As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 26, 2014
No. 333-195611
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO
FORM F-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Atento S.A.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Luxembourg | 4813 | N/A | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
Da Vinci Building
4 rue Lou Hemmer
L-1748 Luxembourg Findel
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
+352 26 78 60 1
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
Corporation Service Company
1180 Avenue of the Americas
Suite 210
New York, New York 10036
(212) 299-5600
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:
Joshua N. Korff, Esq. Christopher A. Kitchen, Esq. Kirkland & Ellis LLP 601 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10022 (212) 446-4800 |
Arthur D. Robinson, Esq. Jaime Mercado, Esq. Juan Francisco Méndez, Esq. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP 425 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10017 (212) 455-2000 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box: ¨
If this Form is filed to registered additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
|
||||||||
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be
Registered |
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price per Share (2) |
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price (1)(2) |
Amount of
Registration Fee (2) |
||||
Ordinary shares, no nominal value |
20,182,500 (1) | $22.00 | $444,015,000 | $57,190 (3) | ||||
|
||||||||
|
(1) | Includes ordinary shares that the underwriters may purchase pursuant to the option to purchase additional shares. |
(2) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(a) under the Securities act of 1933, as amended. |
(3) | Previously paid. |
The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 of Atento S.A. is being filed solely for the purpose of filing updated Exhibits 10.10, 10.11, 10.12 and 10.15 hereto. No changes have been made to Part I of the Registration Statement. Accordingly, Part I has been omitted from this amendment.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Pursuant to Luxembourg law on agency, agents are entitled to be reimbursed any advances or expenses made or incurred in the course of their duties, except in cases of fault or negligence on their part. Luxembourg law on agency is applicable to the mandate of directors and agents of the Company.
Pursuant to Luxembourg law, a company is generally liable for any violations committed by employees in the performance of their functions except where such violations are not in any way linked to the duties of the employee.
Prior to the completion of this offering, our articles of association will provide that directors and officers, past and present, are entitled to indemnification from us to the fullest extent permitted by Luxembourg law against liability and all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he is involved by virtue of his being or having been a director or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof.
No indemnification will be provided against any liability to us or our shareholders (i) by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties of a director or officer; (ii) with respect to any matter as to which any director or officer shall have been finally adjudicated to have acted in bad faith and not in the interest of the Company; or (iii) in the event of a settlement, unless approved by a court or the board of directors.
Prior to completion of this offering, we will enter into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers, in addition to indemnification provided for in our articles of association. These agreements, among other things, provide for indemnification of our directors and executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by Luxembourg law for expenses, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by this person in any action or proceeding arising out of this persons services as a director or executive officer or at our request, subject to certain limitations. We believe that these provisions and agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and executive officers.
We also agreed to indemnify certain officers of the Company for adverse tax consequences they may suffer pursuant to their employment agreements.
The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which any of our former or current directors and officers may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of our articles of association, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
We expect to maintain standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (1) to our directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to us with respect to indemnification payments that we may make to such directors and officers.
The proposed form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement provides for indemnification to our directors and officers by the underwriters against certain liabilities.
Item 7. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
On March 5, 2014, the Issuer issued 31,000 ordinary shares with nominal value of 1.00 per share to Atento Luxco Topco S.C.A.
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Item 8. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) Exhibits
The exhibit index attached hereto is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Financial Statement Schedules
All schedules are omitted because the required information is not applicable or included in the registrants financial statements in the Prospectus part of this registration statement.
Item 9. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions referenced in Item 14 of this registration statement or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered hereunder, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) | For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and |
(2) | For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-1 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Madrid, Spain on September 26, 2014.
ATENTO S.A.
By: |
/s/ Alejandro Reynal |
|
Name: |
Alejandro Reynal | |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature |
Title |
Date |
||
/s/ Alejandro Reynal Alejandro Reynal |
Chief Executive Officer and Director | September 26, 2014 | ||
* Mauricio Montilha |
Chief Financial Officer and principal accounting officer | September 26, 2014 | ||
* Francisco Tosta Valim Filho |
Director | September 26, 2014 | ||
* Melissa Bethell |
Director | September 26, 2014 | ||
* Aurelien Vasseur |
Director | September 26, 2014 | ||
* Mark Nunnelly |
Director | September 26, 2014 |
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Signature |
Title |
Date |
||
* Luis Javier Castro |
Director | September 26, 2014 | ||
* Stuart Gent |
Director | September 26, 2014 | ||
* Devin OReilly |
Director | September 26, 2014 | ||
* Jay Corrigan |
Authorized Representative in the United States of America | September 26, 2014 | ||
*/s/ Alejandro Reynal Alejandro Reynal as Attorney-in-fact |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
|
Description |
|
1.1 | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | |
2.1 | Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 11, 2012, by and between Telefónica S.A. and the Buyers named therein. | |
2.2 | Amendment Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2012, by and between Telefónica, S.A. and the Buyers named therein. | |
3.1 | Articles of Association of Atento S.A., as currently in effect. | |
3.2 | Form of Amended and Restated Articles of Association of Atento S.A. to be effective upon completion of this offering. | |
4.1 | Indenture, dated as of January 29, 2013, by and among BC Luxco 1 S.A., the guarantors party thereto, Citibank, N.A., London Branch as Trustee and Principal Paying Agent, Citibank Global Markets Deutschland AG, as Registrar and Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as collateral agent. | |
4.2 | Form of Senior Secured Note (included in Exhibit 4.2 hereto). | |
5.1 | Opinion of Arendt & Medernach. | |
10.1 | Transaction Services Agreement between Spain Holdco and Bain Capital Partners, LLC, dated December 12, 2012. | |
10.2 | Consulting Services Agreement between Portfolio Company Advisors, Ltd and Bain Capital Partners, LLC, dated December 12, 2012. | |
10.3 | Management Services Agreement between Spain Holdco, Mexico Holdco, Spain Holdco 2, Spain Holdco 5 and Spain Holdco 6, dated December 12, 2012. | |
10.4 | Subscription and Securityholders Agreement, dated as of December 4, 2012, by and among BC Luxco Topco, BC Luxco and each of the investors party thereto. | |
10.5 | Subscription and Securityholders Agreement, dated as of December 4, 2012, by and among BC Luxco Topco, BC Luxco and each of the investors party thereto. | |
10.6** | Master Services Agreement between BC Luxco 1 and Telefónica S.A., dated as of December 11, 2012, as amended by Amendment Agreement No. 1 thereto dated as of May 16, 2014. | |
10.7 | Vendor Loan Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2012, between Global Laurentia, S.L.U. and the lenders party thereto. | |
10.8 | Super Senior Revolving Credit Facilities Agreement, dated as of January 28, 2013, among BC Luxco 1 S.A., the entities and guarantors named therein and the arrangers and lenders party thereto. | |
10.9 | Instrumento Particular de Escritura (Brazilian debentures). | |
10.10+ | 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan. | |
10.11+ | Form of Performance Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. | |
10.12+ | Form of Time Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. | |
10.13 | Form of Registration Rights Agreement. | |
10.14 | Form of Consulting Services and Information Rights Agreement. | |
10.15 | Form of Directors and Officers Indemnification Agreement. | |
21.1 | List of subsidiaries of Atento S.A. | |
23.1 | Consent of Ernst & Young, S.L., independent registered public accounting firm. | |
23.2 | Consent of Arendt & Medernach (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
24.1 | Powers of Attorney (included in the signature pages hereto). |
** | Application has been made to the Securities and Exchange Commission for confidential treatment of certain provisions of this exhibit. Omitted material for which confidential treatment has been requested has been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
+ | Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. |
| Previously filed. |
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Exhibit 10.10
Atento S.A.
Société anonyme
Registered office: 4, rue Lou Hemmer,
L-1748 Luxembourg
RCS Luxembourg: B 185761
2014 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Atento S.A. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan is to enhance the profitability and value of the Company for the benefit of its shareholders by enabling the Company to offer Eligible Individuals cash and share-based incentives in order to attract, retain and reward such individuals and strengthen the mutuality of interests between such individuals and the Companys shareholders. The Plan is effective as of the date set forth in Article XV.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
2.1 Affiliate means each of the following: (a) any Subsidiary; (b) any Parent; (c) any company, trade or business (including, without limitation, a partnership or limited liability company) which is directly or indirectly controlled 50% or more (whether by ownership of shares, assets or an equivalent ownership interest or voting interest) by the Company or one of its Affiliates; (d) any trade or business (including, without limitation, a partnership or limited liability company) which directly or indirectly controls 50% or more (whether by ownership of shares, assets or an equivalent ownership interest or voting interest) of the Company; and (e) any other entity in which the Company or any of its Affiliates has a material equity interest and which is designated as an Affiliate by resolution of the Board; provided that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Common Stock subject to any Award constitutes service recipient stock for purposes of Section 409A of the Code or otherwise does not subject the Award to Section 409A of the Code.
2.2 Award means any award under the Plan of any Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Performance Award, Other Stock-Based Award or Other Cash-Based Award. All Awards shall be granted by, confirmed by, and subject to the terms of, a written agreement executed by the Company and the Participant.
2.3 Award Agreement means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and conditions applicable to an Award.
2.4 Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.5 Cause means, unless otherwise determined by the Board in the applicable Award Agreement, with respect to a Participants Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy, the following: (a) in the case where there is no employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award (or where there is such an agreement but it does not define cause (or words of like import)), termination due to a Participants insubordination, dishonesty, fraud, incompetence, moral turpitude, willful misconduct, refusal to perform the Participants duties or responsibilities for any reason other than illness or incapacity or materially unsatisfactory performance of the Participants duties for the Company or an Affiliate, as determined by the Board in its good faith discretion; or (b) in the case where there is an employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award that defines cause (or words of like import), cause as defined under such agreement; provided, however, that with regard to any agreement under which the definition of cause only applies on occurrence of a change in control, such definition of cause shall not apply until a change in control actually takes place and then only with regard to a termination thereafter. With respect to a Participants Termination of Directorship, cause means an act or failure to act that constitutes cause for removal of a director under applicable Luxembourg law.
2.6 Change in Control has the meaning set forth in 11.2.
2.7 Change in Control Price has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.
2.8 Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference to any section of the Code shall also be a reference to any successor provision and any treasury regulation promulgated thereunder.
2.9 Common Stock means the ordinary shares of the Company.
2.10 Company means Atento S.A. and its successors by operation of law.
2.11 Consultant means any natural person who is an advisor or consultant to the Company or its Affiliates.
2.12 Disability means, unless otherwise determined by the Board in the applicable Award Agreement, with respect to a Participants Termination, a permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. A Disability shall only be deemed to occur at the time of the determination by the Board of the Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for Awards that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, Disability shall mean that a Participant is disabled under Section 409A(a)(2)(C)(i) or (ii) of the Code.
2.13 Effective Date means the effective date of the Plan as defined in Article XV.
2.14 Eligible Employees means each employee of the Company or an Affiliate.
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2.15 Eligible Individual means an Eligible Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant who is designated by the Board in its discretion as eligible to receive Awards subject to the conditions set forth herein.
2.16 Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Exchange Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or interpretation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
2.17 Fair Market Value means, for purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or required by any applicable provision of the Code or any regulations issued thereunder, as of any date and except as provided below, the last sales price reported for the Common Stock on the applicable date: (a) as reported on the principal national securities exchange in the United States on which it is then traded or (b) if the Common Stock is not traded, listed or otherwise reported or quoted, the Board shall determine in good faith the Fair Market Value in whatever manner it considers appropriate taking into account the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of the grant of any Award, the applicable date shall be the trading day immediately prior to the date on which the Award is granted.
2.18 Family Member means family member as defined in Section A.1.(a)(5) of the general instructions of Form S-8.
2.19 Incentive Stock Option means any Stock Option awarded to an Eligible Employee of the Company, its Subsidiaries and its Parents (if any) under the Plan intended to be and designated as an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
2.20 Lead Underwriter has the meaning set forth in Section 14.20.
2.21 Lock-Up Period has the meaning set forth in Section 14.20.
2.22 Non-Employee Director means a director or a member of the Board of the Company or any Affiliate who is not an active employee of the Company or any Affiliate.
2.23 Non-Qualified Stock Option means any Stock Option awarded under the Plan that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
2.24 Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall mean the right to receive an amount in cash and/or shares equal to the difference between (x) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date such right is exercised, and (y) the aggregate exercise price of such right, otherwise than on surrender of a Stock Option.
2.25 Other Cash-Based Award means an Award granted pursuant to Section 10.3 of the Plan and payable in cash at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Board in its sole discretion.
2.26 Other Extraordinary Event has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).
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2.27 Other Stock-Based Award means an Award under Article X of the Plan that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is payable in or otherwise based on, Common Stock, including, without limitation, an Award valued by reference to an Affiliate.
2.28 Parent means any parent company of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code.
2.29 Participant means an Eligible Individual to whom an Award has been granted pursuant to the Plan.
2.30 Performance Award means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article IX hereof contingent upon achieving certain Performance Goals.
2.31 Performance Goals means goals established by the Board as contingencies for Awards to vest and/or become exercisable or distributable based on one or more of the performance goals set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
2.32 Performance Period means the designated period during which the Performance Goals must be satisfied with respect to the Award to which the Performance Goals relate.
2.33 Plan means this Atento S.A. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
2.34 Proceeding has the meaning set forth in Section 14.9.
2.35 Reference Stock Option has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
2.36 Registration Date means the date on which the Company sells its Common Stock in a bona fide, firm commitment underwriting pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act.
2.37 Restricted Stock means an Award of shares of Common Stock under the Plan that is subject to restrictions under Article VIII.
2.38 Restriction Period has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(a) with respect to Restricted Stock.
2.39 Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act as then in effect or any successor provision.
2.40 Section 4.2 Event has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).
2.41 Section 162(m) of the Code means the exception for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code and any applicable treasury regulations thereunder.
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2.42 Section 409A of the Code means the nonqualified deferred compensation rules under Section 409A of the Code and any applicable treasury regulations and other official guidance thereunder.
2.43 Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Reference to a specific section of the Securities Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or interpretation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
2.44 Stock Appreciation Right shall mean the right pursuant to an Award granted under Article VII.
2.45 Stock Option or Option means any option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to Eligible Individuals granted pursuant to Article VI.
2.46 Subsidiary means any subsidiary company of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.
2.47 Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall mean the right to surrender to the Company all (or a portion) of a Stock Option in exchange for an amount in cash and/or share equal to the difference between (i) the Fair Market Value on the date such Stock Option (or such portion thereof) is surrendered, of the Common Stock covered by such Stock Option (or such portion thereof), and (ii) the aggregate exercise price of such Stock Option (or such portion thereof).
2.48 Ten Percent Shareholder means a person owning share possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Parent.
2.49 Termination means a Termination of Consultancy, Termination of Directorship or Termination of Employment, as applicable.
2.50 Termination of Consultancy means: (a) that the Consultant is no longer acting as a consultant to the Company or an Affiliate; or (b) when an entity which is retaining a Participant as a Consultant ceases to be an Affiliate unless the Participant otherwise is, or thereupon becomes, a Consultant to the Company or another Affiliate at the time the entity ceases to be an Affiliate. In the event that a Consultant becomes an Eligible Employee or a Non-Employee Director upon the termination of such Consultants consultancy, unless otherwise determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, no Termination of Consultancy shall be deemed to occur until such time as such Consultant is no longer a Consultant, an Eligible Employee or a Non-Employee Director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may otherwise define Termination of Consultancy in the Award Agreement or, if no rights of a Participant are reduced, may otherwise define Termination of Consultancy thereafter, provided that any such change to the definition of the term Termination of Consultancy does not subject the applicable Award to Section 409A of the Code.
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2.51 Termination of Directorship means that the Non-Employee Director has ceased to be a director of the Company; except that if a Non-Employee Director becomes an Eligible Employee or a Consultant upon the termination of such Non-Employee Directors directorship, such Non-Employee Directors ceasing to be a director of the Company shall not be treated as a Termination of Directorship unless and until the Participant has a Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy, as the case may be.
2.52 Termination of Employment means: (a) a termination of employment (for reasons other than a military or personal leave of absence granted by the Company) of a Participant from the Company and its Affiliates; or (b) when an entity which is employing a Participant ceases to be an Affiliate, unless the Participant otherwise is, or thereupon becomes, employed by the Company or another Affiliate at the time the entity ceases to be an Affiliate. In the event that an Eligible Employee becomes a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director upon the termination of such Eligible Employees employment, unless otherwise determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, no Termination of Employment shall be deemed to occur until such time as such Eligible Employee is no longer an Eligible Employee, a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may otherwise define Termination of Employment in the Award Agreement or, if no rights of a Participant are reduced, may otherwise define Termination of Employment thereafter, provided that any such change to the definition of the term Termination of Employment does not subject the applicable Award to Section 409A of the Code.
2.53 Transfer means: (a) when used as a noun, any direct or indirect transfer, sale, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance or other disposition (including the issuance of equity in any entity), whether for value or no value and whether voluntary or involuntary (including by operation of law), and (b) when used as a verb, to directly or indirectly transfer, sell, assign, pledge, encumber, charge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of (including the issuance of equity in any entity) whether for value or for no value and whether voluntarily or involuntarily (including by operation of law). Transferred and Transferable shall have a correlative meaning.
2.54 Transition Period means the period beginning with the Registration Date and ending as of the earlier of: (i) the date of the first annual meeting of sharesholders of the Company at which directors are to be elected that occurs after the close of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which the Registration Date occurs; and (ii) the expiration of the reliance period under Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(f)(2).
ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION
3.1 The Board . The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Board. To the extent required by applicable law, rule or regulation, it is intended that each member of the Board shall qualify as (a) a non-employee director under Rule 16b-3, (b) an outside director under Section 162(m) of the Code and (c) an independent director under the rules of any national securities exchange or national securities association, as applicable. If it is later determined that one or more members of the Board do not so qualify, actions taken by the Board prior to such determination shall be valid despite such failure to qualify.
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3.2 Grants of Awards . The Board shall have full authority to grant, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, to Eligible Individuals: (i) Stock Options, (ii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iii) Restricted Stock Awards, (iv) Performance Awards; (v) Other Stock-Based Awards; and (vi) Other Cash-Based Awards. In particular, the Board shall have the authority:
(a) to select the Eligible Individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder;
(b) to determine whether and to what extent Awards, or any combination thereof, are to be granted hereunder to one or more Eligible Individuals;
(c) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(d) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, the exercise or purchase price (if any), any restriction or limitation, any vesting schedule or acceleration thereof, or any forfeiture restrictions or waiver thereof, regarding any Award and the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based on such factors, if any, as the Board shall determine, in its sole discretion);
(e) to determine the amount of cash to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(f) to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances grants of Options and other Awards under the Plan are to operate on a tandem basis and/or in conjunction with or apart from other awards made by the Company outside of the Plan;
(g) to determine whether and under what circumstances a Stock Option may be settled in cash, Common Stock and/or Restricted Stock under Section 6.4(d);
(h) to determine whether a Stock Option is an Incentive Stock Option or Non-Qualified Stock Option;
(i) to determine whether to require a Participant, as a condition of the granting of any Award, to not sell or otherwise dispose of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Award for a period of time as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, following the date of the acquisition of such Award;
(j) to modify, extend or renew an Award, subject to Article XII and Section 6.4(l), provided, however, that such action does not subject the Award to Section 409A of the Code without the consent of the Participant; and
(k) solely to the extent permitted by applicable law, to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances to provide loans (which may be on a recourse basis and shall bear interest at the rate the Board shall provide) to Participants in order to exercise Options under the Plan.
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3.3 Guidelines . Subject to Article XII hereof, the Board shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and perform all acts, including the delegation of its responsibilities (to the extent permitted by applicable law and applicable shares exchange rules), as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable; to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any agreements relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any agreement relating thereto in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary to effectuate the purpose and intent of the Plan. The Board may adopt special guidelines and provisions for persons who are residing in or employed in, or subject to, the taxes of, any domestic or foreign jurisdictions to comply with applicable tax and securities laws of such domestic or foreign jurisdictions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no action of the Board under this Section 3.3 shall impair the rights of any Participant without the Participants consent. To the extent applicable, the Plan is intended to comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3, and with respect to Awards intended to be performance-based, the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, and the Plan shall be limited, construed and interpreted in a manner so as to comply therewith.
3.4 Decisions Final . Any decision, interpretation or other action made or taken in good faith by or at the direction of the Company, the Board or the Board (or any of its members) arising out of or in connection with the Plan shall be within the absolute discretion of all and each of them, as the case may be, and shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company and all employees and Participants and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.
3.5 Procedures . The Board shall hold meetings, subject to the articles of association of the Company, at such times and places as it shall deem advisable, including, without limitation, by telephone conference or by written consent to the extent permitted by applicable law. A majority of the Board members shall constitute a quorum. All determinations of the Board shall be made by a majority of its members. Any decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by all of the Board members in accordance with the articles of association of the Company, shall be fully effective as if it had been made by a vote at a meeting duly called and held. The Board shall keep minutes of its meetings and shall make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem advisable.
3.6 Designation of Consultants/Liability .
(a) The Board may designate employees of the Company and professional advisors to assist the Board in the administration of the Plan and (to the extent permitted by applicable law and applicable exchange rules) may grant authority to officers to grant Awards and/or execute agreements or other documents on behalf of the Board.
(b) The Board may employ such legal counsel, consultants and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion received from any such counsel or consultant and any computation received from any such consultant or agent. Expenses incurred by the Board or the Board in the engagement of any such counsel, consultant or agent shall be paid by the Company. The Board, its members and any person designated pursuant
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to sub-section (a) above shall not be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, no officer of the Company or member or former member of the Board or of the Board shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted under it.
3.7 Indemnification . To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and articles of association of the Company and to the extent not covered by insurance directly insuring such person, each officer or employee of the Company or any Affiliate and member or former member of the Board or the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against any cost or expense (including reasonable fees of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Board) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Board), and advanced amounts necessary to pay the foregoing at the earliest time and to the fullest extent permitted, arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the administration of the Plan, except to the extent arising out of such officers, employees, members or former members own fraud or bad faith. Such indemnification shall be in addition to any right of indemnification the employees, officers, directors or members or former officers, directors or members may have under applicable law or under the articles of association of the Company or any Affiliate. Notwithstanding anything else herein, this indemnification will not apply to the actions or determinations made by an individual with regard to Awards granted to such individual under the Plan.
ARTICLE IV
SHARE LIMITATION
4.1 Shares . (a) The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or used for reference purposes or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall not exceed 1,100,000 shares (subject to any increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2) (the Share Reserve ), which may be either authorized and unissued Common Stock or Common Stock held in or acquired for the treasury of the Company or both. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the Plan shall be 1,100,000 shares. With respect to Stock Appreciation Rights settled in Common Stock, upon settlement, only the number of shares of Common Stock delivered to a Participant (based on the difference between the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Stock Appreciation Right on the date such Stock Appreciation Right is exercised and the exercise price of each Stock Appreciation Right on the date such Stock Appreciation Right was awarded) shall count against the aggregate and individual share limitations set forth under Sections 4.1(a) and 4.1(b). If any Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Other Stock-Based Awards granted under the Plan expires, terminates or is canceled for any reason without having been exercised in full, the number of shares of Common Stock underlying any unexercised Award shall again be available for the purpose of Awards under the Plan. If any shares of Restricted Stock, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards denominated in shares of Common Stock awarded under the Plan to a Participant are forfeited for any reason, the number of forfeited shares of Restricted Stock, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards denominated in shares of Common Stock shall again be available for purposes of Awards under the Plan. If a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right or a Limited Stock Appreciation Right is granted in tandem with an Option, such grant shall only apply once against the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan. Any Award under the Plan settled in cash shall not be
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counted against the foregoing maximum share limitations. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award of Stock Options, or Stock Appreciation Rights which may be granted under the Plan during any fiscal year of the Company to any Participant shall be 160,000 shares (which shall be subject to any further increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2). The maximum grant date fair value of any Award granted to any director during any calendar year shall not exceed $5,000,000.
(b) Individual Participant Limitations . To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code for Awards under the Plan to qualify as performance-based compensation, the following individual Participant limitations shall only apply after the expiration of the Transition Period:
(i) The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award of Stock Options, or Stock Appreciation Rights, or shares of Restricted Stock, or Other Stock-Based Awards for which the grant of such Award or the lapse of the relevant Restriction Period is subject to the attainment of Performance Goals in accordance with Section 8.3(a)(ii) which may be granted under the Plan during any fiscal year of the Company to any Participant shall be 160,000 shares per type of Award (which shall be subject to any further increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2), provided that the maximum number of shares of Common Stock for all types of Awards does not exceed 160,000 shares (which shall be subject to any further increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2) during any fiscal year of the Company. If a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right is granted or a Limited Stock Appreciation Right is granted in tandem with a Stock Option, it shall apply against the Participants individual share limitations for both Stock Appreciation Rights and Stock Options.
(ii) There are no annual individual share limitations applicable to Participants on Restricted Stock or Other Stock-Based Awards for which the grant, vesting or payment (as applicable) of any such Award is not subject to the attainment of Performance Goals.
(iii) The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Performance Award which may be granted under the Plan during any fiscal year of the Company to any Participant shall be 160,000 shares (which shall be subject to any further increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2) with respect to any fiscal year of the Company.
(iv) The maximum value of a cash payment made under a Performance Award which may be granted under the Plan with respect to any fiscal year of the Company to any Participant shall be $5,000,000.
(v) The individual Participant limitations set forth in this Section 4.1(b) (other than Section 4.1(b)(iii)) shall be cumulative; that is, to the extent that shares of Common Stock for which Awards are permitted to be granted to a Participant during a fiscal year are not covered by an Award to such Participant in a fiscal year, the number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards to such Participant shall automatically increase in the subsequent fiscal years during the term of the Plan until used.
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4.2 Changes .
(a) The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the shareholders of the Company to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Companys capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Company or any Affiliate, (iii) any issuance of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference shares ahead of or affecting the Common Stock, (iv) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Affiliate, (v) any sale or transfer of all or part of the assets or business of the Company or any Affiliate or (vi) any other corporate act or proceeding.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 11.1, if there shall occur any such change in the capital structure of the Company by reason of any stock split, reverse stock split, shares dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification of shares that may be issued under the Plan, any recapitalization, any merger, any consolidation, any spin off, any reorganization or any partial or complete liquidation, or any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing (a Section 4.2 Event ), then (i) the aggregate number and/or kind of securities that thereafter may be issued under the Plan, (ii) the number and/or kind of securities or other property (including cash) to be issued upon exercise of an outstanding Award granted under the Plan (including as a result of the assumption of the Plan and the obligations hereunder by a successor entity, as applicable), and/or (iii) the purchase price thereof, shall be appropriately adjusted. In addition, subject to Section 11.1, if there shall occur any change in the capital structure or the business of the Company that is not a Section 4.2 Event (an Other Extraordinary Event ), including by reason of any extraordinary dividend (whether cash or shares), any conversion, any adjustment, any issuance of any class of securities convertible or exercisable into, or exercisable for, any class of hares, or any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the Companys assets or business, then the Board, in its sole discretion, may adjust any Award and make such other adjustments to the Plan. Any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be consistent with the applicable Section 4.2 Event or the applicable Other Extraordinary Event, as the case may be, and in such manner as the Board may, in its sole discretion, deem appropriate and equitable to prevent substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under the Plan. Any such adjustment determined by the Board shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company and all Participants and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns. Any adjustment to, or assumption or substitution of, an Award under this Section 4.2(b) shall be intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.424-1 (and any amendments thereto), to the extent applicable. Except as expressly provided in this Section 4.2 or in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of any Section 4.2 Event or any Other Extraordinary Event.
(c) Fractional shares of Common Stock resulting from any adjustment in Awards pursuant to Section 4.2(a) or 4.2(b) shall be aggregated until, and eliminated at, the time of exercise or payment by rounding-down for fractions less than one-half and rounding-up for fractions equal to or greater than one-half. No cash settlements shall be required with respect to fractional shares eliminated by rounding. Notice of any adjustment shall be given by the Board to each Participant whose Award has been adjusted and such adjustment (whether or not such notice is given) shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan.
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4.3 Minimum Purchase Price . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if authorized but previously unissued shares of Common Stock are issued under the Plan, such shares shall not be issued for a consideration that is less than as permitted under applicable law.
ARTICLE V
ELIGIBILITY
5.1 General Eligibility . All current and prospective Eligible Individuals are eligible to be granted Awards. Eligibility for the grant of Awards and actual participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion.
5.2 Incentive Stock Options . Notwithstanding the foregoing, only Eligible Employees of the Company, its Subsidiaries and its Parent (if any) are eligible to be granted Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Eligibility for the grant of an Incentive Stock Option and actual participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion.
5.3 General Requirement . The vesting and exercise of Awards granted to a prospective Eligible Individual are conditioned upon such individual actually becoming an Eligible Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director, respectively.
ARTICLE VI
STOCK OPTIONS
6.1 Options . Stock Options may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Each Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be of one of two types: (a) an Incentive Stock Option or (b) a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
6.2 Grants . The Board shall have the authority to grant to any Eligible Employee one or more Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, or both types of Stock Options. The Board shall have the authority to grant any Consultant or Non-Employee Director one or more Non-Qualified Stock Options. To the extent that any Stock Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option (whether because of its provisions or the time or manner of its exercise or otherwise), such Stock Option or the portion thereof which does not so qualify shall constitute a separate Non-Qualified Stock Option.
6.3 Incentive Stock Options . Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, no term of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be so exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan under Section 422 of the Code, or, without the consent of the Participants affected, to disqualify any Incentive Stock Option under such Section 422.
6.4 Terms of Options . Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall be in such form and contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Board shall deem desirable:
(a) Exercise Price . The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to a Stock Option shall be determined by the Board at the time of grant, provided that the per share
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exercise price of a Stock Option shall not be less than 100% (or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Shareholder, 110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of grant.
(b) Stock Option Term . The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Board, provided that no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than 10 years after the date the Option is granted; and provided further that the term of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Shareholder shall not exceed five years.
(c) Exercisability . Unless otherwise provided by the Board in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.4, Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Board at the time of grant. If the Board provides, in its discretion, that any Stock Option is exercisable subject to certain limitations (including, without limitation, that such Stock Option is exercisable only in installments or within certain time periods), the Board may waive such limitations on the exercisability at any time at or after the time of grant in whole or in part (including, without limitation, waiver of the installment exercise provisions or acceleration of the time at which such Stock Option may be exercised), based on such factors, if any, as the Board shall determine, in its sole discretion.
(d) Method of Exercise . Subject to whatever installment exercise and waiting period provisions apply under Section 6.4(c), to the extent vested, Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the Option term, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased; provided , that unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, such written notice of exercise shall be delivered to the Company on the first business day of the applicable month. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price (including, if required by applicable law, the accounting par value of the applicable Common Stock), as follows: (i) in cash or by check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company; (ii) solely to the extent permitted by applicable law, if the Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange, and the Board authorizes, through a procedure whereby the Participant delivers irrevocable instructions to a broker reasonably acceptable to the Board to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the purchase price; or (iii) on such other terms and conditions as may be acceptable to the Board (including, without limitation, with the consent of the Board, having the Company withhold shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Stock Option, or by payment in full or in part in the form of Common Stock owned by the Participant, based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the payment date as determined by the Board). No shares of Common Stock shall be issued until payment therefor, as provided herein, has been made or provided for.
(e) Non-Transferability of Options . No Stock Option shall be Transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the Participants lifetime, only by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, at the time of grant or thereafter that a Non-Qualified Stock Option that is otherwise not Transferable pursuant to this Section is Transferable to a Family Member in whole or in part and in such circumstances, and under such conditions, as specified by the Board. A Non-Qualified Stock Option that is Transferred to a
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Family Member pursuant to the preceding sentence (i) may not be subsequently Transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and (ii) remains subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Any shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option by a permissible transferee of a Non-Qualified Stock Option or a permissible transferee pursuant to a Transfer after the exercise of the Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.
(f) Termination by Death or Disability . Unless otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participants Termination is by reason of death or Disability, all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participants Termination may be exercised by the Participant (or in the case of the Participants death, by the legal representative of the Participants estate) at any time within a period of one (1) year from the date of such Termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options; provided, however, that, in the event of a Participants Termination by reason of Disability, if the Participant dies within such exercise period, all unexercised Stock Options held by such Participant shall thereafter be exercisable, to the extent to which they were exercisable at the time of death, for a period of one (1) year from the date of such death, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.
(g) Involuntary Termination Without Cause . Unless otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participants Termination is by involuntary termination by the Company without Cause, all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participants Termination may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.
(h) Voluntary Resignation . Unless otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participants Termination is voluntary (other than a voluntary termination described in Section 6.4(i)(y) hereof), all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participants Termination may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of such Termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.
(i) Termination for Cause . Unless otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participants Termination (x) is for Cause or (y) is a voluntary Termination (as provided in Section 6.4(h)) after the occurrence of an event that would be grounds for a Termination for Cause, all Stock Options, whether vested or not vested, that are held by such Participant shall thereupon terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination.
(j) Unvested Stock Options . Unless otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, Stock Options that are not vested as of the date of a Participants Termination for any reason shall terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination.
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(k) Incentive Stock Option Limitations . To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an Eligible Employee during any calendar year under the Plan and/or any other stock option plan of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Parent exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options. In addition, if an Eligible Employee does not remain employed by the Company, any Subsidiary or any Parent at all times from the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted until three months prior to the date of exercise thereof (or such other period as required by applicable law), such Stock Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option. Should any provision of the Plan not be necessary in order for the Stock Options to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, or should any additional provisions be required, the Board may amend the Plan accordingly, without the necessity of obtaining the approval of the shareholders of the Company.
(l) Form, Modification, Extension and Renewal of Stock Options . Subject to the terms and conditions and within the limitations of the Plan, Stock Options shall be evidenced by such form of agreement or grant as is approved by the Board, and the Board may (i) modify, extend or renew outstanding Stock Options granted under the Plan (provided that the rights of a Participant are not reduced without such Participants consent and provided further that such action does not subject the Stock Options to Section 409A of the Code without the consent of the Participant), and (ii) accept the surrender of outstanding Stock Options (to the extent not theretofore exercised) and authorize the granting of new Stock Options in substitution therefor (to the extent not theretofore exercised). Notwithstanding the foregoing, an outstanding Option may not be modified to reduce the exercise price thereof nor may a new Option at a lower price be substituted for a surrendered Option (other than adjustments or substitutions in accordance with Section 4.2), unless such action is approved by the shareholders of the Company.
(m) Deferred Delivery of Common Stock . The Board may in its discretion permit Participants to defer delivery of Common Stock acquired pursuant to a Participants exercise of an Option in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Board in the applicable Award Agreement, which shall be intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
(n) Early Exercise . The Board may provide that a Stock Option include a provision whereby the Participant may elect at any time before the Participants Termination to exercise the Stock Option as to any part or all of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Option prior to the full vesting of the Stock Option and such shares shall be subject to the provisions of Article VIII and be treated as Restricted Stock. Unvested shares of Common Stock so purchased may be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company or to any other restriction the Board determines to be appropriate.
(o) Other Terms and Conditions . The Board may include a provision in an Award Agreement providing for the automatic exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option on a cashless basis on the last day of the term of such Option if the Participant has failed to exercise the Non-Qualified Stock Option as of such date, with respect to which the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Non-Qualified Stock Option exceeds the exercise price of such Non-Qualified Stock Option on the date of expiration of such Option, subject to Section 14.3. Stock Options may contain such other provisions, which shall not be inconsistent with any of the terms of the Plan, as the Board shall deem appropriate.
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ARTICLE VII
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
7.1 Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights . Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in conjunction with all or part of any Stock Option (a Reference Stock Option ) granted under the Plan ( Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights ). In the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, such rights may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Reference Stock Option. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, such rights may be granted only at the time of the grant of such Reference Stock Option.
7.2 Terms and Conditions of Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights . Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights granted hereunder shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as shall be determined from time to time by the Board, and the following:
(a) Exercise Price . The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Board at the time of grant, provided that the per share exercise price of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of grant.
(b) Term . A Tandem Stock Appreciation Right or applicable portion thereof granted with respect to a Reference Stock Option shall terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the Reference Stock Option, except that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, at the time of grant, a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right granted with respect to less than the full number of shares covered by the Reference Stock Option shall not be reduced until, and then only to the extent that the exercise or termination of the Reference Stock Option causes, the number of shares covered by the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right to exceed the number of shares remaining available and unexercised under the Reference Stock Option.
(c) Exercisability . Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the Reference Stock Options to which they relate shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Article VI, and shall be subject to the provisions of Section 6.4(c).
(d) Method of Exercise . A Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised by the Participant by surrendering the applicable portion of the Reference Stock Option. Upon such exercise and surrender, the Participant shall be entitled to receive an amount determined in the manner prescribed in this Section 7.2. Stock Options which have been so surrendered, in whole or in part, shall no longer be exercisable to the extent that the related Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights have been exercised.
(e) Payment . Upon the exercise of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but no more than, an amount in cash and/or Common Stock (as chosen by the Board in its sole discretion) equal in value to the excess of the Fair
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Market Value of one share of Common Stock over the Option exercise price per share specified in the Reference Stock Option agreement multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock in respect of which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised, with the Board having the right to determine the form of payment.
(f) Deemed Exercise of Reference Stock Option . Upon the exercise of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right, the Reference Stock Option or part thereof to which such Stock Appreciation Right is related shall be deemed to have been exercised for the purpose of the limitation set forth in Article IV of the Plan on the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued under the Plan.
(g) Non-Transferability . Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall be Transferable only when and to the extent that the underlying Stock Option would be Transferable under Section 6.4(e) of the Plan.
7.3 Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights . Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights may also be granted without reference to any Stock Options granted under the Plan.
7.4 Terms and Conditions of Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights . Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights granted hereunder shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as shall be determined from time to time by the Board, and the following:
(a) Exercise Price . The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to a Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Board at the time of grant, provided that the per share exercise price of a Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of grant.
(b) Term . The term of each Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall be fixed by the Board, but shall not be greater than 10 years after the date the right is granted.
(c) Exercisability . Unless otherwise provided by the Board in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.4, Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Board at the time of grant. If the Board provides, in its discretion, that any such right is exercisable subject to certain limitations (including, without limitation, that it is exercisable only in installments or within certain time periods), the Board may waive such limitations on the exercisability at any time at or after grant in whole or in part (including, without limitation, waiver of the installment exercise provisions or acceleration of the time at which such right may be exercised), based on such factors, if any, as the Board shall determine, in its sole discretion.
(d) Method of Exercise . Subject to whatever installment exercise and waiting period provisions apply under Section 7.4(c), Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised in whole or in part at any time in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights to be exercised.
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(e) Payment . Upon the exercise of a Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right a Participant shall be entitled to receive, for each right exercised, up to, but no more than, an amount in cash and/or Common Stock (as chosen by the Board in its sole discretion) equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date that the right is exercised over the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date that the right was awarded to the Participant.
(f) Termination . Unless otherwise determined by the Board at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, subject to the provisions of the applicable Award Agreement and the Plan, upon a Participants Termination for any reason, Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights will remain exercisable following a Participants Termination on the same basis as Stock Options would be exercisable following a Participants Termination in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6.4(f) through 6.4(j).
(g) Non-Transferability . No Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall be Transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all such rights shall be exercisable, during the Participants lifetime, only by the Participant.
7.5 Limited Stock Appreciation Rights . The Board may, in its sole discretion, grant Tandem and Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights either as a general Stock Appreciation Right or as a Limited Stock Appreciation Right. Limited Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised only upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or such other event as the Board may, in its sole discretion, designate at the time of grant or thereafter. Upon the exercise of Limited Stock Appreciation Rights, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the Participant shall receive in cash and/or Common Stock, as determined by the Board, an amount equal to the amount (i) set forth in Section 7.2(e) with respect to Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights, or (ii) set forth in Section 7.4(e) with respect to Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights.
7.6 Other Terms and Conditions . The Board may include a provision in an Award Agreement providing for the automatic exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right on a cashless basis on the last day of the term of such Stock Appreciation Right if the Participant has failed to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right as of such date, with respect to which the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Stock Appreciation Right exceeds the exercise price of such Stock Appreciation Right on the date of expiration of such Stock Appreciation Right, subject to Section 14.4. Stock Appreciation Rights may contain such other provisions, which shall not be inconsistent with any of the terms of the Plan, as the Board shall deem appropriate.
ARTICLE VIII
RESTRICTED STOCK
8.1 Awards of Restricted Stock . Shares of Restricted Stock may be issued either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The Board shall determine the Eligible Individuals, to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Restricted Stock shall be made, the number of shares to be awarded, the price (if any) to be paid by the Participant (subject to Section 8.2), the time or times within which such Awards may be subject to forfeiture, the vesting schedule and rights to acceleration thereof, and all other terms and conditions of the Awards.
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The Board may condition the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock upon the attainment of specified performance targets (including, the Performance Goals) or such other factor as the Board may determine in its sole discretion, including to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.
8.2 Awards . Eligible Individuals selected to receive Restricted Stock shall not have any right with respect to such Award, unless and until such Participant has delivered a fully executed copy of the agreement evidencing the Award to the Company, to the extent required by the Board, and has otherwise complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such Award. Further, such Award shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) Purchase Price . The purchase price of Restricted Stock shall be fixed by the Board. Subject to Section 4.3, the purchase price for shares of Restricted Stock may be zero to the extent permitted by applicable law, and, to the extent not so permitted, such purchase price may not be less than the accounting par value.
(b) Acceptance . Awards of Restricted Stock must be accepted within a period of 60 days (or such shorter period as the Board may specify at grant) after the grant date, by executing a Restricted Stock agreement and by paying whatever price (if any) the Board has designated thereunder.
8.3 Restrictions and Conditions . The shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to the following restrictions and conditions:
(a) Restriction Period . (i) The Participant shall not be permitted to Transfer shares of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan during the period or periods set by the Board (the Restriction Period ) commencing on the date of such Award, as set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement and such agreement shall set forth a vesting schedule and any event that would accelerate vesting of the shares of Restricted Stock. Within these limits, based on service, attainment of Performance Goals pursuant to Section 8.3(a)(ii) and/or such other factors or criteria as the Board may determine in its sole discretion, the Board may condition the grant or provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments in whole or in part, or may accelerate the vesting of all or any part of any Restricted Stock Award and/or waive the deferral limitations for all or any part of any Restricted Stock Award.
(ii) If the grant of shares of Restricted Stock or the lapse of restrictions is based on the attainment of Performance Goals, the Board shall establish the objective Performance Goals and the applicable vesting percentage of the Restricted Stock applicable to each Participant or class of Participants in writing prior to the beginning of the applicable fiscal year or at such later date as otherwise determined by the Board and while the outcome of the Performance Goals are substantially uncertain. Such Performance Goals may incorporate provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances. With regard to a Restricted Stock Award that is intended to
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comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent that any such provision would create impermissible discretion under Section 162(m) of the Code or otherwise violate Section 162(m) of the Code, such provision shall be of no force or effect.
(b) Rights as a Shareholder . Except as provided in Section 8.3(a) and this Section 8.3(b) or as otherwise determined by the Board in an Award Agreement, the Participant shall have, with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, the right to vote such shares and, subject to and conditioned upon the full vesting of shares of Restricted Stock, the right to tender such shares. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine at the time of grant that the payment of dividends shall be deferred until, and conditioned upon, the expiration of the applicable Restriction Period.
(c) Termination . Unless otherwise determined by the Board at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, upon a Participants Termination for any reason during the relevant Restriction Period, all Restricted Stock still subject to restriction will be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Board at grant or thereafter.
ARTICLE IX
PERFORMANCE AWARDS
9.1 Performance Awards . The Board may grant a Performance Award to a Participant payable upon the attainment of specific Performance Goals. The Board may grant Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, as well as Performance Awards that are not intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. If the Performance Award is payable in shares of Restricted Stock, such shares shall be transferable to the Participant only upon attainment of the relevant Performance Goal in accordance with Article VIII. If the Performance Award is payable in cash, it may be paid upon the attainment of the relevant Performance Goals either in cash or in shares of Restricted Stock (based on the then current Fair Market Value of such shares), as determined by the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion. Each Performance Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in such form that is not inconsistent with the Plan and that the Board may from time to time approve. With respect to Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Board shall condition the right to payment of any Performance Award upon the attainment of objective Performance Goals established pursuant to Section 9.2(c).
9.2 Terms and Conditions . Performance Awards awarded pursuant to this Article IX shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Earning of Performance Award . At the expiration of the applicable Performance Period, the Board shall determine the extent to which the Performance Goals established pursuant to Section 9.2(c) are achieved and the percentage of each Performance Award that has been earned.
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(b) Non-Transferability . Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, Performance Awards may not be Transferred during the Performance Period.
(c) Objective Performance Goals, Formulae or Standards . With respect to Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Board shall establish the objective Performance Goals for the earning of Performance Awards based on a Performance Period applicable to each Participant or class of Participants in writing prior to the beginning of the applicable Performance Period or at such later date as permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code and while the outcome of the Performance Goals are substantially uncertain. Such Performance Goals may incorporate, if and only to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances. To the extent that any such provision would create impermissible discretion under Section 162(m) of the Code or otherwise violate Section 162(m) of the Code, such provision shall be of no force or effect, with respect to Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(d) Dividends . Unless otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant, amounts equal to dividends declared during the Performance Period with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock covered by a Performance Award will not be paid to the Participant.
(e) Payment . Following the Boards determination in accordance with Section 9.2(a), the Company shall settle Performance Awards, in such form (including, without limitation, in shares of Common Stock or in cash) as determined by the Board, in an amount equal to such Participants earned Performance Awards; provided that with respect to any Performance Awards settled in shares of Common Stock, the Participant shall, if required by applicable law, provide minimum consideration equal to the accounting par value of such Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, in its sole discretion, award an amount less than the earned Performance Awards and/or subject the payment of all or part of any Performance Award to additional vesting, forfeiture and deferral conditions as it deems appropriate.
(f) Termination . Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, upon a Participants Termination for any reason during the Performance Period for a given Performance Award, the Performance Award in question will vest or be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Board at grant.
(g) Accelerated Vesting . Based on service, performance and/or such other factors or criteria, if any, as the Board may determine, the Board may, at or after grant, accelerate the vesting of all or any part of any Performance Award.
ARTICLE X
OTHER STOCK-BASED AND CASH-BASED AWARDS
10.1 Other Stock-Based Awards . The Board is authorized to grant to Eligible Individuals Other Stock-Based Awards that are payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference
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to, or otherwise based on or related to shares of Common Stock, including but not limited to, shares of Common Stock awarded purely as a bonus and not subject to restrictions or conditions, shares of Common Stock in payment of the amounts due under an incentive or performance plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or an Affiliate, stock equivalent units, restricted stock units, and Awards valued by reference to book value of shares of Common Stock. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to or in tandem with other Awards granted under the Plan.
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have authority to determine the Eligible Individuals, to whom, and the time or times at which, such Awards shall be made, the number of shares of Common Stock to be awarded pursuant to such Awards, and all other conditions of the Awards. The Board may also provide for the grant of Common Stock under such Awards upon the completion of a specified Performance Period.
The Board may condition the grant or vesting of Other Stock-Based Awards upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals as the Board may determine, in its sole discretion; provided that to the extent that such Other Stock-Based Awards are intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, the Board shall establish the objective Performance Goals for the grant or vesting of such Other Stock-Based Awards based on a Performance Period applicable to each Participant or class of Participants in writing prior to the beginning of the applicable Performance Period or at such later date as permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code and while the outcome of the Performance Goals are substantially uncertain. Such Performance Goals may incorporate, if and only to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances. To the extent that any such provision would create impermissible discretion under Section 162(m) of the Code or otherwise violate Section 162(m) of the Code, such provision shall be of no force or effect, with respect to Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.
10.2 Terms and Conditions . Other Stock-Based Awards made pursuant to this Article X shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Non-Transferability . Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, shares of Common Stock subject to Awards made under this Article X may not be Transferred prior to the date on which the shares are issued, or, if later, the date on which any applicable restriction, performance or deferral period lapses.
(b) Dividends . Unless otherwise determined by the Board at the time of Award, subject to the provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, the recipient of an Award under this Article X shall not be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, dividends or dividend equivalents in respect of the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Award.
(c) Vesting . Any Award under this Article X and any Common Stock covered by any such Award shall vest or be forfeited to the extent so provided in the Award Agreement, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion.
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(d) Price . Common Stock issued under this Article X may be issued for no cash consideration to the extent permitted by applicable law, and, to the extent not so permitted, such purchase price may not be less than the accounting par value. Common Stock purchased pursuant to a purchase right awarded under this Article X shall be priced, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, which price shall, to the extent required under applicable law, such purchase price shall include, at a minimum, the accounting par value of such Common Stock.
10.3 Other Cash-Based Awards . The Board may from time to time grant Other Cash-Based Awards to Eligible Individuals in such amounts, on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, including no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law, as it shall determine in its sole discretion. Other Cash-Based Awards may be granted subject to the satisfaction of vesting conditions or may be awarded purely as a bonus and not subject to restrictions or conditions, and if subject to vesting conditions, the Board may accelerate the vesting of such Awards at any time in its sole discretion. The grant of an Other Cash-Based Award shall not require a segregation of any of the Companys assets for satisfaction of the Companys payment obligation thereunder.
ARTICLE XI
CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS
11.1 Benefits . In the event of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below), and except as otherwise provided by the Board in an Award Agreement, a Participants unvested Award shall not vest automatically and a Participants Award shall be treated in accordance with one or more of the following methods as determined by the Board:
(a) Awards, whether or not then vested, shall be continued, assumed, or have new rights substituted therefor, as determined by the Board in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and restrictions to which shares of Restricted Stock or any other Award granted prior to the Change in Control are subject shall not lapse upon a Change in Control and the Restricted Stock or other Award shall, where appropriate in the sole discretion of the Board, receive the same distribution as other Common Stock on such terms as determined by the Board; provided that the Board may decide to award additional Restricted Stock or other Awards in lieu of any cash distribution. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of Incentive Stock Options, any assumed or substituted Stock Option shall comply with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.424-1 (and any amendment thereto).
(b) The Board, in its sole discretion, may provide for the purchase of any Awards by the Company or an Affiliate for an amount of cash equal to the excess (if any) of the Change in Control Price (as defined below) of the shares of Common Stock covered by such Awards, over the aggregate exercise price of such Awards. For purposes hereof, Change in Control Price shall mean the highest price per share of Common Stock paid in any transaction related to a Change in Control of the Company.
(c) The Board may, in its sole discretion, terminate all outstanding and unexercised Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, or any Other Stock-Based Award that provides for a Participant elected exercise, effective as of the date of the Change in Control, by delivering notice of termination to each Participant at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of
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consummation of the Change in Control, in which case during the period from the date on which such notice of termination is delivered to the consummation of the Change in Control, each such Participant shall have the right to exercise in full all of such Participants Awards that are then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercisability otherwise contained in the Award Agreements), but any such exercise shall be contingent on the occurrence of the Change in Control, and, provided that, if the Change in Control does not take place within a specified period after giving such notice for any reason whatsoever, the notice and exercise pursuant thereto shall be null and void.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, the Board may, in its sole discretion, provide for accelerated vesting or lapse of restrictions, of an Award at any time.
11.2 Change in Control . Unless otherwise determined by the Board in the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement with a Participant approved by the Board, a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur if:
(a) Any person (as that term is used in Sections 13 and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successors thereto) becomes the beneficial owner (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor thereto), directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the Companys capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, excluding any person who becomes a beneficial owner in connection with a Business Combination (as defined in paragraph (c) below) which does not constitute a Change in Control under said paragraph (c);
(b) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in paragraph (a), (c), or (d) of this Section 11.2 or a director whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such term is used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Companys shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board;
(c) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a Business Combination ), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the company resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a company which, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Companys assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the outstanding voting securities of the Company; or
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(d) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the consummation of a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets other than the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to a person or persons who beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company at the time of the sale.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award that is characterized as nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, an event shall not be considered to be a Change in Control under the Plan for purposes of payment of such Award unless such event is also a change in ownership, a change in effective control or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
11.3 Initial Public Offering not a Change in Control . Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of the Plan, the occurrence of the Registration Date or any change in the composition of the Board within one year following the Registration Date shall not be considered a Change in Control.
ARTICLE XII
TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN
12.1 Termination or Amendment . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Board may at any time, and from time to time, amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of the Plan (including any amendment deemed necessary to ensure that the Company may comply with any regulatory requirement referred to in Article XIV or Section 409A of the Code), or suspend or terminate it entirely, retroactively or otherwise; provided, however, that, unless otherwise required by law or specifically provided herein, the rights of a Participant with respect to Awards granted prior to such amendment, suspension or termination, may not be impaired without the consent of such Participant and, provided further, that without the approval of the holders of the Companys Common Stock entitled to vote in accordance with applicable law, no amendment may be made that would (i) increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of Section 4.2); (ii) increase the maximum individual Participant limitations for a fiscal year under Section 4.1(b) (except by operation of Section 4.2); (iii) change the classification of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Plan; (iv) decrease the minimum option price of any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right; (v) extend the maximum option period under Section 6.4; (vi) alter the Performance Goals for Restricted Stock, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards as set forth in Exhibit A hereto; (vii) award any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right in replacement of a canceled Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right with a higher exercise price than the replacement award; or (viii) require shareholder approval in order for the Plan to continue to comply with the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code or, to the extent applicable to Incentive Stock Options, Section 422 of the Code. In no event may the Plan be amended without the approval of the shareholders of the Company in accordance with the applicable laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to increase the aggregate number of shares of Common
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Stock that may be issued under the Plan, decrease the minimum exercise price of any Award, or to make any other amendment that would require shareholder approval under Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and regulations or the rules of any exchange or system on which the Companys securities are listed or traded at the request of the Company. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Board may amend the Plan or any Award Agreement at any time without a Participants consent to comply with applicable law including Section 409A of the Code. The Board may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Article IV or as otherwise specifically provided herein, no such amendment or other action by the Board shall impair the rights of any holder without the holders consent.
ARTICLE XIII
UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN
The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payment as to which a Participant has a fixed and vested interest but which are not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any right that is greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.
ARTICLE XIV
GENERAL PROVISIONS
14.1 Plans . Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
14.2 No Right to Employment/Directorship/Consultancy . Neither the Plan nor the grant of any Option or other Award hereunder shall give any Participant or other employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director any right with respect to continuance of employment, consultancy or directorship by the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall there be a limitation in any way on the right of the Company or any Affiliate by which an employee is employed or a Consultant or Non-Employee Director is retained to terminate such employment, consultancy or directorship at any time.
14.3 Withholding of Taxes . The Company or any of its applicable Affiliates shall have the right to deduct from any payment to be made pursuant to the Plan, or to otherwise require, prior to the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock or the payment of any cash hereunder, payment by the Participant of, any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld. Upon the vesting of Restricted Stock (or other Award that is taxable upon vesting), or upon making an election under Section 83(b) of the Code (or other applicable law in the relevant jurisdiction), a Participant shall pay all required withholding to the Company (or such Affiliate). Any minimum statutorily required withholding obligation with regard to any Participant may be satisfied, subject to the consent of the Board, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable or by delivering shares of Common Stock already owned. Any fraction of a share of Common Stock required to satisfy such tax obligations shall be disregarded and the amount due shall be paid instead in cash by the Participant, if applicable.
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14.4 No Assignment of Benefits . No Award or other benefit payable under the Plan shall, except as otherwise specifically provided by law or permitted by the Board, be Transferable in any manner, and any attempt to Transfer any such benefit shall be void, and any such benefit shall not in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any person who shall be entitled to such benefit, nor shall it be subject to attachment or legal process for or against such person.
14.5 Listing and Other Conditions .
(a) Unless otherwise determined by the Board, as long as the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange or system sponsored by a national securities association, the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award shall be conditioned upon such shares being listed on such exchange or system. The Company shall have no obligation to issue such shares unless and until such shares are so listed, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award with respect to such shares shall be suspended until such listing has been effected.
(b) If at any time counsel to the Company shall be of the opinion that any sale or delivery of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Option or other Award is or may in the circumstances be unlawful or result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company under the statutes, rules or regulations of any applicable jurisdiction, the Company shall have no obligation to make such sale or delivery, or to make any application or to effect or to maintain any qualification or registration under the Securities Act or otherwise, with respect to shares of Common Stock or Awards, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award shall be suspended until, in the opinion of said counsel, such sale or delivery shall be lawful or will not result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company.
(c) Upon termination of any period of suspension under this Section 14.6, any Award affected by such suspension which shall not then have expired or terminated shall be reinstated as to all shares available before such suspension and as to shares which would otherwise have become available during the period of such suspension, but no such suspension shall extend the term of any Award.
(d) A Participant shall be required to supply the Company with representations and information that the Company requests and otherwise cooperate with the Company in obtaining any listing, registration, qualification, exemption, consent or approval the Company deems necessary or appropriate.
14.6 Shareholders Agreement and Other Requirements . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, as a condition to the receipt of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award under the Plan, to the extent required by the Board, the Participant shall execute and deliver a shareholders agreement or such other documentation that shall set forth certain restrictions on transferability of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise or purchase, and such other terms as the Board or Board shall from time to time establish. Such shareholders agreement or other documentation shall apply to the Common Stock acquired under the Plan and
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covered by such shareholders agreement or other documentation. The Company may require, as a condition of exercise, the Participant to become a party to any other existing shareholder agreement (or other agreement).
14.7 Governing Law . The Plan and actions taken in connection herewith shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable Luxembourg principles of conflict of laws).
14.8 Waiver of Jury Trial . The Company and each Participant shall irrevocably and unconditionally waive all right to trial by jury in any Proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to the Plan or any Award Agreement.
14.9 Construction . Wherever any words are used in the Plan in the masculine gender they shall be construed as though they were also used in the feminine gender in all cases where they would so apply, and wherever words are used herein in the singular form they shall be construed as though they were also used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply.
14.10 Other Benefits . No Award granted or paid out under the Plan shall be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits under any retirement plan of the Company or its Affiliates nor affect any benefit under any other benefit plan now or subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to the level of compensation.
14.11 Costs . The Company shall bear all expenses associated with administering the Plan, including expenses of issuing Common Stock pursuant to Awards hereunder.
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14.12 No Right to Same Benefits . The provisions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant, and such Awards to individual Participants need not be the same in subsequent years.
14.13 Death/Disability . The Board may in its discretion require the transferee of a Participant to supply it with written notice of the Participants death or Disability and to supply it with a copy of the will (in the case of the Participants death) or such other evidence as the Board deems necessary to establish the validity of the transfer of an Award. The Board may also require that the agreement of the transferee to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan.
14.14 Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act . All elections and transactions under the Plan by persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act involving shares of Common Stock are intended to comply with any applicable exemptive condition under Rule 16b-3. The Board may establish and adopt written administrative guidelines, designed to facilitate compliance with Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, as it may deem necessary or proper for the administration and operation of the Plan and the transaction of business thereunder.
14.15 Section 409A of the Code . The Plan is intended to comply with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, it shall be paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including proposed, temporary or final regulations or any other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any provision in the Plan that is inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code shall be deemed to be amended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and to the extent such provision cannot be amended to comply therewith, such provision shall be null and void. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Award that is intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Board or the Company and, in the event that any amount or benefit under the Plan becomes subject to penalties under Section 409A of the Code, responsibility for payment of such penalties shall rest solely with the affected Participants and not with the Company. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or Award Agreement, any payment(s) of nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) that are otherwise required to be made under the Plan to a specified employee (as defined under Section 409A of the Code) as a result of such employees separation from service (other than a payment that is not subject to Section 409A of the Code) shall be delayed for the first six (6) months following such separation from service (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee) and shall instead be paid (in a manner set forth in the Award Agreement) upon expiration of such delay period.
14.16 Successor and Assigns . The Plan shall be binding on all successors and permitted assigns of a Participant, including, without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate.
14.17 Severability of Provisions . If any provision of the Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.
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14.18 Payments to Minors, Etc . Any benefit payable to or for the benefit of a minor, an incompetent person or other person incapable of receipt thereof shall be deemed paid when paid to such persons guardian or to the party providing or reasonably appearing to provide for the care of such person, and such payment shall fully discharge the Board, the Board, the Company, its Affiliates and their employees, agents and representatives with respect thereto.
14.19 Lock-Up Agreement . As a condition to the grant of an Award, if requested by the Company and the lead underwriter of any public offering of the Common Stock (the Lead Underwriter ), a Participant shall irrevocably agree not to sell, contract to sell, grant any option to purchase, transfer the economic risk of ownership in, make any short sale of, pledge or otherwise transfer or dispose of, any interest in any Common Stock or any securities convertible into, derivative of, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any other rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock (except Common Stock included in such public offering or acquired on the public market after such offering) during such period of time following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act that the Lead Underwriter shall specify (the Lock-Up Period ). The Participant shall further agree to sign such documents as may be requested by the Lead Underwriter to effect the foregoing and agree that the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Award until the end of such Lock-Up Period.
14.20 Headings and Captions . The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.
14.21 Section 162(m) of the Code . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, (i) prior to the Registration Date and during the Transition Period, the provisions of the Plan requiring compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code for Awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation shall only apply to the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code, and (ii) the provisions of the Plan requiring compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code shall not apply to Awards granted under the Plan that are not intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.
14.22 Post-Transition Period . Following the Transition Period, any Award granted under the Plan that is intended to be performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, shall be subject to the approval of the material terms of the Plan by a majority of the shareholders of the Company in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code and the treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.
14.23 Company Recoupment of Awards . A Participants rights with respect to any Award hereunder shall in all events be subject to (i) any right that the Company may have under any Company recoupment policy or other agreement or arrangement with a Participant, or (ii) any right or obligation that the Company may have regarding the clawback of incentive-based compensation under Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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ARTICLE XV
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN
The Plan shall become effective on the date of its adoption by the Board.
ARTICLE XVI
TERM OF PLAN
No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of the date that the Plan is adopted or the date of shareholder approval, but Awards granted prior to such tenth anniversary may extend beyond that date; provided that no Award (other than a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right) that is intended to be performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be granted on or after the fifth anniversary of the shareholder approval of the Plan unless the Performance Goals are re-approved (or other designated Performance Goals are approved) by the shareholders no later than the first shareholder meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which shareholders approve the Performance Goals.
ARTICLE XVII
NAME OF PLAN
The Plan shall be known as the Atento S.A. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
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EXHIBIT A
PERFORMANCE GOALS
To the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, performance goals established for purposes of Awards intended to be performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, shall be based on the attainment of certain target levels of, or a specified increase or decrease (as applicable) in one or more of the following performance goals:
| earnings per share; |
| operating income; |
| gross income; |
| net income (before or after taxes); |
| cash flow; |
| gross profit; |
| gross profit return on investment; |
| gross margin return on investment; |
| gross margin; |
| operating margin; |
| working capital; |
| earnings before interest and taxes; |
| earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization; |
| return on equity; |
| return on assets; |
| return on capital; |
| return on invested capital; |
| net revenues; |
| gross revenues; |
| revenue growth; |
| annual recurring revenues; |
| recurring revenues; |
| license revenues; |
| sales or market share; |
| total shareholder return; |
| economic value added; |
| specified objectives with regard to limiting the level of increase in all or a portion of the Companys bank debt or other long-term or short-term public or private debt or other similar financial obligations of the Company, which may be calculated net of cash balances and/or other offsets and adjustments as may be established by the Board in its sole discretion; |
| the fair market value of a share of Common Stock; |
| the growth in the value of an investment in the Common Stock assuming the reinvestment of dividends; or |
| reduction in operating expenses. |
A-1
With respect to Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Board may, in its sole discretion, also exclude, or adjust to reflect, the impact of an event or occurrence that the Board determines should be appropriately excluded or adjusted, including:
(a) restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items or events, and other unusual or non-recurring charges as described in Accounting Standards Codification 225-20, Extraordinary and Unusual Items, and/or managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing or incorporated by reference in the Companys Form 10-K for the applicable year;
(b) an event either not directly related to the operations of the Company or not within the reasonable control of the Companys management; or
(c) a change in tax law or accounting standards required by generally accepted accounting principles.
Performance goals may also be based upon individual participant performance goals, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. In addition, Awards that are not intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code may be based on the performance goals set forth herein or on such other performance goals as determined by the Board in its sole discretion.
In addition, such performance goals may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of Company (or subsidiary, division, other operational unit, administrative department or product category of the Company) performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other companies. With respect to Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, but only to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code (including, without limitation, compliance with any requirements for shareholder approval), the Board may also:
(a) designate additional business criteria on which the performance goals may be based; or
(b) adjust, modify or amend the aforementioned business criteria.
A-2
EXHIBIT B
RULES APPLICABLE TO BRAZILIAN EMPLOYEES ONLY
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan, for Brazilian employees receiving Awards, the following definitions and conditions shall apply:
| All Awards granted shall be subjected to a vesting period of at least twelve (12) months. |
| Upon the exercise of an Option, the beneficiary shall pay to the Company an amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of shares being exercised. |
| The Exercise Price of Options shall correspond to the Fair Market Value. |
| Awards can be granted in common or restricted shares. |
| No Awards shall be granted in cash. |
| The provisions of Articles 482 and 483 of the Brazilian Labor Code will be used to define Cause for the termination of employment agreements. |
| Brazilian Securities Act shall be understood as the Law 6,385/1976. |
| Code shall be understood as the Brazilian Tax Code and regulations. |
| Disability shall be understood as the concept set forth in Law 8,213/1991, unless otherwise determined by the Board in the applicable Award Agreement. |
B-1
Exhibit 10.11
PERFORMANCE RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
PURSUANT TO THE
ATENTO S.A. 2014 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
* * * * *
Participant: |
Grant Date: |
Number of Restricted Stock Units Granted: |
* * * * *
THIS PERFORMANCE RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (this Agreement ), dated as of the Grant Date specified above, is entered into by and between Atento S.A., a corporation incorporated and existing in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (the Company ), and the Participant specified above, pursuant to the Atento S.A. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as in effect and as amended from time to time (the Plan ), which is administered by the Board; and
WHEREAS, it has been determined under the Plan that it would be in the best interests of the Company to grant the Restricted Stock Units ( RSUs ) provided herein to the Participant.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, including (without limitation) the Participants entering into the Employee Non-Compete Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A , the parties hereto hereby mutually covenant and agree as follows:
1. Incorporation By Reference; Plan Document Receipt . This Agreement is subject in all respects to the terms and provisions of the Plan in force as of the date hereof, all of which terms and provisions are made a part of and incorporated in this Agreement as if they were each expressly set forth herein. Any capitalized term not defined in this Agreement shall have the same meaning as is ascribed thereto in the Plan. The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a true copy of the Plan and that the Participant has read the Plan carefully and fully understands its content. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.
2. Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Award . The Company hereby grants to the Participant, as of the Grant Date specified above, the number of RSUs specified above. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, the Participant agrees and understands that nothing contained in this Agreement provides, or is intended to provide, the Participant with any protection against potential future dilution of the Participants interest in the Company for any reason, and no adjustments shall be made for dividends in cash or other property, distributions or other rights in respect of the shares of Common Stock underlying the RSUs, except as otherwise specifically provided for in the Plan or this Agreement.
3. Vesting .
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof, the RSUs subject to this Award shall become vested only if each of the Time Vesting Condition and the Performance Vesting Condition set forth in this Section 3 are satisfied. RSUs that satisfy each of these conditions are referred to herein as Vested RSUs and RSUs that have not satisfied both of these conditions are referred to herein as Unvested RSUs .
(i) | Time-based vesting conditions . 100% of the RSUs shall satisfy the time-based vesting condition (the Time Vesting Condition ) upon the third (3rd) anniversary of the Grant Date hereof, subject to the Participant not incurring a Termination prior to such date; provided, however, that if the Participant incurs a Termination prior to the third anniversary of the Grant Date and such Termination is also a Good Leaver Termination (as defined below), a portion of the RSUs shall be deemed to have satisfied the Time Vesting Condition, with such portion determining by multiplying the total number of RSUs granted hereunder by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months of employment that have elapsed between the Grant Date and the date of such Termination, and the denominator of which is 36. Any RSUs that have not satisfied the Time Vesting Condition as of the date of Termination (after taking into account any accelerated vesting provided in the previous sentence and/or in Section 3(b)), shall immediately expire upon such Termination. For purposes herein, a Good Leaver Termination is a Termination that occurs by reason of a Participants death; Disability; a retirement by mutual agreement between the parties; a Termination by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than for Cause; or for any reason deemed a Good Leaver Termination by the Board. |
(ii) | Performance-based vesting conditions . 50% of the RSUs shall satisfy the performance-vesting condition (the Performance Vesting Condition ), if at all, based on the TSR thresholds set forth in the table below (the TSR Tranche ), as determined by the Board, and measured from the [Registration Date through the third (3rd) anniversary of the end of the financial quarter immediately preceding the Grant Date] 1 (the Performance Period ); and the remaining 50% of the RSUs shall satisfy the Performance Vesting Condition, if at all, based on the Adjusted EBITDA thresholds set forth in the table below (the EBITDA Tranche ), as determined by the Board following the conclusion of the Performance Period[; provided , that for purposes of measuring the EBITDA Tranche, the Performance Period shall include the time period between end of the financial quarter immediately preceding the Grant Date through the third (3rd) anniversary of the end of the financial quarter immediately preceding the Grant Date] 2 . |
1 | IPO grants only; for subsequent grants, insert end of the financial quarter immediately preceding the Grant Date through the third (3rd) anniversary of such date. |
2 | IPO grants only; for subsequent grants, delete bracketed language. |
2
TSR | Adjusted EBITDA | |||
Threshold Performance
(25% of applicable RSUs satisfy Performance Vesting Condition) |
10% compound
annual growth |
8% compound
annual growth |
||
Maximum Performance
(100% of applicable RSUs satisfy Performance Vesting Condition) |
22% compound
annual growth |
13.5% compound
annual growth |
With respect to each tranche (considered individually), (i) none of the relevant RSUs shall satisfy the applicable Performance Vesting Condition if the respective Threshold Performance percentage set forth above is not achieved; (ii) 25% of the relevant RSUs shall satisfy the applicable Performance Vesting Condition if the respective Threshold Performance percentage set forth above is achieved; (iii) 100% of the relevant RSUs shall satisfy the applicable Performance Vesting Condition if the respective Maximum Performance percentage set forth above is achieved or exceeded; and (iv) the relevant RSUs shall vest on a straight line interpolation basis if performance exceeds the respective Threshold Performance percentage but does not achieve the respective Maximum Performance percentage. In no event shall more than 100% of the RSUs allocated to particular Performance Vesting Condition be deemed to satisfy such Performance Vesting Condition. The Board shall determine whether the applicable Performance Vesting Condition is satisfied within forty-five (45) days following the end of the Performance Period. To the extent that the Board determines that the Performance Vesting Condition has not been satisfied, the RSUs shall immediately expire (whether or not the Time Vesting Condition is satisfied) and the Participant shall have no further rights under the RSUs.
(b) Board Discretion to Accelerate Vesting . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that Unvested RSUs shall become Vested RSUs at any time and for any reason.
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(c) Take Private Transaction . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan or herein, if 100% of the Companys shares of Common Stock cease to be traded on a nationally recognized stock exchange and the Company is no longer listed on any such exchange, or in the event that the Board passes a resolution stating that for purposes of the Plan such a transaction is imminent (a Take Private Transaction ), (i) a portion of the RSUs shall be deemed to have satisfied the Time Vesting Condition, with such portion determining by multiplying the total number of RSUs granted hereunder by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months of employment that have elapsed between the Grant Date and the date of such Take Private Transaction, and the denominator of which is 36; (ii) the Performance Period shall be measured from the end of the financial quarter immediately preceding Grant Date through the end of the financial quarter immediately preceding date of such Take Private Transaction; and (iii) subject to Section 3(b) hereof, any RSUs that remain outstanding through the end of the Performance Period (as modified herein), and to which the Board determines that either of the Time Vesting Condition or the applicable Performance Vesting Condition has not been satisfied, shall expire immediately following the Boards determination.
(d) Forfeiture . Subject to the Boards discretion to accelerate vesting hereunder, (i) no additional RSUs shall satisfy the Time Vesting Condition following the Participants Termination for any reason (after taking into account any RSUs that satisfy the Time Vesting Condition due to such termination being a Good Leaver Termination), and (ii) any RSUs that remain outstanding through the end of the Performance Period, and to which the Board determines the applicable Performance Vesting Condition has not been satisfied, shall expire immediately following the Boards determination. In the event of a Participants Termination by the Company for Cause or upon a material breach of any provision of the Employee Non-Compete Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit A , or any other restrictive covenant agreement between the Company and the Participant, all Unvested RSUs and any Vested RSUs that have not yet been settled in accordance with Section 4 herein shall be immediately forfeited upon such Termination or material breach, and the Participant shall have no further rights hereunder.
(e) Definitions . For purposes herein, Adjusted EBITDA shall mean the last twelve months per year compound growth in constant currency adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, pro-forma for any change in perimeter, and TSR shall mean the per year compound growth rate in total shareholder return; provided that the Adjusted EBITDA targets set forth above shall be adjusted as determined by the Board to reflect any Section 4.2 Event.
4. Delivery of Shares .
(a) General . Subject to the Section 4(b) hereof, promptly following the date that the RSUs become Vested RSUs [(but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Performance Period ends or, if earlier, March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the RSUs become Vested RSUs] 3 , the Participant shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock that correspond to such number of RSUs that have become vested on the applicable vesting date; provided that the Participant shall be obligated to pay to the Company the aggregate accounting par value of the shares of Common Stock to be issued within ten (10) days following the issuance of such shares unless such shares have been issued by the Company from the Companys treasury.
3 | U.S. participants only. |
4
(b) Blackout Periods . If the Participant is subject to any Company blackout policy or other trading restriction imposed by the Company on the date such distribution would otherwise be made pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof, such distribution shall be instead made on the [earlier of (i) the date that the Participant is not subject to any such policy or restriction and (ii) March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the RSUs became Vested RSUs, and (iii) March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Performance Period ends.
(c) Specified Employees. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Participant is deemed on the date of Termination to be a specified employee within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then with regard to any payment or settlement of the RSUs provided hereunder that is considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A payable on account of a separation from service, such payment or benefit shall not be made or provided until the date which is the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of such separation from service of the Participant, and (B) the date of the Participants death, to the extent required under Section 409A of the Code. Upon the expiration of the foregoing delay period, all payments and benefits delayed herein shall be paid or settled to the Participant in a lump sum, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or settled in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein] 4 .
5. Dividends; Rights as Stockholder . Except as otherwise provided herein, the Participant shall have no rights to dividends or otherwise as a stockholder (including, without limitation, the right to vote) with respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by any RSU unless and until the Participant has become the holder of record of such shares.
6. Non-Transferability . No portion of the RSUs may be sold, assigned, transferred, encumbered, hypothecated or pledged by the Participant, other than to the Company as a result of forfeiture of the RSUs as provided herein, unless and until payment is made in respect of vested RSUs in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Participant has become the holder of record of the vested shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder.
7. Governing Law . All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Luxembourg, without regard to the choice of law principles thereof.
8. Withholding of Tax . The Company or any of its applicable Affiliates shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company (or such Affiliate), an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign taxes of any kind (including, but not limited to, the Participants FICA, social security and SDI obligations) which the Company (or such Affiliate), in its sole discretion, deems necessary to be withheld or remitted to comply with the Code and/or any other applicable law, rule or regulation
4 | U.S. participants only. All others, insert the date that the Participant is not subject to any such policy or restriction and delete Section 4(c). |
5
with respect to the RSUs and, if the Participant fails to do so, the Company may otherwise refuse to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock otherwise required to be issued pursuant to this Agreement.
9. Legend . The Company may at any time place legends referencing any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law restrictions on all certificates representing shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement. The Participant shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to this Agreement in the possession of the Participant in order to carry out the provisions of this Section 9.
10. Securities Representations . This Agreement is being entered into by the Company in reliance upon the following express representations and warranties of the Participant. The Participant hereby acknowledges, represents and warrants that:
(a) The Participant has been advised that the Participant may be an affiliate within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in this connection the Company is relying in part on the Participants representations set forth in this Section 10.
(b) If the Participant is deemed an affiliate within the meaning of Rule 144 of the Securities Act, the shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder must be held indefinitely unless an exemption from any applicable resale restrictions is available or the Company files an additional registration statement (or a re-offer prospectus) with regard to such shares of Common Stock and the Company is under no obligation to register such shares of Common Stock (or to file a re-offer prospectus).
(c) If the Participant is deemed an affiliate within the meaning of Rule 144 of the Securities Act, the Participant understands that (i) the exemption from registration under Rule 144 will not be available unless (A) a public trading market then exists for the Common Stock of the Company, (B) adequate information concerning the Company is then available to the public, and (C) other terms and conditions of Rule 144 or any exemption therefrom are complied with, and (ii) any sale of the shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder may be made only in limited amounts in accordance with the terms and conditions of Rule 144 or any exemption therefrom.
11. Entire Agreement; Amendment . This Agreement, together with the Plan, contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior agreements or prior understandings, whether written or oral, between the parties relating to such subject matter. This Agreement may be modified or amended by a writing signed by both the Company and the Participant.
12. Notices . Any notice hereunder by the Participant shall be given to the Company in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof by the General Counsel of the Company. Any notice hereunder by the Company shall be given to the Participant in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof at such address as the Participant may have on file with the Company.
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13. No Right to Employment . Any questions as to whether and when there has been a Termination and the cause of such Termination shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board. Nothing in this Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates to terminate the Participants employment or service at any time, for any reason and with or without Cause.
14. Transfer of Personal Data . The Participant authorizes, agrees and unambiguously consents to the transmission by the Company (or any Subsidiary) of any personal data information related to the RSUs awarded under this Agreement for legitimate business purposes (including, without limitation, the administration of the Plan). This authorization and consent is freely given by the Participant.
15. Compliance with Laws . The grant of RSUs and the issuance of shares of Common Stock hereunder shall be subject to, and shall comply with, any applicable requirements of any foreign and U.S. federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations (including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and in each case any respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and any other law, rule regulation or exchange requirement applicable thereto. The Company shall not be obligated to issue the RSUs or any shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement if any such issuance would violate any such requirements. As a condition to the settlement of the RSUs, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation.
16. Binding Agreement; Assignment . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be binding upon, and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns. The Participant shall not assign (except in accordance with Section 6 hereof) any part of this Agreement without the prior express written consent of the Company.
17. Headings . The titles and headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement.
18. Signatures . This Agreement is shall be made out in 2 (two) original copies, one for each of the Parties. All original copies hereof are identical and legally equal.
19. Further Assurances . Each party hereto shall do and perform (or shall cause to be done and performed) all such further acts and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as either party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the Plan and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder.
20. Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or the validity, legality or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction, it being intended that all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
21. Acquired Rights . The Participant acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Company may terminate or amend the Plan at any time; (b) the Award of RSUs made under this Agreement is completely independent of any other award or grant and is made at the sole
7
discretion of the Company; (c) no past grants or awards (including, without limitation, the RSUs awarded hereunder) give the Participant any right to any grants or awards in the future whatsoever; and (d) any benefits granted under this Agreement are not part of the Participants ordinary salary, and shall not be considered as part of such salary in the event of severance, redundancy or resignation.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
ATENTO S.A. | ||
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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PARTICIPANT | ||
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Name: |
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9
EXHIBIT A
ATENTO S.A.
EMPLOYEE NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT
This Employee Non-compete Agreement (this Agreement ) is entered into by and between Atento S.A., (the Company ) on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and other corporate affiliates (collectively referred to herein as the Company Group, and each, a Company Group Member ), and [ ] (the Employee ) as of [], 2014 (the Effective Date ).
Pursuant to the terms of the [Performance Restricted Stock Unit Agreement and the Time Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, in each case, dated as of [], 2014, by and between the Company and the Employee (the RSU Grant Agreements )] 1 , and in consideration thereof and of the Employees [continued] employment with any Company Group Member, as well as good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which the Employee hereby acknowledges to be sufficient consideration for the Employees obligations hereunder, the Company and the Employee hereby agree as follows:
1. | CONFIDENTIALITY . During the course of the Employees employment with the relevant Company Group Member, the Employee will have access to Confidential Information. For purposes of this Agreement, Confidential Information means all data, information, ideas, concepts, discoveries, trade secrets, inventions (whether or not patentable or reduced to practice), innovations, improvements, know-how, developments, techniques, methods, processes, treatments, drawings, sketches, specifications, designs, plans, patterns, models, plans and strategies, and all other confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets in any form or medium (whether merely remembered or embodied in a tangible or intangible form or medium) whether now or hereafter existing, relating to or arising from the past, current or potential business, activities and/or operations of the Company Group, including, without limitation, any such information relating to or concerning finances, sales, marketing, advertising, transition, promotions, pricing, personnel, customers, suppliers, vendors, raw partners and/or competitors. The Employee understands that the above list is not exhaustive, and that Confidential Information also includes other information that is marked or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary, or that would otherwise appear to a reasonable person to be confidential or proprietary in the context and circumstances in which the information is known or used. The Employee agrees that the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, use, make available, sell, disclose or otherwise communicate to any person, other than in the course of the Employees assigned duties and for the benefit of the Company Group, either during the period of the Employees employment or at any time thereafter, any Confidential Information or other confidential or proprietary information received from third parties subject to a duty on any Company Group Members part to maintain the confidentiality of such information, and to use such information only for certain limited purposes, in each case, which shall have been obtained by the Employee during the Employees employment by any Company Group Member (or any relevant predecessor). The foregoing shall not apply to information that (i) was known to the public prior to its disclosure to the Employee; (ii) becomes generally known to the public subsequent to |
1 | Modify as necessary. |
10
disclosure to the Employee through no wrongful act of the Employee or any representative of the Employee; or (iii) the Employee is required to disclose by applicable law, regulation or legal process (provided that the Employee provides the Company with prior notice of the contemplated disclosure and cooperates with the Company at its expense in seeking a protective order or other appropriate protection of such information). The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall remain strictly confidential, and the Employee hereby agrees not to disclose the terms and conditions hereof to any person or entity, other than immediate family members, legal advisors or personal tax or financial advisors, or prospective future employers solely for the purpose of disclosing the limitations on the Employees conduct imposed by the provisions of this Section 1 who, in each case, agree to keep such information confidential. |
2. | NONCOMPETITION . The Employee acknowledges that (i) the Employee performs services of a unique nature for the Company Group that are irreplaceable, and that the Employees performance of such services to a competing business will result in irreparable harm to the Company Group, (ii) the Employee has had and will continue to have access to Confidential Information which, if disclosed, would unfairly and inappropriately assist in competition against the Company Group, (iii) in the course of the Employees employment by a competitor, the Employee would inevitably use or disclose such Confidential Information, (iv) the Company Group has substantial relationships with their respective customers and the Employee has had and will continue to have access to these customers, (v) the Employee has received and will receive specialized training from the Company Group, and (vi) the Employee has generated and will continue to generate goodwill for the Company Group in the course of the Employees employment. Accordingly, during the Employees employment with any Company Group Member and for a period of one (1) year thereafter (the Restricted Period ), the Employee agrees that the Employee will not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, control, be employed by (whether as an employee, consultant, independent contractor or otherwise, and whether or not for compensation) or render services to any person, firm, corporation or other entity, in whatever form, engaged in competition with any Company Group Member or in any other material business in which any Company Group Member is engaged on the date of termination or in which they have planned, on or prior to such date, to be engaged in on or after such date, in any locale of any country in which any Company Group Member conducts business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit the Employee from being a passive owner of not more than two percent (2%) of the equity securities of a publicly traded corporation engaged in a business that is in competition with the Company Group, so long as the Employee has no active participation in the business of such corporation. |
3. | NONSOLICITATION; NONINTERFERENCE . |
(a) During the Restricted Period, the Employee agrees that the Employee shall not, except in the furtherance of the Employees duties pursuant to Employees position with the relevant Company Group Member, directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any other person, firm, corporation or other entity, solicit, aid or induce any customer of any Company Group Member to purchase goods or services then sold by any Company Group Member from another person, firm, corporation or other entity or assist or aid any other persons or entity in identifying or soliciting any such customer.
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(b) During the Restricted Period, the Employee agrees that the Employee shall not, except in the furtherance of the Employees duties pursuant to Employees position with the relevant Company Group Member, directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any other person, firm, corporation or other entity, (A) solicit, aid or induce any employee, representative or agent of the Company Group to leave such employment or retention or to accept employment with or render services to or with any other person, firm, corporation or other entity unaffiliated with the Company Group or hire or retain any such employee, representative or agent, or take any action to materially assist or aid any other person, firm, corporation or other entity in identifying, hiring or soliciting any such employee, representative or agent, or (B) interfere, or aid or induce any other person or entity in interfering, with the relationship between the Company Group and any of their respective vendors, joint venturers or licensors.
(c) An employee or contractor shall be deemed covered by this Section 3 while so employed or retained by any Company Group Member and for a period of six (6) months thereafter.
4. | NONDISPARAGEMENT . The Employee agrees not to make negative comments or otherwise disparage any Company Group Member or its officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents or products other than in the good faith performance of the Employees duties to the relevant Company Group Member while the Employee is employed by any Company Group Member; provided , however, that the foregoing shall not be violated by truthful statements in response to legal process, required governmental testimony or filings, or administrative or arbitral proceedings (including, without limitation, depositions in connection with such proceedings). |
5. | INVENTIONS . |
(a) The Employee acknowledges and agrees that all ideas, methods, inventions, discoveries, improvements, work products, developments, software, know-how, processes, techniques, methods, works of authorship and other work product, whether patentable or unpatentable, (A) that are reduced to practice, created, invented, designed, developed, contributed to, or improved with the use of any Company Group Members resources and/or within the scope of the Employees work with the relevant Company Group Member or that relate to the business, operations or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company Group, and that are made or conceived by the Employee, solely or jointly with others, during the term of the Employees employment, or (B) suggested by any work that the Employee performs in connection with the relevant Company Group Member, either while performing the Employees duties with such Company Group Member or on the Employees own time, shall belong exclusively to the Company (or its designee), whether or not patent or other applications for intellectual property protection are filed thereon (the Inventions ). The Employee will keep full and complete written records (the Records ), in the manner prescribed by the Company, of all Inventions, and will promptly disclose all Inventions completely and in writing to the Company. The Records shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company, and the Employee will surrender them upon the termination of the Employees period of employment with, or other service relationship with, the Company Group, or upon the Companys request. The Employee
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irrevocably conveys, transfers and assigns to the Company the Inventions and all patents or other intellectual property rights that may issue thereon in any and all countries, whether during or subsequent to the Employees period of employment with, or other service relationship with, any Company Group Member, together with the right to file, in the Employees name or in the name of the Company (or its designee), applications for patents and equivalent rights (the Applications ). The Employee will, at any time during and subsequent to the Employees period of employment with, or other service relationship with, any Company Group Member, make such applications, sign such papers, take all rightful oaths, and perform all other acts as may be requested from time to time by the Company to perfect, record, enforce, protect, patent or register the Companys rights in the Inventions, all without additional compensation to the Employee from the Company. The Employee will also execute assignments to the Company (or its designee) of the Applications, and give the Company and its attorneys all reasonable assistance (including the giving of testimony) to obtain the Inventions for the Companys benefit, all without additional compensation to the Employee from the Company, but entirely at the Companys expense.
(b) In addition, the Inventions will be deemed Work for Hire, as such term is defined under the copyright laws of the United States, on behalf of the Company and the Employee agrees that the Company will be the sole owner of the Inventions, and all underlying rights therein, in all media now known or hereinafter devised, throughout the universe and in perpetuity without any further obligations to the Employee. If the Inventions, or any portion thereof, are deemed not to be Work for Hire, or the rights in such Inventions do not otherwise automatically vest in the Company, the Employee hereby irrevocably conveys, transfers and assigns to the Company, all rights, in all media now known or hereinafter devised, throughout the universe and in perpetuity, in and to the Inventions, including, without limitation, all of the Employees right, title and interest in the copyrights (and all renewals, revivals and extensions thereof) to the Inventions, including, without limitation, all rights of any kind or any nature now or hereafter recognized, including, without limitation, the unrestricted right to make modifications, adaptations and revisions to the Inventions, to exploit and allow others to exploit the Inventions and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any infringement, or other unauthorized use or conduct in derogation of the Inventions, known or unknown, prior to the date hereof, including, without limitation, the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom. In addition, the Employee hereby waives any so-called moral rights with respect to the Inventions. To the extent that the Employee has any rights in the results and proceeds of the Employees service to any Company Group Member that cannot be assigned in the manner described herein, the Employee agrees to unconditionally waive the enforcement of such rights. The Employee hereby waives any and all currently existing and future monetary rights in and to the Inventions and all patents and other registrations for intellectual property that may issue thereon, including, without limitation, any rights that would otherwise accrue to the Employees benefit by virtue of the Employee being an employee of or other service provider of the relevant Company Group Member.
6. | RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY . On the date of the Employees termination of employment with the relevant Company Group Member for any reason (or at any time prior thereto at the Companys request), the Employee shall return all property belonging to any Company Group Member (including, but not limited to, any Company Group Member-provided laptops, computers, cell phones, wireless electronic mail devices or other equipment, or documents and property otherwise belonging to a Company Group Member). |
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7. | REASONABLENESS OF COVENANTS . In signing this Agreement, the Employee gives the Company assurance that the Employee has carefully read and considered all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the restraints imposed herein. The Employee acknowledges that the restraints set forth herein are reasonable and necessary for the protection of legitimate business interests of the Company Group, including (without limitation) the protection of the Company Groups goodwill and the Confidential Information. It is agreed by the parties that if any portion of this Agreement is held to be unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy, these covenants shall be considered to be diminishable both as to time and geographical area, and each month of the specific period shall be deemed a separate period of time and each square mile shall be deemed a separate geographical area and shall remain effective so long as the same is not otherwise unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy. The Employee acknowledges that each of these covenants has a unique, very substantial and immeasurable value to the Company Group and that the Employee has sufficient assets and skills to provide a livelihood while such covenants remain in force. The Employee further covenants that the Employee will not challenge the reasonableness or enforceability of any of the covenants set forth herein, and that the Employee will reimburse the Company for all costs (including reasonable attorneys fees) incurred in connection with any action to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement if either the Company prevails on any material issue involved in such dispute or if the Employee challenges the reasonableness or enforceability of any of the provisions of this Agreement. It is also agreed that each Company Group Member will have the right to enforce all of the Employees obligations to such Company Group Member under this Agreement on the same terms afforded to the Company, and that each such member of the Company Group is expressly contemplated to be a third-party beneficiary hereunder. |
8. | TOLLING . In the event that the Company or any applicable Company Group Member or its successor in interest shall make application to a court of competent jurisdiction for injunctive relief, then and in that event, the period of the covenants contained herein shall be tolled for a period of time from the commencement of the acts by the Employee that created the claim for injunctive relief and terminating with the date of final adjudication of the claim for injunctive relief, if granted. |
9. | SURVIVAL OF PROVISIONS . The obligations contained herein shall survive the termination or expiration of the term of the Employees employment and shall be fully enforceable thereafter. |
10. | EQUITABLE RELIEF AND OTHER REMEDIES . The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Companys and/or, if applicable, any Company Group Members remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement would be inadequate and, in recognition of this fact, the Employee agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in addition to any remedies at law, the Company (or, if applicable, the relevant Company Group Member, without posting any bond or other security, shall be entitled to obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, a temporary restraining order, a temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available, without the necessity of showing actual monetary damages. |
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11. | ACKNOWLEDGMENT . The Employee further understands and acknowledges that the amount of the Employees compensation and the RSU Grant Agreements are, in part, consideration for the Employees obligations and the Company Groups rights under this Agreement; that the Employee has no expectation of any additional compensation, royalties or other payment of any kind not otherwise referenced herein in connection herewith; that the Employee will not be subject to undue hardship by reason of the Employees full compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement or the any Company Group Members enforcement thereof; and that this Agreement is not a contract of employment and shall not be construed as a commitment by either of the parties to continue an employment relationship for any certain period of time. |
12. | ASSIGNS . The Company may freely assign this Agreement at any time. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company Group and its successors and assigns. The Employee may not assign this Agreement or any part hereof. Any purported assignment by the Employee shall be null and void from the initial date of purported assignment. |
13. | GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION . This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto, and any claims or disputes relating thereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of [ ] (without regard to its choice of law provisions). EACH OF THE PARTIES AGREES TO WAIVE ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF, THIS AGREEMENT . |
14. | MODIFICATION AND WAIVER . No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and signed by the Employee and by the Company. No waiver by either of the parties of any breach by the other party hereto of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time, nor shall the failure of or delay by either of the parties in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver thereof to preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege. |
15. | SEVERABILITY . Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the parties with any such modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth in this Agreement. |
16. | CAPTIONS . Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or paragraph. |
17. | COUNTERPARTS . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date above.
COMPANY | ||
Signature: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
EMPLOYEE | ||
Signature: | ||
Print Name: |
Exhibit 10.12
TIME RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
PURSUANT TO THE
ATENTO S.A. 2014 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
* * * * *
Participant:
Grant Date:
Number of Restricted Stock Units Granted:
* * * * *
THIS TIME RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (this Agreement ), dated as of the Grant Date specified above, is entered into by and between Atento S.A., a corporation incorporated and existing in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg(the Company ), and the Participant specified above, pursuant to the Atento S.A. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as in effect and as amended from time to time (the Plan ), which is administered by the Board; and
WHEREAS, it has been determined under the Plan that it would be in the best interests of the Company to grant the Restricted Stock Units ( RSUs ) provided herein to the Participant.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, including (without limitation) the Participants entering into the Employee Non-Compete Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A , the parties hereto hereby mutually covenant and agree as follows:
1. Incorporation By Reference; Plan Document Receipt . This Agreement is subject in all respects to the terms and provisions of the Plan in force as of the date hereof, all of which terms and provisions are made a part of and incorporated in this Agreement as if they were each expressly set forth herein. Any capitalized term not defined in this Agreement shall have the same meaning as is ascribed thereto in the Plan. The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a true copy of the Plan and that the Participant has read the Plan carefully and fully understands its content. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.
2. Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Award . The Company hereby grants to the Participant, as of the Grant Date specified above, the number of RSUs specified above. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, the Participant agrees and understands that nothing contained in this Agreement provides, or is intended to provide, the Participant with any protection against potential future dilution of the Participants interest in the Company for any reason, and no adjustments shall be made for dividends in cash or other property, distributions or other rights in respect of the shares of Common Stock underlying the RSUs, except as otherwise specifically provided for in the Plan or this Agreement.
3. Vesting .
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof, 50% of the RSUs subject to this Award shall become vested on the first anniversary of the Grant Date specified above, and the remaining RSUs subject to this Award shall become vested on the second anniversary of the Grant Date specified above (each such date, a Vesting Date ), so long as the Participant remains employed by, or is otherwise providing services to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries through the applicable Vesting Date; provided , that if the Participant incurs a Termination prior to a Vesting Date and such Termination is also a Good Leaver Termination (as defined below), the RSUs that would have otherwise vested on the next Vesting Date following such Termination, had the Participant not incurred a Termination prior to such time, shall vest upon such Vesting Date on a pro rata basis (determined by multiplying the number of RSUs that otherwise would have vested upon such Vesting Date by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months of employment that have elapsed between the most recent prior Vesting Date or, if no such Vesting Date has occurred, the Grant Date, and the date of such Termination, and the denominator of which is 12). For purposes herein, a Good Leaver Termination shall mean a Termination that occurs by reason of a Participants death; Disability; a retirement by mutual agreement between the parties; or a Termination by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than for Cause or for any reason deemed a Good Leaver Termination by the Board.
(b) Board Discretion to Accelerate Vesting . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, in its sole discretion, provide for accelerated vesting of the RSUs at any time and for any reason.
(c) Take Private Transaction . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan or herein, if 100% of the Companys shares of Common Stock cease to be traded on a nationally recognized stock exchange and the Company is no longer listed on any such exchange, or in the event that the Board passes a resolution stating that for purposes of the Plan such a transaction is imminent (a Take Private Transaction ), 100% of the unvested RSUs shall vest upon the next Vesting Date.
(d) Forfeiture . Subject to the Boards discretion to accelerate vesting hereunder, (i) upon a Participants Termination for Cause or upon a material breach of any provision of the Employee Non-Compete Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit A , or any other restrictive covenant agreement between the Company and the Participant, all Unvested RSUs and any Vested RSUs that have not yet been settled in accordance with Section 4 herein shall be immediately forfeited upon such Termination or material breach, (ii) upon the Participants Termination that is not a Good Leaver Termination (and excluding any Termination that is otherwise described in (i)), all unvested RSUs shall be immediately forfeited, and (iii) upon the Participants Termination that is a Good Leaver Termination, any unvested RSUs that will not vest upon the following Vesting Date shall be immediately forfeited upon such Termination or material breach, and the Participant shall have no further rights hereunder.
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4. Delivery of Shares .
(a) General . Subject to the Section 4(b) hereof, the Participant shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock that correspond to such number of RSUs that have become vested prior to such time in accordance with Section 3, promptly following[, but in no event later than thirty (30) days following, the next to occur of (i) the first (1st) anniversary of the Grant Date, or (ii) the second (2nd) anniversary of the Grant Date; provided that the Participant shall be obligated to pay to the Company the aggregate accounting par value of the shares of Common Stock to be issued within ten (10) days following the issuance of such shares unless such shares have been issued by the Company from the Companys treasury.
(b) Blackout Periods . If the Participant is subject to any Company blackout policy or other trading restriction imposed by the Company on the date such distribution would otherwise be made pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof, such distribution shall be instead made on the [earlier of (i) the date that the Participant is not subject to any such policy or restriction and (ii) the later of (A) the end of the calendar year in which such distribution would otherwise have been made and (B) a date that is immediately prior to the expiration of two and one-half months following the date such distribution would otherwise have been made pursuant to Section 4(a).
(c) Specified Employees . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Participant is deemed on the date of Termination to be a specified employee within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then with regard to any payment or settlement of the RSUs provided hereunder that is considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A payable on account of a separation from service, such payment or benefit shall not be made or provided until the date which is the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of such separation from service of the Participant, and (B) the date of the Participants death, to the extent required under Section 409A of the Code. Upon the expiration of the foregoing delay period, all payments and benefits delayed herein shall be paid or settled to the Participant in a lump sum, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or settled in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.] 1
5. Dividends; Rights as Stockholder . Except as otherwise provided herein, the Participant shall have no rights to dividends or otherwise as a stockholder (including, without limitation, the right to vote) with respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by any RSU unless and until the Participant has become the holder of record of such shares.
6. Non-Transferability . No portion of the RSUs may be sold, assigned, transferred, encumbered, hypothecated or pledged by the Participant, other than to the Company as a result of forfeiture of the RSUs as provided herein, unless and until payment is made in respect of vested RSUs in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Participant has become the holder of record of the vested shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder.
7. Governing Law . All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Luxembourg, without regard to the choice of law principles thereof.
1 | U.S. participants only. All others, insert the date that the Participant is not subject to any such policy or restriction and delete Section 4(c). |
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8. Withholding of Tax . The Company or any of its applicable Affiliates shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company (or such Affiliate), an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign taxes of any kind (including, but not limited to, the Participants FICA, social security and SDI obligations) which the Company (or such Affiliate), in its sole discretion, deems necessary to be withheld or remitted to comply with the Code and/or any other applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to the RSUs and, if the Participant fails to do so, the Company may otherwise refuse to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock otherwise required to be issued pursuant to this Agreement.
9. Legend . The Company may at any time place legends referencing any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law restrictions on all certificates representing shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement. The Participant shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to this Agreement in the possession of the Participant in order to carry out the provisions of this Section 9.
10. Securities Representations . This Agreement is being entered into by the Company in reliance upon the following express representations and warranties of the Participant. The Participant hereby acknowledges, represents and warrants that:
(a) The Participant has been advised that the Participant may be an affiliate within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in this connection the Company is relying in part on the Participants representations set forth in this Section 10.
(b) If the Participant is deemed an affiliate within the meaning of Rule 144 of the Securities Act, the shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder must be held indefinitely unless an exemption from any applicable resale restrictions is available or the Company files an additional registration statement (or a re-offer prospectus) with regard to such shares of Common Stock and the Company is under no obligation to register such shares of Common Stock (or to file a re-offer prospectus).
(c) If the Participant is deemed an affiliate within the meaning of Rule 144 of the Securities Act, the Participant understands that (i) the exemption from registration under Rule 144 will not be available unless (A) a public trading market then exists for the Common Stock of the Company, (B) adequate information concerning the Company is then available to the public, and (C) other terms and conditions of Rule 144 or any exemption therefrom are complied with, and (ii) any sale of the shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder may be made only in limited amounts in accordance with the terms and conditions of Rule 144 or any exemption therefrom.
11. Entire Agreement; Amendment . This Agreement, together with the Plan, contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior agreements or prior understandings, whether written or oral, between the parties relating to such subject matter. This Agreement may be modified or amended by a writing signed by both the Company and the Participant.
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12. Notices . Any notice hereunder by the Participant shall be given to the Company in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof by the General Counsel of the Company. Any notice hereunder by the Company shall be given to the Participant in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof at such address as the Participant may have on file with the Company.
13. No Right to Employment . Any questions as to whether and when there has been a Termination and the cause of such Termination shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board. Nothing in this Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates to terminate the Participants employment or service at any time, for any reason and with or without Cause.
14. Transfer of Personal Data . The Participant authorizes, agrees and unambiguously consents to the transmission by the Company (or any Subsidiary) of any personal data information related to the RSUs awarded under this Agreement for legitimate business purposes (including, without limitation, the administration of the Plan). This authorization and consent is freely given by the Participant.
15. Compliance with Laws . The grant of RSUs and the issuance of shares of Common Stock hereunder shall be subject to, and shall comply with, any applicable requirements of any foreign and U.S. federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations (including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and in each case any respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and any other law, rule regulation or exchange requirement applicable thereto. The Company shall not be obligated to issue the RSUs or any shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement if any such issuance would violate any such requirements. As a condition to the settlement of the RSUs, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation.
16. Binding Agreement; Assignment . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be binding upon, and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns. The Participant shall not assign (except in accordance with Section 6 hereof) any part of this Agreement without the prior express written consent of the Company.
17. Headings . The titles and headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement.
18. Signatures . This Agreement is shall be made out in 2 (two) original copies, one for each of the Parties. All original copies hereof are identical and legally equal.
19. Further Assurances . Each party hereto shall do and perform (or shall cause to be done and performed) all such further acts and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as either party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the Plan and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder.
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20. Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or the validity, legality or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction, it being intended that all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
21. Acquired Rights . The Participant acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Company may terminate or amend the Plan at any time; (b) the Award of RSUs made under this Agreement is completely independent of any other award or grant and is made at the sole discretion of the Company; (c) no past grants or awards (including, without limitation, the RSUs awarded hereunder) give the Participant any right to any grants or awards in the future whatsoever; and (d) any benefits granted under this Agreement are not part of the Participants ordinary salary, and shall not be considered as part of such salary in the event of severance, redundancy or resignation.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
ATENTO S.A. | ||
By: | ||
Name: |
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Title: |
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PARTICIPANT | ||
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Name: |
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EXHIBIT A
ATENTO S.A.
EMPLOYEE NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT
This Employee Non-compete Agreement (this Agreement ) is entered into by and between Atento S.A., (the Company ) on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and other corporate affiliates (collectively referred to herein as the Company Group, and each, a Company Group Member ), and [ ] (the Employee ) as of [], 2014 (the Effective Date ).
Pursuant to the terms of the [Performance Restricted Stock Unit Agreement and the Time Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, in each case, dated as of [], 2014, by and between the Company and the Employee (the RSU Grant Agreements )] 1 , and in consideration thereof and of the Employees [continued] employment with any Company Group Member, as well as good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which the Employee hereby acknowledges to be sufficient consideration for the Employees obligations hereunder, the Company and the Employee hereby agree as follows:
1. | CONFIDENTIALITY . During the course of the Employees employment with the relevant Company Group Member, the Employee will have access to Confidential Information. For purposes of this Agreement, Confidential Information means all data, information, ideas, concepts, discoveries, trade secrets, inventions (whether or not patentable or reduced to practice), innovations, improvements, know-how, developments, techniques, methods, processes, treatments, drawings, sketches, specifications, designs, plans, patterns, models, plans and strategies, and all other confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets in any form or medium (whether merely remembered or embodied in a tangible or intangible form or medium) whether now or hereafter existing, relating to or arising from the past, current or potential business, activities and/or operations of the Company Group, including, without limitation, any such information relating to or concerning finances, sales, marketing, advertising, transition, promotions, pricing, personnel, customers, suppliers, vendors, raw partners and/or competitors. The Employee understands that the above list is not exhaustive, and that Confidential Information also includes other information that is marked or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary, or that would otherwise appear to a reasonable person to be confidential or proprietary in the context and circumstances in which the information is known or used. The Employee agrees that the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, use, make available, sell, disclose or otherwise communicate to any person, other than in the course of the Employees assigned duties and for the benefit of the Company Group, either during the period of the Employees employment or at any time thereafter, any Confidential Information or other confidential or proprietary information received from third parties subject to a duty on any Company Group Members part to maintain the confidentiality of such information, and to use such information only for certain limited purposes, in each case, which shall have been obtained by the Employee during the Employees employment by any Company Group Member (or any relevant predecessor). The foregoing shall not apply to information that (i) was known to the public prior to its disclosure to the Employee; (ii) becomes generally known to the public subsequent to |
1 | Modify as necessary. |
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disclosure to the Employee through no wrongful act of the Employee or any representative of the Employee; or (iii) the Employee is required to disclose by applicable law, regulation or legal process (provided that the Employee provides the Company with prior notice of the contemplated disclosure and cooperates with the Company at its expense in seeking a protective order or other appropriate protection of such information). The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall remain strictly confidential, and the Employee hereby agrees not to disclose the terms and conditions hereof to any person or entity, other than immediate family members, legal advisors or personal tax or financial advisors, or prospective future employers solely for the purpose of disclosing the limitations on the Employees conduct imposed by the provisions of this Section 1 who, in each case, agree to keep such information confidential. |
2. | NONCOMPETITION . The Employee acknowledges that (i) the Employee performs services of a unique nature for the Company Group that are irreplaceable, and that the Employees performance of such services to a competing business will result in irreparable harm to the Company Group, (ii) the Employee has had and will continue to have access to Confidential Information which, if disclosed, would unfairly and inappropriately assist in competition against the Company Group, (iii) in the course of the Employees employment by a competitor, the Employee would inevitably use or disclose such Confidential Information, (iv) the Company Group has substantial relationships with their respective customers and the Employee has had and will continue to have access to these customers, (v) the Employee has received and will receive specialized training from the Company Group, and (vi) the Employee has generated and will continue to generate goodwill for the Company Group in the course of the Employees employment. Accordingly, during the Employees employment with any Company Group Member and for a period of one (1) year thereafter (the Restricted Period ), the Employee agrees that the Employee will not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, control, be employed by (whether as an employee, consultant, independent contractor or otherwise, and whether or not for compensation) or render services to any person, firm, corporation or other entity, in whatever form, engaged in competition with any Company Group Member or in any other material business in which any Company Group Member is engaged on the date of termination or in which they have planned, on or prior to such date, to be engaged in on or after such date, in any locale of any country in which any Company Group Member conducts business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit the Employee from being a passive owner of not more than two percent (2%) of the equity securities of a publicly traded corporation engaged in a business that is in competition with the Company Group, so long as the Employee has no active participation in the business of such corporation. |
3. | NONSOLICITATION; NONINTERFERENCE . |
(a) During the Restricted Period, the Employee agrees that the Employee shall not, except in the furtherance of the Employees duties pursuant to Employees position with the relevant Company Group Member, directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any other person, firm, corporation or other entity, solicit, aid or induce any customer of any Company Group Member to purchase goods or services then sold by any Company Group Member from another person, firm, corporation or other entity or assist or aid any other persons or entity in identifying or soliciting any such customer.
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(b) During the Restricted Period, the Employee agrees that the Employee shall not, except in the furtherance of the Employees duties pursuant to Employees position with the relevant Company Group Member, directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any other person, firm, corporation or other entity, (A) solicit, aid or induce any employee, representative or agent of the Company Group to leave such employment or retention or to accept employment with or render services to or with any other person, firm, corporation or other entity unaffiliated with the Company Group or hire or retain any such employee, representative or agent, or take any action to materially assist or aid any other person, firm, corporation or other entity in identifying, hiring or soliciting any such employee, representative or agent, or (B) interfere, or aid or induce any other person or entity in interfering, with the relationship between the Company Group and any of their respective vendors, joint venturers or licensors.
(c) An employee or contractor shall be deemed covered by this Section 3 while so employed or retained by any Company Group Member and for a period of six (6) months thereafter.
4. | NONDISPARAGEMENT . The Employee agrees not to make negative comments or otherwise disparage any Company Group Member or its officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents or products other than in the good faith performance of the Employees duties to the relevant Company Group Member while the Employee is employed by any Company Group Member; provided , however, that the foregoing shall not be violated by truthful statements in response to legal process, required governmental testimony or filings, or administrative or arbitral proceedings (including, without limitation, depositions in connection with such proceedings). |
5. | INVENTIONS . |
(a) The Employee acknowledges and agrees that all ideas, methods, inventions, discoveries, improvements, work products, developments, software, know-how, processes, techniques, methods, works of authorship and other work product, whether patentable or unpatentable, (A) that are reduced to practice, created, invented, designed, developed, contributed to, or improved with the use of any Company Group Members resources and/or within the scope of the Employees work with the relevant Company Group Member or that relate to the business, operations or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company Group, and that are made or conceived by the Employee, solely or jointly with others, during the term of the Employees employment, or (B) suggested by any work that the Employee performs in connection with the relevant Company Group Member, either while performing the Employees duties with such Company Group Member or on the Employees own time, shall belong exclusively to the Company (or its designee), whether or not patent or other applications for intellectual property protection are filed thereon (the Inventions ). The Employee will keep full and complete written records (the Records ), in the manner prescribed by the Company, of all Inventions, and will promptly disclose all Inventions completely and in writing to the Company. The Records shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company, and the Employee will surrender them upon the termination of the Employees period of employment with, or other service relationship with, the Company Group, or upon the Companys request. The Employee
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irrevocably conveys, transfers and assigns to the Company the Inventions and all patents or other intellectual property rights that may issue thereon in any and all countries, whether during or subsequent to the Employees period of employment with, or other service relationship with, any Company Group Member, together with the right to file, in the Employees name or in the name of the Company (or its designee), applications for patents and equivalent rights (the Applications ). The Employee will, at any time during and subsequent to the Employees period of employment with, or other service relationship with, any Company Group Member, make such applications, sign such papers, take all rightful oaths, and perform all other acts as may be requested from time to time by the Company to perfect, record, enforce, protect, patent or register the Companys rights in the Inventions, all without additional compensation to the Employee from the Company. The Employee will also execute assignments to the Company (or its designee) of the Applications, and give the Company and its attorneys all reasonable assistance (including the giving of testimony) to obtain the Inventions for the Companys benefit, all without additional compensation to the Employee from the Company, but entirely at the Companys expense.
(b) In addition, the Inventions will be deemed Work for Hire, as such term is defined under the copyright laws of the United States, on behalf of the Company and the Employee agrees that the Company will be the sole owner of the Inventions, and all underlying rights therein, in all media now known or hereinafter devised, throughout the universe and in perpetuity without any further obligations to the Employee. If the Inventions, or any portion thereof, are deemed not to be Work for Hire, or the rights in such Inventions do not otherwise automatically vest in the Company, the Employee hereby irrevocably conveys, transfers and assigns to the Company, all rights, in all media now known or hereinafter devised, throughout the universe and in perpetuity, in and to the Inventions, including, without limitation, all of the Employees right, title and interest in the copyrights (and all renewals, revivals and extensions thereof) to the Inventions, including, without limitation, all rights of any kind or any nature now or hereafter recognized, including, without limitation, the unrestricted right to make modifications, adaptations and revisions to the Inventions, to exploit and allow others to exploit the Inventions and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any infringement, or other unauthorized use or conduct in derogation of the Inventions, known or unknown, prior to the date hereof, including, without limitation, the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom. In addition, the Employee hereby waives any so-called moral rights with respect to the Inventions. To the extent that the Employee has any rights in the results and proceeds of the Employees service to any Company Group Member that cannot be assigned in the manner described herein, the Employee agrees to unconditionally waive the enforcement of such rights. The Employee hereby waives any and all currently existing and future monetary rights in and to the Inventions and all patents and other registrations for intellectual property that may issue thereon, including, without limitation, any rights that would otherwise accrue to the Employees benefit by virtue of the Employee being an employee of or other service provider of the relevant Company Group Member.
6. | RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY . On the date of the Employees termination of employment with the relevant Company Group Member for any reason (or at any time prior thereto at the Companys request), the Employee shall return all property belonging to any Company Group Member (including, but not limited to, any Company Group Member-provided laptops, computers, cell phones, wireless electronic mail devices or other equipment, or documents and property otherwise belonging to a Company Group Member). |
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7. | REASONABLENESS OF COVENANTS . In signing this Agreement, the Employee gives the Company assurance that the Employee has carefully read and considered all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the restraints imposed herein. The Employee acknowledges that the restraints set forth herein are reasonable and necessary for the protection of legitimate business interests of the Company Group, including (without limitation) the protection of the Company Groups goodwill and the Confidential Information. It is agreed by the parties that if any portion of this Agreement is held to be unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy, these covenants shall be considered to be diminishable both as to time and geographical area, and each month of the specific period shall be deemed a separate period of time and each square mile shall be deemed a separate geographical area and shall remain effective so long as the same is not otherwise unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy. The Employee acknowledges that each of these covenants has a unique, very substantial and immeasurable value to the Company Group and that the Employee has sufficient assets and skills to provide a livelihood while such covenants remain in force. The Employee further covenants that the Employee will not challenge the reasonableness or enforceability of any of the covenants set forth herein, and that the Employee will reimburse the Company for all costs (including reasonable attorneys fees) incurred in connection with any action to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement if either the Company prevails on any material issue involved in such dispute or if the Employee challenges the reasonableness or enforceability of any of the provisions of this Agreement. It is also agreed that each Company Group Member will have the right to enforce all of the Employees obligations to such Company Group Member under this Agreement on the same terms afforded to the Company, and that each such member of the Company Group is expressly contemplated to be a third-party beneficiary hereunder. |
8. | TOLLING . In the event that the Company or any applicable Company Group Member or its successor in interest shall make application to a court of competent jurisdiction for injunctive relief, then and in that event, the period of the covenants contained herein shall be tolled for a period of time from the commencement of the acts by the Employee that created the claim for injunctive relief and terminating with the date of final adjudication of the claim for injunctive relief, if granted. |
9. | SURVIVAL OF PROVISIONS . The obligations contained herein shall survive the termination or expiration of the term of the Employees employment and shall be fully enforceable thereafter. |
10. | EQUITABLE RELIEF AND OTHER REMEDIES . The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Companys and/or, if applicable, any Company Group Members remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement would be inadequate and, in recognition of this fact, the Employee agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in addition to any remedies at law, the Company (or, if applicable, the relevant Company Group Member, without posting any bond or other security, shall be entitled to obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, a temporary restraining order, a temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available, without the necessity of showing actual monetary damages. |
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11. | ACKNOWLEDGMENT . The Employee further understands and acknowledges that the amount of the Employees compensation and the RSU Grant Agreements are, in part, consideration for the Employees obligations and the Company Groups rights under this Agreement; that the Employee has no expectation of any additional compensation, royalties or other payment of any kind not otherwise referenced herein in connection herewith; that the Employee will not be subject to undue hardship by reason of the Employees full compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement or the any Company Group Members enforcement thereof; and that this Agreement is not a contract of employment and shall not be construed as a commitment by either of the parties to continue an employment relationship for any certain period of time. |
12. | ASSIGNS . The Company may freely assign this Agreement at any time. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company Group and its successors and assigns. The Employee may not assign this Agreement or any part hereof. Any purported assignment by the Employee shall be null and void from the initial date of purported assignment. |
13. | GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION . This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto, and any claims or disputes relating thereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of [ ] (without regard to its choice of law provisions). EACH OF THE PARTIES AGREES TO WAIVE ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF, THIS AGREEMENT . |
14. | MODIFICATION AND WAIVER . No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and signed by the Employee and by the Company. No waiver by either of the parties of any breach by the other party hereto of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time, nor shall the failure of or delay by either of the parties in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver thereof to preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege. |
15. | SEVERABILITY . Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the parties with any such modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth in this Agreement. |
16. | CAPTIONS . Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or paragraph. |
17. | COUNTERPARTS . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date above.
COMPANY | ||
Signature: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
EMPLOYEE | ||
Signature: | ||
Print Name: |
Exhibit 10.15
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement (this Agreement ) is made as of [ ], 2014 by and between Atento S.A., a société anonyme incorporated and existing under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, having its registered office at 4, rue Lou Hemmer, L-1748 Luxembourg and being registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register under number B 185.761 (the Company ), in its own name and on behalf of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, and [ ], an individual ( Indemnitee ).
RECITALS :
WHEREAS , directors, officers, employees, controlling persons, fiduciaries and other agents ( Representatives ) in service to companies or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the company or business enterprise itself;
WHEREAS , highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve as Representative unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance and adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the company or business enterprise;
WHEREAS , the board of directors of the Company (the Board ) has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining highly competent persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its shareholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of protection against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the Company;
WHEREAS , (a) the amended and restated articles of association of the Company as at [***] 2014 (the Articles of Association ) requires indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company, (b) Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the the law of 10 August 1915 on commercial companies, as amended (the Luxembourg Law ) and (c) the Articles of Association and the Luxembourg Law expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and its Representatives with respect to indemnification;
WHEREAS , this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Articles of Association and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder, and
WHEREAS , (a) Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Articles of Association and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, (b) Indemnitee may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as a Representative without adequate protection, (c) the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity and (d) Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that [he/she] be so indemnified.
AGREEMENT :
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions.
(a) As used in this Agreement:
Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble hereto.
Articles of Association shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals hereto.
Board shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals hereto.
Company shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble hereto.
Corporate Status describes the status of an individual who is or was a Representative of an Enterprise.
Enterprise shall mean the Company and any other Person, employee benefit plan, joint venture or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a Representative.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Expenses shall mean all reasonable costs, expenses, fees and charges, including, without limitation, attorneys fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include, without limitation, (i) expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from, incurred by Indemnitee in connection with, arising out of, in respect of or relating to, any Proceeding, including, without limitation, the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedes bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) for purposes of Section 11(d) only, expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitees rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise, (iii) any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement (on a grossed up basis) and (iv) any interest, assessments or other charges in respect of the foregoing.
Indemnitee shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble hereto.
Indemnity Obligations shall mean all obligations of the Company to Indemnitee under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Companys obligations to provide indemnification to Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee under this Agreement.
Independent Counsel shall mean a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of company law and neither presently is, nor in the past five (5) years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements)
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or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification; provided , however , that the term Independent Counsel shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitees rights under this Agreement.
Liabilities shall mean all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, judgments, orders, fines, penalties and other amounts payable in connection with, arising out of, in respect of or relating to or occurring as a direct or indirect consequence of any Proceeding, including, without limitation, amounts paid in whole or partial settlement of any Proceeding, all Expenses in complying with any judgment, order or decree issued or entered in connection with any Proceeding or any settlement agreement, stipulation or consent decree entered into or issued in settlement of any Proceeding, and any consequential damages resulting from any Proceeding or the settlement, judgment, or result thereof.
Luxembourg Law shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals hereto.
Person shall mean any individual, company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, governmental agency or body or any other legal entity.
Proceeding shall mean any threatened, pending or completed action, claim, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, formal or informal hearing, inquiry or investigation, litigation, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed judicial, administrative or arbitration proceeding (including, without limitation, any such proceeding under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act or any other federal law, state law, statute or regulation), whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise, and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be, or is threatened to be, involved as a party or witness or otherwise involved, affected or injured (i) by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a Representative of the Company, (ii) by reason of any actual or alleged action taken by Indemnitee or of any action on Indemnitees part while acting as Representative of the Company or (iii) by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a Representative of another Person, whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
Representative shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble hereto.
Sponsor Entities shall mean the funds advised by Bain Capital Partners, LLC (Bain Capital) or any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with Bain Capital; provided , however , that neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall be considered Sponsor Entities hereunder.
Submission Date shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9(b).
(b) For the purpose hereof, references to fines shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to serving at the request of the Company shall include, without limitation, any service as a Representative of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such Representative with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a Person who acted in good faith and in a manner he
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reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in manner not opposed to the best interests of the Company as referred to in this Agreement.
Section 2. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitees behalf in connection with or as a consequence of any Proceeding (other than any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor which shall be governed by the provisions set forth in Section 3 below) or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. For the avoidance of doubt, a finding, admission or stipulation that an Indemnitee has acted with gross negligence or recklessness shall not, of itself, create a presumption that such Indemnitee has failed to meet the standard or conduct required for indemnification in this Section 2.
Section 3. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitees behalf in connection with or as a consequence of any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed, to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification for Liabilities and Expenses shall be made under this Section 3 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the courts of Luxembourg-City or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification. For the avoidance of doubt, a finding, admission or stipulation that an Indemnitee has acted with gross negligence or recklessness shall not, of itself, create a presumption that such Indemnitee has failed to meet the standard or conduct required for indemnification in this Section 3.
Section 4. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, and without limiting the rights of Indemnitee under any other provision hereof, to the extent that (a) Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) any Proceeding, (b) the Company is not permitted by applicable law to indemnify Indemnitee with respect to any claim brought in such Proceeding if such claim is asserted successfully against Indemnitee and (c) Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, but is successful, on the merits or otherwise (including, without limitation, settlement thereof), as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, then the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, against all Liabilities and Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitees behalf, in connection with or as a consequence of each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section 4 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by settlement, entry of a plea of nolo contendere or by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
Section 5. Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitees Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.
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Section 6. Additional Indemnification. Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 2, 3 or 4, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to, or threatened to be made a party to, any Proceeding (including, without limitation, a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor), against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by Luxembourg law.
Section 7. Advances of Expenses. In furtherance of the requirement of Article 25 of the Articles of Association shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals hereto. and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the fullest extent permitted by law, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to, or after, final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitees ability to repay Expenses and without regard to Indemnitees ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including, without limitation, Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking, providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.
Section 8. Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.
(a) Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof. The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding. Any delay or failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay or failure in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement.
(b) In the event Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and/or advancement of Expenses with respect to any Proceeding, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitees option, (i) retain legal counsel selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) to defend Indemnitee in such Proceeding, at the sole expense of the Company or (ii) have the Company assume the defense of Indemnitee in the Proceeding, in which case the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding with legal
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counsel selected by the Company and approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) within ten (10) days of the Companys receipt of written notice of Indemnitees election to cause the Company to do so. If the Company is required to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, it shall engage legal counsel for such defense, and shall be solely responsible for all Expenses of such legal counsel and otherwise of such defense. Such legal counsel may represent both Indemnitee and the Company (and/or any other party or parties entitled to be indemnified by the Company with respect to such matter) unless, in the reasonable opinion of legal counsel to Indemnitee, there is a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company (or any other such party or parties) or there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are not available to the Company (or any such other party or parties). Notwithstanding either partys assumption of responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, each party shall have the right to engage separate legal counsel at its own expense. The party having responsibility for defense of a Proceeding shall provide the other party and its legal counsel with all copies of pleadings and material correspondence relating to the Proceeding. Indemnitee and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, regardless of whether the Company or Indemnitee assumes the defense thereof. Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The Company may not settle or compromise any proceeding without the prior written consent of Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
Section 9. Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.
(a) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 8(a), the Company shall advance Expenses necessary to defend against a Claim pursuant to Section 7 hereof. If any determination by the Company is required by applicable law with respect to Indemnitees ultimate entitlement to indemnification, such determination shall be made (i) if Indemnitee shall request such determination be made by the Independent Counsel, by the Independent Counsel and (ii) in all other circumstances in any manner permitted by the [Luxembourg Law]. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Person(s) making such determination with respect to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification, including, without limitation, providing to such Person(s), upon reasonable advance request, any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the Person(s) making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company will not deny any written request for indemnification hereunder made in good faith by Indemnitee unless a determination as to Indemnitees entitlement to such indemnification described in this Section 9(a) has been made. The Company agrees to pay Expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify the Independent Counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
(b) In the event that the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof, (i) the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company within ten (10) days of the Submission Date, (ii) the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and (iii) Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company Indemnitees written objection to such selection.
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Absent a timely objection, the Person so selected shall act as the Independent Counsel. If a timely objection is made by Indemnitee, the Person so selected may not serve as the Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn. If no Independent Counsel shall have been selected (whether due to a failure of the Company to appoint such Independent Counsel, an un-withdrawn objection from Indemnitee with respect to the person so appointed or otherwise) before the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof (the date of such submission, the Submission Date ) and (ii) ten (10) days after the final disposition of the Proceeding for which indemnity is sought, then (x) each of the Company and Indemnitee shall select a Person meeting the qualifications to serve as the Independent Counsel and (y) such Persons shall (collectively) select the Independent Counsel. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement, the Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
Section 10. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.
(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the Person(s) making such determination shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 8(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any Person(s) of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including, without limitation, by its directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including, without limitation, by its directors or independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
(b) Subject to Section 11(e), if the Person(s) empowered or selected under Section 9 hereof to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefore, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided , however , that such sixty (60) day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if (i) the determination is to be made by the Independent Counsel and Indemnitee objects to the Companys selection of the Independent Counsel and (ii) the Independent Counsel ultimately selected requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.
(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitees conduct was unlawful.
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(d) Effect of Settlement . To the fullest extent permitted by law, settlement of any Proceeding without any finding of responsibility, wrongdoing or guilt on the part of Indemnitee with respect to claims asserted in such Proceeding shall constitute a conclusive determination that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder with respect to such Proceeding.
(e) Reliance as Safe Harbor . For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitees action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise, or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise. The provisions of this Section 10(e) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
(f) Actions of Others . The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any Representative (other than Indemnitee) of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.
Section 11. Remedies of Indemnitee.
(a) Subject to Section 11(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 9(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after the Submission Date, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 4, 5 or 9(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 2, 3 or 6 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee, the benefits provided or intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitees entitlement to such indemnification and/or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitees option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitees right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 9(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11, the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.
(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 9(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11,
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absent (i) a misstatement by the Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission by the Indemnitee of a material fact necessary to make the Indemnitees statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(d) The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitees rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. In addition, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all such Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the fullest extent permitted by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors and officers liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding; provided that , in absence of any such determination with respect to such Proceeding, the Company shall pay Liabilities and advance Expenses with respect to such Proceeding as if Indemnitee had been determined to be entitled to indemnification and advancement of Expenses with respect to such Proceeding.
Section 12. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.
(a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Articles of Associations, any agreement, a vote of shareholders, a resolution of directors or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitees Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Articles of Association and/or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses and/or insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor
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Entity). The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii) the Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including, without limitation, this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) to indemnify Indemnitee and/or advance Expenses to Indemnitee in respect of any proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv) the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) or insurer of any such Person and (v) the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event that any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any insurance policy provided under this Agreement, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation of the Company under this Agreement by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) or their insurers, affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity). Any indemnification and/or insurance or advancement of Expenses provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity), with respect to any liability arising as a result of Indemnitees Corporate Status or capacity as an officer or director of any Person, is specifically in excess of any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including, without limitation, any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement, and any obligation to provide indemnification and/or insurance or advance Expenses provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) shall be reduced by any amount that Indemnitee collects from the Company as an indemnification payment or advancement of Expenses pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for Representatives of the Company or of any other Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such Representative under such policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for Representatives of the Company or of any other Enterprise, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policy or policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.
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(d) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall not be subrogated to, and hereby waives any rights to be subrogated to, any rights of recovery of Indemnitee, including, without limitation, rights of indemnification provided to Indemnitee from any other Person or entity with whom Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) as well as any rights to contribution that might otherwise exist; provided , however , that the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of any such payment of all rights of recovery of Indemnitee under insurance policies of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(e) The indemnification and contribution provided for in this Agreement will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of Indemnitee.
Section 13. Duration of Agreement; Not Employment Contract. This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a Representative of the Company or any other Enterprise and (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement relating thereto. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitees heirs, executors and administrators. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitees employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a Representative of the Company, by the Articles of Association and the [Luxembourg Law].
Section 14. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
Section 15. Enforcement.
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a Representative of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a Representative of the Company.
(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided , however , that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Articles of Association and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.
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Section 16. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.
Section 17. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:
(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.
(b) If to the Company to:
Atento S.A.
Santiago de Compostela 94, 9ª planta
Madrid 28035
Spain
Fax: +34 917407403
Attention: Legal and Regulatory Compliance Director
and
Atento S.A.
Avenida das Nações Unidas, 14.171, 2°andar
Rochaverá, Ebony Tower, 04794-000
São Paulo
Brasil
Fax: +5511-5181-4522
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
with copies to (which shall not constitute notice to the Company):
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
United States of America
Fax: (212) 446-6460
Attention: Joshua N. Korff, Esq. and
Christopher A. Kitchen, Esq.
or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.
Section 18. Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of the Proceeding in order to reflect (a) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (b) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).
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Section 19. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the courts of Luxembourg-City, and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Luxembourg-City for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the courts of Luxembourg-City and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the courts of Luxembourg-City has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.
Section 20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
Section 21. Third-Party Beneficiaries. The Sponsor Entities are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement.
Section 22. Miscellaneous. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.
ATENTO S.A. | ||
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Name: | ||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
INDEMNITEE: | ||
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[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]