UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant To Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 19, 2010
ACE LIMITED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Switzerland | 1-11778 | 98-0091805 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
Baerengasse 32
Zurich, Switzerland CH-8001
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: +41 (0)43 456 76 00
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers |
(e) At the companys 2010 annual general meeting, the companys shareholders approved the ACE Limited 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended through the fifth amendment (the LTIP). As a result, the total number of shares reserved for delivery under the LTIP increased by 11.6 million shares. A more complete description of the LTIP is contained in Companys proxy statement dated April 5, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the heading Approval of ACE Limited 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan as Amended through the Fifth Amendment, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. For the full text of the LTIP, see Exhibit 10 hereto, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03 Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year
At the companys 2010 annual general meeting, the companys shareholders approved amendments to its Articles of Association relating to the treatment of abstentions and broker non-votes and relating to authorized share capital, as further described in the companys proxy statement dated April 5, 2010. The companys amended and restated Articles of Association containing these amendments will become effective with publication in the Swiss Commercial Gazette, retroactive to their registration in the daily register of the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland on May 20, 2010. A copy of the amended and restated Articles of Association is attached hereto as Exhibit 3 and incorporated herein by reference.
At the companys 2010 annual general meeting, the companys shareholders also approved amendments to the companys Articles of Association in conjunction with their approval of payments of a dividend in the form of distribution through par value reduction, as further described in the companys proxy statement dated April 5, 2010. Those amendments to the Articles of Association will become effective with the registration of each quarterly par value reduction in the Swiss Commercial Register.
Item 5.07 | Submission of Matters to a vote of Security Holders |
The company convened its annual general meeting of shareholders on May 19, 2010 pursuant to notice duly given. The matters voted upon at the meeting and the results of such voting are set forth below:
1.1 | Election of Robert M. Hernandez |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against |
Shares Abstained |
Broker Non-Votes |
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186,984,225 | 68,908,896 | 1,125,038 | 10,732,700 |
1.2 | Election of Peter Menikoff |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | Broker Non-Votes | |||
187,643,214 | 68,249,764 | 1,125,181 | 10,732,700 |
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1.3 | Election of Robert Ripp |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | Broker Non-Votes | |||
187,724,950 | 68,168,509 | 1,124,700 | 10,732,700 |
1.4 | Election of Theodore E. Shasta |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | Broker Non-Votes | |||
255,838,277 | 1,124,982 | 54,900 | 10,732,700 |
2. | Amendment of the Articles of Association relating to the treatment of abstentions and broker non-votes |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | ||
267,320,441 | 251,613 | 178,805 |
3.1 | Approval of the annual report |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | ||
267,399,459 | 128,769 | 222,631 |
3.2 | Approval of the statutory financial statements of ACE Limited |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | ||
267,281,125 | 172,187 | 297,547 |
3.3 | Approval of the consolidated financial statements |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | ||
267,376,502 | 137,056 | 237,301 |
4. | Allocation of disposable profit |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | ||
267,269,774 | 378,812 | 102,273 |
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5. | Discharge of the Board of Directors |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | ||
263,321,592 | 938,659 | 3,490,608 |
6. | Amendment of the Articles of Association relating to authorized share capital for general purposes |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | ||
258,821,775 | 8,233,367 | 695,717 |
7.1 | Election of PricewaterhouseCoopers AG (Zurich) as the companys statutory auditor until the companys next annual ordinary general meeting |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | ||
266,913,591 | 789,065 | 48,203 |
7.2 | Ratification of appointment of independent registered public accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (United States) for purposes of United States securities law reporting for the year ending December 31, 2010 |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | ||
266,906,502 | 785,517 | 58,840 |
7.3 | Election of BDO AG (Zurich) as special auditing firm until the companys next annual ordinary general meeting |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | ||
267,440,321 | 166,506 | 144,032 |
8. | Approval of the ACE Limited 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan as amended through the fifth amendment |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | Broker Non-Votes | |||
167,887,505 | 89,023,462 | 107,192 | 10,732,700 |
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9. | Approval of the payment of a dividend in the form of a distribution through reduction of the par value of our shares |
Shares Voted For |
Shares Voted Against | Shares Abstained | ||
266,711,655 | 883,431 | 155,773 |
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(d) | Exhibits |
Exhibit
|
Description |
|
3 | Articles of Association of the company as amended and restated | |
4 | Articles of Association of the company as amended and restated (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3) | |
10 | ACE Limited 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended through the Fifth Amendment) |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ACE LIMITED | ||
By: |
/S/ ROBERT F. CUSUMANO |
|
Robert F. Cusumano | ||
General Counsel |
DATE: May 21, 2010
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
|
Description |
|
3 | Articles of Association of the company as amended and restated | |
4 | Articles of Association of the company as amended and restated (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3) | |
10 | ACE Limited 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended through the Fifth Amendment) |
EXHIBIT 3
STATUTEN
der
ACE Limited (ACE AG) (ACE SA) |
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
of
ACE Limited (ACE AG) (ACE SA) |
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I. Firma, Sitz und Zweck der Gesellschaft | I. Name, Domicile and Purpose of the Company | |||||||
Artikel 1 Firma, Sitz und Dauer der Gesellschaft | Article 1 Corporate Name, Registered Office and Duration | |||||||
Unter der Firma
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Under the corporate name
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ACE Limited (ACE AG) (ACE SA) |
ACE Limited (ACE AG) (ACE SA) |
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besteht eine Aktiengesellschaft gemäss Artikel 620 ff. OR mit Sitz in Zürich. Die Dauer der Gesellschaft ist unbeschränkt. |
a Company exists pursuant to art. 620 et seq. of the Swiss Code of Obligations (hereinafter CO) having its registered office in Zurich. The duration of the Company is unlimited. |
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Artikel 2 Zweck | Article 2 Purpose | |||||||
a) |
Hauptzweck der Gesellschaft ist der Erwerb, das Halten und der Verkauf von Beteiligungen an Unternehmen, insbesondere, jedoch nicht ausschliesslich, solcher der Direkt- und Rückversicherungsbranche. |
a) |
The main purpose of the Company is to acquire, hold, manage and to sell equity participations, including in insurance and reinsurance companies as well as in other companies. | |||||
Die Gesellschaft kann Finanz- und Management-Transaktionen ausführen. Sie kann Zweigniederlassungen und Tochtergesellschaften im In- und Ausland errichten. | The Company may carry out finance and management transactions and set up branches and subsidiaries in Switzerland and abroad. |
Die Gesellschaft kann im In- und Ausland Grundstücke erwerben, halten und veräussern. | The Company may acquire, hold and sell real estate in Switzerland and abroad. | |||||||
b) |
Die Gesellschaft kann alle Geschäfte tätigen, die geeignet sind, den Zweck der Gesellschaft zu fördern und mit dem Zweck im Zusammenhang stehen. |
b) |
The Company may engage in all types of transactions and may take all measures that appear appropriate to promote the purpose of the Company or that are related to the same. | |||||
II. Aktienkapital und Aktien | II. Share Capital and Shares | |||||||
Artikel 3 Aktienkapital | Article 3 Share Capital | |||||||
a) | Das Aktienkapital der Gesellschaft beträgt CHF 10732005123.55 und ist eingeteilt in 340158641 auf den Namen lautende Aktien im Nennwert von CHF 31.55 je Aktie. Das Aktienkapital ist vollständig liberiert. | a) | The share capital of the Company amounts to CHF 10,732,005,123.55 and is divided into 340,158,641 registered shares with a nominal value of CHF 31.55 per share. The share capital is fully paid-in. | |||||
b) | Auf Beschluss der Generalversammlung können jederzeit Namenaktien in Inhaberaktien und Inhaberaktien in Namenaktien umgewandelt werden. | b) | Upon resolution of the General Meeting of Shareholders, registered shares may be converted into bearer shares and bearer shares may be converted into registered shares, at any time. | |||||
Artikel 4 Bedingtes Aktienkapital für Anleihensobligationen und ähnliche Instrumente der Fremdfinanzierung | Article 4 Conditional Share Capital for Bonds and Similar Debt Instruments | |||||||
a) | Das Aktienkapital der Gesellschaft wird im Maximalbetrag von CHF 1041150000 durch Ausgabe von höchstens 33000000 vollständig zu liberierenden Namenaktien mit einem Nennwert von CHF 31.55 je Aktie erhöht, bei und im Umfang der Ausübung von Wandel- und/oder Optionsrechten, welche im Zusammenhang mit von der Gesellschaft oder ihren Tochtergesellschaften emittierten oder noch zu emittierenden Anleihensobligationen, Notes oder ähnlichen Obligationen oder Schuldverpflichtungen eingeräumt wurden/werden, einschliesslich Wandelanleihen. | a) | The share capital of the Company shall be increased by an amount not exceeding CHF 1,041,150,000 through the issue of a maximum of 33,000,000 registered shares, payable in full, each with a nominal value of CHF 31.55 through the exercise of conversion and/or option or warrant rights granted in connection with bonds, notes or similar instruments, issued or to be issued by the Company or by subsidiaries of the Company, including convertible debt instruments. |
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Tochtergesellschaften sowie Beratern, Direktoren oder anderen Personen, welche Dienstleistungen für die Gesellschaft oder ihre Tochtergesellschaften erbringen, eingeräumt wurden/werden. | ||||||||
b) | Bezüglich dieser Aktien ist das Bezugsrecht der Aktionäre ausgeschlossen. Neue Aktien dieser Art können unter dem aktuellen Marktpreis ausgegeben werden. Der Verwaltungsrat bestimmt bei einer solchen Emission die spezifischen Konditionen, inkl. den Preis der Aktien. | b) | Shareholders pre-emptive rights shall be excluded with regard to these shares. These new registered shares may be issued at a price below the current market price. The Board of Directors shall specify the precise conditions of issue including the issue price of the shares. | |||||
c) | Der Erwerb von Namenaktien im Zusammenhang mit Mitarbeiterbeteiligungen sowie sämtliche weiteren Übertragungen von Namenaktien unterliegen den Übertragungsbeschränkungen gemäss Art. 8 der Statuten. | c) | The acquisition of registered shares in connection with employee participation and any further transfers of registered shares shall be subject to the restrictions specified in Article 8 of the Articles of Association. | |||||
Artikel 6 Genehmigtes Kapital zu allgemeinen Zwecken | Article 6 Authorized Share Capital for General Purposes | |||||||
a) | Der Verwaltungsrat ist ermächtigt das Aktienkapital jederzeit bis 19. Mai 2012 im Maximalbetrag von CHF 4417000000 durch Ausgabe von höchstens 140000000 vollständig zu liberierenden Namenaktien mit einem Nennwert von CHF 31.55 je Aktie zu erhöhen. | a) | The Board of Directors is authorized to increase the share capital from time to time until 19 May 2012 by an amount not exceeding CHF 4,417,000,000 through the is-sue of up to 140,000,000 fully paid up registered shares with a nominal value of CHF 31.55 each. | |||||
b) | Erhöhungen auf dem Weg der Festübernahme sowie Erhöhungen in Teilbeträgen sind gestattet. Der Ausgabebetrag, die Art der Einlage, der Zeitpunkt der Dividendenberechtigung sowie die Zuweisung nicht ausgeübter Bezugsrechte werden durch den Verwaltungsrat bestimmt. | b) | Increases through firm underwriting or in partial amounts are permitted. The issue price, the date of dividend entitlement, the type of consideration (including the contribution or underwrit-ing in kind) as well as the allocation of non exercised pre emptive rights shall be determined by the Board of Directors. | |||||
c) | Der Verwaltungsrat ist ermächtigt, Bezugsrechte der Aktionäre auszuschliessen und diese Dritten zuzuweisen, wenn die neu auszugebenden Aktien zu folgenden Zwecken verwendet werden: (1) Fusionen, Übernahmen von Unternehmen oder Beteiligungen, Finanzierungen und Refinanzierungen solcher Fusionen und Übernahmen sowie anderweitige Investitionsvorhaben (unter | c) | The Board of Directors is authorized to exclude the pre-emptive rights of the shareholders and to allocate them to third parties in the event of the use of shares for the purpose of (1) mergers, acquisitions of enterprises or participations, financing and/or refinancing of such mergers and acquisitions and of other investment projects (including by way of private placements), (2) to improve |
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Artikel 8 Aktienregister; Beschränkungen der Übertragbarkeit | Article 8 Shareholders Register, Transfer Restrictions | |||||||
a) | Für die Namenaktien wird ein Aktienbuch geführt. Darin werden die Eigentümer und Nutzniesser mit Namen und Vornamen, Wohnort, Adresse und Staatsangehörigkeit (bei juristischen Personen mit Sitz) eingetragen. | a) | Registered shares are issued in the name of the owner or the usufructuary. This person shall be entered in the share register with his name, address, domicile and citizenship (domicile in case of legal entities). | |||||
b) | Zur Eintragung ins Aktienbuch als Aktionär mit Stimmrecht ist die Zustimmung des Verwaltungsrats notwendig. Die Eintragung als Aktionär mit Stimmrecht kann in den in Art. 8 lit. c), d), e) und f) der Statuten festgehaltenen Fällen abgelehnt werden. Lehnt der Verwaltungsrat die Eintragung des Erwerbers als Aktionär mit Stimmrecht ab, benachrichtig er diesen innerhalb von 20 Tagen seit dem Eingang des Eintragungsgesuchs. Nicht anerkannte Erwerber werden als Aktionäre ohne Stimmrecht ins Aktienbuch eingetragen. Die entsprechenden Aktien gelten in der Generalversammlung als nicht vertreten. | b) | Entry in the share register of registered shares with voting rights is subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. Entry of registered shares with voting rights may be refused based on the grounds set out in Article 8 para. c), d), e) and f). If the Board of Directors refuses to register the acquirer as shareholder with voting rights it shall notify the acquirer of such refusal within 20 days upon receipt of the application. Non-recognized acquirers shall be entered in the share register as shareholders without voting rights. The corresponding shares shall be considered as not represented in the General Meeting of Shareholders. | |||||
c) | Eine natürliche oder juristische Person wird in dem Umfang nicht als Aktionärin mit Stimmrecht im Aktienbuch eingetragen, in welchem die von ihr direkt oder indirekt im Sinne von Art. 14 der Statuten gehaltene oder sonstwie kontrollierte Beteiligung 10% oder mehr des im Handelsregister eingetragenen Aktienkapitals beträgt. Dabei gelten Personen, die durch Absprache, Kapital, Stimmkraft, Leitung, Syndikat oder auf andere Weise miteinander verbunden sind, als eine Person. Im Umfang, in welchem eine derartige Beteiligung 10% oder mehr des Aktienkapitals beträgt, werden die entsprechenden Aktien ohne Stimmrecht ins Aktienbuch eingetragen. | c) | No individual or legal entity may, directly or indirectly, formally, constructively or beneficially own (as defined in Article 14 below) or otherwise control voting rights with respect to 10% or more of the registered share capital recorded in the Commercial Register. Those associated through capital, voting power, joint management or in any other way, or joining for the acquisition of shares, shall be regarded as one person. The registered shares exceeding the limit of 10% shall be entered in the share register as shares without voting rights. | |||||
d) | Die oben erwähnte 10% Limite gilt auch bei der Zeichnung oder Erwerb von Aktien, welche mittels Ausübung von Options- oder | d) | The limit of 10% of the registered share capital also applies to the subscription for, or acquisition of, registered shares by exercising |
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Wandelrechten aus Namen- oder Inhaberpapieren oder sonstigen von der Gesellschaft oder Dritten ausgestellten Wertpapieren oder welche mittels Ausübung von erworbenen Bezugsrechten aus Namen- oder Inhaberaktien gezeichnet oder erworben werden. Im Umfang, in welchem eine daraus resultierende Beteiligung 10% oder mehr des Aktienkapitals beträgt, werden die entsprechenden Aktien ohne Stimmrecht ins Aktienbuch eingetragen. | option or convertible rights arising from registered or bearer securities or any other securities issued by the Company or third parties, as well as by means of exercising purchased preemptive rights arising from either registered or bearer shares. The registered shares exceeding the limit of 10% shall be entered in the share register as shares without voting rights. | |||||||
e) | Der Verwaltungsrat verweigert die Eintragung ins Aktienbuch als Aktionär mit Stimmrecht oder entscheidet über die Löschung eines bereits eingetragenen Aktionärs mit Stimmrecht aus dem Aktienbuch, wenn der Erwerber auf sein Verlangen hin nicht ausdrücklich erklärt, dass er die Aktien im eigenen Namen und auf eigene Rechnung erworben hat. | e) | The Board of Directors shall reject entry of registered shares with voting rights in the share register or shall decide on their cancellation when the acquirer or shareholder upon request does not expressly state that she/he has acquired or holds the shares in her/his own name and for her/his own account. | |||||
f) | Der Verwaltungsrat verweigert die Eintragung natürlicher und juristischer Personen, welche Namenaktien für Dritte halten und dies schriftlich gegenüber der Gesellschaft erklären werden, als Treuhänder/Nominees mit unbeschränktem Stimmrecht ins Aktienbuch oder entscheidet über die Löschung aus dem Aktienbuch , wenn sie sich nicht dazu verpflichten, gegenüber der Gesellschaft auf deren schriftliches Verlangen hin jederzeit die Namen, Adressen und Beteiligungsquote derjenigen Personen offenzulegen, für welche sie die Namenaktien halten. | f) | The Board of Directors shall reject entry of individuals and legal entities, who hold registered shares for third parties and state this in writing to the Company, as nominees in the share register with voting rights without limitation or shall decide on their cancellation when the nominee does not undertake the obligation to disclose at any time to the Company at its written request the names, addresses and share holdings of each person for whom such nominee is holding shares. | |||||
g) | Der Verwaltungsrat kann in besonderen Fällen Ausnahmen von den obgenannten Beschränkungen (Artikel 8 lit. c), d), e) and f) der Statuten) genehmigen. Sodann kann der Verwaltungsrat nach Anhörung der betroffenen Personen deren Eintragungen im Aktienbuch als Aktionäre rückwirkend streichen, wenn diese durch falsche Angaben zustande gekommen sind oder wenn die betroffene Person die Auskunft gemäss Artikel 8 lit. f) verweigert. | g) | The Board of Directors may in special cases approve exceptions to the above regulations (Article 8 para. c), d), e) and f)). The Board of Directors is in addition authorized, after due consultation with the person concerned, to delete with retroactive effect entries in the share register which were effected on the basis of false information and/or to delete entries in case the respective person refuses to make the disclosers according to Article 8 para. f). | |||||
h) | Solange ein Erwerber nicht Aktionär mit Stimmrecht im Sinne | h) | Until an acquirer becomes a shareholder with voting rights for the |
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von Art. 8 der Statuten geworden ist, kann er weder die entsprechenden Stimmrechte noch die weiteren mit diesen in Zusammenhang stehenden Rechte wahrnehmen. | shares in accordance with this Article 8, she/he may neither exercise the voting rights connected with the shares nor other rights associated with the voting rights. | |||||||
III. Organisation | III. Organization | |||||||
A. Die Generalversammlung | A. The General Meeting | |||||||
Artikel 9 Befugnisse | Article 9 Authorities | |||||||
Die Generalversammlung ist das oberste Organ der Gesellschaft. Sie hat die folgenden unübertragbaren Befugnisse: | The General Meeting is the supreme corporate body of the Company. It has the following non-transferable powers: | |||||||
1. |
die Festsetzung und Änderung der Statuten; | 1. | to adopt and amend the Articles of Association; | |||||
2. |
die Wahl der Mitglieder des Verwaltungsrates und der Revisionsstelle; | 2. | to elect and remove the members of the Board of Directors and the Auditors; | |||||
3. |
die Genehmigung des Jahresberichts, der Jahresrechnung und der Konzernrechnung sowie die Beschlussfassung über die Verwendung des Bilanzgewinns, insbesondere die Festsetzung der Dividende; | 3. | to approve the statutory required annual report, the annual accounts and the consolidated financial statements as well as to pass resolutions regarding the allocation of profits as shown on the balance sheet, in particular to determine the dividends; | |||||
4. |
die Entlastung der Mitglieder des Verwaltungsrats; | 4. | to grant discharge to the members of the Board of Directors; and | |||||
5. |
die Beschlussfassung über die Gegenstände, die der Generalversammlung durch das Gesetz oder die Statuten vorbehalten sind oder welche ihr vom Verwaltungsrat vorgelegt werden. | 5. | to pass resolutions regarding items which are reserved to the General Meeting by law or by the Articles of Association or which are presented to it by the Board of Directors. | |||||
Artikel 10 Generalversammlungen sowie deren Einberufung | Article 10 Meetings and Convening the Meeting | |||||||
a) | Die ordentliche Generalversammlung findet alljährlich innerhalb von sechs Monaten nach Abschluss des Geschäftsjahres statt. Zeitpunkt und Ort, welcher im In- oder Ausland sein kann, werden durch den Verwaltungsrat bestimmt. | a) | The ordinary General Meeting shall be held annually within six |
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so demand by a show of hands. The accord of instructions by using the internet or the telephone can be permitted by the Chairman. | ||||||||
Artikel 16 Quorum | Article 16 Quorums | |||||||
Ein Beschluss der Generalversammlung, der mindestens zwei Drittel der vertretenen Stimmen und die absolute Mehrheit der vertretenen Aktiennennwerte auf sich vereinigt, ist erforderlich für: | A resolution of the General Meeting passed by at least two thirds of the represented share votes and the absolute majority of the represented shares par value is required for: | |||||||
1. | die in Art. 704 Abs. 1 OR aufgeführten Geschäfte, d.h. für: | 1. | the cases listed in art. 704 para. 1 CO, i.e.: | |||||
(a) die Änderung des Gesellschaftszwecks; |
(a) the change of the company purpose; |
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(b) die Einführung von Stimmrechtsaktien; |
(b) the creation of shares with privileged voting rights; |
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(c) die Beschränkung der Übertragbarkeit von Namenaktien; |
(c) the restriction of the transferability of registered shares; |
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(d) eine genehmigte oder bedingte Kapitalerhöhung; |
(d) an increase of capital, authorized or subject to a condition; |
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(e) die Kapitalerhöhung aus Eigenkapital, gegen Sacheinlage oder zwecks Sachübernahme und die Gewährung von besonderen Vorteilen; |
(e) an increase of capital out of equity, against contribution in kind, or for the purpose of acquisition of assets and the granting of special benefits; |
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(f) die Einschränkung oder Aufhebung des Bezugsrechts; |
(f) the limitation or withdrawal of pre-emptive rights; |
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(g) die Verlegung des Sitzes der Gesellschaft; |
(g) the change of the domicile of the Company; |
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2. | Fusion, Spaltung und Umwandlung der Gesellschaft (zwingende gesetzliche Bestimmungen vorbehalten); | 2. | the merger, de-merger or conversion of the Company (subject to mandatory law); | |||||
3. | die Lockerung und die Aufhebung von Übertragungsbeschränkungen der Namenaktien; | 3. | the alleviating or withdrawal of restrictions upon the transfer of registered shares; | |||||
4. | die Umwandlung von Namenaktien in Inhaberaktien und umgekehrt; | 4. | the conversion of registered shares into bearer shares and vice versa; |
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C. Revisionsstelle und Spezialrevisionsstelle | C. Auditors and Special Auditor | |||||||
Artikel 20 Amtsdauer, Befugnisse und Pflichten | Article 20 Term, Powers and Duties | |||||||
a) | Die Revisionsstelle wird von der Generalversammlung gewählt. Rechte und Pflichten der Revisionsstelle bestimmen sich nach den gesetzlichen Vorschriften. | a) | The Auditors shall be elected by the General Meeting and shall have the powers and duties vested in them by law. | |||||
b) | Die Generalversammlung kann eine Spezialrevisionsstelle ernennen, welche die vom Gesetz für Kapitalerhöhungen mit Sacheinlage oder Verrechnungsliberierung verlangten Prüfungsbestätigungen abgibt. | b) | The General Meeting may appoint a special auditing firm entrusted with the examinations required by applicable law in connection with share capital increases against contribution in kind or set-off. | |||||
c) | Die Amtsdauer der Revisionsstelle und (falls eingesetzt) der Spezialrevisionsstelle beträgt ein Jahr. Die Amtsdauer beginnt mit dem Tag der Wahl und endet mit der ersten darauffolgenden ordentlichen Generalversammlung. | c) | The term of office of the Auditors and (if appointed) the special auditors shall be one year. The term of office shall commence on the day of election, and shall terminate on the first annual ordinary General Meeting following their election. | |||||
IV. Liquidation | IV. Liquidation | |||||||
Artikel 21 Auflösung und Liquidation | Article 21 Dissolution and Liquidation | |||||||
a) | Die Generalversammlung kann jederzeit in Übereinstimmung mit den gesetzlichen und statutarischen Bestimmungen die Auflösung und die Liquidation der Gesellschaft beschliessen. | a) | The General Meeting may at any time resolve the dissolution and liquidation of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the law and of the Articles of Association. | |||||
b) | Die Liquidation wird durch den Verwaltungsrat besorgt, sofern sie nicht durch einen Beschluss der Generalversammlung anderen Personen übertragen wird. | b) | The liquidation shall be carried out by the Board of Directors to the extent that the General Meeting has not entrusted the same to other persons. |
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Zürich, 19. Mai 2010/May 19, 2010 | ||||
/s/ Olivier Steimer |
/s/ Chris Kearns |
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Olivier Steimer | Chris Kearns |
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ACE LIMITED 2004
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(As amended through the Fifth Amendment)
SECTION 1
GENERAL
1.1. Purpose . The ACE Limited 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan) has been established by ACE Limited (the Company) to (i) attract and retain persons eligible to participate in the Plan; (ii) motivate Participants, by means of appropriate incentives, to achieve long-range goals; (iii) provide incentive compensation opportunities that are competitive with those of other similar companies; and (iv) further identify Participants interests with those of the Companys other shareholders through compensation that is based on the Companys shares of common stock; and thereby promote the long-term financial interest of the Company and the Subsidiaries, including the growth in value of the Companys equity and enhancement of long-term shareholder return.
1.2. Participation . Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine and designate, from time to time, from among the Eligible Individuals (including transferees of Eligible Individuals to the extent the transfer is permitted by the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement), those persons who will be granted one or more Awards under the Plan, and thereby become Participants in the Plan.
1.3. Operation, Administration, and Definitions . The operation and administration of the Plan, including the Awards made under the Plan, shall be subject to the provisions of Section 5 (relating to operation and administration). Capitalized terms in the Plan shall be defined as set forth in the Plan (including the definition provisions of Section 9).
SECTION 2
OPTIONS AND SARS
2.1. Definitions .
(a) | The grant of an Option entitles the Participant to purchase shares of Stock at an Exercise Price established by the Committee. Any Option granted under this Section 2 may be either an incentive stock option (an ISO) or a non-qualified option (an NQO), as determined in the discretion of the Committee. An ISO is an Option that is intended to satisfy the requirements applicable to an incentive stock option described in section 422(b) of the Code. An NQO is an Option that is not intended to be an incentive stock option as that term is described in section 422(b) of the Code. |
(b) | A stock appreciation right (an SAR) entitles the Participant to receive, in cash or Stock (as determined in accordance with subsection 2.5), value equal to (or otherwise based on) the excess of: (a) the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Stock at the time of exercise; over (b) an Exercise Price established by the Committee. |
2.2. Exercise Price . The Exercise Price of each Option and SAR granted under this Section 2 shall be established by the Committee or shall be determined by a method established by the Committee at the time the Option or SAR is granted. The Exercise Price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant (or, if greater, the par value of a share of Stock).
2.3. Exercise . An Option and an SAR shall be exercisable in accordance with such terms and conditions and during such periods as may be established by the Committee. In no event, however, shall an Option or SAR expire later than ten years after the date of its grant.
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2.4. Payment of Option Exercise Price . The payment of the Exercise Price of an Option granted under this Section 2 shall be subject to the following:
(a) | Subject to the following provisions of this subsection 2.4, the full Exercise Price for shares of Stock purchased upon the exercise of any Option shall be paid at the time of such exercise (except that, in the case of an exercise arrangement approved by the Committee and described in paragraph 2.4(c), payment may be made as soon as practicable after the exercise). |
(b) | Subject to applicable law, the Exercise Price shall be payable in cash, by promissory note, or by tendering, by either actual delivery of shares or by attestation, shares of Stock acceptable to the Committee, and valued at Fair Market Value as of the day of exercise, or in any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. |
(c) | Subject to applicable law, the Committee may permit a Participant to elect to pay the Exercise Price upon the exercise of an Option by irrevocably authorizing a third party to sell shares of Stock (or a sufficient portion of the shares) acquired upon exercise of the Option and remit to the Company a sufficient portion of the sale proceeds to pay the entire Exercise Price and any tax withholding resulting from such exercise. |
2.5. Settlement of Award . Settlement of Options and SARs is subject to subsection 5.7.
2.6. No Repricing . Except for either adjustments pursuant to paragraph 5.2(f) (relating to the adjustment of shares), or reductions of the Exercise Price approved by the Companys shareholders, the Exercise Price for any outstanding Option or SAR may not be decreased after the date of grant nor may an outstanding Option or SAR granted under the Plan be surrendered to the Company as consideration for the grant of a replacement Option or SAR with a lower Exercise Price.
2.7. Grants of Options and SARs . An Option may but need not be in tandem with an SAR, and an SAR may but need not be in tandem with an Option. If an Option is in tandem with an SAR, the Exercise Price of both the Option and SAR shall be the same, and the exercise of the Option or SAR with respect to a share of Stock shall cancel the corresponding tandem SAR or Option right with respect to such share. If an SAR is in tandem with an Option but is granted after the grant of the Option, or if an Option is in tandem with an SAR but is granted after the grant of the SAR, the later granted tandem Award shall have the same Exercise Price as the earlier granted Award, but the Exercise Price for the later granted Award may be less than the Fair Market Value of the Stock at the time of such grant.
SECTION 3
FULL VALUE AWARDS
3.1. Definition . A Full Value Award is a grant of one or more shares of Stock or a right to receive one or more shares of Stock in the future, with such grant subject to one or more of the following, as determined by the Committee:
(a) | The grant shall be in consideration of a Participants previously performed services, or surrender of other compensation that may be due. |
(b) | The grant shall be contingent on the achievement of performance or other objectives during a specified period. |
(c) | The grant shall be subject to a risk of forfeiture or other restrictions that will lapse upon the achievement of one or more goals relating to completion of service by the Participant, or achievement of performance or other objectives. |
The grant of Full Value Awards may also be subject to such other conditions, restrictions and contingencies, as determined by the Committee.
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3.2. Restrictions on Awards .
(a) | The Committee may designate a Full Value Award granted to any Participant as performance-based compensation as that term is used in section 162(m) of the Code. To the extent required by Code section 162(m), any Full Value Award so designated shall be conditioned on the achievement of one or more performance objectives. The performance objectives shall be based on Performance Measures selected by the Committee. For Awards under this Section 3 intended to be performance-based compensation, the grant of the Awards and the establishment of the performance objectives shall be made during the period required under Code section 162(m). |
(b) | If the right to become vested in a Full Value Award is conditioned on the completion of a specified period of service with the Company or the Subsidiaries, without achievement of Performance Measures or other performance objectives (whether or not related to the Performance Measures) being required as a condition of vesting, and without it being granted in lieu of other compensation, then the required period of service for full vesting shall be not less than three years (subject to acceleration of vesting, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in the event of the Participants death, disability, retirement, change in control or involuntary termination). |
SECTION 4
CASH INCENTIVE AWARDS
A Cash Incentive Award is the grant of a right to receive a payment of cash (or in the discretion of the Committee, Stock having value equivalent to the cash otherwise payable) that is contingent on achievement of performance or other objectives over a specified period established by the Committee. The grant of Cash Incentive Awards may also be subject to such other conditions, restrictions and contingencies, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may designate a Cash Incentive Award granted to any Participant as performance-based compensation as that term is used in section 162(m) of the Code. To the extent required by Code section 162(m), any such Award so designated shall be conditioned on the achievement of one or more performance objectives. The performance objectives shall be based on Performance Measures as selected by the Committee. For Awards under this Section 4 intended to be performance-based compensation, the grant of the Awards and the establishment of the performance objectives shall be made during the period required under Code section 162(m). Except as otherwise provided in the applicable plan or arrangement, distribution of any cash incentive awards by the Company or its Subsidiaries (whether granted this Plan or otherwise), for a performance period ending in a calendar year, shall be made to the Participant not later than March 15 of the following calendar year; provided, however, that for purposes of determining compliance with Code section 409A, a payment will be considered to satisfy the requirement of this sentence if distribution is made no later than the end of the calendar year following the end of the applicable performance period.
SECTION 5
OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION
5.1. Effective Date . Subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company at the Companys 2004 annual meeting of its shareholders, the Plan shall be effective as of February 25, 2004 (the Effective Date); provided, however, that, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange, Awards may be granted contingent on approval of the Plan by the shareholders of the Company at such annual meeting. The Plan shall be unlimited in duration and, in the event of Plan termination, shall remain in effect as long as any Awards under it are outstanding; provided, however, that no Awards may be granted under the Plan on or after the ten-year anniversary of February 24, 2010, which is the date on which the Plan was amended by the Fifth Amendment.
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5.2. Shares and Other Amounts Subject to Plan . The shares of Stock for which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following:
(a) | The shares of Stock with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan shall be (i) shares currently authorized but unissued; (ii) to the extent permitted by applicable law, currently held or acquired by the Company as treasury shares, including shares purchased in the open market or in private transactions; or (iii) shares purchased in the open market by a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (as determined by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or any executive officer of the Company). The Company may contribute to the subsidiary an amount sufficient to accomplish the purchase in the open market of the shares of Stock to be so acquired (as determined by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or any executive officer of the Company). |
(b) | Subject to the following provisions of this subsection 5.2, the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered to Participants and their beneficiaries under the Plan shall be equal to the sum of: (i) 30,600,000 shares of Stock (which number includes all shares available for delivery under this clause (i) since the establishment of the Plan in 2004, determined in accordance with the terms of the Plan); and (ii) any shares of Stock that are represented by awards granted under the ACE Limited 1995 Long-Term Incentive Plan, the ACE Limited 1995 Outside Directors Plan, the ACE Limited 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan, and the ACE Limited 1999 Replacement Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Prior Plans) that are forfeited, expire or are canceled after the Effective Date without delivery of shares of Stock or which result in the forfeiture of the shares of Stock back to the Company to the extent that such shares would have been added back to the reserve under the terms of the applicable Prior Plan. |
(c) | To the extent provided by the Committee, any Award may be settled in cash rather than Stock. |
(d) | Shares of Stock with respect to an Award will be treated as delivered for purposes of the determination under paragraph (b) above, subject to the following: |
(i) | To the extent any shares of Stock covered by an Award are not delivered to a Participant or beneficiary because the Award is forfeited or canceled, such shares shall not be deemed to have been delivered for purposes of the determination under paragraph (b) above. |
(ii) | Subject to the provisions of paragraph (i) above, the total number of shares covered by an Award granted after July 10, 2008 will be treated as delivered for purposes of this paragraph (b) to the extent payments or benefits are delivered to the Participant with respect to such shares. Accordingly (A) if an Award denominated in shares of Stock is settled in cash, the total number of shares with respect to which such payment is made shall be considered to have been delivered; (B) if shares covered by an Award are used to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligation, the number of shares held back by the Company to satisfy such withholding obligation shall be considered to have been delivered; (C) if the exercise price of any Option granted under the Plan is satisfied by tendering shares of Stock to the Company (by either actual delivery or by attestation), the number of shares tendered to satisfy such exercise price shall be considered to have been delivered; and (D) if cash or shares of Stock are delivered in settlement of the exercise of an SAR, the total number of shares with respect to which such SAR is exercised shall be deemed delivered. |
(e) | Subject to paragraph 5.2(f), the following additional maximums are imposed under the Plan. |
(i) | The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered to Participants and their beneficiaries with respect to ISOs granted under the Plan shall be 30,600,000 shares; provided, however, that to the extent that shares not delivered must be counted against this limit as a condition of satisfying the rules applicable to ISOs, such rules shall apply to the limit on ISOs granted under the Plan. |
(ii) |
The maximum number of shares that may be covered by Awards granted to any one Participant during any one calendar-year period pursuant to Section 2 (relating to Options and SARs) shall be 1,000,000 shares. For purposes of this paragraph (ii), if an Option is in tandem with an SAR, such that the exercise of the Option or SAR with respect to a share of Stock cancels the tandem SAR or Option right, |
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respectively, with respect to such share, the tandem Option and SAR rights with respect to each share of Stock shall be counted as covering but one share of Stock for purposes of applying the limitations of this paragraph (ii). |
(iii) | The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be issued in conjunction with Awards granted pursuant to Section 3 (relating to Full Value Awards) shall be 17,000,000 shares. |
(iv) | For Full Value Awards that are intended to be performance-based compensation (as that term is used for purposes of Code section 162(m)), no more than 500,000 shares of Stock may be delivered pursuant to such Awards granted to any Participant during any one-calendar-year period; provided that Awards described in this paragraph (iv), that are intended to be performance-based compensation, shall be subject to the following: |
(A) | If the Awards are denominated in Stock but an equivalent amount of cash is delivered in lieu of delivery of shares of Stock, the foregoing limit shall be applied based on the methodology used by the Committee to convert the number of shares of Stock into cash. |
(B) | If delivery of Stock or cash is deferred until after shares of Stock have been earned, any adjustment in the amount delivered to reflect actual or deemed investment experience after the date the shares are earned shall be disregarded. |
(v) | For Cash Incentive Value Awards that are intended to be performance-based compensation (as that term is used for purposes of Code section 162(m)), the maximum amount payable to any Participant with respect to a performance period shall equal $500,000. multiplied by the number of calendar months included in that performance period; provided that Awards described in this paragraph (v), that are intended to be performance-based compensation, shall be subject to the following: |
(A) | If the Awards are denominated in cash but an equivalent amount of Stock is delivered in lieu of delivery of cash, the foregoing limit shall be applied to the cash based on the methodology used by the Committee to convert the cash into shares of Stock. |
(B) | If delivery of Stock or cash is deferred until after cash has been earned, any adjustment in the amount delivered to reflect actual or deemed investment experience after the date the cash is earned shall be disregarded. |
(f) | The following shall apply with respect to the terms of the Plan and Awards granted thereunder: |
(i) | Notwithstanding the following provisions of this paragraph (f), in the event of any equity restructuring (within the meaning of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004)) that causes the per share value of shares of Stock to change, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin off, rights offering, or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, the Committee shall cause there to be made an equitable adjustment to (A) the number and kind of shares available for grant under the Plan, (B) the number of shares or Awards that may be granted to any individual under the Plan or that may be granted pursuant to any provision or types of Awards and (C) the number and kind of shares or units subject to and the Exercise Price of an Option or SAR of any then outstanding Awards of or related to shares of Stock. |
(ii) | In the event of any change in corporate capitalization (other than as described in paragraph (i) above), such as a merger, consolidation, any reorganization (whether or not such reorganization comes within the definition of such term in Section 368 of the Code) or any partial or complete liquidation of the Company, such equitable adjustments described in the foregoing sentence shall be made as may be determined to be appropriate and equitable by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights. |
(iii) |
Action by the Committee under this paragraph (f) may include: (A) adjustment of the number and kind of shares which may be delivered under the Plan; (B) adjustment of the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards; (C) adjustment of the Exercise Price of outstanding Options and SARs; |
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and (D) any other adjustments that the Committee determines to be equitable (which may include, without limitation, (I) replacement of Awards with other Awards which the Committee determines have comparable value and which are based on stock of a company resulting from the transaction, and (II) cancellation of the Award in return for cash payment of the current value of the Award, determined as though the Award is fully vested at the time of payment, provided that in the case of an Option, the amount of such payment may be the excess of value of the Stock subject to the Option at the time of the transaction over the exercise price). |
(iv) | In no event shall this paragraph (f) be construed to permit a modification (including a replacement) of an Option or SAR if such modification either: (A) would result in accelerated recognition of income or imposition of additional tax under Code section 409A; or (B) would cause the Option or SAR subject to the modification (or cause a replacement Option or SAR) to be subject to Code section 409A, provided that the restriction of this clause (B) shall not apply to any Option or SAR that, at the time it is granted or otherwise, is designated as being deferred compensation subject to Code section 409A. |
5.3. General Restrictions . Delivery of shares of Stock or other amounts under the Plan shall be subject to the following:
(a) | Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall have no obligation to deliver any shares of Stock or make any other distribution of benefits under the Plan unless such delivery or distribution complies with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, the requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933), and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity. |
(b) | To the extent that the Plan provides for issuance of stock certificates to reflect the issuance of shares of Stock, the issuance may be effected on a non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange. |
5.4. Tax Withholding . All distributions under the Plan are subject to withholding of all applicable taxes, and the Committee may condition the delivery of any shares or other benefits under the Plan on satisfaction of the applicable withholding obligations. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, such withholding obligations may be satisfied (i) through cash payment by the Participant; (ii) through the surrender of shares of Stock which the Participant already owns (provided, however, that to the extent shares described in this clause (ii) are used to satisfy more than the minimum statutory withholding obligation, as described below, then, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, payments made with shares of Stock in accordance with this clause (ii) shall be limited to shares held by the Participant for not less than six months prior to the payment date); or (iii) through the surrender of shares of Stock to which the Participant is otherwise entitled under the Plan, provided, however, that such shares under this clause (iii) may be used to satisfy not more than the Companys minimum statutory withholding obligation (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for Federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income).
5.5. Grant and Use of Awards . In the discretion of the Committee, a Participant may be granted any Award permitted under the provisions of the Plan, and more than one Award may be granted to a Participant. Awards may be granted as alternatives to or replacement of awards granted or outstanding under the Plan, or any other plan or arrangement of the Company or a Subsidiary (including a plan or arrangement of a business or entity, all or a portion of which is acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary). Subject to the overall limitation on the number of shares of Stock that may be delivered under the Plan, the Committee may use available shares of Stock as the form of payment for compensation, grants or rights earned or due under any other compensation plans or arrangements of the Company or a Subsidiary, including the plans and arrangements of the Company or a Subsidiary assumed in business combinations. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.2, Options and SARs granted under the Plan in replacement for awards under plans and arrangements of the Company or a Subsidiary assumed in business combinations may provide for Exercise Prices that are less than the Fair Market Value of the Stock at the time of the replacement grants, if the Committee determines that such Exercise Price is appropriate to preserve the economic benefit of the award. The provisions of this subsection shall be subject to the provisions of subsection 5.16.
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5.6. Dividends and Dividend Equivalents . An Award (including without limitation an Option or SAR Award) may provide the Participant with the right to receive dividend or dividend equivalent payments with respect to Stock subject to the Award (both before and after the Stock subject to the Award is earned, vested, or acquired), which payments may be either made currently or credited to an account for the Participant, and may be settled in cash or Stock, as determined by the Committee. Any such settlements, and any such crediting of dividends or dividend equivalents or reinvestment in shares of Stock, may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall establish, including the reinvestment of such credited amounts in Stock equivalents. The provisions of this subsection shall be subject to the provisions of subsection 5.16.
5.7. Settlement of Awards . The obligation to make payments and distributions with respect to Awards may be satisfied through cash payments, the delivery of shares of Stock, the granting of replacement Awards (subject to subsection 2.6), or combination thereof as the Committee shall determine. Satisfaction of any such obligations under an Award, which is sometimes referred to as settlement of the Award, may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall determine. The Committee may permit or require the deferral of any Award payment, subject to such rules and procedures as it may establish, which may include provisions for the payment or crediting of interest or dividend equivalents, and may include converting such credits into deferred Stock equivalents. Except for Options and SARs designated at the time of grant or otherwise as intended to be subject to Code section 409A, this subsection 5.7 shall not be construed to permit the deferred settlement of Options or SARs, if such settlement would result in deferral of compensation under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(A)(3) (except as permitted in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of that section). Each Subsidiary shall be liable for payment of cash due under the Plan with respect to any Participant to the extent that such benefits are attributable to the services rendered for that Subsidiary by the Participant. Any disputes relating to liability of a Subsidiary for cash payments shall be resolved by the Committee. The provisions of this subsection shall be subject to the provisions of subsection 5.16.
5.8. Transferability . Awards under the Plan are not transferable except as designated by the Participant by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and except for transfers without consideration to the extent permitted by the Committee.
5.9. Form and Time of Elections . Unless otherwise specified herein, each election required or permitted to be made by any Participant or other person entitled to benefits under the Plan, and any permitted modification, or revocation thereof, shall be in writing filed with the Committee at such times, in such form, and subject to such restrictions and limitations, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall require.
5.10. Agreement With Company . An Award under the Plan shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, prescribe. The terms and conditions of any Award to any Participant shall be reflected in such form of written (including electronic) document as is determined by the Committee. A copy of such document shall be provided to the Participant, and the Committee may, but need not require that the Participant sign a copy of such document. Such document is referred to in the Plan as an Award Agreement regardless of whether any Participant signature is required.
5.11. Action by Company or Subsidiary . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Company or any Subsidiary shall be by resolution of its board of directors, or by action of one or more members of the board (including a committee of the board) who are duly authorized to act for the board, or (except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or applicable rules of any stock exchange) by a duly authorized officer of such company.
5.12. Gender and Number . Where the context admits, words in any gender shall include any other gender, words in the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular.
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5.13. Limitation of Implied Rights .
(a) | Neither a Participant nor any other person shall, by reason of participation in the Plan, acquire any right in or title to any assets, funds or property of the Company or any Subsidiary whatsoever, including, without limitation, any specific funds, assets, or other property which the Company or any Subsidiary, in its sole discretion, may set aside in anticipation of a liability under the Plan. A Participant shall have only a contractual right to the Stock or amounts, if any, payable under the Plan, unsecured by any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, and nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guarantee that the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be sufficient to pay any benefits to any person. |
(b) | The Plan does not constitute a contract of employment, and selection as a Participant will not give any participating employee or other individual the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or the right to continue to provide services to the Company or any Subsidiary, nor any right or claim to any benefit under the Plan, unless such right or claim has specifically accrued under the terms of the Plan. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, no Award under the Plan shall confer upon the holder thereof any rights as a shareholder of the Company prior to the date on which the individual fulfills all conditions for receipt of such rights. |
5.14. Benefits Under Qualified Retirement Plans . Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, Awards to a Participant (including the grant and the receipt of benefits) under the Plan shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the Participants benefits under any Qualified Retirement Plan and other plans maintained by the Participants employer. The term Qualified Retirement Plan means any plan of the Company or a Subsidiary that is intended to be qualified under section 401(a) of the Code.
5.15. Evidence . Evidence required of anyone under the Plan may be by certificate, affidavit, document or other information which the person acting on it considers pertinent and reliable, and signed, made or presented by the proper party or parties.
5.16. Limitations under Section 409A . The provisions of the Plan shall be subject to the following:
(a) | Neither subsection 5.5 nor any other provision of the Plan shall be construed to permit the grant of an Option or SAR if such action would cause the Option or SAR being granted or the option or stock appreciation right being replaced to be subject to Code section 409A, provided that this paragraph (a) shall not apply to any Option or SAR (or option or stock appreciation right granted under another plan) being replaced that, at the time it is granted or otherwise, is designated as being deferred compensation subject to Code section 409A. |
(b) | Except with respect to an Option or SAR that, at the time it is granted or otherwise, is designated as being deferred compensation subject to Code section 409A, no Option or SAR shall condition the receipt of dividends with respect to an Option or SAR on the exercise of such Award, or otherwise provide for payment of such dividends in a manner that would cause the payment to be treated as an offset to or reduction of the exercise price of the Option or SAR pursuant Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(E). |
(c) | The Plan shall not be construed to permit a modification of an Award, or to permit the payment of a dividend or dividend equivalent, if such actions would result in accelerated recognition of taxable income or imposition of additional tax under Code section 409A. |
SECTION 6
CHANGE IN CONTROL
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 5.2(f) (relating to the adjustment of shares), the occurrence of a Change in Control shall have the effect, if any, with respect to any Award as set forth in the Award Agreement or, to the extent not prohibited by the Plan or the Award Agreement, as provided by the Committee.
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SECTION 7
COMMITTEE
7.1. Administration . The authority to control and manage the operation and administration of the Plan shall be vested in a committee (the Committee) in accordance with this Section 7. The Committee shall be selected by the Board, and shall consist solely of two or more members of the Board. If the Committee does not exist, or for any other reason determined by the Board, and to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange, the Board may take any action under the Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee.
7.2. Powers of Committee . The Committees administration of the Plan shall be subject to the following:
(a) | Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee will have the authority and discretion to select from among the Eligible Individuals those persons who shall receive Awards, to determine the time or times of receipt, to determine the types of Awards and the number of shares covered by the Awards, to establish the terms, conditions, performance criteria, restrictions, and other provisions of such Awards, and (subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 8) to cancel or suspend Awards. |
(b) | To the extent that the Committee determines that the restrictions imposed by the Plan preclude the achievement of the material purposes of the Awards in jurisdictions outside the United States, the Cayman Islands, and Bermuda, the Committee will have the authority and discretion to modify those restrictions as the Committee determines to be necessary or appropriate to conform to applicable requirements or practices of jurisdictions outside of the United States, the Cayman Islands, and Bermuda. |
(c) | The Committee will have the authority and discretion to interpret the Plan, to establish, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the terms and provisions of any Award Agreement made pursuant to the Plan, and to make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. |
(d) | Any interpretation of the Plan by the Committee and any decision made by it under the Plan is final and binding on all persons. |
(e) | In controlling and managing the operation and administration of the Plan, the Committee shall take action in a manner that conforms to the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and applicable corporate law. |
7.3. Delegation by Committee . Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of a stock exchange, the Committee may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any person or persons selected by it. Any such allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time.
7.4. Information to be Furnished to Committee . The Company and Subsidiaries shall furnish the Committee with such data and information as it determines may be required for it to discharge its duties. The records of the Company and Subsidiaries as to an employees or Participants employment (or other provision of services), termination of employment (or cessation of the provision of services), leave of absence, reemployment and compensation shall be conclusive on all persons unless determined to be incorrect. Participants and other persons entitled to benefits under the Plan must furnish the Committee such evidence, data or information as the Committee considers desirable to carry out the terms of the Plan.
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SECTION 8
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
The Board may, at any time, amend or terminate the Plan, and may amend any Award Agreement, provided that no amendment or termination may, in the absence of written consent to the change by the affected Participant (or, if the Participant is not then living, the affected beneficiary), adversely affect the rights of any Participant or beneficiary under any Award granted under the Plan prior to the date such amendment is adopted by the Board; and further provided that adjustments pursuant to paragraph 5.2(f) shall not be subject to the foregoing limitations of this Section 8; and further provided that the provisions of subsection 2.6 (relating to Option repricing) cannot be amended unless the amendment is approved by the Companys shareholders. Approval by the Companys shareholders will be required for any material revision to the terms of the Plan, with the Committees determination of material revision to take into account the exemptions under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. No amendment or termination shall be adopted or effective if it would result in accelerated recognition of income or imposition of additional tax under Code section 409A or, except as otherwise provided in the amendment, would cause amounts that were not otherwise subject to Code section 409A to become subject to section 409A.
SECTION 9
DEFINED TERMS
In addition to the other definitions contained herein, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) | Award . The term Award means any award or benefit granted under the Plan, including, without limitation, the grant of Options, SARs, Full Value Awards, and Cash Incentive Awards. |
(b) | Board . The term Board means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
(c) | Change in Control . The term Change in Control shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following events: |
(i) | any person, as such term is used in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d) of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, becomes a beneficial owner, as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under that act, of 50% or more of the Voting Stock (as defined below) of the Company; |
(ii) | the majority of the Board consists of individuals other than Incumbent Directors, which term means the members of the Board on the Effective Date; provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to such date whose election or nomination for election was supported by three-quarters of the directors who then comprised the Incumbent Directors shall be considered to be an Incumbent Director; |
(iii) | the Company adopts any plan of liquidation providing for the distribution of all or substantially all of its assets; |
(iv) | all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company is disposed of pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other transaction (unless the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in substantially the same proportion as they owned the Voting Stock of the Company, all of the Voting Stock or other ownership interests of the entity or entities, if any, that succeed to the business of the Company); or |
(v) | the Company combines with another company and is the surviving corporation but, immediately after the combination, the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the combination hold, directly or indirectly, 50% or less of the Voting Stock of the combined company (there being excluded from the number of shares held by such shareholders, but not from the Voting Stock of the combined company, any shares received by Affiliates (as defined below) of such other company in exchange for stock of such other company). |
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For the purpose of this definition of Change in Control, (I) an Affiliate of a person or other entity shall mean a person or other entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the person or other entity specified and (II) Voting Stock shall mean capital stock of any class or classes having general voting power under ordinary circumstances, in the absence of contingencies, to elect the directors of a corporation. |
(d) | Code . The term Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. A reference to any provision of the Code shall include reference to any successor provision of the Code. Except as otherwise indicated, references in the Plan to laws and legal rules shall be to United States laws and legal rules. |
(e) | Dollars . As used in the Plan, the term dollars or numbers preceded by the symbol $ shall mean amounts in United States dollars. |
(f) | Eligible Individual . For purposes of the Plan, the term Eligible Individual means any employee of the Company or a Subsidiary, and any consultant, director, or other person providing services to the Company or a Subsidiary; provided, however, that an ISO may only be granted to an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary. An Award may be granted to an employee or other individual providing services, in connection with hiring, retention or otherwise, prior to the date the employee first performs services for the Company or the Subsidiaries, provided that such Awards shall not become vested prior to the date the employee or service provider first performs such services. |
(g) | Fair Market Value . Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock as of any date shall be the closing market composite price for such Stock as reported for the New York Stock ExchangeComposite Transactions on that date or, if Stock is not traded on that date, on the next preceding date on which Stock was traded. |
(h) | Performance Measures . The Performance Measures shall be based on any one or more of the following Company, Subsidiary, operating unit or division performance measures: gross premiums written; net premiums written; net premiums earned; net investment income; losses and loss expenses; underwriting and administrative expenses; operating expenses; cash flow(s); operating income; earnings before interest and taxes; net income; stock price; dividends; strategic business objectives, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified cost targets, business expansion goals, and goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures; or any combination thereof. Each goal may be expressed on an absolute and/or relative basis, may be based on or otherwise employ comparisons based on internal targets, the past performance of the Company and/or the past or current performance of other companies, and in the case of earnings-based measures, may use or employ comparisons relating to capital, shareholders equity and/or shares outstanding, investments or to assets or net assets. |
(i) | Subsidiary . For purposes of the Plan, the term Subsidiary (sometimes referred to as a Related Company) means any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity during any period in which at least a fifty percent voting or profits interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company (or by any entity that is a successor to the Company), and any other business venture designated by the Committee in which the Company (or any entity that is a successor to the Company) has a significant interest, as determined in the discretion of the Committee. |
(j) | Stock . The term Stock means Common Shares of stock of the Company. |
(k) | Termination of Service . With respect to Awards that constitute Deferred Compensation, references to the Participants Termination of Service with respect to service as an employee or service as a director shall mean, respectively, the Participant ceasing to be employed by, or ceasing to perform director services for, the Company and the Affiliates, subject to the following: |
(i) |
The employment relationship or director relationship will be deemed to have ended at the time the Participant and the applicable company reasonably anticipate that a level of bona fide services the Participant would perform for the Company and the Affiliates after such date would permanently decrease to no more than 20% of the average level of bona fide services performed over the immediately preceding 36 month period (or the full period of service to the Company and the Affiliates |
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if the Participant has performed services for the Company and the Affiliates for less than 36 months). In the absence of an expectation that the Participant will perform at the above-described level, the date of termination of employment or termination as a director will not be delayed solely by reason of the Participant continuing to be on the Companys and the Affiliates payroll after such date. |
(ii) | The employment or director relationship will be treated as continuing intact while the Participant is on a bona fide leave of absence (determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. §409A-1(h)). |
(iii) | The determination of a Participants termination of employment or termination as a director by reason of a sale of assets, sale of stock, spin-off, or other similar transaction of the Company or an Affiliate will be made in accordance with Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(h). |
(iv) | If a Participant performs services both as an employee of the Company or an Affiliate, and a member of the board of directors of the Company or an Affiliate, the determination of whether termination of employment or termination of service as a director shall be made in accordance with Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(h)(5) (relating to dual status service providers). |
(v) | For purposes of the Plan, except for purposes of the definition of Change in Control, the term Affiliates means all persons with whom the Company is considered to be a single employer under section 414(b) of the Code and all persons with whom the Company would be considered a single employer under section 414(c) thereof. |
(vi) | The term Deferred Compensation means payments or benefits that would be considered to be provided under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan as that term is defined in Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1. |
(vii) | Reference to a Participants Termination of Service shall include references to a Participants employment termination and terminating employment, a directors termination or termination from the Board, and references to a Participants separation from service, and other similar references, to the extent that the term is used for purposes of determining whether Deferred Compensation is to be distributed upon such termination. |
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