As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 20, 2017

 

Registration No. 333-       

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


 

Golar LNG Limited

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Bermuda

 

N/A

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

2 nd  Floor, S.E. Pearman Building

9 Par-la-Ville Road

Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda

(Address, including zip code of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Golar LNG Limited Long-Term Incentive Plan

(Full title of the plan)

 

Puglisi & Associates

850 Library Avenue, Suite 204

Newark, Delaware 19711

Attention:  Mr. Donald Puglisi

Telephone: (302) 738-6680

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies to:

Catherine S. Gallagher

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

2200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 500 West

Washington, DC 20037-1701

(202) 639-6544

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

Large accelerated filer

 

x

 

Accelerated filer o

Non-accelerated filer

 

o ( Do not check if smaller reporting company)

 

Smaller Reporting Company o

 

 

 

 

Emerging Growth Company o

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). o

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title of securities
to be registered

 

Amount to be
registered(1)

 

Proposed
maximum offering
price per share(2)

 

Proposed
maximum
aggregate
offering price(2)

 

Amount of
registration fee

 

Common Shares, par value $1.00 per share

 

3,000,000

 

$

22.79

 

$

68,370,000

 

$

8,513

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)                                  Represents fully paid common shares, par value $1.00 per share (the “Common Shares”), of Golar LNG Limited (the “Registrant”) reserved for delivery under the Golar LNG Limited Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).  Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act, this registration statement shall be deemed to cover an indeterminate number of additional Common Shares that may become issuable as a result of share splits, share dividends or similar transactions pursuant to the adjustment or anti-dilution provisions of the Plan.

 

(2)                                  The proposed maximum offering price per share and the proposed maximum aggregate offering price of the Common Shares being registered hereby have been estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act based on the average of the high and low prices for a share of Common Shares as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on November 15, 2017.

 

 

 



 

PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

The Registrant will provide all participants in the Plan with the document(s) containing the information required by Part I of Form S-8, as specified in Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission, the Registrant has not filed such document(s) with the Commission, but such documents (along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof), taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.  The Registrant shall maintain a file of such documents in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Upon request, the Registrant shall furnish to the Commission or its staff a copy or copies of all of the documents included in such file.

 

PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3.    Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

Except to the extent that information is deemed furnished and not filed pursuant to securities laws and regulations, the following documents have been filed by the Registrant with the Commission and are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and will be deemed to be a part hereof:

 

(a)                                  The Registrant’s latest annual report on Form 20-F, filed with the Commission on May 1, 2017;

 

(b)                                  The Registrant’s reports on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on May 31, 2017 (File No. 000-50113) and September 29, 2017; and

 

(c)                                   The description of the Common Shares included under the caption “Description of Share Capital” contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-3 filed with the Commission on June 30, 2017, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

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Except to the extent that information is deemed furnished and not filed pursuant to securities laws and regulations, all documents filed with the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall also be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the dates of filing of such documents.  In addition, the Registrant will incorporate by reference certain future materials furnished to the Commission on Form 6-K, but only to the extent specifically indicated in those submissions or in a future post-effective amendment hereto.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4.    Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.    Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Section 98 of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended (the “Companies Act”), permits the Bye-Laws of a Bermuda company to contain a provision exempting from personal liability of a director or officer to the company for any loss arising or liability attaching to him by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which the officer or person may be guilty.

 

Section 98 of the Companies Act grants companies the power (except in relation to an allegation of fraud or dishonesty proved against them) to indemnify directors and officers of the company if any such person was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director and officer of the company or was serving in a similar capacity for another entity at the company’s request.

 

Section 98A of the Companies Act permits a company to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any officer for any liability asserted against him or her and liability and expenses incurred in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent arising out of his or her status as such in respect of any loss arising or liability attaching to him or her by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which the officer may be guilty in relation to the company or any subsidiary thereof. The Registrant currently maintains directors’ and officers’ insurance for its directors and officers.

 

Bye-laws number 138 through 146 of Golar LNG Limited (the “Company”), provide as follows:

 

138. No Director, Alternate Director, Officer, member of a committee authorised under Bye-law 109, Resident Representative of the Company or their respective heirs, executors or administrators shall be liable for the acts, receipts, neglects, or defaults of any other such person or any person involved in the formation of the Company, or for any loss or expense incurred by the Company through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by the Company, or for the insufficiency of deficiency of any security in or upon which any of the monies of the Company shall be invested, or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency, or tortious act of any person with whom any monies, securities, or effects shall be deposited, or for any loss occasioned by any error of judgment, omission, default, or oversight on his part, or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever which shall happen in relation to the execution of his duties, or supposed duties, to the Company or otherwise in relation thereto.

 

139. Every Director, Alternate Director, Officer, member of a committee constituted under Bye-Law 109, Resident Representative of the Company or their respective heirs, executors or administrators shall be indemnified and held harmless out of the funds of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by Bermuda law against all liabilities loss damage or expense (including but not limited to liabilities under contract, tort and statute or any applicable foreign law or regulation and all reasonable legal and other costs and expenses properly payable) incurred or suffered by him as such Director, Alternate Director, Officer, committee member or Resident Representative and the indemnity contained in this Bye-Law shall extend to any person acting as such Director, Alternate Director, Officer, committee member or Resident Representative in the reasonable belief that he has been so appointed or elected notwithstanding any defect in such appointment or election.

 

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140. Every Director, Alternate Director, Officer, member of a committee constituted under Bye-Law 109, Resident Representative of the Company and their respective heirs, executors or administrators shall be indemnified out of the funds of the Company against all liabilities incurred by him as such Director, Alternate Director, Officer, member of a committee constituted under Bye-Law 109, Resident Representative in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in his favour, or in which he is acquitted, or in connection with any application under the Companies Acts in which relief from liability is granted to him by the court.

 

141. To the extent that any Director, Alternate Director, Officer, member of a committee constituted under Bye-Law 109, Resident Representative of the Company or any of their respective heirs, executors or administrators is entitled to claim an indemnity pursuant to these Bye-Laws in respect of amounts paid or discharged by him, the relative indemnity shall take effect as an obligation of the Company to reimburse the person making such payment or effecting such discharge.

 

142. The Board may arrange for the Company to be insured in respect of all or any part of its liability under the provision of these Bye-laws and may also purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Directors, Alternate Directors, Officers, person or member of a committee authorised under Bye-law 109, employees or Resident Representatives of the Company in respect of any liability that may be incurred by them or any of them howsoever arising in connection with their respective duties or supposed duties to the Company. This Bye-law shall not be construed as limiting the powers of the Board to effect such other insurance on behalf of the Company as it may deem appropriate.

 

143. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Principal Act, the Company may advance moneys to an Officer or Director for the costs, charges and expenses incurred by the Officer or Director in defending any civil or criminal proceedings against them on the condition that the Director or Officer shall repay the advance if any allegation of fraud or dishonesty is proved against them.

 

144. Each Member agrees to waive any claim or right of action he might have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against any Director, Alternate Director, Officer of the Company, person or member of a committee authorised under Bye-law 109, Resident Representative of the Company or any of their respective heirs, executors or administrators on account of any action taken by any such person, or the failure of any such person to take any action in the performance of his duties, or supposed duties, to the Company or otherwise in relation thereto.

 

145. The restrictions on liability, indemnities and waivers provided for in Bye-laws 138 to 144 inclusive shall not extend to any matter which would render the same void pursuant to the Companies Acts.

 

146. The restrictions on liability, indemnities and waivers contained in Bye-laws 138 to 144 inclusive shall be in addition to any rights which any person concerned may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of applicable Bermuda law.

 

The Plan also provides that the committee administering the Plan and all members thereof are entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to them by any officer or employee of the Registrant or its affiliates, or the Registrant’s legal counsel, independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the committee and any officer or employee of the Registrant or any of its affiliates acting at the direction or on behalf of the committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be indemnified and held harmless by the Registrant with respect to any such action or determination.

 

Item 7.    Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.    Exhibits.

 

Unless otherwise indicated below as being incorporated by reference to another filing of the Registrant with the Commission, each of the following exhibits is filed herewith:

 

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Exhibit
Number

 

Description

4.1

 

Memorandum of Association of the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 20-F, filed on November 27, 2002.

 

 

 

4.2

 

Amended and Restated Bye-laws of the Registrant, dated September 20, 2013, incorporated by reference as Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s report on Form 6-K, filed on July 1, 2014.

 

 

 

4.3

 

Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.3 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 20-F, filed on November 27, 2002.

 

 

 

4.4

 

Certificate of Deposit of Memorandum of Increase of Share Capital of the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 20-F, filed on November 27, 2002.

 

 

 

4.5

 

Certificate of Deposit of Memorandum of Increase of Share Capital of the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.6 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed on April 30, 2015.

 

 

 

4.6*

 

Golar LNG Limited Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 

 

 

5.1*

 

Opinion of MJM Limited, Bermuda counsel to the Registrant as to the validity of the common shares.

 

 

 

23.1*

 

Consent of MJM Limited (included in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).

 

 

 

23.2*

 

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

 

 

 

24.1*

 

Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature pages to this Registration Statement).

 


*  Filed herewith.

 

Item 9.    Undertakings.

 

(a)                                  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)                                  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 

(i)                                      to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii)                                   to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii)                                to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

 

5



 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

 

(2)                                  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)                                  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(b)                                  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial   bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c)                                   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of London, in the United Kingdom, on November 20, 2017.

 

 

GOLAR LNG LIMITED

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian Tienzo

 

 

Brian Tienzo

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Golar Management Ltd.

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Brian Tienzo and Siu-Yee Mac his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments including post-effective amendments to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Iain Ross

 

Chief Executive Officer, Golar Management Ltd.

 

 

Iain Ross

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

November 20, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Brian Tienzo

 

Chief Financial Officer, Golar Management Ltd.

 

 

Brian Tienzo

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

November 20, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Tor Olav Trøim

 

Chairman of the Board

 

 

Tor Olav Trøim

 

 

 

November 20, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Daniel Rabun

 

Director

 

 

Daniel Rabun

 

 

 

November 20, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Fredrik Halvorsen

 

Director

 

 

Fredrik Halvorsen

 

 

 

November 20, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Carl Steen

 

Director

 

 

Carl Steen

 

 

 

November 20, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Niels Stolt-Nielsen

 

Director

 

 

Niels Stolt-Nielsen

 

 

 

November 20, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Lori Wheeler Naess

 

Director

 

 

Lori Wheeler Naess

 

 

 

November 20, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Michael Ashford

 

Director

 

 

Michael Ashford

 

 

 

November 20, 2017

 

7



 

SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

IN THE UNITED STATES

 

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on November 20, 2017.

 

PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Donald J. Puglisi

 

Name:

Donald J. Puglisi

 

Title:

Authorized Representative in the United States

 

 

8


Exhibit 4.6

 

Golar LNG Limited

 

Long Term Incentive Plan

 

1.                                       Purpose .  The purpose of the Golar LNG Limited Long Term Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) is to provide a means through which (a) Golar LNG Limited, a Bermuda entity (the “ Company ”), and its Affiliates may attract, retain and motivate qualified persons as employees, directors and consultants, thereby enhancing the profitable growth of the Company and its Affiliates and (b) persons upon whom the responsibilities of the successful administration and management of the Company and its Affiliates rest, and whose present and potential contributions to the Company and its Affiliates are of importance, can acquire and maintain stock ownership or awards the value of which is tied to the performance of the Company, thereby strengthening their concern for the Company and its Affiliates. Accordingly, the Plan provides for the grant of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Awards, Dividend Equivalents, Other Stock-Based Awards, Cash Awards, Substitute Awards, Performance Awards, or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

2.                                       Definitions .  For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

(a)                                  Affiliate ” means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, trust or other organization that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any entity or organization, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power (i) to vote more than 50% of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of the controlled entity or organization or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the controlled entity or organization, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.  For the avoidance of doubt, Golar LNG Partners LP shall be deemed to be an Affiliate.

 

(b)                                  ASC Topic 718 ” means the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation , as amended or any successor accounting standard.

 

(c)                                   Award ” means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award, Cash Award, Substitute Award or Performance Award, together with any other right or interest, granted under the Plan.

 

(d)                                  Award Agreement ” means any written instrument (including any employment, severance or change in control agreement) that sets forth the terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations applicable to an Award, in addition to those set forth under the Plan.

 

(e)                                   Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

1



 

(f)                                    Cash Award ” means an Award denominated in cash granted under Section 6(i) .

 

(g)                                   Change in Control ” means, except is otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, an event whereby another entity gains control over the Company (i) by imposing a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving company or (ii) by acquiring the majority of the shares in the Company or (iii) by the vote of its own shares or by acting in concert with other shareholders appoints a new majority of the Board.”

 

(h)                                  Change in Control Price ” means the amount determined in the following clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), whichever the Committee determines is applicable, as follows:  (i) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any merger or consolidation, (ii) the per share Fair Market Value of the Stock immediately before the Change in Control or other event without regard to assets sold in the Change in Control or other event and assuming the Company has received the consideration paid for the assets in the case of a sale of the assets, (iii) the amount distributed per share of Stock in a dissolution transaction, (iv) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any tender offer or exchange offer whereby a Change in Control or other event takes place, or (v) if such Change in Control or other event occurs other than pursuant to a transaction described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this Section 2(h) , the value per share of the Stock that may otherwise be obtained with respect to such Awards or to which such Awards track, as determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the date of cancellation and surrender of such Awards.  In the event that the consideration offered to shareholders of the Company in any transaction described in this Section 2(h)  or in Section 8(e)  consists of anything other than cash, the Committee shall determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration offered which is other than cash and such determination shall be binding on all affected Participants to the extent applicable to Awards held by such Participants.

 

(i)                                      Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including the guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance and regulations thereto.

 

(j)                                     Committee ” means a committee of two or more directors designated by the Board to administer the Plan.

 

(k)                                  Dividend Equivalent ” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(g) , to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.

 

(l)                                      Effective Date ” means October 24, 2017.

 

(m)                              Eligible Person ” means any individual who, as of the date of grant of an Award, is an officer or employee of the Company or of any of its Affiliates, and any other person who provides services to the Company or any of its Affiliates, including directors of the Company; provided , however , that, any such individual must be an “employee” of the Company or any of its parents or subsidiaries within the meaning of General Instruction A.1(a) to Form S-8 if such individual is granted an Award that may be settled in Stock.  An employee on leave of absence may be an Eligible Person.

 

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(n)                                  Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including the guidance, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance, rules and regulations thereto.

 

(o)                                  Fair Market Value ” means, on any relevant date, the closing sales price of a share of Stock on the principal national securities exchange or other market in which trading in Stock occurs on the last market trading day prior to the applicable day (or, if there is no trading in shares of Stock on such date, on the next preceding day on which there was trading) as reported in The Wall Street Journal (or other reporting service approved by the Committee).  If shares of Stock are not traded on a national securities exchange or other market at the time a determination of Fair Market Value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of Fair Market Value shall be made by the Committee in good faith, taking into account all factors the Committee deems appropriate.  Notwithstanding this definition of Fair Market Value, with respect to one or more Award types, or for any other purpose for which the Committee must determine the Fair Market Value under the Plan, the Committee may elect to choose a different measurement date or methodology for determining Fair Market Value so long as the determination is consistent with all applicable laws and regulations.

 

(p)                                  Option ” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(b) , to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods.

 

(q)                                  Other Stock-Based Award ” means an Award granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(h) .

 

(r)                                     Participant ” means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan that remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.

 

(s)                                    Performance Award ” means an award granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(k) , the grant, vesting, exercisability and/or settlement of which (and/or the timing or amount thereof) is subject to the achievement of one or more performance goals specified by the Committee.

 

(t)                                     Permanent Disability ” means that a Participant is unable to engage in substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can reasonably be expected to result in death or last indefinitely.

 

(u)                                  Restricted Stock ” means Stock granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(d)  that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.

 

(v)                                  Restricted Stock Unit ” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(e) , to receive Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of a specified period (which may or may not be coterminous with the vesting schedule of the Award).

 

(w)                                SAR ” means a stock appreciation right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(c) .

 

(x)                                  SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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(y)                                  Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, including the guidance, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance, rules and regulations thereto.

 

(z)                                   Stock ” means the Company’s fully paid common shares, par value $1.00 per share, and such other securities as may be substituted (or re-substituted) for Stock pursuant to Section 8 .

 

(aa)                           Stock Award ” means unrestricted shares of Stock granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(f) .

 

(bb)                           Substitute Award ” means an Award granted under Section 6(j) .

 

3.                                       Administration .

 

(a)                                  Authority of the Committee .  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee except to the extent the Board elects to administer the Plan, in which case references herein to the “Committee” shall be deemed to include references to the “Board.”  Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and other applicable laws, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to:

 

(i) designate Eligible Persons as Participants;

 

(ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to an Eligible Person;

 

(iii) determine the number of shares of Stock or amount of cash to be covered by Awards;

 

(iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award, including whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be vested, settled, exercised, cancelled or forfeited (including conditions based on continued employment or service requirements or the achievement of one or more performance goals);

 

(v) modify, waive or adjust any term or condition of an Award that has been granted, which may include the acceleration of vesting, waiver of forfeiture restrictions, modification of the form of settlement of the Award (for example, from cash to Stock or vice versa), early termination of a performance period, or modification of any other condition or limitation regarding an Award;

 

(vi) determine the treatment of an Award upon a termination of employment or other service relationship;

 

(vii) impose a holding period with respect to an Award or the shares of Stock received in connection with an Award;

 

(viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any Award Agreement;

 

(ix) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, in any Award, or in any Award Agreement; and

 

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(x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

 

The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee.  Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its Affiliates, shareholders, Participants, beneficiaries, and permitted transferees under Section 7(a)  or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant.

 

(b)                                  Delegation of Authority .  The Committee may delegate any or all of its powers and duties under the Plan to a subcommittee of directors or to any officer of the Company, including the power to perform administrative functions and grant Awards; provided , however , that such delegation does not violate applicable law.  Upon any such delegation, all references in the Plan to the “Committee,” other than in Section 8 , shall be deemed to include any subcommittee or officer of the Company to whom such powers have been delegated by the Committee.  Any such delegation shall not limit the right of such subcommittee members or such an officer to receive Awards; provided , however , that such subcommittee members and any such officer may not grant Awards to himself or herself, a member of the Board, or any executive officer of the Company or an Affiliate, or take any action with respect to any Award previously granted to himself or herself, a member of the Board, or any executive officer of the Company or an Affiliate. The Committee may also appoint agents who are not executive officers of the Company or members of the Board to assist in administering the Plan, provided , however , that such individuals may not be delegated the authority to grant or modify any Awards that will, or may be settled in Stock.

 

(c)                                   Limitation of Liability .  The Committee and each member thereof shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates, the Company’s legal counsel, independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan.  Members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be indemnified and held harmless by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

 

(d)                                  Participants in Non-U.S. Jurisdictions . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, to comply with applicable laws in countries other than the United States in which the Company or any of its Affiliates operates or has employees, directors or other service providers from time to time, or to ensure that the Company complies with any applicable requirements of foreign securities exchanges, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (i) determine which of the Company’s Affiliates shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which Eligible Persons outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Eligible Persons outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws or listing requirements of any foreign exchange; (iv) establish sub-plans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable (any such sub-plans and/or modifications shall be attached to the Plan as appendices), provided , however , that no such sub-

 

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plans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 4(a) ; and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is granted, that it deems advisable to comply with any applicable governmental regulatory exemptions or approval or listing requirements of any such foreign securities exchange.  For purposes of the Plan, all references to foreign laws, rules, regulations or taxes shall be references to the laws, rules, regulations and taxes of any applicable jurisdiction other than the United States or a political subdivision thereof.

 

4.                                       Stock Subject to Plan .

 

(a)                                  Number of Shares Available for Delivery .  Subject to adjustment in a manner consistent with Section 8 , 3,000,000 shares of Stock are reserved and available for delivery with respect to Awards.

 

(b)                                  Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards .  Subject to Section 4(c) , no Award may be granted if the number of shares of Stock that may be delivered in connection with such Award exceeds the number of shares of Stock remaining available under the Plan minus the number of shares of Stock issuable in settlement of or relating to then-outstanding Awards.  The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or Substitute Awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.

 

(c)                                   Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards .  If all or any portion of an Award expires or is cancelled, forfeited, exchanged, settled in cash or otherwise terminated, the shares of Stock subject to such Award (including (i) shares forfeited with respect to Restricted Stock, and (ii) the number of shares withheld or surrendered to the Company in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or taxes relating to Awards) shall not be considered “delivered shares” under the Plan, shall be available for delivery with respect to Awards, and shall no longer be considered issuable or related to outstanding Awards for purposes of Section 4(b) , If an Award may be settled only in cash, such Award need not be counted against any share limit under this Section 4 .

 

(d)                                  Stock Offered .  The shares of Stock to be delivered under the Plan shall be made available from (i) authorized but unissued shares of Stock, (ii) Stock held in the treasury of the Company, or (iii) previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company, including shares purchased on the open market.

 

5.                                       Eligibility .

 

(a)                                  Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons.

 

6.                                       Specific Terms of Awards .

 

(a)                                  General .  Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6 .  Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with any other Award.  In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter

 

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(subject to Section 10 ), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine.

 

(b)                                  Options .  The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)                                      Exercise Price .  Each Award Agreement evidencing an Option shall state the exercise price per share of Stock (the “ Exercise Price ”) established by the Committee; provided , however , that except as provided in Section 6(j)  or in Section 8 , the Exercise Price of an Option shall not be less than the greater of (A) the par value per share of the Stock or (B) 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock as of the date of grant of the Option.

 

(ii)                                   Time and Method of Exercise; Other Terms .  The Committee shall determine the methods by which the Exercise Price may be paid or deemed to be paid, the form of such payment, including cash or cash equivalents, Stock (including previously owned shares or through a cashless exercise, i.e., “net settlement”, a broker-assisted exercise, or other reduction of the amount of shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the Option), other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or any Affiliate, other property, or any other legal consideration the Committee deems appropriate (including notes or other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis), the methods by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, including the delivery of Restricted Stock subject to Section 6(d) , and any other terms and conditions of any Option.  In the case of an exercise whereby the Exercise Price is paid with Stock, such Stock shall be valued based on the Stock’s Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise.

 

(c)                                   SARs .  The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)                                      Right to Payment .  An SAR is a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the Committee.

 

(ii)                                   Grant Price . Each Award Agreement evidencing an SAR shall state the grant price per share of Stock established by the Committee; provided , however , that except as provided in Section 6(j)  or in Section 8 , the grant price per share of Stock subject to an SAR shall not be less than the greater of (A) the par value per share of the Stock or (B) 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock as of the date of grant of the SAR.

 

(iii)                                Method of Exercise and Settlement; Other Terms . The Committee shall determine the form of consideration payable upon settlement, the method by or forms in which Stock (if any) will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR.  SARs may be either free-standing or granted in tandem with other Awards.  No SAR may be exercisable for a period of more than ten years following the date of grant of the SAR.

 

(iv)                               Rights Related to Options .  An SAR granted in connection with an Option shall entitle a Participant, upon exercise, to surrender that Option or any portion thereof,

 

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to the extent unexercised, and to receive payment of an amount determined by multiplying (A) the difference obtained by subtracting the Exercise Price with respect to a share of Stock specified in the related Option from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR, by (B) the number of shares as to which that SAR has been exercised.  The Option shall then cease to be exercisable to the extent surrendered.  SARs granted in connection with an Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Award Agreement governing the Option, which shall provide that the SAR is exercisable only at such time or times and only to the extent that the related Option is exercisable and shall not be transferable except to the extent that the related Option is transferrable.

 

(d)                                  Restricted Stock .  The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)                                      Restrictions .  Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose.  Except as provided in Section 7(a)(iii)  and Section 7(a)(iv) , during the restricted period applicable to the Restricted Stock, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hedged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.

 

(ii)                                   Dividends and Splits .  As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee may allow a Participant to elect, or may require, that any cash dividends paid on a share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock, applied to the purchase of additional Awards or deferred without interest to the date of vesting of the associated Award of Restricted Stock.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and specified in the applicable Award Agreement, Stock distributed in connection with a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property (other than cash) distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Stock or other property has been distributed.

 

(e)                                   Restricted Stock Units .  The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)                                      Award and Restrictions .  Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may impose.

 

(ii)                                   Settlement .  Settlement of vested Restricted Stock Units shall occur upon vesting or upon expiration of the deferral period specified for such Restricted Stock Units by the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Participant).  Restricted Stock Units shall be settled by delivery of (A) a number of shares of Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units for which settlement is due, or (B) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of shares of Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units for which settlement is due, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter.

 

(f)                                    Stock Awards .  The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Awards to Eligible Persons as a bonus, as additional compensation, or in lieu of cash compensation any

 

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such Eligible Person is otherwise entitled to receive, in such amounts and subject to such other terms as the Committee in its discretion determines to be appropriate.

 

(g)                                   Dividend Equivalents .  The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to Eligible Persons, entitling any such Eligible Person to receive cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property equal in value to dividends or other distributions paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock.  Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award (other than an Award of Restricted Stock or a Stock Award).  The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or at a later specified date and, if distributed at a later date, may be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Stock, Awards, or other investment vehicles or accrued in a bookkeeping account without interest, and subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the Committee may specify.  With respect to Dividend Equivalents granted in connection with another Award, absent a contrary provision in the Award Agreement, such Dividend Equivalents shall be subject to the same restrictions and risk of forfeiture as the Award with respect to which the dividends accrue and shall not be paid unless and until such Award has vested and been earned.

 

(h)                                  Other Stock-Based Awards .  The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Eligible Persons such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Stock, purchase rights for Stock, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Stock or the value of securities of, or the performance of, specified Affiliates of the Company.  The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Other Stock-Based Awards.  Stock delivered pursuant to an Other-Stock Based Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(h)  shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, as the Committee shall determine.

 

(i)                                      Cash Awards .  The Committee is authorized to grant Cash Awards, on a free-standing basis or as an element of, a supplement to, or in lieu of any other Award under the Plan to Eligible Persons in such amounts and subject to such other terms as the Committee in its discretion determines to be appropriate.

 

(j)                                     Substitute Awards; No Repricing .  Awards may be granted in substitution or exchange for any other Award granted under the Plan or under another plan of the Company or an Affiliate or any other right of an Eligible Person to receive payment from the Company or an Affiliate.  Awards may also be granted under the Plan in substitution for awards held by individuals who become Eligible Persons as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of another entity or the assets of another entity by or with the Company or an Affiliate.  Such Substitute Awards referred to in the immediately preceding sentence that are Options or SARs may have an exercise price that is less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of the substitution if such substitution complies with applicable laws and exchange rules.  Except as provided in this Section 6(j)  or in Section 8 , without the approval of the shareholders of the

 

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Company, the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to (i) reduce the Exercise Price or grant price of an outstanding Option or SAR, (ii) grant a new Option, SAR or other Award in substitution for, or upon the cancellation of, any previously granted Option or SAR that has the effect of reducing the Exercise Price or grant price thereof, (iii) exchange any Option or SAR for Stock, cash or other consideration when the Exercise Price or grant price per share of Stock under such Option or SAR exceeds the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock or (iv) take any other action that would be considered a “repricing” of an Option or SAR under the applicable listing standards of the national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed (if any).

 

(k)                                  Performance Awards . The Committee is authorized to designate any of the Awards granted under the foregoing provisions of this Section 6 as Performance Awards.  The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance goals applicable to a Performance Award, and may exercise its discretion to reduce or increase the amounts payable under any Performance Award.  Performance goals may differ among Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.  The performance period applicable to any Performance Award shall be set by the Committee in its discretion but shall not exceed ten years.

 

7.                                       Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards .

 

(a)                                  Limit on Transfer of Awards .

 

(i)                                      Except as provided in Sections 7(a)(iii)  and (iv) , each Option and SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or by the person to whom the Participant’s rights shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

(ii)                                   Except as provided in Sections 7(a)(i) , (iii)  and (iv) , no Award, other than a Stock Award, and no right under any such Award, may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.

 

(iii)                                To the extent specifically provided by the Committee, an Award may be transferred by a Participant without consideration to immediate family members or related family trusts, limited partnerships or similar entities or on such terms and conditions as the Committee may from time to time establish.

 

(iv)                               An Award may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order entered or approved by a court of competent jurisdiction upon delivery to the Company of a written request for such transfer and a certified copy of such order.

 

(b)                                  Termination due to Death or Permanent Disability .  Except to the extent otherwise provided in any applicable Award Agreement, if a Participant experiences a separation from service with the Company and its Affiliates due to death or Permanent Disability prior to the date an outstanding Award has vested in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, then all restrictions described in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement shall lapse and each such Award held by such Participant shall immediately become vested,

 

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nonforfeitable, and, if applicable, exercisable, and shall be eligible for any applicable settlement due in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals .  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or any of its Affiliates upon the exercise or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine in its discretion, including cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis (which may be required by the Committee or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee); provided , however , that any such deferred or installment payments will be set forth in the Award Agreement.  Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents or other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Stock.

 

(d)                                  Evidencing Stock . The Stock or other securities of the Company delivered pursuant to an Award may be evidenced in any manner deemed appropriate by the Committee in its sole discretion, including in the form of a certificate issued in the name of the Participant or by book entry, electronic or otherwise, and shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such Stock or other securities are then listed, and any applicable laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be inscribed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.  Further, if certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Company may retain physical possession of the certificates and may require that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, related to the Restricted Stock.

 

(e)                                   Consideration for Grants . Awards may be granted for such consideration, including services, as the Committee shall determine, but shall not be granted for less than the minimum lawful consideration.

 

(f)                                    Additional Agreements .  Each Eligible Person to whom an Award is granted under the Plan may be required to agree in writing, as a condition to the grant of such Award or otherwise, to subject an Award that is exercised or settled following such Eligible Person’s termination of employment or service to a general release of claims and/or a noncompetition or other restricted covenant agreement in favor of the Company and its Affiliates, with the terms and conditions of such agreement(s) to be determined in good faith by the Committee.

 

8.                                       Subdivision or Consolidation; Recapitalization; Change in Control; Reorganization .

 

(a)                                  Existence of Plans and Awards .  The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company, the Board or the shareholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Stock

 

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or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.

 

(b)                                  Additional Issuances .  Except as expressly provided herein, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, including upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share of Stock, if applicable.

 

(c)                                   Subdivision or Consolidation of Shares of Stock .  The terms of an Award and the share limitations under the Plan shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee from time to time, in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(i)                                      If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall subdivide as a whole (by reclassification, by a Stock split, by the issuance of a distribution on Stock payable in Stock, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a greater number of shares of Stock or in the event the Company distributes an extraordinary cash dividend, then, as appropriate (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 shall be increased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be increased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the Exercise Price or grant price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be reduced proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions; provided, however, that in the case of an extraordinary cash dividend that is not an Adjustment Event, the adjustment to the number of shares of Stock and the Exercise Price or grant price, as applicable, with respect to an outstanding Option or SAR may be made in such other manner as the Committee may determine that is permitted pursuant to applicable tax and other laws, rules and regulations.

 

(ii)                                   If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall consolidate as a whole (by reclassification, by reverse Stock split, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a lesser number of shares of Stock, then, as appropriate (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery with respect to Awards and applicable limitations with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 and Section 5 (other than cash limits) shall be decreased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be decreased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the Exercise Price or grant price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be increased proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.

 

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(d)                                  Recapitalization .  In the event of any change in the capital structure or business of the Company or other corporate transaction or event that would be considered an “equity restructuring” within the meaning of ASC Topic 718 and, in each case, that would result in an additional compensation expense to the Company pursuant to the provisions of ASC Topic 718, if adjustments to Awards with respect to such event were discretionary or otherwise not required (each such an event, an “ Adjustment Event ”), then the Committee shall equitably adjust (i) the aggregate number or kind of shares that thereafter may be delivered under the Plan, (ii) the number or kind of shares or other property (including cash) subject to an Award, (iii) the terms and conditions of Awards, including the purchase price or Exercise Price of Awards and performance goals, as applicable, and (iv) the applicable limitations with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 and Section 5 (other than cash limits) to equitably reflect such Adjustment Event (“ Equitable Adjustments ”).  In the event of any change in the capital structure or business of the Company or other corporate transaction or event that would not be considered an Adjustment Event, and is not otherwise addressed in this Section 8 , the Committee shall have complete discretion to make Equitable Adjustments (if any) in such manner as it deems appropriate with respect to such other event.

 

(e)                                   Change in Control and Other Events .  Except to the extent otherwise provided in any applicable Award Agreement, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control prior to the date an outstanding Award has vested in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, all restrictions described in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement shall lapse and each such Award held by the Participant shall immediately become vested, nonforfeitable and, if applicable, exercisable, and shall be eligible for any applicable settlement due in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.  In the event of other changes in the Company or the outstanding Stock by reason of a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange or other relevant change occurring after the date of the grant of any Award, the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without the consent or approval of any holder, may exercise any power enumerated in Section 3 (including the power to accelerate vesting, waive any forfeiture conditions or otherwise modify or adjust any other condition or limitation regarding an Award) and may also effect one or more of the following alternatives, which may vary among individual holders and which may vary among Awards held by any individual holder:

 

(i) accelerate the time of exercisability of an Award so that such Award may be exercised in full or in part for a limited period of time on or before a date specified by the Committee, after which specified date all unexercised Awards and all rights of holders thereunder shall terminate;

 

(ii) redeem in whole or in part outstanding Awards by requiring the mandatory surrender to the Company by selected holders of some or all of the outstanding Awards held by such holders (irrespective of whether such Awards are then vested or exercisable) as of a date, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Awards and pay to each holder an amount of cash or other consideration per Award (other than a Dividend Equivalent or Cash Award, which the Committee may separately require to be surrendered in exchange for cash or other consideration determined by the Committee in its discretion) equal to the Change in Control Price, less the Exercise Price with respect to an Option and less the grant price with respect to a SAR, as applicable to

 

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such Awards; provided , however , that to the extent the Exercise Price of an Option or the grant price of an SAR exceeds the Change in Control Price, such Award may be cancelled for no consideration;

 

(iii) cancel Awards that remain subject to a restricted period as of the date of a Change in Control or other such event without payment of any consideration to the Participant for such Awards; or

 

(iv) make such adjustments to Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change in Control or other such event (including the substitution, assumption, or continuation of Awards by the successor company or a parent or subsidiary thereof);

 

provided , however , that so long as the event is not an Adjustment Event, the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to Awards then outstanding.  If an Adjustment Event occurs, this Section 8(e)  shall only apply to the extent it is not in conflict with Section 8(d) .

 

9.                                       General Provisions .

 

(a)                                  Tax Withholding .  The Company and any of its Affiliates are authorized to withhold from any Award granted, or any payment relating to an Award, including from a distribution of Stock, taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company, its Affiliates and Participants to satisfy the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award in such amounts as may be determined by the Committee.  The Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, the form of payment acceptable for such tax withholding obligations, including the delivery of cash or cash equivalents, Stock (including previously owned shares, net settlement, a broker-assisted sale, or other cashless withholding or reduction of the amount of shares otherwise issuable or delivered pursuant to the Award), other property, or any other legal consideration the Committee deems appropriate.  If such tax withholding amounts are satisfied through net settlement or previously owned shares, the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be so withheld or surrendered shall be the number of shares of Stock that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or surrender equal to the aggregate amount of such tax liabilities determined based on the greatest withholding rates for applicable tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that may be utilized without creating adverse accounting treatment for the Company with respect to such Award, as determined by the Committee.

 

(b)                                  Limitation on Rights Conferred under Plan .  Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Affiliates to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s employment or service relationship at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and/or employees and/or other service providers, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the

 

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Company unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Stock in accordance with the terms of an Award.

 

(c)                                   Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction .  All questions arising with respect to the provisions of the Plan and Awards shall be determined by application of English law without giving effect to any conflict of law provisions thereof.  The obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Stock hereunder is subject to applicable laws and to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale, or delivery of such Stock.

 

(d)                                  Severability and Reformation .  If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable law or, if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(e)                                   Unfunded Status of Awards; No Trust or Fund Created .  The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for certain incentive awards. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other person.  To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Company or such Affiliate.

 

(f)                                    Nonexclusivity of the Plan .  Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the shareholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the Company or any of its Affiliates from taking any corporate action which is deemed by the Company or such Affiliate to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on the Plan or any Award made under the Plan. No employee, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against the Company or any of its Affiliates as a result of any such action.

 

(g)                                   Fractional Shares .  No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional shares of Stock or whether such fractional shares of Stock or any rights thereto shall be cancelled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated with or without consideration.

 

(h)                                  Interpretation .  Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference.  Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof. Words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, and, where appropriate, the

 

15



 

plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural. In the event of any conflict between the terms and conditions of an Award Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. The use herein of the word “including” following any general statement, term or matter shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation”, “but not limited to”, or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter.  References herein to any agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and not prohibited by the Plan.

 

(i)                                      Facility of Payment .  Any amounts payable hereunder to any individual under legal disability or who, in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to manage properly his financial affairs, may be paid to the legal representative of such individual, or may be applied for the benefit of such individual in any manner that the Committee may select, and the Company shall be relieved of any further liability for payment of such amounts.

 

(j)                                     Conditions to Delivery of Stock .  Nothing herein or in any Award Agreement shall require the Company to issue any shares with respect to any Award if that issuance would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, constitute a violation of the Securities Act, any other applicable statute or regulation, or the rules of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect.  In addition, each Participant who receives an Award under the Plan shall not sell or otherwise dispose of Stock that is acquired upon grant, exercise or vesting of an Award in any manner that would constitute a violation of any applicable securities laws, the Plan or the rules, regulations or other requirements of the SEC or any stock exchange upon which the Stock is then listed.  At the time of any exercise of an Option or SAR, or at the time of any grant of any other Award, the Company may, as a condition precedent to the exercise of such Option or SAR or settlement of any other Award, require from the Participant (or in the event of his or her death, his or her legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) such written representations, if any, concerning the holder’s intentions with regard to the retention or disposition of the shares of Stock being acquired pursuant to the Award and such written covenants and agreements, if any, as to the manner of disposal of such shares as, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, may be necessary to ensure that any disposition by that holder (or in the event of the holder’s death, his or her legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) will not involve a violation of the Securities Act, any other applicable statute or regulation, or any rule of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect.  Stock or other securities shall not be delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement (including any Exercise Price, grant price, or tax withholding) is received by the Company.

 

(k)                                  Clawback .  The Plan and all Awards granted hereunder are subject to any written clawback policies that the Company, with the approval of the Board or an authorized committee thereof, may adopt either prior to or following the Effective Date, including any policy adopted to conform to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and rules promulgated thereunder by the SEC and that the Company determines should

 

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apply to Awards.  Any such policy may subject a Participant’s Awards and amounts paid or realized with respect to Awards to reduction, cancelation, forfeiture or recoupment if certain specified events or wrongful conduct occur, including an accounting restatement due to the Company’s material noncompliance with financial reporting regulations or other events or wrongful conduct specified in any such clawback policy.

 

(l)                                      Status under ERISA .  The Plan shall not constitute an “employee benefit plan” for purposes of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

(m)                              Plan Effective Date and Term .  The Plan was adopted by the Board to be effective on the Effective Date. No Awards may be granted under the Plan on and after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, which is October 24, 2027. However, any Award granted prior to such termination (or any earlier termination pursuant to Section 10 ), and the authority of the Board or Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan, shall extend beyond such termination until the final disposition of such Award.

 

10.                                Amendments to the Plan and Awards.  The Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award or Award Agreement, the Plan or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards without the consent of shareholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to the Plan, including any increase in any share limitation, shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders not later than the annual meeting next following such Committee action if such shareholder approval is required by any applicable law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock may then be listed or quoted, and the Committee may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other changes to the Plan to shareholders for approval; provided , that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award.  For purposes of clarity, any adjustments made to Awards pursuant to Section 8 will be deemed not to materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award and therefore may be made without the consent of affected Participants.

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

 

20 November 2017

 

Golar LNG Limited

S.E. Pearman Building

2 nd  Floor

9 Par-la-Ville Road

Hamilton, HM 11

Bermuda

 

Dear Sirs,

 

Golar LNG Limited (the “Company”)

 

1.                                       Subject of Opinion

 

We are lawyers duly qualified to practise in Bermuda.  This opinion as to the laws of Bermuda is addressed to you in connection with a registration statement on Form S-8 to be filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on 20 November 2017 (the “ Registration Statement ”) relating to the registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “ Securities Act ”) of 3,000,000 common shares, par value US$1.00 per share, of the Company (the “ Shares ”) issuable pursuant to awards granted under the Company’s Long Term Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”).

 

2.                                       Documents Examined

 

For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined and relied upon:

 

2.1                                the Registration Statement;

 

2.2                                the Plan;

 

2.3                                a copy of the following documents of the Company, as certified by the Secretary thereof on 16 November 2017:

 

(a)                                  certificate of incorporation;

 

(b)                                  memorandum of association;

 

(c)                                   certificate of deposit of memorandum of increase of share capital;

 

(d)                                  certificate of deposit of memorandum of reduction of share premium;

 

(e)                                   bye-laws;

 

(f)                                    register of directors and officers;

 

(g)                                   tax assurance;

 



 

(i)                                      an extract from minutes of a meeting of the board of directors of the Company held on 27 September 2017, as certified by the Secretary of the Company on 17 November 2017 (the “ Resolutions ”);

 

2.4                                Certificate of Compliance issued by the Registrar of Companies on 16 November 2017 in respect of the Company;

 

2.5                                such other documents as we have deemed necessary in order to render this opinion

 

(together hereinafter referred to as the “ Documents ”).

 

A reference to a document does not include any other instrument or agreement whether or not specifically referred to therein or attached as an exhibit or schedule thereto. Except as stated in this paragraph 2, we have not examined any contract, instrument or other document entered into by, or affecting, the Company or any corporate records thereof and have not made any other enquiries concerning the Company.

 

3.                                       Opinion Limited to Bermuda Law

 

We have made no investigation of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda and this opinion is given only with respect to Bermuda law as applied by the courts of Bermuda at the date thereof and is governed by, and should be construed in accordance with, those laws. This opinion is limited to the matters stated herein and does not extend to, and is not intended to be extended by implication to, any other matters. We give this opinion on the basis that it will not give rise to any legal proceedings with respect thereto in any jurisdiction other than Bermuda.

 

4.                                       Assumptions

 

We have assumed:

 

(a)                                  the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures and the conformity to the originals of all copies (whether or not certified) of all Documents and the authenticity and completeness of the originals from which such copies were taken;

 

(b)                                  the truth, accuracy and completeness as at the date hereof of all representations as to factual matters, warranties and statements of fact or law, other than as to the laws of Bermuda, made in the Registration Statement, the Plan and other Documents;

 

(c)                                   that the Resolutions certified as being true and accurate and provided to us in connection with the giving of this opinion were duly passed by the duly elected or appointed directors of the Company; that any provisions contained in the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended, (the “ Companies Act ”) or the bye-laws of the Company relating to the declaration of directors’ interests and the convening of, the quorum required for, and voting at meetings of the directors were duly observed; that there is no matter affecting the authority of the directors of the Company to authorize the Plan and the issuance of the Shares not disclosed by the memorandum of association or bye-laws of the Company or the Resolutions which would have any adverse implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein; and that such Resolutions have not been amended or rescinded, either in whole or in part, and are in full force and effect;

 

(d)                                  that the Resolutions contain all resolutions amending or affecting the Plan;

 



 

(e)                                   that there are no provisions of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda which would be contravened by the issuance of the Shares or which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein and that, in so far as any obligation or action is required to be performed or taken in any jurisdiction outside Bermuda, the performance of such obligation or the taking of such action will constitute a valid and binding obligation of any such party under the laws of that jurisdiction and will not be illegal by virtue of the laws of that jurisdiction;

 

(f)                                    that there is no provision of any award agreement or option agreement which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein;

 

(g)                                   that, upon the issue of any Shares, the Company will receive consideration for the full issue price thereof, which shall be equal to at least the par value thereof;

 

(h)                                  that, on the date of issuance of any of the Shares, the Company will have sufficient authorised but unissued common shares;

 

(i)                                      that, on the date of issuance of any award or option under the Plan and on the date of exercise of any such award or option, the Company will be able to pay its liabilities as they become due; and

 

(j)                                     that the Company’s common shares will be listed on an appointed stock exchange, as defined in the Companies Act.

 

5.                                       Opinion

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and further subject to any matters not disclosed to us, we are of the opinion that as at today’s date:

 

5.1                                The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing under the laws of Bermuda.

 

5.2                                The Shares, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (which term means when used herein that no further sums are required to be paid by the holders thereof in connection with the issue of the Shares).

 

6.                                       Consent

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

/s/ MJM Limited

MJM Limited

 


Exhibit 23.2

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Golar LNG Limited Long-Term Incentive Plan of Golar LNG Limited of our reports dated May 1, 2017, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Golar LNG Limited and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Golar LNG Limited included in its Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Ernst & Young LLP

London, United Kingdom

November 17, 2017

 



Exhibit 23.2

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Annual Report (Form 20-F) of Golar LNG Limited for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Golar LNG Limited Long-Term Incentive Plan of Golar LNG Limited of our reports dated May 1, 2017, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Golar LNG Partners LP and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Golar LNG Partners LP  included in the Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Ernst & Young LLP

London, United Kingdom

November 17, 2017