As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, 2023

 

Registration No. 333-

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

SHARKNINJA, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Cayman Islands
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization)
  98-1738011
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
89 A Street
Needham, MA 02494

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  9777513
(Zip Code)

 

SharkNinja, Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan

SharkNinja, Inc. 2023 Employee Share Purchase Plan

(Full title of the plans)

 

 

 

Mark Barrocas

Chief Executive Officer

SharkNinja, Inc.

89 A Street

Needham, MA 02494

(Name and address of agent for service)

(617) 243-0235

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

With a copy to:

 

Howard L. Ellin

Ryan J. Dzierniejko

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

One Manhattan West

New York, NY 10001

(212) 735-3000

 

 

 

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 Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer x Smaller reporting company ¨
  Emerging growth company ¨

 

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. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

PART I

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS*

 

*The information specified in Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be delivered to the participants in the equity benefit plans covered by this Registration Statement as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act.

 

I-1

 

 

PART II

 

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

The following documents filed by SharkNinja, Inc. (the “Registrant”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:

 

(a)The Registrant’s prospectus dated July 28, 2023 to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, relating to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 originally filed with the Commission on June 28, 2023, as amended (File No. 333-272973); and

 

(b)The description of the Registrant’s ordinary shares, which is contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on July 24, 2023 (File No. 001-41754) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with the rules of the Commission shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. 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 subsequently filed document that also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such 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

 

Cayman Islands law (“Cayman Law”), including the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”), does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the courts of the Cayman Islands (“Cayman Courts”) to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our memorandum and articles of association will provide, to the fullest extent permissible under Cayman Law, that our directors and officers shall be indemnified against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs damages or expenses, including legal expenses, incurred in their capacities as such unless such liability (if any) arises from actual fraud, willful neglect or willful default, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order. This standard of conduct for indemnification is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) for a Delaware corporation.

 

In addition to such indemnification, we will obtain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of our directors and officers arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.

 

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Prior to the completion of the separation and distribution, we will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers that will provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in our memorandum and articles of association.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to us, our directors, our officers or persons who control us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
4.1   Specimen Share Certificate, evidencing the ordinary shares of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 filed with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-272973), filed with the Commission on July 11, 2023).
     
4.2*   Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registrant, as currently in effect.
     
5.1*   Opinion of Maples and Calder (Cayman) LLP.
     
10.1*   SharkNinja, Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan.
     
10.2*   SharkNinja, Inc. 2023 Employee Share Purchase Plan.
   
23.1*   Consent of Maples and Calder (Cayman) LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
   
23.2*   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
     
24.1*   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement).
     
107*   Filing Fee Table.

 

 

* Filed herewith.

 

ITEM 9.UNDERTAKINGS

 

1. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(a) 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 of 1933;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this 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 this Registration Statement.

 

II-2

 

 

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

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in 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.

 

(b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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.

 

(c) 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.

 

2. 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 this 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.

 

3. 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.

 

II-3

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 in the city of Needham, state of Massachusetts, on July 28, 2023.

 

  SHARKNINJA, INC. 
     
  By: /s/ Mark Barrocas
    Mark Barrocas
    Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Mark Barrocas and Larry Flynn as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and to sign any related registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

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

 

Signature  Title  Date
       
/s/ Mark Barrocas  Chief Executive Officer and  July 28, 2023
Mark Barrocas  Director (Principal Executive Officer)   
       
/s/ Larry Flynn  Interim Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer  July  28, 2023
Larry Flynn  (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)   
       
/s/ CJ Xuning Wang  Director  July 28, 2023
CJ Xuning Wang      
       
/s/ Peter Feld  Director  July 28, 2023
Peter Feld      
       
/s/ Wendy Hayes  Director  July 28, 2023
Wendy Hayes      
       
/s/ Chi Kin Max Hui  Director  July 28, 2023
Chi Kin Max Hui      
       
/s/ Dennis Paul  Director  July  28, 2023
Dennis Paul      
       
/s/ Timothy R. Warner  Director  July 28, 2023
Timothy R. Warner      

 

S-1

 

 

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the Registrant has signed this Registration Statement on July 28, 2023.

 

  SHARKNINJA, INC. 
     
  By: /s/ Mark Barrocas
    Mark Barrocas
    Chief Executive Officer

 

S-2

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)

OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

 

OF

 

SHARKNINJA, INC.

(adopted by special resolution dated JUNE 28, 2023 and effective on JULY 28, 2023)

 

 

 

 

THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)

OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION

OF

SHARKNINJA, INC.

(adopted by special resolution dated JUNE 28, 2023 and effective on JULY 28, 2023)

 

1The name of the Company is SharkNinja, Inc.

 

2The Registered Office of the Company shall be at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands, or at such other place as the Directors may decide.

 

3The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

4The liability of each Member is limited to the amount unpaid on such Member's shares.

 

5The authorised share capital of the Company is US$110,000 divided into 1,000,000,000 ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each and 100,000,000 preferred shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each.

 

6The Company has the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands.

 

7Capitalised terms that are not defined in this Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association bear the same meaning as those given in the Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company.

 

1

 

 

THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)

OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

OF

SHARKNINJA, INC.

(adopted by special resolution dated JUNE 28, 2023 and effective on JULY 28, 2023)

 

1Interpretation

 

1.1In the Articles Table A in the First Schedule to the Statute does not apply and, unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith:

 

"Affiliate" means (i) in the case of a natural person, such person's parents, parents-in-law, spouse, children or grandchildren, a trust for the benefit of any of the foregoing, a company, partnership or any natural person or entity wholly or jointly owned by such person or any of the foregoing, and (ii) in the case of a corporation, partnership or other entity or any natural person or entity which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such entity. The term "control" shall mean the ownership, directly or indirectly, of shares possessing more than fifty per cent (50%) of the voting power of the corporation, or the partnership or other entity (other than, in the case of a corporation, shares having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency), or having the power to control the management or elect a majority of members to the board of directors or equivalent decision-making body of such corporation, partnership or other entity.
   
"Applicable Law" means, with respect to any person, all provisions of laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, certificates, judgments, decisions, decrees or orders of any governmental authority applicable to such person.

 

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"Articles" means the Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company, as from time to time altered or added to in accordance with the Statute and the Articles.
   
"Audit Committee" means the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee.
   
"Auditor" means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company (if any).
   
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in New York City.
   
"Cause" means, for removal of a Director, where (a) the Director has been convicted of a felony or criminal offence by a court of competent jurisdiction and such conviction is no longer subject to direct appeal; (b) such Director has been found by a court of competent jurisdiction, to have been guilty of willful misconduct in the performance of such Director's duties to the Company in a matter of substantial importance to the Company; or (c) such Director has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be mentally incompetent, which mental incompetency directly affects such director's ability to perform their obligations as a Director
   
"Chairperson" means the chairperson of the board of Directors appointed pursuant to Article 30.9.
   
"Clearing House" means a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such jurisdiction.
   
"Company" means the above named company.
   
"Company's Website" means the website of the Company, the address or domain name of which has been notified to Members.
   
"Compensation Committee" means the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee.

 

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"Controlled Company" has the meaning given to it in the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange.
   
"Designated Stock Exchange" means any United States national securities exchange on which the securities of the Company are listed for trading, including the New York Stock Exchange.
   
"Directors" means the directors for the time being of the Company.
   
"Dividend" means any dividend (whether interim or final) resolved to be paid on shares pursuant to the Articles.
   
"electronic communication"       means a communication sent by electronic means, including electronic posting to the Company's Website, transmission to any number, address or internet website (including the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission) or other electronic delivery methods as otherwise decided and approved by the Directors.
   
"electronic record"       has the same meaning as in the Electronic Transactions Act.
   
"Electronic Transactions Act" means the Electronic Transactions Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands.
   
"Exchange Act"       means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
   
"Independent Director" has the same meaning as in the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange or in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, as the case may be.
   
"Majority Shareholder" means Mr. Xuning Wang.

 

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"Majority Shareholder Affiliates" means (a) each of the Majority Shareholder's legal spouse, parents, children and other lineal descendants (each, an "Immediate Family Member"); and (b) any trust for the benefit of the Majority Shareholder and/or any of the Immediate Family Members as defined under (a), and any corporation, partnership or any other entity ultimately controlled by the Majority Shareholder and/or any of the Immediate Family Members as defined under (a) through possession of voting power or investment power over Shares held by any such entity. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms "voting power" and "investment power" shall have such meanings as defined under Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act.
   
"Member" has the same meaning as in the Statute.
   
"Memorandum of Association" means the amended and restated memorandum of association of the Company.
   
"Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee" means the nominating and corporate governance committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee.
   
"Officer" means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company.
   
"Ordinary Resolution"       means a resolution passed by a simple majority of the Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting, and does not include a unanimous written resolution. In computing the majority when a poll is demanded regard shall be had to the number of votes to which each Member is entitled by the Articles.
   
"Ordinary Share"       means an ordinary share in the share capital of the Company of US$0.0001 nominal or par value designated as Ordinary Shares, and having the rights provided for in the Articles.
   
"Preferred Share"       means a preferred share in the share capital of the Company of US$0.0001 nominal or par value designated as Preferred Shares, and having the rights provided for in the Articles.
   
"Register of Members"       means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Statute and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate register of Members.
   
"Registered Office" means the registered office for the time being of the Company.
   
"Seal"       means the common seal of the Company and includes every duplicate seal.
   
"Securities and Exchange Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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"Securities Act"       means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States of America, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
   
"Share"       means any share in the capital of the Company, including the Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares and shares of other classes.
   
"signed"       means a signature or representation of a signature affixed by mechanical means or an electronic symbol or process attached to or logically associated with an electronic communication and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the electronic communication.
   
"Special Resolution"       means a resolution passed by at least two thirds of the Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting, and does not include a unanimous written resolution. In computing the approval when a poll is demanded regard shall be had to the number of votes to which each Member is entitled by the Articles.
   
"Statute" means the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands.
   
"Treasury Share" means a share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Statute.

 

1.2In the Articles, save where the context requires otherwise:

 

(a)words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa;

 

(b)words importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender;

 

(c)words importing persons include corporations as well as any other legal or natural person;

 

(d)"written" and "in writing" include all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, including in the form of an electronic record;

 

(e)"shall" shall be construed as imperative and "may" shall be construed as permissive;

 

(f)references to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced;

 

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(g)any phrase introduced by the terms "including", "include", "in particular" or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms;

 

(h)the term "and/or" is used to mean both "and" as well as "or." The use of "and/or" in certain contexts in no respects qualifies or modifies the use of the terms "and" or "or" in others. The term "or" shall not be interpreted to be exclusive and the term "and" shall not be interpreted to require the conjunctive (in each case, unless the context otherwise requires);

 

(i)headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing the Articles;

 

(j)any requirements as to delivery under the Articles include delivery in the form of an electronic record;

 

(k)any requirements as to execution or signature under the Articles including the execution of the Articles themselves can be satisfied in the form of an electronic signature as defined in the Electronic Transactions Act;

 

(l)sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall not apply;

 

(m)the term "clear days" in relation to the period of a notice means that period excluding the day when the notice is received or deemed to be received and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect; and

 

(n)the term "holder" in relation to a Share means a person whose name is entered in the Register of Members as the holder of such Share.

 

2Formation Expenses

 

The Directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred in or about the formation and establishment of the Company including the expenses of registration.

 

3Issue of Shares and other Securities

 

3.1Subject to the provisions, if any, in the Memorandum (and to any direction that may be given by the Company in general meeting) and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the Directors may, in their absolute discretion and without approval of the holders of Ordinary Shares, allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) with or without preferred, deferred or other rights or restrictions, whether in regard to Dividend or other distribution, voting, return of capital or otherwise, any or all of which may be greater than the powers and rights associated with the Ordinary Shares, to such persons, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper, which shall be conclusively evidenced by their approval of the terms thereof, and may also (subject to the Statute and the Articles) vary such rights.

 

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3.2The Company may issue rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company on such terms as the Directors may from time to time determine.

 

3.3The Company shall not issue Shares in bearer form and shall only issue Shares as fully paid.

 

4Ordinary Shares

 

4.1The holders of the Ordinary Shares shall be:

 

(a)entitled to dividends in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Articles;

 

(b)entitled to and are subject to the provisions in relation to winding up of the Company provided for in the Articles;

 

(c)entitled to attend general meetings of the Company and shall be entitled to one vote for each Ordinary Share registered in their name in the Register of Members, both in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Articles.

 

4.2All Ordinary Shares shall rank pari passu with each other in all respects.

 

5Preferred Shares

 

5.1Preferred Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each of such series to have such voting powers (full or limited or without voting powers), designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof as are stated and expressed, or in any resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Directors as hereinafter provided.

 

5.2Authority is hereby granted to the Directors, subject to the provisions of the Memorandum, the Articles and applicable law, to create one or more series of Preferred Shares and, with respect to each such series, to fix by resolution or resolutions, without any further vote or action by the Members of the Company providing for the issue of such series:

 

(a)the number of Preferred Shares to constitute such series and the distinctive designation thereof;

 

(b)the dividend rate on the Preferred Shares of such series, the dividend payment dates, the periods in respect of which dividends are payable ("Dividend Periods"), whether such dividends shall be cumulative and, if cumulative, the date or dates from which dividends shall accumulate;

 

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(c)whether the Preferred Shares of such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, Shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of Shares and the conversion price or prices or rate or rates, or the rate or rates at which such exchange may be made, with such adjustments, if any, as shall be stated and expressed or provided in such resolution or resolutions;

 

(d)the preferences, if any, and the amounts thereof, which the Preferred Shares of such series shall be entitled to receive upon the winding up of the Company;

 

(e)the voting power, if any, of the Preferred Shares of such series;

 

(f)transfer restrictions and rights of first refusal with respect to the Preferred Shares of such series; and

 

(g)such other terms, conditions, special rights and provisions as may seem advisable to the Directors.

 

5.3Notwithstanding the fixing of the number of Preferred Shares constituting a particular series upon the issuance thereof, the Directors at any time thereafter may authorise the issuance of additional Preferred Shares of the same series subject always to the Statute and the Memorandum of Association.

 

5.4No dividend shall be declared and set apart for payment on any series of Preferred Shares in respect of any Dividend Period unless there shall likewise be or have been paid, or declared and set apart for payment, on all Preferred Shares of each other series entitled to cumulative dividends at the time outstanding which rank senior or equally as to dividends with the series in question, dividends rateably in accordance with the sums which would be payable on the said Preferred Shares through the end of the last preceding Dividend Period if all dividends were declared and paid in full.

 

5.5If, upon the winding up of the Company, the assets of the Company distributable among the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Shares which (a) are entitled to a preference over the holders of the Ordinary Shares upon such winding up; and (b) rank equally in connection with any such distribution, shall be insufficient to pay in full the preferential amount to which the holders of such Preferred Shares shall be entitled, then such assets, or the proceeds thereof, shall be distributed among the holders of each such series of the Preferred Shares rateably in accordance with the sums which would be payable on such distribution if all sums payable were discharged in full.

 

6Register of Members

 

6.1The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Statute, provided that for so long as the securities of the Company are listed for trading on the Designated Stock Exchange, title to such securities may be evidenced and transferred in accordance with the laws applicable to and the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange.

 

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6.2The Directors may determine that the Company shall maintain one or more branch registers of Members in accordance with the Statute. The Directors may also determine which register of Members shall constitute the principal register and which shall constitute the branch register or registers, and to vary such determination from time to time.

 

7Closing Register of Members or Fixing Record Date

 

7.1For the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of Members or any adjournment thereof, or Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose, the Directors may, after notice has been given by advertisement in an appointed newspaper or any other newspaper or by any other means in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, provide that the Register of Members shall be closed for transfers for a stated period which shall not in any case exceed forty days.

 

7.2In lieu of, or apart from, closing the Register of Members, the Directors may fix in advance or arrears a date as the record date for any such determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of the Members or any adjournment thereof, or for the purpose of determining the Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose.

 

7.3If the Register of Members is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of Members or Members entitled to receive payment of a Dividend or other distribution, the date on which notice of the meeting is sent or the date on which the resolution of the Directors resolving to pay such Dividend or other distribution is passed, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Members. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.

 

8Certificates for Shares

 

8.1A Member shall only be entitled to a share certificate if the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued. Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the Directors may determine. Share certificates shall be signed by one or more Directors or other person authorised by the Directors. The Directors may authorise certificates to be issued with the authorised signature(s) affixed by mechanical process. All certificates for Shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and shall specify the Shares to which they relate. All certificates surrendered to the Company for transfer shall be cancelled and, subject to the Articles, no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate representing a like number of relevant Shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled.

 

8.2The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by more than one person and delivery of a certificate to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them.

 

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8.3If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and on the payment of such expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating evidence, as the Directors may prescribe, and (in the case of defacement or wearing out) upon delivery of the old certificate.

 

8.4Every share certificate sent in accordance with the Articles will be sent at the risk of the Member or other person entitled to the certificate. The Company will not be responsible for any share certificate lost or delayed in the course of delivery.

 

8.5Share certificates shall be issued within the relevant time limit as prescribed by the Statute, if applicable, or as the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law may from time to time determine, whichever is shorter, after the allotment or, except in the case of a Share transfer which the Company is for the time being entitled to refuse to register and does not register, after lodgement of a Share transfer with the Company.

 

9Transfer of Shares

 

9.1Subject to the terms of the Articles any Member may transfer all or any of their Shares by an instrument of transfer provided that such transfer complies with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. If the Shares in question were issued in conjunction with rights, options or warrants issued pursuant to the Articles on terms that one cannot be transferred without the other, the Directors shall refuse to register the transfer of any such Share without evidence satisfactory to them of the like transfer of such option or warrant.

 

9.2The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing in the usual or common form or in a form prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law or in any other form approved by the Directors and shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor (and if the Directors so require, signed by or on behalf of the transferee) and may be under hand or, if the transferor or transferee is a Clearing House or its nominee(s), by hand or by machine imprinted signature or by such other manner of execution as the Directors may approve from time to time. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register of Members.

 

9.3The Directors may, in their absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of Shares, subject to any applicable requirements imposed from time to time by the Commission and the Designated Stock Exchange.

 

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10Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares, Treasury Shares

 

10.1Subject to the provisions, if any, in the Articles, the Memorandum, applicable law, including the Statute, and the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may:

 

(a)issue Shares on terms that they are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company or the Member on such terms and in such manner as the Directors may, before the issue of such Shares, determine; and

 

(b)purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) in such manner and on such other terms as the Directors may agree with the relevant Member, provided that the manner of purchase is in accordance with any applicable requirements imposed from time to time by the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law;

 

10.2For the avoidance of doubt, redemptions, repurchases and surrenders of Shares in the circumstances described in the Article above shall not require further approval of the Members.

 

10.3The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Statute, including out of capital.

 

10.4The Directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid Share.

 

10.5The Directors may, prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of any Share, determine that such Share shall be held as a Treasury Share.

 

10.6The Directors may determine to cancel a Treasury Share or transfer a Treasury Share on such terms as they think proper (including, without limitation, for nil consideration).

 

11Variation of Rights of Shares

 

11.1Subject to Article 3.1, if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of Shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class) may, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied without the consent of the holders of the issued Shares of that class where such variation is considered by the Directors not to have a material adverse effect upon such rights; otherwise, any such variation shall be made only with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than two thirds of the issued Shares of that class, or with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds of the votes cast at a separate meeting of the holders of the Shares of that class. For the avoidance of doubt, the Directors reserve the right, notwithstanding that any such variation may not have a material adverse effect, to obtain consent from the holders of Shares of the relevant class. To any such meeting all the provisions of the Articles relating to general meetings shall apply mutatis mutandis, except that the necessary quorum shall be one person holding or representing by proxy at least one third of the issued Shares of the class and that any holder of Shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll.

 

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11.2For the purposes of a separate class meeting, the Directors may treat two or more or all the classes of Shares as forming one class of Shares if the Directors consider that such class of Shares would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate classes of Shares.

 

11.3The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking in priority to or pari passu therewith.

 

12Commission on Sale of Shares

 

The Company may, in so far as the Statute permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of that person subscribing or agreeing to subscribe (whether absolutely or conditionally) or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions (whether absolutely or conditionally) for any Shares. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash and/or the issue of fully or partly paid-up Shares. The Company may also on any issue of Shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.

 

13Non Recognition of Trusts

 

The Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when notified) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by the Articles or the Statute) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder.

 

14Lien on Shares

 

14.1The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether fully paid-up or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others) for all debts, liabilities or engagements to or with the Company (whether presently payable or not) by such Member or their estate, either alone or jointly with any other person, whether a Member or not, but the Directors may at any time declare any Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The registration of a transfer of any such Share shall operate as a waiver of the Company's lien thereon. The Company's lien on a Share shall also extend to any amount payable in respect of that Share.

 

14.2The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors think fit, any Shares on which the Company has a lien, if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, and is not paid within 14 clear days after notice has been received or deemed to have been received by the holder of the Shares, or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder, demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold.

 

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14.3To give effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The purchaser or their nominee shall be registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer, and they shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall their title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the sale or the exercise of the Company's power of sale under the Articles.

 

14.4The net proceeds of such sale after payment of costs, shall be applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable and any balance shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the Shares before the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the Shares at the date of the sale.

 

15Call on Shares

 

15.1Subject to the terms of the allotment and issue of any Shares, the Directors may make calls upon the Members in respect of any monies unpaid on their Shares (whether in respect of par value or premium), and each Member shall (subject to receiving at least 14 clear days' notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times so specified the amount called on the Shares. A call may be revoked or postponed, in whole or in part, as the Directors may determine. A call may be required to be paid by instalments. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon them notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made.

 

15.2A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising such call was passed.

 

15.3The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof.

 

15.4If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the person from whom it is due shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at such rate as the Directors may determine (and in addition all expenses that have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment), but the Directors may waive payment of the interest or expenses wholly or in part.

 

15.5An amount payable in respect of a Share on issue or allotment or at any fixed date, whether on account of the par value of the Share or premium or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a call and if it is not paid all the provisions of the Articles shall apply as if that amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call.

 

15.6The Directors may issue Shares with different terms as to the amount and times of payment of calls, or the interest to be paid.

 

15.7The Directors may, if they think fit, receive an amount from any Member willing to advance all or any part of the monies uncalled and unpaid upon any Shares held by that Member, and may (until the amount would otherwise become payable) pay interest at such rate as may be agreed upon between the Directors and the Member paying such amount in advance.

 

15.8No such amount paid in advance of calls shall entitle the Member paying such amount to any portion of a Dividend or other distribution payable in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such amount would, but for such payment, become payable.

 

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16Forfeiture of Shares

 

16.1If a call or instalment of a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than 14 clear days' notice requiring payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued and any expenses incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment. The notice shall specify where payment is to be made and shall state that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited.

 

16.2If the notice is not complied with, any Share in respect of which it was given may, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors. Such forfeiture shall include all Dividends, other distributions or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture.

 

16.3A forfeited Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. Where for the purposes of its disposal a forfeited Share is to be transferred to any person the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share in favour of that person.

 

16.4A person any of whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Member in respect of them and shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for the Shares forfeited and shall remain liable to pay to the Company all monies which at the date of forfeiture were payable by that person to the Company in respect of those Shares together with interest at such rate as the Directors may determine, but that person's liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all monies due and payable by them in respect of those Shares.

 

16.5A certificate in writing under the hand of one Director or Officer that a Share has been forfeited on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share. The certificate shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer) constitute a good title to the Share and the person to whom the Share is sold or otherwise disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall their title to the Share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the Share.

 

16.6The provisions of the Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the par value of the Share or by way of premium as if it had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.

 

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17Transmission of Shares

 

17.1If a Member dies, the survivor or survivors (where they were a joint holder) or their legal personal representatives (where they were a sole holder), shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased Member's Shares. The estate of a deceased Member is not thereby released from any liability in respect of any Share, for which that Member was a joint or sole holder.

 

17.2Any person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other way than by transfer) may, upon such evidence being produced as may be required by the Directors, elect, by a notice in writing sent by that person to the Company, either to become the holder of such Share or to have some person nominated by them registered as the holder of such Share. If they elect to have another person registered as the holder of such Share they shall sign an instrument of transfer of that Share to that person. The Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before their death or bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution, as the case may be.

 

17.3A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other case than by transfer) shall be entitled to the same Dividends, other distributions and other advantages to which they would be entitled if they were the holder of such Share. However, they shall not, before becoming a Member in respect of a Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to general meetings of the Company and the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered or to have some person nominated by them be registered as the holder of the Share (but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before their death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution or any other case than by transfer, as the case may be). If the notice is not complied with within 90 days of being received or deemed to be received (as determined pursuant to the Articles) the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all Dividends, other distributions, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.

 

18Alteration of Capital

 

18.1The Company may by Ordinary Resolution:

 

(a)increase its share capital by such sum as the Ordinary Resolution shall prescribe and with such rights, priorities and privileges annexed thereto, as the Company in general meeting may determine;

 

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(b)consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares;

 

(c)convert all or any of its paid-up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into paid-up Shares of any denomination;

 

(d)by subdivision of its existing Shares or any of them divide the whole or any part of its share capital into Shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum or into Shares without par value; and

 

(e)cancel any Shares that at the date of the passing of the Ordinary Resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled.

 

18.2All new Shares created in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article shall be subject to the same provisions of the Articles with reference to the payment of calls, liens, transfer, transmission, forfeiture and otherwise as the Shares in the original share capital.

 

18.3Subject to the provisions of the Statute and the provisions of the Articles as regards the matters to be dealt with by Ordinary Resolution, the Company may by Special Resolution:

 

(a)change its name;

 

(b)alter or add to the Articles;

 

(c)alter or add to the Memorandum with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein; and

 

(d)reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve fund.

 

19Offices and Places of Business

 

Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by resolution of the Directors change the location of its Registered Office. The Company may, in addition to its Registered Office, maintain such other offices or places of business as the Directors determine.

 

20General Meetings

 

20.1All general meetings of the Company other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.

 

20.2For so long as the Company's securities are traded on a Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting at such time and place as may be determined by the Directors. Save that the Company may, but shall not be required to, hold an annual general meeting in the year in which these Articles were adopted.

 

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20.3Extraordinary general meetings may be called by a majority of the Directors or by the Chairperson, except that the Chairperson may not call an extraordinary general meeting for the purposes of appointing and/or removing Directors. If an extraordinary general meeting is called by the Directors, such extraordinary general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by the Directors, and if an extraordinary general meeting is called by the Chairperson, such extraordinary general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by the Chairperson.

 

20.4The Members shall have no ability to call or requisition an extraordinary general meeting.

 

20.5A person may participate at a general meeting by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other. Participation by a person in a general meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting.

 

21Notice of General Meetings

 

21.1At least ten (10) clear days' notice shall be given of any general meeting. Every notice shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business to be conducted at the general meeting and shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner if any as may be prescribed by the Company, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed:

 

(a)in the case of an annual general meeting, by all the Members (or their proxies) entitled to attend and vote thereat; and

 

(b)in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by the Members (or their proxies) having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, together holding not less than a majority of the Shares giving that right.

 

21.2The notice convening an annual general meeting shall specify the meeting as such, and the notice convening a meeting to pass a Special Resolution shall specify the intention to propose the resolution as a Special Resolution. Notice of every general meeting shall be given to all Members other than such as, under the provisions hereof or the terms of issue of the Shares they hold, are not entitled to receive such notice from the Company.

 

21.3In cases where instruments of proxy are sent out with a notice of general meeting, the accidental omission to send such instrument of proxy to, or the non-receipt of any such instrument of proxy by, any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate any resolution passed or any proceeding at any such meeting.

 

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21.4No business may be transacted at any general meeting, other than business that is either (A) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Directors (or any duly authorised committee thereof) or, except in respect of the appointment and/or removal of Directors, the Chairperson, (B) otherwise properly brought before an annual general meeting by or at the direction of the Directors (or any duly authorised committee thereof) or, except in respect of the appointment and/or removal of Directors, the Chairperson, (C) otherwise properly brought before an annual general meeting by any Member who (1) is a Member of record on both (x) the date of the giving of the notice by such Member provided for in this Article and (y) the record date for the determination of Members entitled to vote at such annual general meeting and (2) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Article.

 

(a)In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be brought properly before an annual general meeting by a Member, such Member must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Company and comply with Article 21.4(c) and (f).

 

(b)All notices of general meetings shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with this Article not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting. The notice shall specify the place, date and hour of the meeting and (i) in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called (no business other than that specified in the notice may be transacted) or (ii) in the case of the annual general meeting, those matters which the Directors, at the time of giving the notice, intends to present for action by the members (but any proper matter may be presented at the meeting for such action). The notice of any meeting at which Directors are to be elected shall include the name of any nominee or nominees who, at the time of the notice, the Directors intend to present for election.

 

(c)For matters other than for the nomination for election of a Director to be made by a Member, to be timely, such Member's notice shall be delivered to the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than ninety (90) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year's annual general meeting; provided, however, that if the Company's annual general meeting occurs on a date more than thirty (30) days earlier or later than the Company's prior year's annual general meeting, then the Directors shall determine a date a reasonable period prior to the Company's annual general meeting by which date the Members notice must be delivered and publicise such date in a filing pursuant to the Exchange Act, or via press release. Such publication shall occur at least ten (10) days prior to the date set by the Directors.

 

(d)To be in proper written form, a Member's notice to the Company must set forth as to such matter such Member proposes to bring before the annual general meeting:

 

(i)a reasonably brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual general meeting, including the text of the proposal or business, and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual general meeting;

 

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(ii)the name and address, as they appear on the Company's Register of Members, of the Member proposing such business and any Member Associated Person (as defined below);

 

(iii)the class or series and number of shares of the Company that are held of record or are beneficially owned by such Member or any Member Associated Person and any derivative positions held or beneficially held by the Member or any Member Associated Person;

 

(iv)whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of such Member or any Member Associated Person with respect to any securities of the Company, and a description of any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of Shares), the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit from share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such Member or any Member Associated Person with respect to any securities of the Company;

 

(v)any material interest of the Member or a Member Associated Person in such business, including a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between or among any of such Members or between or among any proposing Members and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such Member; and

 

(vi)a statement as to whether such Member or any Member Associated Person will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company's voting Shares required under rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law to carry the proposal.

 

For purposes of this Article 21.4(d), a "Member Associated Person" of any Member shall mean (x) any Affiliate; or person acting in concert with, such Member, (y) any beneficial owner of shares of the Company owned of record or beneficially by such Member and on whose behalf the proposal or nomination, as the case may be, is being made, or (z) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such person referred to in the preceding clauses (x) and (y).

 

(e)In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination for election of a Director to be made by a Member (other than Directors to be nominated by any series of Preferred Shares, voting separately as a class), such Member must (A) be a Member of record on both (x) the date of the giving of the notice by such Member provided for in this Article and (y) the record date for the determination of Members entitled to vote at such annual general meeting, and on each such date beneficially own more than 15% of the issued and outstanding Shares (unless otherwise required by the applicable Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission) and (B) have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Company. If a Member is entitled to vote only for a specific class or category of directors at a meeting of the Members, such Member's right to nominate one or more persons for election as a director at the meeting shall be limited to such class or category of directors.

 

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(f)To be timely for purposes of Article 21.4(e), a Member's notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than ninety (90) nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the meeting; provided, however, that in the event less than one hundred thirty (130) days' notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to Members, notice by the Member to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the earlier of the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made.

 

(g)To be in proper written form for purposes of Article 21.4(f), a Nominating Member's notice to the Secretary must be set forth:

 

(i)as to each Nominating Member:

 

(A)the information that is requested in Article 21.4(d)(ii)-(vi); and

 

(B)any other information relating to such Member that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law.

 

(ii)as to each person whom the Member proposes to nominate for election as a director:

 

(A)all information that would be required by Article 21.4(d)(ii)-(vi) if such nominee was a Nominating Member, except such information shall also include the business address and residence address of the person;

 

(B)the principal occupation or employment of the person;

 

(C)all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for appointment of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act or any successor provisions thereto, and any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law; and

 

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(D)a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationship, between or among any Nominating Member and their Affiliates and associates, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, their respective Affiliates and associates, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act if such Nominating Member were the "registrant" for purposes of such rule and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant.

 

Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may be reasonably required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Company in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law.

 

(h)Unless otherwise provided by the terms of the Articles, any series of Preferred Shares or any agreement among Members or other agreement approved by the Directors, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth above shall be eligible to serve as Directors. If the chairperson of a general meeting determines that a proposed nomination was not made in compliance with the Articles, they shall declare to the general meeting that nomination is defective and such defective nomination shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of the Articles, if the Nominating Member (or a qualified representative of the Nominating Member) does not appear at the general meeting to present the nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded.

 

21.5Subject to the Articles, a Director appointed pursuant to this Article 21 shall hold office until the expiry of their term as contemplated by Article 31.1 or until such time as they are removed from office pursuant to Article 31.3 or they vacate office in accordance with Article 32.

 

21.6No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Company under to this Article 21 unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article. If the chairperson of an annual general meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairperson shall declare to the meeting that the nomination was defective and such defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

21.7The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or the non receipt of a notice of a meeting by any Member shall not invalidate the proceedings at any meeting.

 

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22Proceedings at General Meetings

 

22.1No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of Members is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. Members holding in aggregate not less than a one-third of all voting share capital of the Company in issue present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be a quorum. A person may participate at a general meeting by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other. Participation by a person in a general meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. If, however, such quorum is not present or represented at any general meeting, then either (i) the chairperson of the meeting or (ii) the Members entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting.

 

22.2When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, unless the Articles otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Company may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Member of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

22.3A determination of the Members of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a general meeting shall apply to any adjournment of such meeting unless the Directors fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting, but the Directors shall fix a new record date if the meeting is adjourned for more than thirty (30) days from the date set for the original meeting.

 

22.4The Chairperson shall preside as chairperson at every general meeting of the Company. If at any meeting the Chairperson is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting or is unwilling to act as chairperson, the Directors present shall elect one of their number as chairperson of the meeting or if all the Directors present decline to take the chair, the Members present shall choose one of their own number to be the chairperson of the meeting.

 

22.5At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll.

 

22.6A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairperson of the meeting directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting.

 

22.7In the case of an equality of votes, the chairperson of the meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.

 

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23Votes of Members

 

23.1Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any class or classes of Shares, every Member present in person and every person representing a Member by proxy at a general meeting of the Company shall have one vote for each Share registered in such Member's name in the Register of Members. No cumulative voting shall be allowed.

 

23.2In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or proxy), shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names of the holders stand in the Register of Members.

 

23.3A Member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by their committee, receiver, curator bonis, or other person on such Member's behalf appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver, curator bonis or other person may vote by proxy.

 

23.4No person shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless they are registered as a Member on the record date for such meeting nor unless all calls or other monies then payable by them in respect of Shares have been paid.

 

23.5No objection shall be raised as to the qualification of any voter except at the general meeting or adjourned general meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered and every vote not disallowed at the meeting shall be valid. Any objection made in due time in accordance with this Article shall be referred to the chairperson of the meeting whose decision shall be final and conclusive.

 

23.6On a poll votes may be cast either personally or by proxy (or in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy). A Member may appoint more than one proxy or the same proxy under one or more instruments to attend and vote at a meeting. Where a Member appoints more than one proxy the instrument of proxy shall state which proxy is entitled to vote on a show of hands and shall specify the number of Shares in respect of which each proxy is entitled to exercise the related votes.

 

23.7On a poll, a Member holding more than one Share need not cast the votes in respect of their Shares in the same way on any resolution and therefore may vote a Share or some or all such Shares either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares and, subject to the terms of the instrument appointing the proxy, a proxy appointed under one or more instruments may vote a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which they are appointed either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which they are appointed.

 

24Proxies

 

24.1The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be executed under the hand of the appointor or of their attorney duly authorised in writing, or, if the appointor is a corporation or other non natural person, under the hand of its duly authorised representative. A proxy need not be a Member.

 

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24.2The Directors may, in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, specify the manner by which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited and the place and the time (being not later than the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting to which the proxy relates) at which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited. In the absence of any such direction from the Directors in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited physically at the Registered Office not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the meeting or adjourned meeting to commence at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote.

 

24.3The chairperson of the meeting may in any event at their discretion declare that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited. An instrument of proxy that is not deposited in the manner permitted, or which has not been declared to have been duly deposited by the chairperson, shall be invalid.

 

24.4The instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form (or such other form as the Directors may approve) and may be expressed to be for a particular meeting or any adjournment thereof or generally until revoked. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to include the power to demand or join or concur in demanding a poll.

 

24.5Votes given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or of the authority under which the proxy was executed, or the transfer of the Share in respect of which the proxy is given unless notice in writing of such death, insanity, revocation or transfer was received by the Company at the Registered Office before the commencement of the general meeting, or adjourned meeting at which it is sought to use the proxy.

 

25Corporate Members

 

Any corporation or other non-natural person which is a Member may in accordance with its constitutional documents, or in the absence of such provision by resolution of its directors or other governing body, authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any class of Members, and the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which they represent as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member.

 

26Clearing Houses

 

If a clearing house or depository (or its nominee) is a Member it may, by resolution of its directors, other governing body or authorised individual(s) or by power of attorney, authorise such person or persons as it thinks fit to act as its representative or representatives at any general meeting of the Company or at any general meeting of any class of Members; provided that, if more than one person is so authorised, the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such person is so authorised. A person so authorised pursuant to this provision shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the clearing house (or its nominee) which they represents as that clearing house (or its nominee) could exercise if it were an individual Member holding the number and class of Shares specified in such authorisation.

 

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27Shares that May Not be Voted

 

Shares in the Company that are beneficially owned by the Company shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding Shares at any given time.

 

28Directors

 

28.1There shall be a board of Directors consisting of such number of Directors as fixed by the Directors from time to time (but no less than two Directors). So long as Shares are listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, the board of Directors shall include such number of "independent directors" as the relevant rules applicable to the listing of any Shares on the Designated Stock Exchange require (subject to any applicable exceptions or exemptions).

 

28.2The Directors by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the remaining Directors present and voting at a meeting of the Directors, even if less than a quorum, shall have the power from time to time and at any time to appoint any person as a Director to fill a casual vacancy on the board of Directors or as an addition to the existing board of Directors, subject to the Articles, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. Any Director so appointed shall hold office until the earlier of: (i) the expiry of the term of the Director they replaced; (ii) such time as they are removed from office pursuant to Article 31.3; or (iii) they vacate office in accordance with Article 32.

 

28.3The Directors may, from time to time, and except as required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, adopt, institute, amend, modify or revoke the corporate governance policies or initiatives, which shall be intended to set forth the policies of the Company and the Directors on various corporate governance related matters, as the Directors shall determine by resolution from time to time.

 

28.4A Director shall not be required to hold any Shares in the Company by way of qualification. A Director who is not a Member shall nevertheless be entitled to receive notice of and to attend and speak at general meetings of the Company and all classes of shares of the Company.

 

29Directors' Fees and Expenses

 

29.1The Directors may receive such remuneration as the Directors may from time to time determine. The Directors may be entitled to be repaid all traveling, hotel and incidental expenses reasonably incurred or expected to be incurred by that Director in attending meetings of the Directors or committees of the Directors or general meetings or separate meetings of any class of securities of the Company or otherwise in connection with the discharge of their duties as a Director.

 

29.2Any Director who performs services which in the opinion of the Directors go beyond the ordinary duties of a Director may be paid such extra remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the Directors may determine and such extra remuneration shall be in addition to or in substitution for any ordinary remuneration provided for, by or pursuant to any other Article.

 

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30Powers and Duties of Directors

 

30.1Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Memorandum and the Articles and to any resolutions made in a general meeting, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors, who may pay all expenses incurred in setting up and registering the Company and may exercise all powers of the Company. No resolution made by the Company in a general meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors that would have been valid if that resolution had not been made.

 

30.2The Directors may delegate any of their powers, authorities and discretions, including the power to sub-delegate, to any committees consisting of such member or members of their body as they think fit (including, without limitation, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (provided that the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may be combined into a single committee); provided that any committee so formed shall include amongst its members at least two Directors unless otherwise required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law (subject to any applicable exceptions or exemptions); provided further that no committee shall have the power of authority to (a) recommend to the Members an amendment of the Articles (except that a committee may, to the extent authorised in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of Shares adopted by the Directors as provided under the laws of the Cayman Islands, fix the designations and any of the preferences or rights of such Shares relating to dividends, redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the Company or the conversion into, or the exchange of such Shares for, Shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of shares of the Company); (b) adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation; (c) recommend to the Members the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Company's property and assets; (d) recommend to the Members a dissolution of the Company or a revocation of a dissolution; (e) recommend to the Members an amendment of the Memorandum of Association of the Company; or (f) declare a dividend or authorise the issuance of Shares unless the resolution establishing such committee (or the charter of such committee approved by the Directors) or the Memorandum of Association or the Articles so provide. Any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the Directors. The Directors may also delegate to any Director such of their powers as they consider desirable to be exercised by them. Any such delegation may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers, and may be revoked or altered.

 

30.3The Directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any company, firm or person or body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretion (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under the Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney as the Directors may think fit, and may also authorise any such attorney to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretion vested in them.

 

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30.4The Directors may from time to time provide for the management of the affairs of the Company in such manner as they shall think fit and the provisions contained in the following paragraphs shall be without prejudice to the general powers conferred by this paragraph.

 

30.5The Directors from time to time and at any time may establish any advisory committees, local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company and may appoint any persons to be members of such advisory committees or local boards and may appoint any managers or agents of the Company and may fix the remuneration of any of the aforesaid.

 

30.6The Directors from time to time and at any time may delegate to any such advisory committee, local board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in the Directors and may authorise the members for the time being of any such local board, or any of them to fill up any vacancies therein and to act notwithstanding vacancies and any such appointment or delegation may be made on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Directors may think fit and the Directors may at any time remove any person so appointed and may annul or vary any such delegation, but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such annulment or variation shall be affected thereby.

 

30.7The Directors may adopt formal written charters for committees and, if so adopted, shall review and assess the adequacy of such formal written charters on an annual basis. Each of these committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee set forth in the Articles and shall have such powers as the Directors may delegate pursuant to the Articles and as required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, if established, shall consist of such number of Directors as the Directors shall from time to time determine (or such minimum number as may be required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law (subject to any applicable exceptions or exemptions)). For so long as any class of Shares is listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, if established, shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as is required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law (subject to any applicable exceptions or exemptions).

 

30.8Any such delegates as aforesaid may be authorised by the Directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities, and discretions for the time being vested to them.

 

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30.9The Director appointed by the Majority Shareholder pursuant to Article 31.2 shall be appointed as Chairperson. Where no Director has been appointed by the Majority Shareholder, the Directors may elect, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office, a Chairperson, such Chairperson may be a director or an officer of the Company. Subject to the provisions of the Articles and the direction of the Directors, the Chairperson shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the position of chairperson of a board or which are delegated to them by the Directors, preside at all general meetings and meetings of the Directors at which they are present and have such powers and perform such duties as the Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

31Appointment and Removal of Directors

 

31.1Save as provided in Articles 28.2 and 31.2, Directors shall be appointed by Ordinary Resolution. Every Director appointed pursuant to this Article 31.1 on or after the effective date of these Articles shall hold office for an annual term until the next annual general meeting of the Company or such other term as the Ordinary Resolution appointing such Directors may provide. Directors are eligible for re-election.

 

31.2The Majority Shareholder, so long as he and/or the Majority Shareholder Affiliates continue to remain beneficial owners (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) of at least thirty per cent (30.0%) of the issued and outstanding Shares, shall have the right, but not the obligation, to appoint one Director to the board of Directors by providing written notice of such appointment to the Company. Such Director, where appointed, shall act as Chairperson of the board of Directors pursuant to Article 30.9 and may be removed or replaced by the Majority Shareholder, so long as he and/or the Majority Shareholder Affiliates continue to remain beneficial owners (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) of at least thirty per cent (30.0%) of the issued and outstanding Shares, providing written notice of such removal or replacement to the Company.

 

31.3A Director may be removed from office by the Members by Special Resolution. A vacancy on the board of Directors created by the removal of a Director under the provisions of the Articles may be filled by the remaining Directors pursuant to Article 28.2.

 

32Vacation of Office of Directors

 

Subject to the Articles, the office of a Director shall be vacated:

 

(a)where the Director's removal has been proposed by the remaining Directors for Cause and such Cause has been proven; or

 

(b)if the Director gives notice in writing to the Company that they resign the office of Director; or

 

(c)if the Director dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with their creditors generally; or

 

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(d)if the Director is prohibited by applicable law or the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law from being a director; or

 

(e)if the Director, without special leave of absence from the Directors, is absent from meetings of the Directors for six consecutive months and the Directors resolve that their office be vacated; or

 

(f)if the Director shall be removed from office pursuant to the Articles.

 

33Proceedings of Directors

 

33.1Subject to the Articles, the Directors may meet together for the dispatch of business, adjourn, and otherwise regulate their meetings and proceedings as they think fit. Such meetings may be held at any place within or outside the Cayman Islands that has been designated by the Directors. In the absence of such a designation, meetings of the Directors shall be held at the principal executive office of the Company. Questions arising at any meeting of the Directors shall be decided by the method set forth in Article 33.4.

 

33.2The Chairperson or the Secretary on request of a Director, may, at any time summon a meeting of the Directors by twenty-four (24) hour notice to each Director in person, by telephone, facsimile, electronic email, or in such other manner as the Directors may from time to time determine, which notice shall set forth the general nature of the business to be considered unless notice is waived by all the Directors either at, before or after the meeting is held. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Director (i) who signs a waiver of notice or a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof, whether before or after the meeting, or (ii) who attends the meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to such Directors. All such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made part of the minutes of the meeting. A waiver of notice need not specify the purpose of any regular or special meeting of the Directors.

 

33.3A Director or Directors may participate in any meeting of the Directors, or of any committee appointed by the Directors of which such Director or Directors are members, by means of telephone or similar communication equipment by way of which all persons participating in such meeting can hear each other and such participation shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

33.4The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Directors shall be a majority of the Directors appointed at the time of the meeting. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the Directors present at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the Directors, subject to the provisions of the Articles and other applicable law. In the case of an equality of votes, the Chairperson shall have an additional tie-breaking vote.

 

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33.5A meeting of the Directors may be held by means of telephone or teleconferencing or any other telecommunications facility provided that all participants are thereby able to communicate immediately by voice with all other participants.

 

33.6Subject to the Articles, a Director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or proposed contract with the Company shall declare the nature of their interest at a meeting of the Directors. A general notice given to the Directors by any Director to the effect that they are a member of any specified company or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any contract which may thereafter be made with that company or firm shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of interest in regard to any contract so made. A Director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract or arrangement notwithstanding that they may be interested therein and if they do so their vote shall be counted and they may be counted in the quorum at any meeting of the Directors at which any such contract or proposed contract or arrangement shall come before the meeting for consideration.

 

33.7A Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of auditor) in conjunction with their office of Director for such period and on such terms (as to remuneration and otherwise) as the Directors may determine and no Director or intending Director shall be disqualified by their office from contracting with the Company either with regard to their tenure of any such other office or place of profit or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director is in any way interested, be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by any such contract or arrangement by reason of such Director holding that office or of the fiduciary relation thereby established. A Director, notwithstanding their interest, may be counted in the quorum present at any meeting whereat that or any other Director is appointed to hold any such office or place of profit under the Company or whereat the terms of any such appointment are arranged and they may vote on any such appointment or arrangement. Any Director who enters into a contract or arrangement or has a relationship that is reasonably likely to be implicated under this Article 33.7 or that would reasonably be likely to affect a Director's status as an "Independent Director" under the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law shall disclose the nature of their interest in any such contract or arrangement in which they are interested or any such relationship.

 

33.8Any Director may act by themselves or their firm in a professional capacity for the Company, and that Director or their firm shall be entitled to reasonable expense reimbursement consistent with the Company's policies in connection with such Directors service in their official capacity; provided that nothing herein contained shall authorise a Director or their firm to act as auditor to the Company.

 

33.9The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose of recording:

 

(a)all appointments of officers made by the Directors;

 

(b)the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Directors and of any committee of the Directors; and

 

(c)all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the Company, and of the Directors and of committees of Directors.

 

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33.10When the Chairperson signs the minutes of such meeting the same shall be deemed to have been duly held notwithstanding that all the Directors have not actually come together or that there may have been a technical defect in the proceedings.

 

33.11A resolution signed by all the Directors shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors duly called and constituted. When signed, a resolution may consist of several documents each signed by one or more of the Directors.

 

33.12The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body but if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to the Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors, the continuing Directors may act for the purpose of increasing the number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose.

 

33.13A committee appointed by the Directors may elect a chairperson of its meetings. If no such chairperson is elected, or if at any meeting the chairperson is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the members present may choose one of their number to be chairperson of the meeting.

 

33.14A committee appointed by the Directors may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of the committee members present and in case of an equality of votes the chairperson of such committee shall have a second or casting vote.

 

33.15Meetings and actions of committees of the Directors shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of Article 33.1 (place of meetings), Article 33.2 (notice), Article 33.3 (telephonic meetings), and Article 33.4 (quorum), with such changes in the context of the Articles as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Directors; provided, however, that the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Directors or by resolution of the committee, that special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Directors, and that notice of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members, who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee. The Directors may adopt rules for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of the Articles.

 

33.16All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of Directors, or by any person acting as a Director, shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any such Director or person acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified to be a Director.

 

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34Presumption of Assent

 

A Director of the Company who is present at a meeting of the Directors at which action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless their dissent or abstention shall be entered in the Minutes of the meeting or unless they shall file their written dissent or abstention from such action with the person acting as the chairperson or Secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent or abstention by registered post to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent or abstain shall not apply to a Director who voted in favour of such action.

 

35Dividends, Distributions and Reserve

 

35.1Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any class or classes of Shares and the Articles, the Directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and other distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. All dividends unclaimed for one (1) year after having been declared may be invested or otherwise made use of by the Directors for the benefit of the Company until claimed. Subject to any applicable unclaimed property or other laws, any dividend unclaimed after a period of six (6) years from the date of declaration shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company. The payment by the Directors of any unclaimed dividend or other sums payable on or in respect of a Share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect thereof.

 

35.2The Directors may, before recommending or declaring any dividend, set aside out of the funds legally available for distribution such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Directors be applicable for meeting contingencies, or for equalising dividends or for any other purpose to which those funds be properly applied and pending such application may, at the like discretion, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments (other than shares of the Company) as the Directors may from time to time think fit. The Directors shall establish an account to be called the "Share Premium Account" and shall carry to the credit of such account from time to time a sum equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any share in the Company. Unless otherwise provided by the provisions of the Articles, the Directors may apply the share premium account in any manner permitted by the Statute and the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. The Company shall at all times comply with the provisions of the Articles, the Statute and the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law in relation to the share premium account.

 

35.3Any dividend may be paid by cheque or warrant sent through the post to the registered address of the Member or person entitled thereto, or in the case of joint holders, to any one of such joint holders at their registered address or to such person and such address as the Member or person entitled, or such joint holders as the case may be, may direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent or to the order of such other person as the Member or person entitled, or such joint holders as the case may be, may direct. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends may also be paid electronically to the account of the Members or persons entitled thereto or in such other manner approved by the Directors.

 

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35.4The Directors when paying dividends to the Members in accordance with the foregoing provisions may make such payment either in cash or in specie.

 

35.5No dividend shall be paid otherwise than out of profits or, subject to the restrictions of the Statute, the share premium account.

 

35.6Subject to the rights of persons, if any, entitled to Shares with special rights as to dividends, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid or credited as fully paid on the Shares, but if and so long as nothing is paid up on any of the Shares in the Company dividends may be declared and paid according to the amounts of the Shares. No amount paid on a Share in advance of calls shall, while carrying interest, be treated for the purposes of this Article as paid on the Share.

 

35.7If several persons are registered as joint holders of any Share, any of them may give effectual receipts for any dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of the Share.

 

35.8No dividend shall bear interest against the Company.

 

36Book of Accounts

 

36.1The books of account relating to the Company's affairs shall be kept in such manner as may be determined from time to time by the Directors.

 

36.2The books of account shall be kept at such place or places as the Directors think fit, and shall always be open to the inspection of the Directors.

 

36.3The Directors shall cause to be prepared and to be provided to the Members (satisfied by publishing on the Company's website or filing such annual reports as we are required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission) the annual financial statements of the Company in such form as the Directors may determine or as may required by law.

 

36.4Except as provided in Article 36.2 and 36.3, the Directors shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Members not being Directors, and no Member (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by Statute or authorised by the Directors.

 

36.5The accounts relating to the Company's affairs shall be audited in such manner and with such financial year end as may be determined from time to time by the Directors or failing any determination as aforesaid shall not be audited.

 

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37Audit

 

37.1The Directors or, if authorised to do so, the Audit Committee of the Directors, may appoint an auditor of the Company who shall hold office until removed from office by a resolution of the Directors and may fix their remuneration.

 

37.2Every auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and officers of the Company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the auditors.

 

37.3Auditors shall, if so required by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an ordinary company, and at the next extraordinary general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an exempted company, and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members.

 

38Seal

 

38.1The Company may, if the Directors so determine, have a Seal. The Seal shall only be used by the authority of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors authorised by the Directors. Every instrument to which the Seal has been affixed shall be signed by at least one person who shall be either a Director or some officer of the Company or other person appointed by the Directors for the purpose.

 

38.2The Company may have for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands a duplicate Seal or Seals each of which shall be a fax of the common Seal of the Company and, if the Directors so determine, with the addition on its face of the name of every place where it is to be used.

 

38.3A Director or officer, representative or attorney of the Company may without further authority of the Directors affix the Seal over their signature alone to any document of the Company required to be authenticated by them under seal or to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere wheresoever.

 

39Officers

 

Subject to the Articles, the Directors may from time to time appoint any person, whether or not a director of the Company, to hold the office of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, one or more Vice Presidents or such other officers as the Directors may think necessary for the administration of the Company, for such term and at such remuneration (whether by way of salary or commission or participation in profits or partly in one way and partly in another), and with such powers and duties as the Directors may think fit.

 

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40Register of Directors and Officers

 

The Company shall cause to be kept in one or more books at its office a Register of Directors and Officers in which there shall be entered the full names and addresses of the Directors and Officers and such other particulars as required by the Statute. The Company shall send to the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands a copy of such register, and shall from time to time notify the said Registrar of any change that takes place in relation to such Directors and Officers as required by the Statute.

 

41Capitalisation of Profits

 

Subject to the Statute and the Articles, the Directors may capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company's reserve accounts (including a share premium account or a capital redemption reserve fund) or any sum standing to the credit of profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution and to appropriate such sum to Members in the proportions in which such sum would have been divisible amongst them had the same been a distribution of profits by way of dividend and to apply such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued Shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid up to and amongst them in the proportion aforesaid. In such event the Directors shall do all acts and things required to give effect to such capitalisation, with full power to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit for the case of Shares becoming distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrue to the Company rather than to the Members concerned). The Directors may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all of the Members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned.

 

42Notices

 

42.1Except as otherwise provided in the Articles, any notice or document may be served by the Company or by the person entitled to give notice to any Member either personally, by facsimile, by email or by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter or via a recognised courier service, fees prepaid, addressed to the Member at their address as appearing in the Register of Members or, to the extent permitted by all applicable laws and regulations, by electronic means by transmitting it to any electronic number or address or website supplied by the Member to the Company or by placing it on the Company's Website, provided that, (i) with respect to notification via electronic means, the Company has obtained the Member's prior express positive confirmation in writing to receive or otherwise have made available to them notices in such fashion, and (i) with respect to posting to Company's Website, notification of such posting is provided to such Member. In the case of joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the Register of Members in respect of the joint holding, and notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders.

 

42.2An affidavit of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any general meeting, executed by the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or any transfer agent of the Company giving the notice, shall be prima facie evidence of the giving of such notice.

 

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42.3Any Member present, either personally or by proxy, at any meeting of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have received due notice of such meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which such meeting was convened.

 

42.4Any notice or other document, if served by (a) post, shall be deemed to have been served when the letter containing the same is posted, or (b) facsimile or email, shall be deemed to have been served upon confirmation of successful transmission, or (c) recognised courier service, shall be deemed to have been served when the letter containing the same is delivered to the courier service and in proving such service it shall be sufficient to provide that the letter containing the notice or documents was properly addressed and duly posted or delivered to the courier, or (d) electronic means as provided herein shall be deemed to have been served and delivered on the day on which it is successfully transmitted or at such later time as may be prescribed by any applicable laws or regulations.

 

42.5Any notice or document delivered or sent to any Member in accordance with the terms of the Articles shall notwithstanding that such Member be then dead or bankrupt, and whether or not the Company has notice of their death or bankruptcy, be deemed to have been duly served in respect of any Share registered in the name of such Member as sole or joint holder, unless their name shall at the time of the service of the notice or document, have been removed from the Register of Members as the holder of the Share, and such service shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service of such notice or document on all persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under them) in the Share.

 

42.6Notice of every general meeting shall be given to:

 

(a)all Members who have supplied to the Company an address for the giving of notices to them, except that in case of joint holders, the notice shall be sufficient if given to the joint holder first named in the Register of Members; and

 

(b)each Director.

 

42.7No other person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings.

 

43Information

 

43.1No Member shall be entitled to require discovery of any information in respect of any detail of the Company's trading or any information which is or may be in the nature of a trade secret or secret process which may relate to the conduct of the business of the Company and which in the opinion of the Directors would not be in the interests of the members of the Company to communicate to the public.

 

43.2The Directors shall be entitled (but not required, except as provided by law) to release or disclose any information in its possession, custody or control regarding the Company or its affairs to any of its Members including, without limitation, information contained in the Register of Members and transfer books of the Company.

 

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44Indemnity

 

44.1The Company shall indemnify every Director and officer of the Company or any predecessor to the Company (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include auditors of the Company), together with every former Director and former officer of the Company or any predecessor to the Company, and may indemnify any person (other than current and former Directors and officers) (any such Director, officer or other person, an "Indemnified Person"), out of the assets of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions in connection with the Company other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default. No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage incurred by the Company as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default of such Indemnified Person. No person shall be found to have committed actual fraud or wilful default under this Article unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect. Each Member agrees to waive any claim or right of action they might have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against any Director on account of any action taken by such Director, or the failure of such Director to take any action in the performance of their duties with or for the Company; provided that such waiver shall not extend to any matter in respect of any actual fraud or wilful default which may attach to such Director.

 

44.2The Company shall advance to each Indemnified Person reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the defence of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such Indemnified Person for which indemnity will or could be sought. In connection with any advance of any expenses hereunder, the Indemnified Person shall execute an undertaking to repay the advanced amount to the Company if it shall be determined by final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article. If it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses, then such party shall not be indemnified with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses and any advancement shall be returned to the Company (without interest) by the Indemnified Person.

 

44.3The Directors, on behalf of the Company, may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Director or other officer of the Company against any liability which, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach to such person in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such person may be guilty in relation to the Company.

 

44.4Neither any amendment nor repeal of the Articles set forth under this heading of "Indemnity" (the "Indemnification Articles"), nor the adoption of any provision of the Company's Articles or Memorandum of Association inconsistent with the Indemnification Articles, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of the Indemnification Articles, in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising or that, but for these Indemnification Articles, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.

 

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45Financial Year

 

Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on December 31 in each year and shall begin on the day following.

 

46Winding Up

 

46.1If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator shall apply the assets of the Company in satisfaction of creditors' claims in such manner and order as such liquidator thinks fit. Subject to the rights attaching to any Shares, in a winding up:

 

(a)if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the Company's issued share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them; or

 

(b)if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the Company's issued share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those Shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to the Company for unpaid calls or otherwise.

 

46.2If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, subject to the rights attaching to any Shares and with the sanction of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other sanction required by the Statute, divide amongst the Members in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether such assets shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability.

 

47Amendment of Memorandum and Articles of Association and Name of Company

 

Subject to the provisions of the Statute and the provisions of the Articles as regards the matters to be dealt with by Ordinary Resolution, the Company may by Special Resolution:

 

(a)change its name;

 

(b)alter or add to the Articles;

 

(c)alter or add to the Memorandum with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein; and

 

(d)reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve fund.

 

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48Registration by Way of Continuation

 

Subject to the Articles, the Company may by Special Resolution resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands or such other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing. In furtherance of a resolution adopted pursuant to this Article, the Directors may cause an application to be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Cayman Islands or such other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing and may cause all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company.

 

49Mergers and Consolidations

 

49.1The Company shall, with the approval of a Special Resolution, have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more constituent companies (as defined in the Statute), upon such terms as the Directors may determine.

 

49.2The Company shall not, without the prior approval of a Special Resolution, agree to:

 

(a)enter into an amalgamation, arrangement or scheme of arrangement:

 

(i)in which the Company will not be the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated; or

 

(ii)following which the holders of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares immediately prior to such event will not continue to hold more than 50% of the combined voting power of the ordinary shares of the surviving entity.

 

50Restriction on Sale of Assets

 

The Company shall not, without the prior approval of a Special Resolution, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

 

51Business Opportunities

 

51.1It is expected and understood that there will be overlap between those holding roles as a Director and/or Officer ("DO Role") of the Company, and those holding a DO Role in JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited and/or any of its Affiliates ("JS Global").

 

51.2To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law:

 

(a)no individual serving in a DO Role of the Company, who is also serving in a DO Role of JS Global ("Joint Role(s)"), shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company;

 

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(b)the Company renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for JS Global or a person having Joint Roles, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other.

 

(c)except to the extent expressly assumed by contract, a person having Joint Roles shall have no duty to communicate or offer any such corporate opportunity to the Company and shall not be liable to the Company or its Members for breach of any fiduciary duty as a Member, Director and/or Officer because such party pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, himself or herself, directs such corporate opportunity to another person, or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Company.

 

51.3Except as provided elsewhere in this Article, the Company hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for both the Company and the Joint Role holder, or the Company and JS Global, about which a person who has a Joint Role acquires knowledge.

 

51.4To the extent a court might hold that the conduct of any activity related to a corporate opportunity that is renounced in this Article to be a breach of duty to the Company or its Members, the Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any and all claims and causes of action that the Company may have for such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the provisions of this Article apply equally to activities conducted in the future and that have been conducted in the past.

 

51.5Neither:

 

(a)the alteration, amendment, termination or repeal of this Article 51; nor

 

(b)the adoption of any provision inconsistent with this Article 51,

 

shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article 51 in respect of any matter arising prior to such alteration, amendment, termination, repeal or adoption.

 

52Exclusive Jurisdiction and Forum

 

52.1Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with the Memorandum, the Articles or otherwise related in any way to each Member's shareholding in the Company, including but not limited to:

 

(a)any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company;

 

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(b)any action asserting a claim of breach of any fiduciary or other duty owed by any current or former Director, Officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Members;

 

(c)any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Statute, the Memorandum or the Articles; or

 

(d)any action asserting a claim against the Company governed by the "Internal Affairs Doctrine" (as such concept is recognised under the laws of the United States of America).

 

52.2Each Member irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands over all such claims or disputes.

 

52.3Without prejudice to any other rights or remedies that the Company may have, each Member acknowledges that damages alone would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum and that accordingly the Company shall be entitled, without proof of special damages, to the remedies of injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum.

 

52.4This Article 52 shall not apply to any action or suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are, as a matter of the laws of the United States, the sole and exclusive forum for determination of such a claim.

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

 

Our ref DRL/730743-000002/75176853v1

 

SharkNinja, Inc.
PO Box 309, Ugland House
Grand Cayman, KY1-1104
Cayman Islands

 

28 July 2023

 

SharkNinja, Inc.

 

We have acted as counsel as to Cayman Islands law to SharkNinja, Inc. (the "Company") to provide this opinion letter in connection with the Company's registration statement on Form S-8, including all amendments or supplements thereto, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the United States Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the "Act") (including its exhibits, the "Registration Statement") related to the registration of 15,288,115 ordinary shares of the Company of a par value of US$0.0001 each (the "Shares") authorised for issuance pursuant to: (i) the Company's 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Equity Incentive Plan"); and (ii) the Company's 2023 Employee Share Purchase Plan (the "Employee Share Purchase Plan" and together with the Equity Incentive Plan, the "Plans").

 

1Documents Reviewed

 

We have reviewed originals, copies, drafts or conformed copies of the following documents, and such other documents as we deem necessary:

 

1.1The certificate of incorporation dated 17 May 2023 and the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company as registered or adopted 28 July 2023 (the "Memorandum and Articles").

 

1.2The written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 28 June 2023 and 28 July 2023 (together, the "Resolutions"), and the corporate records of the Company maintained at its registered office in the Cayman Islands.

 

1.3A certificate of good standing with respect to the Company issued by the Registrar of Companies (the "Certificate of Good Standing").

 

1.4A certificate from a director of the Company a copy of which is attached to this opinion letter (the "Director's Certificate").

 

1.5The Registration Statement.

 

1.6The Plans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2Assumptions

 

The following opinions are given only as to, and based on, circumstances and matters of fact existing and known to us on the date of this opinion letter. These opinions only relate to the laws of the Cayman Islands which are in force on the date of this opinion letter. In giving the following opinions, we have relied (without further verification) upon the completeness and accuracy, as at the date of this opinion letter, of the Director's Certificate and the Certificate of Good Standing. We have also relied upon the following assumptions, which we have not independently verified:

 

2.1The Plans have been or will be authorised and duly executed and unconditionally delivered by or on behalf of all relevant parties in accordance with all relevant laws (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws of the Cayman Islands).

 

2.2The Plans are, or will be, legal, valid, binding and enforceable against all relevant parties in accordance with its terms under the laws of the Cayman Islands and all relevant laws (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws of the Cayman Islands).

 

2.3The choice of Delaware law as the governing law of the Plans has been made in good faith and would be regarded as a valid and binding selection which will be upheld by the courts any relevant jurisdiction (other than the Cayman Islands) as a matter of all relevant laws (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands).

 

2.4Copies of documents, conformed copies or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of, the originals.

 

2.5All signatures, initials and seals are genuine.

 

2.6The capacity, power, authority and legal right of all parties under all relevant laws and regulations (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws and regulations of the Cayman Islands) to enter into, execute, unconditionally deliver and perform their respective obligations under the Plans.

 

2.7There is nothing under any law (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands) which would or might affect the opinions set out below.

 

2.8The Company will receive money or money's worth in consideration for the issue of the Shares and none of the Shares will be issued for less than their par value.

 

Save as aforesaid we have not been instructed to undertake and have not undertaken any further enquiry or due diligence in relation to the transaction the subject of this opinion.

 

3Opinions

 

Based upon, and subject to, the foregoing assumptions and the qualifications set out below, and having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

 

3.1The Company has been duly incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability and is validly existing and in good standing with the Registrar of Companies under the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

3.2The Shares to be offered and issued by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plans, have been duly authorised for issue, and when issued by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plans for the consideration fixed thereto and duly registered in the Company's register of members (shareholders), will be validly issued and (assuming that all of the consideration is received by the Company) will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

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4Qualifications

 

The opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications:

 

4.1The obligations assumed by the Company under the Plans will not necessarily be enforceable in all circumstances in accordance with their terms. In particular:

 

(a)enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, readjustment of debts or moratorium or other laws of general application relating to protecting or affecting the rights of creditors and/or contributories;

 

(b)enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity. For example, equitable remedies such as specific performance may not be available, inter alia, where damages are considered to be an adequate remedy;

 

(c)where obligations are to be performed in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands, they may not be enforceable in the Cayman Islands to the extent that performance would be illegal under the laws of that jurisdiction; and

 

(d)some claims may become barred under relevant statutes of limitation or may be or become subject to defences of set off, counterclaim, estoppel and similar defences.

 

4.2To maintain the Company in good standing with the Registrar of Companies under the laws of the Cayman Islands, annual filing fees must be paid and returns made to the Registrar of Companies within the time frame prescribed by law.

 

4.3Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members (shareholders) is prima facie evidence of title to shares and this register would not record a third party interest in such shares. However, there are certain limited circumstances where an application may be made to a Cayman Islands court for a determination on whether the register of members reflects the correct legal position. Further, the Cayman Islands court has the power to order that the register of members maintained by a company should be rectified where it considers that the register of members does not reflect the correct legal position. As far as we are aware, such applications are rarely made in the Cayman Islands and for the purposes of the opinion given in paragraph 3.2, there are no circumstances or matters of fact known to us on the date of this opinion letter which would properly form the basis for an application for an order for rectification of the register of members of the Company, but if such an application were made in respect of the Ordinary Shares, then the validity of such shares may be subject to re-examination by a Cayman Islands court.

 

4.4In this opinion letter the phrase "non-assessable" means, with respect to the issuance of shares, that a shareholder shall not, in respect of the relevant shares and in the absence of a contractual arrangement, or an obligation pursuant to the memorandum and articles of association, to the contrary, have any obligation to make further contributions to the Company's assets (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).

 

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We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In providing our consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

We express no view as to the commercial terms of the Plans or whether such terms represent the intentions of the parties and make no comment with regard to warranties or representations that may be made by the Company.

 

The opinions in this opinion letter are strictly limited to the matters contained in the opinions section above and do not extend to any other matters. We have not been asked to review and we therefore have not reviewed any of the ancillary documents relating to the Plans and express no opinion or observation upon the terms of any such document.

 

This opinion letter is addressed to you and may be relied upon by you, your counsel and purchasers of the Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement. This opinion letter is limited to the matters detailed herein and is not to be read as an opinion with respect to any other matter.

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

 

Maples and Calder (Cayman) LLP

 

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SharkNinja, Inc.

PO Box 309, Ugland House

Grand Cayman

KY1-1104

Cayman Islands

 

To: Maples and Calder (Cayman) LLP

PO Box 309, Ugland House

Grand Cayman

KY1-1104

Cayman Islands

 

28 July 2023

 

SharkNinja, Inc. (the "Company")

 

I, the undersigned, being a director of the Company, am aware that you are being asked to provide an opinion letter (the "Opinion") in relation to certain aspects of Cayman Islands law. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalised terms used in this certificate have the respective meanings given to them in the Opinion. I hereby certify that:

 

1The Memorandum and Articles remain in full force and effect and are unamended.

 

2The Company has not entered into any mortgages or charges over its property or assets other than those entered in the register of mortgages and charges of the Company.

 

3The Resolutions were duly passed in the manner prescribed in the Memorandum and Articles (including, without limitation, with respect to the disclosure of interests (if any) by directors of the Company) and have not been amended, varied or revoked in any respect.

 

4The authorised share capital of the Company is US$110,000 divided into 1,000,000,000 ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each and 100,000,000 preferred shares of a par value of US$0.0001. The issued share capital of the Company is 1 ordinary share, which has been duly authorised and is validly issued as fully-paid and non-assessable.

 

5The shareholders of the Company (the "Shareholders") have not restricted the powers of the directors of the Company in any way.

 

6The directors of the Company at the date of the Resolutions were Xuning Wang and Mark Barrocas. The directors of the Company at the date of this certificate are as follows: Xuning Wang, Mark Barrocas, Peter Feld, Wendy Hayes, Chi Kin Max Hui, Dennis Paul and Timothy R. Warner.

 

7The minute book and corporate records of the Company as maintained at its registered office in the Cayman Islands and made available to you are complete and accurate in all material respects, and all minutes and resolutions filed therein represent a complete and accurate record of all meetings of the Shareholders and directors (or any committee thereof) of the Company (duly convened in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles) and all resolutions passed at the meetings or passed by written resolution or consent, as the case may be.

 

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8Prior to, at the time of, and immediately following the approval of the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Company was, or will be, able to pay its debts as they fell, or fall, due and has entered, or will enter, into the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement for proper value and not with an intention to defraud or wilfully defeat an obligation owed to any creditor or with a view to giving a creditor a preference.

 

9Each director of the Company considers the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement to be of commercial benefit to the Company and has acted in good faith in the best interests of the Company, and for a proper purpose of the Company, in relation to the transactions which are the subject of the Opinion.

 

10To the best of my knowledge and belief, having made due inquiry, the Company is not the subject of legal, arbitral, administrative or other proceedings in any jurisdiction and neither the directors nor Shareholders have taken any steps to have the Company struck off or placed in liquidation. Further, no steps have been taken to wind up the Company or to appoint restructuring officers or interim restructuring officers, and no receiver has been appointed in relation to any of the Company's property or assets.

 

11To the best of my knowledge and belief, having made due inquiry, there are no circumstances or matters of fact existing which may properly form the basis for an application for an order for rectification of the register of members of the Company.

 

12The Registration Statement has been, or will be, authorised and duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of all relevant parties in accordance with all relevant laws.

 

13No invitation has been made or will be made by or on behalf of the Company to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for any of the Shares.

 

14The Shares to be listed pursuant to the Registration Statement have been, or will be, duly registered, and will continue to be registered, in the Company's register of members (shareholders).

 

15The Company has received or will receive money or money's worth in consideration for the issue of the Shares and none of the Shares will be issued for less than par value.

 

16There is no contractual or other prohibition or restriction (other than as arising under Cayman Islands law) binding on the Company prohibiting or restricting it from entering into and performing its obligations under the Documents.

 

(Signature Page follows)

 

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I confirm that you may continue to rely on this certificate as being true and correct on the day that you issue the Opinion unless I shall have previously notified you personally to the contrary.

 

Signature: /s/ Mark Barrocas  
     
Name: Mark Barrocas   
     
Title: Director  

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

SHARKNINJA, INC.

 

2023 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1. General.

 

1.1. Purpose. The purpose of this Plan is to provide incentives to attract, retain and motivate eligible persons whose present and potential contributions are important to the success of the Company and any Affiliates that exist now or in the future, by offering eligible persons an opportunity to participate in the Company’s future performance through the grant of Awards.

 

1.2. Available Awards. The Plan provides for the grant of the following Awards: (a) Incentive Share Options, (b) Nonstatutory Share Options, (c) Share Appreciation Rights, (d) Restricted Share Awards, (e) Restricted Share Unit Awards, (f) Performance Awards, and (g) Other Awards.

 

2. Shares Subject to the Plan.

 

2.1. Number of Shares Available. Subject to any Capitalization Adjustment (as defined in Section 2.3 below) and any other applicable provisions in the Plan, the total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to this Plan will not exceed 13,898,287 Shares (the “Share Reserve”); provided that such share reserve will, unless otherwise determined by the Board, automatically increase on January 1 of each year for nine years commencing on January 1, 2025 and ending on (and including) January 1, 2033 in an amount equal to zero point six percent (0.6)% of the total number of ordinary shares outstanding on December 31 of the preceding year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may act prior to the first day of a given calendar year to provide that there will be no increase in the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan for such year or that the increase in the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan for such year will be a lesser number of Shares than would otherwise occur pursuant to the preceding sentence. Subject to the provisions relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs is 13,898,287 Shares (the “ISO Limit”).

 

2.2. Share Recycling. Following the Adoption Date, any shares subject to an outstanding Award or any portion thereof granted under the Plan will be returned to the Share Reserve and will be available for issuance in connection with subsequent Awards under this Plan to the extent such Shares: (a) are cancelled, forfeited, or settled in cash; (b) are surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program; (c) expire by their terms at any time; or (d) are reacquired by the Company pursuant to a forfeiture provision or repurchase right by the Company (“Returning Shares”). Accordingly, the Share Reserve is a limitation on the number of Shares that may be issued or purchased on the open market pursuant to the Plan and does not limit the granting of Awards, since Returning Shares can be granted subject to Awards more than once. Shares subject to Substitute Awards (as defined in Section 13.2) will not be deducted from the Share Reserve; provided that Shares subject to any Substitute Award may not be returned to the Share Reserve as Returning Shares.

 

2.3. Adjustment of Shares. After the Adoption Date, if the number of outstanding Shares is changed or the value of the Shares is otherwise affected by a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or extraordinary distribution (whether in cash, shares or other property, other than a regular cash dividend) recapitalization, share split, reverse share split, subdivision, combination, consolidation, reclassification, spin-off or similar change in the capital structure of the Company or any similar equity restructuring transaction, as that term is used in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor thereto), without consideration (a “Capitalization Adjustment”), then (a) the maximum number and class of Shares or type of security reserved for issuance and future grant from the Share Reserve set forth in Section 2.1, including Returning Shares, (b) the Exercise Price, the Purchase Price, and number and class of Shares or type of security subject to outstanding Awards, and (c) the ISO Limit set forth in Section 2.1 will be proportionately adjusted by the Board, and, if required by applicable laws, by the shareholders of the Company and in compliance with Applicable Laws; provided that fractions of a Share will not be issued.

 

2.4. Source of Shares; Use of Proceeds. The Shares issuable under the Plan will be authorized but unissued or forfeited shares, treasury shares or shares reacquired by the Company in any manner. At all times the Company will reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Shares as are reasonably required to satisfy the requirements of all Awards granted and outstanding under this Plan. Proceeds from the sale of Shares pursuant to Awards will constitute general funds of the Company.

 

 

 

3. Eligibility.

 

Awards may be granted to Employees, Consultants and Directors; provided that ISOs may be granted only to Employees.

 

4. Options and Share Appreciation Rights.

 

Each Option or SAR will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate. Each SAR will be denominated in Share equivalents. The provisions of separate Options or SARs need not be identical; provided, however, that each Award Agreement will conform (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise) to the substance of each of the following provisions.

 

4.1. Type of Option Grant. All Options will be separately designated as ISOs or NSOs at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for Shares purchased on exercise of each type of Option. If an Option is not specifically designated as an ISO, or if an Option is designated as an ISO but some portion or all of the Option fails to qualify as an ISO under Applicable Law, then the Option (or portion thereof) will be an NSO.

 

4.2. Exercise Period; Term. Options and SARs may be exercisable within the times or upon the events determined by the Committee and as set forth in the Award Agreement governing such Award. No Option or SAR will be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option or SAR is granted, or such shorter period specified in the Award Agreement. In addition, in the case of an ISO granted to a person who, at the time the ISO is granted, directly or by attribution owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary (“Ten Percent Shareholder”), such Option may not be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date the ISO is granted. The Committee also may provide for Options or SARs to become exercisable at one time or from time to time, periodically or otherwise, in such number of Shares or percentage of Shares as the Committee determines.

 

4.3. Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an Option or SAR will be determined by the Committee when the Award is granted; provided that: (a) the Exercise Price of an Option or SAR will be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant and (b) the Exercise Price of any ISO granted to a Ten Percent Shareholder will not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option or SAR may be granted with an Exercise Price lower than 100% of the Fair Market Value in connection with an assumption of or substitution for another award as provided in Section 13.2 of the Plan.

 

4.4. Method of Exercise. An Option or SAR will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (a) notice of exercise (in such form as the Plan Administrator may specify from time to time, including via electronic execution through an authorized third-party administrator) from the person entitled to exercise the Option or SAR; (b) in the case of an Option, full payment of the applicable Exercise Price in accordance with Section 9 of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, and (c) payment of applicable Tax-Related Items, as determined by the Plan Administrator. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except in connection with a Capitalization Adjustment. Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

 

4.5. Settlement of a SAR. Upon exercise of a SAR, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying (a) the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price, by (b) the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. At the discretion of the Committee, the payment from the Company for the SAR exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.

 

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4.6. Post-Termination Exercise Period. Unless explicitly provided otherwise in a Participant’s Award Agreement, if a Participant’s Continuous Service Status is terminated, the Participant (or his or her legal representative, in the case of death) may exercise his or her Option or SAR (to the extent such Award was exercisable on the termination date) within the following period of time following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service Status:

 

(a) three (3) months following a termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service Status by the Company without Cause or by the Participant for any reason (other than due to death or Disability);

(b) six (6) months following a termination due to the Participant’s Disability;

(c) twelve (12) months following a termination due to the Participant’s death; and

(d) twelve (12) months following the Participant’s death, if such death occurs following the date of such termination but during the period such Award is otherwise exercisable (as provided in clauses (a) or (b) above).

 

Following the termination date, to the extent the Participant does not exercise such Award within the applicable post-termination exercise period (or, if earlier, prior to the expiration of the maximum term of such Award), such unexercised portion of the Award will terminate, and the Participant will have no further right, title or interest in the terminated Award.

 

4.7. Termination for Cause. If a Participant’s Continuous Service Status is terminated for Cause, the Participant’s Options or SARs will terminate and be forfeited immediately upon such Participant’s termination of Continuous Service Status, and the Participant will be prohibited from exercising any portion (including any vested portion) of such Awards on and after the date of such termination of Continuous Service Status. If a Participant’s Continuous Service Status is suspended pending an investigation of whether the Participant’s Continuous Service Status will be terminated for Cause, all of the Participant’s rights under any Option or SAR, including the right to exercise such Awards, shall be suspended during the investigation period.

 

4.8. Automatic Extension of Termination Date. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if a Participant’s Continuous Service Status terminates for any reason other than for Cause and, at any time during the last thirty (30) days of the applicable post-termination exercise period: (i) the exercise of the Participant’s Option or SAR would be prohibited solely because the issuance of Shares upon such exercise would violate Applicable Law, or (ii) the immediate sale of any Shares issued upon such exercise would violate the Trading Policy, then the applicable post-termination exercise period will be extended to the last day of the calendar month that commences following the date the Award would otherwise expire, with an additional extension of the exercise period to the last day of the next calendar month to apply if any of the foregoing restrictions apply at any time during such extended exercise period, generally without limitation as to the maximum permitted number of extensions); provided, however, that in no event may such Award be exercised after the expiration of its maximum term.

 

4.9. Non-Exempt Employees. If an Option or SAR is granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, the Option or SAR will not be first exercisable for any Shares until at least six months following the date of grant of the Option or SAR (although the Award may vest prior to such date). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in accordance with the provisions of the U.S. Worker Economic Opportunity Act, any vested portion of such Award may be exercised earlier than six months following the date of grant of such Award in the event of (i) such Participant’s death or Disability, (ii) a Corporate Transaction in which such Award is not assumed, continued or substituted, or (iii) such Participant’s retirement (as such term may be defined in the Award Agreement or another applicable agreement or, in the absence of any such definition, in accordance with the Company’s then current employment policies and guidelines). The foregoing provision is intended to operate so that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise or vesting of an Option or SAR will be exempt from his or her regular rate of pay.

 

4.10. Limitations on Exercise. Options and SARs may be exercised only with respect to whole Shares. The Plan Administrator may also specify a reasonable minimum number of Shares that may be purchased on any exercise of an Option or SAR, provided that such minimum number will not prevent Participant from exercising the Option or SAR for the full number of Shares for which it is then exercisable. The Committee may, or may authorize the Plan Administrator to, prohibit the exercise of any Option or SAR during a period of up to thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of any pending Capitalization Adjustment or Corporate Transaction, or any other change affecting the Shares or the Fair Market Value, for reasons of administrative convenience.

 

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4.11. Limitations on ISOs. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of grant) of Shares with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under this Plan or under any other incentive share option plan of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company) will not exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). If the Fair Market Value of Shares on the date of grant with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), then the Options for the first One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) worth of Shares to become exercisable in such calendar year will be ISOs and the Options for the amount in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) that become exercisable in that calendar year will be NSOs.

 

4.12. Modification, Extension or Renewal. The Committee may modify, extend or renew outstanding Options or SARs, and authorize the grant of new Options or SARs in substitution therefor, including in connection with an Exchange Program. Any such action may not, without the written consent of a Participant, impair any of such Participant’s rights under any Award previously granted, except that the Committee may reduce the Exercise Price of an outstanding Option or SAR without the consent of a Participant by a written notice (notwithstanding any adverse tax consequences to the Participant arising from the repricing); provided, however, that the Exercise Price may not be reduced below the Fair Market Value on the date the action is taken to reduce the Exercise Price. Any outstanding ISO that is modified, extended, renewed or otherwise altered will be treated in accordance with Section 424(h) of the Code.

 

5. Restricted Share Awards.

 

A Restricted Share Award is an offer by the Company to sell or issue (with no payment required) Shares to a Participant that are subject to certain specified restrictions (“Restricted Shares”). Each Restricted Share Award will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Committee will deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of Restricted Share Awards may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Award Agreements need not be identical, but each Award Agreement will conform to (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions.

 

5.1. Acceptance Procedures. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, a Restricted Share Award will be accepted by the Participant’s execution and delivery of the Award Agreement and full payment of the Purchase Price for the Shares to the Company (if applicable) within thirty (30) days from the date the Award Agreement is delivered to the Participant. If the Participant does not execute and deliver the Award Agreement along with full payment for the Shares (if applicable) to the Company within such thirty (30) days, then the offer will terminate, unless otherwise determined by the Committee.

 

5.2. Purchase Price. The Purchase Price for Shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Share Award, if any, will be determined by the Committee on the date the Restricted Share Award is granted and, if permitted by Applicable Law, no cash consideration will be required in connection with the payment for the Purchase Price where the Committee provides that payment shall be in the form of services previously rendered. Payment of the Purchase Price shall be made in accordance with Section 9 of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

5.3. Dividends and Other Distributions. Participants holding Restricted Share Awards will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares, unless the Committee provides otherwise at the time the Award is granted. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Restricted Share Awards with respect to which they were paid.

 

6. Restricted Share Unit Awards.

 

6.1. General. An RSU Award is an Award covering a number of Shares that may be settled in cash, or by issuance of those Shares or purchase the Shares on the open market at a date in the future. Each RSU Award will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Committee will deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of RSU Awards may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Award Agreements need not be identical, but each RSU Award will conform to (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Award Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions.

 

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6.2. Purchase Price. The Committee may determine the form(s) in which payment of the amount owing upon settlement of any Award may be made, provided that, such payment shall be made in accordance with Section 9 of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

6.3. Form and Timing of Settlement. Payment of vested RSUs shall be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may settle vested RSUs in cash, Shares, or a combination of both.

 

6.4. Dividend Equivalent Rights. The Committee may permit Participants holding RSUs to receive Dividend Equivalent Rights on outstanding RSUs if and when dividends are paid to shareholders on Shares. In the discretion of the Committee, such Dividend Equivalent Rights may be paid in cash or Shares, and may either be paid at the same time as dividend payments are made to shareholders or delayed until Shares are issued or purchased on the open market pursuant to the underlying RSUs, and may be subject to the same vesting or performance requirements as the RSUs. If the Committee permits Dividend Equivalent Rights to be made on RSUs, the terms and conditions for such Dividend Equivalent Rights will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

7. Performance Awards.

 

7.1. Types of Performance Awards. A Performance Award is an Award that may be granted, may vest or may become eligible to vest contingent upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals. Performance Awards may be granted as Options, SARs, Restricted Shares, RSUs or Other Awards, including cash-based Awards.

 

7.2. Terms of Performance Awards. Performance Awards will be based on the attainment of Performance Goals that are established by the Committee for the relevant Performance Period. Prior to the grant of any Performance Award, the Committee will determine and each Award Agreement shall set forth the terms of each Performance Award, including, without limitation: (a) the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period; (b) the Performance Criteria and Performance Goals that shall be used to determine the time and extent to which a Performance Award has been earned; (c) amount of any cash bonus, or the number of Shares deemed subject to a Performance Award, and (d) the effect of a termination of Participant’s Continuous Service Status on a Performance Award. Participants may participate simultaneously with respect to Performance Awards that are subject to different Performance Periods and Performance Goals. A Performance Award may but need not require the Participant’s completion of a specified period of service.

 

7.3. Determination of Achievement. The Committee shall determine the extent to which a Performance Award has been earned in its sole discretion, including the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained. The Committee may reduce or waive any criteria with respect to a Performance Goal, or adjust a Performance Goal (or method of calculating the attainment of a Performance Goal) to take into account unanticipated events, including changes in law and accounting or tax rules, as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate, or to reflect the impact of extraordinary or unusual items, events or circumstances to avoid windfalls or hardships. The Committee may also adjust or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment of Performance Goals in its sole discretion, subject to any limitations contained in the Award Agreement and compliance with Applicable Law.

 

8. Other Awards.

 

Other forms of Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Shares, including the appreciation in value thereof (e.g., options or share rights with an exercise price or strike price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares at the time of grant) may be granted either alone or in addition to Other Awards provided for in the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and Applicable Law, the Committee may determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other Awards will be granted, the number of Shares (or the cash equivalent thereof) to be granted pursuant to such Other Awards and all other terms and conditions of such Other Awards.

 

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9. Payment for Purchases and Exercises.

 

Payment from a Participant for Shares acquired pursuant to this Plan may be made in cash or cash equivalents or, where approved for the Participant by the Committee and where permitted by Applicable Law (and to the extent not otherwise set forth in the applicable Award Agreement):

 

(a)by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company owed to the Participant;
(b)by surrender of Shares held by the Participant that are clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests and that have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares as to which said Award will be exercised or settled;
(c)by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Participant for services rendered or to be rendered to the Company or an Affiliate;
(d)by consideration received by the Company pursuant to a broker-assisted or other form of cashless exercise program implemented by the Plan Administrator in connection with the Plan;
(e)by any combination of the foregoing; or
(f)by any other method of payment as is permitted by Applicable Law.

 

The Committee or the Plan Administrator may limit the availability of any method of payment, to the extent the Committee or the Plan Administrator determines, in its discretion, that such limitation is necessary or advisable to comply with Applicable Law or facilitate the administration of the Plan. Payment of any Exercise Price or Purchase Price shall be made in accordance with any procedures established by the Plan Administrator.

 

10. Taxes.

 

10.1. Responsibility for Taxes. Regardless of any action taken by the Company or any Affiliate, the ultimate liability for all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefits tax, payment on account, employment tax, stamp tax or other tax-related items related to the Participant’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to the Participant, including any employer liability for which the Participant is liable (the “Tax-Related Items”) is the Participant’s responsibility and may exceed the amount, if any, withheld by the Company or an Affiliate. If the Participant is subject to Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction, the Company or an Affiliate may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.

 

10.2. Withholding Methods. Unless otherwise provided in the Participant’s Award Agreement, the Committee, or its delegate(s), as permitted by Applicable Law, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time and subject to limitations of Applicable Law, may require or permit a Participant to satisfy any applicable withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items, in whole or in part by (without limitation) (a) requiring the Participant to make a cash payment, (b) withholding from the Participant’s wages or other cash compensation paid to the Participant by the Company or any Affiliate; (c) withholding from the Shares otherwise issuable pursuant to an Award; (d) permitting the Participant to deliver to the Company already-owned Shares or (e) withholding from the proceeds of the sale of otherwise deliverable Shares acquired pursuant to an Award either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company. By adoption of the Plan, the Committee delegates to the Plan Administrator the authority to adopt policies and procedures, in consultation with the Company’s tax accountants and legal advisors, to determine the Fair Market Value of the Shares solely for purposes of withholding and reporting Tax-Related Items related to Awards granted under the Plan.

 

10.3. Withholding Tax Rates. The Company or an Affiliate may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable minimum statutory withholding amounts or other applicable withholding rates, including up to the maximum applicable rate in the Participant’s jurisdiction. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding a number of Shares, for tax purposes, a Participant is deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares is held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items. In the event the Company withholds less than it is obligated to withhold in connection with an Award, the Participant will indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any liability for Tax-Related Items.

 

11. Restrictions on Awards and Shares.

 

11.1. Transferability of Awards. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or an applicable Award Agreement, or otherwise determined by the Committee or the Plan Administrator, Awards granted under the Plan will not be transferable or assignable by the Participant, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Any Options, SARs, RSUs or Other Awards that are exercisable may only be exercised: (a) during the Participant’s lifetime only by (i) the Participant, or (ii) the Participant’s guardian or legal representative; (b) after the Participant’s death, by the legal representative of the Participant’s heirs or legatees. The Committee or the Plan Administrator may permit transfer of Awards in a manner that is not prohibited by Applicable Law.

 

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11.2. Shareholder Rights. No Participant will have any of the rights of a shareholder with respect to any Shares until the Shares are issued or transferred to the Participant, except for any Dividend Equivalent Rights permitted by an applicable Award Agreement. After Shares are issued or transferred to the Participant, the Participant will be a shareholder and have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote and receive all dividends or other distributions made or paid with respect to such Shares, subject to any repurchase or forfeiture provisions in any Restricted Share Award, the terms of the Trading Policy, and Applicable Law.

 

11.3. Escrow; Pledge of Shares. To enforce any restrictions on a Participant’s Shares, the Committee may require the Participant to deposit all written or electronic certificate(s) representing Shares, together with share powers or other instruments of transfer approved by the Plan Administrator, with the Company or an agent designated by the Company to hold in escrow until such restrictions have lapsed or terminated, and the Plan Administrator may cause a legend or legends referencing such restrictions to be placed on the certificate(s). Any Participant who is permitted to execute a promissory note as partial or full consideration for the purchase of Shares under this Plan may be required to pledge and deposit with the Company all or part of the Shares so purchased as collateral to secure the payment of Participant’s obligation to the Company under the promissory note.

 

11.4. Exchange and Buyout of Awards. Without prior shareholder approval, the Committee may conduct an Exchange Program, subject to consent of an affected Participant and compliance with Applicable Law.

 

11.5. Securities Law and Other Regulatory Compliance. An Award will not be effective unless such Award is in compliance with Applicable Law, including all applicable U.S. and foreign federal and state securities and exchange control laws, rules and regulations of any governmental body, and the requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, as they are in effect on the date of grant of the Award and also on the date of exercise or other issuance. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, the Company will have no obligation to issue or deliver written or electronic certificates for Shares under this Plan prior to: (a) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and/or (b) completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable. The Company will be under no obligation to register the Shares or to effect compliance with the registration, qualification or listing requirements of any foreign, national or state securities laws, exchange control laws, stock exchange or automated quotation system, and the Company will have no liability for any inability or failure to do so.

 

11.6. Clawback/Recovery Policy. All Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to clawback or recoupment under any clawback or recoupment policy adopted by the Board or the Committee or required by Applicable Law during the term of Participant’s employment or other service with the Company that is applicable to Officers, Employees, Directors or other service providers of the Company. In addition, the Committee may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions in an Award Agreement as the Committee determines necessary or appropriate. No recovery of compensation under such a clawback or recoupment policy will be an event giving rise to a right to voluntarily terminate employment upon a “resignation for good reason,” or for a “constructive termination” or any similar term under any plan or agreement with the Company.

 

12. General Provisions Applicable to Awards.

 

12.1. Vesting. The total number of Shares subject to an Award may vest in periodic installments that may or may not be equal. The Committee may impose such restrictions on or conditions to the vesting and/or exercisability of an Award as determined by the Committee, and which may vary.

 

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12.2. Termination of Continuous Service Status. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or as determined by the Committee, if a Participant’s Continuous Service Status terminates for any reason, vesting of an Award will cease and such portion of an Award that has not vested will be forfeited, and the Participant will have no further right, title or interest in any then-unvested portion of the Award. In addition, the Company may receive through a forfeiture condition or a repurchase right any or all of the Shares held by the Participant under a Restricted Share Award that have not vested as of the date of such termination, subject to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

 

12.3. No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in this Plan or any Award granted under this Plan will confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ of, or to continue any other relationship with, the Company or an Affiliate or limit in any way the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate Participant’s employment or other relationship at any time. Furthermore, to the extent the Company is not the employer of a Participant, the grant of an Award will not establish or amend an employment or other service relationship between the Company and the Participant. Nothing in the Plan or any Award will constitute any promise or commitment by the Company or an Affiliate regarding future work assignments, future compensation or any other term or condition of employment or service.

 

12.4. Effect on Other Employee Benefit Plans. The value of and income from any Award granted under the Plan, as determined upon grant, vesting or settlement, shall not be included as compensation, earnings, salaries, or other similar terms used when calculating any Participant’s benefits under any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any Affiliate, except as such plan otherwise expressly provides. The Company expressly reserves its rights to amend, modify, or terminate any of the Company’s or any Affiliate’s employee benefit plans.

 

12.5. Leaves of Absence. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Committee or the Plan Administrator, in that party’s sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service Status will be considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence. Continuous Service Status as an Employee for purposes of ISOs shall not be considered interrupted or terminated in the case of: (a) Company approved sick leave; (b) military leave; (c) any other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or unless provided otherwise pursuant to a written Company policy. In the case of an approved leave of absence, the Plan Administrator may make such provisions respecting suspension of vesting and crediting of service (including pursuant to a formal policy adopted from time to time by the Company) as it may deem appropriate, except that in no event may an Option or SAR be exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

12.6. Change in Time Commitment. In the event a Participant’s regular level of time commitment in the performance of his or her services for the Company or any Affiliates is reduced (for example, and without limitation, if the Participant is an Employee of the Company and the Employee has a change in status from full-time to part-time or takes an extended leave of absence) after the date of grant of any Award, the Committee or the Plan Administrator, in that party’s sole discretion, may (x) make a corresponding reduction in the number of Shares or cash amount subject to any portion of such Award that is scheduled to vest or become payable after the date of such change in time commitment, and (y) in lieu of or in combination with such a reduction, extend the vesting schedule applicable to such Award (in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, as applicable). In the event of any such reduction, the Participant will have no right with respect to any portion of the Award that is so amended.

 

12.7. Electronic Delivery. Any reference herein to a “written” agreement or document will include any agreement or document delivered electronically, filed publicly at www.sec.gov (or any successor website thereto) or posted on the Company’s intranet (or other shared electronic medium controlled by the Company to which the Participant has access).

 

12.8. Deferrals. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine that the delivery of Shares or the payment of cash, upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of all or a portion of any Award may be deferred and may establish programs and procedures for deferral elections to be made by Participants. Deferrals by Participants will be made in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, if applicable, and any other Applicable Law.

 

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12.9. Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement, the Plan and Award Agreements will be interpreted to the greatest extent possible in a manner that makes the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder exempt from Section 409A of the Code, and, to the extent not so exempt, in compliance with Section 409A of the Code. If the Committee determines that any Award granted hereunder is not exempt from and is therefore subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award will incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences specified in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code, and to the extent an Award Agreement is silent on terms necessary for compliance, such terms are hereby incorporated by reference into the Award Agreement. To the extent that any amount constituting deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code would become payable under this Plan by reason of a Corporate Transaction, such amount shall become payable only if the event constituting a Corporate Transaction would also qualify as a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Code Section 409A. If a Participant holding an Award that constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code is a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, no distribution or payment of any amount that is payable because of a separation from service (as defined in Section 409A of the Code without regard to alternative definitions thereunder) will be issued or paid before the date that is six months following the date of such Participant’s separation from service or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death, unless such distribution or payment can be made in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, and any amounts so deferred will be paid in a lump sum on the day after such six month period elapses, with the balance paid thereafter on the original schedule. In no event will any Participant have a right to payment or reimbursement or otherwise from the Company or its Affiliates, or their successors or assigns, for any taxes imposed or other costs incurred as a result of Section 409A of the Code.

 

12.10. Execution of Additional Documents. The Company may require a Participant to execute any additional documents or instruments necessary or desirable, as determined by the Plan Administrator, to carry out the purposes or intent of the Award, or facilitate compliance with securities, tax and/or other regulatory requirements, at the Plan Administrator’s request.

 

13. Other Corporate Events.

 

13.1. Corporate Transaction. In the event that the Company is subject to a Corporate Transaction, outstanding Awards acquired under the Plan shall be subject to the agreement evidencing the Corporate Transaction, which need not treat all outstanding Awards in an identical manner. Such agreement, without the Participant’s consent, shall provide for one or more of the following with respect to all outstanding Awards as of the effective date of such Corporate Transaction:

 

(a)The continuation of an outstanding Award by the Company (if the Company is the successor entity).
(b)The assumption of an outstanding Award by the successor or acquiring entity (if any) of such Corporate Transaction (or by its parents, if any), which assumption, will be binding on all selected Participants; provided that the Exercise Price and the number and nature of shares issuable upon exercise of any Option or SAR, or any award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code and/or Section 409A of the Code, as applicable.
(c)The substitution by the successor or acquiring entity in such Corporate Transaction (or by its parents, if any) of equivalent awards with substantially the same terms for such outstanding Awards (except that the Exercise Price and the number and nature of shares issuable upon exercise of any Option or SAR, or any award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code and/or Section 409A of the Code, as applicable).
(d)The full or partial acceleration of exercisability or vesting and accelerated expiration of an outstanding Award and lapse of the Company’s right to repurchase or re-acquire shares acquired under an Award or lapse of forfeiture rights with respect to shares acquired under an Award.
(e)The settlement of such outstanding Award (whether or not then vested or exercisable) in cash, cash equivalents, or securities of the successor entity (or its parent, if any) with a Fair Market Value equal to the required amount provided in the definitive agreement evidencing the Corporate Transaction, followed by the cancellation of such Awards; provided however, that such Award may be cancelled without consideration if such Award has no value, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, such payment may be made in installments and may be deferred until the date or dates the Award would have become exercisable or vested. Such payment may be subject to vesting based on the Participant’s Continuous Service Status, provided that the vesting schedule shall not be less favorable to the Participant than the schedule under which the Award would have become vested or exercisable. For purposes of this paragraph, the Fair Market Value of any security shall be determined without regard to any vesting conditions that may apply to such security.

 

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(f)The cancellation of outstanding Awards in exchange for no consideration.

 

The Board shall have full power and authority to assign the Company’s right to repurchase or re-acquire or forfeiture rights to such successor or acquiring corporation. In addition, in the event such successor or acquiring corporation (if any) refuses to assume, convert, replace or substitute Awards, as provided above, pursuant to a Corporate Transaction, the Committee will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that such Award will be exercisable (to the extent vested and exercisable pursuant to its terms) for a period of time determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and such Award will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

 

13.2. Assumption of Awards by the Company. The Company, from time to time, may substitute or assume outstanding awards granted by another company, whether in connection with an acquisition of such other company or otherwise, by either (a) granting an Award under this Plan in substitution of such other company’s award; or (b) assuming such award as if it had been granted under this Plan if the terms of such assumed award could be applied to an Award granted under this Plan (a “Substitute Award”). Such substitution or assumption will be permissible if the holder of the Substitute Award would have been eligible to be granted an Award under this Plan if the other company had applied the rules of this Plan to such grant. The Exercise Price and the number and nature of Shares issuable upon exercise or settlement of any such Substitute Award will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code and/or Section 409A of the Code, as applicable.

 

14. Administration.

 

14.1. Committee Authority. This Plan will be administered by the Committee or by the Board acting as the Committee. Subject to the general purposes, terms and conditions of this Plan, and any charter adopted by the Board governing the actions of the Committee, the Committee will have full power to implement and carry out this Plan. Without limitation, the Committee will have the authority to:

 

(a)construe and interpret this Plan, any Award Agreement and any other agreement or document executed pursuant to this Plan;
(b)prescribe, amend, expand, modify and rescind or terminate rules and regulations relating to this Plan or any Award;
(c)approve persons to receive Awards;
(d)determine the form, terms and conditions of Awards;
(e)determine the number of Shares or other consideration subject to Awards;
(f)determine the Fair Market Value in good faith and interpret the applicable provisions of this Plan and the definition of Fair Market Value in connection with circumstances that impact the Fair Market Value, if necessary;
(g)determine whether Awards will be granted singly, in combination with, in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to, Other Awards under this Plan or awards under any other incentive or compensation plan of the Company or any Affiliate;
(h)grant waivers of any conditions of this Plan or any Award;
(i)determine the vesting, exercisability and payment of Awards;
(j)correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement;
(k)determine whether an Award has been earned or has vested;
(l)determine the terms and conditions of any, and to institute any Exchange Program;
(m)adopt or revise rules and/or procedures (including the adoption or revision of any subplan under this Plan) relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to facilitate compliance with requirements of local law and procedures outside the United States, (provided that Board approval will not be necessary for immaterial modifications to the Plan or any Award Agreement made to ensure or facilitate compliance with the laws or regulations of the relevant foreign jurisdiction);

 

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(n)delegate any of the foregoing to one or more Officers pursuant to a specific delegation as permitted by the terms of the Plan and Applicable Law, including Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law; and
(o)make all other determinations necessary or advisable in connection with the administration of this Plan.

 

14.2. Committee Interpretation and Discretion. Any determination made by the Committee with respect to any Award shall be made in its sole discretion at the time of grant of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of the Plan or Award, at any later time, and such determination shall be final and binding on the Company and all persons having an interest in any Award under the Plan. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be submitted by the Participant or Company to the Committee for review. The resolution of such a dispute by the Committee shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participant. The Committee may delegate to the Plan Administrator or one or more Officers the authority to review and resolve disputes with respect to Awards held by Participants who are not Insiders, and such resolution shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participant.

 

14.3. Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Awards granted to Participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act must be approved by a committee of the Board that at all times consists solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors. Nothing herein shall create an inference that an Award is not validly granted under the Plan in the event Awards are not granted under the Plan by a committee of the Board that does not at all times consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors.

 

14.4. Plan Administrator. The Committee may appoint a Plan Administrator, who will have the authority to administer the day-to-day operations of the Plan and to make certain ministerial decisions without Committee approval as provided in the Plan or pursuant to resolutions adopted by the Committee. The Plan Administrator may not grant Awards.

 

14.5. Foreign Award Recipients. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to facilitate compliance with the Applicable Laws and practices in other countries in which the Company and its Affiliates operate or have Employees or other persons eligible for Awards, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (a) determine which Affiliates shall be covered by the Plan; (b) determine which individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan, which may include individuals who provide services to the Company or an Affiliate under an agreement with a foreign nation or agency; (c) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to individuals outside the United States or foreign nationals to comply with Applicable Laws or foreign policies, customs and practices; (d) establish sub-plans, modify exercise procedures and adopt other rules and/or procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan in jurisdictions other than the United States (including to qualify Awards for special tax treatment under laws of jurisdictions other than the United States); provided, however, that no such sub-plans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 2.1; and (e) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that the Committee determines to be necessary or advisable to obtain approval or comply with any local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate any Applicable Law in the United States.

 

14.6. Non-Exclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board, the submission of this Plan to the shareholders of the Company for approval, nor any provision of this Plan will be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of share options and other equity awards and bonuses otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

14.7. Governing Law. This Plan and all Awards granted hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Delaware, without giving effect to that body of laws pertaining to conflict of laws.

 

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15. Effectiveness, Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

 

15.1. Adoption and Shareholder Approval. The Plan will come into existence on the date the Plan is adopted by the Board (the “Adoption Date”). In addition, no Option or SAR may be exercised, and no other type of Award may be granted, unless and until the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company, which approval will be within twelve (12) months after the Adoption Date.

 

15.2. Amendment of the Plan. The Committee may amend the Plan in any respect the Committee deems necessary or advisable, subject to the limitations of Applicable Law and this section. If required by Applicable Law, the Company will seek shareholder approval of any amendment of the Plan that (a) materially increases the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan (excluding any Capitalization Adjustment), (b) materially expands the class of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, (c) materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, (d) materially reduces the price at which Shares may be issued or purchased under the Plan, (e) materially extends the term of the Plan, (f) materially expands the types of Awards available for issuance under the Plan, or (g) as otherwise required by Applicable Law.

 

15.3. Suspension or Termination of the Plan. The Plan shall terminate automatically upon the expiration of the tenth anniversary since the Adoption Date. No Award will be granted pursuant to the Plan after such date, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date. The Committee may suspend or terminate the Plan at any earlier date at any time. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

 

15.4. No Impairment. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan or any Award may materially impair a Participant’s rights under any outstanding Award, except with the written consent of the affected Participant or as otherwise expressly permitted in the Plan. Subject to the limitations of Applicable Law, if any, the Committee may amend the terms of any one or more Awards without the affected Participant’s consent (a) to maintain the qualified status of the Award as an ISO under Section 422 of the Code; (b) to change the terms of an ISO, if such change results in impairment of the Award solely because it impairs the qualified status of the Award as an ISO; (c) to clarify the manner of exemption from, or to bring the Award into compliance with, Section 409A of the Code; or (d) to facilitate compliance with other Applicable Laws.

 

16. Definitions.

 

As used in the Plan, the following definitions will apply to the capitalized terms indicated below:

 

Affiliate” means a Parent, a Subsidiary or any corporation or other Entity that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company.

 

Applicable Law” means any applicable securities, federal, state, foreign, material local or municipal or other law, statute, constitution, principle of common law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, listing rule, regulation, judicial decision, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any governmental or regulatory body or self-regulatory organization (including the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Stock Market and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority).

 

Award” means any award granted under the Plan, including any Option, Restricted Share Award, Restricted Share Unit Award, Share Appreciation Right, Performance Award or Other Award.

 

Award Agreement” means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant documenting the terms and conditions of an Award. The term “Award Agreement” will also include any other written agreement between the Company or an Affiliate and a Participant containing additional terms and conditions of, or amendments to, an Award.

 

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Cause” will have the meaning ascribed to such term in any written agreement between the Participant and the Company defining such term and, in the absence of such agreement, such term means, with respect to a Participant, the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) Participant’s unauthorized misuse of the Company’s trade secrets or proprietary information; (b) Participant’s conviction of or plea of nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (c) Participant’s committing an act of fraud against the Company; (d) Participant’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his or her duties; or (e) Participant’s material violation of any Company handbook or policy, or any restrictive covenant agreement between Participant and the Company. For purposes of this definition, the term “Company” will be interpreted to include any Subsidiary, Parent or Affiliate of the Company, as appropriate.

 

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Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any applicable regulations and guidance thereunder.

 

Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or those persons to whom administration of the Plan, or part of the Plan, has been delegated as permitted by Applicable Law and in accordance with the Plan.

 

Company” means SharkNinja, Inc., an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, or any successor corporation.

 

Consultant” means any natural person, including an advisor or independent contractor, that is engaged to render services to the Company or an Affiliate.

 

Continuous Service Status” means continued service as an Employee, Director or Consultant. Continuous Service Status shall not be considered interrupted or terminated in the case of a transfer between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Affiliates, or their respective successors, or a change in status (for example, from an Employee to a Consultant). The Committee or the Plan Administrator, in that party’s sole discretion, shall determine whether a Participant’s Continuous Service Status has ceased and the effective date of such termination.

 

Corporate Transaction” means:

 

(a)the consummation of any consolidation or merger of the Company with any other entity, other than transaction which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such consolidation or merger;
(b)any Exchange Act Person becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then-outstanding voting securities; provided, however, that for purposes of this subclause (b) the acquisition of additional securities by any one Person who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the securities of the Company will not be considered a Corporate Transaction;
(c)the consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, except where such sale, lease, transfer or other disposition is made to the Company or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company; or
(d)a change in the effective control of the Company that occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by members of the Board whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purpose of this subclause (d), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Corporate Transaction.

 

For purposes of this definition, Persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of an Entity that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of shares, or similar business transaction with the Company.

 

Director” means a member of the Board.

 

Disability” means (a) in the case of ISOs, total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, and (b) in the case of other Awards, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise, that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment. The determination of whether an individual has a Disability shall be determined under procedures established by the Committee. Except in situations where the Committee is determining Disability for purposes of the term of an ISO, the Committee may rely on any determination that a Participant is disabled for purposes of benefits under any long-term disability plan maintained by the Company or any Affiliate in which a Participant participates.

 

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Dividend Equivalent Right” means the right of a Participant, granted at the discretion of the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to receive a credit for the account of such Participant in an amount equal to the cash, shares or other property dividends for each Share represented by an Award held by such Participant.

 

Employee” means any person employed by the Company, or any Affiliate, with the status of employment determined pursuant to such factors as are deemed appropriate by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion, subject to any requirements of Applicable Law, including the Code. Service as a Director or payment by the Company or an Affiliate of a director’s fee shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” of such Director by the Company or any Affiliate.

 

Entity” means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity.

 

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Act Person” means any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), except that “Exchange Act Person” will not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to a registered public offering of such securities, (iv) an Entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company; or (v) any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) that, as of the Adoption Date, is the owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities.

 

Exchange Program” means a program pursuant to which (a) outstanding Awards are surrendered, cancelled or exchanged for cash, the same type of Award or a different Award (or combination thereof) or (b) the Exercise Price of an outstanding Award is increased or reduced.

 

Exercise Price” means, with respect to an Option, the price per Share at which a holder may purchase the Shares issuable upon exercise of an Option, and with respect to a SAR, the price per share at which the SAR is granted to the holder thereof.

 

Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Shares determined as follows:

 

(a)If such Shares are publicly traded and is then listed on a national securities exchange, its closing price on the date of determination on the principal national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed or admitted to trading as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Plan Administrator deems reliable, unless another method is approved by the Committee and subject to compliance with Applicable Law (including Section 409A of the Code).
(b)If such Shares are publicly traded but is neither listed nor admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on the date of determination as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Plan Administrator deems reliable.
(c)If none of the foregoing is applicable, by the Board or the Committee in good faith (and in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, as applicable).

 

Group” means the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

Incentive Share Option” or “ISO” means an Option granted pursuant to the Plan that is intended to be, and qualifies as, an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

Insider” means an officer or Director of the Company or any other person whose transactions in the Shares are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

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Non-Employee Director” means a Director who is not an Employee of the Company or any Affiliate, and who satisfies the requirements of a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

Nonstatutory Share Option” or “NSO” means any Option granted pursuant to the Plan that does not qualify as an ISO.

 

Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

Option” means a contract right to purchase Shares at a fixed exercise price per share, subject to certain conditions, if applicable, granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

Other Award” means an Award based in whole or in part by reference to Shares that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

Parent” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if each of such corporations other than the Company owns shares possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

Participant” means a person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Award.

 

Performance Award” means an award that may vest or may be earned or exercised, in whole or in part, contingent upon the attainment during a Performance Period of one or more Performance Goals and which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of the related award agreements.

 

Performance Criteria” means one or more objective or subjective criteria either individually, alternatively or in any combination applied to the Participant, the Company, any business unit or Subsidiary, that the Committee selects for purposes of establishing the Performance Goals for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish such Performance Goals may be based on any one of, or combination of, the following as determined by the Committee: net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); net revenues or net revenue growth; adjusted net revenues or net revenue growth; gross revenue or gross revenue growth; gross profit or gross profit growth; gross bookings or gross booking growth; net operating profit (before or after taxes); return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity or sales; cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and cash flow return on capital); earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; adjusted earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; gross or operating margins; improvements in capital structure; budget and expense management; debt levels or reduction; productivity ratios; economic value added or other value-added measurements; share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return); expense targets; margins; operating efficiency; working capital targets; enterprise value; active platform consumers or active platform consumer growth, trips; category market position; implementation or completion of projects or processes; completion of acquisitions or business expansion; sustainability; customer satisfaction; compliance; workforce diversity; workforce hiring or attrition; employee satisfaction; partner growth measures; or partner satisfaction; or any other criteria determined by the Committee.

 

Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria. Performance Goals may be based on a Company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, Affiliates, or business segments, and in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant indices.

 

Performance Period” means the period of time selected by the Committee over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to vesting, exercise and/or settlement of an Award. Performance Periods may be of varying and overlapping duration, at the sole discretion of the Committee.

 

Plan” means this SharkNinja, Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

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Plan Administrator” means one or more Officers or Employees designated by the Committee to administer the day-to-day operations of the Plan and the Company’s other equity incentive programs.

 

Purchase Price” means the price to be paid for Shares acquired under the Plan, other than Shares acquired upon the settlement of an RSU Award or the exercise of an Option or SAR.

 

Restricted Share Award” means an award of Shares that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

Restricted Share Unit Award” or “RSU Award” means a right to receive Shares that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Share” means an ordinary share of the Company.

 

Share Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right to receive the appreciation value on the Shares subject to the Award that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of Entities beginning with the Company if each of the corporation other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns shares possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

Trading Policy” means the Company’s policy permitting certain individuals to sell Company shares only during certain “window” periods and/or otherwise restricts the ability of certain individuals to transfer or encumber shares of the Company’s capital shares, as in effect from time to time.

 

16

 

 

SHARKNINJA, INC.

 

2023 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award

 

SharkNinja, Inc. (the “Company”) has awarded to you (“Participant”) restricted share units (“RSUs”) covering the number of Shares set forth below (the “RSU Award”) under its SharkNinja, Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award (this “Notice”) or the attached RSU Terms and Conditions (including any appendices and exhibits attached thereto) will have the same meanings specified in the Plan. The Notice and the RSU Terms and Conditions are collectively referred to as the “Award Agreement” applicable to the RSUs.

 

Participant Name: ____________________________________________________

 

Date of Grant: ____________________________________________________

 

Number of RSUs: ____________________________________________________

 

Vesting Commencement Date: ______________________________________________

 

Vesting Schedule: ____________________________________________________

 

By accepting (whether electronically or otherwise) the RSU Award, Participant acknowledges and agrees to the following:

 

1.The RSU Award is governed by the terms and conditions of this Award Agreement and the Plan. In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Plan and this Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan will prevail.

 

2.Participant has received a copy of the Plan, this Award Agreement, and the Trading Policy, and represents that he or she has read these documents and is familiar with their terms. Participant further agrees to accept as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions and interpretations of the Committee and the Plan Administrator regarding any questions relating to the RSU Award and the Plan.

 

3.Vesting of the RSUs is subject to Participant’s Continuous Service Status as an Employee, Director, or Consultant, which is for an unspecified duration and may be terminated at any time, with or without Cause, and nothing in this Award Agreement or the Plan changes the nature of that relationship.

 

4.The Company is not providing any tax, legal, or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding participation in the Plan. Participant should consult with his or her own personal tax, legal, and financial advisors regarding participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

 

5.Participant consents to electronic delivery and participation as set forth in the Plan and this Award Agreement.

 

6.If Participant does not accept or decline this RSU Award within 90 days of the Date of Grant or by such other date that may be communicated Participant by the Company, the Company will accept this RSU Award on Participant’s behalf and Participant will be deemed to have accepted the terms and conditions of the RSUs set forth in the Plan and this Award Agreement. If Participant wishes to decline this RSU Award, Participant should promptly notify the Company at Compensation@sharkninja.com. If Participant declines this RSU Award, the RSUs will be cancelled and no benefits from the RSUs nor any compensation or benefits in lieu of the RSUs will be provided to Participant.

 

SharkNinja, Inc.  Participant
    
By:               Signature:  
    
Title:    Date:                

 

 

 

SHARKNINJA, INC.

 

2023 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

RSU Terms and Conditions

 

1.Grant of RSUs. An RSU is a non-voting unit of measurement which is deemed solely for bookkeeping purposes to be equivalent to one outstanding Share (a “Share”). The RSUs are used solely as a device to determine the number of Shares to eventually be issued or transferred to Participant if such RSUs vest. The RSUs shall not be treated as property or as a trust fund of any kind. The grant of RSU under the Plan is a one-time benefit and does not create any contractual or other right to receive an award of RSUs or benefits in lieu of RSUs in the future. Future awards of RSUs, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Committee. In the event of any material demotion in the Participant's roles and responsibilities in the Group, the number of the RSUs granted under this Agreement may be amended by the Committee at its sole discretion, in line with any of the Group's existing, proposed or future remuneration or other related policy to be implemented.

 

2.Settlement.

 

(a)On or as soon as administratively practical (and within thirty (30) days) following the applicable date of vesting under the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Notice (a “Vesting Date”), the Company will deliver to Participant a number of Shares (either by delivering one or more certificates for such Shares or by entering such Shares in book entry form, as determined by the Company in its discretion) equal to the number of RSUs subject to the RSU Award that vest on the applicable Vesting Date, subject to the satisfaction of any applicable withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items. No fractional RSUs or rights for fractional Shares shall be created pursuant to this Award Agreement.

 

(b)The Company reserves the right to issue to Participant the cash equivalent of Shares, in part or in full satisfaction of the delivery of Shares, upon vesting of the RSUs, and to the extent applicable, references in this Award Agreement to Shares issuable in connection with the RSUs will include the potential issuance of its cash equivalent pursuant to such right, unless otherwise provided for any country applicable to Participant in the Appendix.

 

3.Dividend and Voting Rights. Unless and until such time as Shares are issued or transferred in settlement of vested RSUs, Participant will have no ownership of the Shares allocated to the RSUs, and will have no rights to vote such Shares and no rights to dividends.

 

4.Non-Transferability of RSUs. The RSUs and any interest therein will not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution or court order. The terms of the Plan and this Award Agreement will be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors, and assigns of Participant.

 

5.Termination. Unless otherwise set out in the Award Agreement, if Participant’s Continuous Service Status terminates for any reason, all unvested RSUs will be forfeited to the Company, and all rights of Participant to such RSUs will immediately terminate without payment of any consideration to Participant; provided that all RSUs, vested and unvested, will be forfeited immediately without payment of any consideration if Participant's Continuous Service Status terminates with Cause. The Committee shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer providing services for purposes of his or her RSU grant (including whether Participant may still be considered to be providing services while on a leave of absence). The RSUs which have been vested but yet to be settled by the Company shall be immediately forfeited upon the date when, whichever is earlier, (1) the Participant's Continuous Service Status terminates with Cause, or (2) the Participant commits a breach of the non-competition clause or non-solicitation clause stipulated in the employee agreement entered into between the Participant and the Company or any member of the Group.

 

6.Taxes.

 

(a)Responsibility for Taxes. By accepting this RSU Award, Participant acknowledges that, regardless of any action taken by the Company or, if different, any Parent, Subsidiary, or Affiliate that employs Participant (the “Employer”), the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains Participant’s responsibility and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. Participant further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the RSU Award, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting, or settlement of the RSU Award, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such settlement, and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the RSU Award to reduce or eliminate Participant’s liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction, as applicable, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction. Participant agrees to pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for as a result of Participant’s participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means described in this Section. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares, or the proceeds of the sale of Shares, if Participant fails to comply with Participant’s obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.

 

 

 

(b)Withholding. Prior to the relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, Participant agrees to make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. In this regard, Participant authorizes the Company or the Employer, or their respective agents, at their discretion, to satisfy the obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items by one or a combination of the following:

 

(i)withholding from Participant’s wages or other cash compensation paid to Participant by the Company and/or the Employer or any Parent, Subsidiary, or Affiliate;

 

(ii)withholding from proceeds of the sale of Shares acquired on settlement of the RSUs either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on Participant’s behalf pursuant to this authorization and without further consent);

 

(iii)withholding Shares to be issued upon settlement of the RSUs, provided the Company only withholds a number of Shares necessary to satisfy no more than the withholding amounts determined based on the maximum permitted statutory rate applicable in Participant’s jurisdiction;

 

(iv)Participant’s payment of a cash amount (including by check representing readily available funds or a wire transfer); or

 

(v)any other arrangement approved by the Committee and permitted under Applicable Law.

 

Withholding for Tax-Related Items will be made in accordance with Section 10 of the Plan and such rules and procedures as may be established by the Plan Administrator, and in compliance with the Trading Policy, if applicable. In the event the Company or the Employer withholds more than the Tax-Related Items using one of the methods described above, Participant may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash but will have no entitlement to the Shares sold or withheld.

 

7.Code Section 409A. It is intended that the terms of the RSU Award will not result in the imposition of any tax liability pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, and this Award Agreement shall be construed and interpreted consistent with that intent. Payments pursuant to this RSU Award are intended to constitute separate payments for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

8.Governing Law and Venue. This Award Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from the relationship of the parties evidenced by this grant or this Award Agreement, the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of Massachusetts and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of Massachusetts, or the federal courts for the United States for the District of Massachusetts, and no other courts, where this grant is made and/or to be performed.

 

 

 

9.Entire Agreement; Enforcement of Rights. This Award Agreement, together with the Plan, sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior discussions, agreements, commitments, or negotiations between the parties. No adverse modification of, or adverse amendment to, this Award Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this Award Agreement, will be effective unless in writing and signed by the parties to this Award Agreement (which may be electronic). The failure by either party to enforce any rights under this Award Agreement will not be construed as a waiver of any rights of such party.

 

10.Severability. If one or more provisions of this Award Agreement are held to be unenforceable under Applicable Laws, the parties agree to renegotiate such provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (a) such provision shall be excluded from this Award Agreement, (b) the balance of this Award Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded, and (c) the balance of this Award Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

11.Consent to Electronic Delivery and Participation. By accepting the RSUs, Participant agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company, and consents to the electronic delivery of the Award Agreement, the Plan, account statements, and all other documents, communications, or information related to the RSUs and current or future participation in the Plan. Electronic delivery may include the delivery of a link to the Company intranet or the internet site of a third party involved in administering the Plan, the delivery of the document via e-mail or such other delivery determined at the Company’s discretion. Participant acknowledges that Participant may receive from the Company a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost if Participant contacts the Company by telephone, through a postal service or electronic mail to Share Administration.

 

12.Imposition of Other Requirements. The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on Participant’s participation in the Plan, on the RSU Award and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require Participant to accept any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

 

 

 

SHARKNINJA, INC.

 

2023 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Notice of Share-Settled Cash Award

 

SharkNinja, Inc. (the “Company”) has awarded to you (“Participant”) a Share-Settled Cash Award in the cash amount set forth below (the “Cash Award”) under its SharkNinja, Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award (this “Notice”) or the attached Share-Settled Cash Award Terms and Conditions (including any appendices and exhibits attached thereto) will have the same meanings specified in the Plan. The Notice and the Share-Settled Cash Award Terms and Conditions are collectively referred to as the “Award Agreement” applicable to the Cash Award.

 

Participant Name: ____________________________________________________

 

Date of Grant: ____________________________________________________

 

Cash Amount: ____________________________________________________

 

Vesting Commencement Date: ______________________________________________

 

Vesting Schedule: ____________________________________________________

 

By accepting (whether electronically or otherwise) the Cash Award, Participant acknowledges and agrees to the following:

 

1.The Cash Award is governed by the terms and conditions of this Award Agreement and the Plan. In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Plan and this Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan will prevail.

 

2.Participant has received a copy of the Plan, this Award Agreement, and the Trading Policy, and represents that he or she has read these documents and is familiar with their terms. Participant further agrees to accept as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions and interpretations of the Committee and the Plan Administrator regarding any questions relating to the Cash Award and the Plan.

 

3.Vesting of the Cash Award is subject to Participant’s Continuous Service Status as an Employee, Director, or Consultant, which is for an unspecified duration and may be terminated at any time, with or without Cause, and nothing in this Award Agreement or the Plan changes the nature of that relationship.

 

4.The Company is not providing any tax, legal, or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding participation in the Plan. Participant should consult with his or her own personal tax, legal, and financial advisors regarding participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

 

5.Participant consents to electronic delivery and participation as set forth in the Plan and this Award Agreement.

 

6.If Participant does not accept or decline this Cash Award within 90 days of the Date of Grant or by such other date that may be communicated to Participant by the Company, the Company will accept this Cash Award on Participant’s behalf and Participant will be deemed to have accepted the terms and conditions of the Cash Award set forth in the Plan and this Award Agreement. If Participant wishes to decline this Cash Award, Participant should promptly notify the Company at Compensation@sharkninja.com. If Participant declines this Cash Award, the Cash Award will be cancelled and no benefits from the Cash Award nor any compensation or benefits in lieu of the Cash Award will be provided to Participant.

 

SharkNinja, Inc.  Participant
    
By:               Signature:  
    
Title:    Date:                

 

 

 

SHARKNINJA, INC.

 

2023 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Share-Settled Cash Award Terms and Conditions

 

1.Grant of Share-Settled Cash Award. A Share-Settled Cash Award, or Cash Award, is a U.S. dollar denominated Award which settles in Shares subject to these Terms and Conditions. Neither the U.S. dollar amount of the Award nor the Shares issuable upon settlement shall be treated as property or as a trust fund of any kind. The grant of a Share-Settled Cash Award under the Plan is a one-time benefit and does not create any contractual or other right to receive an Award of any kind or benefits in lieu of any Award in the future. Future Awards, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Committee. In the event of any material demotion in the Participant's roles and responsibilities in the Group, the number of the Awards granted under this Agreement may be amended by the Committee at its sole discretion, in line with any of the Group's existing, proposed or future remuneration or other related policy to be implemented.

 

2.Settlement.

 

(a)On or as soon as administratively practical (and within thirty (30) days) following the applicable date of vesting under the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Notice (a “Vesting Date”), the Company will deliver to Participant a number of Shares (either by delivering one or more certificates for such Shares or by entering such Shares in book entry form, as determined by the Company in its discretion) equal to the U.S. dollar amount of the Award which vested on such date divided by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Vesting Date, subject to the satisfaction of any applicable withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items. No fractional Shares shall be created pursuant to this Award Agreement.

 

(b)The Company reserves the right to issue to Participant the cash equivalent of Shares, in part or in full satisfaction of the delivery of Shares, upon vesting of the Award, and to the extent applicable, references in this Award Agreement to Shares issuable in connection with this Award will include the potential issuance of its cash equivalent pursuant to such right, unless otherwise provided for any country applicable to Participant in the Appendix.

 

3.Dividend and Voting Rights. Unless and until such time as Shares are issued in settlement of the vested portion of this Award, Participant will have no ownership of the Shares allocated to the Award, and will have no rights to vote such Shares and no rights to dividends.

 

4.Non-Transferability of RSUs. This Share-Settled Cash Award and any interest therein will not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution or court order. The terms of the Plan and this Award Agreement will be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors, and assigns of Participant.

 

5.Termination. Unless otherwise set out in the Award Agreement, if Participant’s Continuous Service Status terminates for any reason, the unvested portions of this Award will be forfeited to the Company, and all rights of Participant to such portions will immediately terminate without payment of any consideration to Participant; provided that the entire Award, vested and unvested, will be forfeited immediately without payment of any consideration if Participant's Continuous Service Status terminates with Cause. The Committee shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer providing services for purposes of his or her Share-Settled Cash Award (including whether Participant may still be considered to be providing services while on a leave of absence). The portion of this Award which has vested but yet to be settled by the Company shall be immediately forfeited upon the date when, whichever is earlier, (1) the Participant's Continuous Service Status terminates with Cause, or (2) the Participant commits a breach of the non-competition clause or non-solicitation clause stipulated in the employee agreement entered into between the Participant and the Company or any member of the Group.

 

 

 

6.Taxes.

 

(a)Responsibility for Taxes. By accepting this Award, Participant acknowledges that, regardless of any action taken by the Company or, if different, any Parent, Subsidiary, or Affiliate that employs Participant (the “Employer”), the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains Participant’s responsibility and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. Participant further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of this Award, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting, or settlement of this Award, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such settlement, and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of this Award to reduce or eliminate Participant’s liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction, as applicable, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction. Participant agrees to pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for as a result of Participant’s participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means described in this Section. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares, or the proceeds of the sale of Shares, if Participant fails to comply with Participant’s obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.

 

(b)Withholding. Prior to the relevant taxable or tax withholding event, if any, Participant agrees to make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. In this regard, Participant authorizes the Company or the Employer, or their respective agents, at their discretion, to satisfy the obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items by one or a combination of the following:

 

(i)withholding from Participant’s wages or other cash compensation paid to Participant by the Company and/or the Employer or any Parent, Subsidiary, or Affiliate;

 

(ii)withholding from proceeds of the sale of Shares acquired on settlement of this Award either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on Participant’s behalf pursuant to this authorization and without further consent);

 

(iii)withholding Shares to be issued upon settlement of this Award, provided the Company only withholds a number of Shares necessary to satisfy no more than the withholding amounts determined based on the maximum permitted statutory rate applicable in Participant’s jurisdiction;

 

(iv)Participant’s payment of a cash amount (including by check representing readily available funds or a wire transfer); or

 

(v)any other arrangement approved by the Committee and permitted under Applicable Law.

 

Withholding for Tax-Related Items will be made in accordance with Section 10 of the Plan and such rules and procedures as may be established by the Plan Administrator, and in compliance with the Trading Policy, if applicable. In the event the Company or the Employer withholds more than the Tax-Related Items using one of the methods described above, Participant may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash but will have no entitlement to the Shares sold or withheld.

 

7.Code Section 409A. It is intended that the terms of this Award will not result in the imposition of any tax liability pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, and this Award Agreement shall be construed and interpreted consistent with that intent. Payments pursuant to this Award are intended to constitute separate payments for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

8.Governing Law and Venue. This Award Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from the relationship of the parties evidenced by this grant or this Award Agreement, the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of Massachusetts and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of Massachusetts, or the federal courts for the United States for the District of Massachusetts, and no other courts, where this grant is made and/or to be performed.

 

 

 

9.Entire Agreement; Enforcement of Rights. This Award Agreement, together with the Plan, sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior discussions, agreements, commitments, or negotiations between the parties. No adverse modification of, or adverse amendment to, this Award Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this Award Agreement, will be effective unless in writing and signed by the parties to this Award Agreement (which may be electronic). The failure by either party to enforce any rights under this Award Agreement will not be construed as a waiver of any rights of such party.

 

10.Severability. If one or more provisions of this Award Agreement are held to be unenforceable under Applicable Laws, the parties agree to renegotiate such provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (a) such provision shall be excluded from this Award Agreement, (b) the balance of this Award Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded, and (c) the balance of this Award Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

11.Consent to Electronic Delivery and Participation. By accepting this Award, Participant agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company, and consents to the electronic delivery of the Award Agreement, the Plan, account statements, and all other documents, communications, or information related to this Award and current or future participation in the Plan. Electronic delivery may include the delivery of a link to the Company intranet or the internet site of a third party involved in administering the Plan, the delivery of the document via e-mail or such other delivery determined at the Company’s discretion. Participant acknowledges that Participant may receive from the Company a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost if Participant contacts the Company by telephone, through a postal service or electronic mail to Share Administration.

 

12.Imposition of Other Requirements. The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on Participant’s participation in the Plan, on this Award and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require Participant to accept any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

SHARKNINJA, INC.

 

2023 EMPLOYEE SHARE PURCHASE PLAN

 

1.             Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the Company and its Designated Companies with an opportunity to purchase Shares through accumulated Contributions. The Company intends for the Plan to have two components: a Code Section 423 Component (“423 Component”) and a non-Code Section 423 Component (“Non-423 Component”). The Company’s intention is to have the 423 Component of the Plan qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code. The provisions of the 423 Component, accordingly, will be construed so as to extend and limit Plan participation in a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. In addition, this Plan authorizes the grant of an option to purchase Shares under the Non-423 Component that does not qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code; such an option will be granted pursuant to rules, procedures or sub-plans adopted by the Administrator designed to achieve tax, securities laws or other objectives for Eligible Employees and the Company. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Non-423 Component will operate and be administered in the same manner as the 423 Component.

 

2.             Definitions.

 

(a)           Administrator” means the Board or any Committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan pursuant to Section 14 of the Plan.

 

(b)           Affiliate” means any entity, other than a Subsidiary, that is an “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

 

(c)           Applicable Laws” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards and the related issuance of Shares under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are listed or quoted and the applicable securities and exchange control laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where options are, or will be, granted under the Plan.

 

(d)           Beneficial Owner” means a beneficial owner as determined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

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

 

(f)            Business Combination” means (x) a merger or consolidation involving the Company or its shares or (y) an acquisition by the Company, directly or through one or more subsidiaries, of another entity or its shares or assets.

 

(g)           Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(i)             50% Ownership Change: Any Person, the Company, or an Affiliate makes an acquisition of Outstanding Voting Shares and is, immediately thereafter, the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the then Outstanding Voting Shares, unless such acquisition is made directly from the Company in a transaction approved by a majority of the Incumbent Directors; or any group is formed that is the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the Outstanding Voting Shares; or

 

 

 

(ii)            Major Mergers and Acquisitions: Consummation of a Business Combination unless, immediately following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Voting Shares immediately before such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of voting shares of the Parent Corporation Resulting From Such Business Combination in substantially the same relative proportions as their ownership, immediately before such Business Combination, of the Outstanding Voting Shares, (ii) no Person (other than any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of voting shares of the Parent Corporation Resulting From Such Business Combination and (iii) a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent Corporation Resulting From Such Business Combination were Incumbent Directors of the Company immediately before consummation of such Business Combination; or

 

(iii)           Major Asset Dispositions: Consummation of a Major Asset Disposition unless, immediately following such Major Asset Disposition, (i) individuals and entities that were beneficial owners of the Outstanding Voting Shares immediately before such Major Asset Disposition beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 70% of the then outstanding shares of voting shares of the Company (if it continues to exist) and of the entity that acquires the largest portion of such assets (or the entity, if any, that owns a majority of the outstanding voting shares of such acquiring entity) and (ii) a majority of the members of the Board (if it continues to exist) and of the entity that acquires the largest portion of such assets (or the entity, if any, that owns a majority of the outstanding voting shares of such acquiring entity) were Incumbent Directors of the Company immediately before consummation of such Major Asset Disposition; or

 

(iv)           Liquidation or Dissolution: The Company’s shareholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

(h)           Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific Section of the Code or U.S. Treasury Regulation thereunder will include such Section or regulation, any valid regulation or other official applicable guidance promulgated under such Section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such Section or regulation.

 

(i)            Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, and any successor committee thereto or such other committee of the Board as may be designated by the Board to administer this Plan in whole or in part, including any subcommittee of the Board as designated by the Board in accordance with Section 14 hereof.

 

(j)            Company” means SharkNinja, Inc., an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, or any successor thereto.

 

(k)           Compensation” means an Eligible Employee’s base salary or hourly wages. The Administrator, in its discretion, may, on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, establish a different definition of Compensation for a subsequent Offering Period.

 

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(l)            Contributions” means the payroll deductions and other additional payments that the Company may permit to be made by a Participant to fund the exercise of options granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(m)          Designated Company” means any Subsidiary or Affiliate that has been designated by the Administrator from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan. For purposes of the 423 Component, only the Company and its Subsidiaries may be Designated Companies; provided, that at any given time, a Subsidiary that is a Designated Company under the 423 Component shall not be a Designated Company under the Non-423 Component.

 

(n)           Director” means a member of the Board.

 

(o)           EEA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c) of the Plan.

 

(p)           EEA Limit” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c) of the Plan.

 

(q)           Eligible Employee” means any individual who is a common law employee providing services to the Company or a Designated Company and is customarily employed for at least twenty (20) hours per week and more than five (5) months in any calendar year by the Employer, or any lesser number of hours per week and/or number of months in any calendar year established by the Administrator (if required under Applicable Law) for purposes of any separate Offering or for an Eligible Employee participating in the Non-423 Component. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship will be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence that the Employer approves or is legally protected under Applicable Laws. Where the period of leave exceeds three (3) months and the individual’s right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship will be deemed to have terminated three (3) months and one (1) day following the commencement of such leave. The Administrator, in its discretion, from time to time may, prior to an Enrollment Date for all options to be granted on such Enrollment Date in an Offering, determine (for each Offering under the 423 Component, on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis or as otherwise permitted by Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2) that the definition of Eligible Employee will or will not include an individual if he or she: (i) has not completed at least two (2) years of service since his or her last hire date (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion), (ii) customarily works not more than twenty (20) hours per week (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion), (iii) customarily works not more than five (5) months per calendar year (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion), (iv) is a highly compensated employee within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code, or (v) is a highly compensated employee within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code with compensation above a certain level or is an officer or subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, that the exclusion is applied with respect to each Offering under the 423 Component in an identical manner to all highly compensated employees of the Employer whose employees are participating in that Offering. Each exclusion shall be applied with respect to an Offering under a 423 Component in a manner complying with U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(e)(2)(ii). Such exclusions may be applied with respect to an Offering under the Non-423 Component without regard to the limitations of Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2.

 

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(r)            Employer” means the employer of the applicable Eligible Employee(s).

 

(s)            Enrollment Date” means the first Trading Day of each Offering Period.

 

(t)            Enrollment Window” is defined in Section 5(a) of the Plan.

 

(u)           EU Prospectus Directive” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c) of the Plan.

 

(v)           Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(w)           Exercise Date” means the first Trading Day on or after the last day of the Offering Period.

 

(x)            Fair Market Value” of a Share means, as of a particular date, (1) if the Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price per Share on the consolidated transaction reporting system for the principal national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed on that date, or, if there shall have been no such sale so reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such a sale was so reported, (2) if the Shares are not so listed, the average of the closing bid and asked price on that date, or, if there are no quotations available for such date, on the last preceding date on which such quotations shall be available, as reported by an inter-dealer quotation system, or (3) if none of the above are applicable, the Fair Market Value of a Share as determined in good faith by the Committee.

 

(y)           Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.

 

(z)            423 Component” is defined in Section 1 of the Plan.

 

(aa)          Group” shall have the meaning given the term for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

 

(bb)         Incumbent Director” means a director of the Company (x) who was a director of the Company on the effective date of the Plan or (y) who becomes a director after such date and whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination, except that any such director will not be deemed an Incumbent Director if his or her initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board.

 

(cc)          Major Asset Disposition” means the sale or other disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

(dd)         New Exercise Date” means a new Exercise Date if the Administrator shortens any Offering Period then in progress.

 

(ee)          Non-423 Component” is defined in Section 1 of the Plan.

 

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(ff)           Offering” means an offer under the Plan of an option that may be exercised during an Offering Period as further described in Section 4 of the Plan. For purposes of the Plan, the Administrator may designate separate Offerings under the Plan (the terms of which need not be identical) in which Eligible Employees of one or more Employers will participate, even if the dates of the applicable Offering Periods of each such Offering are identical and the provisions of the Plan will separately apply to each Offering. To the extent permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(a)(1), the terms of each Offering need not be identical; provided, that the terms of the Plan and an Offering together satisfy U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(a)(2) and (a)(3).

 

(gg)         Offering Periods” means the periods of approximately six (6) months or such other period or periods set by the Administrator during which an option may be granted pursuant to the Plan and may be exercised, as determined under Section 4 of the Plan. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Sections 4 and 20 of the Plan.

 

(hh)         Other Extraordinary Event” is defined in Section 19(a) of the Plan.

 

(ii)           Outstanding Voting Shares” means outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; and any specified percentage or portion of the Outstanding Voting Shares (or of other voting shares) is determined based on the combined voting power of such securities.

 

(jj)            Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

(kk)          Parent Corporation Resulting From Such Business Combination” means the Company if its shares are not acquired or converted in the Business Combination and otherwise means the entity which as a result of such Business Combination owns the Company or all or substantially all the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries.

 

(ll)            Participant” means an Eligible Employee that participates in the Plan.

 

(mm)        Person” means an individual, entity or group.

 

(nn)         Plan” means this SharkNinja, Inc. 2023 Employee Share Purchase Plan.

 

(oo)         Proceeding” is defined in Section 30 of the Plan.

 

(pp)         Purchase Price” means an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Enrollment Date or on the Exercise Date, whichever is lower; provided, that the Purchase Price may be determined for subsequent Offering Periods by the Administrator subject to compliance with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other Applicable Law, regulation or stock exchange rule) or pursuant to Section 20 of the Plan.

 

(qq)         Share” means an ordinary share of the Company.

 

(rr)           Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

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(ss)          Trading Day” means a day on which the national stock exchange upon which the Shares are listed is open for trading.

 

(tt)           U.S. Treasury Regulations” means the Treasury regulations of the Code. Reference to a specific Treasury Regulation or Section of the Code shall include such Treasury Regulation or Section, any valid regulation promulgated under such Section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such Section or regulation.

 

3.             Eligibility.

 

(a)            First Offering Period. In order to participate in the first Offering Period, an Eligible Employee must complete a subscription agreement during the applicable Enrollment Window before the first Offering Period begins.

 

(b)           Subsequent Offering Periods. Any Eligible Employee must complete a subscription agreement during the prescribed Enrollment Window before any given subsequent Offering Period in order to participate in the Plan, subject to the requirements of Section 5 of the Plan.

 

(c)            Non-U.S. Employees. Eligible Employees who are citizens or residents of a non-U.S. jurisdiction (without regard to whether they also are citizens or residents of the United States or resident aliens (within the meaning of Section 7701(b)(1)(A) of the Code)) may be excluded from participation in the Plan or an Offering if the participation of such Eligible Employees is prohibited under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction or if complying with the laws of the applicable jurisdiction would cause the Plan or an Offering to violate Section 423 of the Code. In the case of the Non-423 Component, an Eligible Employee may be excluded from participation in the Plan or an Offering if the Administrator has determined that participation of such Eligible Employee is not advisable or practicable.

 

(d)           Limitations. Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no Eligible Employee will be granted an option under the Plan (i) to the extent that, immediately after the grant, such Eligible Employee (or any other person whose shares would be attributed to such Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital shares of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company and/or hold outstanding options to purchase such shares possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of the capital shares of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) to the extent that his or her rights to purchase shares under all employee stock purchase plans (as defined in Section 423 of the Code) of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company accrues at a rate that exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) worth of shares (determined at the Fair Market Value of the shares at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time, as determined in accordance with Section 423 of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

 

4.             Offering Periods.

 

(a)            Frequency and Duration. The Administrator may establish Offering Periods of such frequency and duration as it may from time to time determine as appropriate.

 

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(b)           First Offering Period. .The first Offering Period under the Plan shall commence on the date determined by the Administrator and shall end on the last Trading Day on or immediately preceding the earlier to occur of June 15 or December 15 of the year in which the first Offering Period commences (or at such other times as may be determined by the Administrator).

 

(c)            Successive Offering Periods. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, a new Offering Period shall commence on the first Trading Day following the last Exercise Date of the immediately preceding Offering Period.

 

(d)           Additional Offering Periods. At the discretion of the Committee, additional Offering Periods may be conducted under the Plan. Such additional Offering Periods may, but need not, qualify under Section 423 of the Code. The Administrator shall determine the commencement and duration of each additional Offering Period, and additional Offering Periods may be consecutive or overlapping. The other terms and conditions of each additional Offering Period shall be those set forth in this Plan document, with such changes or additional features as the Administrator determines necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other Applicable Law, regulation or stock exchange rule). The Administrator shall have the power to change the duration of Offering Periods (including the commencement dates thereof) with respect to future Offerings without shareholder approval.

 

(e)            Offering Period Limit. No Offering Period may last more than twenty-seven (27) months.

 

(f)            Applicable Offering Period. For purposes of calculating the Purchase Price, the applicable Offering Period shall be determined as follows:

 

(A)  Once a Participant is enrolled in the Plan for an Offering Period, such Offering Period shall continue to apply to him or her until the earliest of (x) the end of such Offering Period, (y) the end of his or her participation under Section 10 of the Plan or (z) re-enrollment for a subsequent Offering Period under Paragraph (B), below.

 

(B)  In the event that the Fair Market Value of a Share on the first trading day of the Offering Period for which the Participant is enrolled is higher than on the first trading day of any subsequent Offering Period, the Participant shall automatically be re-enrolled for such subsequent Offering Period.

 

5.             Participation.

 

(a)            First Offering Period. An Eligible Employee will be entitled to participate in the first Offering Period pursuant to Section 3(a) of the Plan only if such individual submits a subscription agreement authorizing Contributions in a form determined by the Administrator (which may be similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit A) to the Company’s designated plan administrator (i) no earlier than the effective date of the Form S-8 registration statement that registers the offer and sale of Shares under this Plan and (ii) no later than ten (10) business days following the effective date of such S-8 registration statement or such other period of time as the Administrator may determine (the “Enrollment Window”).

 

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(b)           Subsequent Offering Periods. An Eligible Employee may participate in the Plan pursuant to Section 3(b) of the Plan by (i) submitting to the Company’s share administration office (or its designee), on or before a date determined by the Administrator prior to an applicable Enrollment Date, a properly completed subscription agreement authorizing Contributions in the form provided by the Administrator for such purpose, or (ii) following an electronic or other enrollment procedure determined by the Administrator.

 

6.             Contributions.

 

(a)           At the time a Participant enrolls in the Plan pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan, he or she will elect to have Contributions (in the form of payroll deductions or otherwise, to the extent permitted by the Administrator) made on each pay day during the Offering Period in an amount not exceeding fifteen percent (15%) of the Compensation, which he or she receives on each pay day during the Offering Period (for illustrative purposes, should a pay day occur on an Exercise Date, a Participant will have any payroll deductions made on such day applied to his or her account under the then-current Offering Period). The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may permit all Participants in a specified Offering to contribute amounts to the Plan through payment by cash, check or other means set forth in the subscription agreement prior to each Exercise Date. A Participant’s subscription agreement will remain in effect for successive Offering Periods unless terminated as provided in Section 10 hereof.

 

(b)           In the event Contributions are made in the form of payroll deductions, such payroll deductions for a Participant will commence on the first pay day following the Enrollment Date and will end on the last pay day prior to the Exercise Date of such Offering Period to which such authorization is applicable, unless sooner terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 10 hereof; provided, that for the first Offering Period, payroll deductions will commence on the first pay day on or following the end of the Enrollment Window.

 

(c)           All Contributions made for a Participant will be credited to his or her account under the Plan, and Contributions will be made in whole percentages of Compensation only. A Participant may not make any additional payments into such account.

 

(d)           A Participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as provided in Section 10 of the Plan. Except as may be permitted by the Administrator, as determined in its sole discretion, a Participant may not change the rate of his or her Contributions during an Offering Period.

 

(e)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(d) hereof, a Participant’s Contributions may be decreased to zero percent (0%) at any time. Subject to Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(d) hereof, Contributions will recommence at the rate originally elected by the Participant effective as of the beginning of next Offering Period, unless terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 10 of the Plan. A Participant may elect to decrease, but not increase, his or her Contributions to any amount less than fifteen percent (15%) of the Compensation only once during any then-current Offering Period.

 

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(f)            Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in the Plan, the Administrator may allow Eligible Employees to participate in the Plan via cash contributions instead of payroll deductions if (i) payroll deductions are not permitted under applicable local law, (ii) the Administrator determines that cash contributions are permissible under Section 423 of the Code or (iii) for Participants participating in the Non-423 Component.

 

(g)           At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Shares issued under the Plan is disposed of (or any other time that a taxable event related to the Plan occurs), the Participant must make adequate provision for the Company’s or the Employer’s federal, state, local or any other tax liability payable to any authority including taxes imposed by jurisdictions outside of the U.S., national insurance, social security or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the exercise of the option or the disposition of the Shares (or any other time that a taxable event related to the Plan occurs). At any time, the Company or the Employer may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant’s compensation the amount necessary for the Company or the Employer to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company or the Employer any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of Shares by the Eligible Employee. In addition, the Company or the Employer may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the proceeds of the sale of Shares or any other method of withholding the Company or the Employer deems appropriate to the extent permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(f).

 

7.             Grant of Option. On the Enrollment Date of each Offering Period, each Eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period will be granted an option to purchase on each Exercise Date during such Offering Period (at the applicable Purchase Price) up to a number of Shares determined by dividing such Eligible Employee’s Contributions accumulated prior to such Exercise Date and retained in the Eligible Employee’s account as of the Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price; provided, that in no event will an Eligible Employee be permitted to purchase more than 1,250 Shares during each Offering Period or more than 2,500 Shares per calendar year (subject, in each case, to any adjustment pursuant to Section 19 of the Plan); provided, further, that such purchase will be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3(d) and 13 of the Plan. The Eligible Employee may accept the grant of such option (i) with respect to the first Offering Period by submitting a properly completed subscription agreement in accordance with the requirements of Section 5 of the Plan on or before the last day of the Enrollment Window, and (ii) with respect to any subsequent Offering Period under the Plan, by electing to participate in the Plan in accordance with the requirements of Section 5 of the Plan. The Administrator may, for future Offering Periods, increase or decrease, in its absolute discretion, the maximum number of Shares that an Eligible Employee may purchase during each Offering Period. Exercise of the option will occur as provided in Section 8, unless the Participant has withdrawn pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan. To the extent not otherwise exercised in full, the option will expire on the last day of the Offering Period.

 

8.             Exercise of Option.

 

(a)            Unless a Participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 10 of the Plan, his or her option for the purchase of Shares will be exercised automatically on the Exercise Date, and the maximum number of full shares subject to the option will be purchased for such Participant at the applicable Purchase Price with the accumulated Contributions from his or her account. No fractional Shares will be purchased; any Contributions accumulated in a Participant’s account, which are not sufficient to purchase a full share will be retained in the Participant’s account for the subsequent Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the Participant as provided in Section 10. Any other funds left over in a Participant’s account after the Exercise Date will be returned to the Participant. During a Participant’s lifetime, a Participant’s option to purchase shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.

 

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(b)           If the Administrator determines that, on a given Exercise Date, the number of Shares with respect to which options are to be exercised may exceed (i) the number of Shares that were available for sale under the Plan on the Enrollment Date of the applicable Offering Period, or (ii) the number of Shares available for sale under the Plan on such Exercise Date, the Administrator may in its sole discretion (x) provide that the Company will make a pro rata allocation of the Shares available for purchase on such Enrollment Date or Exercise Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as will be practicable and as it will determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants exercising options to purchase Shares on such Exercise Date, and continue all Offering Periods then in effect or (y) provide that the Company will make a pro rata allocation of the shares available for purchase on such Enrollment Date or Exercise Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as will be practicable and as it will determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all participants exercising options to purchase Shares on such Exercise Date, and terminate any or all Offering Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 20 of the Plan. The Company may make a pro rata allocation of the shares available on the Enrollment Date of any applicable Offering Period pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any authorization of additional shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company’s shareholders subsequent to such Enrollment Date.

 

(c)            Further, with respect to any Offering under the Non-423 Component that is made to Participants of Designated Companies within the European Economic Area (the “EEA”), if a prospectus may be required to be filed in accordance with EU Prospectus Directive No. 2003/71/EC, as currently and hereinafter amended (the “EU Prospectus Directive”), then until such time as a valid prospectus is on file or a prospectus is not required or is no longer required under the EU Prospectus Directive in connection with such Offerings under the Plan, the total Purchase Price payable for the aggregate number of Shares offered under this Plan under all Offerings that are not otherwise exempt from the EU Prospectus Directive made to Participants of Designated Companies within the EEA for any twelve (12)-month period shall not exceed EUR 5 million (the “EEA Limit”). If the Administrator determines that, on a given Enrollment Date, the total Purchase Price payable for the number of Shares with respect to which options are to be exercised may cause the EEA Limit to be exceeded, the Administrator may in its sole discretion (x) provide that the Company will make a pro rata allocation of the Shares available for purchase and under the EEA Limit on such Enrollment Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as will be practicable and as it will determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants of Designated Companies within the EEA exercising options to purchase Shares by reference to the Offering Period beginning on that Enrollment Date, and continue all Offering Periods then in effect or (y) provide that the Company will make a pro rata allocation of the Shares available for purchase and under the EEA Limit on such Enrollment Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as will be practicable and as it will determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants of Designated Companies within the EEA exercising options to purchase Shares by reference to the Offering Period beginning on that Enrollment Date, and terminate any or all Offering Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 20 of the Plan.

 

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9.             Delivery. As soon as reasonably practicable after each Exercise Date on which a purchase of Shares occurs, the Company will arrange the delivery to each Participant of the shares purchased upon exercise of his or her option in a form determined by the Administrator (in its sole discretion) and pursuant to rules established by the Administrator. The Company may permit or require that shares be deposited directly with a broker designated by the Company or to a designated agent of the Company, and the Company may utilize electronic or automated methods of share transfer. The Company may require that shares be retained with such broker or agent for a designated period of time and/or may establish other procedures to permit tracking of disqualifying dispositions of such shares. No Participant will have any voting, dividend, or other shareholder rights with respect to Shares subject to any option granted under the Plan until such shares have been purchased and delivered to the Participant as provided in this Section 9 of the Plan.

 

10.           Withdrawal.

 

(a)            A Participant may withdraw all but not less than all the Contributions credited to his or her account and not yet used to exercise his or her option under the Plan at any time by (i) submitting to the Company’s share administration office (or its designee) a written notice of withdrawal in the form determined by the Administrator for such purpose (which may be similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit B), or (ii) following an electronic or other withdrawal procedure determined by the Administrator. All of the Participant’s Contributions credited to his or her account will be paid to such Participant promptly after receipt of notice of withdrawal and such Participant’s option for the Offering Period will be automatically terminated, and no further Contributions for the purchase of shares will be made for such Offering Period. If a Participant withdraws from an Offering Period, Contributions will not resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period, unless the Participant re-enrolls in the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the Plan.

 

(b)           A Participant’s withdrawal from an Offering Period will not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in any similar plan that may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering Periods that commence after the termination of the Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.

 

11.           Termination of Employment. Upon a Participant’s ceasing to be an Eligible Employee, for any reason, he or she will be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the Contributions credited to such Participant’s account during the Offering Period but not yet used to purchase Shares under the Plan will be returned to such Participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 15 of the Plan, and such Participant’s option will be automatically terminated. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator in a manner that, with respect to an Offering under the 423 Component, is permitted by, and compliant with, Section 423 of the Code, a Participant whose employment transfers between entities through a termination with an immediate rehire (with no break in service) by the Company or a Designated Company shall not be treated as terminated under the Plan; however, no Participant shall be deemed to switch from an Offering under the Non-423 Component to an Offering under the 423 Component or vice versa unless (and then only to the extent) such switch would not cause the 423 Component or any Option thereunder to fail to comply with Section 423 of the Code.

 

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12.           Interest. No interest will accrue on the Contributions of a participant in the Plan, except as may be required by Applicable Law, as determined by the Company, and if so required by the laws of a particular jurisdiction, shall, with respect to Offerings under the 423 Component, apply to all Participants in the relevant Offering, except to the extent otherwise permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(f).

 

13.            Shares.

 

(a)            Subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 19 hereof, the maximum number of Shares that will be made available for sale under the Plan will be 1,389,828 Shares. In addition, the number of Shares available for sale under the Plan will automatically increase on the first day of each year, for a period of nine years from the date the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company, commencing on January 1, 2025, and ending on (and including) January 1, 2033, in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) zero point fifteen percent (0.15)% of the total number of shares of the Company’s ordinary shares outstanding on December 31 of the preceding year; (ii) 300,000 Shares; or (iii) such lesser number of Shares as determined by the Board at any time prior to the first day of a given calendar year. The Shares available for sale under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares or reacquired Shares, including Shares purchased on the open market.

 

(b)           Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), a Participant will only have the rights of an unsecured creditor with respect to such shares, and no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder will exist with respect to such shares.

 

(c)           Shares to be delivered to a Participant under the Plan will be registered in the name of the Participant or in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse.

 

14.           Administration. The Plan will be administered by the Board or a Committee appointed by the Board, which Committee will be constituted to comply with Applicable Laws. The Administrator will have full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe, interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to designate separate Offerings under the Plan, to designate Subsidiaries and Affiliates as participating in the 423 Component or Non-423 Component, to determine eligibility, to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan and to establish such procedures that it deems necessary for the administration of the Plan (including, without limitation, to adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit the participation in the Plan by employees who are foreign nationals or employed outside the U.S., the terms of which sub-plans may take precedence over other provisions of this Plan, with the exception of Section 13(a) hereof, but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such sub-plan, the provisions of this Plan shall govern the operation of such sub-plan). Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the employees eligible to participate in each sub-plan will participate in a separate Offering and will be in the Non-423 Component, unless such designation would cause the 423 Component to violate the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding eligibility to participate, the definition of Compensation, handling of Contributions, making of Contributions to the Plan (including, without limitation, in forms other than payroll deductions), establishment of bank or trust accounts to hold Contributions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, obligations to pay payroll tax, determination of beneficiary designation requirements, withholding procedures and handling of share certificates that vary with applicable local requirements. The Administrator also is authorized to determine that, to the extent permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(f), the terms of an option granted under the Plan or an Offering to citizens or residents of a non-U.S. jurisdiction will be less favorable than the terms of options granted under the Plan or the same Offering to employees resident solely in the U.S. Every finding, decision and determination made by the Administrator will, to the full extent permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties.

 

12

 

 

15.           Designation of Beneficiary.

 

(a)            If permitted by the Administrator, a Participant may file a designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any Shares and cash, if any, from the Participant’s account under the Plan in the event of such Participant’s death subsequent to an Exercise Date on which the option is exercised but prior to delivery to such Participant of such shares and cash. In addition, if permitted by the Administrator, a Participant may file a designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the Participant’s account under the Plan in the event of such Participant’s death prior to exercise of the option. If a Participant is married and the designated beneficiary is not the spouse, spousal consent will be required for such designation to be effective.

 

(b)           Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the Participant at any time by notice in a form determined by the Administrator. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such Participant’s death, the Company will deliver such shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its discretion, may deliver such shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate.

 

(c)           All beneficiary designations will be in such form and manner as the Administrator may designate from time to time. Notwithstanding Sections 15(a) and (b) above, the Company and/or the Administrator may decide not to permit such designations by Participants in non-U.S. jurisdictions to the extent permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(f).

 

16.           Transferability. Neither Contributions credited to a Participant’s account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive Shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as provided in Section 15 hereof) by the Participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition will be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

 

13

 

 

17.           Use of Funds. The Company may use all Contributions received or held by it under the Plan for any corporate purpose, and the Company will not be obligated to segregate such Contributions except under Offerings or for Participants in the Non-423 Component for which Applicable Laws require that Contributions to the Plan by Participants be segregated from the Company’s general corporate funds and/or deposited with an independent third party. Until Shares are issued, Participants will only have the rights of an unsecured creditor with respect to such shares.

 

18.           Reports. Individual accounts will be maintained for each Participant in the Plan. Statements of account will be given to participating Eligible Employees at least annually, which statements will set forth the amounts of Contributions, the Purchase Price, the number of Shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

 

19.           Adjustments, Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger or Change in Control.

 

(a)           Adjustments. In the event that any subdivision or consolidation of outstanding Shares, declaration of a dividend payable in Shares or other share split, other recapitalization or capital reorganization of the Company, any consolidation or merger of the Company with another corporation or entity, the adoption by the Company of any plan of exchange affecting the Shares or any distribution to holders of Shares of securities or property (other than normal cash dividends or dividends payable in Shares), the Administrator, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, will, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust the number and class of Shares that may be delivered under the Plan, the Purchase Price per share and the number of Shares covered by each option under the Plan that has not yet been exercised, and the numerical limits of Sections 7 and 13 of the Plan.

 

(b)           Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any Offering Period then in progress will be shortened by setting a New Exercise Date, and will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation, unless provided otherwise by the Administrator. The New Exercise Date will be before the date of the Company’s proposed dissolution or liquidation. The Administrator will notify each Participant in writing or electronically, prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10 hereof.

 

(c)            Merger or Change in Control. In the event of a merger or Change in Control, each outstanding option will be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the option, the Offering Period with respect to which such option relates will be shortened by setting a New Exercise Date on which such Offering Period shall end. The New Exercise Date will occur before the date of the Company’s proposed merger or Change in Control. The Administrator will notify each Participant in writing or electronically prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10 hereof.

 

14

 

 

20.           Amendment or Termination.

 

(a)           The Board or the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason. If the Plan is terminated, the Board or the Administrator, in its discretion, may elect to terminate all outstanding Offering Periods either immediately or upon completion of the purchase of Shares on the next Exercise Date (which may be sooner than originally scheduled, if determined by the Administrator in its discretion), or may elect to permit Offering Periods to expire in accordance with their terms (and subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 19 hereof). If the Offering Periods are terminated prior to expiration, all amounts then credited to Participants’ accounts that have not been used to purchase Shares will be returned to the Participants (without interest thereon, except as otherwise required under Applicable Laws, as further set forth in Section 12 hereof) as soon as administratively practicable.

 

(b)           Without shareholder consent and without limiting Section 20(a) hereof, the Administrator will be entitled to change the Offering Periods, designate separate Offerings, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit Contributions in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of properly completed Contribution elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Shares for each Participant properly correspond with Contribution amounts, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion advisable that are consistent with the Plan.

 

(c)            In the event the Administrator determines that the ongoing operation of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Administrator may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify, amend or terminate the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including, but not limited to:

 

(i)             amending the Plan to conform with the safe harbor definition under the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor thereto), including with respect to an Offering Period underway at the time;

 

(ii)            altering the Purchase Price for any Offering Period including an Offering Period underway at the time of the change in Purchase Price;

 

(iii)           shortening any Offering Period by setting a New Exercise Date, including an Offering Period underway at the time of the Administrator action;

 

(iv)           reducing the maximum percentage of Compensation a Participant may elect to set aside as Contributions; and

 

(v)            reducing the maximum number of Shares a Participant may purchase during any Offering Period.

 

Such modifications or amendments will not require shareholder approval or the consent of any Plan Participants.

 

15

 

 

21.           Notices. All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan will be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form and manner specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

 

22.           Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares will not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto will comply with all applicable provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any share exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

 

23.           Code Section 409A. The 423 Component of the Plan is exempt from the application of Code Section 409A and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so be exempt from Code Section 409A. In furtherance of the foregoing and notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, if the Administrator determines that an option granted under the Plan may be subject to Code Section 409A or that any provision in the Plan would cause an option under the Plan to be subject to Code Section 409A, the Administrator may amend the terms of the Plan and/or of an outstanding option granted under the Plan, or take such other action the Administrator determines is necessary or appropriate, in each case, without the Participant’s consent, to exempt any outstanding option or future option that may be granted under the Plan from or to allow any such options to comply with Code Section 409A, but only to the extent any such amendments or action by the Administrator would not violate Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no liability to a Participant or any other party if the option to purchase Shares under the Plan that is intended to be exempt from or compliant with Code Section 409A is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Administrator with respect thereto. The Company makes no representation that the option to purchase Shares under the Plan is compliant with Code Section 409A.

 

24.           Term of Plan. The Plan will become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the shareholders of the Company. It will continue in effect for a term of ten years, unless sooner terminated under Section 20 of the Plan.

 

25.           Shareholder Approval. The Plan will be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such shareholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.

 

26.           Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Delaware (except its choice-of-law provisions).

 

16

 

 

27.           No Right to Employment. Participation in the Plan by a Participant shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained as an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate, as applicable. Furthermore, the Employer may dismiss a Participant from employment at any time, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan.

 

28.           Severability. If any provision of the Plan is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable for any reason in any jurisdiction or as to any Participant, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as to such jurisdiction or Participant as if the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had not been included.

 

29.           Compliance with Applicable Laws. The terms of this Plan are intended to comply with all Applicable Laws and will be construed accordingly.

 

30.           Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. Any suit, action or proceeding with respect to the Plan, or any judgment entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in respect of any thereof, shall be resolved only in the courts of the State of Massachusetts and the appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals in such courts. In that context, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company and each Participant shall irrevocably and unconditionally (a) submit in any proceeding relating to the Plan or any option, or for the recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof (a “Proceeding”), to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Massachusetts, the court of the United States of America for the District of Massachusetts, and appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals from any of the foregoing, and agree that all claims in respect of any such Proceeding shall be heard and determined in such Massachusetts State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court, (b) consent that any such Proceeding may and shall be brought in such courts and waives any objection that the Company and each Participant may now or thereafter have to the venue or jurisdiction of any such Proceeding in any such court or that such Proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agree not to plead or claim the same, (c) waive all right to trial by jury in any Proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to the Plan or any option, (d) agree that service of process in any such Proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy of such process by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such party, in the case of a Participant, at the Participant’s address shown in the books and records of the Company or, in the case of the Company, at the Company’s principal offices, attention General Counsel, and (e) agree that nothing in the Plan shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

17

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

SHARKNINJA, INC.

 

2023 EMPLOYEE SHARE PURCHASE PLAN

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

Original Application Offering Date:

 

Change in Payroll Deduction Rate

 

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the SharkNinja, Inc. 2023 Employee Share Purchase Plan.

 

1.             I,                        , hereby elect to participate in the SharkNinja, Inc. (the “Company”) 2023 Employee Share Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) and subscribe to purchase shares of the Company’s Shares in accordance with this 2023 Employee Share Purchase Plan Subscription Agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) and the Plan.

 

2.             I hereby authorize payroll deductions from each paycheck in the amount of % of my Compensation on each payday (from 0 to 15%) during the Offering Period in accordance with the Plan. (Please note that no fractional percentages are permitted.)

 

3.             I understand that said payroll deductions will be accumulated for the purchase of Shares at the applicable Purchase Price determined in accordance with the Plan. I understand that if I do not withdraw from an Offering Period, any accumulated payroll deductions will be used to automatically exercise my option and purchase Shares under the Plan at the end of each applicable Offering Period.

 

4.             I have received a copy of the complete Plan and its accompanying prospectus. I understand that my participation in the Plan is in all respects subject to the terms of the Plan. The Company reserves the right to modify the Plan and to impose other requirements on my participation in the Plan, on the option and on any Shares purchased under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. I agree to be bound by such modifications regardless of whether notice is given to me of such event, subject, in any case, to my right to withdrawal from participation in the Plan. I further agree to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

 

5.             I understand the following paragraph applies to me if I am a U.S. taxpayer or subject to U.S. taxation: If I dispose of any shares received by me pursuant to an offering of the Plan in the United States within two (2) years after the Offering Date (the first day of the Offering Period during which I purchased such shares) or one (1) year after the Exercise Date, I will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having received ordinary income at the time of such disposition in an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares at the time such shares were purchased by me over the Purchase Price. I hereby agree to notify the Company in writing within thirty (30) days after the date of any disposition of my shares and I will make adequate provision for U.S. federal, state or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the disposition of the Shares. The Company may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from my compensation the amount necessary to meet any applicable withholding obligation including any withholding necessary to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of Shares by me. If I dispose of such shares at any time after the expiration of the two (2)-year and one (1)-year holding periods, I understand that I will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having received income only at the time of such disposition, and that such income will be taxed as ordinary income only to the extent of an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares at the time of such disposition over the Purchase Price, or (b) 15% of the Fair Market Value of the shares on the first day of the Offering Period. The remainder of the gain, if any, recognized on such disposition will be taxed as capital gain.

 

 

 

6.             The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to current or future participation in the Plan by electronic means. I hereby consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agree to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

 

7.             The Subscription Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to its conflict of laws provisions). For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from the relationship of the parties, I hereby submit and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of Massachusetts and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of Boston, Massachusetts, or the federal courts for the U.S. for the District of Massachusetts, and no other courts.

 

8.             I hereby agree to be bound by the terms of the Plan and this Subscription Agreement. The effectiveness of this Subscription Agreement is dependent upon my eligibility to participate in the Plan.

 

Employee’s Tax ID Number:  
   
Employee’s Address:  
   
   
   
   

  

 

 

I ACKNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT INCLUDING ITS APPENDICES AND MY PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGHOUT SUCCESSIVE OFFERING PERIODS UNLESS AFFIRMATIVELY TERMINATED BY ME.

 

Dated: _______________________________________

 

Signature of Employee: ___________________________

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

SHARKNINJA, INC.

 

2023 EMPLOYEE SHARE PURCHASE PLAN NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL

 

The undersigned participant in the Offering Period of the SharkNinja, Inc. 2023 Employee Share Purchase Plan that began on                                         ,               (the “Offering Date”) hereby notifies the Company that he or she hereby withdraws from the Offering Period. He or she hereby directs the Company to pay to the undersigned as promptly as practicable all the Contributions credited to his or her account at the time of withdrawal with respect to such Offering Period. The undersigned understands and agrees that his or her option for such Offering Period will be automatically terminated. The undersigned understands further that no further payroll deductions will be made for the purchase of shares in the current Offering Period and the undersigned will be eligible to participate in succeeding Offering Periods only by delivering to the Company a new Subscription Agreement.

 

  Name and Address of Participant:
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

 

  Signature:
   
   
   
  Date:           

 

 

 

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 2023 Equity Incentive Plan and 2023 Employee Share Purchase Plan of SharkNinja, Inc. of our report dated March 30, 2023, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of SharkNinja Global SPV, Ltd. included in the Registration Statement (Form F-1 No. 333-272973) and related Prospectus of SharkNinja, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

 

 

Boston, Massachusetts

July 28, 2023

 

 

 

Exhibit 107

 

Calculation of Filing Fee Table

Form S-8

(Form Type)

 

SharkNinja, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

 

  Security
Type
Security
Class
Title
Fee
Calculation
or Carry
Forward
Rule
Amount
Registered(1)
Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Unit
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
Fee Rate Amount of
Registration
Fee
Fees to be Paid Equity Ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share Other(2) 13,898,287(4) $10.09 $140,210,598(2) $110.20 per $1,000,000 $15,452
  Equity Ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share Other(3) 1,389,828(5) $8.58 $11,917,895(3) $110.20 per $1,000,000 $1,314
  Total Offering Amounts   $152,128,493   $16,766
  Total Fee Offsets      
  Net Fee Due       $16,766

 

(1)Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement also covers an indeterminate number of ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share of the Registrant, which may be offered and issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock distributions or similar transactions.
(2)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(a) of the Securities Act. Given that there is no proposed maximum offering price per ordinary share, the Registrant calculates the proposed maximum aggregate offering price, by analogy to Rule 457(f)(2), based on the book value of the ordinary shares the Registrant registers, which was calculated from its unaudited pro forma balance sheet as of March 31, 2023. Given that the Registrant’s ordinary shares are not traded on an exchange or over-the-counter, the Registrant did not use the trading prices of its ordinary shares in accordance with Rule 457(c).
(3)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(a) of the Securities Act. Given that there is no proposed maximum offering price per ordinary share, the Registrant calculates the proposed maximum aggregate offering price, by analogy to Rule 457(f)(2), based on 85%, which reflects the discount to the purchase price applicable to purchases under the SharkNinja, Inc. 2023 Employee Share Purchase Plan, of the book value of the ordinary shares the Registrant registers, which was calculated from its unaudited pro forma balance sheet as of March 31, 2023. Given that the Registrant’s ordinary shares are not traded on an exchange or over-the-counter, the Registrant did not use the trading prices of its ordinary shares in accordance with Rule 457(c).
(4)Represents 13,898,287 ordinary shares reserved for issuance under the SharkNinja, Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan.
(5)Represents 1,389,828 ordinary shares reserved for issuance under the SharkNinja, Inc. 2023 Employee Share Purchase Plan.