Registration Statement No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Belgium | None | |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Grand Place/Grote Markt 1
1000 Brussels, Belgium
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Stock Option Plan Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009
Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009
Underlying Plans for Dividend Waiver and Exchange Program
Share Based Compensation Plan March 2010
Share Based Compensation Plan March 2010 for EBM, GHQ & NY
(Full Title of the Plans)
John Blood
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
250 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Tel. No.: (212) 573-4366
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
George H. White
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
1 New Fetter Lane
London EC4A 1AN
United Kingdom
Tel. No.: 011-44-20-7959-8900
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer | ¨ | Accelerated filer | ¨ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | x | Smaller reporting company | ¨ |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Securities to Be Registered
|
Amount to Be
|
Proposed Maximum
|
Proposed Maximum
|
Amount of
|
||||||||||
Ordinary shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV without nominal value (Ordinary Shares) (1) |
||||||||||||||
Stock Option Plan Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009 |
2,994,615 | $50.99 (3)(5) | $152,695,418.85 (3) | |||||||||||
Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009 |
803,511 | $51.40 (3)(6) | $ 41,300,465.40 (3) | |||||||||||
Underlying Plans for Dividend Waiver and Exchange Program |
5,732,542 | $49.84 (3)(7) | $285,709,893.28 (3) | |||||||||||
Share Based Compensation Plan March 2010 and Share Based Compensation Plan March 2010 for EBM, GHQ & NY
|
3,500,000
|
$49.295 (4)
|
$ 172,532,500 (4)
|
|||||||||||
Total |
$652,238,277.53
|
$46,504.59
|
(1) | The Ordinary Shares of the Registrant may be represented by the Registrants American Depositary Shares (ADSs), evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, each representing one ordinary share without nominal value. A separate registration statement on Form F-6 was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 26, 2009, as amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1, filed on September 14, 2009 (Registration No. 333-160277) for the registration of ADSs evidenced by American Depositary Receipts issuable upon deposit of Ordinary Shares. |
(2) | The amount being registered also includes an indeterminate number of Ordinary Shares which may be issuable under the plans as a result of variations in share capital, share splits, share dividends or similar transactions, in accordance with Rule 416. |
(3) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act. The estimate is based on the price at which the options may be exercised. |
(4) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act. The estimate is based on the average of the high and low prices of the Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on February 23, 2010. |
(5) | Based on an exercise price in euro of 35.705, and converted at the noon buying rate of 1.00 = $1.4281 on December 18, 2009. |
(6) | Based on an exercise price in euro of 35.90, and converted at the noon buying rate of 1.00 = $1.4317 on December 17, 2009. |
(7) | Based on an exercise price in euro of 33.24, and converted at the noon buying rate of 1.00 = $1.4994 on November 30, 2009. |
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants in the plans covered by this registration statement as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). These documents and the documents incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this registration statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. | Incorporation of Documents by Reference |
The following documents that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (AB InBev) has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) are incorporated in this registration statement by reference and made a part hereof:
Registration Statement on Form 20-F (File No. 001-34455) filed with the SEC on September 14, 2009 (Form 20-F)
Each document incorporated by reference is current only as of the date of such document, and the incorporation by reference of such document shall not create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of AB InBev since its date or that the information contained in it is current as of any time subsequent to its date.
All documents filed by AB InBev pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Reports on Form 6-K that AB InBev furnishes to the Commission will only be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement if such Report on Form 6-K expressly states that it is incorporated by reference herein.
Any statement contained in such a document shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purpose of this registration statement to the extent that a subsequent statement contained herein or in a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes that 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. In addition, any statement contained in any such document shall be deemed to be superseded for the purpose of this registration statement to the extent that a discussion contained herein covering the same subject matter omits such statement. Any such statement omitted shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this registration statement.
Item 4. | Description of Securities |
Please refer to Item 10. Additional Information Memorandum and Articles of Association and Other Share Information Description of the Rights and Benefits Attached To Our Shares in the Form 20-F for a description of Ordinary Shares.
Please refer to Item 12. Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities American Depositary Shares in the Form 20-F for a description of American Depositary Shares.
Item 5. | Interests of Named Experts and Counsel |
Not applicable
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Item 6. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
Group Coverage and Policy
As the parent company of the AB InBev Group, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has undertaken to indemnify its directors, officers and employees against any and all expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys fees and any expenses of establishing a right to indemnification by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV), judgments, fines, penalties, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred by any such director, officer and employee in connection with the defence or settlement of any proceeding brought (i) by a third party or (ii) by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV or by shareholders or other third parties in the right of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV. Such indemnification applies if, with respect to the acts or omissions of such director, officer and employee, he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and, in the case of a criminal action or proceeding, he had no reason to believe that his conduct was unlawful. For these purposes, proceeding refers to any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative to which a director, officer or employee is a party or is threatened to be made a party by reason of the fact that he or she was a director or an agent of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV or of one of its subsidiaries or by reason of anything done or not done by him in such capacity.
No determination in any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction or otherwise shall, of itself, create a presumption that such director, officer or employee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
In addition, AB InBev has a liability insurance policy that covers all past, present and future directors and officers of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and its subsidiaries, which are those entities in which it holds more than 50% of the voting rights, or of which it can individually, or under a shareholders agreement, appoint the board of directors. The insurance covers any damages such directors or officers are legally obliged to pay as a result of any claim against them. A claim for these purposes includes include all requests against the directors and officers, including (i) a civil proceeding; (ii) a criminal proceeding; (iii) a formal administrative or regulatory proceeding; and (iv) a written request by a third party.
Item 7. | Exemption from Registration Claimed |
Not applicable.
Item 8. | Exhibits |
Exhibit
|
Description |
|
4.1 | Consolidated Articles of Association of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, dated as of 12 February 2010 (English-language translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NVs Report on Form 6-K (File No. 001-34455) filed with the SEC on February 18, 2010). | |
4.2 | Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, by and among Anheuser-Busch SA/NV and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Depositary and Owners and Holders of American Depositary Shares, dated as of September 15, 2009. | |
4.3 | Terms and Conditions of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Stock Option Plan Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009. | |
4.4 | Terms and Conditions of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009. | |
4.5 | Forms of Stock Option Plan underlying the Dividend Waiver and Exchange Program. | |
4.6 | Terms and Conditions of Share Based Compensation Plan March 2010. | |
4.7 |
Terms and Conditions of Share Based Compensation Plan March 2010 for EBM, GHQ & NY. |
|
23.1 | Consent of KPMG Bedrijfsrevisoren / Réviseurs dEntreprises | |
23.2 | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | |
24.1 | Power of Attorney of Certain Directors and Officers of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV | |
24.2 | Power of Attorney of Authorized Representative in the United States |
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Item 9. | Undertakings |
(a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
(1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
(i) | to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
(ii) | to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; |
(iii) | to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
provided however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference into the registration statement.
(2) | 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; and |
(3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
(6) | That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
(i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
(ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
(iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
(iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
(b) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrants annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(c) |
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 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 Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 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 |
4
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person against the registrant 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 of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Leuven, Belgium on February 25, 2010.
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV | ||
By: | / S / B ENOIT L OORE | |
Name: | Benoit Loore | |
Title: |
Vice-President, Legal Corporate and Compliance Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons, in the capacities indicated, on February 25, 2010.
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7
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
|
Description |
|
4.1 | Consolidated Articles of Association of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, dated as of 12 February 2010 (English-language translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NVs Report on Form 6-K (File No. 001-34455) filed with the SEC on February 18, 2010). | |
4.2 | Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, by and among Anheuser-Busch SA/NV and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Depositary and Owners and Holders of American Depositary Shares, dated as of September 15, 2009. | |
4.3 | Terms and Conditions of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Stock Option Plan Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009. | |
4.4 | Terms and Conditions of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009. | |
4.5 | Forms of Stock Option Plan underlying the Dividend Waiver and Exchange Program. | |
4.6 | Terms and Conditions of Share Based Compensation Plan March 2010. | |
4.7 | Terms and Conditions of Share Based Compensation Plan March 2010 for EBM, GHQ & NY. | |
23.1 | Consent of KPMG Bedrijfsrevisoren / Réviseurs dEntreprises | |
23.2 | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | |
24.1 | Power of Attorney of Certain Directors and Officers of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV | |
24.2 | Power of Attorney of Authorized Representative in the United States |
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Exhibit 4.2
ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV SA/NV
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
As Depositary
AND
OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement
Dated as of September 15, 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1. |
DEFINITIONS | 2 | ||
SECTION 1.01 |
American Depositary Shares. |
2 | ||
SECTION 1.02 |
Commission. |
2 | ||
SECTION 1.03 |
Company. |
2 | ||
SECTION 1.04 |
Custodian. |
2 | ||
SECTION 1.05 |
Deliver; Surrender. |
2 | ||
SECTION 1.06 |
Deposit Agreement. |
3 | ||
SECTION 1.07 |
Depositary; Corporate Trust Office. |
3 | ||
SECTION 1.08 |
Deposited Securities. |
3 | ||
SECTION 1.09 |
Dollars. |
4 | ||
SECTION 1.10 |
DTC. |
4 | ||
SECTION 1.11 |
Foreign Registrar. |
4 | ||
SECTION 1.12 |
Holder. |
4 | ||
SECTION 1.13 |
Owner. |
4 | ||
SECTION 1.14 |
Receipts. |
4 | ||
SECTION 1.15 |
Registrar. |
4 | ||
SECTION 1.16 |
Restricted Securities. |
4 | ||
SECTION 1.17 |
Securities Act of 1933. |
5 | ||
SECTION 1.18 |
Shares. |
5 | ||
ARTICLE 2. |
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES | 5 | ||
SECTION 2.01 |
Form of Receipts; Registration and Transferability of American Depositary Shares. |
5 | ||
SECTION 2.02 |
Deposit of Shares. |
6 | ||
SECTION 2.03 |
Delivery of American Depositary Shares. |
7 | ||
SECTION 2.04 |
Registration of Transfer of American Depositary Shares; Combination and Split-up of Receipts; Interchange of Certificated and Uncertificated American Depositary Shares. |
8 | ||
SECTION 2.05 |
Surrender of American Depositary Shares and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities. |
9 | ||
SECTION 2.06 |
Limitations on Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of American Depositary Shares. |
10 | ||
SECTION 2.07 |
Lost Receipts, etc. |
11 | ||
SECTION 2.08 |
Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts. |
11 | ||
SECTION 2.09 |
Pre-Release of American Depositary Shares. |
11 | ||
SECTION 2.10 |
DTC Direct Registration System and Profile Modification System. |
12 |
- ii -
ARTICLE 3. |
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES | 12 | ||
SECTION 3.01 |
Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information. |
12 | ||
SECTION 3.02 |
Liability of Owner for Taxes. |
13 | ||
SECTION 3.03 |
Warranties on Deposit of Shares. |
13 | ||
ARTICLE 4. |
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES | 14 | ||
SECTION 4.01 |
Cash Distributions. |
14 | ||
SECTION 4.02 |
Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights. |
14 | ||
SECTION 4.03 |
Distributions in Shares. |
15 | ||
SECTION 4.04 |
Rights. |
15 | ||
SECTION 4.05 |
Conversion of Foreign Currency. |
17 | ||
SECTION 4.06 |
Fixing of Record Date. |
18 | ||
SECTION 4.07 |
Voting of Deposited Securities. |
18 | ||
SECTION 4.08 |
Changes Affecting Deposited Securities. |
19 | ||
SECTION 4.09 |
Reports. |
19 | ||
SECTION 4.10 |
Lists of Owners. |
20 | ||
SECTION 4.11 |
Withholding. |
20 | ||
ARTICLE 5. |
THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY | 20 | ||
SECTION 5.01 |
Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary. |
20 | ||
SECTION 5.02 |
Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company. |
21 | ||
SECTION 5.03 |
Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company. |
21 | ||
SECTION 5.04 |
Resignation and Removal of the Depositary. |
22 | ||
SECTION 5.05 |
The Custodians. |
23 | ||
SECTION 5.06 |
Notices and Reports. |
24 | ||
SECTION 5.07 |
Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc. |
24 | ||
SECTION 5.08 |
Indemnification. |
25 | ||
SECTION 5.09 |
Charges of Depositary. |
25 | ||
SECTION 5.10 |
Retention of Depositary Documents. |
26 | ||
SECTION 5.11 |
Exclusivity. |
27 | ||
SECTION 5.12 |
List of Restricted Securities Owners. |
27 |
- iii -
ARTICLE 6. |
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION | 27 | ||
SECTION 6.01 |
Amendment. |
27 | ||
SECTION 6.02 |
Termination. |
27 | ||
ARTICLE 7. |
MISCELLANEOUS | 28 | ||
SECTION 7.01 |
Counterparts. |
28 | ||
SECTION 7.02 |
No Third Party Beneficiaries. |
29 | ||
SECTION 7.03 |
Severability. |
29 | ||
SECTION 7.04 |
Owners and Holders as Parties; Binding Effect. |
29 | ||
SECTION 7.05 |
Notices. |
29 | ||
SECTION 7.06 |
Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver. |
30 | ||
SECTION 7.07 |
Waiver of Immunities. |
31 | ||
SECTION 7.08 |
Governing Law. |
31 |
- iv -
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of September 15, 2009, among ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV SA/NV, incorporated under the laws of Belgium (herein called the Company), THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, a New York banking corporation (herein called the Depositary), and all Owners and Holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued hereunder.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company and the Depositary entered into a deposit agreement dated as of June 30, 2009 (the Prior Deposit Agreement) for the purposes stated in that agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Company has become a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Company and Depositary now wish to amend and restate the Prior Deposit Agreement to reflect that fact; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of Shares (as hereinafter defined) of the Company from time to time with the Depositary or with the Custodian (as hereinafter defined) as agent of the Depositary for the purposes set forth in this Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, for the creation of American Depositary Shares representing the Shares so deposited and for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Receipts evidencing the American Depositary Shares;
WHEREAS, the Company and the Depositary do not intend to provide for the deposit of any Verminderde Voorheffing Précompte Réduit or VVPR strips accompanying any deposited Shares, and the American Depositary Shares shall not represent any VVPR strips; and
WHEREAS, the American Depositary Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement;
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto that the Prior Deposit Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:
SECTION 1.01 American Depositary Shares.
The term American Depositary Shares shall mean the securities created under this Deposit Agreement representing rights with respect to the Deposited Securities. American Depositary Shares may be certificated securities evidenced by Receipts or uncertificated securities. The form of Receipt annexed as Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement shall be the prospectus required under the Securities Act of 1933 for sales of both certificated and uncertificated American Depositary Shares. Except for those provisions of this Deposit Agreement that refer specifically to Receipts, all the provisions of this Deposit Agreement shall apply to both certificated and uncertificated American Depositary Shares. Each American Depositary Share shall represent the number of Shares specified in Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement, until there shall occur a distribution upon Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.03 or a change in Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.08 with respect to which additional American Depositary Shares are not delivered, and thereafter American Depositary Shares shall represent the amount of Shares or Deposited Securities specified in such Sections. For the avoidance of doubt, the American Depositary Shares shall not qualify as certificats / certificaten under Article 503 ff. of the Belgian Companies Code.
SECTION 1.02 Commission.
The term Commission shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States or any successor governmental agency in the United States.
SECTION 1.03 Company.
The term Company shall mean Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, incorporated under the laws of Belgium, and its successors.
SECTION 1.04 Custodian.
The term Custodian shall mean the principal Brussels office of ING Belgium SA/NV, as agent of the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and any other firm or corporation which may hereafter be appointed by the Depositary pursuant to the terms of Section 5.05, as substitute or additional custodian or custodians hereunder, as the context shall require and shall also mean all of them collectively.
SECTION 1.05 Deliver; Surrender.
(a) The term deliver, or its noun form, when used with respect to Shares or other Deposited Securities, shall mean (i) book-entry transfer of those Shares or other Deposited Securities to an account maintained by an institution authorized under applicable law to effect transfers of such securities designated by the person entitled to that delivery or (ii) physical transfer of certificates evidencing those Shares or other Deposited Securities registered in the name of, or duly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer to, the person entitled to that delivery.
- 2 -
(b) The term deliver, or its noun form, when used with respect to American Depositary Shares, shall mean (i) book-entry transfer of American Depositary Shares to an account at DTC designated by the person entitled to such delivery, evidencing American Depositary Shares registered in the name requested by that person, (ii) registration of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt on the books of the Depositary in the name requested by the person entitled to such delivery and mailing to that person of a statement confirming that registration or (iii) if requested by the person entitled to such delivery, delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary to the person entitled to such delivery of one or more Receipts.
(c) The term surrender, when used with respect to American Depositary Shares, shall mean (i) one or more book-entry transfers of American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of the Depositary, (ii) delivery to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of an instruction to surrender American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt or (iii) surrender to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of one or more Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 1.06 Deposit Agreement.
The term Deposit Agreement shall mean this Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
SECTION 1.07 Depositary; Corporate Trust Office.
The term Depositary shall mean The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation, and any successor as depositary hereunder. The term Corporate Trust Office, when used with respect to the Depositary, shall mean the office of the Depositary which at the date of this Deposit Agreement is 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286.
SECTION 1.08 Deposited Securities.
The term Deposited Securities as of any time shall mean Shares at such time deposited or deemed to be deposited under this Deposit Agreement, including without limitation Shares that have not been successfully delivered upon surrender of American Depositary Shares, and any and all other securities, property and cash received by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect thereof and at such time held under this Deposit Agreement, subject as to cash to the provisions of Section 4.05.
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SECTION 1.09 Dollars.
The term Dollars shall mean United States dollars.
SECTION 1.10 DTC.
The term DTC shall mean The Depository Trust Company or its successor.
SECTION 1.11 Foreign Registrar.
The term Foreign Registrar shall mean the entity that presently carries out the duties of registrar for the Shares or any successor as registrar for the Shares and any other agent of the Company for the transfer and registration of Shares, including without limitation any securities depository for the Shares.
SECTION 1.12 Holder.
The term Holder shall mean any person holding a Receipt or a security entitlement or other interest in American Depositary Shares, whether for its own account or for the account of another person, but that is not the Owner of that Receipt or those American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 1.13 Owner.
The term Owner shall mean the person in whose name American Depositary Shares are registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.
SECTION 1.14 Receipts.
The term Receipts shall mean the American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder evidencing certificated American Depositary Shares, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
SECTION 1.15 Registrar.
The term Registrar shall mean any bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, that is appointed by the Depositary to register American Depositary Shares and transfers of American Depositary Shares as herein provided.
SECTION 1.16 Restricted Securities.
The term Restricted Securities shall mean Shares, or American Depositary Shares representing Shares, that are acquired directly or indirectly from the
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Company or its affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933) in a transaction or chain of transactions not involving any public offering, or that are subject to resale limitations under Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933 or both, or which are held by an officer, director (or persons performing similar functions) or other affiliate of the Company, or that would require registration under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the offer and sale thereof in the United States, or that are subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the laws of the United States or Belgium, or under a shareholder agreement or the articles of association or similar document of the Company.
SECTION 1.17 Securities Act of 1933.
The term Securities Act of 1933 shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.
SECTION 1.18 Shares.
The term Shares shall mean ordinary shares of the Company that are validly issued and outstanding and fully paid, nonassessable and that were not issued in violation of any pre-emptive or similar rights of the holders of outstanding securities of the Company; provided , however , that, if there shall occur any change in par value (or in any nominal value), a split-up or consolidation or any other reclassification or, upon the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.08, an exchange or conversion in respect of the Shares of the Company, the term Shares shall thereafter also mean the successor securities resulting from such change in par value (or in any nominal value), split-up or consolidation or such other reclassification or such exchange or conversion. The outstanding Shares of the Company currently exist in bearer form, registered form or dematerialized (i.e., securities account-entry) form.
ARTICLE 2. FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
SECTION 2.01 Form of Receipts; Registration and Transferability of American Depositary Shares.
Definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless such Receipt shall have been (i) executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary or (ii) executed by the facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary and countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary or a Registrar. The Depositary shall maintain books on which (x) each Receipt so executed and delivered as hereinafter provided and the transfer
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of each such Receipt shall be registered and (y) all American Depositary Shares delivered as hereinafter provided and all registrations of transfer of American Depositary Shares shall be registered. A Receipt bearing the facsimile signature of a person that was at any time a proper officer of the Depositary shall, subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, bind the Depositary, notwithstanding that such person was not a proper officer of the Depositary on the date of issuance of that Receipt.
The Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or modifications not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement as may reasonably be required by the Depositary or required to comply with any applicable law or regulations thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which American Depositary Shares may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the underlying Deposited Securities or otherwise.
American Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt, when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable as certificated registered securities under the laws of New York. American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as uncertificated registered securities under the laws of New York. The Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner of American Depositary Shares as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes, and neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation or be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any holder of American Depositary Shares unless that holder is the Owner of those American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 2.02 Deposit of Shares.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, Shares or evidence of rights to receive Shares may be deposited by delivery thereof to any Custodian hereunder, accompanied by any appropriate instruments or instructions for transfer, or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Custodian, together with all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary or the Custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, and, if the Depositary requires, together with a written order directing the Depositary to deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in such order, the number of American Depositary Shares representing such deposit.
No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in Belgium that is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange. If required by the Depositary, Shares presented for deposit at any time, whether or not the transfer books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if
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applicable, are closed, shall also be accompanied by an agreement or assignment, or other instrument satisfactory to the Depositary, which will provide for the prompt transfer to the Custodian of any dividend, or right to subscribe for additional Shares or to receive other property which any person in whose name the Shares are or have been recorded may thereafter receive upon or in respect of such deposited Shares, or in lieu thereof, such agreement of indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the Depositary.
At the risk and expense of any person proposing to deposit Shares, and for the account of such person, the Depositary may receive certificates for Shares in bearer or registered form to be deposited, together with the other instruments herein specified, for the purpose of forwarding such Share certificates to the Custodian for deposit hereunder in accordance with the provisions of the following paragraph.
Upon each delivery to a Custodian of a certificate or certificates for Shares to be deposited hereunder, together with the other documents specified above, such Custodian shall, as soon as transfer and recordation can be accomplished, present such certificate or certificates to the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, for exchange of such Shares in bearer or registered form for Shares in dematerialized form and the subsequent transfer and recordation of the resulting Shares in dematerialized form in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or its nominee.
Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by a Custodian for the account and to the order of the Depositary or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the Depositary or a Custodian accept a deposit of Shares to the extent that, after giving effect to that deposit, the number of Shares on deposit would exceed (i) 30 percent of the total number of Shares outstanding (as indicated by the Company and provided to the Depositary) or (ii) a number of Shares (as indicated by the Company and provided to the Depositary) that would, under applicable Belgian legal rules, obligate the holder thereof or any person acting in concert with such holder to launch a mandatory bid for all Shares or other Company securities giving access to voting rights. The Company shall notify the Depositary of the applicable number of Shares described in clauses (i) and (ii) of the preceding sentence as of the date of this Deposit Agreement and, as promptly as practicable, of any subsequent change in those numbers.
SECTION 2.03 Delivery of American Depositary Shares.
Upon receipt by any Custodian of any deposit pursuant to Section 2.02 hereunder, together with the other documents required as specified above, such Custodian shall notify the Depositary of such deposit and the person or persons to whom or upon whose written order American Depositary Shares are deliverable in respect thereof and the number of American Depositary Shares to be so delivered. Such notification shall be
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made by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission (and in addition, if the transfer books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are open, the Depositary may in its sole discretion require a proper acknowledgment or other evidence from the Company or the Foreign Registrar that any Deposited Securities have been recorded upon the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or its nominee). Upon receiving such notice from such Custodian, or upon the receipt of Shares or evidence of the right to receive Shares by the Depositary, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall deliver, as promptly as practicable, to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled thereto, the number of American Depositary Shares issuable in respect of that deposit, but only upon payment to the Depositary of the fees and expenses of the Depositary for the delivery of such American Depositary Shares as provided in Section 5.09, and of all taxes and governmental charges and fees payable in connection with such deposit and the transfer of the Deposited Securities.
SECTION 2.04 Registration of Transfer of American Depositary Shares; Combination and Split-up of Receipts; Interchange of Certificated and Uncertificated American Depositary Shares.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall register transfers of American Depositary Shares on its transfer books from time to time without unreasonable delay, upon (i) in the case of certificated American Depositary Shares, surrender of the Receipt evidencing those American Depositary Shares, by the Owner in person or by a duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer or (ii) in the case of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, receipt from the Owner of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.10), and, in either case, duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and of the United States of America. Thereupon the Depositary shall deliver those American Depositary Shares to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall, without unreasonable delay, upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts for any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
The Depositary, upon surrender of certificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for uncertificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel those certificated American Depositary Shares and send the Owner a statement confirming that the Owner is the owner of the same number of uncertificated
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American Depositary Shares. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.10) from the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for certificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel those uncertificated American Depositary Shares and, without unreasonable delay, shall deliver to the Owner the same number of certificated American Depositary Shares.
The Depositary may appoint one or more co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting registration of transfers of American Depositary Shares and combinations and split-ups of Receipts at designated transfer offices on behalf of the Depositary. In carrying out its functions, a co-transfer agent may require evidence of authority and compliance with applicable laws and other requirements by Owners or persons entitled to American Depositary Shares and will be entitled to protection and indemnity to the same extent as the Depositary.
SECTION 2.05 Surrender of American Depositary Shares and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities.
Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of American Depositary Shares for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares as provided in Section 5.09 and payment of all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such surrender and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owner of those American Depositary Shares shall be entitled to delivery, to him or as instructed, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented by those American Depositary Shares. Such delivery shall be made, as hereinafter provided, without unreasonable delay.
A Receipt surrendered for such purposes may be required by the Depositary to be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank. The Depositary may require the surrendering Owner to execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be delivered to or upon the written order of a person or persons designated in such order. Thereupon the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to deliver at the office of such Custodian, without unreasonable delay and subject to Sections 2.06, 3.01 and 3.02 and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, to or upon the written order of the person or persons designated in the order delivered to the Depositary as above provided, the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the surrendered American Depositary Shares, except that the Depositary may make delivery to such person or persons at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of any dividends or distributions with respect to the Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares, or of any proceeds of sale of any dividends, distributions or rights, which may at the time be held by the Depositary.
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At the request, risk and expense of any Owner so surrendering American Depositary Shares, and for the account of such Owner, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward any cash or other property (other than rights) comprising, and forward a certificate or certificates, if applicable and subject to the last sentence of this paragraph, and other proper documents of title for, the Deposited Securities represented by the surrendered American Depositary Shares to the Depositary for delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary. Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Owner, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission. For the avoidance of doubt, any Shares to be delivered to the order of Owners upon the surrender of American Depositary Shares shall be delivered exclusively in dematerialized form.
SECTION 2.06 Limitations on Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of American Depositary Shares.
As a condition precedent to the delivery, registration of transfer or surrender of any American Depositary Shares or split-up or combination of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, Custodian or Registrar may require payment from the depositor of Shares or the presenter of the Receipt or instruction for registration of transfer or surrender of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as herein provided, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, including, without limitation, this Section 2.06.
Except as otherwise agreed between the Depositary and the Company and subject to the provisions of the following sentence, the delivery of American Depositary Shares against deposit of Shares generally or against deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of American Depositary Shares in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding American Depositary Shares generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, and the acceptance of surrenders of American Depositary Shares for the purpose of withdrawal of Deposited Securities may be suspended during specified periods before meetings of holders of Shares and dividend payments or as otherwise reasonably necessary to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement, the surrender of outstanding American Depositary Shares and withdrawal of Deposited
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Securities may not be suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the American Depositary Shares or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any Shares that would be required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 for public offer and sale in the United States unless a registration statement is in effect as to those Shares for such offer and sale.
SECTION 2.07 Lost Receipts, etc.
In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary shall deliver to the Owner the American Depositary Shares evidenced by that Receipt in uncertificated form or, if requested by the Owner, execute and deliver a new Receipt of like tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt, upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt. Before the Depositary shall deliver American Depositary Shares in uncertificated form or execute and deliver a new Receipt, in substitution for a destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, the Owner thereof shall have (a) filed with the Depositary (i) a request for such execution and delivery before the Depositary has notice that the Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser and (ii) a sufficient indemnity bond and (b) satisfied any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary.
SECTION 2.08 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.
All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary shall be cancelled by the Depositary. The Depositary is authorized to destroy Receipts so cancelled.
SECTION 2.09 Pre-Release of American Depositary Shares.
Notwithstanding Section 2.03 hereof, the Depositary may deliver American Depositary Shares prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 (a Pre-Release). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05, deliver Shares upon the surrender of American Depositary Shares that have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such American Depositary Shares have been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive American Depositary Shares in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom American Depositary Shares or Shares are to be delivered, that such person, or its customer, owns the Shares or American Depositary Shares to be remitted, as the case may be, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit
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regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. Except as otherwise agreed between the Company and the Depositary, the number of Shares represented by American Depositary Shares which are outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Release will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited hereunder. Except as otherwise agreed between the Company and the Depositary, the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate.
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection with the foregoing.
SECTION 2.10 DTC Direct Registration System and Profile Modification System.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.04, the parties acknowledge that the Direct Registration System (DRS) and Profile Modification System (Profile) shall apply to uncertificated American Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the Depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto. Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner of American Depositary Shares, to direct the Depositary to register a transfer of those American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the Depositary of prior authorization from the Owner to register such transfer.
(b) In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties understand that the Depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting a registration of transfer and delivery as described in subsection (a) has the actual authority to act on behalf of the Owner (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.08 shall apply to the matters arising from the use of the DRS. The parties agree that the Depositarys reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the Depositary through the DRS/Profile System and in accordance with this Deposit Agreement shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the Depositary.
ARTICLE 3. CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
SECTION 3.01 Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or holder may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of
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citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary may reasonably deem necessary or proper. The Depositary may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of American Depositary Shares or the distribution of any dividend or sale or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties made.
Owners and Holders may be subject to Belgian law notification and mandatory tender offer requirements regarding their holdings of American Depositary Shares and Shares and should acquaint themselves with applicable Belgian law regarding such requirements (including certain notification requirements set forth in the Companys articles of association).
SECTION 3.02 Liability of Owner for Taxes.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Custodian or the Depositary with respect to any American Depositary Shares or any Deposited Securities represented by any American Depositary Shares, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner of such American Depositary Shares to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to register any transfer of those American Depositary Shares or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares until such payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner thereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares, and may apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge and the Owner of such American Depositary Shares shall remain liable for any deficiency.
SECTION 3.03 Warranties on Deposit of Shares.
Every person depositing Shares under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor, if applicable, are validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of any preemptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that the deposit of such Shares and the sale of American Depositary Shares representing such Shares by that person are not restricted under the Securities Act of 1933. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and delivery of American Depositary Shares.
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ARTICLE 4. THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
SECTION 4.01 Cash Distributions.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, subject to the provisions of Section 4.05, convert such dividend or distribution into Dollars and shall, without unreasonable delay, distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively; provided , however , that in the event that the Custodian or the Depositary shall be required to withhold and does withhold from such cash dividend or such other cash distribution an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Owner of the American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Owner a fraction of one cent. Any such fractional amounts shall be rounded to the nearest whole cent and so distributed to Owners entitled thereto. The Company or its agent will remit to the appropriate governmental agency in Belgium all amounts withheld and owing to such agency. The Depositary will forward to the Company or its agent such information from its records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental agencies, and the Depositary or the Company or its agent may file any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under the applicable tax treaties for the Owners. Owners and Holders may submit duly completed copies of Form 276 Div. Aut. or another applicable form or certification for that purpose to the Depositary.
SECTION 4.02 Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights.
Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.09, whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than a distribution described in Section 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04, the Depositary shall cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, after deduction or upon payment of any fees and expenses of the Depositary or any taxes or other governmental charges, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, in any manner that the Depositary may reasonably deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including, but not limited to, any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities must be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed to Owners or holders) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, after consultation with the Company, adopt such method as it may deem
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equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) shall be distributed without unreasonable delay by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01. The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under this Section 4.02 if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that the distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933. The Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of securities or other property it would otherwise distribute under this Section 4.02 that is sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution.
SECTION 4.03 Distributions in Shares.
If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, and shall, if the Company shall so request in writing, deliver to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Shares and after deduction or upon issuance of American Depositary Shares, including the withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 and the payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 (and the Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of the Shares received sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution). The Depositary may withhold any such delivery of American Depositary Shares if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933. In lieu of delivering fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary shall sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds without unreasonable delay, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01. If additional American Depositary Shares are not so delivered, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
SECTION 4.04 Rights.
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or for any
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other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion, after consultation with and with the agreement of the Company, that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary may distribute to any Owner to whom it determines, after consultation with and with the agreement of the Company, the distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropriate.
In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner hereunder, the Depositary will make such rights available to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of this Deposit Agreement, deliver American Depositary Shares to such Owner. In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this Section, such deposit shall be made, and depositary shares shall be delivered, under depositary arrangements which provide for issuance of depositary shares subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under applicable United States laws.
If the Depositary determines in its discretion, after consultation with the Company, that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it may sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject to the
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terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise.
The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the rights and the securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to a distribution to all Owners or are registered under the provisions of such Act; provided , that nothing in this Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the Company to file a registration statement with respect to such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have such a registration statement declared effective. If an Owner requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such registration under the Securities Act of 1933, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution unless it has received an opinion from recognized counsel in the United States for the Company upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is exempt from such registration.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any Owner in particular.
SECTION 4.05 Conversion of Foreign Currency.
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted by sale or in any other manner that it may determine such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be distributed without unreasonable delay to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09.
If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.
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If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary is not obtainable, or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.
If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.
SECTION 4.06 Fixing of Record Date.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient, the Depositary shall, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, fix a record date (a) for the determination of the Owners who shall be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, (ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or (iii) responsible for any fee or charge assessed by the Depositary pursuant to this Deposit Agreement, or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.01 through 4.05 and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owners on such record date shall be entitled, as the case may be, to receive the amount distributable by the Depositary with respect to such dividend or other distribution or such rights or the net proceeds of sale thereof in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively and to give voting instructions and to act in respect of any other such matter.
SECTION 4.07 Voting of Deposited Securities.
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary shall, after consultation with the Company and as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners
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a notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting received by the Depositary from the Company, (b) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of Belgian law and of the articles of association or similar documents of the Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given. Upon the written request of an Owner of American Depositary Shares on such record date, received on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor, in so far as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. The Depositary shall not vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other Deposited Securities, other than in accordance with such instructions.
There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in particular will receive the notice described in the preceding paragraph sufficiently prior to the instruction cutoff date to ensure that the Depositary will vote the Shares or Deposited Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in the preceding paragraph.
SECTION 4.08 Changes Affecting Deposited Securities.
Upon any change in par value (or in any nominal value), split-up, consolidation or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, or upon the redemption or cancellation by the Company of the Deposited Securities, any securities, cash or property which shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for, in conversion of, in lieu of or in respect of Deposited Securities, shall be treated as new Deposited Securities under this Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent, in addition to the existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive the new Deposited Securities so received, unless additional American Depositary Shares are delivered pursuant to the following sentence. In any such case the Depositary may, and shall, if the Company so requests in writing, deliver additional American Depositary Shares as in the case of a dividend in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited Securities.
SECTION 4.09 Reports.
The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners at its Corporate Trust Office any reports and communications, including any proxy solicitation material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company. The Depositary shall also, upon written
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request by the Company, send to the Owners copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 5.06. Any such reports and communications, including any such proxy soliciting material, furnished to the Depositary by the Company shall be furnished in English, to the extent such materials are required to be translated into English pursuant to any regulations of the Commission.
SECTION 4.10 Lists of Owners.
Promptly upon request by the Company, the Depositary shall furnish to it a list, as of a recent date, of the names, addresses and holdings of American Depositary Shares by all persons in whose names American Depositary Shares are registered on the books of the Depositary.
SECTION 4.11 Withholding.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes or charges and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of such taxes or charges to the Owners entitled thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively.
ARTICLE 5. THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.01 Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary.
Until termination of this Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Depositary shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, facilities for the execution and delivery, registration, registration of transfers and surrender of American Depositary Shares in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall keep books, at its Corporate Trust Office, for the registration of American Depositary Shares and transfers of American Depositary Shares which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Owners, provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to this Deposit Agreement or the American Depositary Shares.
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The Depositary may close the transfer books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder.
If any American Depositary Shares are listed on one or more stock exchanges in the United States, the Depositary shall act as Registrar or appoint a Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registry of such American Depositary Shares in accordance with any requirements of such exchange or exchanges.
SECTION 5.02 Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or Holder (i) if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the articles of association or similar document of the Company, or by reason of any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of God or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden from, or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of this Deposit Agreement or the Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or performed, (ii) by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of this Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed, (iii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement, (iv) for the inability of any Owner or holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of this Deposit Agreement, made available to Owners or holders, or (v) for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of this Deposit Agreement. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02 or 4.03, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04, or for any other reason, such distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners, and the Depositary may not dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not make such distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse.
SECTION 5.03 Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company.
The Company assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner or Holder, except that the Company agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
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The Depositary assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner or Holder (including, without limitation, liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities), except that the Depositary agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the American Depositary Shares on behalf of any Owner or Holder or any other person.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for any action or nonaction by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information.
The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.
The Depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of Deposited Securities or otherwise.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is in good faith.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 5.04 Resignation and Removal of the Depositary.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 120 days prior written notice of such removal, to become effective upon the later of (i) the 120th day after delivery of the notice to the Depositary and (ii) the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.
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In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Every successor depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor; but such predecessor, nevertheless, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Deposited Securities to such successor and shall deliver to such successor a list of the Owners of all outstanding Receipts. Any such successor depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the Owners.
Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.
SECTION 5.05 The Custodians.
The Custodian shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the directions of the Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it. Any Custodian may resign and be discharged from its duties hereunder by notice of such resignation delivered to the Depositary at least 30 days prior to the date on which such resignation is to become effective. If upon such resignation there shall be no Custodian acting hereunder, the Depositary shall, promptly after receiving such notice, appoint a substitute custodian or custodians, each of which shall thereafter be a Custodian hereunder. The Depositary in its discretion may appoint a substitute or additional custodian or custodians, each of which shall thereafter be one of the Custodians hereunder. Upon demand of the Depositary any Custodian shall deliver such of the Deposited Securities held by it as are requested of it to any other Custodian or such substitute or additional custodian or custodians. Each such substitute or additional custodian shall deliver to the Depositary, forthwith upon its appointment, an acceptance of such appointment satisfactory in form and substance to the Depositary.
Upon the appointment of any successor depositary hereunder, each Custodian then acting hereunder shall forthwith become, without any further act or writing, the agent hereunder of such successor depositary and the appointment of such successor depositary shall in no way impair the authority of each Custodian hereunder; but the successor depositary so appointed shall, nevertheless, on the written request of any Custodian, execute and deliver to such Custodian all such instruments as may be proper to give to such Custodian full and complete power and authority as agent hereunder of such successor depositary.
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SECTION 5.06 Notices and Reports.
On or before the first date on which the Company gives notice, by publication or otherwise, of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or of any adjourned meeting of such holders, or of the taking of any action in respect of any cash or other distributions or the offering of any rights, the Company agrees to transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the notice thereof in the form given or to be given to holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities.
The Company will arrange for the translation into English, if not already in English, to the extent required pursuant to any regulations of the Commission, and the prompt transmittal by the Company to the Depositary and the Custodian of such notices and any other reports and communications which are made generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares. If requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary will arrange for the mailing, at the Companys expense (except as otherwise agreed between the Company and the Depositary), of copies of such notices, reports and communications to all Owners. The Company will timely provide the Depositary with the quantity of such notices, reports, and communications, as requested by the Depositary from time to time, in order for the Depositary to effect such mailings. The Depositary will mail to any Owner upon its request a copy of the Companys most recent annual report, to the extent the Company has supplied copies of that report to the Depositary for that purpose.
SECTION 5.07 Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc.
If the Company or any affiliate of the Company determines to make any issuance or distribution of (1) additional Shares, (2) rights to subscribe for Shares, (3) securities convertible into Shares, or (4) rights to subscribe for such securities (each a Distribution), the Company shall notify the Depositary in writing in English as promptly as practicable and in any event before the Distribution starts and, if requested in writing by the Depositary, the Company shall promptly furnish to the Depositary a written opinion from U.S. counsel for the Company that is reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, stating whether or not the Distribution requires, or, if made in the United States, would require, registration under the Securities Act of 1933. If, in the opinion of that counsel, the Distribution requires, or, if made in the United States, would require, registration under the Securities Act of 1933, that counsel shall furnish to the Depositary a written opinion as to whether or not there is a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 in effect that will cover that Distribution.
The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company will at any time deposit any Shares, either originally issued or previously issued and
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reacquired by the Company or any such affiliate, unless a Registration Statement is in effect as to such Shares under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Company delivers to the Depositary an opinion of United States counsel, satisfactory to the Depositary, to the effect that, upon deposit, those Shares will be eligible for public resale in the United States without further registration under the Securities Act of 1933.
SECTION 5.08 Indemnification.
The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, its directors, employees, agents and affiliates and any Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability or expense (including, but not limited to any fees and expenses incurred in seeking, enforcing or collecting such indemnity and the fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of or in connection with (a) any registration with the Commission of American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or the offer or sale thereof in the United States or (b) acts performed or omitted, pursuant to the provisions of or in connection with this Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, (i) by either the Depositary or a Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith of either of them, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, employees, agents and affiliates.
The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company, its directors, employees, agents and affiliates and hold them harmless from any liability or expense which may arise out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or its Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates due to their negligence or bad faith.
SECTION 5.09 Charges of Depositary.
The Company agrees to pay the fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in accordance with agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and the Company from time to time.
For the benefit of the Depositary and/or the Company, the following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering American Depositary Shares or to whom American Depositary Shares are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or a delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.03), or by Owners, as applicable: (1) taxes and other governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to or from the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder, (3) such telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in this Deposit
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Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 and the surrender of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02, (6) a fee of the greater of (i) $0.02 per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) and (ii) 6% of the amount per American Depositary Share of any dividend or other cash distribution, or less, for any cash distribution made pursuant to this Deposit Agreement, including, but not limited to, Sections 4.01 through 4.04, (7) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.02, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares referred to above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (for purposes of this clause 7 treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners, (8) an annual fee for depositary services, payable only in the event that the Company does not pay a dividend in any 12-month period of at least EUR 0.28 per Share, equal to the difference per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) between (x) $.0.02 and (y) the fee payable under clause 6 above, or less, which will be payable as provided in clause 9 below, and (9) any other unavoidable charges introduced after the date of this Deposit Agreement and payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositarys agents, including the Custodian, or the agents of the Depositarys agents to any governmental or regulatory authority or to any central repository (i.e., the Depository Trust Company or similar entities) in connection with the servicing of Shares or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions). Any increase in the cash distribution fee provided by clause 6 of the preceding sentence, or in the Depositary services fee provided by clause 8 of the preceding sentence, above $0.02 per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) shall be at the sole discretion of the Company, including with regard to the amount of any such increase.
The Depositary, subject to Section 2.09 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 5.10 Retention of Depositary Documents.
The Depositary is authorized to destroy those documents, records, bills and other data compiled during the term of this Deposit Agreement at the times permitted by the laws or regulations governing the Depositary unless the Company requests that such papers be retained for a longer period or turned over to the Company or to a successor depositary.
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SECTION 5.11 Exclusivity.
The Company agrees not to appoint any other depositary for issuance of American or global depositary shares or receipts so long as The Bank of New York Mellon is acting as Depositary hereunder.
SECTION 5.12 List of Restricted Securities Owners.
From time to time, the Company shall provide to the Depositary a list setting forth, to the actual knowledge of the Company, those persons or entities who beneficially own Restricted Securities and the Company shall update that list on a regular basis. The Depositary may rely on such a list or update but shall not be liable for any action or omission made in reliance thereon.
ARTICLE 6. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
SECTION 6.01 Amendment.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary without the consent of Owners or holders in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners, shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding American Depositary Shares until the expiration of thirty days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding American Depositary Shares. Every Owner and holder, at the time any amendment so becomes effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such American Depositary Shares or any interest therein, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner to surrender American Depositary Shares and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
SECTION 6.02 Termination.
The Company may at any time terminate this Deposit Agreement by instructing the Depositary to mail a notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the termination date included in such notice. The Depositary may likewise terminate this Deposit Agreement if at any time 90 days shall have expired after the Depositary delivered to the Company a written resignation notice and if a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.04; in such case the Depositary shall mail a notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then
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outstanding at least 30 days prior to the termination date. On and after the date of termination, the Owner of American Depositary Shares will, upon (a) surrender of such American Depositary Shares, (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares referred to in Section 2.05, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares. If any American Depositary Shares shall remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of American Depositary Shares, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts under this Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights and other property as provided in this Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, upon surrender of American Depositary Shares (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges).
At any time after the expiration of four months from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held under this Deposit Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it hereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of American Depositary Shares that have not theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect to such net proceeds. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges. Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.08 and 5.09.
ARTICLE 7. MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 7.01 Counterparts.
This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument. Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and the Custodians and shall be open to inspection by any Owner or Holder during business hours.
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SECTION 7.02 No Third Party Beneficiaries.
This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person.
SECTION 7.03 Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
SECTION 7.04 Owners and Holders as Parties; Binding Effect.
The Owners and Holders from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Receipts by acceptance of American Depositary Shares or any interest therein.
SECTION 7.05 Notices.
Any and all notices to be given to the Company shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, Brouwerijplein 1, 3000 Leuven, Belgium, Attention: Benoit Loore, or any other place to which the Company may have transferred its principal office with notice to the Depositary.
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have been duly given if in English and personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to The Bank of New York Mellon, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, Attention: American Depositary Receipt Administration, or any other place to which the Depositary may have transferred its Corporate Trust Office with notice to the Company.
Any and all notices to be given to any Owner shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to such Owner at the address of such Owner as it appears on the transfer books for American Depositary Shares of the Depositary, or, if such Owner shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for such Owner be mailed to some other address, at the address designated in such request.
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Delivery of a notice sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a cable, telex or facsimile transmission) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post-office letter box. The Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any cable, telex or facsimile transmission received by it, notwithstanding that such cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as aforesaid.
SECTION 7.06 Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver.
The Company hereby (i) irrevocably designates and appoints AB InBev Services LLC, 250 Park Avenue, 2 nd Floor, New York, New York 10017, in the State of New York, as the Companys authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement, (ii) consents and submits to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court in the State of New York in which any such suit or proceeding may be instituted, and (iii) agrees that service of process upon said authorized agent shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company agrees to deliver, upon the execution and delivery of this Deposit Agreement, a written acceptance by such agent of its appointment as such agent. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment in full force and effect for so long as any American Depositary Shares or Receipts remain outstanding or this Agreement remains in force. In the event the Company fails to continue such designation and appointment in full force and effect, the Company hereby waives personal service of process upon it and consents that any such service of process may be made by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, directed to the Company at its address last specified for notices hereunder, and service so made shall be deemed completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so mailed.
EACH PARTY TO THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH OWNER AND HOLDER) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE COMPANY AND/OR THE DEPOSITARY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES OR THE RECEIPTS, THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY QUESTION REGARDING EXISTENCE, VALIDITY OR TERMINATION (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
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SECTION 7.07 Waiver of Immunities.
To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution or judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity and consents to such relief and enforcement.
SECTION 7.08 Governing Law.
This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be interpreted and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, except with respect to its authorization and execution by the Company, which shall be governed by the laws of Belgium.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV SA/NV and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first set forth above and all Owners and Holders shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of American Depositary Shares or any interest therein.
ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV SA/NV | ||||
By: |
/s/ B. Loore |
|||
Name: B. Loore | ||||
Title: VP Legal Corporate | ||||
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, | ||||
as Depositary | ||||
By: |
/s/ Joanne F. Di Giovanni |
|||
Name: Joanne F. Di Giovanni | ||||
Title: Vice President |
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EXHIBIT A
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES | ||||
(Each American Depositary Share represents one deposited Share) |
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR ORDINARY SHARES
OF
ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV SA/NV
(INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF BELGIUM)
The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary (hereinafter called the Depositary), hereby certifies that , or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing deposited ordinary shares (herein called Shares) of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, incorporated under the laws of Belgium (herein called the Company). At the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents one Share deposited or subject to deposit under the Deposit Agreement (as such term is hereinafter defined) at the principal Brussels office of ING Belgium SA/NV (herein called the Custodian). The Depositarys Corporate Trust Office is located at a different address than its principal executive office. Its Corporate Trust Office is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, N.Y. 10286, and its principal executive office is located at One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286.
THE DEPOSITARYS CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS
101 BARCLAY STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10286
1. THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT .
This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue (herein called Receipts), all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2009 (herein called the Deposit Agreement), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Owners and Holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder, each of whom by accepting American Depositary Shares agrees to become a party thereto and become bound by all the terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights of Owners and holders and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other securities, property and cash from time to time received in respect of such Shares and held thereunder (such Shares, securities, property, and cash are herein called Deposited Securities). Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositarys Corporate Trust Office in New York City and at the office of the Custodian.
The statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby made. Capitalized terms defined in the Deposit Agreement and not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
2. SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES AND WITHDRAWAL OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES .
Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of American Depositary Shares, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Owner of those American Depositary Shares is entitled to delivery, to him or as instructed, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented by those American Depositary Shares. Such delivery will be made at the option of the Owner hereof, either at the office of the Custodian or at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, provided that the forwarding of certificates for Shares or other Deposited Securities for such delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary shall be at the risk and expense of the Owner hereof. Any Shares to be delivered upon the surrender of American Depositary Shares shall be delivered exclusively in dematerialized (i.e., securities account-entry) form.
3. TRANSFERS, SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS .
Transfers of American Depositary Shares may be registered on the books of the Depositary by the Owner in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of those American Depositary Shares properly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, in the case of a Receipt, or pursuant to a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.10 of the Deposit Agreement), in the case of uncertificated American
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Depositary Shares, and funds sufficient to pay any applicable transfer taxes and the expenses of the Depositary and upon compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish for such purpose. This Receipt may be split into other such Receipts, or may be combined with other such Receipts into one Receipt, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered. The Depositary, upon surrender of certificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for uncertificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel those certificated American Depositary Shares and send the Owner a statement confirming that the Owner is the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.10 of the Deposit Agreement) from the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for certificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel those uncertificated American Depositary Shares and, without unreasonable delay, shall deliver to the Owner the same number of certificated American Depositary Shares. As a condition precedent to the delivery, registration of transfer, or surrender of any American Depositary Shares or split-up or combination of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the Custodian, or Registrar may require payment from the depositor of the Shares or the presenter of the Receipt or instruction for registration of transfer or surrender of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as provided in the Deposit Agreement, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
Except as otherwise agreed between the Depositary and the Company and subject to the provisions of the following sentence, the delivery of American Depositary Shares against deposit of Shares generally or against deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of American Depositary Shares in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding American Depositary Shares generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, and the acceptance of surrenders of American Depositary Shares for the purpose of withdrawal of Deposited Securities may be suspended during specified periods before meetings of holders of Shares and dividend payments or as otherwise reasonably necessary to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding American Depositary Shares and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused
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by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the American Depositary Shares or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares which would be required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares for such offer and sale.
4. LIABILITY OF OWNER FOR TAXES .
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable with respect to any American Depositary Shares or any Deposited Securities represented by any American Depositary Shares, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to register any transfer of those American Depositary Shares or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares until such payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares, and may apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge and the Owner shall remain liable for any deficiency.
5. WARRANTIES ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES .
Every person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant, that such Shares and each certificate therefor, if applicable, are validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of any preemptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that the deposit of such Shares and the sale of American Depositary Shares representing such Shares by that person are not restricted under the Securities Act of 1933. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and delivery of American Depositary Shares.
6. FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION .
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or holder may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary may reasonably deem necessary or proper. The Depositary may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any American Depositary Shares or the distribution of any
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dividend or sale or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties made. No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in Belgium that is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange. Owners and Holders may be subject to Belgian law notification and mandatory tender offer requirements regarding their holdings of American Depositary Shares and Shares and should acquaint themselves with applicable Belgian law regarding such requirements (including certain notification requirements set forth in the Companys articles of association).
7. CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY .
The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering American Depositary Shares or to whom American Depositary Shares are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or a delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement), or by Owners, as applicable: (1) taxes and other governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to or from the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, (3) such telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05 of the Deposit Agreement, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement and the surrender of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02 of the Deposit Agreement, (6) a fee of the greater of (i) $0.02 per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) and (ii) 6% of the amount per American Depositary Share of any dividend or other cash distribution, or less, for any cash distribution made pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, including, but not limited to, Sections 4.01 through 4.04 of that Agreement, (7) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares referred to above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (for purposes of this clause 7 treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners, (8) an annual fee for depositary services, payable only in the event that the Company does not pay a dividend in any 12-month period of at least EUR 0.28 per Share, equal to the difference per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) between (x) $.0.02 and (y) the fee payable under clause 6 above, or less, which will be payable as provided in clause 9 below, and (9) any other unavoidable charges
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introduced after the date of the Deposit Agreement and payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositarys agents, including the Custodian, or the agents of the Depositarys agents to any governmental or regulatory authority or to any central repository (i.e., the Depository Trust Company or similar entities) in connection with the servicing of Shares or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 of the Deposit Agreement and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions). Any increase in the cash distribution fee provided by clause 6 of the preceding sentence, or in the Depositary services fee provided by clause 8 of the preceding sentence, above $0.02 per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) shall be at the sole discretion of the Company, including with regard to the amount of any such increase.
The Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in American Depositary Shares.
8. PRE-RELEASE OF RECEIPTS .
Notwithstanding Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may deliver American Depositary Shares prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement (a Pre-Release). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement, deliver Shares upon the surrender of American Depositary Shares that have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such American Depositary Shares have been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive American Depositary Shares in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom American Depositary Shares or Shares are to be delivered, that such person, or its customer, owns the Shares or American Depositary Shares to be remitted, as the case may be, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. Except as otherwise agreed between the Company and the Depositary, the number of American Depositary Shares which are outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Release will not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited under the Deposit Agreement. Except as otherwise agreed between the Company and the Depositary, the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate.
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection with the foregoing.
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9. TITLE TO RECEIPTS .
It is a condition of this Receipt and every successive Owner and holder of this Receipt by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees that when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable as certificated registered securities under the laws of New York. American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as uncertificated registered securities under the laws of New York. The Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner of American Depositary Shares as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes, and neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation or be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to any Holder of American Depositary Shares unless that Holder is the Owner of those American Depositary Shares.
10. VALIDITY OF RECEIPT .
This Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided , however that such signature may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and such Receipts are countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar.
11. REPORTS; INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS .
The Company, as a foreign private issuer, is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, accordingly, files reports with the Commission. Those reports will be available for inspection and copying through the Commissions EDGAR on the Internet at www.sec.gov or at public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.
The Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners at its Corporate Trust Office any reports, notices and other communications, including any proxy soliciting material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company. The Depositary will also, upon written request by the Company, send to Owners copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to the Deposit Agreement. Any such reports and communications, including any such proxy soliciting material, furnished to the Depositary by the Company shall be furnished in English to the extent such materials are required to be translated into English pursuant to any regulations of the Commission. The Depositary will mail to any Owner upon its request a copy of the Companys most recent annual report, to the extent the Company has supplied copies of that report to the Depositary for that purpose.
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The Depositary will keep books, at its Corporate Trust Office, for the registration of American Depositary Shares and transfers of American Depositary Shares which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Owners, provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the American Depositary Shares.
12. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS .
Whenever the Depositary receives any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a foreign currency can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into United States dollars transferable to the United States, and subject to the Deposit Agreement, convert such dividend or distribution into dollars and will, without unreasonable delay, distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) to the Owners entitled thereto; provided , however , that in the event that the Custodian or the Depositary is required to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Owners of the American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly.
Subject to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement, whenever the Depositary receives any distribution other than a distribution described in Section 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, in any manner that the Depositary may reasonably deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided , however , that if in the opinion of the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, or if for any other reason the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, after consultation with the Company, adopt such method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) will be distributed without unreasonable delay by the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that the distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933. The Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of securities or other property it would otherwise distribute under this Article that is sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution.
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If any distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, and shall, if the Company shall so request in writing, deliver to the Owners entitled thereto, an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Shares and after deduction or upon issuance of American Depositary Shares, including the withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and the payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement (and the Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of Shares received sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution). The Depositary may withhold any such delivery of American Depositary Shares if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933. In lieu of delivering fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary will sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds without unreasonable delay, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement. If additional American Depositary Shares are not so delivered, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of such taxes or charges to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto.
13. RIGHTS .
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary
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determines in its discretion, after consultation with and with the agreement of the Company, that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary may distribute to any Owner to whom it determines, after consultation with and with the agreement of the Company, the distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropriate.
In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will make such rights available to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, deliver American Depositary Shares to such Owner. In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this Article 13, such deposit shall be made, and depositary shares shall be delivered, under depositary arrangements which provide for issuance of depositary shares subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under applicable United States laws.
If the Depositary determines in its discretion, after consultation with the Company, that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it may sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise.
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The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the rights and the securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to a distribution to all Owners or are registered under the provisions of such Act; provided, that nothing in the Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the Company to file a registration statement with respect to such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have such a registration statement declared effective. If an Owner requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such registration under the Securities Act of 1933, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution unless it has received an opinion from recognized counsel in the United States for the Company upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is exempt from such registration.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any Owner in particular.
14. CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY .
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted by sale or in any other manner that it may determine, such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be distributed without unreasonable delay to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement.
If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for such conversion is denied or in the
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opinion of the Depositary is not obtainable, or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.
If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.
15. RECORD DATES .
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient, the Depositary shall, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, fix a record date (a) for the determination of the Owners who shall be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, (ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or (iii) responsible for any fee assessed by the Depositary pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
16. VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES .
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary shall, after consultation with the Company and as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners of Receipts a notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting received by the Depositary from the Company, (b) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of law and of the articles of association or similar documents of the Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given. Upon the written request of an Owner of American Depositary Shares on such record date, received on or before the date established by the
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Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. The Depositary shall not vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other Deposited Securities, other than in accordance with such instructions.
There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in particular will receive the notice described in the preceding paragraph sufficiently prior to the instruction date to ensure that the Depositary will vote the Shares or Deposited Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in the preceding paragraph.
17. CHANGES AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES .
Upon any change in par value (or in any nominal value), split-up, consolidation, or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, or upon the redemption or cancellation by the Company of the Deposited Securities, any securities, cash or property which shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for, in conversion of, in lieu of or in respect of Deposited Securities shall be treated as new Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent, in addition to the existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive the new Deposited Securities so received, unless additional Receipts are delivered pursuant to the following sentence. In any such case the Depositary may, and shall, if the Company so requests in writing, deliver additional American Depositary Shares as in the case of a dividend in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited Securities.
18. LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY .
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or holder, (i) if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the articles of association or any similar document of the Company, or by reason of any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of God or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden from or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement or Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or performed, (ii) by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed, (iii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure
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to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement, (iv) for the inability of any Owner or holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, made available to Owners or holders, or (v) for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the Deposit Agreement. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02 or 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, such distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners of Receipts, and the Depositary may not dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not make such distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse. Neither the Company nor the Depositary assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to Owners or holders, except that they agree to perform their obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith. The Depositary shall not be subject to any liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit, or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the American Depositary Shares, on behalf of any Owner or holder or other person. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for any action or nonaction by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or holder, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with a matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises, the Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary. The Depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of Deposited Securities or otherwise. The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is in good faith.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement.
19. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN .
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its
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acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 120 days prior written notice of such removal, to become effective upon the later of (i) the 120th day after delivery of the notice to the Depositary and (ii) the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary in its discretion may appoint a substitute or additional custodian or custodians.
20. AMENDMENT .
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary without the consent of Owners or holders in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners, shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding American Depositary Shares until the expiration of thirty days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding American Depositary Shares. Every Owner and holder of American Depositary Shares, at the time any amendment so becomes effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such American Depositary Shares or any interest therein, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner to surrender American Depositary Shares and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
21. TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT .
The Company may terminate the Deposit Agreement by instructing the Depositary to mail notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the termination date included in such notice. The Depositary may likewise terminate the Deposit Agreement, if at any time 90 days shall have expired after the Depositary delivered to the Company a written resignation notice and if a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement; in such case the Depositary shall mail a notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the termination date. On and after the date of termination, the Owner of American Depositary Shares will, upon (a) surrender of such American Depositary Shares, (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares referred to in Section 2.05, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares. If any American Depositary Shares shall remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of
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American Depositary Shares, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights and other property as provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, upon surrender of American Depositary Shares (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any time after the expiration of four months from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held under the Deposit Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it thereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of American Depositary Shares that have not theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect to such net proceeds. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). Upon the termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary with respect to indemnification, charges, and expenses.
22. DTC DIRECT REGISTRATION SYSTEM AND PROFILE MODIFICATION SYSTEM .
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the parties acknowledge that the Direct Registration System (DRS) and Profile Modification System (Profile) shall apply to uncertificated American Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the Depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto. Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner, to direct the Depositary to register a transfer of those American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the Depositary of prior authorization from the Owner to register such transfer.
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(b) In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties understand that the Depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting registration of transfer and delivery described in subsection (a) has the actual authority to act on behalf of the Owner (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement shall apply to the matters arising from the use of the DRS. The parties agree that the Depositarys reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the Depositary through the DRS/Profile System and in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the Depositary.
23. SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; JURY TRIAL WAIVER; WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES .
In the Deposit Agreement, the Company has (i) appointed AB InBev Services LLC, 250 Park Avenue, 2 nd Floor, New York, New York 10017, in the State of New York, as the Companys authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement, (ii) consented and submitted to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court in the State of New York in which any such suit or proceeding may be instituted, and (iii) agreed that service of process upon said authorized agent shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding.
EACH PARTY TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH OWNER AND HOLDER) THEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE COMPANY AND/OR THE DEPOSITARY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES OR THE RECEIPTS, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY QUESTION REGARDING EXISTENCE, VALIDITY OR TERMINATION (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution or judgment, or other legal process or
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proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or the Deposit Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity and consents to such relief and enforcement.
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Exhibit 4.3
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
Stock Options Plan - Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009
Terms and Conditions
1 | Definitions |
When used in this document, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them as indicated below, unless expressly indicated otherwise:
Acceptance Process | the process whereby the Eligible Employee confirms that he/she accepts all or part of the Options or refuses the Options; | |
ADS | an American Depositary Share issued under the deposit agreement with the Bank of New York Mellon (or any successor thereof) traded on the New York Stock Exchange (ISIN: US03524A1088) and representing one share or the right to receive one Share of Anheuser-Busch InBev; | |
Anheuser-Busch InBev | Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, with its registered office at Grand Place 1, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; | |
Banking Day | any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday in Belgium or in the United States, on which banks in Belgium and in the United States are open for business; | |
Board of Directors | the Board of Directors of Anheuser-Busch InBev; | |
Code | the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; | |
Code of Dealing | the Anheuser-Busch InBev Dealing Code, as amended from time to time; | |
Committee | the Compensation and Nominating Committee of Anheuser-Busch InBev; | |
Data Controller | Anheuser-Busch InBev; | |
Data Processor | any third party designated by the Data Controller to process Personal Data on behalf of the Data Controller in accordance with Section 20 for the implementation, administration and management of the Plan and the Options register in electronic form; | |
Dismissal for Serious Cause | dismissal for serious cause as determined by the Chief People Officer in charge of the North America zone of Anheuser-Busch InBev (or other designee of the Chief People & Technology Officer of Anheuser-Busch InBev) in his sole discretion; |
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Divestiture | a situation whereby (i) the employing Anheuser-Busch InBev subsidiary of a Participant is no longer a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev (within the meaning of Article 6 of the Belgian Companies Code) following the sale of shares in the said Anheuser-Busch InBev subsidiary or (ii) a Participants employment is transferred to a third party by the employing Anheuser-Busch InBev subsidiary as a result of a sale of assets of any business operation owned by the employing Anheuser-Busch InBev subsidiary; | |
Eligible Employee | an employee of Anheuser-Busch InBev or its subsidiaries (within the meaning of Article 6 of the Belgian Companies Code) who received an Offer Letter; | |
Exercise Period | the period starting on 1 November 2014 and ending on 31 October 2019 (inclusive); | |
Exercise Price | the price per Option in Euros that a Participant must pay for the Exercise of his/her Options, which is equal to the opening price of the Shares on Euronext Brussels on 18 December 2009 , as set out in the Offer Letter; | |
Expiry Date | 31 October 2019 ; | |
Fair Market Value | on a particular date shall be (i) the opening sale price per Share during normal trading hours on the national securities exchange on which the Share is principally traded for such date or the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Share on such exchange or (ii) if the Shares are then traded in an over-the-counter market, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for the Shares during normal trading hours in such over-the-counter market for such date or the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Shares in such market, or (iii) if the Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange or traded in an over-the-counter market, such value as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine; | |
Incentive Stock Option (ISO) | an Option that is intended to qualify for special federal income tax treatment pursuant to Sections 421 and 422 of the Code (or a successor provision thereof) and which is so designated in the applicable Offer Letter. Under no circumstances shall any Option that is not specifically designated as an Incentive Stock Option be considered an Incentive Stock Option; |
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Leave of Absence | a leave of absence authorised by the Participants employer for any reason; | |
Non-Qualified Stock Option (NQSO) | an Option that is not designated in the applicable Offer Letter as an Incentive Stock Option and is not intended to qualify for special federal income tax treatment; | |
Offer Date | 18 December 2009 ; | |
Offer Letter | the notification, in paper format (letter) and/or in electronic format (e-mail) whereby Anheuser-Busch InBev offers Options to an Eligible Employee; | |
Offer Period | the period starting on 4 January 2010 and ending on 18 January 2010 (inclusive); | |
Option | the right to purchase from Anheuser-Busch InBev one existing Share in accordance with these terms and conditions, which has been offered to an Eligible Employee and which has been accepted by the Eligible Employee through the Anheuser-Busch InBev Option Acceptance Process in due time; | |
Option Exercise Form | the form whereby a Participant notifies Anheuser-Busch InBev or any third party designated by Anheuser-Busch InBev to that effect of his/her decision to exercise all or part of his/her Options in accordance with Section 7.4, to be completed by the Participant in paper format and/or in electronic format on the Website, as the case may be; | |
Participant | any Eligible Employee who has completed the Option Acceptance Process to Anheuser-Busch InBev in due time in accordance with Section 5, or any Successor to whom Options have been transferred in accordance with these terms and conditions; | |
Personal Data | each item of information relating to a Participant including (i) his/her identification data (e.g. name, private or professional contact details), (ii) electronic identification data, (iii) personal characteristics (e.g. date of birth, gender, nationality), (iv) employers entity, (v) preferred language, (vi) financial data (e.g. details regarding bank account), (vii) details of all rights and other entitlement to Shares awarded, cancelled, purchased, vested, unvested or outstanding; | |
Plan | the present Anheuser-Busch InBev Stock Option Plan; | |
Prohibited Period | any period defined as such in the Code of Dealing; |
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Retirement | any termination of employment (other than a termination resulting from a Dismissal for Serious Cause) of a Participant who has attained the age 60 or completed 20 years of service with Anheuser-Busch InBev and/or its subsidiaries and any Divestiture affecting a Participant who has attained the age 60 or completed 20 years of service with Anheuser-Busch InBev and/or its subsidiaries, it being understood that, for the determination of the years of service completed by a Participant with Anheuser-Busch InBev and/or its subsidiaries, employment with entities subsequently acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev shall be included; | |
Share | an ordinary share of Anheuser-Busch InBev (ISIN: BE0003793107); | |
Successor | the successor of a Participant as determined under the applicable law of succession and/or the persons designated by a Participant, in accordance with the applicable law of succession, to inherit the rights of the Participant under the Plan after the death of the Participant; | |
Trading Day | any day on which the regulated market of Euronext Brussels and the New York Stock Exchange are open for trading. | |
Website | the internet website referred to in the Offer Letter (and any successor thereof) through which a Participant can monitor his/her portfolio of Options and exercise his/her Options; |
2 | Approval of the Plan Documentation |
The Plan forms part of an agreement between the Participant and Anheuser-Busch InBev. By completing the Anheuser-Busch InBev Option Acceptance Process in due time, the Participant unconditionally agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions.
3 | Persons Eligible for Options |
Options under the Plan, including Incentive Stock Options, may be offered to such Eligible Employees as the Committee shall select in its sole discretion.
4 | Shares Available for Options |
The total number of Shares which may be transferred pursuant to Options granted under the Plan shall not exceed 5 million Shares. Such Shares may be issued Shares held in Anheuser-Busch InBevs treasury or acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev for the purposes of the Plan.
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5 | Acceptance of the Options |
5.1 | Full or Partial Acceptance |
An Eligible Employee to whom Options are offered has the possibility of accepting only part of them. If an Eligible Employee accepts only part of the Options, he/she shall be deemed to have refused the other Options offered to him/her.
5.2 | Mode of Acceptance |
5.2.1 | The Eligible Employee shall confirm to Anheuser-Busch InBev, by means of completing the Options Acceptance Process, whether he/she accepts all or part of the Options offered to him/her by Anheuser-Busch InBev as mentioned in the Offer Letter. The Option Acceptance Process must be completed as set out in the Offer Letter. |
5.2.2 | Failure to complete the Option Acceptance Process as set out in the Offer Letter will be deemed to constitute a refusal by the Eligible Employee of all Options offered to him/her. |
6 | Transferability |
Except for transfers as a result of death (see Section 8.9 below), Options may not be transferred or encumbered with any security, pledge or other right, or otherwise pass to any third party.
7 | Exercise of the Options |
7.1 | Exercise Price |
The Exercise Price of the Options is specified in the Offer Letter and will not be less than 100% (or 110%, in the case of ISOs granted to an individual described in Section 422(b)(6) of the Code (relating to certain 10% owners)) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.
7.2 | Exercise Period |
Subject to Sections 7.3 and 8, the Options may be exercised only during the Exercise Period. The Options that are not exercised at the latest on the Expiry Date automatically expire and become null and void.
7.3 | Exercise Limitations |
The Options may not, in any circumstances, be exercised during a Prohibited Period or in breach of any applicable laws prohibiting insider dealing.
7.4 | Terms of Exercise |
7.4.1 | General |
(i) | An Option will be deemed exercised upon receipt by Anheuser-Busch InBev, or any other person designated to that effect by Anheuser-Busch InBev, at any time during the Exercise Period (but not later than 2:00 p.m. Brussels time on the Expiry Date), of the following: |
(a) | a duly completed Option Exercise Form explicitly mentioning: |
(I) | the number of Options being exercised by the Participant; and |
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(II) | (except in the case of cashless exercise) the Participants preference for the delivery of Shares or the delivery of ADSs (in the absence of any indication of preference, the Participant will be deemed to have expressed a preference for the delivery of Shares); |
(b) | any other statements and documents that the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Committee or any other person designated to that effect by the Committee deems necessary or desirable in order to comply with all applicable legal and regulatory provisions. |
(ii) | The exercise of the Options will be processed by Anheuser-Busch InBev, or by any other person or entity designated for this purpose by Anheuser-Busch InBev, as soon as administratively and/or legally possible. |
7.4.2 | Share-Based Regular Exercise |
(i) | Full payment of the Exercise Price in Euros (as well as related costs, taxes and duties, if any) must reach Anheuser-Busch InBev at the latest ten (10) Banking Days after the date of exercise, in the manner indicated on the Option Exercise Form and/or the Website. Transfer of ownership of the Shares will occur upon receipt by Anheuser-Busch InBev of the Exercise Price. |
(ii) | If the Participant fails to pay the Exercise Price within the time frame provided in Section 7.4.2(i), Anheuser-Busch InBev will, at its sole discretion, be authorized either to cancel the exercise of the Options or to sell the Shares underlying the exercised Options. The proceeds of the sale of the Shares will be applied in the following order: first, payment of all costs, fees and taxes due as a result of the exercise of the Options and the sale of the Shares; second, payment of the Exercise Price to Anheuser-Busch InBev; third, payment of the remaining sale proceeds to the Participant. |
7.4.3 | ADS-Based Regular Exercise |
(i) | Full payment of the Exercise Price in Euros (as well as related costs, taxes and duties, if any) must reach Anheuser-Busch InBev at the latest ten (10) Banking Days after the date of exercise, in the manner indicated on the Option Exercise Form and/or on the Website. |
(ii) | Upon receipt of the Exercise Price, Anheuser-Busch InBev will deliver the Shares to the ADSs depositary and instruct it to deliver the corresponding ADSs to the Participant. If, for any reason, the instructions of Anheuser-Busch InBev to the ADSs depositary are rejected and/or the ADSs depositary is unable to deliver ADSs to the Participant, Anheuser-Busch InBev can, at its sole discretion, decide to deliver Shares to the Participant in lieu of ADSs. |
(iii) | If the Participant fails to pay the Exercise Price within the time frame provided for in Section 7.4.3(i), Anheuser-Busch InBev will, at its sole discretion, be authorized either to cancel the exercise of the Options or to sell the Shares underlying the Options so exercised. The proceeds of the sale of the Shares will be applied in the following order: first, payment of all costs, fees and taxes due as a result of the exercise of the Options and the sale of the Shares; second, payment of the Exercise Price to Anheuser-Busch InBev; third, payment of the remaining sale proceeds to the Participant. |
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7.4.4 | Cashless Exercise |
(i) | Anheuser-Busch InBev may, at its sole discretion, set up a mechanism of cashless exercise whereby a Participant may elect to simultaneously exercise Options and sell the Shares underlying the exercised Options. In that case, the Exercise Price will be paid to Anheuser-Busch InBev from the proceeds of the sale of the Shares, in accordance with Section 7.4.4(iii). |
(ii) | By opting for a cashless exercise, the Participant irrevocably: |
(a) | instructs Anheuser-Busch InBev to appoint a financial intermediary to sell the Shares underlying the exercised Options on the market; and |
(b) | instructs Anheuser-Busch InBev to: (i) deliver, on the Participants behalf, the Shares underlying the exercised Options to such financial intermediary for their sale on the market; and (ii) collect from that financial intermediary the proceeds of the sale of those Shares. |
(iii) | Following the delivery of the Shares by Anheuser-Busch InBev to the financial intermediary, the obligation of Anheuser-Busch InBev to deliver Shares (or the sale proceeds thereof) to the Participant will be set off against the obligation of the Participant to pay the Exercise Price to Anheuser-Busch InBev. Any amount in excess of the Exercise Price collected by Anheuser-Busch InBev, after payment of all applicable costs, fees and taxes due by the Participant as a result of the cashless exercise will be converted from Euros into US dollars and subsequently transferred (directly or indirectly, through his/her employer) to the Participant promptly after the effective sale of the Shares, without accruing any interest. |
8 | Situation upon Termination of Service |
8.1 | Resignation |
Upon resignation of a Participant, other than a resignation constituting a Retirement:
8.1.1 | all options which, on the date of termination of employment, are not exercisable under Section 7.2 above, automatically expire and become null and void; |
8.1.2 | all options which, on the date of termination of employment, are exercisable under Section 7.2 above but have not yet been exercised, may only be exercised, in accordance with these terms and conditions, during a 90-day period starting on the date employment has terminated; any option not exercised during that 90-day period will automatically expire and become null and void. |
8.2 | Dismissal for Serious Cause |
8.2.1 | Upon Dismissal for Serious Cause of a Participant: |
(i) | all Options which, on the date of termination of employment are not exercisable under Section 7.2 above automatically expire and become null and void |
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(ii) | all Options which, on the date of termination of employment are exercisable under Section 7.2 above but have not yet been exercised, automatically expire and become null and void. |
8.2.2 | The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such dismissal. |
8.3 | Dismissal Other than for Serious Cause |
8.3.1 | Upon dismissal of a Participant other than for serious cause and that does not constitute a Retirement: |
(i) | all options which, on the date of termination of employment, are not exercisable under Section 7.2 above, automatically expire and become null and void; |
(ii) | all options which, on the date of termination of employment, are exercisable under Section 7.2 above but have not yet been exercised, remain exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions. |
8.3.2 | The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such dismissal. |
8.4 | Retirement |
In the case of Retirement of a Participant:
8.4.1 | all options which, on the date of Retirement, are not exercisable under Section 7.2 above, remain in full force and effect and subject to the present terms and conditions; |
8.4.2 | all options which, on the date of Retirement, are exercisable under Section 7.2 above but have not yet been exercised, remain exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions. |
8.5 | Divestiture |
Upon a Divestiture that does not constitute a Retirement:
8.5.1 | all options which, on the date of the Divestiture, are not exercisable under Section 7.2 above, automatically expire and become null and void; |
8.5.2 | all options which, on the date of the Divestiture, are exercisable under Section 7.2 above but have not yet been exercised, remain exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions. |
8.6 | Termination Following Permanent Disability |
8.6.1 | In the case of termination following permanent disability of a Participant and that does not constitute a Retirement: |
(i) | all options which, on the date of permanent disability, are not exercisable under Section 7.2 above, automatically become exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions; |
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(ii) | all options which, on the date of permanent disability, are exercisable under Section 7.2 above but have not yet been exercised, remain exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions. |
8.6.2 | The notion of permanent disability is to be defined by reference to the law governing the employment in the relevant jurisdiction of the Participant. |
8.7 | Treatment of ISOs |
If Sections 8.3.1(ii), 8.4 or 8.5.2 apply with respect to ISOs, such ISOs shall be treated as NQSOs if they are exercised later than three (3) months after termination of employment. If Section 8.6 applies with respect to ISOs, and the disability is as defined in Section 422(c)(6) of the Code, such ISOs shall be treated as NQSOs if they are exercised later than one (1) year after termination of employment.
8.8 | Leave of Absence |
8.8.1 | A Participant who is, as of the Offer Date on, or following the Offer Date commences, a Leave of Absence shall be deemed to remain employed by Anheuser-Busch InBev and its subsidiaries unless the Leave of Absence extends beyond the second anniversary of the date on which the Leave of Absence commenced, in which event the Participant will be deemed to have resigned with the effect set forth in Section 8.1 above on and as of the Leave of Absence expiration date. |
8.8.2 | For purposes of ISOs, if a Leave of Absence exceeds three (3) months and Anheuser-Busch InBev is required, either by statute or contract, to reemploy the Participant upon expiration of such leave, Options will continue to be treated as ISOs during such Leave of Absence. If reemployment upon expiration of a Leave of Absence that exceeds three (3) months is not so guaranteed, six (6) months after the first day of such leave any ISOs held by the Participant shall cease to be treated as ISOs and shall be treated for tax purposes as a NQSOs. |
8.9 | Death |
In the case of death of a Participant:
8.9.1 | all Options inherited or otherwise acquired as a result of the Participants death which are not exercisable under Section 7.2 above, automatically become exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions until the earlier of (i) the Expiry Date and (ii) three years after the date of death of the Participant; any option not exercised during that period will automatically expire and become null and void. |
8.9.2 | all Options which, at the date of death of the Participant, are exercisable according to Section 7.2 above remain exercisable by the Successors in accordance with these terms and conditions. |
9 | Special Rules for Incentive Stock Options |
9.1 | To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the option is granted) of the stock with respect to which ISOs granted under the Plan and all other plans of Anheuser-Busch InBev are first exercisable by any Participant during any calendar year shall exceed the maximum limit (currently $100,000) imposed from time to time under Section 422 of the Code, such options shall be treated as NQSOs, taking options into account in the order in which they are granted. |
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9.2 | Notwithstanding Section 3, to the extent required under Section 422 of the Code, an Incentive Stock Option may not be granted under the Plan to an individual who, at the time the Option is granted, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of his or her employer corporation or of its parent or subsidiary corporations (as such ownership may be determined for purposes of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code) unless (i) at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted the Exercise Price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject thereto and (ii) the Incentive Stock Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date granted. |
9.3 | To the extent that an ISO fails to meet any of the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, it shall cease to be an ISO but shall, from the date of the failure, continue in effect as a NQSO. |
10 | Amendment to the Capital Structure and Anti-dilution Measures |
10.1 | Anheuser-Busch InBev expressly reserves the right to proceed with corporate changes that have an impact on its capital, such as capital increases, including by incorporation of reserves in the capital, capital decreases, issuance of convertible bonds, subscription rights or options, stock splits or reverse stock splits, combinations or reclassifications of the Shares, mergers, (partial) demergers, as well as the right to amend the clauses in the articles of association governing the allocation of profits or liquidation boni. |
10.2 | In the event that such corporate changes would have an unfavourable effect on the Options, the Exercise Price and/or the number of Options and/or the number of Shares to which the Options give rights will be adjusted for the purpose of safeguarding the interests of the holders of Options, as determined at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, subject to any required action by the Shareholders Meeting of Anheuser-Busch InBev; provided, however, that with respect to ISOs, any such adjustment shall be made in accordance with Section 424 of the Code. The terms of such adjustment will be communicated to the Participants in due time. |
10.3 | In the event that Anheuser-Busch InBev would be merged into another company, the rights and obligations of Anheuser-Busch InBev under the Plan will automatically be transferred to the absorbing company and the Options will no longer give the Participants the right to purchase Shares but instead the right to purchase shares of the absorbing company, subject to applicable law. The number of shares of the absorbing company to which each Option will give right and the Exercise Price of each Option, will be determined at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and communicated to the Participants in due time; provided, however, that with respect to ISOs, any such assumption shall be made in accordance with Section 424 of the Code. |
11 | Nature and characteristics of the Shares and the ADSs |
11.1 | The Shares |
11.1.1 | General |
The Shares to be purchased upon exercise of the Options are existing ordinary shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev with all rights and benefits generally attached to such Shares. Anheuser-Busch InBev will, at its discretion, deliver Shares in dematerialized (electronic or book-entry) form or in registered form.
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11.1.2 | Dividends |
The Shares acquired upon exercise of Options give right to the dividends paid on such Shares after the date of exercise. No dividends will be paid on the Options.
11.1.3 | Transferability |
The Shares acquired upon exercise are not subject to any transfer restrictions under the rules of the Plan.
11.2 | The ADSs |
11.2.1 | General |
The ADSs delivered to the Participant at his/her request in lieu of Shares (to the extent applicable) are ordinary American Depositary Shares issued under the deposit agreement with The Bank of New York Mellon (or any successor thereof) in the framework of the Anheuser-Busch InBev American Depositary Receipt facility managed by The Bank of New York Mellon (or any successor thereof).
11.2.2 | Transferability |
The ADSs acquired upon the exercise of Options are not subject to any transfer restrictions under the rules of the Plan.
12 | Expenses and Taxes |
All costs related to the attribution of the Options and the delivery of the Shares/ADSs will be paid by Anheuser-Busch InBev, except taxes on stock exchange transactions and income and social security taxes on the income received by the Participants in connection with the offering, the ownership or the exercise of the Options and with the acquisition of the Shares/ADSs. All financing costs related to the acquisition of the Shares/ADSs shall be borne by the Participants. The Participants shall ensure that the bank account of Anheuser-Busch InBev is credited with the net Exercise Price amount in Euros. Anheuser-Busch InBev may withhold from any payment or delivery of Shares any income or social security taxes that are required to be withheld under any applicable law, rule or regulation.
13 | Administration of the Plan |
13.1 | Delegation to the Committee |
13.1.1 | The Board of Directors may delegate part or all powers under the Plan to the Committee. In the case of a delegation of powers, the Committee shall: (i) be responsible for the general administration of the Plan in accordance with the provisions thereof, under the supervision of the Board of Directors; and (ii) be authorised to establish rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and, if necessary, to interpret, amend and cancel these rules, in compliance with these terms and conditions. |
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13.1.2 | In the case of a delegation of powers, the Board of Directors will retain full authority to exercise all the rights and obligations of the Committee under the Plan at any time whatsoever, or to delegate them to another committee constituted by the Board of Directors. |
13.2 | (Sub-)delegation to Any Third Party |
13.2.1 | The Board of Directors and the Committee may (sub-)delegate certain well-specified powers to any third party they deem appropriate. |
13.2.2 | In the case of a (sub-)delegation of powers, the Board of Directors and the Committee will retain full authority to exercise all the rights and obligations so delegated. |
14 | Notification Upon Disqualifying Disposition of ISO |
If a Participant disposes of Shares acquired upon exercise of an ISO in a disqualifying disposition within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, that is, disposes of them less than:
(i) | two years after the date the ISO is granted to the Participant; or |
(ii) | one year from the issue or transfer of Shares to the Participant upon exercise, |
or in any other disqualifying disposition within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, the Participant shall notify Anheuser-Busch InBev of the date and terms of such disposition in writing or via email to compensation@anheuser-busch.com within 15 days thereof.
15 | Electronic Register, Electronic Evidence and Consent to Electronic Delivery |
15.1 | Electronic Options Register |
The Options may be recorded in an options register in electronic form, the maintenance of which may be outsourced by Anheuser-Busch InBev to a third party.
15.2 | Electronic Evidence |
Electronic approvals, instructions, orders, statements and communications between a Participant, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Anheuser-Busch InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by Anheuser-Busch InBev for the administration of the Plan will have the same legal status as written approvals, instructions, orders, statements and communications. The written recording or the written reproduction of electronic approvals, instructions, orders, statements and communications received by Anheuser-Busch InBev, Anheuser-Busch InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by Anheuser-Busch InBev for the administration of the Plan, will constitute conclusive evidence between the Participant, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Anheuser-Busch InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by Anheuser-Busch InBev for the administration of the Plan, unless evidence to the contrary is provided by the Participant.
15.3 | Consent to Electronic Delivery |
As a condition to receiving the Options, each Participant consents to delivery of all subsequent information relating to the Options by electronic means, including e-mails to the Participant and postings on the Website, Anheuser-Busch InBevs website or intranet. Such information may
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include, among others, financial information concerning Anheuser-Busch InBev and other information relevant to a Participants decision whether or not to exercise the Options. In order to access such information, Participants will be required to access the Website and/or Anheuser-Busch InBevs e-mail system, website and/or intranet. By acceptance of the Options, each Participant is deemed to acknowledge that he/she has such access to the Website, the e-mail system of Anheuser-Busch InBev and its website and intranet and ordinarily uses them in the ordinary course of his/her employment. Participants may obtain paper copies of any such information by submitting a request to receive paper copies to his/her People Department.
16 | Matrimonial Regime |
In the event that the matrimonial regimes of Participants confer ownership or other rights on their spouses with respect to the Options, those Participants undertake that their spouses shall appoint them as their sole representatives for all matters arising in relation to the Options.
17 | Death |
In the event of a Participants death, any Successor acquiring Options shall inform Anheuser-Busch InBev of the Participants death as soon as possible and at the latest one month following the date of death.
18 | Modification of the Terms and Conditions |
The Board of Directors may unilaterally modify at any time the practical and/or accessory modalities of the terms and conditions. It may also unilaterally modify the terms and conditions when such modifications are required to comply with any change in legislation. Shareholder approval/confirmation of any amendment shall be obtained to the extent necessary to comply with Section 422 of the Code (relating to Incentive Stock Options) or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange listing requirements.
19 | Nature of the Plan |
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary included in the terms and conditions, the Offer Letter, the Option Acceptance Process or any other document relating to the Plan:
(iii) | the acquisition of Shares/ADSs by the Participant is unrelated to his occupational pension rights or pension claims, so that this acquisition cannot affect these occupational pension rights and claims; |
(iv) | the Plan, the Offer Letter and the Option Acceptance Process or any other document relating to the Plan do not confer upon the Participant any right to continued employment for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of Anheuser-Busch InBev or its subsidiaries to terminate the Participants employment according to the applicable regulations in respect of termination thereof; and |
(v) | the grant of Options cannot be considered as a right acquired for the future. |
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20 | Privacy and Processing of Personal Data |
20.1 | The Data Controller is responsible for the collection and processing of Personal Data as is necessary for the setting-up and administration of the Plan and the Options register of Anheuser-Busch InBev in electronic form. |
20.2 | The Personal Data collected, inter alia , by way of the Option Acceptance Process and the Option Exercise Form will be used exclusively for the purposes of the administration of the Plan and the maintenance of the Options register of Anheuser-Busch InBev in electronic form. |
20.3 | The Data Controller can transfer the Personal Data to the Data Processor and the employer of the Participant for the above purposes as well as to regulatory authorities for the purpose of complying with legal obligations in connection with the Plan. Such recipients may be located in jurisdictions outside the European Economic Area that may not provide an adequate level of personal data protection. |
20.4 | The Data Controller and the Data Processor shall abide by the Belgian Law of 8 December 1992 on privacy protection in relation to the processing of personal data, as amended from time to time, and its implementing decrees. |
20.5 | Through their award acceptance on the Option Acceptance Process, the Participants give their consent to the collection and processing of their Personal Data as described in this Section 20. |
20.6 | The Participants have the right to access and correct their Personal Data by sending a written and signed request to their local People officer. |
21 Effective Date and Term of Plan
Unless sooner terminated by the Board of Directors, the Plan, including the provisions respecting the grant of Options, shall terminate on the Expiry Date. All Options made under the Plan prior to its termination shall remain in effect until such Options have been satisfied or terminated in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan and the applicable Offer Letter.
22 Severability
If any provision in this document is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, under any applicable law, that provision will be deemed not to form part of this document, and the legality, validity or enforceability of the remainder of this document will not be affected.
23 Applicable Law
The Options, the Shares and these terms and conditions are governed by Belgian law. Any dispute relating thereto is to be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent Belgian courts.
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Exhibit 4.4
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
Long-Term Incentive Plan - Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009
Terms and Conditions
1 | Definitions |
When used in this document, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them as indicated below, unless expressly indicated otherwise:
Acceptance Form | the form whereby an Eligible Employee accepts all or part of the Options or refuses the Options, to be completed by the Eligible Employee in paper format and/or in electronic format on the LTI Website, as indicated in the Offer Letter; | |
ADS | an American Depositary Share issued under the deposit agreement with the Bank of New York Mellon (or any successor thereof) traded on the New York Stock Exchange (ISIN: US03524A1088) and representing one share or the right to receive one Share of Anheuser-Busch InBev; | |
Anheuser-Busch InBev | Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, with its registered office at Grand Place 1, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; | |
Banking Day | any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday in Belgium and in the United States, on which banks in Belgium and in the United States are open for business; | |
Board of Directors | the Board of Directors of Anheuser-Busch InBev; | |
Code | the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; | |
Code of Dealing | the Anheuser-Busch InBev Dealing Code, as amended from time to time; | |
Committee | the Compensation and Nominating Committee of Anheuser-Busch InBev; | |
Data Controller | Anheuser-Busch InBev; | |
Data Processor | any third party designated by the Data Controller to process Personal Data on behalf of the Data Controller in accordance with Section 20 for the implementation, administration and management of the Plan and the Options register in electronic form; | |
Dismissal | Termination of employment or Self-Employment by Anheuser-Busch InBev or its subsidiaries (within the meaning of Article 6 of the Belgian Companies Code); | |
Dismissal for Serious Cause | termination of employment or Self-Employment for serious cause (as determined by the Chief People Officer in his sole discretion or, if applicable, as defined in relevant local law) by Anheuser-Busch InBev or its subsidiaries (within the meaning of Article 6 of the Belgian Companies Code); |
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Divestiture | a situation whereby the employing Anheuser-Busch InBev subsidiary of a Participant is no longer a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev (within the meaning of Article 6 of the Belgian Companies Code) following a divestiture through the sale of shares in the said Anheuser-Busch InBev subsidiary; | |
Eligible Employee | an employee of Anheuser-Busch InBev or its subsidiaries (within the meaning of Article 6 of the Belgian Companies Code) who received an Offer Letter; | |
Exercise Form | the form whereby a Participant notifies Anheuser-Busch InBev or any third party designated by Anheuser-Busch InBev to that effect of his/her decision to exercise all or part of his/her Options in accordance with Section 7.4, to be completed by the Participant in paper format and/or in electronic format on the LTI Website, as the case may be; | |
Exercise Period | the period starting on 18 December 2014 and ending on 17 December 2019 (inclusive); | |
Exercise Price | the price per Option that a Participant must pay for the exercise of his/her Options, which is equal to the closing price of the Shares on Euronext Brussels on 17 December 2009, as set out in the Offer Letter; | |
Expiry Date | 17 December 2019; | |
Fair Market Value | on a particular date shall be (i) the opening sale price per Share during normal trading hours on the national securities exchange on which the Share is principally traded for such date or the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Share on such exchange or (ii) if the Shares are then traded in an over-the-counter market, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for the Shares during normal trading hours in such over-the-counter market for such date or the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Shares in such market, or (iii) if the Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange or traded in an over-the-counter market, such value as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine; | |
Incentive Stock Option (ISO) | an Option that is intended to qualify for special federal income tax treatment pursuant to Sections 421 and 422 of the Code (or a successor provision thereof) and which is so designated in the applicable Offer Letter. Under no circumstances shall any Option that is not specifically designated as an Incentive Stock Option be considered an Incentive Stock Option; |
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Personal Data | each item of information relating to a Participant including (i) his/her identification data (e.g. name, private or professional contact details), (ii) electronic identification data, (iii) personal characteristics (e.g. date of birth, gender, nationality), (iv) employers entity, (v) preferred language, (vi) financial data (e.g. details regarding bank account), (vii) details of all rights and other entitlement to Shares awarded, cancelled, purchased, vested, unvested or outstanding; | |
Plan | the present Anheuser-Busch InBev Long-Term Incentive Plan; | |
Prohibited Period | any period defined as such in the Code of Dealing; | |
Resignation | termination by a Participant of employment or Self-Employment with Anheuser-Busch InBev or its subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, the fact that a self-employed Participant no longer provides services to Anheuser-Busch InBev or its subsidiaries, shall be construed as a Resignation (unless decided upon otherwise by Anheuser-Busch InBev on a case-by-case basis); | |
Self-Employment | a situation whereby the employment of a Participant with Anheuser-Busch InBev and/or its subsidiaries is terminated and is replaced immediately by an independent contractor (self-employment) agreement whereby the Participant provides, directly or indirectly (e.g. through the means of a management company), services on a self-employed basis to Anheuser-Busch InBev or its subsidiaries; | |
Share | an ordinary share of Anheuser-Busch InBev (ISIN: BE0003793107); | |
Successor | the successor of a Participant as determined under the applicable law of succession and/or the persons designated by a Participant, in accordance with the applicable law of succession, to inherit the rights of the Participant under the Plan after the death of the Participant; | |
Trading Day | any day on which the regulated market of Euronext Brussels and the New York Stock Exchange are open for trading. |
2 | Approval of the Plan Documentation |
The Plan forms part of an agreement between the Participant and Anheuser-Busch InBev. By returning to Anheuser-Busch InBev a duly completed Acceptance Form in accordance with Section 5.2, the Participant unconditionally agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions.
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3 | Persons Eligible for Options |
Options under the Plan, including Incentive Stock Options, may be offered to such Eligible Employees as the Committee shall select in its sole discretion.
4 | Shares Available for Options |
The total number of Shares which may be transferred pursuant to Options granted under the Plan shall not exceed 2 million Shares. Such Shares may be issued Shares held in Anheuser-Busch InBevs treasury or acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev for the purposes of the Plan. Any Shares delivered by Anheuser-Busch InBev, any Shares with respect to which Options are granted by Anheuser-Busch InBev and any Shares with respect to which Anheuser-Busch InBev becomes obligated to grant as Options, through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding options previously granted by an acquired entity, shall not be counted against the Shares available for Options under this Plan.
5 | Acceptance of the Options |
5.1 | Full or partial acceptance |
An Eligible Employee to whom Options are offered has the possibility of accepting only part of them. To that effect, the Eligible Employee shall mention in the Acceptance Form the exact number of accepted Options. If an Eligible Employee accepts only part of the Options, he/she shall be deemed to have refused the other Options offered to him/her.
5.2 | Mode of acceptance |
5.2.1 | General |
The mode of acceptance of the Options is set out in the Offer Letter and, at the choice of Anheuser-Busch InBev, takes the form of an electronic acceptance or of a paper-form acceptance.
5.2.2 | Electronic acceptance |
In the case of acceptance of the Options in electronic form, the Eligible Employee must confirm his/her choice through the LTI Website.
The Acceptance Form must be completed online and submitted through the LTI Website during the Offer Period and, to the extent applicable, after having accepted the terms of use of the LTI Website.
If the LTI Website is not accessible (for technical reasons or otherwise) during the Offer Period, the Eligible Employee must ask his/her local People Department for an Acceptance Form in paper format and return it to Anheuser-Busch InBev in accordance with Section 5.2.3 below.
Failure to complete and submit the Acceptance Form as set out above will be deemed to constitute a refusal by the Eligible Employee of all Options offered to him/her.
5.2.3 | Paper-form acceptance |
In the case of acceptance of the Options in paper form, the Eligible Employee must complete, date and sign the Acceptance Form attached to the Offer Letter and return it to the address indicated on it. The completed Acceptance Form must reach Anheuser-Busch InBev, or any third party designated by it to that effect, during the Offer Period.
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Failure to return the completed, dated and signed Acceptance Form as set out above will be deemed to constitute a refusal by the Eligible Employee of all Options offered to him/her.
6 | Transferability |
Except for transfers as a result of death (see Section 8.5 below), Options may not be transferred or encumbered with any security, pledge or other right, or otherwise pass to any third party.
7 | Exercise of the Options |
7.1 | Exercise Price |
The Exercise Price of the Options is specified in the Offer Letter and will not be less than 100% (or 110%, in the case of ISOs granted to an individual described in Section 422(b)(6) of the Code (relating to certain 10% owners)) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.
7.2 | Exercise Period |
Subject to Sections 7.3 and 8, the Options may be exercised only during the Exercise Period. The Options that are not exercised within the Exercise Period automatically expire and become null and void.
7.3 | Exercise limitations |
The Options may not, in any circumstances, be exercised during a Prohibited Period or in breach of any applicable laws prohibiting insider dealing.
7.4 | Terms of exercise |
7.4.1 | General |
(i) | An Option will be deemed exercised upon receipt by Anheuser-Busch InBev, or any other person designated to that effect by Anheuser-Busch InBev, at any time during the Exercise Period (but not later than 2:00 p.m. Brussels time on the Expiry Date), of the following: |
(a) | a duly completed Exercise Form explicitly mentioning: |
(I) | the number of Options being exercised by the Participant; and |
(II) | (except in the case of cashless exercise) the Participants preference for the delivery of Shares or the delivery of ADSs (in the absence of any indication of preference, the Participant will be deemed to have expressed a preference for the delivery of Shares); |
(b) | any other statements and documents that the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Committee or any other person designated to that effect by the Committee deems necessary or desirable in order to comply with all applicable legal and regulatory provisions. |
(ii) | The exercise of the Options will be processed by Anheuser-Busch InBev, or by any person or entity designated for this purpose by Anheuser-Busch InBev, as soon as administratively and/or legally possible. |
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7.4.2 | Share-based regular exercise |
(i) | Full payment of the Exercise Price (as well as related costs, taxes and duties, if any) must reach Anheuser-Busch InBev at the latest ten (10) Banking Days after the date of exercise, in the manner indicated on the Exercise Form and/or the LTI Website. Transfer of ownership of the Shares will occur upon receipt by Anheuser-Busch InBev of the Exercise Price. |
(ii) | If the Participant fails to pay the Exercise Price within the time frame provided in Section 7.4.2(i), Anheuser-Busch InBev will, at its sole discretion, be authorized either to cancel the exercise of the Options or to sell the Shares underlying the exercised Options. The proceeds of the sale of the Shares will be applied in the following order: first, payment of all costs, fees and taxes due as a result of the exercise of the Options and the sale of the Shares; second, payment of the Exercise Price to Anheuser-Busch InBev; third, payment of the remaining sale proceeds to the Participant. |
7.4.3 | ADS-based regular exercise |
(i) | Full payment of the Exercise Price (as well as related costs, taxes and duties, if any) must reach Anheuser-Busch InBev at the latest ten (10) Banking Days after the date of exercise, in the manner indicated on the Exercise Form and/or on the LTI Website. |
(ii) | Upon receipt of the Exercise Price, Anheuser-Busch InBev will deliver the Shares to the ADSs depositary and instruct it to deliver the corresponding ADSs to the Participant. If, for any reason, the instructions of Anheuser-Busch InBev to the ADSs depositary are rejected and/or the ADSs depositary is unable to deliver ADSs to the Participant, Anheuser-Busch InBev can, at its sole discretion, decide to deliver Shares to the Participant in lieu of ADSs. |
(iii) | If the Participant fails to pay the Exercise Price within the time frame provided for in Section 7.4.3(i), Anheuser-Busch InBev will, at its sole discretion, be authorized either to cancel the exercise of the Options or to sell the Shares underlying the Options so exercised. The proceeds of the sale of the Shares will be applied in the following order: first, payment of all costs, fees and taxes due as a result of the exercise of the Options and the sale of the Shares; second, payment of the Exercise Price to Anheuser-Busch InBev; third, payment of the remaining sale proceeds to the Participant. |
7.4.4 | Cashless exercise |
(i) | Anheuser-Busch InBev may, at its sole discretion, set up a mechanism of cashless exercise whereby a Participant may elect to simultaneously exercise Options and sell the Shares underlying the exercised Options. In that case, the Exercise Price will be paid to Anheuser-Busch InBev from the proceeds of the sale of the Shares, in accordance with Section 7.4.4(iii). |
(ii) | By opting for a cashless exercise, the Participant irrevocably: |
(a) | instructs Anheuser-Busch InBev to appoint a financial intermediary to sell the Shares underlying the exercised Options on the market; and |
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(b) | instructs Anheuser-Busch InBev to: (i) deliver, on the Participants behalf, the Shares underlying the exercised Options to such financial intermediary for their sale on the market; and (ii) collect from that financial intermediary the proceeds of the sale of those Shares. |
(iii) | Following the delivery of the Shares by Anheuser-Busch InBev to the financial intermediary, the obligation of Anheuser-Busch InBev to deliver Shares (or the sale proceeds thereof) to the Participant will be set off against the obligation of the Participant to pay the Exercise Price to Anheuser-Busch InBev. Any amount in excess of the Exercise Price collected by Anheuser-Busch InBev, after payment of all applicable costs, fees and taxes due by the Participant as a result of the cashless exercise will be transferred to the Participant promptly after the effective sale of the Shares, without accruing any interest. |
8 | Situation upon Termination of Service |
8.1 | Resignation and Dismissal for Serious Cause |
Upon Resignation or Dismissal for Serious Cause of a Participant:
8.1.1 | all Options which are not exercisable under Section 7.2 above on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, of Self-Employment, automatically expire and become null and void; |
8.1.2 | all Options which, on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, of Self-Employment, are exercisable according to Section 7.2 above may be exercised but only during a 90-day period starting on the day that employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment has ended; |
The rules set out in this Section 8.1 shall apply notwithstanding any appeal that might be lodged by a dismissed Participant against such Dismissal for Serious Cause.
8.2 | Dismissal (other than for Serious Cause), Outsourcing and Divestiture |
Upon Dismissal of a Participant (other than a Dismissal for Serious Cause), Outsourcing or Divestiture:
8.2.1 | all Options which are not exercisable under Section 7.2 above on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, of Self-Employment, automatically expire and become null and void; |
8.2.2 | all Options which, on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, of Self-Employment, are exercisable according to Section 7.2 above may be exercised but only during a 180-day period starting on the day that employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment has ended; |
The rules set out in this Section 8.2 shall apply notwithstanding any appeal that might be lodged by a Participant against such Dismissal, Outsourcing or Divestiture.
8.3 | Retirement or pre-pension before the age of 60 |
Upon retirement or pre-pension of a Participant before the age of 60:
8.3.1 | all Options which are not exercisable under Section 7.2 above on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, of Self-Employment, automatically expire and become null and void; |
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8.3.2 | all Options which, on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment, are exercisable according to Section 7.2 above may be exercised until the end of the Exercise Period in accordance with these terms. |
8.4 | Retirement at or after the age of 60 |
Upon retirement of a Participant at or after the age of 60:
8.4.1 | all Options which are not exercisable under Section 7.2 above on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment remain exercisable by the Participant in accordance with these terms provided that, if so requested by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the Participant enters into a non-competition agreement. The modalities of the non-competition agreement will be agreed upon after employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment has ended. |
8.4.2 | all Options which, on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment, are exercisable according to Section 7.2 above may be exercised until the end of the Exercise Period in accordance with these terms. |
8.5 | Permanent disability or death |
In the case of permanent disability or death of a Participant:
8.5.1 | all Options which are not exercisable under Section 7.2 above on the date of permanent disability or death of the Participant, become immediately and unconditionally exercisable (in the case of death, by the Successors) in accordance with these terms and conditions, to the exclusion of Section 7.2 provided that, in the case of permanent disability and if so requested by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the Participant enters into a non-competition agreement. The modalities of the non-competition agreement will be agreed upon after employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment has ended. |
8.5.2 | all Options which, on the date of permanent disability or death of the Participant, are exercisable according to Section 7.2 above may be exercised (in the case of death, by the Successors) until the end of the Exercise Period in accordance with these terms. |
8.6 | The notions of retirement, pre-pension and permanent disability are to be defined by reference to the law governing the employment or, as the case may be, the Self-Employment, or alternatively, by the pension plan rules in the relevant jurisdiction or, if applicable, directorship of the Participant. |
8.7 | Treatment of ISOs |
If Section 8.1.2, 8.2.2, 8.3.2 or 8.4 applies with respect to ISOs, such ISOs shall be treated as NQSOs if they are exercised later than three (3) months after a Participants termination of employment. If Section 8.5 applies with respect to ISOs, and the disability is as defined in Section 422(c)(6) of the Code, such ISOs shall be treated as NQSOs if they are exercised later than one (1) year after termination of employment.
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8.8 | Leave of Absence |
A Participant who is, as of the Offer Date on, or following the Offer Date commences, a Leave of Absence shall be deemed to remain employed by Anheuser-Busch InBev and its subsidiaries unless the Leave of Absence extends beyond the second anniversary of the date on which the Leave of Absence commenced, in which event the Participant will be deemed to have resigned with the effect set forth in Section 8.1 above on and as of the Leave of Absence expiration date.
For purposes of ISOs, if a Leave of Absence exceeds three (3) months and Anheuser-Busch InBev is required, either by statute or contract, to reemploy the Participant upon expiration of such leave, Options will continue to be treated as ISOs during such Leave of Absence. If reemployment upon expiration of a Leave of Absence that exceeds three (3) months is not so guaranteed, six (6) months after the first day of such leave any ISOs held by the Participant shall cease to be treated as ISOs and shall be treated for tax purposes as NQSOs.
9 | Special Rules for Incentive Stock Options |
9.1 | To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the option is granted) of the stock with respect to which ISOs granted under the Plan and all other plans of Anheuser-Busch InBev are first exercisable by any Participant during any calendar year shall exceed the maximum limit (currently $100,000) imposed from time to time under Section 422 of the Code, such options shall be treated as NQSOs, taking options into account in the order in which they are granted. |
9.2 | Notwithstanding Section 3, to the extent required under Section 422 of the Code, an Incentive Stock Option may not be granted under the Plan to an individual who, at the time the Option is granted, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of his or her employer corporation or of its parent or subsidiary corporations (as such ownership may be determined for purposes of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code) unless (i) at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted the Exercise Price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject thereto and (ii) the Incentive Stock Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date granted. |
9.3 | To the extent that an ISO fails to meet any of the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, it shall cease to be an ISO but shall, from the date of the failure, continue in effect as a NQSO. |
10 | Amendment to the Capital Structure and Anti-dilution Measures |
10.1 | Anheuser-Busch InBev expressly reserves the right to proceed with corporate changes that have an impact on its capital, such as capital increases, including by incorporation of reserves in the capital, capital decreases, issuance of convertible bonds, subscription rights or options, stock splits or reverse stock splits, combinations or reclassifications of the Shares, mergers, (partial) demergers, as well as the right to amend the clauses in the articles of association governing the allocation of profits or liquidation boni. |
10.2 |
In the event that such corporate changes would have an unfavourable effect on the Options, the Exercise Price and/or the number of Options and/or the number of Shares to which the Options give rights will be adjusted for the purpose of safeguarding the interests of the holders of Options, as determined at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, |
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subject to any required action by the Shareholders Meeting of Anheuser-Busch InBev; provided, however, that with respect to ISOs, any such adjustment shall be made in accordance with Section 424 of the Code. The terms of such adjustment will be communicated to the Participants in due time. |
10.3 | In the event that Anheuser-Busch InBev would be merged into another company, the rights and obligations of Anheuser-Busch InBev under the Plan will automatically be transferred to the absorbing company and the Options will no longer give the Participants the right to purchase Shares but instead the right to purchase shares of the absorbing company. The number of shares of the absorbing company to which each Option will give right and the exercise price thereof will be determined at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and communicated to the Participants in due time; provided, however, that with respect to ISOs, any such assumption shall be made in accordance with Section 424 of the Code. |
11 | Nature and characteristics of the Shares and the ADSs |
11.1 | The Shares |
11.1.1 | General |
The Shares to be purchased upon exercise of the Options are existing ordinary shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev with all rights and benefits generally attached to such Shares. Anheuser-Busch InBev will, at its discretion, deliver Shares in dematerialised form or in registered form.
11.1.2 | Dividends |
The Shares acquired upon exercise of Options give right to the dividends paid on such Shares after the date of exercise. No dividends will be paid on the Options.
11.1.3 | Transferability |
The Shares acquired upon exercise of Options are not subject to any transfer restrictions under the rules of the Plan.
11.2 | The ADSs |
11.2.1 | General |
The ADSs delivered to the Participant at his/her request in lieu of Shares (to the extent applicable) are ordinary American Depositary Shares issued under the deposit agreement with The Bank of New York Mellon (or any successor thereof) in the framework of the Anheuser-Busch InBev American Depositary Receipt facility managed by The Bank of New York Mellon (or any successor thereof).
11.2.2 | Transferability |
The ADSs acquired upon the exercise of Options are not subject to any transfer restrictions under the rules of the Plan.
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12 | Expenses and Taxes |
All costs related to the attribution of the Options and the delivery of the Shares/ADSs will be paid by Anheuser-Busch InBev, except taxes on stock exchange transactions and income and social security taxes on the income received by the Participants in connection with the offering, the ownership or the exercise of the Options and with the acquisition of the Shares/ADSs. All financing costs related to the acquisition of the Shares/ADSs shall be borne by the Participants. The Participants shall ensure that the bank account of Anheuser-Busch InBev is credited with the net Exercise Price amount in euros. Anheuser-Busch InBev may withhold from any payment or delivery of Shares any income or social security taxes that are required to be withheld under any applicable law, rule or regulation.
13 | Administration of the Plan |
13.1 | Delegation to the Committee |
13.1.1 | The Board of Directors may delegate part or all powers under the Plan to the Committee. In the case of a delegation of powers, the Committee shall: (i) be responsible for the general administration of the Plan in accordance with the provisions thereof, under the supervision of the Board of Directors; and (ii) be authorised to establish rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and, if necessary, to interpret, amend and cancel these rules, in compliance with these terms and conditions. |
13.1.2 | In the case of a delegation of powers, the Board of Directors will retain full authority to exercise all the rights and obligations of the Committee under the Plan at any time whatsoever, or to delegate them to another committee constituted by the Board of Directors. |
13.2 | (Sub-)delegation to any third party |
13.2.1 | The Board of Directors and the Committee may (sub-)delegate certain well-specified powers to any third party they deem appropriate. |
13.2.2 | In the case of a (sub-)delegation of powers, the Board of Directors and the Committee will retain full authority to exercise all the rights and obligations so delegated. |
14 | Notification Upon Disqualifying Disposition of ISO |
If a Participant disposes of Shares acquired upon exercise of an ISO in a disqualifying disposition within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, that is, disposes of them less than:
(i) | two years after the date the ISO is granted to the Participant; or |
(ii) | one year from the issue or transfer of Shares to the Participant upon exercise, |
or in any other disqualifying disposition within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, the Participant shall notify Anheuser-Busch InBev of the date and terms of such disposition in writing within 15 days thereof.
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15 | Electronic Register, Electronic Evidence and Consent to Electronic Delivery |
15.1 | Electronic options register |
The Options may be recorded in an options register in electronic form, the maintenance of which may be outsourced by Anheuser-Busch InBev to a third party.
15.2 | Electronic evidence |
Electronic approvals, instructions, orders, statements and communications between a Participant, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Anheuser-Busch InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by Anheuser-Busch InBev for the administration of the Plan will have the same legal status as written approvals, instructions, orders, statements and communications. The written recording or the written reproduction of electronic approvals, instructions, orders, statements and communications received by Anheuser-Busch InBev, Anheuser-Busch InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by Anheuser-Busch InBev for the administration of the Plan, will constitute conclusive evidence between the Participant, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Anheuser-Busch InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by Anheuser-Busch InBev for the administration of the Plan, unless evidence to the contrary is provided by the Participant.
15.3 | Consent to Electronic Delivery |
As a condition to receiving the Options, each Participant consents to delivery of all subsequent information relating to the Options by electronic means, including e-mails to the Participant and postings on the LTI Website, Anheuser-Busch InBevs website or intranet. Such information may include, among others, financial information concerning Anheuser-Busch InBev and other information relevant to a Participants decision whether or not to exercise the Options. In order to access such information, Participants will be required to access the LTI Website and/or Anheuser-Busch InBevs e-mail system, website and/or intranet. By acceptance of the Options, each Participant is deemed to acknowledge that he/she has such access to the LTI Website, the e-mail system of Anheuser-Busch InBev and its website and intranet and ordinarily uses them in the ordinary course of his/her employment. Participants may obtain paper copies of any such information by submitting a request to receive paper copies to his/her People Department.
16 | Matrimonial Regime |
In the event that the matrimonial regimes of Participants confer ownership or other rights on their spouses with respect to the Options, those Participants undertake that their spouses shall appoint them as their sole representatives for all matters arising in relation to the Options.
17 | Death |
In the event of a Participants death, any Successor acquiring Options shall inform Anheuser-Busch InBev of the Participants death as soon as possible and at the latest one month following the date of death.
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18 | Modification to the Terms and Conditions |
The Board of Directors may unilaterally modify at any time the practical and/or accessory modalities of the terms and conditions. It may also unilaterally modify the terms and conditions when such modifications are required to comply with any change in legislation. Shareholder approval/confirmation of any amendment shall be obtained to the extent necessary to comply with Section 422 of the Code (relating to Incentive Stock Options) or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange listing requirements.
19 | Nature of the Plan |
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary included in the terms and conditions, the Offer Letter, the Acceptance Form or any other document relating to the Plan:
(i) | the acquisition of Shares/ADSs by the Participant is unrelated to his occupational pension rights or pension claims, so that this acquisition cannot affect these occupational pension rights and claims; |
(ii) | the Plan, the Offer Letter and the Acceptance Form or any other document relating to the Plan do not confer upon the Participant any right to continued employment for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of Anheuser-Busch InBev or its subsidiaries to terminate the Participants employment according to the applicable regulations in respect of termination thereof; and |
(iii) | the grant of Options cannot be considered as a right acquired for the future. |
20 | Privacy and processing of Personal Data |
20.1 | The Data Controller is responsible for the collection and processing of Personal Data as is necessary for the setting-up and administration of the Plan and the Options register of Anheuser-Busch InBev in electronic form. |
20.2 | The Personal Data collected, inter alia , by way of the Acceptance Form and the Exercise Form will be used exclusively for the purposes of the administration of the Plan and the maintenance of the Options register of Anheuser-Busch InBev in electronic form. |
20.3 | The Data Controller can transfer the Personal Data to the Data Processor and the employer of the Participant for the above purposes, as well as to regulatory authorities for the purposes of complying with legal obligations in connection with the Plan. Such recipients may be located in jurisdictions outside the European Economic Area that may not provide an adequate level of personal data protection. |
20.4 | The Data Controller and the Data Processor shall abide by the Belgian Law of 8 December 1992 on privacy protection in relation to the processing of personal data, as amended from time to time, and its implementing decrees. |
20.5 | Through his/her signature of the Acceptance Form and/or its submission through the LTI Website, the Participant gives his/her consent to the collection and processing of his/her Personal Data as described in this Section 20. |
20.6 | The Participant has the right to access and correct his/her Personal Data by sending a written and signed request to his/her local People Department. |
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21 | Effective Date and Term of Plan |
Unless sooner terminated by the Board of Directors, the Plan, including the provisions respecting the grant of Options, shall terminate on the Expiry Date. All Options made under the Plan prior to its termination shall remain in effect until such Options have been satisfied or terminated in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan and the applicable Offer Letter.
22 | Severability |
If any provision in this document is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, under any applicable law, that provision will be deemed not to form part of this document, and the legality, validity or enforceability of the remainder of this document will not be affected.
23 | Applicable Law |
The Options, the Shares and these terms and conditions are governed by Belgian law. Any dispute relating thereto is to be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent Belgian courts.
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Exhibit 4.5
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Dividend Waiver and Exchange Program
Forms of Underlying Plans
Form A: Share-Based Compensation Plan March 2009
When used in this document, the following terms are to have the meaning ascribed to them as indicated below, unless expressly indicated otherwise:
Accepted Options | the Options which have been offered to an Eligible Employee and for which an Option Agreement has been duly completed and returned to AB InBev in due time; | |
Banking Day | any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday in Belgium, on which banks in Belgium are open for business; | |
Board of Directors | the Board of Directors of AB InBev; | |
Bonus Agreement | the agreement between the Eligible Employee, his/her employer and AB InBev whereby an Eligible Employee, inter alia , accepts one of the three alternatives available under the Optional Shares Bonus; | |
Bonus Share | a Share which has been offered to an Eligible Employee under the Plan and which benefits from the same rights (including the right to dividends), and has the same characteristics as, the Shares in circulation at the time of the allocation of the Bonus Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, the Bonus Shares do not include the Shares resulting from the Exercise of the Options; | |
Cash Alternative | the payment of the Optional Shares Bonus in cash; | |
Code of Dealing | the AB InBev Dealing Code, as amended from time to time; | |
Committee | the Compensation and Nominating Committee of AB InBev; | |
Compulsory Shares Bonus | the part of the bonus named as such in the Bonus Agreement; | |
Confirmation Date | 06 March 2009; | |
Confirmation Period | the period starting on 06 March 2009 and ending on 05 May 2009 (included); | |
Data Controller | AB InBev; | |
Data Processor | any third party designated by the Data Controller to process Personal Data on behalf of the Data Controller in accordance with Clause VI 9 for the implementation, administration and management of the Plan and the Shares register and Options register in electronic form; | |
Death Pro-Rata Options | has the meaning given to it in Clause VI 2.7.2; | |
Dismissal for Serious Cause | dismissal for serious cause as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion or, if applicable, as defined in relevant local law; |
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Dismissal Pro-Rata Options | has the meaning given to it in Clause VI 2.3.3; | |
Eligible Employee | An employee of AB InBev or its subsidiaries (within the meaning of Article 6 of the Belgian Code of Companies) who received a proposal to participate in the Plan; | |
Exercise | the legal act whereby a Participant, by exercising the Options granted to him/her, acquires the Shares to which the Options relate; | |
Exercise Period | the period running from 06 March 2014 to 05 March 2019 (inclusive); | |
Exercise Period Starting Date | 06 March 2014; | |
Exercise Price | the price per Option that a Participant must pay for the Exercise of his/her Options, and which is set in the Option Agreement; | |
Expiry Date | 05 March 2019; | |
AB InBev | Anheuser-Busch InBev NV/SA with its registered office at Grand Place 1, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium | |
Option |
the right to:
(i) purchase from AB InBev one existing Share in accordance with these terms and conditions; and
(ii) receive from AB InBev, in accordance with Clause V 5.2, (a) all the coupons representing the dividends paid on that Share between the Confirmation Date and the date of Exercise; or (b) an amount equal to the dividends paid on that Share between the Confirmation Date and the date of Exercise; |
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Option Agreement | the agreement entered into between a Participant and AB InBev whereby, inter alia , AB InBev offers Options to the Participant and the Participant accepts all or part of the Options; | |
Option Exercise Form | the notification in written and/or electronic format in the form determined by the Board of Directors, the Committee or any third party appointed by AB InBev to that effect, whereby a Participant notifies AB InBev or any third party designated by AB InBev to that effect of his/her decision to Exercise all or part of his/her Options in accordance with Clause V 3.4; | |
Optional Shares Bonus | the part of the bonus named as such in the Bonus Agreement; | |
Outsourcing | a situation whereby (i) a Participant is dismissed by AB InBev or a subsidiary of AB InBev in the framework of a collective dismissal (in the meaning of the Law of 13 February 1998 or its equivalent in the jurisdiction of the Participant) and is re-employed, together with the other persons who have been likewise dismissed, by a third party company which is not an |
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affiliate of AB InBev and which is providing services to AB InBev, or (ii) a Participant is transferred by AB InBev or a subsidiary of AB InBev in the framework of the Collective Bargaining Agreement n°32 bis of 7 June 1985 (or its equivalent in the jurisdiction of the Participant) to a third party company which is not an affiliate of AB InBev and which is providing services to AB InBev. | ||
Outsourcing Pro-Rata Options | has the meaning given to it in Clause VI 2.4.3; | |
Participant | any Eligible Employee who has completed and returned the Bonus Agreement in due time, or any Successor to whom Bonus Shares and/or Options have been transferred in accordance with these terms and conditions; | |
Performance Tests |
{(ROIC WACC) 2009 + (ROIC WACC) 2010 + (ROIC WACC) 2011}/3 > 2.5% or
{(ROIC WACC) 2009 + (ROIC WACC) 2010 + (ROIC WACC) 2011 + (ROIC WACC) 2012}/4 > 2.5% or
{(ROIC WACC) 2009 + (ROIC WACC) 2010 + (ROIC WACC) 2011 + (ROIC WACC) 2012 + (ROIC WACC) 2013}/5 > 2.5%
ROIC means the return on invested capital of AB InBev for a given financial year;
WACC means the weighted average cost of capital of AB InBev for a given financial year; |
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Personal Data | each item of information relating to a Participant including his/her identification data (e.g. name, private or professional contact details), (ii) electronic identification data, (iii) personal characteristics (e.g. date of birth, gender, nationality), (iv) employers entity, (v) preferred language, (vi) financial data (e.g. details regarding bank account), (vii) details of all subscription rights and all other entitlement to shares awarded, cancelled, purchased, vested, unvested or outstanding; | |
Plan | the AB InBev Share-Based Compensation Plan; | |
Prohibited Period | any period defined as such in the Code of Dealing; | |
Share | An ordinary share of AB InBev; | |
Successor | the successor of a Participant as determined under the applicable law of succession and/or the persons designated by a Participant, in accordance with the applicable law of succession, to inherit the rights of the Participant under the Plan after the death of the Participant; | |
Trading Day | any day on which Euronext Brussels is open for trading. |
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Terms and Conditions relating to the Bonus Shares
1 | The Bonus Shares |
1.1 | Form |
The Bonus Shares are registered shares and will be recorded in the share register of AB InBev, which may be held in electronic form. A non-transferable certificate reflecting the entries in the register of registered shares will be remitted to the Participants, upon their request.
The Bonus Shares may not be converted into dematerialized shares as long as they are subject to the transfer restrictions referred to in Clause IV 3 below.
Bonus Shares that are no longer subject to the transfer restrictions referred to in Clause IV 3 below may, at the request of a Participant, be converted into dematerialized shares.
1.2 | Dividends |
Participants will be entitled to all dividends paid on the Bonus Shares, decided by AB InBev after the Confirmation Date.
2 | Delivery of the Bonus Shares |
The Bonus Shares will be delivered to the Participants as soon as practically possible after the Confirmation Date. An Eligible Employee who has not returned his/her executed Bonus Agreement in due time will be deemed to have chosen the Cash Alternative under the Optional Shares Bonus.
The transfer of ownership of the Bonus Shares from AB InBev to the Participant will be done by the recording of the transfer in the share register of AB InBev.
3 | Transferability |
3.1 | Lock-Up period |
Subject to Clause VI 2 below, the Bonus Shares delivered to a Participant may not be transferred or encumbered with any security, pledge or other right, or otherwise pass to any third party:
(i) | during the 3-year period starting on the Confirmation Date, for the Bonus Shares granted under the Compulsory Shares Bonus; and |
(ii) | during the 5-year period starting on the Confirmation Date, for the Bonus Shares granted under the Optional Shares Bonus. |
3.2 | After lock-up period |
Once the transfer restrictions referred to in Clause 3.1 above have expired, a Participant may:
3.2.1 | keep the Bonus Shares in registered form; or |
3.2.2 | request the conversion of the Bonus Shares into dematerialized shares and their transfer on a securities account; or |
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3.2.3 | sell the Bonus Shares. To that effect, the Participant shall: |
(i) | instruct AB InBev to convert the Bonus Shares into dematerialized shares, |
(ii) | instruct AB InBev to deliver them on behalf of the Participant to the financial intermediary, appointed by AB InBev, in charge of selling those Bonus Shares on the market on behalf of the Participant, and |
(iii) | instruct such financial intermediary to sell the Bonus Shares on the market. |
The proceeds of the sale of the Bonus Shares will be paid directly to the Participant, after deduction of all fees, costs and taxes due by the Participant as the result of the sale of the Bonus Shares.
4 | Expenses and Taxes |
AB InBev and/or its subsidiaries will bear the costs related to the set-up of the Plan and the attribution of the Bonus Shares.
All taxes and employee social security contributions of any kind relating to, inter alia , the attribution, the holding and the sale of the Bonus Shares and all other costs (including costs relating to the conversion of the Bonus Shares, the transfer and the sale of the Bonus Shares, the opening of a securities and/or a cash account, international transfers of cash, and dividend payments) will be borne by the Participant.
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Terms and Conditions Relating to the Options
1 | The Options |
1.1 | Form |
The Options will be recorded in a special paper and/or electronic register in the form determined by AB InBev.
1.2 | Transferability |
Except for transfers as a result of death (see Clause VI 2.7.2 below), Options may not be transferred or encumbered with any security, pledge or other right, or otherwise pass to any third party.
2 | Acceptance of the Options |
2.1 | Full or partial acceptance of the Options |
A Participant to whom Options are being offered has the possibility of accepting only part of the Options granted to him/her. To that effect, the Participant shall mention in the Option Agreement the exact number of accepted Options. If the Participant accepts only part of the Options, he/she shall be deemed to have refused the other Options offered to him/her.
2.2 | Mode of acceptance |
The Participant shall complete, date and sign an Option Agreement and return it to the address indicated on it. The completed Option Agreement must be in the possession of AB InBev, or any third party designated by it to that effect, before the end of the Confirmation Period.
Failure to return the completed, dated and signed Option Agreement before the end of the Confirmation Period will be deemed to constitute a refusal by the Eligible Employee of all Options offered to him/her.
3 | Exercise of the Options |
3.1 | Exercise Price |
The Exercise Price of the Options is specified in the Option Agreement. The Exercise Price of the Options is, unless otherwise decided by AB InBev at the time of granting, equal to the average price of the Shares on Euronext Brussels during the 30 days immediately preceding the Confirmation Date.
3.2 | Exercise Period |
Subject to Clause V 3.3, the Options may be exercised only during the Exercise Period. The Options that are not exercised within the Exercise Period automatically expire and become null and void.
3.3 | Exercise limitations |
3.3.1 | The Options cannot be exercised before one of the Performance Tests has been satisfied by AB InBev. For the avoidance of doubt, it suffices that any of the Performance tests be satisfied. |
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The Performance Tests will be carried out, and the outcome of these tests will be communicated to the Participants, as soon as practicable after the publication by AB InBev of its annual results relating to the financial years ending on 31 December 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively.
An explanation on the methods of computation of AB InBevs ROIC and WACC may be obtained by the Participants from their respective local People officer.
The Options shall automatically become null and void if none of the Performance Tests has been satisfied.
3.3.2 | The Options may not, under any circumstances, be exercised during a Prohibited Period or in breach of any applicable laws prohibiting insider dealing. |
3.4 | Terms of Exercise |
An Option will be deemed exercised upon receipt by AB InBev, or any other person designated to that effect by AB InBev, at any time during the Exercise Period (but not later than 2 p.m. Brussels time on the last Banking Day of the Exercise Period), of the following:
3.4.1 | a duly completed Option Exercise Form explicitly mentioning the number of Options being exercised; |
3.4.2 | any other statements and documents that the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Committee or any other person designated to that effect by the Committee, deems necessary or desirable in order to comply with all applicable legal and regulatory provisions. |
3.5 | Payment of the Exercise Price |
3.5.1 | Full payment of the Exercise Price (as well as related costs, taxes and duties, if any) must take place at the latest ten (10) Banking Days after the date of exercise, in the manner indicated on the Option Exercise Form. Transfer of ownership of the Shares will occur upon receipt by AB InBev of the Exercise Price. However, if applicable, transfer of ownership may be postponed until payment by the Participant of all amounts and taxes due in the framework of any tax equalization arrangement relating to the Plan. |
3.5.2 | AB InBev will in principle set up a mechanism of cashless exercise whereby a Participant will elect to simultaneously exercise his/her Options and sell the Shares underlying the exercised Options. In that case, the Exercise Price will be paid to AB InBev from the proceeds of the sale of the Shares, in accordance with Clause V 3.5.1. |
By opting for a cashless exercise, the Participant:
(i) | instructs the financial intermediary appointed by AB InBev to sell on the market the Shares underlying the exercised Options; and |
(ii) | instructs AB InBev to (i) deliver, on the Participants behalf, the Shares underlying the exercised Options to such financial intermediary for their sale on the market and (ii) collect from that financial intermediary the proceeds of the sale of those Shares. |
Following the delivery of the Shares by AB InBev to the financial intermediary, the obligation of AB InBev to deliver Shares (or the sale proceeds thereof) to the
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Participant will be set off against the obligation of the Participant to pay the Exercise Price to AB InBev. Any amount in excess of the Exercise Price collected by AB InBev, after payment of all applicable costs, fees and taxes due by the Participant and, if applicable, any amount due by the Participant in the framework of any tax equalization arrangement relating to the Plan, as a result of the cashless exercise, will be transferred to the Participant.
3.5.3 | If the Participant fails to pay the Exercise Price within the timeframe provided in Clause V 3.5.1, he/she thereby authorises AB InBev, subject to compliance with applicable law, to sell the Shares underlying the Options so exercised. The sale will take place on the eleventh (11th) Banking Day after the date of exercise. The proceeds of the sale of the Shares will be applied in the following order: first, payment of all costs, fees and taxes due as a result of the Exercise and the sale of the Shares; secondly, payment of the Exercise Price to AB InBev; thirdly, payment of the remaining sale proceeds to the Participant. |
However, the Exercise will be automatically cancelled should AB InBev consider that the sale proceeds would be insufficient to cover: (i) the Exercise Price to be paid to Anheuser-Busch InBev; and (ii) the costs, fees and taxes that would be due by the Participant as a result of the Exercise and the sale of the Shares or if any sale would violate applicable law.
4 | Amendment to the capital structure and anti-dilution measures |
AB InBev expressly reserves the right to proceed with corporate changes that have an impact on its capital, such as capital increases, including by incorporation of reserves in the capital, capital decreases, issuance of convertible bonds, subscription rights or options, stock splits or reverse stock splits, combinations or reclassifications of the Shares, mergers, (partial) demergers, as well as the right to amend the clauses in the articles of association governing the allocation of profits or liquidation boni.
In the event that such corporate changes would have an unfavourable effect on the Options, the Exercise Price and/or the number of Options and/or the number of Shares to which the Options give rights will be adjusted for the purpose of safeguarding the interests of the holders of Options, in the manner determined at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, subject to any required action by the Shareholders Meeting of AB InBev. The terms of such adjustment will be communicated to the Participants in due time.
In the event that AB InBev would be merged into another company, the rights and obligations of AB InBev under the Plan will automatically be transferred to the absorbing company and the Options will no longer give the Participants the right to purchase Shares but instead the right to purchase shares of the absorbing company, subject to applicable law. The number of shares of the absorbing company to which each Option will give right, and the exercise price of each Option, will be determined at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and communicated to the Participants in due time.
5 | Nature and characteristics of the Shares |
5.1 | General |
The Shares to be purchased upon exercise of the Options are existing ordinary shares of AB InBev with all rights and benefits generally attached to such Shares. AB InBev will, at its discretion, deliver Shares in dematerialized form or in registered form.
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5.2 | Dividends |
5.2.1 | The Shares acquired upon Exercise of the Options give the right to the dividends paid on such Shares after the date of Exercise. No dividends will be paid on the Options. |
5.2.2 | In addition, upon Exercise of Options, the Participants will receive from AB InBev: |
(i) | all the coupons representing the dividends paid on the Shares so acquired between the Confirmation Date and the date of Exercise; or |
(ii) | an amount equal to the dividends paid on the Shares so acquired, between the Confirmation Date and the date of Exercise. |
The choice between (i) and (ii) above will be made by AB InBev at its discretion.
All taxes due as a consequence of the granting by AB InBev of the coupons representing the dividends or the payment of an amount equal to the dividends will be payable by the Participants.
5.3 | Transferability |
The Shares acquired upon Exercise are not subject to any transfer restrictions under the rules of the Plan.
The Shares are restricted securities under U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act ), and may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state or territory of the United States and of any other jurisdiction.
6 | Expenses and taxes |
All costs related to the attribution of the Options and the delivery of the Shares will be paid by AB InBev, except taxes on stock exchange transactions and income and social security taxes on the income received by the Participants in connection with the offering, the ownership or the exercise of the Options and with the acquisition of the Shares. All financing costs related to the acquisition of the Shares are to be paid by the Participants. The Participants shall ensure that the bank account of AB InBev is credited with the net amount. AB InBev may withhold from any payment or delivery of Shares any income or social security taxes that are required to be withheld under any applicable law, rule or regulation.
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General provisions applicable to the Bonus Shares and the Options
1 | Approval of the Plan Documentation |
The Plan forms part of an agreement between the Participant, the AB InBev affiliate that employs the Participant and AB InBev. By returning his/her completed Bonus Agreement, each Participant unconditionally agrees to be bound by the contents of this document.
A Participant who fails to return the completed Bonus Agreement before the date mentioned on the Bonus Agreement and who does not object in writing to the Plan before the Confirmation Date, will be deemed to have unconditionally agreed to the contents of this document.
2 | Expiry of the Options before the end of the Exercise Period and situation upon termination of service |
2.1 | Violation of the Bonus Shares transfer restrictions |
The Options will automatically expire and become null and void if the Participant fails to comply with the Bonus Shares transfer restrictions referred to in Clause IV 3.
2.2 | Resignation and Dismissal for Serious Cause |
Upon resignation or Dismissal for Serious Cause of a Participant:
2.2.1 | the Bonus Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of the end of employment; |
2.2.2 | all Options which are not exercisable under Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above on the date of the end of employment automatically expire and become null and void; |
2.2.3 | all Options which, on the date of the end of employment, are exercisable according to Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above may be exercised but only during a 90-day period starting on the day employment has ended; |
2.2.4 | the Participant will be liable towards AB InBev of an amount, in euros, calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
RA | = |
EP x OS |
||||
10 |
RA | means the amount to be reimbursed to AB InBev |
EP | means the Exercise Price |
OS | means the number of Bonus Shares a Participant has received under the Optional shares Bonus. |
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such dismissal.
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2.3 | Dismissal other than for serious cause and retirement or pre-pension before the age of 60 |
Upon dismissal of a Participant other than for serious cause or in case of retirement or pre-pension of a Participant before the age of 60:
2.3.1 | the Bonus Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of the end of the employment contract. |
2.3.2 | if the employment contract ends during the first or the second year following the Confirmation Date: |
(i) | all Options automatically expire and become null and void; and |
(ii) | the Participant will be liable towards AB InBev of an amount, in euros, calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
RA | = |
EP x OS |
||||
10 |
RA | means the amount to be reimbursed to AB InBev |
EP | means the Exercise Price |
OS | means the number of Bonus Shares a Participant has received under the Optional shares Bonus |
2.3.3 | if the employment contract ends during the third, the fourth or the fifth year following the Confirmation Date: |
(i) | a portion of the Options (the Dismissal Pro-Rata Options ) will remain exercisable by the Participant in accordance with these terms and conditions, but only during a 180-day period starting on the Exercise Period Starting Date, and provided the following conditions are met: |
(a) | the Participant continues to comply with the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 despite the fact that the employment contract has ended; |
(b) | if so requested by AB InBev, the Participant enters into a Non-Competition Agreement. The modalities of the Non-Competition Agreement will be agreed upon after the employment contract has ended. |
The number of Dismissal Pro-Rata Options will be calculated on the basis of the following formula:
PRO | = |
AO x M |
||||
60 |
PRO | means the number of Dismissal Pro-Rata Options |
AO | means the number of Accepted Options |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment of the Participant within the AB InBev Group during the period from the Confirmation Date until the end of the employment contract. |
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The Options which do not qualify as Dismissal Pro-Rata Options automatically expire and become null and void; and
(ii) | the Participant will be liable towards AB InBev of an amount, in euros, calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
RA | = |
EP x OS |
x |
60 M |
||||||
10 | 60 |
RA | means the amount to be reimbursed to AB InBev |
EP | means the Exercise Price |
OS | means the number of Bonus Shares a Participant has received under the Optional shares Bonus |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment of the Participant within the AB InBev Group during the period from the Confirmation Date until the end of the employment contract. |
2.3.4 | all Options which, on the date of the end of the employment contract, are exercisable according to Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above may be exercised but only during a 180-day period starting on the day the employment contract has ended. |
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such dismissal.
2.4 | Outsourcing |
In case of Outsourcing:
2.4.1 | the Bonus Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of the effective Outsourcing; |
2.4.2 | if the date of Outsourcing occurs during the first or second year following the Confirmation Date: |
(i) | all Options automatically expire and become null and void; and |
(ii) | the Participant will be liable towards AB InBev of an amount, in euros, calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
RA | = |
EP x OS |
||||
10 |
RA | means the amount to be reimbursed to AB InBev |
EP | means the Exercise Price |
OS | means the number of Bonus Shares a Participant has received under the Optional shares Bonus |
2.4.3 | if the effective date of Outsourcing occurs during the third, fourth or the fifth year following the Confirmation Date: |
(i) | a portion of the Options (the Outsourcing Pro-Rata Options ) will remain exercisable by the Participant in accordance with these terms and |
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conditions, but only during a 180-day period starting on the Exercise Period Starting Date, and provided the following conditions are met: |
(a) | the Participant continues to comply with the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 despite the fact that the effective Outsourcing has taken place; |
(b) | if so requested by AB InBev, the Participant enters into a Non-Competition Agreement. The modalities of the Non-Competition Agreement will be agreed upon after the effective date of Outsourcing. |
The number of Outsourcing Pro-Rata Options will be calculated on the basis of the following formula:
PRO | = |
AO x M |
||||
60 |
PRO | means the number of Outsourcing Pro-Rata Options |
AO | means the number of Accepted Options |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment of the Participant within the AB InBev Group during the period from the Confirmation Date until the date of effective Outsourcing. |
The Options which do not qualify as Outsourcing Pro-Rata Options automatically expire and become null and void; and
(ii) | the Participant will be liable towards AB InBev of an amount, in euros, calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
RA | = |
EP x OS |
x |
60 M |
||||||
10 | 60 |
RA | means the amount to be reimbursed to AB InBev |
EP | means the Exercise Price |
OS | means the number of Bonus Shares a Participant has received under the Optional shares Bonus |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment of the Participant within the AB InBev Group during the period from the Confirmation Date until the date of effective Outsourcing. |
2.4.4 | all Options which, on the date of Outsourcing, are exercisable according to Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above may be exercised but only during a 180-day period starting on the date of Outsourcing. |
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such Outsourcing.
2.5 | Retirement at or after the age of 60 or termination following permanent disability |
In the case of retirement at or after the age of 60 or in case of termination following permanent disability:
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2.5.1 | the Bonus Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of the end of the employment contract. |
2.5.2 | all Options which are not exercisable under Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above on the date of the end of the employment contract automatically expire and become null and void. |
However, the Options will remain exercisable by the Participant in accordance with these terms and provided the following conditions are met:
(i) | the Participant continues to comply with the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 despite the fact that the employment contract has ended; |
(ii) | if so requested by AB InBev, the Participant enters into a Non-Competition Agreement. The modalities of the Non-Competition Agreement will be agreed upon after the employment contract has ended. |
2.5.3 | all Options which, on the date of the end of the employment contract, are exercisable according to Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above may be exercised until the end of the Exercise Period. |
2.5.4 | the Participant will be liable towards AB InBev of an amount, in euros, calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
RA | = |
EP x OS |
||||
10 |
RA | means the amount to be reimbursed to AB InBev |
EP | means the Exercise Price |
OS | means the number of Bonus Shares a Participant has received under the Optional shares Bonus. |
However, that amount will not be due if the two conditions referred to in Clause VI 2.5.2 are met.
2.6 | The notions of retirement, pre-pension and permanent disability are to be defined by reference to the law governing the employment contract, or alternatively, by the pension plan rules in the relevant jurisdiction or, if applicable, directorship of the Participant. |
2.7 | Death |
In the case of death of a Participant:
2.7.1 | the Bonus Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of death |
2.7.2 | a portion of the Options inherited or otherwise acquired as a result of the Participants death which are not exercisable under Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above, will become immediately and unconditionally exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions, to the exclusion of Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 (the Death Pro-Rata Options ). The number of Death Pro-Rata Options will be calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
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PRO | = |
AO x M |
||||
60 |
PRO | means the number of Death Pro-Rata Options |
AO | means the number of Accepted Options |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment of the deceased Participant within the AB InBev Group during the period from the Confirmation Date until the date of death. |
The Options which do not qualify as Death Pro-Rata Options automatically expire and become null and void.
2.7.3 | all Options which, at the date of death of the Participant, are exercisable according to Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above may be exercised by the Successors until the end of the Exercise Period. |
3 | Administration of the Plan |
3.1 | Delegation to the Committee |
3.2 | The Board of Directors may delegate part or all powers under the Plan to the Committee. In the case of a delegation of powers, the Committee shall: (i) be responsible for the general administration of the Plan in accordance with the provisions thereof, under the supervision of the Board of Directors; and (ii) be authorised to establish rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and, if necessary, to interpret, amend and cancel these rules, in compliance with these terms and conditions. |
In the case of a delegation of powers, the Board of Directors will retain full authority to exercise all the rights and obligations of the Committee under the Plan at any time whatsoever, or to delegate them to another committee constituted by the Board of Directors.
3.3 | (Sub-)delegation to any third party |
The Board of Directors and the Committee may (sub-)delegate certain well-specified powers to any third party they deem appropriate.
In the case of a (sub-)delegation of powers, the Board of Directors and the Committee will retain full authority to exercise all the rights and obligations so delegated.
4 | Electronic shares register and electronic evidence |
4.1 | Electronic Shares/Options register |
The Shares and the Options will be recorded in a Shares register and in an Options register in electronic form, the maintenance of which may be outsourced by AB InBev to a third party.
4.2 | Electronic evidence |
Electronic instructions, orders, statements and communications between a Participant, AB InBev, AB InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by AB InBev for the administration of the Plan will have the same legal status as written instructions, orders, statements and communications. The written recording or the written
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reproduction of electronic orders, instructions, statements and communications received by AB InBev, AB InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by AB InBev for the administration of the Plan, will constitute conclusive evidence between the Participant, AB InBev, AB InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by AB InBev for the administration of the Plan, unless evidence to the contrary is provided by the Participant.
5 | Matrimonial regime |
In the event that the matrimonial regimes of Participants confer ownership or other rights on their spouses with respect to any of the Options, the Shares and/or the Bonus Shares, those Participants undertake that their spouses shall appoint them as their sole representatives for all matters arising in relation to the Options, the Shares and/or the Bonus Shares.
6 | Death |
In the event of a Participants death, any Successor acquiring Options and/or Bonus Shares shall inform AB InBev of the Participants death as soon as possible and at the latest one month from the date of death.
7 | Modification of the terms and conditions |
The Board of Directors may unilaterally modify at any time the practical and/or accessory modalities of the terms and conditions. It may also unilaterally modify the terms and conditions when such modifications are required to comply with any change in legislation.
8 | Nature of the Plan |
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary included in the terms and conditions, the Bonus Agreement, the Option Agreement or any other document relating to the Plan:
8.1 | the acquisition of Shares by the Participant is unrelated to his occupational pension rights or pension claims, so that this acquisition cannot affect these occupational pension rights and claims; |
8.2 | the Plan, the terms and conditions, the Bonus Agreement, the Option Agreement or any other document relating to the Plan do not confer upon the Participant any right to continued employment for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of AB InBev or its subsidiaries to terminate the Participants employment according to the applicable regulations in respect of termination thereof; |
8.3 | the grant of Bonus Shares and of Options cannot be considered as a right acquired for the future. |
9 | Privacy and Processing of Personal Data |
The Data Controller is responsible for the collection and processing of Personal Data as is necessary for the setting-up and administration of the Plan, the Shares register and the Options register of AB InBev in electronic form.
The Personal Data collected, inter alia, by way of the Bonus Agreement, the Option Agreement and the Option Exercise Form will be used exclusively for the purposes of the
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administration of the Plan and the maintenance of the Shares register and the Options register of AB InBev in electronic form.
The Data Controller can transfer the Personal Data to the Data Processor and the employer of the Participant for the above purposes as well as to regulatory authorities for the purpose of complying with legal obligations in connection with the Plan. Such recipients may be located in jurisdictions outside the European Economic Area that may not provide an adequate level of personal data protection.
The Data Controller and the Data Processor shall abide by the Belgian law of 8 December 1992 on privacy protection in relation to the processing of personal data, as amended from time to time, and its implementing decrees.
Through their signature of the Bonus Agreement, the Participants give their consent to the collection and processing of their Personal Data as described in this Clause 9.
The Participants have the right to access and correct their Personal Data by sending a written and signed request to their local People officer.
10 | Severability |
If any provision in this document is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, under any applicable law, that provision will be deemed not to form part of this document, and the legality, validity or enforceability of the remainder of this document will not be affected.
11 | Applicable law |
The Options, the Shares, the Bonus Shares and these terms and conditions are governed by Belgian law. Any dispute relating thereto is to be submitted to the competent Belgian courts.
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Form B: Stock Options Grant of 25 November 2008
1 | Definitions |
When used in this document, the following terms are to have the meaning ascribed to them as indicated below, unless expressly indicated otherwise:
Banking Day | any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday in Belgium, on which banks in Belgium are open for business; | |
Board of Directors | the Board of Directors of Anheuser-Busch InBev; | |
Code of Dealing | the Anheuser-Busch InBev Dealing Code, as amended from time to time; | |
Committee | the Compensation and Nominating Committee of Anheuser-Busch InBev; | |
Data Controller | Anheuser-Busch InBev; | |
Data Processor | any third party designated by the Data Controller to process Personal Data on behalf of the Data Controller in accordance with Clause 17 for the implementation, administration and management of the Plan and the Shares register and Options register in electronic form; | |
Death Pro-Rata Options A | has the meaning given to it in Clause 7.7.1(i); | |
Death Pro-Rata Options B | has the meaning given to it in Clause 7.7.2(i); | |
Dismissal for Serious Cause | dismissal for serious cause as defined in the Belgian Law of 3 July 1978 or any other equivalent relevant local law, to the extent that they apply to the Participant concerned; | |
Dismissal Pro-Rata Options B | has the meaning given to it in Clause 7.3.2(ii); | |
Eligible Employee | an employee of Anheuser-Busch InBev or its subsidiaries (within the meaning of Article 6 of the Belgian Code of Companies) who received an Offer Letter; | |
Exercise | the legal act whereby a Participant, by exercising Options acquires the Shares to which the Options relate; | |
Exercise Period A | the period running from 1 January 2014 to 24 November 2018 (inclusive); |
B-1
Exercise Period B | the period running from 1 January 2019 to 24 November 2023 (inclusive); | |
Exercise Period A Starting Date | 1 January 2014; | |
Exercise Period B Starting Date | 1 January 2019; | |
Exercise Price | the price per Option A and Option B that a Participant must pay for the Exercise of his/her Options, and which is set out in the Offer Letter; | |
Expiry Date A | 24 November 2018; | |
Expiry Date B | 24 November 2023; | |
Form of Acceptance of Options | the form whereby an Eligible Employee accepts all or part of the Options or refuses the Options; | |
Anheuser-Busch InBev | Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, with its registered office at Grand Place 1, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; | |
Offer Date | 25 November 2008; | |
Offer Letter | the letter whereby Anheuser-Busch InBev offers Options to an Eligible Employee; | |
Offer Period | the period starting on 25 November 2008 and ending on 24 February 2009 (inclusive). | |
Option A |
the right to:
(i) purchase from Anheuser-Busch InBev one existing Share during the Exercise Period A in accordance with these terms and conditions; and
(ii) receive from Anheuser-Busch InBev, in accordance with Clause 9.2, (a) all the coupons representing the dividends paid on that Share between the Offer Date and the date of Exercise; or (b) an amount equal to the dividends paid on that Share between the Offer Date and the date of Exercise; |
|
Option B |
the right to:
(i) purchase from Anheuser-Busch InBev one existing Share during the Exercise Period B in accordance with these terms and conditions, and
(ii) receive from Anheuser-Busch InBev in accordance with Clause 9.2, (a) all the coupons representing the dividends paid on that Share between the Offer Date and the date of Exercise; or (b) an amount equal to the dividends paid on |
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Performance Test |
Total Net Debt |
£ 2.5 on any Observation Date. | ||||
EBITDA | ||||||
where:
Total Net Debt means the Total Net Debt (as defined in Clause 25.1 of the Senior Facilities Agreement) on the relevant Observation Date;
EBITDA means EBITDA (as defined in Clause 25.1 of the Senior Facilities Agreement) for the financial year ending on the relevant Observation Date;
Observation Date means 31 December 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; |
||||||
Personal Data | each item of information relating to a Participant; | |||||
Plan | the present Anheuser-Busch InBev Stock Option Plan; | |||||
Prohibited Period | any period defined as such in the Code of Dealing; | |||||
Senior Facilities Agreement | the US$45,000,000,000 senior facilities agreement dated 12 July 2008 between, inter alia , Anheuser-Busch InBev as original borrower and certain financial institutions as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners; Participants may obtain a copy of the Senior Facilities Agreement from their respective local People Officer; | |||||
Share | an ordinary share of Anheuser-Busch InBev; | |||||
Successor | the successor of a Participant as determined under the applicable law of succession and/or the persons designated by a Participant, in accordance with the applicable law of succession, to inherit the rights of the Participant under the Plan after the death of the Participant; | |||||
Trading Day | any day on which the regulated market of Euronext Brussels is open for trading. |
2 | Approval of the Plan Documentation |
The Plan forms part of an agreement between the Participant and Anheuser-Busch InBev. By returning to Anheuser-Busch InBev a completed and signed Form of Acceptance of Options in due time, the Participant unconditionally agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions.
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3 | Confirmation by Shareholders Meeting |
The Options are granted subject to the confirmation of the Plan by the Annual Shareholders Meeting of Anheuser-Busch InBev at its meeting relating to the financial year ending on 31 December 2008.
4 | Acceptance of the Options |
4.1 | Full or partial acceptance |
An Eligible Employee to whom Options A and Options B are being offered has the possibility of accepting only part of them. In case of partial acceptance, the Eligible Employee must accept the same number of Options A and Options B. To that effect, the Eligible Employee shall mention in the Form of Acceptance of Options the exact number of accepted Options A and Options B. If an Eligible Employee accepts only part of the Options A and Options B, he/she shall be deemed to have refused the other Options A and Options B offered to him/her.
4.2 | Mode of acceptance |
The Eligible Employee shall complete, date and sign the Form of Acceptance of Options attached to the Offer Letter communicated to him/her by Anheuser-Busch InBev and return it to the address indicated on it. The completed Form of Acceptance of Options must reach Anheuser-Busch InBev, or any third party designated by it to that effect, as set out in the Offer Letter.
Failure to return the completed, dated and signed Form of Acceptance of Options as set out in the Offer Letter will be deemed to constitute a refusal by the Eligible Employee of all Options A and Options B offered to him/her.
5 | Transferability |
Except for transfers as a result of death (see Clause 7.7 below), Options may not be transferred or encumbered with any security, pledge or other right, or otherwise pass to any third party.
6 | Exercise of the Options |
6.1 | Exercise Price |
The Exercise Price of the Options is specified in the Offer Letter.
6.2 | Exercise Period |
6.2.1 | Subject to Clauses 6.3 and 7, the Options A may be exercised only during the Exercise Period A. The Options A that are not exercised within the Exercise Period A automatically expire and become null and void. |
6.2.2 | Subject to Clauses 6.3 and 7, the Options B may be exercised only during the Exercise Period B. The Options B that are not exercised within the Exercise Period B automatically expire and become null and void. |
6.3 | Exercise limitations |
6.3.1 | The Options cannot be exercised before the Performance Test is met by Anheuser-Busch InBev on one of the Observation Dates. |
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The Performance Test will be carried out, and the outcome of the test will be communicated to the Participants, as soon as practicable after the Performance Test has been met, and at the latest after the publication by Anheuser-Busch InBev of its annual results relating to the financial years ending on 31 December 2013. |
An explanation of the Performance Tests may be obtained by the Participants from their respective local People Officer. |
The Options shall automatically become null and void if the Performance Test has not been met at the latest at 31 December 2013. |
6.3.2 | The Options may not, under any circumstances, be exercised during a Prohibited Period or in breach of any applicable laws prohibiting insider dealing. |
6.4 | Terms of Exercise |
An Option will be deemed exercised upon receipt by Anheuser-Busch InBev, or any other person designated to that effect by Anheuser-Busch InBev, at any time during the Exercise Period A or the Exercise Period B, as applicable (but not later than 2:00 p.m. Brussels time on the last Banking Day of the Exercise Period A or the Exercise Period B, as applicable), of the following:
6.4.1 | a duly completed Option Exercise Form explicitly mentioning the number of Options being exercised; |
6.4.2 | any other statements and documents that the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Committee or any other person designated to that effect by the Committee, deems necessary or desirable in order to comply with all applicable legal and regulatory provisions. |
6.5 | Payment of the Exercise Price |
6.5.1 | Full payment of the Exercise Price (as well as related costs, taxes and duties, if any) must take place at the latest five (5) Banking Days after the date of exercise, in the manner indicated on the Option Exercise Form. Transfer of ownership of the Shares will occur upon receipt by Anheuser-Busch InBev of the Exercise Price. However, if applicable, transfer of ownership may be postponed until payment by the Participant of all amounts and taxes due in the framework of any tax equalisation arrangement relating to the Plan. |
6.5.2 | Anheuser-Busch InBev may, at its discretion, set up a mechanism of cashless Exercise whereby a Participant may elect to simultaneously Exercise Options and sell the Shares underlying the exercised Options. In that case, the Exercise Price will be paid to Anheuser-Busch InBev from the proceeds of the sale of the Shares, in accordance with Clause 6.5.1. |
By opting for a cashless Exercise, the Participant: |
(i) | instructs the financial intermediary appointed by Anheuser-Busch InBev to sell on the market the Shares underlying the exercised Options; and |
(ii) | instructs Anheuser-Busch InBev to: (i) deliver, on the Participants behalf, the Shares underlying the exercised Options to such financial intermediary for their sale on the market; and (ii) collect from that financial intermediary the proceeds of the sale of those Shares. |
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Following the delivery of the Shares by Anheuser-Busch InBev to the financial intermediary, the obligation of Anheuser-Busch InBev to deliver Shares (or the sale proceeds thereof) to the Participant will be set off against the obligation of the Participant to pay the Exercise Price to Anheuser-Busch InBev. Any amount in excess of the Exercise Price collected by Anheuser-Busch InBev, after payment of all applicable costs, fees and taxes due by the Participant and, if applicable, any amount due by the Participant in the framework of any tax equalisation arrangement relating to the Plan, as a result of the cashless exercise, will be transferred to the Participant. |
6.5.3 |
If the Participant fails to pay the Exercise Price within the timeframe provided in Clause 6.5.1, he/she thereby authorises Anheuser-Busch InBev to sell the Shares underlying the Options so exercised. The sale will take place on the sixth (6 th ) Banking Day after the date of exercise. The proceeds of the sale of the Shares will be applied in the following order: first, payment of all costs, fees and taxes due as a result of the Exercise and the sale of the Shares; secondly, payment of the Exercise Price to Anheuser-Busch InBev; thirdly, payment of the remaining sale proceeds to the Participant. |
However, the Exercise will be automatically cancelled should Anheuser-Busch InBev consider that the sale proceeds would be insufficient to cover: (i) the Exercise Price to be paid to Anheuser-Busch InBev; and (ii) the costs, fees and taxes that would be due by the Participant as a result of the Exercise and the sale of the Shares.
7 | Expiry of the Options before the end of the Exercise Period A or the Exercise Period B and situation upon Termination of Service |
7.1 | Default under the Senior Facilities Agreement |
In case of a default by Anheuser-Busch InBev or any of its subsidiaries under the Senior Facilities Agreement, which has not been cured or waived in accordance with the provisions of the Senior Facilities Agreement, all Options not yet exercised will automatically expire and become null and void on the date such default has occurred.
Anheuser-Busch InBev will, as soon as practically possible, inform the Participants of the occurrence of any default under the Senior Facilities Agreement, which has not been cured of waived.
7.2 | Resignation and dismissal for serious cause |
7.2.1 | Options A |
Upon resignation or Dismissal for Serious Cause of a Participant: |
(i) | all Options A which are not exercisable under Clauses 6.2 and 6.3.1 above on the date of the end of the employment contract automatically expire and become null and void; and |
(ii) | all Options A which are exercisable under Clauses 6.2 and 6.3.1 above on the date of the end of the employment contract remain exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions. |
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such dismissal. |
7.2.2 | Options B |
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Upon resignation or Dismissal for Serious Cause of a Participant the rules set out in Clause 7.2.1 apply to the Options B. |
7.3 | Dismissal other than for serious cause and retirement or pre-pension before the age of 60 |
7.3.1 | Options A |
Upon dismissal of a Participant other than for serious cause or in case of retirement or pre-pension of a Participant before the age of 60: |
(i) | if the employment contract ends before the Exercise Period A Starting Date, all Options A automatically expire and become null and void; |
(ii) | if the employment contract ends during the Exercise Period A all Options A remain exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions. |
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such dismissal. |
7.3.2 | Options B |
Upon dismissal of a Participant other than for serious cause or in case of retirement or pre-pension of a Participant before the age of 60: |
(i) | if the employment contract ends before the Exercise Period A Starting Date, all Options B automatically expire and become null and void; |
(ii) | if the employment contract ends on or after the Exercise Period A Starting Date but before the Exercise Period B Starting Date, a portion of the Options B (the Dismissal Pro-Rata Options B ) will remain exercisable by the Participant in accordance with these terms and conditions, provided that, if so requested by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the Participant enters into a non-competition agreement. The modalities of the non-competition agreement will be agreed upon after the employment contract has ended. |
The number of Dismissal Pro-Rata Options B will be calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
PRO | = |
O b x M |
||||
120 |
PRO | means the number of Dismissal Pro-Rata Options B |
O b |
means the number of Options B |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment of the Participant within the Anheuser-Busch InBev group during the period from the Offer Date until the end of the employment contract. |
Options which do not qualify as Dismissal Pro-Rata Options automatically expire and become null and void; and |
(iii) | if the employment contract ends during the Exercise Period B, all Options B remain exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions. |
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such dismissal. |
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7.4 | Outsourcing |
7.4.1 | Options A |
In the case of Outsourcing: |
(i) | if the date of Outsourcing occurs before the Exercise Period A Starting Date, all Options A automatically expire and become null and void; |
(ii) | if the date of Outsourcing occurs during the Exercise Period A all Options A remain exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions. |
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such Outsourcing. |
7.4.2 | Options B |
(i) | if the date of Outsourcing occurs before the Exercise Period A Starting Date, all Options B automatically expire and become null and void; |
(ii) | if the date of Outsourcing occurs on or after the Exercise Period A Starting Date but before the Exercise Period B Starting Date, a portion of the Options B (the Outsourcing Pro-Rata Options B ) will remain exercisable by the Participant in accordance with these terms and conditions, provided that, if so requested by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the Participant enters into a Non-Competition Agreement. The modalities of the Non-Competition Agreement will be agreed upon after the effective date of Outsourcing. |
The number of Outsourcing Pro-Rata Options B will be calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
PRO | = |
O b x M |
||||
120 |
PRO means the number of Outsourcing Pro-Rata Options B |
O b |
means the number of Options B |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment of the Participant within the Anheuser-Busch InBev Group during the period from the Offer Date until the date of effective Outsourcing. |
Options which do not qualify as Outsourcing Pro-Rata Options automatically expire and become null and void; and |
(iii) | if the date of Outsourcing occurs during the Exercise Period B all Options B remain exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions. |
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such Outsourcing. |
7.5 | Retirement at or after the age of 60 or termination following permanent disability |
7.5.1 | Options A |
In the case of retirement at or after the age of 60 or in the case of termination following permanent disability: |
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(i) | all Options A which are not exercisable under Clauses 6.2 and 6.3.1 above on the date of the end of the employment contract may be exercised by the Participant in accordance with these terms and conditions provided that, if so requested by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the Participant enters into a Non-Competition Agreement. The modalities of the Non-Competition Agreement will be agreed upon after the employment contract has ended; and |
(ii) | all Options A which, on the date of the end of the employment contract, are exercisable according to Clauses 6.2 and 6.3.1 above remain exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions. |
7.5.2 | Options B |
In the case of retirement at or after the age of 60 or in the case of termination following permanent disability the rules set out in Clause 7.5.1 apply to the Options B. |
7.6 | The notions of retirement, pre-pension and permanent disability are to be defined by reference to the law governing the employment contract or, alternatively, by the pension plan rules in the relevant jurisdiction or, if applicable, by the directorship of the Participant. |
7.7 | Death |
7.7.1 | Options A |
In the case of death of a Participant: |
(i) | a portion of the Options A inherited or otherwise acquired as a result of the Participants death which are not exercisable under Clauses 6.2 and 6.3.1 above, will remain exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions (the Death Pro-Rata Options A ). The number of Death Pro-Rata Options A will be calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
PRO | = |
O b x M |
||||
60 |
PRO means the number of Death Pro-Rata Options A |
O b |
means the number of Options A |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment of the deceased Participant within the Anheuser-Busch InBev Group during the period from the Offer Date until the date of death. |
Options A which do not qualify as Death Pro-Rata Options A automatically expire and become null and void; and |
(ii) | all Options A which, at the date of death of the Participant, are exercisable according to Clauses 6.2 and 6.3.1 above remain exercisable by the Successors in accordance with these terms and conditions. |
7.7.2 | Options B |
In the case of death of a Participant: |
(i) | a portion of the Options B inherited or otherwise acquired as a result of the Participants death which are not exercisable under Clauses 6.2 and 6.3.1 above, will remain exercisable in accordance with these terms and |
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conditions (the Death Pro-Rata Options B ). The number of Death Pro-Rata Options B will be calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
PRO | = |
O b x M |
||||
120 |
PRO means the number of Death Pro-Rata Options B |
O b |
means the number of Options B |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment of the deceased Participant within the Anheuser-Busch InBev Group during the period from the Offer Date until the date of death. |
Options B which do not qualify as Death Pro-Rata Options B automatically expire and become null and void; and
(ii) | all Options B which, at the date of death of the Participant, are exercisable according to Clauses 6.2 and 6.3.1 above remain exercisable by the Successors in accordance with these terms and conditions. |
8 | Amendment to the Capital Structure and Anti-dilution Measures |
Anheuser-Busch InBev expressly reserves the right to proceed with corporate changes that have an impact on its capital, such as capital increases, including by incorporation of reserves in the capital, capital decreases, issuance of convertible bonds, subscription rights or options, stock splits or reverse stock splits, combinations or reclassifications of the Shares, mergers, (partial) demergers, as well as the right to amend the clauses in the articles of association governing the allocation of profits or liquidation boni.
In the event that such corporate changes would have an unfavourable effect on the Options, the Exercise Price and/or the number of Options and/or the number of Shares to which the Options give rights will be adjusted for the purpose of safeguarding the interests of the holders of Options, as determined at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, subject to any required action by the Shareholders Meeting of Anheuser-Busch InBev. The terms of such adjustment will be communicated to the Participants in due time.
In the event that Anheuser-Busch InBev would be merged into another company, the rights and obligations of Anheuser-Busch InBev under the Plan will automatically be transferred to the absorbing company and the Options will no longer give the Participants the right to purchase Shares but instead the right to purchase shares of the absorbing company. The number of shares of the absorbing company to which each Option will give right will be determined at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and communicated to the Participants in due time.
9 | Nature and characteristics of the Shares |
9.1 | General |
The Shares to be purchased upon exercise of the Options are existing ordinary shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev with all rights and benefits generally attached to such Shares. Anheuser-Busch InBev will, at its discretion, deliver Shares in dematerialised form or in registered form.
9.2 | Dividends |
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9.2.1 | The Shares acquired upon Exercise of Options give rights to the dividends paid on such Shares after the date of Exercise. |
9.2.2 | In addition, upon Exercise of Options, the Participants will receive from Anheuser-Busch InBev: |
(i) | all the coupons representing the dividends paid on the Shares so acquired between the Offer Date and the date of Exercise; or |
(ii) | an amount equal to the dividends paid on the Shares so acquired, between the Offer Date and the date of Exercise. |
The choice between (i) and (ii) above will be made by Anheuser-Busch InBev at its discretion.
All taxes due as a consequence of the granting by Anheuser-Busch InBev of the coupons representing the dividends or the payment of an amount equal to the dividends will be payable by the Participant.
9.3 | Transferability |
The Shares acquired upon Exercise are not subject to any transfer restrictions under the rules of the Plan.
The Shares are restricted securities under U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act ), and may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state or territory of the United States and of any other jurisdiction.
10 | Expenses and Taxes |
All costs related to the attribution of the Options and the delivery of the Shares will be paid by Anheuser-Busch InBev, except taxes on stock exchange transactions and income taxes on the income received by the Participants in connection with the offering, the ownership or the exercise of the Options and with the acquisition of the Shares. All financing costs related to the acquisition of the Shares are to be paid by the Participants. The Participants shall ensure that the bank account of Anheuser-Busch InBev is credited with the net amount.
11 | Administration of the Plan |
11.1 | Delegation to the Committee |
The Board of Directors may delegate part or all powers under the Plan to the Committee. In the case of a delegation of powers, the Committee shall: (i) be responsible for the general administration of the Plan in accordance with the provisions thereof, under the supervision of the Board of Directors; and (ii) be authorised to establish rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and, if necessary, to interpret, amend and cancel these rules, in compliance with these terms and conditions.
In the case of a delegation of powers, the Board of Directors will retain full authority to exercise all the rights and obligations of the Committee under the Plan at any time whatsoever, or to delegate them to another committee constituted by the Board of Directors.
11.2 | (Sub-)delegation to any third party |
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The Board of Directors and the Committee may (sub-)delegate certain well-specified powers to any third party they deem appropriate.
In the case of a (sub-)delegation of powers, the Board of Directors and the Committee will retain full authority to exercise all the rights and obligations so delegated.
12 | Electronic Register and Electronic Evidence |
12.1 | Electronic options register |
The Options may be recorded in an options register in electronic form, the maintenance of which may be outsourced by Anheuser-Busch InBev to a third party.
12.2 | Electronic evidence |
Electronic instructions, orders, statements and communications between a Participant, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Anheuser-Busch InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by Anheuser-Busch InBev for the administration of the Plan will have the same legal status as written instructions, orders, statements and communications. The written recording or the written reproduction of electronic orders, instructions, statements and communications received by Anheuser-Busch InBev, Anheuser-Busch InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by Anheuser-Busch InBev for the administration of the Plan, will constitute conclusive evidence between the Participant, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Anheuser-Busch InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by Anheuser-Busch InBev for the administration of the Plan, unless evidence to the contrary is provided by the Participant.
13 | Matrimonial Regime |
In the event that the matrimonial regimes of Participants confer ownership or other rights on their spouses with respect to the Options, those Participants undertake that their spouses shall appoint them as their sole representatives for all matters arising in relation to the Options.
14 | Death |
In the event of a Participants death, any Successor acquiring Options shall inform Anheuser-Busch InBev of the Participants death as soon as possible and at the latest one month from the date of death.
15 | Modification of the Terms and Conditions |
The Board of Directors may unilaterally modify at any time the practical and/or accessory modalities of the terms and conditions. It may also unilaterally modify the terms and conditions when such modifications are required to comply with any change in legislation.
16 | Nature of the Plan |
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary included in the terms and conditions, the Offer Letter, the Form of Acceptance of Options or any other document relating to the Plan:
16.1 | the acquisition of Shares by the Participant is unrelated to his occupational pension rights or pension claims, so that this acquisition cannot affect these occupational pension rights and claims; |
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16.2 | the Plan, the Offer Letter and the Form of Acceptance of Options or any other document relating to the Plan do not confer upon the Participant any right to continued employment for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of Anheuser-Busch InBev or its subsidiaries to terminate the Participants employment according to the applicable regulations in respect of termination thereof; and |
16.3 | the grant of Options cannot be considered as a right acquired for the future. |
17 | Privacy |
The Data Controller is responsible for the collection and processing of Personal Data as is necessary for the setting-up and administration of the Plan and the Options register of Anheuser-Busch InBev in electronic form.
The Personal Data collected by way of the Form of Acceptance of Options and the Option Exercise Form will be used exclusively for the purposes of the administration of the Plan and the maintenance of the Options register of Anheuser-Busch InBev in electronic form.
The Data Controller can transfer the Personal Data to the Data Processor and the employer of the Participant for the above purposes. Such recipients may be located in jurisdictions outside the European Economic Area that may not provide an adequate level of personal data protection.
The Data Controller and the Data Processor shall abide by the Belgian law of 8 December 1992 on privacy protection in relation to the processing of personal data, as amended from time to time, and its implementing decrees.
Through their signature of the Form of Acceptance of Options, the Participants give their consent to the collection and processing of their Personal Data.
The Participants have the right to access and correct their Personal Data by sending a written and signed request to their local People officer.
18 | Severability |
If any provision in this document is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, under any applicable law, that provision will be deemed not to form part of this document, and the legality, validity or enforceability of the remainder of this document will not be affected.
19 | Applicable Law |
The Options, the Shares and these terms and conditions are governed by Belgian law. Any dispute relating thereto is to be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent Belgian courts.
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Exhibit 4.6
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Share-Based Compensation Plan March 2010
Terms and Conditions
1
Glossary Defined Terms
When used in this document, the following terms are to have the meaning ascribed to them as indicated below, unless expressly indicated otherwise:
AB InBev |
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV/SA with its registered office at Grand Place 1, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; |
Accepted Options |
the Options which have been offered to a Participant and for which an Option Acceptance Form has been duly completed and returned to AB InBev in due time; |
Banking Day |
any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday in Belgium, on which banks in Belgium are open for business; |
Board of Directors |
the Board of Directors of AB InBev; |
Bonus Agreement |
the agreement between the Eligible Employee, his/her employer and AB InBev whereby an Eligible Employee, inter alia , accepts one of the three alternatives available under the Optional Shares Bonus; |
Bonus Share |
a Share which has been offered to an Eligible Employee under the Plan and which benefits from the same rights (including the right to dividends), and has the same characteristics as, the Shares in circulation at the time of the allocation of the Bonus Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, the Bonus Shares do not include the Shares resulting from the Exercise of the Options; |
Cash Alternative |
the payment of the Optional Shares Bonus in cash; |
Code of Dealing |
the AB InBev Dealing Code, as amended from time to time; |
Committee |
the Compensation and Nominating Committee of AB InBev; |
Compulsory Shares Bonus |
the part of the bonus named as such in the Bonus Agreement; |
Confirmation Period |
the period during which a Participant must indicate to AB InBev his acceptance or refusal of the Options, as indicated in the Option Confirmation Letter; |
Data Controller |
AB InBev; |
Data Processor |
any third party designated by the Data Controller to process Personal Data on behalf of the Data Controller in accordance with Clause VI 9 for the implementation, administration and management of the Plan and the Shares register and Options register in electronic form; |
Death Pro-Rata Options |
has the meaning given to it in Clause VI 2.7.2; |
Dismissal |
termination of employment or Self-Employment by AB InBev or its subsidiaries (within the meaning of Article 6 of the Belgian Companies Code); |
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Dismissal Pro-Rata Options |
has the meaning given to it in Clause VI 2.3.3; |
Divestiture |
a situation whereby the employing AB InBev subsidiary of a Participant is no longer a subsidiary of AB InBev (within the meaning of Article 6 of the Belgian Companies Code) following a divestiture through the sale of shares in the said AB InBev subsidiary; |
Eligible Employee |
a person working for AB InBev or its subsidiaries (within the meaning of Article 6 of the Belgian Companies Code) who received a proposal to participate in the Plan; |
Exercise |
the legal act whereby a Participant, by exercising the Options granted to him/her, acquires the Shares to which the Options relate; |
Exercise Period |
the period running from 05 March 2015 to 04 March 2020 (inclusive); |
Exercise Period Starting Date |
05 March 2015; |
Exercise Price |
the price per Option in Euros that a Participant must pay for the Exercise of his/her Options, and which is set in the Bonus Agreement and in the Option Confirmation Letter; |
Expiry Date |
04 March 2020; |
Offer Date |
05 March 2010; |
Option |
the right to purchase from AB InBev one existing Share in accordance with these terms and conditions; |
Option Acceptance Form |
(i) |
in case of acceptance of the Options in electronic format, the confirmation in the form of an e-mail sent by a Participant to optionmanager@inbev.com, whereby the Participant accepts all or part of the Options offered to him/her; or |
(ii) | in all other circumstances, the confirmation in the form of an acceptance form (in paper format), whereby the Participant accepts all or part of the Options offered to him/her; |
Option Confirmation Letter |
the letter whereby AB InBev confirms the offer of Options to a Participant; |
3
Option Exercise Form |
the notification in written and/or electronic format in the form determined by the Board of Directors, the Committee or any third party appointed by AB InBev to that effect, whereby a Participant notifies AB InBev or any third party designated by AB InBev to that effect of his/her decision to Exercise all or part of his/her Options in accordance with Clause V 3.4; |
Optional Shares Bonus |
the part of the bonus named as such in the Bonus Agreement; |
Outsourcing or Divestiture Pro-Rata Options |
has the meaning given to it in Clause VI 2.4.3; |
Participant |
any Eligible Employee who has completed and returned the Bonus Agreement in due time, or any Successor to whom Bonus Shares and/or Options have been transferred in accordance with these terms and conditions; |
Performance Tests |
{(ROIC WACC) 2010 + (ROIC WACC) 2011 + (ROIC WACC) 2012}/3 ³ 2.5% |
or
{(ROIC WACC) 2010 + (ROIC WACC) 2011 + (ROIC WACC) 2012 + (ROIC WACC) 2013}/4 ³ 2.5%
or
{(ROIC WACC) 2010 + (ROIC WACC) 2011 + (ROIC WACC) 2012 + (ROIC WACC) 2013 + (ROIC WACC) 2014}/5 ³ 2.5%
ROIC | means the return on invested capital of AB InBev for a given financial year; |
WACC |
means the weighted average cost of capital of AB InBev for a given financial year; |
Plan |
the AB InBev Share-Based Compensation Plan; |
4
Prohibited Period |
any period defined as such in the Code of Dealing; |
Resignation |
termination by a Participant of employment or Self-Employment with AB InBev or its subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubts, the fact that a self-employed Participant no longer provides services to AB InBev or its subsidiaries, shall be construed as a Resignation (unless decided upon otherwise by AB InBev on a case by case basis); |
Self-Employment |
a situation whereby the employment of a Participant with AB InBev and/or its subsidiaries is terminated and is replaced immediately by an independent contractor (self-employment) agreement whereby the Participant provides services on a self-employed basis to AB InBev or its subsidiaries; |
Share |
An ordinary share of AB InBev; |
5
Chapter IV
Terms and Conditions relating to the Bonus Shares
1 | The Bonus Shares |
1.1 | Form |
The Bonus Shares are registered shares and will be recorded in the share register of AB InBev, which may be held in electronic form. A non-transferable certificate reflecting the entries in the register of registered shares will be remitted to the Participants, upon their request.
The Bonus Shares may not be converted into dematerialized shares as long as they are subject to the transfer restrictions referred to in Clause IV 3 below.
Bonus Shares that are no longer subject to the transfer restrictions referred to in Clause IV 3 below may, at the request of a Participant, be converted into dematerialized shares.
1.2 | Dividends |
Participants will be entitled to all dividends paid on the Bonus Shares, decided by AB InBev after the Offer Date.
2 | Delivery of the Bonus Shares |
The Bonus Shares will be delivered to the Participants as soon as practically possible after the Offer Date. An Eligible Employee who has not returned his/her executed Bonus Agreement in due time will be deemed to have chosen the Cash Alternative under the Optional Shares Bonus.
The transfer of ownership of the Bonus Shares from AB InBev to the Participant will be done by the recording of the transfer in the share register of AB InBev.
3 | Transferability |
3.1 | Lock-Up period |
Subject to Clause VI 2 below, the Bonus Shares delivered to a Participant may not be transferred or encumbered with any security, pledge or other right, or otherwise pass to any third party:
(i) | during the 3-year period starting on the Offer Date, for the Bonus Shares granted under the Compulsory Shares Bonus; and |
(ii) | during the 5-year period starting on the Offer Date, for the Bonus Shares granted under the Optional Shares Bonus. |
3.2 | After lock-up period |
Once the transfer restrictions referred to in Clause 3.1 above have expired, a Participant may:
3.2.1 | keep the Bonus Shares in registered form; or |
6
3.2.2 | request the conversion of the Bonus Shares into dematerialized shares and their transfer on a securities account; or |
3.2.3 | sell the Bonus Shares. To that effect, the Participant shall: |
(i) | instruct AB InBev to convert the Bonus Shares into dematerialized shares, |
(ii) | instruct AB InBev to deliver them on behalf of the Participant to the financial intermediary, appointed by AB InBev, in charge of selling those Bonus Shares on the market on behalf of the Participant, and |
(iii) | instruct such financial intermediary to sell the Bonus Shares on the market. |
The proceeds of the sale of the Bonus Shares will be paid directly to the Participant, after deduction of all fees, costs and taxes due by the Participant as the result of the sale of the Bonus Shares.
4 | Expenses and Taxes |
AB InBev and/or its subsidiaries will bear the costs related to the set-up of the Plan and the attribution of the Bonus Shares.
All taxes and employee social security contributions of any kind relating to, inter alia , the attribution, the holding and the sale of the Bonus Shares and all other costs (including costs relating to the conversion of the Bonus Shares, the transfer and the sale of the Bonus Shares, the opening of a securities and/or a cash account, international transfers of cash, and dividend payments) will be borne by the Participant.
7
Chapter V
Terms and Conditions Relating to the Options
1 | The Options |
1.1 | Form |
The Options will be recorded in a special paper and/or electronic register in the form determined by AB InBev.
1.2 | Transferability |
Except for transfers as a result of death (see Clause VI 2.7.2 below), Options may not be transferred or encumbered with any security, pledge or other right, or otherwise pass to any third party.
2 | Acceptance of the Options |
2.1 | Full or partial acceptance of the Options |
A Participant to whom Options are being offered has the possibility of accepting only part of the Options granted to him/her. To that effect, the Participant shall mention in the Option Acceptance Form the exact number of accepted Options. If the Participant accepts only part of the Options, he/she shall be deemed to have refused the other Options offered to him/her.
2.2 | Mode of acceptance |
2.2.1 | Electronic Acceptance |
To the extent that electronic acceptance facilities are put in place by AB InBev and/or its subsidiaries, the Participant shall confirm, by means of an e-mail (the Option Acceptance Form ) sent by the Participant to optionmanager@inbev.com, whether he/she accepts all or part of the Options offered to him/her by AB InBev.
The Option Acceptance Form must reach optionmanager@inbev.com during the Confirmation Period, as indicated in the Option Confirmation Letter.
The fact that the Acceptance Form did not reach optionmanager@inbev.com before the end of the Confirmation Period will be deemed to constitute a refusal by the Participant of all Options offered to him/her.
2.2.2 | Paper-Form Acceptance |
To the extent that electronic acceptance facilities are not put in place by AB InBev and/or its subsidiaries, the Participant shall complete, date and sign a paper-form acceptance form (the Option Acceptance Form ) and return it to the address indicated on it.
The completed Option Acceptance Form must be in the possession of AB InBev, or any third party designated by it to that effect, during the Confirmation Period, as indicated in the Option Confirmation Letter.
The fact that AB InBev, or any third party designated by it to that effect, is not in the possession of the completed, dated and signed Option Acceptance Form before
8
the end of the Confirmation Period, will be deemed to constitute a refusal by the Participant of all Options offered to him/her.
3 | Exercise of the Options |
3.1 | Exercise Price |
The Exercise Price of the Options is specified in the Option Confirmation Letter. The Exercise Price of the Options is, unless otherwise decided by AB InBev at the time of granting, equal to the closing price of the Shares on Euronext Brussels on the day immediately preceding the Offer Date.
3.2 | Exercise Period |
Subject to Clause V 3.3, the Options may be exercised only during the Exercise Period. The Options that are not exercised within the Exercise Period automatically expire and become null and void.
3.3 | Exercise limitations |
3.3.1 | The Options cannot be exercised before one of the Performance Tests has been satisfied by AB InBev. For the avoidance of doubt, it suffices that any of the Performance tests be satisfied. |
The Performance Tests will be carried out, and the outcome of these tests will be communicated to the Participants, as soon as practicable after the publication by AB InBev of its annual results relating to the financial years ending on 31 December 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.
An explanation on the methods of computation of AB InBevs ROIC and WACC may be obtained by the Participants from their respective local People officer.
The Options shall automatically become null and void if none of the Performance Tests has been satisfied.
3.3.2 | The Options may not, under any circumstances, be exercised during a Prohibited Period or in breach of any applicable laws prohibiting insider dealing. |
3.4 | Terms of Exercise |
An Option will be deemed exercised upon receipt by AB InBev, or any other person designated to that effect by AB InBev, at any time during the Exercise Period (but not later than 2:00 p.m. Brussels time on the last Banking Day of the Exercise Period), of the following:
3.4.1 | a duly completed Option Exercise Form explicitly mentioning the number of Options being exercised; |
3.4.2 | any other statements and documents that the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Committee or any other person designated to that effect by the Committee, deems necessary or desirable in order to comply with all applicable legal and regulatory provisions. |
3.5 | Payment of the Exercise Price |
3.5.1 |
Full payment of the Exercise Price in Euros (as well as related costs, taxes and duties, if any) must take place at the latest ten (10) Banking Days after the date of |
9
exercise, in the manner indicated on the Option Exercise Form. Transfer of ownership of the Shares will occur upon receipt by AB InBev of the Exercise Price. However, if applicable, transfer of ownership may be postponed until payment by the Participant of all amounts and taxes due in the framework of any tax equalization arrangement relating to the Plan. |
3.5.2 | AB InBev will in principle set up a mechanism of cashless Exercise whereby a Participant will elect to simultaneously exercise his/her Options and sell the Shares underlying the exercised Options. In that case, the Exercise Price will be paid to AB InBev from the proceeds of the sale of the Shares, in accordance with Clause V 3.5.1. |
By opting for a cashless Exercise, the Participant:
(i) | instructs the financial intermediary appointed by AB InBev to sell on the market the Shares underlying the exercised Options; and |
(ii) | instructs AB InBev to (i) deliver, on the Participants behalf, the Shares underlying the exercised Options to such financial intermediary for their sale on the market and (ii) collect from that financial intermediary the proceeds of the sale of those Shares. |
Following the delivery of the Shares by AB InBev to the financial intermediary, the obligation of AB InBev to deliver Shares (or the sale proceeds thereof) to the Participant will be set off against the obligation of the Participant to pay the Exercise Price to AB InBev. Any amount in excess of the Exercise Price collected by AB InBev, after payment of all applicable costs, fees and taxes due by the Participant and, if applicable, any amount due by the Participant in the framework of any tax equalization arrangement relating to the Plan, as a result of the cashless exercise, will be transferred to the Participant.
3.5.3 | If the Participant fails to pay the Exercise Price within the timeframe provided in Clause V 3.5.1, he/she thereby authorises AB InBev, subject to compliance with applicable law, to cancel the exercise of the Options or to sell the Shares underlying the Options so exercised. The proceeds of the sale of the Shares will be applied in the following order: first, payment of all costs, fees and taxes due as a result of the Exercise and the sale of the Shares; secondly, payment of the Exercise Price to AB InBev; thirdly, payment of the remaining sale proceeds to the Participant. |
4 | Amendment to the capital structure and anti-dilution measures |
AB InBev expressly reserves the right to proceed with corporate changes that have an impact on its capital, such as capital increases, including by incorporation of reserves in the capital, capital decreases, issuance of convertible bonds, subscription rights or options, stock splits or reverse stock splits, combinations or reclassifications of the Shares, mergers, (partial) demergers, as well as the right to amend the clauses in the articles of association governing the allocation of profits or liquidation boni.
In the event that such corporate changes would have an unfavourable effect on the Options, the Exercise Price and/or the number of Options and/or the number of Shares to which the Options give right will be adjusted for the purpose of safeguarding the interests
10
of the holders of Options, in the manner determined at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, subject to any required action by the Shareholders Meeting of AB InBev. The terms of such adjustment will be communicated to the Participants in due time.
In the event that AB InBev would be merged into another company, the rights and obligations of AB InBev under the Plan will automatically be transferred to the absorbing company and the Options will no longer give the Participants the right to purchase Shares but instead the right to purchase shares of the absorbing company, subject to applicable law. The number of shares of the absorbing company to which each Option will give right, and the Exercise Price of each Option, will be determined at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and communicated to the Participants in due time.
5 | Nature and characteristics of the Shares |
5.1 | General |
The Shares to be purchased upon exercise of the Options are existing ordinary shares of AB InBev with all rights and benefits generally attached to such Shares. AB InBev will, at its discretion, deliver Shares in dematerialized (electronic or book-entry) form or in registered form.
5.2 | Dividends |
The Shares acquired upon Exercise of the Options give the right to the dividends paid on such Shares after the date of Exercise. No dividends will be paid on the Options.
5.3 | Transferability |
The Shares acquired upon Exercise are not subject to any transfer restrictions under the rules of the Plan.
The Shares are listed on Euronext Brussels.
The Shares are restricted securities under U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act ), and may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state or territory of the United States and of any other jurisdiction.
6 | Expenses and taxes |
All costs related to the attribution of the Options and the delivery of the Shares will be paid by AB InBev, except taxes on stock exchange transactions and income and social security taxes on the income received by the Participants in connection with the offering, the ownership or the exercise of the Options and with the acquisition of the Shares. All financing costs related to the acquisition of the Shares are to be paid by the Participants. The Participants shall ensure that the bank account of AB InBev is credited with the net amount. AB InBev may withhold from any payment or delivery of Shares any income or social security taxes that are required to be withheld under any applicable law, rule or regulation.
11
Chapter VI
General provisions applicable to the Bonus Shares and the Options
1 | Approval of the Plan Documentation |
The Plan forms part of an agreement between the Participant, the AB InBev affiliate that employs the Participant and AB InBev. By returning his/her completed Bonus Agreement, each Participant unconditionally agrees to be bound by the contents of this document.
A Participant who fails to return the completed Bonus Agreement before the date mentioned on the Bonus Agreement and who does not object in writing to the Plan before the same date, will be deemed to have unconditionally agreed to the contents of this document.
2 | Expiry of the Options before the end of the Exercise Period and situation upon termination of service |
2.1 | Violation of the Bonus Shares transfer restrictions |
The Options will automatically expire and become null and void if the Participant fails to comply with the Bonus Shares transfer restrictions referred to in Clause IV 3.
2.2 | Resignation and Dismissal for Serious Cause |
Upon Resignation or Dismissal for Serious Cause of a Participant:
2.2.1 | the Bonus Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, of Self-Employment; |
2.2.2 | all Options which are not exercisable under Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, of Self-Employment, automatically expire and become null and void; |
2.2.3 | all Options which, on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, of Self-Employment, are exercisable according to Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above may be exercised but only during a 90-day period starting on the day employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment has ended; |
2.2.4 | if on the date of the end of the employment or, as the case may be, of the Self-Employment, the lock-up period for the Bonus Shares referred to in Clause IV 3.1(ii) has not lapsed, the Participant will be liable towards AB InBev of an amount, in Euros, calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
RA = |
EP × OS |
|||||
10 |
RA | means the amount to be reimbursed to AB InBev |
EP | means the Exercise Price |
OS | means the number of Bonus Shares a Participant has received under the Optional shares Bonus. |
12
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such Dismissal.
2.3 | Dismissal other than for serious cause and retirement or pre-pension before the age of 60 |
Upon Dismissal of a Participant other than for serious cause or in case of retirement or pre-pension of a Participant before the age of 60:
2.3.1 | the Bonus Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, of Self-Employment. |
2.3.2 | if employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment ends during the first or the second year following the Offer Date: |
(i) | all Options automatically expire and become null and void; and |
(ii) | the Participant will be liable towards AB InBev of an amount, in Euros, calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
RA = |
EP × OS |
|||||
10 |
RA | means the amount to be reimbursed to AB InBev |
EP | means the Exercise Price |
OS | means the number of Bonus Shares a Participant has received under the Optional shares Bonus |
2.3.3 | if employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment ends during the third, the fourth or the fifth year following the Offer Date: |
(i) | a portion of the Options (the Dismissal Pro-Rata Options ) will remain exercisable by the Participant in accordance with these terms and conditions, but only during a 180-day period starting on the Exercise Period Starting Date, and provided the following conditions are met: |
(a) | the Participant continues to comply with the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 despite the fact that the employment or, as the case may be, the Self-Employment has ended; |
(b) | if so requested by AB InBev, the Participant enters into a Non-Competition Agreement. The modalities of the Non-Competition Agreement will be agreed upon after the employment or, as the case may be, the Self-Employment has ended. |
The number of Dismissal Pro-Rata Options will be calculated on the basis of the following formula:
PRO = |
AO × M |
|||||
60 |
PRO | means the number of Dismissal Pro-Rata Options |
AO | means the number of Accepted Options |
13
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment of the Participant within the AB InBev Group during the period from the Offer Date until the end of the employment or, as the case may be, of the Self-Employment. |
The Options which do not qualify as Dismissal Pro-Rata Options automatically expire and become null and void; and
(ii) | the Participant will be liable towards AB InBev of an amount, in Euros, calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
RA = |
EP × OS |
× |
60 M |
|||||||
10 | 60 |
RA | means the amount to be reimbursed to AB InBev |
EP | means the Exercise Price |
OS | means the number of Bonus Shares a Participant has received under the Optional shares Bonus |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment of the Participant within the AB InBev Group during the period from the Offer Date until the end of the employment or, as the case may be, of the Self-Employment. |
2.3.4 | all Options which, on the date of the end of the employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment, are exercisable according to Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above may be exercised but only during a 180-day period starting on the day the employment or, as the case may be, the Self-Employment has ended. |
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such Dismissal.
2.4 | Outsourcing or Divestiture |
In case of Outsourcing or Divestiture:
2.4.1 | the Bonus Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of the effective Outsourcing or Divestiture; |
2.4.2 | if the date of Outsourcing or Divestiture occurs during the first or second year following the Offer Date: |
(i) | all Options automatically expire and become null and void; and |
(ii) | the Participant will be liable towards AB InBev of an amount, in Euros, calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
RA = |
EP × OS |
|||||
10 |
RA | means the amount to be reimbursed to AB InBev |
EP | means the Exercise Price |
14
OS | means the number of Bonus Shares a Participant has received under the Optional shares Bonus |
2.4.3 | if the effective date of Outsourcing or Divestiture occurs during the third, fourth or the fifth year following the Offer Date: |
(i) | a portion of the Options (the Outsourcing or Divestiture Pro-Rata Options ) will remain exercisable by the Participant in accordance with these terms and conditions, but only during a 180-day period starting on the Exercise Period Starting Date, and provided the following conditions are met: |
(a) | the Participant continues to comply with the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 despite the fact that the effective Outsourcing or Divestiture has taken place; |
(b) | if so requested by AB InBev, the Participant enters into a Non-Competition Agreement. The modalities of the Non-Competition Agreement will be agreed upon after the effective date of Outsourcing or Divestiture. |
The number of Outsourcing or Divestiture Pro-Rata Options will be calculated on the basis of the following formula:
PRO = |
AO × M |
|||||
60 |
PRO | means the number of Outsourcing or Divestiture Pro-Rata Options |
AO | means the number of Accepted Options |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment of the Participant within the AB InBev Group during the period from the Offer Date until the date of effective Outsourcing or Divestiture. |
The Options which do not qualify as Outsourcing or Divestiture Pro-Rata Options automatically expire and become null and void; and
(ii) | the Participant will be liable towards AB InBev of an amount, in Euros, calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
RA = |
EP × OS |
× |
60 M |
|||||||
10 | 60 |
RA | means the amount to be reimbursed to AB InBev |
EP | means the Exercise Price |
OS | means the number of Bonus Shares a Participant has received under the Optional shares Bonus |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment of the Participant within the AB InBev Group during the period from the Offer Date until the date of effective Outsourcing or Divestiture. |
15
2.4.4 | all Options which, on the date of Outsourcing or Divestiture, are exercisable according to Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above may be exercised but only during a 180-day period starting on the date of Outsourcing or Divestiture. |
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such Outsourcing or Divestiture.
2.5 | Retirement at or after the age of 60 or termination following permanent disability |
In the case of retirement at or after the age of 60 or in case of termination following permanent disability:
2.5.1 | the Bonus Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment. |
2.5.2 | all Options which are not exercisable under Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment automatically expire and become null and void. |
However, the Options will remain exercisable by the Participant in accordance with these terms and provided the following conditions are met:
(i) | the Participant continues to comply with the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 despite the fact that employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment has ended; |
(ii) | if so requested by AB InBev, the Participant enters into a Non-Competition Agreement. The modalities of the Non-Competition Agreement will be agreed upon after employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment has ended. |
2.5.3 | all Options which, on the date of the end of employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment, are exercisable according to Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above may be exercised until the end of the Exercise Period. |
2.5.4 | if on the date of the end of the employment or, as the case may be, of the Self-Employment, the lock-up period for the Bonus Shares referred to in Clause IV 3.1(ii) has not lapsed, the Participant will be liable towards AB InBev of an amount, in Euros, calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
RA = |
EP × OS |
|||||
10 |
RA | means the amount to be reimbursed to AB InBev |
EP | means the Exercise Price |
OS | means the number of Bonus Shares a Participant has received under the Optional shares Bonus. |
However, that amount will not be due if the two conditions referred to in Clause VI 2.5.2 are met.
2.6 |
The notions of retirement, pre-pension and permanent disability are to be defined by reference to the law governing the employment or, as the case may be, the Self- |
16
Employment, or alternatively, by the pension plan rules in the relevant jurisdiction or, if applicable, directorship of the Participant.
2.7 | Death |
In the case of death of a Participant:
2.7.1 | the Bonus Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of death; |
2.7.2 | a portion of the Options inherited or otherwise acquired as a result of the Participants death which are not exercisable under Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above, will become immediately and unconditionally exercisable in accordance with these terms and conditions, to the exclusion of Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 (the Death Pro-Rata Options ). The number of Death Pro-Rata Options will be calculated on the basis of the following formula: |
PRO = |
AO × M |
|||||
60 |
PRO | means the number of Death Pro-Rata Options |
AO | means the number of Accepted Options |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment of the deceased Participant within the AB InBev Group during the period from the Offer Date until the date of death. |
The Options which do not qualify as Death Pro-Rata Options automatically expire and become null and void.
2.7.3 | all Options which, at the date of death of the Participant, are exercisable according to Clauses V 3.2 and V 3.3.1 above may be exercised by the Successors until the end of the Exercise Period. |
3 | Administration of the Plan |
3.1 | Delegation to the Committee |
The Board of Directors may delegate part or all powers under the Plan to the Committee. In the case of a delegation of powers, the Committee shall: (i) be responsible for the general administration of the Plan in accordance with the provisions thereof, under the supervision of the Board of Directors; and (ii) be authorised to establish rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and, if necessary, to interpret, amend and cancel these rules, in compliance with these terms and conditions.
In the case of a delegation of powers, the Board of Directors will retain full authority to exercise all the rights and obligations of the Committee under the Plan at any time whatsoever, or to delegate them to another committee constituted by the Board of Directors.
3.2 | (Sub-)delegation to any third party |
The Board of Directors and the Committee may (sub-)delegate certain well-specified powers to any third party they deem appropriate.
17
In the case of a (sub-)delegation of powers, the Board of Directors and the Committee will retain full authority to exercise all the rights and obligations so delegated.
4 | Electronic Register, Electronic Evidence and Electronic Delivery |
4.1 | Electronic Shares/Options register |
The Shares and the Options will be recorded in a Shares register and in an Options register in electronic form, the maintenance of which may be outsourced by AB InBev to a third party.
4.2 | Electronic evidence |
Electronic approvals, instructions, orders, statements and communications between a Participant, AB InBev, AB InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by AB InBev for the administration of the Plan will have the same legal status as written approvals, instructions, orders, statements and communications. The written recording or the written reproduction of electronic approvals, instructions, orders, statements and communications received by AB InBev, AB InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by AB InBev for the administration of the Plan, will constitute conclusive evidence between the Participant, AB InBev, AB InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by AB InBev for the administration of the Plan, unless evidence to the contrary is provided by the Participant.
4.3 | Consent to Electronic Delivery |
As a condition to receiving the Bonus Shares, each Participant consents to delivery of all subsequent information relating to the Bonus Shares and the Options by electronic means, including e-mails to the Participants and postings on AB InBevs website or intranet. Such information may include, amongst others, financial information concerning AB InBev and other information relevant to the Participants decision whether or not to exercise the Options. In order to access such information, Participants will be required to access AB InBevs e-mail system, website and/or intranet. By acceptance of the Options, each Participant is deemed to acknowledge that he/she has such access to the e-mail system of AB InBev and to AB InBevs website and intranet and ordinarily uses them in the ordinary course of his/her employment or, as the case may be, Self-Employment. Participants may obtain paper copies of any such information by submitting a request to receive paper copies to their respective People Department.
5 | Matrimonial regime |
In the event that the matrimonial regimes of Participants confer ownership or other rights on their spouses with respect to any of the Options, the Shares and/or the Bonus Shares, those Participants undertake that their spouses shall appoint them as their sole representatives for all matters arising in relation to the Options, the Shares and/or the Bonus Shares.
6 | Death |
In the event of a Participants death, any Successor acquiring Options and/or Bonus Shares shall inform AB InBev of the Participants death as soon as possible and at the latest one month from the date of death.
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7 | Modification of the terms and conditions |
The Board of Directors may unilaterally modify at any time the practical and/or accessory modalities of the terms and conditions. It may also unilaterally modify the terms and conditions when such modifications are required to comply with any change in legislation.
8 | Nature of the Plan |
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary included in the terms and conditions, the Bonus Agreement, the Option Confirmation Letter or any other document relating to the Plan:
8.1 | the acquisition of Shares by the Participant is unrelated to his occupational pension rights or pension claims, so that this acquisition cannot affect these occupational pension rights and claims; |
8.2 | the Plan, the terms and conditions, the Bonus Agreement, the Option Confirmation Letter or any other document relating to the Plan do not confer upon the Participant any right to continued employment for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of AB InBev or its subsidiaries to terminate the Participants employment according to the applicable regulations in respect of termination thereof; |
8.3 | the grant of Bonus Shares and of Options cannot be considered as a right acquired for the future. |
9 | Privacy and Processing of Personal Data |
The Data Controller is responsible for the collection and processing of Personal Data as is necessary for the setting-up and administration of the Plan, the Shares register and the Options register of AB InBev in electronic form.
The Personal Data collected, inter alia, by way of the Bonus Agreement, the Option Acceptance Form and the Option Exercise Form will be used exclusively for the purposes of the administration of the Plan and the maintenance of the Shares register and the Options register of AB InBev in electronic form.
The Data Controller can transfer the Personal Data to the Data Processor and the employer of the Participant for the above purposes as well as to regulatory authorities for the purpose of complying with legal obligations in connection with the Plan. Such recipients may be located in jurisdictions outside the European Economic Area that may not provide an adequate level of personal data protection.
The Data Controller and the Data Processor shall abide by the Belgian law of 8 December 1992 on privacy protection in relation to the processing of personal data, as amended from time to time, and its implementing decrees.
Through their signature of the Bonus Agreement, the Participants give their consent to the collection and processing of their Personal Data as described in this Clause 9.
The Participants have the right to access and correct their Personal Data by sending a written and signed request to their local People officer.
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10 | Severability |
If any provision in this document is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, under any applicable law, that provision will be deemed not to form part of this document, and the legality, validity or enforceability of the remainder of this document will not be affected.
11 | Applicable law |
The Options, the Shares, the Bonus Shares and these terms and conditions are governed by Belgian law. Any dispute relating thereto is to be submitted to the competent Belgian courts.
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Exhibit 4.7
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Share-Based Compensation Plan March 2010
for EBM, NY & GHQ
Terms and Conditions
1
Glossary Defined Terms
When used in this document, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them as indicated below, unless expressly indicated otherwise:
AB InBev | Anheuser-Busch InBev NV/SA with its registered office at Grand Place 1, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; | |
Acceptance Form | the form in which the Participant indicates his choice between the Cash Bonus, the Mixed Bonus or the Shares Bonus; | |
ADS | an American Depositary Share issued under the deposit agreement with the Bank of New York Mellon (or any successor thereof) traded on the New York Stock Exchange (ISIN: US03524A1088) and representing one Share or the right to receive one Share of AB InBev; | |
Banking Day | any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday in Belgium, on which banks in Belgium are open for business; | |
Board of Directors | the board of directors of AB InBev; | |
Bonus | the bonus, net of applicable taxes, granted to the Participant under the Plan, as set out in the Bonus Letter and which can be paid out, at the choice of the Participant, either in cash, or partly or entirely in Voluntary Shares; | |
Bonus Letter | the letter whereby AB InBev communicates the details of the Bonus granted to a Participant under the Plan, together with the Acceptance Form; | |
Cash Bonus | the Bonus alternative whereby a Participant opts for the payment of the net Bonus in cash; | |
Code of Dealing | the AB InBev Dealing Code, as amended from time to time; | |
Committee | the Compensation and Nominating Committee of AB InBev; | |
Confirmation Period | the period during which a Participant must return the completed Acceptance Form to AB InBev, as indicated in the Bonus Letter; | |
Data Controller | AB InBev; | |
Data Processor | any third party designated by the Data Controller to process Personal Data on behalf of the Data Controller in accordance with Clause VI 10 for the implementation, administration and management of the Plan and the Share register and RSU register in electronic form; | |
Discount RSU | a Restricted Stock Unit granted to a Participant under the Plan, as set out in the Bonus Letter; |
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Dismissal | termination of employment by AB InBev or its subsidiaries; | |
Dismissal for Serious Cause | termination of employment for serious cause (as determined by the Chief People Officer of AB InBev (or other designee of the Chief People Officer of AB InBev) or, if applicable, as defined in relevant local law) by AB InBev or its subsidiaries; | |
Dismissal Pro-Rata RSU | has the meaning given to it in Clause VI 2.3.3; | |
Divestiture | a situation whereby the Participants employer is no longer a subsidiary of AB InBev following a divestiture through the sale of shares in the said AB InBev subsidiary or otherwise; | |
Grant Date | 5 March 2010; | |
Lock-Up Period | the period running from 5 March 2010 to 4 March 2015 (inclusive); | |
Matching Percentage | in relation to the Mixed Bonus, the percentage of the net Bonus of the Participant which will be paid to the Participants in the form of Voluntary Shares, as set out in the Bonus Letter; | |
Matching RSU | a Restricted Stock Unit granted to a Participant under the Plan, as set out in the Bonus Letter; | |
Mixed Bonus |
the Bonus alternative whereby a Participant:
(i) opts for the payment of the Matching Percentage of the net Bonus in Voluntary Shares, and for the payment of the remaining part of the net Bonus in cash; and
(ii) receives from AB InBev Discount RSU and Matching RSU as set out in the Bonus Letter; |
|
Outsourcing | a situation whereby (i) a Participant is dismissed by AB InBev or a subsidiary of AB InBev in the framework of a collective dismissal (in the meaning of the Belgian Law of 13 February 1998 or its equivalent in the jurisdiction of the Participant) and is re-employed, together with the other persons who have been likewise dismissed, by a third-party company which is not an affiliate of AB InBev and which provides services to AB InBev; or (ii) a Participant is transferred by AB InBev or a subsidiary of AB InBev in the framework of the Belgian Collective Bargaining Agreement No 32 bis of 7 June 1985 (or its equivalent in the jurisdiction of the Participant) to a third-party company which is not an affiliate of AB InBev and which provides services to AB InBev; | |
Outsourcing or Divestiture Pro-Rata RSU | has the meaning given to it in Clause VI 2.4.3; | |
Participant | a person working for AB InBev or its subsidiaries who received a Bonus Letter, or any Successor to whom Voluntary Shares or Restricted Stock Units have been transferred in accordance with these terms and conditions; |
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Personal Data | each item of information relating to a Participant including (i) his/her identification data (e.g. name, private or professional contact details), (ii) electronic identification data, (iii) personal characteristics (e.g. date of birth, gender, nationality), (iv) employers entity, (v) preferred language, (vi) financial data (e.g. details regarding bank account), (vii) details of all s and all other entitlement to shares awarded, cancelled, purchased, vested, unvested or outstanding; | |
Plan | the AB InBev Share-Based Compensation Plan March 2010 for EBM, NY & GHQ; | |
Prohibited Period | any period defined as such in the Code of Dealing; | |
Purchase Price | the price per Voluntary Share in Euros, which is equal to the closing price of the Shares on Euronext Brussels on 4 March 2010, as set out in the Bonus Letter; | |
Resignation | the termination by a Participant of employment with AB InBev or its subsidiaries; | |
RSU or Restricted Stock Unit | the right to receive from AB InBev one existing Share in accordance with these terms and conditions; | |
Share | an ordinary share of AB InBev (ISIN: BE0003793107); | |
Shares Bonus |
the Bonus alternative whereby a Participant:
(i) opts for the payment of 100% of the net Bonus in Voluntary Shares; and
(ii) receives from AB InBev Discount RSU and Matching RSU as set out in the Bonus Letter; |
|
Successor | the successor of a Participant as determined under the applicable law of succession and/or the persons designated by a Participant, in accordance with the applicable law of succession, to inherit the rights of the Participant under the Plan after the death of the Participant; | |
Vesting Date | 5 March 2015; | |
Vesting Period | the period running from 5 March 2010 to 4 March 2015 (inclusive); | |
Voluntary Share | a Share acquired by a Participant under the Mixed Bonus or the Shares Bonus. For the avoidance of doubt, the Voluntary Shares do not include the Discount RSU or the Matching RSU. |
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Chapter IV
Terms and conditions relating to the Voluntary Shares
1 | The Voluntary Shares |
1.1 | Form |
The Voluntary Shares are registered Shares and are recorded in the Share register of AB InBev, which may be held in electronic form. A non-transferable certificate reflecting the entries in the register of registered Shares will be remitted to the Participants, upon their request.
The Voluntary Shares may not be converted into dematerialised Shares as long as they are subject to the transfer restrictions referred to in Clause IV 3 below.
Voluntary Shares that are no longer subject to the transfer restrictions referred to in Clause IV 3 below may, at the request of a Participant, be converted into dematerialised Shares.
1.2 | Dividends |
Participants will be entitled to all dividends paid on the Voluntary Shares, decided by AB InBev after the Grant Date.
2 | Delivery of the Voluntary Shares |
The Voluntary Shares will be delivered to the Participants as soon as practically possible after the receipt by AB InBev of the duly completed and executed Acceptance Form. Participants who have not returned their executed Acceptance Form within the Confirmation Period will be deemed to have chosen the Cash Bonus alternative.
The transfer of ownership of the Voluntary Shares from AB InBev to the Participant will occur on the Grant Date.
3 | Transferability |
3.1 | Lock-Up Period |
Subject to Clause VI 2 below, the Voluntary Shares delivered to a Participant may not be transferred or encumbered with any security, pledge or other right, or otherwise pass to any third party during the Lock-Up Period.
3.2 | After the Lock-Up Period |
Once the transfer restrictions referred to in Clause 3.1 above have expired, i.e. as from the Vesting Date, a Participant may:
3.2.1 | keep the Voluntary Shares in registered form; or |
3.2.2 | request the conversion of the Voluntary Shares into dematerialised Shares or into ADSs and their transfer on a securities account; or |
3.2.3 | sell the Voluntary Shares. To that effect, the Participant shall: |
(i) | instruct AB InBev to convert the Voluntary Shares into dematerialised Shares, |
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(ii) | instruct AB InBev to deliver the Voluntary Shares on behalf of the Participant to the financial intermediary, appointed by AB InBev, in charge of selling the Voluntary Shares on the market on behalf of the Participant, and |
(iii) | request AB InBev to instruct such financial intermediary to sell the Voluntary Shares on the market. |
The proceeds of the sale of the Voluntary Shares will be paid directly to the Participant, after deduction of all fees, costs and taxes due by the Participant as the result of the sale of the Voluntary Shares.
4 | Expenses and taxes |
AB InBev and/or its subsidiaries will bear the costs related to the attribution of the Voluntary Shares.
All taxes and employee social security contributions of any kind relating to, inter alia , the attribution, the holding and the sale of the Voluntary Shares and all other costs (including costs relating to the conversion of the Voluntary Shares, the transfer and the sale of the Voluntary Shares, the opening of a securities and/or a cash account, international transfers of cash, and dividend payments) will be borne by the Participant.
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Chapter V
Terms and conditions relating to the Restricted Stock Units
1 | Restricted Stock Units |
1.1 | Form |
The Discount RSU and Matching RSU to which a Participant is entitled under the Mixed Bonus or the Shares Bonus will be granted in the form of Restricted Stock Units.
1.2 | Vesting |
The Restricted Stock Units are subject to a 5-year Vesting Period starting on the Grant Date.
On or shortly after the Vesting Date (and in no case later than 31 December 2015), AB InBev will deliver one Share per Restricted Stock Unit held by the Participant, subject to the provisions of these terms and conditions. Unless explicitly set forth otherwise in these terms and conditions, Restricted Stock Units do not confer any shareholders rights.
At the request of the Participant, AB InBev may deliver ADSs listed on the New York Stock Exchange in lieu of Shares upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Units. To this end, Participants will need to indicate in writing to optionmanager@inbev.com before the Vesting Date that they want to be delivered ADSs in lieu of Shares.
1.3 | Dividend protection |
Restricted Stock Units entitle their holder to a dividend equivalent, which represents an amount equal to the gross dividend paid by AB InBev on the Shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units. This dividend equivalent will be granted to the Participants shortly after the payment of the dividend, in the form of additional Restricted Stock Units with the same vesting conditions and governed by the same terms and conditions as the original Restricted Stock Units.
The number of additional Restricted Stock Units to which a Participant is entitled upon payment of a dividend on the Shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units will be calculated by AB InBev. The number will be equal to the amount of the gross dividend divided by the closing share price on Euronext Brussels of the AB InBev Share on the dividend payment date and multiplied by the number of Restricted Stock Units that the Participants holds. The result of this calculation will be rounded down to the closest unit.
1.4 | Transferability |
Except for transfers as a result of death (see Clause VI 2.6.2 below), Restricted Stock Units may not be transferred or encumbered with any security, pledge or other right, or otherwise pass to any third party.
2 | Nature and characteristics of the underlying Shares |
2.1 | General |
The Shares to be delivered to the holders of Restricted Stock Units upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Units are existing ordinary Shares of AB InBev with all rights and benefits generally attached to such Shares. AB InBev will, at its discretion, deliver Shares in dematerialised (electronic or book-entry) form or in registered form.
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2.2 | Dividends |
The Shares delivered upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Units give the right to the dividends paid on such Shares decided by AB InBev after the Vesting Date.
2.3 | Transferability |
The Shares delivered upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Units are not subject to any transfer restrictions under the rules of the Plan.
3 | Expenses and taxes |
All costs related to the attribution of the Restricted Stock Units, the attribution of the additional Restricted Stock Units referred to in Clause V 1.3 above and the delivery of the underlying Shares will be borne by AB InBev, except taxes on stock exchange transactions and income and social security taxes on the income received by the Participants in connection with the delivery or the ownership of the Restricted Stock Units and with the delivery of the underlying Shares or ADSs. AB InBev may withhold from any payment or delivery of Shares or ADSs any income or social security taxes that are required to be withheld under any applicable law, rule or regulation.
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Chapter VI
General provisions applicable to the Voluntary Shares and to the Restricted Stock Units
1 | Approval of the Plan documentation |
The Plan forms part of an agreement between the Participant, the AB InBev affiliate that employs the Participant and AB InBev. By returning their completed Acceptance Form, Participants unconditionally agree to be bound by the contents of this document.
A Participant who fails to return the completed Acceptance Form before the expiry of the Confirmation Period and who does not object in writing to the Plan before the same date, will be deemed to have unconditionally agreed to the contents of this document.
2 | Expiry of the Restricted Stock Units before the Vesting Date and situation upon termination of service |
2.1 | Violation of the Voluntary Shares transfer restrictions |
The Restricted Stock Units will automatically expire and become null and void if the Participant fails to comply with the Voluntary Shares transfer restrictions referred to in Clause IV 3.
2.2 | Resignation and Dismissal for Serious Cause |
Upon Resignation or Dismissal for Serious Cause of a Participant before the Vesting Date:
2.2.1 | the Voluntary Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of the end of employment; and |
2.2.2 | all Restricted Stock Units held by the Participant on the date of the end of employment, will automatically expire and become null and void. |
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such Dismissal.
2.3 | Dismissal other than for serious cause and retirement or pre-pension before the age of 60 |
Upon Dismissal of a Participant before the Vesting Date other than for serious cause or in case of retirement or pre-pension of a Participant before the age of 60 and before the Vesting Date:
2.3.1 | the Voluntary Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of the end of employment. |
2.3.2 | if employment ends during the first or the second year following the Grant Date, all Restricted Stock Units held by the Participant will automatically expire and become null and void; |
2.3.3 | if employment ends during the third, the fourth or the fifth year following the Grant Date, a portion of the Restricted Stock Units (the Dismissal Pro-Rata RSU ) will remain in full force and effect and subject to these terms and conditions, provided the following conditions are met: |
(i) | the Participant undertakes to comply and effectively continues to comply with the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 despite the fact that the employment has ended; |
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(ii) | if so requested by AB InBev, the Participant enters into a non-competition agreement. The modalities of the non-competition agreement will be agreed upon after the employment has ended. |
The number of Dismissal Pro-Rata RSU will be calculated by AB InBev on the basis of the following formula:
PRR | = |
HR x M 60 |
||
PRR | means the number of Dismissal Pro-Rata RSU |
HR | means the number of Restricted Stock Units held by the Participant on the date of the end of the employment |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment of the Participant within the AB InBev Group during the period from the Grant Date until the end of the employment . |
The Restricted Stock Units which do not qualify as Dismissal Pro-Rata RSU will automatically expire and become null and void.
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such Dismissal.
2.4 | Outsourcing or Divestiture |
In case of Outsourcing or Divestiture before the Vesting Date:
2.4.1 | the Voluntary Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of the effective Outsourcing or Divestiture; |
2.4.2 | if the effective date of Outsourcing or Divestiture occurs during the first or second year following the Grant Date, all Restricted Stock Units will automatically expire and become null and void; |
2.4.3 | if the effective date of Outsourcing or Divestiture occurs during the third, fourth or the fifth year following the Grant Date, a portion of the Restricted Stock Units (the Outsourcing or Divestiture Pro-Rata RSU ) will remain in full force and effect and subject to these terms and conditions, provided that the Participant undertakes to comply and effectively continues to comply with the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 despite the fact that the effective Outsourcing or Divestiture has taken place; |
The number of Outsourcing or Divestiture Pro-Rata RSU will be calculated by AB InBev on the basis of the following formula:
PRR | = |
HR x M 60 |
||
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PRR | means the number of Outsourcing or Divestiture Pro-Rata RSU |
HR | means the number of Restricted Stock Units held by the Participant on the date of effective Outsourcing or Divestiture |
M | means the number of full calendar months of employment of the Participant within the AB InBev Group during the period from the Grant Date until the date of effective Outsourcing or Divestiture. |
The Restricted Stock Units which do not qualify as Outsourcing or Divestiture Pro-Rata RSU will automatically expire and become null and void.
The above rules apply notwithstanding any recourse which might be introduced by a dismissed Participant against such Outsourcing or Divestiture.
2.5 | Retirement at or after the age of 60 |
In the case of retirement at or after the age of 60 before the Vesting Date:
2.5.1 | the Voluntary Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of the end of employment. |
2.5.2 | the Restricted Stock Units will remain in full force and effect and subject to these terms and conditions, provided the following conditions are met: |
(i) | the Participant undertakes to comply and effectively continues to comply with the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 1.4 despite the fact that employment has ended; |
(ii) | if so requested by AB InBev, the Participant enters into a non-competition agreement. The modalities of the non-competition agreement will be agreed upon after employment has ended. |
2.6 | Death or termination of employment following permanent disability |
In the case of death of a Participant or termination of employment following permanent disability of a Participant before the Vesting Date:
2.6.1 | the Voluntary Shares will become freely transferable and the restrictions on transferability referred to in Clause IV 3 above will cease to apply on the date of death; |
2.6.2 | the Vesting Period referred to in Clause V 1.2 will automatically expire and all Restricted Stock Units will automatically vest. The Shares to be delivered upon vesting of these Restricted Stock Units will be delivered to the relevant Participants Successors shortly after the Participants death or to the Participant shortly after the termination of the Participants employment following permanent disability. |
Except as provided in Clause VI 2.8 below, the notion of permanent disability is to be defined by reference to the law governing the employment in the relevant jurisdiction of the Participant
2.7 | The notions of retirement, pre-pension and permanent disability are to be defined by reference to the law governing the employment, or alternatively, by the pension plan rules in the relevant jurisdiction or, if applicable, directorship of the Participant. |
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2.8 | Notwithstanding Clause VI 2.7 above, for Participants subject to taxation in the United States, permanent disability shall mean at least one of the following: |
2.8.1 | the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months; |
2.8.2 | the Participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participants AB InBev employer; or |
2.8.3 | the Participant is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration. |
2.9 | In deviation from Clause VI 2.6 above, in the case of termination of employment of a Participant who is subject to taxation in the United States before the Vesting Date following permanent disability that does not meet the definition of permanent disability under Clause VI 2.8 above, the Restricted Stock Units will remain in full force and effect and will vest on the Vesting Date. |
3 | Administration of the Plan |
3.1 | Delegation to the Committee |
The Board of Directors may delegate part or all powers under the Plan to the Committee. In the case of a delegation of powers, the Committee shall: (i) be responsible for the general administration of the Plan in accordance with the provisions thereof, under the supervision of the Board of Directors; and (ii) be authorised to establish rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and, if necessary, to interpret, amend and cancel these rules, in compliance with these terms and conditions.
In the case of a delegation of powers, the Board of Directors will retain full authority to exercise all the rights and obligations of the Committee under the Plan at any time whatsoever, or to delegate them to another committee constituted by the Board of Directors.
3.2 | (Sub-)delegation to any third party |
The Board of Directors and the Committee may (sub-)delegate certain well-specified powers to any third party they deem appropriate.
In the case of a (sub-)delegation of powers, the Board of Directors and the Committee will retain full authority to exercise all the rights and obligations so delegated.
4 | Amendment to the capital structure and anti-dilution measures |
AB InBev expressly reserves the right to proceed with corporate changes that have an impact on its capital, such as capital increases, including by incorporation of reserves in the capital, capital decreases, issuance of convertible bonds, subscription rights or options, stock splits or reverse stock splits, combinations or reclassifications of the Shares,
12
mergers, (partial) demergers, as well as the right to amend the clauses in the articles of association governing the allocation of profits or liquidation boni.
In the event that such corporate changes would have an unfavourable effect on the Restricted Stock Units, the number of Restricted Stock Units and/or the number of Shares to which the Restricted Stock Units give rights will be adjusted for the purpose of safeguarding the interests of the holders of Restricted Stock Units, in the manner determined at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, subject to any required action by the Shareholders Meeting of AB InBev. The terms of such adjustment will be communicated to the Participants in due time.
In the event that AB InBev would be merged into another company, the rights and obligations of AB InBev under the Plan will automatically be transferred to the absorbing company and the Restricted Stock Units will no longer give the Participants the right to Shares but instead the right to shares of the absorbing company, subject to applicable law and to any applicable corporate approval. The number of shares of the absorbing company to which each Restricted Stock Units will give right will be determined at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and/or the board of directors of the absorbing company and will be communicated to the Participants in due time.
5 | Electronic register, electronic evidence and electronic delivery |
5.1 | Electronic Share and RSU register |
The Shares and Restricted Stock Units will be recorded in a register, which may be in electronic form and the maintenance of which may be delegated by AB InBev to a third party.
5.2 | Electronic evidence |
Electronic approvals, instructions, orders, statements and communications between a Participant, AB InBev, AB InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by AB InBev for the administration of the Plan will have the same legal status as written approvals, instructions, orders, statements and communications. The written recording or the written reproduction of electronic approvals, instructions, orders, statements and communications received by AB InBev, AB InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by AB InBev for the administration of the Plan, will constitute conclusive evidence between the Participant, AB InBev, AB InBev affiliates and any third party to which powers have been sub-delegated by AB InBev for the administration of the Plan, unless evidence to the contrary is provided by the Participant.
5.3 | Consent to electronic delivery |
As a condition to receiving the Voluntary Shares and the Restricted Stock Units, each Participant consents to delivery of all subsequent information relating to the Voluntary Shares and the Restricted Stock Units by electronic means, including e-mails to the Participants and postings on AB InBevs website or intranet. Such information may include, amongst others, financial information concerning AB InBev. In order to access such information, Participants will be required to access AB InBevs e-mail system, website and/or intranet. By returning the Acceptance Form, Participants are deemed to acknowledge that they have such access to the e-mail system of AB InBev, to AB InBevs website and intranet and ordinarily use them in the ordinary course of their employment.
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Participants may obtain paper copies of any such information by submitting a request to receive paper copies to their respective People Department.
6 | Matrimonial regime |
In the event that the matrimonial regimes of Participants confer ownership or other rights on their spouses with respect to any of the Voluntary Shares or Restricted Stock Units, those Participants undertake that their spouses shall appoint them as their sole representatives for all matters arising in relation to the Voluntary Shares and Restricted Stock Units.
7 | Death |
In the event of a Participants death, any Successor acquiring the Voluntary Shares and the Restricted Stock Units shall inform AB InBev of the Participants death as soon as possible and at the latest one month from the date of death.
8 | Modification of the terms and conditions |
The Board of Directors may unilaterally modify at any time the practical and/or accessory modalities of the terms and conditions. It may also unilaterally modify the terms and conditions when such modifications are required to comply with any change in legislation.
9 | Nature of the Plan |
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary included in the terms and conditions, the Bonus Letter, the Acceptance Form or any other document relating to the Plan:
9.1 | the grant of Shares and/or Restricted Stock Units to the Participant in the framework of the Plan is unrelated to his occupational pension rights or pension claims, so that this grant cannot affect these occupational pension rights and claims; |
9.2 | the Plan, the terms and conditions, the Bonus Letter, the Acceptance Form or any other document relating to the Plan do not confer upon the Participant any right to continued employment for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of AB InBev or its subsidiaries to terminate the Participants employment according to the applicable regulations in respect of termination thereof; |
9.3 | the grant of Voluntary Shares and/or of Restricted Stock Units cannot be considered as a right acquired for the future. |
10 | Privacy and processing of Personal Data |
The Data Controller is responsible for the collection and processing of Personal Data as is necessary for the setting-up and administration of the Plan and the Share register of AB InBev in electronic form.
The Personal Data collected, inter alia, by way of the Acceptance Form will be used exclusively for the purposes of the administration of the Plan and the maintenance of the Share register of AB InBev in electronic form.
The Data Controller can transfer the Personal Data to the Data Processor and the employer of the Participant for the above purposes as well as to regulatory authorities for the purpose of complying with legal obligations in connection with the Plan. Such recipients
14
may be located in jurisdictions outside the European Economic Area that may not provide an adequate level of personal data protection.
The Data Controller and the Data Processor shall abide by the Belgian law of 8 December 1992 on privacy protection in relation to the processing of personal data, as amended from time to time, and its implementing decrees.
Through their signature of the Acceptance Form, the Participants give their consent to the collection and processing of their Personal Data as described in this Clause 10.
The Participants have the right to access and correct their Personal Data by sending a written and signed request to their local People officer.
11 | Severability |
If any provision in this document is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, under any applicable law, that provision will be deemed not to form part of this document, and the legality, validity or enforceability of the remainder of this document will not be affected.
12 | Applicable law |
The Voluntary Shares, the Restricted Stock Units and these terms and conditions are governed by Belgian law. Any dispute relating thereto is to be submitted to the competent Belgian courts.
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Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV:
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated June 26, 2009, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, recognized income and expenses and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2008, which report appears in the Registration Statement on Form 20-F of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV.
KPMG Bedrijfsrevisoren Réviseurs dEntreprises
Statutory auditor
represented by
/s/ Jos Briers
Réviseur dEntreprises/Bedrijfsrevisor
Brussels, BELGIUM
February 24, 2010
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV of our report dated February 27, 2008, relating to the financial statements of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the three years ended December 31, 2007, which appears in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NVs Registration Statement on Form 20-F, dated September 14, 2009. We also consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of our report dated June 26, 2009, relating to the financial statement of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. as of December 31, 2008, which also appears in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NVs Registration Statement on Form 20-F, dated September 14, 2009.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
St. Louis, MO
February 24, 2010
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Reference is hereby made to the proposed registration by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV ( AB InBev ) under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act ), of ordinary shares of AB InBev, without nominal value, and American Depositary Shares, evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, each representing one ordinary share without nominal value, in each case to be offered and sold by AB InBev (the Securities ) pursuant to the Stock Option Plan Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009, the Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009, the plans underlying the Dividend Waiver and Exchange Program, the Share Based Compensation Plan March 2010 and the Share Based Compensation Plan March 2010 for EBM, GHQ & NY. Such Securities will be registered on one or more registration statements on Form S-8 (each such registration statement, a Registration Statement ) filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC ).
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints any Vice President of AB InBev, the Corporate Secretary or any Assistant Corporate Secretary of AB InBev, and each of them, with full power to act alone, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign one or more Registration Statements, any and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) and any subsequent registration statement in respect of the Securities that is to be effective upon filing by AB InBev pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
This Power of Attorney may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but which taken together, shall constitute one instrument.
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Carlos Brito | ||||
Carlos Brito Chief Executive Officer |
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Felipe Dutra | ||||
Felipe Dutra Chief Financial Officer |
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ August A. Busch IV | ||||
August A. Busch IV Director |
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Jean-Luc Dehaene | ||||
Jean-Luc Dehaene Director |
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Stéfan Descheemaeker | ||||
Stéfan Descheemaeker Director |
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Peter Harf | ||||
Peter Harf Director (Chairman of the Board) |
[Signature page of Power of Attorney]
Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Marcel Hermann Telles | ||||
Marcel Hermann Telles Director |
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Jorge Paulo Lemann | ||||
Jorge Paulo Lemann Director |
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Arnoud de Pret Roose de Calesberg | ||||
Arnoud de Pret Roose de Calesberg Director |
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Grégoire de Spoelberch | ||||
Grégoire de Spoelberch Director |
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Kees J. Storm | ||||
Kees J. Storm Director |
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Roberto Moses Thompson Motta | ||||
Roberto Moses Thompson Motta Director |
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Alexandre Van Damme | ||||
Alexandre Van Damme Director |
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Carlos Alberto da Veiga Sicupira | ||||
Carlos Alberto da Veiga Sicupira Director |
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ Mark Winkelman | ||||
Mark Winkelman Director |
[Signature page of Power of Attorney]
Exhibit 24.2
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Reference is hereby made to the proposed registration by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV ( AB InBev ) under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act ), of ordinary shares of AB InBev, without nominal value, and American Depositary Shares, evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, each representing one ordinary share without nominal value, in each case to be offered and sold by AB InBev (the Securities ) pursuant to the Stock Option Plan Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009, the Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Options Grant of 18 December 2009, the plans underlying the Dividend Waiver and Exchange Program, the Share Based Compensation Plan March 2010 and the Share Based Compensation Plan March 2010 for EBM, GHQ & NY. Such Securities will be registered on one or more registration statements on Form S-8 (each such registration statement, a Registration Statement ) filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC ).
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints any Vice President of AB InBev, the Corporate Secretary or any Assistant Corporate Secretary of AB InBev, and each of them, with full power to act alone, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign one or more Registration Statements, any and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) and any subsequent registration statement in respect of the Securities that is to be effective upon filing by AB InBev pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, 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, or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
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Date: February 24, 2010 | By: | /s/ John Blood | ||
Name: | John Blood | |||
Title: | Authorized Representative in the United States |
[ Signature page of Power of Attorney ]