of any Nonstatutory Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, may provide in the Incentive Agreement for a Supplemental Payment by the Company to the Grantee with respect to the exercise of any Nonstatutory Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right. The Supplemental Payment shall be in the amount specified by the Committee, which amount shall not exceed the amount necessary to pay the federal and state income tax payable with respect to both the exercise of the Nonstatutory Stock Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right and the receipt of the Supplemental Payment, assuming the holder is taxed at either the maximum effective income tax rate applicable thereto or at a lower tax rate as deemed appropriate by the Committee. The Committee shall have the discretion to grant Supplemental

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Payments that are payable solely in cash or Supplemental Payments that are payable in cash, Common Stock, or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee at the time of payment.

SECTION 3

PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS

        3.1    Performance Based Awards    

        The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Shares and/or Performance Units to selected Grantees who are Employees or Consultants. Each grant of Performance Shares and/or Performance Units shall be evidenced by an Incentive Agreement in such amounts and upon such terms as shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee may make grants of Performance Shares and/or Performance Units in such a manner that more than one Performance Period is in progress concurrently. For each Performance Period, the Committee shall establish the number of Performance Shares and/or Performance Units and their contingent values which may vary depending on the degree to which performance criteria established by the Committee are met.

        3.2    Performance Share or Performance Unit Award Terms    

        (a)    Agreement.    The terms and conditions of each grant of Performance Share and/or Performance Unit Award shall be evidenced by an Incentive Agreement that shall specify the

        Performance Period(s), the Performance Criteria, the number of Performance Shares or the number of Performance Units granted, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

        (b)    Transferability.    Except as provided in this Plan or an Incentive Agreement, Performance Shares and/or Performance Units granted herein may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Performance Period established by the Committee and specified in the Incentive Agreement (and, in the case of Performance Units, until the date of delivery or other payment), and the Performance Criteria have been met and confirmed by the Committee or upon earlier satisfaction of any other conditions, as specified by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Incentive Agreement or otherwise at any time by the Committee. All rights with respect to the Performance Shares and/or Performance Units granted to a Grantee under the Plan shall be available during his lifetime only to such Grantee, except as otherwise provided in an Incentive Agreement or at any time by the Committee.

        (c)    Other Restrictions.    The Committee shall impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Performance Shares and/or Performance Units granted pursuant to the Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, a requirement that Grantees pay a stipulated purchase price for each Performance Share or Performance Unit, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals, time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance goals, time-based restrictions, and/or restrictions under applicable laws or under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which Shares are listed or traded, or holding requirements or sale restrictions placed on Shares by the Company upon vesting of such Performance Shares and/or Performance Units.

        To the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, the Company may retain the certificates representing Performance Shares in the Company's possession until such time as all conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such shares have been satisfied or lapse.

        Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3, Shares covered by each Performance Share Award shall become freely transferable by the Grantee after all conditions and restrictions applicable to such shares have been satisfied or lapse (including satisfaction of any applicable tax

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withholding obligations) at the close of the Performance Period and after confirmation by the Committee (but no later than 2¹/2 months following the end of the year that contains the close of the Period of Restriction), or as soon as practicable thereafter. Performance Units shall be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares as the Committee, in its sole discretion shall determine.

        (d)    Certificate Legend.    In addition to any legends placed on certificates pursuant to Section 7.1(c), each certificate representing Performance Shares granted pursuant to the Plan may bear a legend such as the following or as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion:

        the sale or transfer of shares of stock represented by this certificate, whether voluntary, involuntary, or by operation of law, is subject to certain restrictions on transfer as set forth in the 2013 long-term incentive plan, and in the associated incentive agreement. a copy of the plan and such incentive agreement may be obtained from Ion Geophysical Corporation.

        (e)    Voting Rights.    Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or as otherwise set forth in a Grantee's Incentive Agreement, to the extent permitted or required by law, as determined by the Committee, Grantees holding Performance Shares granted hereunder may be granted the right to exercise full voting rights with respect to those shares during the Performance Period. A Grantee shall have no voting rights with respect to any Performance Units granted hereunder.

        (f)    Termination of Employment.    Each Incentive Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Grantee shall have the right to retain Performance Shares and/or Performance Units following termination of the Grantee's employment with or provision of services to the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Incentive Agreement entered into with each Grantee, need not be uniform among all Performance Shares and/or Performance Units issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

        (g)    Section 83(b) Election.    The Committee may provide in an Incentive Agreement that the Award of Performance Shares is conditioned upon the Grantee making or refraining from making an election with respect to the Award under Section 83(b) of the Code. If a Grantee makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code concerning a Performance Share Award, the Grantee shall be required to file promptly a copy of such election with the Company.

        (h)    Performance Criteria.    

          (i)  The grant of Performance Shares shall be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies, as determined by the Committee.

         (ii)  The Committee may designate a grant of Performance Shares to any Grantee as intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception. To the extent required by Code section 162(m), any grant of Performance Shares so designated shall be conditioned on the achievement of one or more performance goals, subject to the following:

        (A)  The performance goals shall be based upon criteria in one or more of the following categories: performance of the Company as a whole, performance of a segment of the Company's business, and individual performance. Performance criteria for the Company shall relate to the achievement of predetermined financial objectives for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. Performance criteria for a segment of the Company's business shall relate to the achievement of financial and operating objectives of the segment for which the Grantee is accountable.

        (B)  Performance criteria shall include pre-tax or after-tax profit levels, including: earnings per share, earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before interest, taxes,

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depreciation and amortization, net operating profits after tax, and net income; total shareholder return; return on assets, equity, capital or investment; cash flow and cash flow return on investment; economic value added and economic profit; growth in earnings per share; levels of operating expense and maintenance expense; or measures of customer satisfaction and customer service, as determined from time to time including the relative improvement therein.

        (C)  Individual performance criteria shall relate to a Grantee's overall performance, taking into account, among other measures of performance, the attainment of individual goals and objectives. Performance goals may differ among Grantees.

        (i)    Modification.    If the Committee determines, in its discretion exercised in good faith, that the established performance measures or objectives are no longer suitable to the Company's objectives because of a change in the Company's business, operations, corporate structure, capital structure, or other conditions the Committee deems to be appropriate, the Committee may modify the performance measures and objectives to the extent it considers to be necessary. However, if any Performance Shares are designated as intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, no such modification shall be made to the extent the modification would otherwise cause the Performance Shares to not qualify for the Performance-Based Exception.

        (j)    Payment.    The basis for payment of Performance Shares for a given Performance Period shall be the achievement of those performance objectives determined by the Committee at the beginning of the Performance Period as specified in the Grantee's Incentive Agreement. If minimum performance is not achieved for a Performance Period, no payment shall be made and all contingent rights shall cease. If minimum performance is achieved or exceeded, the number of Performance Shares may be based on the degree to which actual performance exceeded the pre-established minimum performance standards.

        The amount of payment shall be determined by multiplying the number of Performance Shares granted at the beginning of the Performance Period times the final Performance Share value. Payments shall be made in cash or Common Stock in the discretion of the Committee as specified in the Incentive Agreement.

        (k)    Special Rule for Covered Employees.    No later than the ninetieth (90th) day following the beginning of a Performance Period (or 25% of the Performance Period), the Committee shall establish performance goals applicable to Performance Shares and/or Performance Units awarded to Covered Employees in such a manner as shall permit payments with respect thereto to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, if applicable. If a Performance Share granted to a Covered Employee is intended to comply with the Performance-Based Exception, the Committee in establishing performance goals shall comply with Treasury Regulation § 1.162-27(e)(2) (or its successor). As soon as practicable following the Company's determination of the Company's financial results for any Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing: (i) whether the Company achieved its minimum performance for the objectives for the Performance Period, (ii) the extent to which the Company achieved its performance objectives for the Performance Period, (iii) any other terms that are material to the grant of Performance Shares, and (iv) the calculation of the payments, if any, to be paid to each Grantee for the Performance Period.

        3.3    Supplemental Payment on Vesting of Performance Shares and/or Performance Units    

        The Committee, either at the time of grant or at the time of vesting of Performance Shares and/or Performance Units, may provide for a Supplemental Payment by the Company to the Grantee in an amount specified by the Committee, which amount shall not exceed the amount necessary to pay the federal and state income tax payable with respect to both the vesting of such Performance Shares and/or Performance Units and receipt of the Supplemental Payment, assuming the Grantee is taxed at

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either the maximum effective income tax rate applicable thereto or at a lower tax rate as seemed appropriate by the Committee. The Committee shall also have the discretion to grant Supplemental Payments that are payable in Common Stock.

SECTION 4

RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

        4.1    Grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units    

        Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units to Grantees in such amounts as the Committee shall determine. Restricted Stock Units shall be similar to Restricted Stock except that no Shares are actually awarded to the Grantee on the date of grant.

        4.2    Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit Award Terms    

        (a)    Agreement.    The terms and conditions of each grant of Restricted Stock Award and/or Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be evidenced by an Incentive Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, the number of shares of Restricted Stock or the number of Restricted Stock Units granted, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. If not otherwise designated in the applicable Incentive Agreement or determined by the Committee, and subject to the provisions of the Plan regarding accelerated vesting and termination, the Period of Restriction on each Restricted Stock Award and/or Restricted Stock Unit Award under this Section 4 shall lapse with respect to the number of Shares of the Restricted Stock Award or the number of Restricted Stock Units on the following dates: (i) 33% of the Shares or units on the first anniversary of the date of grant, (ii) 33% of the Shares or units on the second anniversary of the date of grant, and (iii) the remaining Shares or units on the third anniversary of the date of grant.

        (b)    Transferability.    Except as provided in this Plan or an Incentive Agreement, Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units granted herein may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction (and in the case of Restricted Stock Units until the date of delivery or other payment), or upon earlier satisfaction of any other conditions, as specified by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Incentive Agreement or otherwise at any time by the Committee. All rights with respect to the Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units granted to a Grantee under the Plan shall be available during his lifetime only to such Grantee, except as otherwise provided in an Incentive Agreement or at any time by the Committee.

        (c)    Other Restrictions.    The Committee shall impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to the Plan as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, a requirement that Grantees pay a stipulated purchase price for each Share of Restricted Stock or each Restricted Stock Unit, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals, time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance goals, time-based restrictions, and/or restrictions under applicable laws or under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are listed or traded, or holding requirements or sale restrictions placed on the Shares by the Company upon vesting of such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

        To the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, the Company may retain the certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock in the Company's possession until such time as all conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such shares have been satisfied or lapse.

        Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4, shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock Award shall become freely transferable by the Grantee after all conditions and

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restrictions applicable to such shares have been satisfied or lapse (including satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding obligations) at the close of the Period of Restriction (but no later than 2¹/2 months following the end of the year that contains the close of the Period of Restriction), or as soon as practicable thereafter. Restricted Stock Units shall be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares as the Committee, in its sole discretion shall determine.

        (d)    Certificate Legend.    In addition to any legends placed on certificates pursuant to Section 7.1(c), each certificate representing Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan may bear a legend such as the following or as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion:

        the sale or transfer of shares of stock represented by this certificate, whether voluntary, involuntary, or by operation of law, is subject to certain restrictions on transfer as set forth in the 2013 long-term incentive plan, and in the associated incentive agreement. a copy of the plan and such incentive agreement may be obtained from Ion Geophysical Corporation.

        (e)    Voting Rights.    Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or as otherwise set forth in a Grantee's Incentive Agreement, to the extent permitted or required by law, as determined by the Committee, Grantees holding shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may be granted the right to exercise full voting rights with respect to those shares during the Period of Restriction. A Grantee shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder.

        (f)    Termination of Employment.    Each Incentive Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Grantee shall have the right to retain Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units following termination of the Grantee's employment with or provision of services to the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Incentive Agreement entered into with each Grantee, need not be uniform among all Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.

        (g)    Section 83(b) Election.    The Committee may provide in an Incentive Agreement that the Award of Restricted Stock is conditioned upon the Grantee making or refraining from making an election with respect to the Award under Section 83(b) of the Code. If a Grantee makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code concerning a Restricted Stock Award, the Grantee shall be required to file promptly a copy of such election with the Company.

        4.3    Supplemental Payment on Vesting of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units    

        The Committee, either at the time of grant or at the time of vesting of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, may provide for a Supplemental Payment by the Company to the Grantee in an amount specified by the Committee, which amount shall not exceed the amount necessary to pay the federal and state income tax payable with respect to both the vesting of such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units and receipt of the Supplemental Payment, assuming the Grantee is taxed at either the maximum effective income tax rate applicable thereto or at a lower tax rate as seemed appropriate by the Committee. The Committee shall also have the discretion to grant Supplemental Payments that are payable in Common Stock.

SECTION 5

OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

        5.1    Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards    

        Other Stock-Based Awards may be awarded by the Committee to selected Grantees that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise related to, Shares of Common Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan and the

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goals of the Company. Other types of Stock-Based Awards include, without limitation, Deferred Stock, purchase rights, convertible or exchangeable debentures, other rights convertible into Shares, Incentive Awards valued by reference to the value of securities of or the performance of a specified Subsidiary, division or department, and settlement in cancellation of rights of any person with a vested interest in any other plan, fund, program or arrangement that is or was sponsored, maintained or participated in by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary. As is the case with other Incentive Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards may be awarded either alone or in addition to or in tandem with any other Incentive Awards.

        5.2    Other Stock-Based Award Terms    

        (a)    Agreement.    The terms and conditions of each grant of an Other Stock-Based Award shall be evidenced by an Incentive Agreement.

        (b)    Purchase Price.    Except to the extent that an Other Stock-Based Award is granted in substitution for an outstanding Incentive Award or is delivered upon exercise of a Stock Option, the amount of consideration required to be received by the Company shall be either (i) no consideration other than services actually rendered (in the case of authorized and unissued shares) or to be rendered, or (ii) in the case of an Other Stock-Based Award in the nature of a purchase right, consideration (other than services rendered or to be rendered) at least equal to 50% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares covered by such grant on the date of grant (or such percentage higher than 50% that is required by any applicable tax or securities law).

        (c)    Performance Criteria and Other Terms.    In its discretion, the Committee may specify such criteria, periods or goals for vesting in Other Stock-Based Awards and payment thereof to the Grantee as it shall determine; and the extent to which such criteria, periods or goals have been met shall be determined by the Committee. All terms and conditions of Other Stock-Based Awards shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Incentive Agreement. The Committee may also provide for a Supplemental Payment similar to such payment as described in Section 4.3.

        (d)    Payment.    Other Stock-Based Awards may be paid in Shares of Common Stock or other consideration related to such Shares, in a single payment or in installments on such dates as determined by the Committee, all as specified in the Incentive Agreement.

        (e)    Dividends.    The Grantee of an Other Stock-Based Award may be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to the number of Shares covered by the Other Stock-Based Award, as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Incentive Agreement. The Committee may also provide in the Incentive Agreement that such amounts (if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares of Common Stock.

SECTION 6

PROVISIONS RELATING TO NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR AWARDS

        6.1    Generally    

        Awards under this Section 6 shall be made only to Non-Employee Directors and such awards shall be evidenced by a written or electronic agreement entered into between the Company and the Grantee setting forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which an Incentive Award is granted under the Plan.

        6.2    Grants    

        (a)    Time of Initial Award.    Subject to Section 6.2(c), if any person who is not, immediately prior to his appointment or election, an officer or employee of the Company shall become a Non-Employee Director of the Company, the Company may grant to such person (without any action by the Board or Committee) Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under the Plan

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representing the number of shares of Common Stock designated from time to time by the Governance Committee of the Board. The date of grant of each such award shall be as provided by the policies of the Company then in effect, or such other date as the Governance Committee shall designate from time to time.

        (b)    Subsequent Annual Awards.    Subject to Section 6.2(c), during the term of this Plan, each Non-Employee Director may be granted (without any action by the Committee or the Board) under the Plan the number of shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to be designated from time to time by the Governance Committee of the Board. The date of grant of each such award shall be as provided by the policies of the Company then in effect, or such other date as the Governance Committee shall designate from time to time.

        (c)    Maximum Number of Options/Shares.    Grants pursuant to this Section 6.2 that would otherwise exceed the maximum number of Shares or limitations under Section 1.4 shall be prorated within such limitation.

        6.3    Restriction and Vesting Period.    Unless otherwise designated in the applicable Incentive Agreement or unless otherwise designated by the Governance Committee of the Board from time to time, and subject to Sections 6.4 and 6.5, each award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted under Section 6.2(a) shall become vested as to one-third of the total number of Shares subject thereto on each of the following dates: (i) the first anniversary of the date of grant, (ii) the second anniversary of the date of grant, and (iii) the third anniversary of the date of grant. Unless otherwise designated in the applicable Incentive Agreement or unless otherwise designated by the Governance Committee of the Board from time to time, and subject to Sections 6.4 and 6.5, each award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted under Section 6.2(b) shall become vested as to 100% of the total number of Shares subject thereto on the first anniversary of the date of grant.

        6.4    Termination of Directorship.    If a Non-Employee Director's services as a member of the Board terminate for any reason other than upon or because of a Corporate Event (as defined in Section 7.5(e)), any portion of an award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Section 6 that is not then vested shall terminate. If a Non-Employee Director's services as a member of the Board terminate upon or because of a Corporate Event, an award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Section 6 and then held by such participant may (as provided in or pursuant to Section 6.5) immediately become vested.

        6.5    Adjustments; Acceleration; Termination.    Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units granted under this Section 6 will be subject to adjustments, acceleration and termination as provided in Section 7.5, but only to the extent that such adjustment and any Board or Committee action in respect thereof in the case of a Corporate Event is effected pursuant to the terms of a reorganization agreement approved by the stockholders of the Company or is otherwise consistent with adjustments to the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units held by persons other than executive officers or Directors of the Company (or, if there are none, consistent in respect of the underlying Shares, with the effect on or rights offered to stockholders generally). To the extent that any award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit granted under this Section 6 is not vested prior to a Corporate Event, and no provision is (or consistent with the provisions of this Plan can be) made for the assumption, conversion, substitution or exchange of the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units in the Corporate Event, the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units will terminate upon the consummation of the Corporate Event. The participant, however, shall be entitled to the benefits of any alternative settlement of the award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units in such circumstances, as contemplated by Section 7.5.

        6.6    Non-Citizen Non-Employee Directors.    Notwithstanding anything in Section 6.2 to the contrary, grants of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to Non-Employee Directors who are

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non-citizens and non-residents of the United States (a "Non-Citizen Non-Employee Director") shall not be automatic and shall be made only in accordance with this Section 6.6. Any Non-Citizen Non-Employee Director shall either be granted the same Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units by the Committee as are granted to Non-Employee Directors pursuant to Section 6.2, or the Committee or the Board shall authorize the Board of Directors of any Subsidiary to grant Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units for the purpose and on terms and conditions that are substantially equivalent to those provided in Section 6.2; provided, however, that the Board, Committee, or Board of Directors of a Subsidiary, as applicable, may determine that one or more grants of such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to a Non-Citizen Non-Employee Director shall be on terms that are more restrictive to the Director than the terms set forth above in this Section 6 with respect to Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit grants generally (for example, and without limitation, awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit grants to a Non-Citizen Non-Employee Director may be granted with a longer vesting schedule than the schedule contemplated by Section 6.3 or may be granted with regard to a smaller number of Shares or units to reflect necessary tax withholding or other issues applicable to the award to the Non-Citizen Non-Employee Director).

SECTION 7

PROVISIONS RELATING TO PLAN PARTICIPATION

        7.1    Plan Conditions    

        (a)    Incentive Agreement.    Each Grantee to whom an Incentive Award is granted shall be required to enter into an Incentive Agreement with the Company, in such a form as is provided by the Committee. The Incentive Agreement shall contain specific terms as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, with respect to the Grantee's particular Incentive Award. Such terms need not be uniform among all Grantees or any similarly-situated Grantees. The Incentive Agreement may include, without limitation, vesting, forfeiture and other provisions particular to the particular Grantee's Incentive Award, as well as, for example, provisions to the effect that the Grantee (i) shall not disclose any confidential information acquired during Employment with the Company, (ii) shall abide by all the terms and conditions of the Plan and such other terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Committee, (iii) shall not interfere with the employment or other service of any employee, (iv) shall not compete with the Company or become involved in a conflict of interest with the interests of the Company, (v) shall forfeit an Incentive Award as determined by the Committee (including if terminated for Cause), (vi) shall not be permitted to make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code when applicable, and (vii) shall be subject to any other agreement between the Grantee and the Company regarding Shares that may be acquired under an Incentive Award including, without limitation, a stockholders' agreement or other agreement restricting the transferability of Shares by Grantee. An Incentive Agreement shall include such terms and conditions as are determined by the Committee, in its discretion, to be appropriate with respect to any individual Grantee. The Incentive Agreement shall be acknowledged electronically or in writing by the Grantee to whom the Incentive Award is made and by an Authorized Officer.

        (b)    No Right to Employment.    Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed pursuant to the Plan shall create any Employment rights or right to serve on the Board (including without limitation, rights to continued Employment or to continue to provide services as a Director or Consultant) by any Grantee or affect the right of the Company to terminate the Employment or services of any Grantee at any time without regard to the existence of the Plan.

        (c)    Securities Requirements.    The Company shall be under no obligation to effect the registration pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 of any Shares of Common Stock to be issued

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hereunder or to effect similar compliance under any state laws. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to cause to be issued or delivered any certificates evidencing Shares pursuant to the Plan unless and until the Company is advised by its counsel that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities, and the requirements of any securities exchange or national quotation system on which Shares are traded or quoted. The Committee may require, as a condition of the issuance and delivery of certificates evidencing Shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms hereof, that the recipient of such Shares make such covenants, agreements and representations, and that such certificates bear such legends, as the Committee, in its discretion, deems necessary or desirable.

        If the Shares issuable on exercise of an Incentive Award are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the Company may imprint on the certificate for such Shares the following legend or any other legend which counsel for the Company considers necessary or advisable to comply with the Securities Act of 1933:

        The shares of stock represented by this certificate have not been registered under the securities act of 1933 or under the securities laws of any state and may not be sold or transferred except upon such registration or upon receipt by the corporation of an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the corporation, in form and substance satisfactory to the corporation, that registration is not required for such sale or transfer.

        7.2    Transferability    

        Incentive Awards granted under the Plan shall not be transferable or assignable, pledged, or otherwise encumbered other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. However, with respect to Incentive Awards that are not Incentive Stock Options, the Committee may, in its discretion, authorize all or a portion of the Incentive Award to be granted on terms which permit transfer by the Grantee to (i) the members of the Grantee's Immediate Family, (ii) a trust or trusts for the exclusive benefit of Immediate Family members, (iii) a partnership in which Immediate Family members are the only partners, (iv) any other entity owned solely by Immediate Family members, or (v) pursuant to a domestic relations order that would qualify under Code Section 414(p); provided that (A) the Incentive Agreement pursuant to which such Incentive Award is granted must expressly provide for transferability in a manner consistent with this Section 7.2, (B) the actual transfer must be approved in advance by the Committee, and (C) subsequent transfers of transferred Incentive Awards shall be prohibited except in accordance with the first sentence of this Section. Following any permitted transfer, the Incentive Award shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer, provided that the term "Grantee" (subject to the immediately succeeding paragraph) shall be deemed to refer to the transferee. The events of termination of employment, as set out in Section 7.6 and in the Incentive Agreement, shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Grantee, and the Incentive Award shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and for the periods, specified in the Incentive Agreement.

        Except as may otherwise be permitted under the Code, in the event of a permitted transfer of a Nonstatutory Stock Option hereunder, the original Grantee shall remain subject to withholding taxes upon exercise. In addition, the Company and the Committee shall have no obligation to provide any notices to any Grantee or transferee thereof, including, for example, notice of the expiration of an Incentive Award following the original Grantee's termination of employment.

        The designation by a Grantee of a beneficiary of an Incentive Award shall not constitute a transfer of the Incentive Award. No transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution shall be effective to bind the Company unless the Committee has been furnished with a copy of the deceased Grantee's enforceable will or such other evidence as the Committee deems necessary to establish the validity of the transfer. Any attempted transfer in violation of this Section 7.2 shall be void and ineffective. The Committee in its discretion shall make all determinations under this Section 7.2.

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        7.3    Rights as a Stockholder    

        (a)    No Stockholder Rights.    Except as otherwise set forth in Section 3 or Section 4, a Grantee of an Incentive Award (or a permitted transferee of such Grantee) shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares of Common Stock until the issuance of a stock certificate for such Shares.

        (b)    Representation of Ownership.    In the case of the exercise of an Incentive Award by a person or estate acquiring the right to exercise such Incentive Award by reason of the death or Disability of a Grantee, the Committee may require reasonable evidence as to the ownership of such Incentive Award or the authority of such person and may require such consents and releases of taxing authorities as the Committee may deem advisable.

        7.4    Listing and Registration of Shares of Common Stock    

        The exercise of any Incentive Award granted hereunder shall only be effective at such time as counsel to the Company shall have determined that the issuance and delivery of Shares of Common Stock pursuant to such exercise is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and the requirements of any securities exchange or quotation system on which Shares of Common Stock are traded or quoted. The Committee may, in its discretion, elect to suspend the right to exercise any Incentive Award during any Company-imposed employee "blackout" stock trading period that is necessary or desirable to comply with requirements of such laws, regulations or requirements. The Committee may also, in its discretion, elect to extend the period for exercise of any Incentive Award to reflect any such "blackout" period. The Committee may, in its discretion, defer the effectiveness of any exercise of an Incentive Award in order to allow the issuance of Shares of Common Stock to be made pursuant to registration or an exemption from registration or other methods for compliance available under federal or state securities laws. The Committee shall inform the Grantee in writing of its decision to defer the effectiveness of the exercise of an Incentive Award.

        7.5    Change in Stock and Adjustments    

        (a)    Changes in Law.    Subject to Section 7.7 (which only applies in the event of a Change of Control), in the event of any change in applicable law that warrants equitable adjustment because it interferes with the intended operation of the Plan, then, if the Committee should determine, in its absolute discretion, that such change equitably requires an adjustment in the number or kind of shares of stock or other securities or property theretofore subject, or which may become subject, to issuance or transfer under the Plan or in the terms and conditions of outstanding Incentive Awards, such adjustment shall be made in accordance with such determination. Such adjustments may include changes with respect to (i) the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan, (ii) the number of Shares subject to Incentive Awards, (iii) the price per Share for outstanding Incentive Awards, and/or (iv) Performance Period and/or Performance Criteria for outstanding Incentive Awards. Any adjustment under this paragraph of an outstanding Incentive Stock Option shall be made only to the extent not constituting a "modification" within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code unless otherwise agreed to by the Grantee in writing. The Committee shall give notice to each applicable Grantee of such adjustment, which shall be effective and binding.

        (b)    Exercise of Corporate Powers.    The existence of the Plan or outstanding Incentive Awards hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, re-capitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Company's capital structure or its business or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks ahead of or affecting the Common Stock or the rights thereof, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale

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or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding whether of a similar character or otherwise.

        (c)    Recapitalization of the Company.    Subject to Section 7.7 (which only applies in the event of a Change in Control), in the event that the Committee shall determine that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities, or other property), re-capitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, rights offering, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, split-off, combination, subdivision, repurchase, or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event (whether related to a Change in Control or not) affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it deems equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number of shares and type of Common Stock (or the securities or property) which thereafter may be made the subject of Incentive Awards, (ii) the number of shares and type of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Incentive Awards, (iii) the number of shares and type of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to the annual per-individual limitation under Section 1.4 of the Plan, (iv) the Option Price of each outstanding Incentive Award, and (v) the number of or Option Price of Shares of Common Stock then subject to outstanding SARs previously granted and unexercised under the Plan, to the end that the same proportion of the Company's issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock in each instance shall remain subject to exercise at the same aggregate Option Price; provided, however, that the number of Shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to any Incentive Award shall always be a whole number. In lieu of the foregoing, if deemed appropriate, the Committee may make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Incentive Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such adjustment or cash payment shall be made or authorized to the extent that such adjustment or cash payment would cause the Plan or any Stock Option to violate Section 422 of the Code. Such adjustments shall be made in accordance with the rules of any securities exchange, stock market, or stock quotation system to which the Company is subject.

        Upon the occurrence of any such adjustment or cash payment, the Company shall provide notice to each affected Grantee of its computation of such adjustment or cash payment, which shall be conclusive and shall be binding upon each such Grantee.

        (d)    Issue of Common Stock by the Company.    Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7.5 and subject to Section 7.7 in the event of a Change in Control, the issue by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash or property, or for labor or services, either upon direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon any conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of, or Fair Market Value of, any Incentive Awards then outstanding under previously granted Incentive Awards.

        (e)    Assumption of Incentive Awards by a Successor.    Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion pursuant to the next paragraph, but subject to the accelerated vesting and other provisions of Section 7.7 that apply in the event of a Change in Control, in the event of a Corporate Event (defined below), each Grantee shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of the number of Shares subject to Incentive Awards, such shares of capital stock (or other securities or property) as may be issuable or payable with respect to or in exchange for the number of Shares which Grantee would have received had he exercised the Incentive Award immediately prior to such Corporate Event, together with any adjustments (including, without limitation, adjustments to

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the Option Price and the number of Shares issuable on exercise of outstanding Stock Options). A "Corporate Event" means any of the following: (i) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, or (iii) a merger, consolidation or combination involving the Company (other than a merger, consolidation or combination (A) in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation and (B) which does not result in the outstanding Shares being converted into or exchanged for different securities, cash or other property, or any combination thereof). The Committee shall take whatever other action it deems appropriate to preserve the rights of Grantees holding outstanding Incentive Awards.

        Subject to the accelerated vesting and other provisions of Section 7.7 that apply in the event of a Change in Control, in the event of a Corporate Event, the Committee in its discretion shall have the right and power to:

          (i)  cancel, effective immediately prior to the occurrence of the Corporate Event, each outstanding Incentive Award (whether or not then exercisable) and, in full consideration of such cancellation, pay to the Grantee an amount in cash equal to the excess of (A) the value, as determined by the Committee, of the property (including cash) received by the holders of Common Stock as a result of such Corporate Event over (B) the exercise price of such Incentive Award, if any; or

         (ii)  provide for the exchange or substitution of each Incentive Award outstanding immediately prior to such Corporate Event (whether or not then exercisable) for another award with respect to the Common Stock or other property for which such Incentive Award is exchangeable and, incident thereto, make an equitable adjustment as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, in the exercise price of the Incentive Award, if any, or in the number of Shares or amount of property (including cash) subject to the Incentive Award; or

        (iii)  provide for the assumption of the Plan and such outstanding Incentive Awards by the surviving entity or its parent.

        The Committee, in its discretion, shall have the authority to take whatever action it deems to be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the provisions of this Subsection (e).

        7.6    Termination of Employment, Death, Disability and Retirement    

        (a)    Termination of Relationship.    Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Grantee's Incentive Agreement, if the Grantee's Employment or services as a Director or Consultant is terminated for any reason other than due to his death, Disability, Retirement, or for Cause, any non-vested portion of any Stock Option or other applicable Incentive Award at the time of such termination shall automatically expire and terminate and no further vesting shall occur after the termination date. In such event, except as otherwise expressly provided in his Incentive Agreement, the Grantee shall be entitled to exercise his rights only with respect to the portion of the Incentive Award that was vested as of the effective date of his termination of Employment or service. In such event, except as otherwise expressly provided in his Incentive Agreement, the Grantee shall be entitled to exercise his vested Stock Options for a period that shall end on the earlier of (i) the expiration date set forth in the Incentive Agreement for such Incentive Award and (ii) three (3) months after the effective date of his termination of Employment or service.

        (b)    Termination for Cause.    Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Grantee's Incentive Agreement, in the event of the termination of a Grantee's Employment, or service as a Consultant or Director, for Cause, all vested and non-vested Stock Options and other Incentive Awards (other than vested Restricted Stock or vested Restricted Stock Units) granted to such Grantee shall immediately expire, and shall not be exercisable to any extent, as of 12:01 a.m., Houston, Texas time, on the date of such termination of Employment or service for cause.

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        (c)    Retirement.    Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Grantee's Incentive Agreement, upon the termination of Employment due to the Retirement (as defined in Section 1.2) of any Employee who is a Grantee:

          (i)  all of his Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights then outstanding shall become 100% vested and immediately and fully exercisable until the earlier of (A) the expiration date set forth in the Incentive Agreement for such Incentive Award and (B) the expiration of twelve (12) months after the effective date of his termination of Employment due to his Retirement (in the case of any Incentive Award other than an Incentive Stock Option) or three (3) months after the effective date of his termination of Employment due to his Retirement (in the case of an Incentive Stock Option); and

         (ii)  all of the restrictions and conditions of any of his Other Stock-Based Awards then outstanding shall be deemed satisfied, and the Period of Restriction with respect thereto shall be deemed to have expired, and each such Incentive Award shall thereupon become free of all restrictions and fully vested.

        (d)    Disability or Death.    Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Grantee's Incentive Agreement, upon the termination of Employment or service as a Director due to the Disability or death of any Employee or Non-Employee Director who is a Grantee:

          (i)  all of his Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights then outstanding shall become 100% vested and immediately and fully exercisable until the earlier of (A) the expiration date set forth in the Incentive Agreement for such Incentive Award and (B) the expiration of twelve (12) months after the effective date of his termination of Employment or service due to his Disability or death;

         (ii)  any Period of Restriction with respect to any of his Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be deemed to have expired and all restrictions imposed on Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall lapse, and each such Incentive Award shall thereupon become free of all restrictions and fully vested; and

        (iii)  all of the restrictions and conditions of any of his Other Stock-Based Awards then outstanding shall be deemed satisfied, and the Period of Restriction with respect thereto shall be deemed to have expired, and each such Incentive Award shall thereupon become free of all restrictions and fully vested.

        In the case of any vested Incentive Stock Option held by an Employee following termination of Employment, notwithstanding the definition of "Disability" in Section 1.2, whether the Employee has incurred a "Disability" for purposes of determining the length of the Option exercise period following termination of Employment under this Subsection (d) shall be determined by reference to Section 22(e)(3) of the Code to the extent required by Section 422(c)(6) of the Code. The Committee shall determine whether a Disability for purposes of this Subsection (d) has occurred.

        (e)    Continuation.    Subject to the conditions and limitations of the Plan and applicable law and regulation, in the event that a Grantee ceases to be an Employee or Consultant, as applicable, for whatever reason, the Committee and Grantee may mutually agree with respect to any outstanding Option or other Incentive Award then held by the Grantee (i) for an acceleration or other adjustment in any vesting schedule applicable to the Incentive Award, (ii) for a continuation of the exercise period following termination for a longer period than is otherwise provided under such Incentive Award, or (iii) to any other change in the terms and conditions of the Incentive Award. In the event of any such change to an outstanding Incentive Award, a written or electronic amendment to the Grantee's Incentive Agreement shall be required.

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        7.7    Change in Control    

        In the event of a Change in Control (as defined below), the following actions shall automatically occur as of the day immediately preceding the effective date of the Change in Control unless expressly provided otherwise in the Grantee's Incentive Agreement or otherwise designated in advance by the Committee:

        (a)   all of the Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights then outstanding shall become 100% vested and immediately and fully exercisable;

        (b)   any Period of Restriction with respect to any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit shall be deemed to have expired and all restrictions imposed on Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall lapse, and thus each such Incentive Award shall become free of all restrictions and fully vested;

        (c)   all of the restrictions and conditions of any Other Stock-Based Awards then outstanding shall be deemed satisfied, and the Period of Restriction with respect thereto shall be deemed to have expired, and thus each such Incentive Award shall become free of all restrictions and fully vested;

        (d)   all of the Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and any Other Stock-Based Awards shall become fully vested, deemed earned in full, and promptly paid within thirty (30) days to the affected Grantees without regard to payment schedules and notwithstanding that the applicable performance cycle, retention cycle or other restrictions and conditions have not been completed or satisfied; and

        (e)   all of the Incentive Awards subject to Performance Periods and/or Performance Criteria shall become fully vested at the higher of the current performance level or the Target Level, deemed earned in full, and promptly paid within two and a half (2¹/2) months to the affected Grantees without regard to payment schedules and notwithstanding that the applicable performance cycle, retention cycle or other restrictions and conditions have not been completed or satisfied.

        Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Grantee's Incentive Agreement, the provisions of this Section 7.7 may not be terminated, amended, or modified to adversely affect any Incentive Award theretofore granted under the Plan without the prior written or electronic consent of the Grantee with respect to his outstanding Incentive Awards.

        For all purposes of this Plan, a "Change in Control" of the Company means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:

        (A)  The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act (a "Person")) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 40% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) any acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary or by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary, or (iii) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar business combination involving the Company (a "Merger"), if, following such Merger, the conditions described in clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 7.7(c) are satisfied;

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        (B)  Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (a solicitation by any person or group of persons for the purpose of opposing a solicitation of proxies or consents by the Board with respect to the election or removal of Directors at any annual or special meeting of stockholders) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

        (C)  Consummation of a Merger, unless immediately following such Merger, (i) substantially all of the holders of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to Merger beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the common stock of the corporation resulting from such Merger (or its parent corporation) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Merger and (ii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Merger (or its parent corporation) were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Merger; or

        (D)  The sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

        7.8    Exchange of Incentive Awards    

        The Committee may, in its discretion, permit any Grantee to surrender outstanding Incentive Awards in order to exercise or realize his rights under other Incentive Awards or in exchange for the grant of new Incentive Awards, or require holders of Incentive Awards to surrender outstanding Incentive Awards (or comparable rights under other plans or arrangements) as a condition precedent to the grant of new Incentive Awards.

SECTION 8

GENERAL

        8.1    Effective Date and Grant Period    

        The amendment and restatement of the Plan is adopted by the Board effective as of December 4, 2015, subject to (i) the approval of the stockholders of the Company of the amendment and restatement of the Plan and (ii) the adoption of an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation effecting a reverse stock split of the Company's Common Stock and the subsequent implementation of such reverse stock split. No Incentive Award that is an Incentive Stock Option shall be granted under the Plan after ten (10) years from the Effective Date. Unless sooner terminated by action of the Board, this Plan will terminate at 5:00 p.m. Houston, Texas time, on May 21, 2023. Incentive Awards under this Plan may not be granted after that date, but any Incentive Award duly granted before that date will continue to be effective in accordance with its terms and conditions.

        8.2    Funding and Liability of Company    

        No provision of the Plan shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made, or otherwise to segregate any assets. In addition, the Company shall not be required to maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for purposes of the Plan. Although bookkeeping accounts may be established with respect to Grantees who are entitled to cash, Common Stock or rights thereto

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under the Plan, any such accounts shall be used merely as a bookkeeping convenience. The Company shall not be required to segregate any assets that may at any time be represented by cash, Common Stock or rights thereto. The Plan shall not be construed as providing for such segregation, nor shall the Company, the Board or the Committee be deemed to be a trustee of any cash, Common Stock or rights thereto. Any liability or obligation of the Company to any Grantee with respect to an Incentive Award shall be based solely upon any contractual obligations that may be created by this Plan and any Incentive Agreement, and no such liability or obligation of the Company shall be deemed to be secured by any pledge or other encumbrance on any property of the Company. Neither the Company, the Board nor the Committee shall be required to give any security or bond for the performance of any obligation that may be created by the Plan.

        8.3    Withholding Taxes    

        (a)    Tax Withholding.    The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Grantee to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the Plan or an Incentive Award hereunder.

        (b)    Share Withholding.    With respect to tax withholding required upon the exercise of Stock Options or SARs, or upon any other taxable event arising as a result of any Incentive Awards, Grantees may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee in its discretion, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold Shares or Units having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum withholding tax which could be imposed on the transaction or such other applicable withholding rate allowed by the Company and applicable law. All such elections shall be made in electronically or writing, acknowledged by the Grantee, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its discretion, deems appropriate.

        8.4    No Guarantee of Tax Consequences    

        Neither the Company nor the Committee makes any commitment or guarantee that any federal, state or local tax treatment will apply or be available to any person participating or eligible to participate hereunder.

        8.5    Designation of Beneficiary by Grantee    

        Incentive Awards under the Plan will be subject to a beneficiary election filed with the Company. The election will be filed with, and subject to all rules defined by, the Company and will apply to all Incentive Awards under the Plan. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Grantee's death shall be paid to the Grantee's estate.

        8.6    Amendment and Termination    

        The Board shall have the power and authority to terminate or amend the Plan at any time. No termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any outstanding Incentive Award previously granted to a Grantee under the Plan, without the written or electronic consent of such Grantee or other designated holder of such Incentive Award.

        In addition, to the extent that the Committee determines that (a) the listing or qualification requirements of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Company's Common Stock is then listed or quoted, if applicable, or (b) the Code (or regulations promulgated thereunder), require stockholder approval in order to maintain compliance with such listing or quotation system requirements or to maintain any favorable tax advantages or qualifications, then the Plan shall not be amended in such respect without approval of the Company's stockholders.

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        8.7    Governmental Entities and Securities Exchanges    

        The granting of Incentive Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required. Certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock delivered under this Plan (to the extent that such shares are so evidenced) may be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or transaction reporting system upon which the Common Stock is then listed or to which it is admitted for quotation, and any applicable federal or state securities law, if applicable. The Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed upon such certificates (if any) to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

        8.8    Successors to Company    

        All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Incentive Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

        8.9    Miscellaneous Provisions    

        (a)   No Employee or Consultant, or other person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Incentive Award under the Plan. Neither the Plan, nor any action taken hereunder, shall be construed as giving any Employee, Director or Consultant, any right to be retained in the Employment or other service of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.

        (b)   By accepting any Incentive Award, each Grantee and each person claiming by or through him shall be deemed to have indicated his acceptance of the Plan.

        (c)   Performance-based awards granted under the Plan to a Grantee who is subject to the Company's Compensation Recoupment Policy, as may be amended from time to time, may be reduced or subject to recoupment pursuant to the terms and conditions of such policy.

        8.10    Severability    

        In the event that any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal, invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be fully severable, but shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision was not included herein.

        8.11    Gender, Tense and Headings    

        Whenever the context so requires, words of the masculine gender used herein shall include the feminine and neuter, and words used in the singular shall include the plural. Section headings as used herein are inserted solely for convenience and reference and constitute no part of the interpretation or construction of the Plan.

        8.12    Governing Law    

        The Plan shall be interpreted, construed and constructed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its conflicts of law provisions, except as may be superseded by applicable laws of the United States or applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

        8.13    Deferred Compensation    

        This Plan and any Incentive Agreement issued under the Plan is intended to meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be administered in a manner that is intended to meet those requirements and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the

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extent that an Incentive Award or payment, or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Section 409A of the Code, except as the Board otherwise determines in writing, the Incentive Award shall be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, including regulations or other guidance issued with respect thereto, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral shall not be subject to the excise tax applicable under Section 409A of the Code. Any provision of this Plan or any Incentive Agreement that would cause an Incentive Award or the payment, settlement or deferral thereof to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code shall be amended (in a manner that as closely as practicable achieves the original intent of this Plan or the Incentive Agreement, as applicable) to comply with Section 409A of the Code on a timely basis, which may be made on a retroactive basis, in accordance with regulations and other guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code. In the event the Plan allows for a deferral of compensation, the Plan is intended to qualify for certain exemptions under Title I of ERISA provided for plans that are unfunded and maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly-compensated employees.

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