EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP AT A GLANCE

Employee Ownership at Applied EarthWorks gives you the opportunity to earn money for your future while providing for you and your family today.

The ESOP is a free retirement plan with no money out of your pocket.

Æ allocates shares to support employees’ well-being. Build your career at Æ to feel the power of employee ownership.

HOW THE ESOP WORKS

Applied EarthWorks is 100% Employee-Owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Employees earn shares in Applied EarthWorks based on their compensation and years of service. As an employee-owned company, every employee has a stake in the success of Applied EarthWorks!

HOW YOU EARN SHARES

Shares are allocated to eligible participants annually based on their years of service and compensation. Employees do not pay for shares. In fact, the plan does not allow anyone to purchase shares - they are all earned by working at Applied EarthWorks. Your ESOP account balance is determined by two things: The number of shares you have, and the value of the shares.

ANNUAL ESOP STATEMENTS

Our ESOP administrator mails participant statements each year in June. The statement will be "as of the end of the prior calendar year." Statements include the number of shares in the participant retirement account and the value of the stock for that year. October is Employee Ownership Month when we review our stock price at our Annual ESOP Summit celebrating Æ’s anniversary.

ESOP DISTRIBUTIONS - WHEN YOU GET MONEY

ESOP Distributions are paid during the Distribution Window in the summer of the calendar year following the year a participant terminates employment at Applied EarthWorks. The ESOP balance is paid in a lump sum or 1/5th over five years based the amount and circumstances of exit.

The ESOP “Plan” document is available to employee owners on Æ’s intranet Employee Portal. Please refer to the Plan for all legally binding provisions. If you need further information, please inquire with Human Resources.