UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

July 31 , 2017

 

Commission File Number 001-37974

 

VivoPower International PLC

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

91 Wimpole Street

London W1G

+44 20 3714 8881

  (Address of principal executive office)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F:      Form 20-F ☒  Form 40-F ☐

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ☐

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ☐

 

 
 

 

   

On July 31, 2017, VivoPower International PLC mailed to its shareholders a Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and Annual Report, copies of which are attached to this Form 6-K as Exhibit 99.1 and 99.2, respectively. The Company’s annual general meeting will be held on September 5, 2017, at 9:30am (London time).

 

 

 

 

Signature

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date:

July 31, 2017

 

VivoPower International PLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Carl Weatherley-White

 

 

 

Carl Weatherley-White

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

99.2

 

Annual Report

99.3   Form of Proxy Card

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

  Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017

 

 

 

 

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

VIVOPOWER INTERNATIONAL PLC

 

(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 09978410)

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 20 17

 

to be held at 9:30 am (London time) on 5 September 2017

 

at 91 Wimpole Street, London, England, W1G 0EF, United Kingdom

 

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

Notice of the annual general meeting of VivoPower International Plc to be held at 9:30 am (London time) on 5 September 2017 at 91 Wimpole Street, London, England, W1G 0EF, United Kingdom is set out at Part 2 of this document.

 

It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the annual general meeting. If you cannot attend and you are a shareholder of record, please vote as soon as possible by completing and mailing the proxy card in accordance with the instructions included therein. We would appreciate if you could complete and return the proxy card before 1 September 2017, but in any event so as to arrive not later than 11:00 am (London time) on 1 September 2017.

 

If you decide to attend the annual general meeting, you will be able to vote in person, even if you have previously submitted your proxy. If you hold shares through a depositary, bank or broker, or indirectly in a savings plan, please refer to the proxy statement set out in Part 4 of this document for further information about voting your shares

 

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017 

 

 

Part 1

 

Chairman's Letter

 

VivoPower International Plc

 

(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 09978410)

 

28 July 2017

 

 

To the holders of VivoPower International Plc Shares

 

Notice of Annual General Meeting

 

Dear Shareholder

 

I am writing to you with details of our first annual general meeting to be held at 9:30 am (London time) on 5 September 2017 at 91 Wimpole Street, London, England, W1G 0EF, United Kingdom (the " AGM "). Detailed instructions on how to get to the venue are set out on page 14 of this document.

 

Resolution s

 

The formal notice of the AGM is set out on pages 3 to 4 of this document, which sets out the business to be considered at the meeting, together with explanatory notes to the resolutions on pages 5 to 9 of this document.

 

There are a number of items of business to which I would draw your attention.

 

A copy of the annual accounts and reports for the year ended 31 March 2017 is enclosed.

 

In addition, the Company is proposing to shareholders the adoption of a new long-term incentive plan. Background information on this new plan and details of its principal terms are also set out in this document.

 

Voting at the meeting

 

At the meeting itself, all resolutions will be put to a vote on a poll. Further details on voting are set out in the notes to the notice of AGM on pages 10 to 15 of this document.

 

Voting by proxy

 

If you would like to vote on the resolutions but cannot come to the AGM, you can appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of your rights to attend, vote and speak at the AGM by using one of the methods set out in the notes to the notice of AGM on pages 10 to 15 of this document. A proxy or voting form is enclosed with this notice of the AGM to enable you to exercise your voting rights accordingly.

 

Recommendation

 

The Board considers the resolutions are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole and are therefore likely to promote the success of the Company. The directors unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of the resolutions as they intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings which amount in aggregate to 1,591,576 shares representing approximately 11.8% of the existing issued ordinary share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) .

 

On behalf of the Board, I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the AGM.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

Kevin Chin

Chairman of the Board of Directors of VivoPower International Plc

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017

 

 

  Part 2

 

Notice of Annual General Meeting

 

 

 

Notice is hereby given that the first annual general meeting of VivoPower International Plc (the " Company ") will be held at 9:30 am (London time) on 5 September 2017 at 91 Wimpole Street, London, England, W1G 0EF, United Kingdom to consider and, if thought fit, to pass resolutions 1 to 8 (inclusive) and 10 as ordinary resolutions and resolution 9 as a special resolution.

 

The board of directors of the Company (the " Board ") considers that the resolutions will promote the success of the Company and are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole and, accordingly, the Board recommends voting "For" each of the resolutions.

 

Resolution 1 – Laying of a nnual a ccounts and reports (ordinary resolution)

 

To receive the accounts and the reports of the directors and the auditors for the financial year ended 31 March 2017 (the " Annual Report ").

 

 

Resolution 2 – Directors' remuneration report (ordinary resolution)

 

To approve the directors’ remuneration report (excluding the part containing the directors’ remuneration policy) for the financial year ended 31 March 2017 as set out on pages 23 to 41 of the Annual Report (the " Directors' Remuneration Report ").

 

 

Resolution 3 – Directors' remuneration policy (ordinary resolution)

 

To approve the directors’ remuneration policy, the full text of which is contained in the Directors' Remuneration Report and set out on pages 23 to 41 of the Annual Report (the " Directors' Remuneration Policy ") .

 

 

Resolution 4 – Re-appointment of auditors (ordinary resolution)

 

To re-appoint PKF Littlejohn LLP as auditors of the Company, to hold office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company .

 

 

Resolution 5 – Remuneration of auditors (ordinary resolution)

 

To authorise the Company's audit committee to determine the remuneration of the auditors.

 

 

Resolution 6 – Re-election of Philip Comberg as a director of the Company (ordinary resolution)

 

To re-elect Philip Comberg as a director of the Company, who retires by rotation, for a term expiring on the third succeeding annual general meeting of the Company following his election .

 

 

Resolution 7 – Re-election of Gary Hui as a director of the Company (ordinary resolution)

 

To re-elect Gary Hui as a director of the Company, who retires by rotation, for a term expiring on the third succeeding annual general meeting of the Company following his election .

 

 

Resolution 8 – A llot ment of share capital (ordinary resolution)

 

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following as an ordinary resolution

 

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017 

 

 

THAT the directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot shares in the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount of US$1,560.00 provided that this authority shall, unless renewed varied or revoked expire on 31 July 2022 save that the Company shall be entitled to make offers or agreements before the expiry of such authority which would or might require shares to be allotted or such rights to be granted after such expiry and the directors shall be entitled to allot shares and grant rights pursuant to any such offer or agreement as if this authority had not expired.

 

 

Resolution 9 – Disapplication of statutory pre-emption rights ( special resolution)

 

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following as a special resolution:

 

THAT if Resolution 8 above is passed, the directors be and are hereby authorised pursuant to section 570 of the Companies Act 2006 to allot equity securities (within the meaning of section 560 of that Companies Act 2006) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 8 above as if section 561(1) of the Companies Act 2006 did not apply to any such allotment provided that this power shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal amount of US$1,560.00, and shall expire on the expiry of the general authority conferred by Resolution 8 above, save that the Company shall be entitled to make offers or agreements before the expiry of such power which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the directors shall be entitled to allot equity securities pursuant to any such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired.

 

 

Resolution 10 – Approval of long-term incentive plan of the Company (ordinary resolution)

 

That the provisions of the 'VivoPower International Plc 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the " Equity Incentive Plan ") summarised in the Explanatory Notes to these resolutions at pages 5 to 9 of this document and set out in full at Appendix A be approved and the Board be authorized to make such modifications to the Equity Incentive Plan as they may consider appropriate for the implementation of the Equity Incentive Plan and to adopt the Equity Incentive Plan as so modified and to do all such other acts and things as they may consider appropriate to implement the Equity Incentive Plan .

 

BY ORDER OF T H E B O A R D

 

 

Di r e c t o r s:

Kevin Chin

Phillip Comberg

Gary Hui

Edward Hyams

Peter Sermol

 

First Names Global Limited (Company Secretary):

 

London, 28 July 2017

 

Registered office:

 

91 Wimpole Street, London, England, W1G 0EF, United Kingdom

Registered in England and Wales No. 09978410

 

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017 

 

 

Part 3

 

Explanatory Notes to Resolutions

 

The following pages give an explanation of the proposed resolutions. Resolutions 1 to 8 (inclusive) and 10 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and will be passed if more than 50% of the shareholders’ votes cast are in favour. Resolution 9 will be proposed as a special resolution. For resolution 9 to be passed, at least 75% of the shareholders’ votes cast must be in favour.

 

 

Notes to Resolution 1 - Annual Report

 

Resolution 1 is to receive the accounts and the reports of the directors and the auditors for the financial year ended 31 March 2017. The directors are required to present to the meeting the annual accounts and reports that are contained in the Annual Report, including the strategic report, the directors' report and the auditor's report.

 

 

Notes to Resolutions 2 and 3 – Directors' Remuneration Report and Directors' Remuneration Policy

 

In accordance with The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 of the United Kingdom, the Directors' Remuneration Report contains:

 

 

a statement by Kevin Chin, chairman of the Company's remuneration committee (the " RemCom ");

 

 

the annual report on director remuneration, which sets out payments made in the financial year ended 31 March 2017; and

 

 

the directors' remuneration policy in relation to future payments to the directors and former directors.

 

Resolution 2 is an ordinary resolution to approve, by way of an advisory vote, the Directors' Remuneration Report other than the Directors' Remuneration Policy, which shareholders will be invited to approve by way of a binding vote pursuant to Resolution 3 . Resolution 2 is an advisory vote only and does not affect the actual remuneration paid to any director.

 

The Company's auditors, PKF Littlejohn LLP, have audited those parts of the Directors' Remuneration Report which are required to be audited and their report can be found in the Annual Report. The Directors' Remuneration Report has been approved by the Board based on the recommendation of the RemCom and signed on its behalf by the Chairman.

 

Resolution 3 is an ordinary resolution to approve the Directors’ Remuneration Policy which is set out in full in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 23 to 41 of the Annual Report.

 

Section 439A of the Companies Act 2006 requires that the Directors’ Remuneration Policy is now subject to a separate resolution for shareholder approval. The vote is binding and once the Directors’ Remuneration Policy is approved the Company will not be able to make a remuneration payment to a current or past director, unless that payment is consistent with the Directors’ Remuneration Policy or has been approved by a resolution of the members of the Company.

 

Separate shareholder approval in respect of a new equity incentive plan of the Company is sought in Resolution 10 .

 

The rationale behind the Directors’ Remuneration Policy is set out in the Chairman of the RemCom's letter contained in the Directors' Remuneration Report (see pages 23 to 41 of the Annual Report).

 

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017 

 

 

If the Directors' Remuneration Policy is approved and remains unchanged, it will remain in effect for up to three years without further shareholder approval being required. If the Company wishes to change the Directors' Remuneration Policy within three years, it will need to put the revised policy to shareholders before it can implement the revised policy. The RemCom will review the Directors' Remuneration Policy after three years to determine whether it remains appropriate to advance the Company’s strategy.

 

If the Directors' Remuneration Policy is not approved for any reason, the Company will, if and to the extent permitted by the Companies Act 2006, continue to make payments to directors in accordance with existing contractual arrangements and will seek shareholder approval again at the next annual general meeting or an earlier general meeting.

 

 

Notes to Resolutions 4 and 5 – Re-appointment of auditors and a uditors ’ remuneration

 

Resolution 4 is to approve the re-appointment of PKF Littlejohn LLP as the auditors of the Company. The auditors will hold office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting .

 

The audit committee has the direct and sole responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention, oversight and replacement, if necessary, of the external, independent auditor of the Company. The audit committee also considers and makes recommendations to the Board, to be put to shareholders for approval at the AGM, in relation to the appointment, re-appointment and removal of the Company's external auditor and their remuneration, whether fees for audit or non-audit services, and that the level of fees is appropriate to enable an effective and high quality audit to be conducted.

 

The audit committee annually reviews the audit fee structure and terms of engagement. Fees paid for Company external auditor services for 2016 were US$175,000 (see the Annual Report page 58 . In addition, the audit committee considers at least once every ten years whether the audit services contract should be put out to tender to enable the audit committee to compare the quality and effectiveness of the services provided by the incumbent auditor with those of other audit firms. Resolution 4, which is recommended by the audit committee, is to confirm the re-appointment of PKF Littlejohn LLP as the auditors of the Company to hold office until the next annual general meeting .

 

Resolution 5 is to authorise the audit committee to determine the remuneration of the auditors of the Company and the audit fees.

 

 

Notes to Resolutions 6 and 7 – Re-election of directors

 

Resolutions 6 and 7 deal with the re-election of certain of the directors of the Company.

 

In accordance with article 81 of the Company's articles of association, all of the Class A directors are standing for re-election by the shareholders at the AGM. If re-elected, each of the Class A directors will stand elected as a director of the Company (unless otherwise removed) for a term expiring on the third annual general meeting following his election. Philip Comberg was appointed as a director of the Company on 1 May 2016 and he is proposed for re-election by the shareholders at the AGM. He is recommended by the Board for re-election. Gary Hui was appointed as a director of the Company on 21 December 2016 and he is proposed for re-election by the shareholders at the AGM. He is recommended by the Board for re-election.

 

Biographies of each of the directors can be found on pages 16 to 17 of the Annual Report and on the Company's website. The Board has confirmed, following a performance review, that all directors standing for re-election continue to perform effectively and demonstrate commitment to their roles.

 

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017 

 

 

Notes to Resolution 8 – Allotment of share capital

 

Resolution 8 is an ordinary resolution and pertains to the directors' authority to allot shares in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006. If passed, the resolution will authorise the directors of the Company to allot shares in the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount of US$1,560.00. The authority granted by this resolution would, unless renewed varied or revoked, expire on 31 July 2022.

 

The directors plan to exercise this authority in connection with the allotment of shares and/or grant rights to subscribe for such shares to consultants, advisors and non-executive officers of the Company (as opposed to employees) under the Equity Incentive Plan, which would not fall within the exemption from the requirement to obtain prior shareholder approval for such allotment or grant for employees' share schemes under section 549(2)(a) of the Companies Act 2006.

 

 

Notes to Resolution 9 – Disapplication of statutory pre-emption rights

 

Resolution 9 is a special resolution and pertains to the disapplication of statutory pre-emption rights under the Companies Act 2006. If directors of a UK company wish to allot shares in the company for cash (other than in connection with an employees' share scheme), the Companies Act 2006 requires that these shares be offered first to shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings. This resolution will, if passed, give the directors of the Company the power to allot shares pursuant to the authority to allot granted by resolution 8 without first offering them to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings. The authority contained in resolution 9 will expire upon the expiry of the authority to allot shares conferred in resolution 8, that is 31 July 2022.

 

This disapplication is required in connection with the allotment of shares and/or grant rights to subscribe for such shares to consultants, advisors and non-executive officers of the Company (as opposed to employees) under the Equity Incentive Plan, which would not fall within the exemption from the statutory pre-emption provisions under the Companies Act 2006 for employees' share schemes under section 566 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

 

Notes to Resolution 10 – Approval of the Equity Incentive Plan

 

Resolution 10 is an ordinary resolution to approve the Equity Incentive Plan in the form presented to the AGM and any amendments that the Board may deem appropriate for its implementation. The key factors that have shaped the design of the proposed Equity Incentive Plan are set out below:

 

 

The market in which Company competes is intensely competitive and very dynamic and requires the Company's management to improve productivity and efficiency constantly. This is an increasingly challenging task. This hard-won, short-term success is essential to support the Company's long-term performance.

 

 

The Company wants to create a reward structure that appropriately balances the importance of short-term delivery with the creation of long-term, sustainable value.

 

 

The Company is keen to ensure that our reward is more closely aligned with the interests of long-term shareholders, such that more of the potential reward should be in shares, and shares should be held by our executives for longer periods.

 

 

The Company's ultimate aim and intention is to deliver sustainable shareholder value.

 

The main provisions of the Equity Incentive Plan are summarised below.

 

It is currently intended that the first awards over shares in the Company (" Plan Shares ") pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan will be made effective immediately after the AGM, assuming shareholders approve the Equity Incentive Plan at that meeting.

 

It is currently intended that awards under the Equity Incentive Plan will take the form of restricted stock units (" RSUs ") or performance stock units (" PSUs "). Awards in the future under the Equity Incentive Plan may however also take the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or stock bonus awards. Awards will be made over Plan Shares although cash awards may also be made.

 

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017 

 

 

Vesting of RSUs will be subject to service-based vesting and occur on an annual basis rateably over four years. Vesting of PSUs will occur at the end of a four-year performance period, subject to the attainment of certain performance goals. The RemCom will determine all of the vesting conditions which will apply to any awards granted under the Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Participants who leave the employment of the Company before the vesting of any RSUs or PSUs will normally lose the unvested proportion of their award, save in the following circumstances where a participant ceases to be an employee:

 

 

because of termination by the Company without cause;

 

due to the participant’s death; or

 

due to the participant’s disability,

 

In such circumstances, the award shall continue to be capable of accelerated vesting. With respect to RSUs, the participant will become vested in that portion of RSUs that vest on the next vesting date. With respect to PSUs, the participant will become partially vested in the PSUs, at the end of the performance period based upon the actual achievement of the performance goals, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of calendar days the participant was employed with the Company during the performance period and the denominator of which is the total number of calendar days in the performance period.

 

Except as otherwise provided in an award agreement, in the event a participant’s employment is terminated without cause within 12 months following a change in control (except an internal corporate reorganisation), all awards will vest as follows. In this case, the participant may receive all RSUs granted and outstanding. Additionally, the number of PSUs that can be received by a participant in respect of a PSU in such circumstances depends on (i) the target PSUs granted, (ii) the actual achievement of the performance goals through the change in control, or (iii) such other basis determined by the RemCom. Alternative arrangements may be made if the participants and the acquiring company agree.

 

The RemCom will oversee the administration and interpretation of the Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Awards may be granted to any of the employees of the Company or its subsidiaries, including the executive directors. Participation by the executive directors shall, unless and until approved otherwise by shareholders, be in accordance with the terms of the Directors' Remuneration Policy. No award may be made more than 10 years after shareholder approval of the Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Under award agreements entered into with each participant, the participant will acknowledge and agree that awards may be subject to clawback if such payments are made (i) on account of fraud or misconduct by the participant, (ii) following an accounting restatement or (iii) as may be required by any other general clawback policy of the Company which may exist or be adopted regarding repayment of incentive-based compensation, as may be in effect from time to time.

 

Any Plan Shares allotted when an award vests will rank equally with shares of the Company then in issue.

 

The Board may amend the Equity Incentive Plan and the RemCom may amend any award agreement, at any time, provided that no such amendment shall be made without shareholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement or as provided below. If an amendment would materially and adversely affect the rights of any participant it shall require the consent of the affected participant, unless such amendment is required in order to comply with applicable law. Under the Equity Incentive Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms of an award agreement and an employment agreement between the Company and a Participant, absent language to the contrary the terms of such employment agreement shall be binding.

 

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017 

 

 

The RemCom may not take any action that is considered a “repricing” of options or share appreciation rights granted under the Equity Incentive Plan as defined by any applicable securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system rules without the required shareholder approval.

 

The RemCom may amend the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan or outstanding awards without further shareholder approval in order to conform such terms with the requirements of local law or to obtain more favourable tax or other treatment for an overseas participant, the Company or its affiliates.

 

Subject to certain changes in capital structure and certain events as described in the Equity Incentive Plan, the RemCom is not authorized to issue under the Equity Incentive Plan in aggregate more than 10% (ten percent) of ordinary shares of the Company issued and outstanding from time to time on a fully-diluted basis.

 

The Company has established a sub-plan to the Equity Incentive Plan, allowing for the grant of awards to consultants and other non-employees, on the same terms as awards granted to employees under the Equity Incentive Plan.

 

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017 

 

 

Part 4

 

Proxy statement for the Annual General Meeting of shareholders to be held on 5 September 2017

 

Information concerning proxy solicitation and voting

 

We have sent you this proxy statement (" Proxy Statement ") and enclosed the proxy card (" Proxy Card ") because the board of directors of VivoPower International Plc (the " Company ") (the " Board ") is soliciting your proxy to vote at the first annual general meeting of shareholders to be held at 9:30 am (London time) on 5 September 2017 at 91 Wimpole Street, London, England, W1G 0EF, United Kingdom (the " AGM ").

 

 

Proxy Statement : this Proxy Statement summarises information about the proposals to be considered at the AGM and other information you may find useful in determining how to vote.

 

 

Proxy Card : the Proxy Card is the means by which you actually authorise another person to vote your shares in accordance with your instructions.

 

In addition to solicitations by mail, our directors, officers and regular employees, without additional remuneration, may solicit proxies by telephone, e-mail and personal interviews.

 

We are mailing the notice of the AGM, the Proxy Statement and the Proxy Card to our shareholders of record as at 5 July 2017 (the " Record Date "). In this mailing we are also including the accounts and the reports of the directors and the auditors of the Company for the financial year ended 31 March 2017 (the " Annual Report ").

 

Important Notice Regarding Availability of Proxy Materials for the AGM to be held on 5 September 2017.

 

A copy of the Company's Notice of the AGM, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card are available at http://vivopower.com/shareholders

 

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017 

 

 

Questions and Answers about Voting

 

1.

Why am I receiving these materials?

We have sent you this Proxy Statement and the Proxy Card because our Board is soliciting your proxy to vote at the AGM, including at any adjournments or postponements of the AGM. You are invited to attend the AGM to vote on the proposals described in this Proxy Statement. However, you do not need to attend the AGM to vote your shares. Instead, you may simply complete, sign and return the enclosed Proxy Card.

 

We intend to mail this Proxy Statement and accompanying Proxy Card on or about 1 August 2017 to all shareholders of record entitled to vote at the AGM.

 

2.

Who can vote at the AGM ?

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on 2 August 201 7 , (" Vote Record Date ") will be entitled to vote at the AGM.

 

Shareholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

If, on the Vote Record Date, your shares were registered directly in your name with the transfer agent, Computershare Investors Services (" Computershare "), then you are the shareholder of record. As a shareholder of record, you may vote in person at the AGM or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the AGM, we urge you to fill out and return the enclosed Proxy Card to ensure your vote is counted.

 

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Depositary, Broker, Bank or Other Agent

If, on the Vote Record Date, your shares were held in an account at a depositary, brokerage firm, bank, dealer or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in "street name" and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the shareholder of record for purposes of voting at the AGM. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the AGM. However, because you are not the shareholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the AGM unless you request and obtain a valid legal proxy card from your broker or agent.

 

3.

What constitutes a quorum?

For the purposes of the AGM, a quorum is present if at least two members are present.

 

4.

How do I vote my shares?

If you hold shares in “street name” – you should follow the directions provided by your broker, bank or other nominee. You may submit instructions by telephone or via the internet to your broker, bank or other nominee, or request and return a paper Proxy Card to your broker, bank or other nominee. We will distribute physical ballots to anyone who wants to vote in person at the AGM. If you hold shares in “street name” and wish to vote at the AGM, you must obtain a legal proxy from your depositary, broker, bank or other nominee and present it to the inspector of election of the AGM with your ballot.

 

Please note that voting on all resolutions will be conducted by way of poll rather than a show of hands. This is a more transparent method of voting as member votes are to be counted according to the number of shares held and is in accordance with the Company's articles of association.

 

 

 
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If you are a "shareholder of record" – you may appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf using any of the following methods:

 

 

mail - by marking, signing and dating the Proxy Card and returning it in the prepaid envelope provided or return it to Computershare, PO Box 505008, Louisville, KY 40233-9814; by 11:00 am, (London time) on 1 September 2017; or

 

 

by physical ballot at the AGM.

 

 

If you properly give instructions as to your proxy appointment by executing and returning a paper Proxy Card, and your proxy appointment is not subsequently revoked, your shares will be voted in accordance with your instructions.

 

5.

Who can be appointed as proxy?

A proxy does not need to be a member of the Company but must attend the AGM to represent you. Your proxy could be the Chairman, another director of the Company or another person who has agreed to attend to represent you.

 

A member of the Company which is a corporation may authorise a person or persons to act as its representative(s) at the AGM. In accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006, each such representative may exercise (on behalf of the corporation) the same powers as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual member of the Company, provided that they do not do so in relation to the same shares.

 

6.

How will my shares be voted if I do not specify how they should be voted?

If you sign and send your Proxy Card but do not indicate how you want your shares to be voted, your shares will be voted by the persons appointed as proxies in accordance with the recommendations of the Board.

 

7.

Can I change my vote or revoke a proxy?

A shareholder of record can revoke his or her proxy before the time of voting at the AGM in several ways by:

 

 

 

mailing a revised Proxy Card dated later than the prior Proxy Card;

 

 

voting in person at the AGM; or

 

 

notifying First Names Global Limited, the Company's secretary (the " Company Secretary "), in writing that you are revoking your proxy. Your revocation must be received before the AGM to be effective.

 

 

If you hold shares in "street name" – you may change or revoke your voting instructions by contacting the depositary, broker, bank or other nominee holding the shares or by obtaining a legal proxy from such institution and voting in person at the AGM as described above under " How do I vote my shares? " See also " What if I plan to attend the AGM ?"

 

8.

Who counts the votes?

Computershare has been engaged as our independent agent to tabulate shareholder votes. If you are a shareholder of record, your executed Proxy Card is returned directly to Computershare for tabulation. If you hold your shares through a broker, your broker will return one Proxy Card to Computershare on behalf of all of its clients.

 

9.

How are votes counted?

Votes will be counted by Computershare, who will separately count "for" and "against" votes and abstentions. In addition, with respect to the election of directors, Computershare will count the number of "withheld" votes received for the nominees. If your shares are held in "street name", you will need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct your broker to vote your shares.

 

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017 

 

 

10.

How many votes do I have?

On each matter to be voted upon, every member who is present in person or by proxy shall have one vote for each ordinary share as of the Vote Record Date.

 

11.

What if I plan to attend the AGM ?

Attendance at the AGM will be limited to shareholders as of the Vote Record Date. Each shareholder may be asked to present valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license or passport. Shareholders holding shares in "street name" through brokerage accounts or by a bank or other nominee are required to show a brokerage statement or account statement reflecting share ownership as of the Vote Record Date in order to obtain admittance to the AGM. However, if you hold shares in "street name" you will not be allowed to vote at the AGM unless you obtain a legal proxy from your depositary, broker, bank or other nominee holding the shares.

 

12.

What if I return a Proxy Card but do not make specific choices?

If we receive a signed and dated Proxy Card and the Proxy Card does not specify how your shares are to be voted, your shares will be voted "for" the matters submitted for approval at the AGM.

 

13.

How do you solicit proxies?

The initial solicitation of proxies may be supplemented by additional mail communications and by telephone, fax, e-mail, internet and personal solicitation by our directors, officers or other employees. No additional compensation for soliciting proxies will be paid to our directors, officers or other employees for their proxy solicitation efforts.

 

14.

What do I do if I receive more than one notice or Proxy Card?

If you hold your shares in more than one account, you will receive a notice or Proxy Card for each account. To ensure that all of your shares are voted, please sign, date and return all Proxy Cards. Please be sure to vote all of your shares.

 

15.

What if I have questions during the AGM ?

If you wish to ask a question please tell the Company Secretary on entry to the meeting. Please endeavour to keep your questions short and relevant to the resolution being discussed. In the interests of orderly conduct of the meeting, we will allocate a slot for shareholders' questions towards the end of the meeting and in light of time constraints would ask shareholders to limit questions to one question per shareholder. Of course, if shareholders have further questions the Chairman will endeavour to accommodate these.

 

16.

May I bring a guest to the AGM ?

The AGM is a private meeting of shareholders and their representatives. Guests are not entitled to attend the meeting as of right but they may be permitted entry at the absolute discretion of the Company.

 

Shareholders wishing to bring a guest must notify us in advance. Any shareholders wishing to bring a guest should contact Computershare. Please see " Who is the transfer agent? " below for contact details. All guests must bring photographic proof of identity and enter the meeting at the same time as the shareholder.

 

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017 

 

 

17.

As a shareholder, which materials can I require the Company to publish on its website?

Shareholders satisfying the thresholds in section 527 of the Companies Act 2006 can require the Company to publish a statement on its website setting out any matter relating to (a) the audit of the Company's accounts (including the auditor's report and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before the AGM; or (b) any circumstances connected with an auditor of the Company ceasing to hold office, that the members propose to raise at the AGM. The Company cannot require the members requesting the publication to pay its expenses. Any statement placed on the website must also be sent to the Company's auditors no later than the time it makes its statement available on the website. The business which may be dealt with at the meeting includes any such statement that the Company has been required to publish on its website.

 

18.

Who is the transfer agent?

As noted above, our transfer agent is Computershare. All communications concerning shareholder of record accounts, including address changes, name changes, share transfer requirements and similar issues can be handled by contacting our transfer agent at Computershare.

 

19.

How can I find out the results of the voting at the Meeting?

Voting results will be announced by the filing of a current report on Form 6-K and on our website http://vivopower.com/shareholders

 

20.

How do I get to the AGM venue?

The meeting will be held at 91 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 0EF, United Kingdom.

 

 

 

21.

How do I contact the Company if I have any queries?

 

You may contact the Company at:

 

VivoPower International Plc 

91 Wimpole Street, London

W1G 0EF 

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 203 871 2800

e-mail: shareholder@vivopower.com

 

You may contact the Transfer Agent at:

 

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Telephone Toll Free (In the US/Canada)

1-866 242 3610

Foreign Shareholders (Outside the US)

+1 (732) 491 0655

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017 

 

By Mail:

 

Computershare

P.O. Box 505000

Louisville, KY  40233

 

 

By Overnight Delivery:

 

Computershare

462 South 4th Street, Suite 1600

Louisville, KY 40202

 

 

 
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Notice of Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 September 2017 

 

Appendix A

 

VivoPower International Plc 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

 

 
16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

VIVOPOWER INTERNATIONAL PLC 2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(Adopted [ ] , 2017]

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

 

1.

Purpose

1

2.

Definitions

1

3.

Effective Date; Duration

6

4.

Administration

6

5.

Grant of Awards; Shares Subject to the Plan; Limitations

8

6.

Eligibility

9

7.

Options

9

8.

Stock Appreciation Rights

11

9.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

12

10.

Stock Bonus Awards

13

11.

Performance Compensation Awards

13

12.

Changes in Capital Structure and Similar Events

15

13.

Effect of Change in Control

17

14.

Amendments and Termination

17

15.

General

18

 

 

 

 

 

VIVOPOWER OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.      Purpose . The purpose of the VivoPower International PLC 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan is to provide a means through which the Company and its Subsidiaries may attract and retain key personnel and to provide a means whereby, executive officers and employees (and prospective executive officers and employees) of the Company and its Subsidiaries can acquire and maintain an equity interest in the Company, or be paid incentive compensation, which may (but need not) be measured by reference to the value of Common Stock, thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company and its Subsidiaries and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.

 

2.       Definitions . The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan:

 

(a)     “ Affiliate ” means (i) any person or entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company (together with, if different, any Subsidiary) and/or (ii) to the extent provided by the Committee, any person or entity in which the Company has a significant interest. The term “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any person or entity, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person or entity, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

(b)     “ Award ” means, individually or collectively, any Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Bonus Award, and Performance Compensation Award granted under the Plan.

 

(c)       “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(d)       “ Business Combination ” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”

 

(e)     “ Cause ” means, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award agreement states otherwise, (i) the Company or an Affiliate having cause to terminate a Participant’s employment or service, as provided in any employment or similar agreement between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate in effect at the time of such termination or (ii) in the absence of any such employment or similar agreement (or the absence of any provisions regarding cause to terminate contained therein), (A) the Participant’s conviction for, plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, or other material act or omission involving dishonesty or fraud, (B) the Participant’s conduct that brings the Company or any of its Affiliates into public disgrace or disrepute in a way that affects the Company’s or any Affiliate’s business in any material way, (C) the Participant’s willful failure to perform material duties as reasonably directed by the Participant’s supervisor or the Participant’s material violation of any rule, regulation, policy or plan for the conduct of any service provider to the Company or its Affiliates or its or their business (which, if curable, is not cured within 20 days after notice thereof is provided to the Participant) or (D) the Participant’s gross negligence, willful malfeasance or material act of disloyalty with respect to the Company or its Affiliates (which, if curable, is not cured within 20 days after notice thereof is provided to the Participant).

 

 

 
1

 

 

(f)     “ Change in Control ” shall, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award agreement states otherwise or contains a different definition of “ Change in Control ,” be deemed to occur upon:

 

(i)       Any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)) (a “ Person ”) becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of either (A) the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “ Outstanding Company Common Stock ”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “ Outstanding Company Voting Securities ”); provided , however , that, for purposes of this Section 2(f), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (I) any acquisition directly from the Company, (II) any acquisition by the Company, (III) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate, or (IV) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections 2(f)(iii)(A), 2(f)(iii)(B) and 2(f)(iii)(C);

 

(ii)      During any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Board ”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however , that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(iii)     Consummation of a reorganization (excluding a reorganization under either Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code), merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “ Business Combination ”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body), as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s 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 Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body) of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or

 

 

 
2

 

 

(iv)     A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

(g)     “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, regulations or guidance.

 

(h)     “ Committee ” means the Company’s Remuneration Committee.

 

(i)     “ Common Stock ” means the ordinary shares, par value $0.012 per share, of the Company (and any stock or other securities into which such common stock may be converted or into which it may be exchanged).

 

(j)      “ Company ” means VivoPower International PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales (registered number 09978410) and any successor thereto.

 

(k)     “ Date of Grant ” means the date on which the granting of an Award is authorized, or such other date as may be specified in such authorization.

 

(l)      “ Effective Date ” means [•], 2017.

 

(m)    “ Eligible Director ” means a person who is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

(n)    “ Eligible Person ” means any (i) individual employed by or holding executive office with the Company or a Subsidiary; ; or (ii) prospective employees or executive officers who have accepted offers of employment from the Company or its Subsidaries (and would satisfy the provisions of clause (i) above once he or she begins employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries).

 

(o)    “ Exchange Act ” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control,” and any reference in the Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.

 

 

 
3

 

 

(p)     “ Exercise Price ” has the meaning given such term in Section 7(b) of the Plan.

 

(q)     “ Fair Market Value ” means, on a given date, (i) if the Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Common Stock reported on such national securities exchange, or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which such a sale was reported; (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, but is quoted in the NASDAQ National Market Reporting System or another inter-dealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the closing bid price or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which a sale was reported; or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the amount determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided , that, to the extent applicable, such determination shall be made in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder to be the fair market value of the Common Stock.

 

(r)      “ Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option that is designated by the Committee as an incentive stock option as described in Section 422 of the Code and otherwise meets the requirements set forth in the Plan.

 

(s)      “ Incumbent Board ” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”

 

(t)      “ Indemnifiable Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(e) of the Plan.

 

(u)     “ Mature Shares ” means shares of Common Stock owned by a Participant that are not subject to any pledge or security interest and that have been either previously acquired by the Participant on the open market or meet such other requirements, if any, as the Committee may determine are necessary in order to avoid an accounting earnings charge on account of the use of such shares to pay the Exercise Price or satisfy a withholding obligation of the Participant.

 

(v)      “ Nonqualified Stock Option ” means an Option that is not designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(w)     “ Option ” means an Award granted under Section 7 of the Plan.

 

(x)      “ Option Period ” has the meaning given such term in Section 7(c) of the Plan.

 

(y)     “ Outstanding Company Common Stock ” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”

 

 

 
4

 

 

(z)       “ Outstanding Company Voting Securities ” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”

 

(aa)     “ Participant ” means an Eligible Person who has been selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan and to receive an Award pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.

 

(bb)     “ Performance Compensation Award ” shall mean any Award designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.

 

(cc)     “ Performance Criteria ” shall mean the criterion or criteria that the Committee shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal(s) for a Performance Period with respect to any Performance Compensation Award under the Plan.

 

(dd)    “ Performance Formula ” shall mean, for a Performance Period, the one or more objective formulae applied against the relevant Performance Goal to determine, with regard to the Performance Compensation Award of a particular Participant, whether all, some portion but less than all, or none of the Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.

 

(ee)    “ Performance Goals ” shall mean, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria.

 

(ff)     “ Performance Period ” shall mean the one or more periods of time, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, a Performance Compensation Award.

 

(gg)     “ Permitted Transferee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15(b) of the Plan.

 

(hh)     “ Person ” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”

 

(ii)       “ Plan ” means this VivoPower International PLC 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

 

(jj)       “ Restricted Period ” means the period of time determined by the Committee during which an Award is subject to restrictions or, as applicable, the period of time within which performance is measured for purposes of determining whether an Award has been earned.

 

(kk)    “ Restricted Stock Unit ” means an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver shares of Common Stock, cash, other securities or other property, subject to certain restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of the Plan.

 

 

 
5

 

 

(ll)    “ Restricted Stock ” means Common Stock, subject to certain specified restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of the Plan.

 

(mm)   “ SAR Period ” has the meaning given such term in Section 8(b) of the Plan.

 

(nn)   “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.

 

(oo)    “ Stock Appreciation Right ” or “ SAR ” means an Award granted under Section 8 of the Plan.

 

(pp)    “ Stock Bonus Award ” means an Award granted under Section 10 of the Plan.

 

(qq)    “ Strike Price ” means, except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the case of Substitute Awards, (i) in the case of a SAR granted in tandem with an Option, the Exercise Price of the related Option, or (ii) in the case of a SAR granted independent of an Option, the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock, as of the Date of Grant (provided that in any case where SARs are to be satisfied by the issue of new shares of Common Stock such Fair Market Value shall not be less than the par value of such shares of Common Stock).

 

(rr)      “ Subsidiary ” has the meaning given to that term in section 1159 of the UK Companies Act 2006

 

(ss)     “ Substitute Award ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5(e).

 

3.      Effective Date; Duration . The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date. The expiration date of the Plan, on and after which date no Awards may be granted hereunder, shall be the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that such expiration shall not affect Awards then outstanding, and the terms and conditions of the Plan shall continue to apply to such Awards.

 

4.      Administration .

 

(a)     The Committee shall administer the Plan. To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (if the Board is not acting as the Committee under the Plan), it is intended that each member of the Committee shall, at the time he takes any action with respect to an Award under the Plan, be an Eligible Director. However, the fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify as an Eligible Director shall not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under the Plan. The majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present or acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee shall be deemed the acts of the Committee.

 

 

 
6

 

 

(b)     Subject to the provisions of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee shall have the sole and plenary authority, in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances the delivery of cash, Common Stock, other securities, other Awards or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant or of the Committee; (vii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Committee shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (ix) accelerate the vesting or exercisability of, payment for or lapse of restrictions on, Awards; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. In the event of conflict between the terms of an Award agreement and an employment agreement between the Company (or its Affiliate) and a Participant, absent language to the contrary, the terms of such employment agreement shall be binding.

 

(c)     The Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company or any Affiliate the authority to act on behalf of the Committee with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election that is the responsibility of or that is allocated to the Committee herein, and that may be so delegated as a matter of law, except for (i) grants of Awards to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act and (ii) matters encompassed by Section 14 below.

 

(d)     Subject to the provisions of the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award or any documents evidencing Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons, including, without limitation, the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, and any stockholder of the Company.

 

 

 
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(e)     No member of the Board, the Committee, delegate of the Committee or any employee or agent of the Company (each such person, an “ Indemnifiable Person ”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder. Each Indemnifiable Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Indemnifiable Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Indemnifiable Person may be a party or in which such Indemnifiable Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan or any Award agreement and against and from any and all amounts paid by such Indemnifiable Person with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Indemnifiable Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Indemnifiable Person, provided , that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to an Indemnifiable Person to the extent that a final judgment or other final adjudication (in either case not subject to further appeal) binding upon such Indemnifiable Person determines that the acts or omissions of such Indemnifiable Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Indemnifiable Person’s bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law or by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such Indemnifiable Persons may be entitled under the Company’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws, memorandum and/or articles of association, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such Indemnifiable Persons or hold them harmless.

 

(f)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards and administer the Plan with respect to such Awards. In any such case, the Board shall have all the authority granted to the Committee under the Plan.

 

5.      Grant of Awards; Shares Subject to the Plan; Limitations .

 

(a)     The Committee may, from time to time, grant Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Bonus Awards and/or Performance Compensation Awards to one or more Eligible Persons.

 

(b)     Subject to Section 12 of the Plan, the Committee is authorized to issue under the Plan an aggregate of not more than 10% (ten percent) of the Common Stock issued and outstanding from time to time on a fully-diluted basis.

 

(c)     Use of shares of Common Stock to pay the required Exercise Price or tax obligations, or shares not issued in connection with settlement of an Option or SAR or that are used or withheld to satisfy tax obligations of the Participant shall, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, not be available again for other Awards under the Plan. Shares underlying Awards under the Plan that are forfeited, cancelled, expire unexercised, or are settled in cash are available again for Awards under the Plan.

 

(d)     Shares of Common Stock delivered by the Company in settlement of Awards may be authorized and unissued shares, shares held in the treasury of the Company, shares purchased on the open market or by private purchase, or a combination of the foregoing.

 

(e)     Awards may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (“ Substitute Awards ”). The number of shares of Common Stock underlying any Substitute Awards shall be counted against the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Plan.

 

 

 
8

 

 

6.      Eligibility . Participation shall be limited to Eligible Persons who have entered into an Award agreement or who have received written notification from the Committee, or from a person designated by the Committee, that they have been selected to participate in the Plan.

 

7.      Options .

 

(a)      Generally . Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)). Each Option so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement. All Options granted under the Plan shall be Nonqualified Stock Options unless the applicable Award agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option. Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only to Eligible Persons who are employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any Eligible Person who is ineligible to receive an Incentive Stock Option under the Code. No Option shall be treated as an Incentive Stock Option unless the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company in a manner intended to comply with the stockholder approval requirements of Section 422(b)(1) of the Code, provided that any Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not fail to be effective solely on account of a failure to obtain such approval, but rather such Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option unless and until such approval is obtained. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the terms and conditions of such grant shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed by Section 422 of the Code. If for any reason an Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option or portion thereof shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Stock Option appropriately granted under the Plan.

 

(b)      Exercise Price . Except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the case of Substitute Awards, the exercise price (“ Exercise Price ”) per share of Common Stock for each Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such share (determined as of the Date of Grant); provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an employee who, at the time of the grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate, the Exercise Price per share shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per share on the Date of Grant provided further that in any case where Options are to be satisfied by the issue of new shares of Common Stock, the Exercise Price shall not be less that the par value per share of Common Stock.

 

 

 
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(c)      Vesting and Expiration . Options shall vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates determined by the Committee according to the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Award agreement and shall expire after such period, not to exceed ten years, as may be determined by the Committee (the “ Option Period ”); provided , however , that the Option Period shall not exceed five years from the Date of Grant in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who on the Date of Grant owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate; provided , further , that notwithstanding any vesting dates set by the Committee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the exercisability of any Option, which acceleration shall not affect the terms and conditions of such Option other than with respect to exercisability. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement: (i) the unvested portion of an Option shall expire upon termination of employment or service of the Participant granted the Option, and the vested portion of such Option shall remain exercisable for (A) one year following termination of employment or service by reason of such Participant’s death or disability (as determined by the Committee), but not later than the expiration of the Option Period or (B) 90 days following termination of employment or service for any reason other than such Participant’s death or disability, and other than such Participant’s termination of employment or service for Cause, but not later than the expiration of the Option Period; and (ii) both the unvested and the vested portion of an Option shall expire upon the termination of the Participant’s employment or service by the Company for Cause.

 

(d)      Method of Exercise and Form of Payment . No shares of Common Stock shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the Exercise Price therefor is received by the Company, and the Participant has paid to the Company an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld. Options that have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price shall be payable (i) in cash or check, and; (ii) by such other method as the Committee may permit in its sole discretion, including without limitation: (A) if there is a public market for the shares of Common Stock at such time, by means of a broker-assisted “cashless exercise” pursuant to which the Company is delivered a copy of irrevocable instructions to a stockbroker to sell the shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the Exercise Price or (B) by a “net exercise” method whereby the Company withholds from the delivery of the shares of Common Stock for which the Option was exercised that number of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Exercise Price for the shares of Common Stock for which the Option was exercised or (C) such other means as satisfies the requirements of the UK Companies Act 2006.

 

(e)      Notification upon Disqualifying Disposition of an Incentive Stock Option . Each Participant awarded an Incentive Stock Option under the Plan shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date he makes a disqualifying disposition of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option. A disqualifying disposition is any disposition (including, without limitation, any sale) of such Common Stock before the later of (A) two years after the Date of Grant of the Incentive Stock Option or (B) one year after the date of exercise of the Incentive Stock Option. The Company may, if determined by the Committee and in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, retain possession of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option as agent for the applicable Participant until the end of the period described in the preceding sentence.

 

(f)      Compliance With Laws, etc . Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a Participant be permitted to exercise an Option in a manner that the Committee determines would violate the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or any other applicable law or the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or traded or any other governing statute, regulation or law which the Company is subject to.

 

 

 
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8.      Stock Appreciation Rights .

 

(a)      Generally . Each SAR granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)). Each SAR so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 8, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement. Any Option granted under the Plan may include tandem SARs. The Committee also may award SARs to Eligible Persons independent of any Option.

 

(b)      Vesting and Expiration . A SAR granted in connection with an Option shall become exercisable and shall expire according to the same vesting schedule and expiration provisions as the corresponding Option. A SAR granted independent of an Option shall vest and become exercisable and shall expire in such manner and on such date or dates determined by the Committee and shall expire after such period, not to exceed ten years, as may be determined by the Committee (the “ SAR Period ”); provided, however, that notwithstanding any vesting dates set by the Committee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the exercisability of any SAR, which acceleration shall not affect the terms and conditions of such SAR other than with respect to exercisability. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement: (i) the unvested portion of a SAR shall expire upon termination of employment or service of the Participant granted the SAR, and the vested portion of such SAR shall remain exercisable for (A) one year following termination of employment or service by reason of such Participant’s death or disability (as determined by the Committee), but not later than the expiration of the SAR Period or (B) 90 days following termination of employment or service for any reason other than such Participant’s death or disability, and other than such Participant’s termination of employment or service for Cause, but not later than the expiration of the SAR Period; and (ii) both the unvested and the vested portion of a SAR shall expire upon the termination of the Participant’s employment or service by the Company for Cause.

 

(c)      Method of Exercise . SARs that have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award, specifying the number of SARs to be exercised and the date on which such SARs were awarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if on the last day of the Option Period (or in the case of a SAR independent of an option, the SAR Period), the Fair Market Value exceeds the Strike Price, the Participant has not exercised the SAR or the corresponding Option (if applicable), and neither the SAR nor the corresponding Option (if applicable) has expired, such SAR shall be deemed to have been exercised by the Participant on such last day and the Company shall make the appropriate payment therefor.

 

(d)      Payment . Upon the exercise of a SAR, the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount equal to the number of shares subject to the SAR that are being exercised multiplied by the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the exercise date over the Strike Price, less an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld. The Company shall pay such amount in cash, in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.

 

 

 
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9.      Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units .

 

(a)      Generally . Each grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)). Each such grant shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 9, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement.

 

(b)      Stock Certificates; Escrow or Similar Arrangement . Upon the grant of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall cause a stock certificate registered in the name of the Participant to be issued and, if the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (i) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, if applicable, and (ii) the appropriate stock power (endorsed in blank) with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement. If a Participant shall fail to execute an agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and blank stock power within the amount of time reasonably specified by the Committee, the Award shall be null and void. Subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 9 and/or the applicable Award agreement, the Participant generally shall have the rights and privileges of a stockholder as to such Restricted Stock, including, without limitation, the right to vote such Restricted Stock and, except as provided below, the right to receive any cash dividends or distributions. To the extent shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited, any stock certificates issued to the Participant evidencing such shares shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such shares and as a stockholder with respect thereto shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company.

 

(c)      Termination . Except as provided below or in the applicable Award agreement or employment agreement, the unvested portion of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall terminate and be forfeited upon termination of employment or service of the Participant granted the applicable Award.

 

(d)      Delivery of Restricted Stock and Settlement of Restricted Stock Units .

 

(i)     Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any shares of Restricted Stock, the restrictions set forth in the applicable Award agreement shall be of no further force or effect with respect to such shares, except as set forth in the applicable Award agreement. If an escrow arrangement is used, upon such expiration, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his beneficiary, without charge, the stock certificate evidencing the shares of Restricted Stock that have not then been forfeited and with respect to which the Restricted Period has expired (rounded down to the nearest full share). Dividends, if any, that may have been withheld by the Committee and attributable to any particular share of Restricted Stock shall be distributed to the Participant in cash or, at the sole discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, upon the release of restrictions on such share and, if such share is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividends (except as otherwise set forth by the Committee in the applicable Award agreement).

 

 

 
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(ii)     Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement, upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any outstanding Restricted Stock Units, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his beneficiary, without charge, one share of Common Stock for each such outstanding Restricted Stock Unit; provided , however , that the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to (i) pay cash or part cash and part Common Stock in lieu of delivering only shares of Common Stock in respect of such Restricted Stock Units or (ii) defer the delivery of Common Stock (or cash or part Common Stock and part cash, as the case may be) beyond the expiration of the Restricted Period. If a cash payment is made in lieu of delivering shares of Common Stock, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the date on which the Restricted Period lapsed with respect to such Restricted Stock Units, less an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld.

 

(e)      Legends on Restricted Stock . Each certificate representing Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan shall bear a legend substantially in the form of the following in addition to any other information the Company deems appropriate until the lapse of all restrictions with respect to such Common Stock:

 

TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY IS RESTRICTED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE VIVOPOWER INTERNATIONAL PLC 2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN AND A RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT, BETWEEN VIVOPOWER INTERNATIONAL PLC AND PARTICIPANT. A COPY OF SUCH PLAN AND AWARD AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF VIVOPOWER INTERNATIONAL PLC.

 

10.      Stock Bonus Awards . The Committee may issue unrestricted Common Stock, or other Awards denominated in Common Stock, under the Plan to Eligible Persons, either alone or in tandem with other awards, in such amounts as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine. Each Stock Bonus Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)). Each Stock Bonus Award so granted shall be subject to such conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement.

 

11.      Performance Compensation Awards .

 

(a)      Generally . The Committee shall have the authority, at the time of grant of any Award described in Sections 7 through 10 of the Plan, to designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award. The Committee shall have the authority to make an award of a cash bonus to any Participant and designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award.

 

 

 
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(b)      Discretion of Committee with Respect to Performance Compensation Awards . With regard to a particular Performance Period, the Committee shall have sole discretion to select the length of such Performance Period, the type(s) of Performance Compensation Awards to be issued, the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s), the kind(s) and/or level(s) of the Performance Goals(s) that is (are) to apply and the Performance Formula.

 

(c)      Performance Criteria . The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s) shall be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company (and/or one or more Affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing) or individual performance, such as any of the following or a combination thereof: (i) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); (ii) basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); (iii) net revenue or revenue growth; (iv) gross profit or gross profit growth; (v) operating profit (before or after taxes); (vi) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, or sales); (vii) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and cash flow return on capital); (viii) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; (ix) gross or operating margins; (x) productivity ratios; (xi) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total stockholder return); (xii) expense targets; (xiii) margins; (xiv) operating efficiency; (xv) objective measures of customer satisfaction; (xvi) working capital targets; (xvii) measures of economic value added; (xviii) inventory control; (xix) enterprise value; (xx) sales; (xxi) debt levels and net debt; (xxii) timely launch of new facilities; (xxiii) client retention; (xxiv) employee retention; (xxv) timely completion of new product rollouts; and (xxvi) objective measures of personal targets, goals, reviews or completion of projects. Any one or more of the Performance Criteria may be used on an absolute or relative basis to measure the performance of the Company and/or one or more Affiliates as a whole or any business unit(s) of the Company and/or one or more Affiliates or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or any of the above Performance Criteria may be compared to the performance of a selected group of comparison companies, or a published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or as compared to various stock market indices. The Committee also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of Performance Goals pursuant to the Performance Criteria specified in this paragraph.

 

(d)      Modification of Performance Goal(s) . To the extent that applicable law or regulations allow (e.g., tax, securities, accounting, etc.), the Committee may alter the governing Performance Criteria without obtaining stockholder approval of such alterations, and the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such alterations without obtaining stockholder approval, including, without limitation, due to the following events: (i) asset write-downs; (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (iii) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or regulatory rules affecting reported results; (iv) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (v) nonrecurring items in the Company’s publicly filed documents; (vi) acquisitions or divestitures; (vii) any other specific unusual, infrequent or nonrecurring events, or objectively determinable category thereof; (viii) foreign exchange gains and losses; and (ix) a change in the Company’s fiscal year.

 

 

 
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(e)      Payment of Performance Compensation Awards .

 

(i)        Condition to Receipt of Payment . Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award agreement or employment agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company on the date of payment, to be eligible for payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award for any Performance Period.

 

(ii)       Limitation . A Participant shall be eligible to receive payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award only to the extent that: (A) the Performance Goals for such period are achieved; and (B) all or some of the portion of such Participant’s Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period based on the application of the Performance Formula to such achieved Performance Goals.

 

(iii)      Certification . Following the completion of a Performance Period, the Committee shall review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, calculate and certify in writing that amount of the Performance Compensation Awards earned for the period based upon the Performance Formula. The Committee shall then determine the amount of each Participant’s Performance Compensation Award actually payable for the Performance Period.

 

(f)      Timing of Award Payments . Performance Compensation Awards granted for a Performance Period shall be paid to Participants as soon as administratively practicable following completion of the certifications required by this Section 11 in the fiscal year following the completion of the Performance Period, but in no event later than two-and-one-half months following the end of the fiscal year during which the Performance Period is completed.

 

12.      Changes in Capital Structure and Similar Events . In the event of (a) any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, split-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a Change in Control) that affects the shares of Common Stock, or (b) unusual, infrequent or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, a Change in Control) affecting the Company, any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system, accounting principles or law that in the judgment of the Committee necessitates action by way of adjusting the terms of the outstanding Awards, then:

 

 

 
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(i)       the Committee may appropriate adjust in its discretion any or all of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) that may be delivered in respect of Awards or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, without limitation, adjusting any or all of the limitations under Section 5 of the Plan) and (B) the terms of any outstanding Award, including, without limitation, (i) the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate, (ii) the Exercise Price or Strike Price with respect to any Award or (iii) any applicable performance measures (including, without limitation, Performance Criteria and Performance Goals), provided in each case such adjustments do not have an adverse economic impact on the Participant as determined at the time of the adjustments;

 

(ii)      providing for a substitution or assumption of Awards, accelerating the exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of, Awards or providing for a period of time for exercise prior to the occurrence of such event, provided that such adjustments do not have an adverse economic impact on the Participant as determined at the time of the adjustments; and

 

(iii)     cancelling any one or more outstanding Awards and causing to be paid to the holders thereof, in cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property, or any combination thereof, the value of such Awards if any (which if applicable may be based upon the price per share of Common Stock received or to be received by other stockholders of the Company in such event) including without limitation, in the case of an outstanding Option or SAR, a cash payment in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price of such Option or SAR, respectively (it being understood that, in such event, any Option or SAR having a per share Exercise Price or Strike Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock subject thereto may be canceled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor);

 

provided, however, that the Committee shall ensure that any adjustment which would have the effect of reducing the Exercise Price or Strike Price with respect to any Award to less than the par value of a share of Common Stock subject to such Award may only be made if and to the extent that the Committee shall be authorized to capitalize from the reserves of the Company a sum equal to the amount by which the par value of a share of Common Stock exceeds the adjusted Exercise Price or Strike Price per share of Common Stock or, where required by any applicable law, using such mechanism involving a third party as the Committee considers necessary; and

 

provided, however, that in the case of any equity restructuring, the Committee shall make an equitable or proportionate adjustment to outstanding Awards to reflect such equity restructuring. Any adjustment in Incentive Stock Options under this Section 12 (other than any cancellation of Incentive Stock Options) shall be made only to the extent not constituting a “modification” within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code, and any adjustments under this Section 12 shall be made in a manner that does not adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable. The Company shall give each Participant notice of an adjustment hereunder and, upon notice, such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.

 

 

 
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13.      Effect of Change in Control . Except to the extent otherwise provided in an Award agreement, in the event of a Participant’s termination of employment or service without Cause within 12 months following the occurrence of a Change in Control, all outstanding Awards shall vest, as follows:

 

(a)     the then outstanding Options and SARs shall become immediately exercisable as of a time prior to the Change in Control;

 

(b)     the Restricted Period shall expire as of a time prior to the Change in Control (including without limitation a waiver of any applicable Performance Goals);

 

(c)     Performance Periods in effect on the date the Change in Control occurs shall end on such date, and the Committee shall (i) determine the extent to which Performance Goals with respect to each such Performance Period have been met based upon such audited or unaudited financial information or other information then available as it deems relevant and (ii) cause the Participant to receive partial or full payment of Awards for each such Performance Period based upon the Committee’s determination of the degree of attainment of the Performance Goals, or assuming that the applicable “target” levels of performance have been attained or on such other basis determined by the Committee; and

 

(d)     cause Awards previously deferred to be settled in full as soon as practicable.

 

To the extent practicable, any actions taken by the Committee under the immediately preceding clauses (a) through (d) shall occur in a manner and at a time which allows affected Participants the ability to participate in the Change in Control transactions with respect to the Common Stock subject to their Awards.

 

14.      Amendments and Termination .

 

(a)      Amendment and Termination of the Plan . The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided, that (i) no amendment to Section 14(b) (to the extent required by the proviso in such Section 14(b)) shall be made without stockholder approval and (ii) no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the Plan (including, without limitation, as necessary to comply with any rules or requirements of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock may be listed or quoted); provided , further , that any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary unless such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination is required in order to comply with applicable law.

 

 

 
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(b)      Amendment of Award Agreements . The Committee may, to the extent consistent with the terms of any applicable Award agreement, waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted or the associated Award agreement, prospectively or retroactively; provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant with respect to any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant; provided , further , that without stockholder approval to the extent required by the rules of any applicable national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted, except as otherwise permitted under Section 12 of the Plan, (i) no amendment or modification may reduce the Exercise Price of any Option or the Strike Price of any SAR, (ii) the Committee may not cancel any outstanding Option or SAR and replace it with a new Option or SAR, another Award or cash and (iii) the Committee may not take any other action that is considered a “repricing” for purposes of the stockholder approval rules of the applicable securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system.

 

15.      General .

 

(a)      Award Agreements . Each Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement , which shall be delivered to the Participant (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)) and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award any rules applicable thereto, including without limitation, the effect on such Award of the death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant, or of such other events as may be determined by the Committee.

 

(b)      Nontransferability .

 

(i)     Each Award shall be exercisable only by a Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s legal guardian, legatee or representative. No Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or an Affiliate; provided that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance.

 

(i)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit Awards (other than Incentive Stock Options) to be transferred by a Participant, without consideration, subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt consistent with any applicable Award agreement to preserve the purposes of the Plan, to: (A) any person who is the spouse, civil partner, surviving spouse, surviving civil partner, or minor children or step-children of the Participant provided that such person is a “family member” of the Participant, as such term is used in the instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act (collectively, the “ Immediate Family Members ”); (B) a trust solely for the benefit of the Participant and his or her Immediate Family Members; or (C) a partnership or limited liability company whose only partners or stockholders are the Participant and his or her Immediate Family Members;. (each transferee described in clauses (A), (B) and (C) above is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Transferee ”); provided , that the Participant gives the Committee advance written notice describing the terms and conditions of the proposed transfer and the Committee notifies the Participant in writing that such a transfer would comply with the requirements of the Plan. Notwithstanding any of the preceding in this Section 15, under no circumstances will a Participant be permitted to transfer an Option to a third-party financial institution without prior stockholder approval.

 

 

 
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(ii)     The terms of any Award transferred in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to the Permitted Transferee and any reference in the Plan, or in any applicable Award agreement, to a Participant shall be deemed to refer to the Permitted Transferee, except that (A) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to transfer any Award, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; (B) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to exercise any transferred Option unless there shall be in effect a registration statement on an appropriate form covering the shares of Common Stock to be acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Option if the Committee determines, consistent with any applicable Award agreement, that such a registration statement is necessary or appropriate; (C) the Committee or the Company shall not be required to provide any notice to a Permitted Transferee, whether or not such notice is or would otherwise have been required to be given to the Participant under the Plan or otherwise; and (D) the consequences of the termination of the Participant’s employment by, or services to, the Company or an Affiliate under the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award agreement shall continue to be applied with respect to the Participant, including, without limitation, that an Option shall be exercisable by the Permitted Transferee only to the extent, and for the periods, specified in the Plan and the applicable Award agreement.

 

(c)      Tax Withholding .

 

(i)     Notwithstanding anything else herein, a Participant shall be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate, and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold, from any cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property deliverable under any Award or from any compensation or other amounts owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, Common Stock, other securities or other property) of any required withholding taxes in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Committee or the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholding and taxes.

 

(ii)     Without limiting the generality of clause (i) above, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, require a Participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, the foregoing withholding liability by (A) the delivery of shares of Common Stock (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest and are Mature Shares) owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability, (B) having the Company withhold from the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable or deliverable pursuant to the exercise or settlement of the Award a number of shares with a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability, up to the maximum required statutory withholding liability or (C) any combination of the foregoing, subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws.

 

 

 
19

 

 

(iii) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Committee may, at its sole discretion require a Participant to pay (including by any of the methods referred to in clause (ii) above) to the Company or any Affiliate an amount equivalent to all or such proportion (if any) of employer's social security contributions which would otherwise be payable by the Company or any Affiliate as is determined to be recoverable from the Participant (to the extent permitted by law) by the Committee, or which the Participant has agreed to pay or which are subject to recovery , pursuant to an election to which paragraph 3B of Schedule 1 to the UK Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 applies.

 

(a)      Clawback / Forfeiture . Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan, any Award that is subject to recovery under any company policy or arrangement, law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to cancellation, deductions, forfeitures and clawbacks as may be required to be made pursuant to such policy or arrangement, law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement (including on a retroactive basis). The Committee may also provide in an Award agreement that if the Participant receives any amount in excess of what the Participant should have received under the terms of the Award agreement for any reason (including, without limitation, by reason of a financial restatement, mistake in calculations or administrative error), all as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, then the Participant shall be required to promptly repay any such excess amount to the Company.

 

(b)      No Claim to Awards; No Rights to Continued Employment; Waiver . In order to become a Participant, an Eligible Person must be selected by the Committee and enter into an Award agreement. No employee of the Company or an Affiliate, or other person, shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or, having been selected for the grant of an Award, to be selected for a grant of any other Award, except to the extent such person has entered into an Award agreement with the Company pertaining to such Award. There is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or an Affiliate, nor shall it be construed as giving any Participant any rights to continued service on the Board. The Company or any of its Affiliates may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or any Award agreement or employment agreement.

 

(c)      International Participants . With respect to Participants who reside or work outside of the United States of America, the Committee may in its sole discretion amend the terms of the Plan or outstanding Awards with respect to such Participants in order to conform such terms with the requirements of local law or to obtain more favorable tax or other treatment for a Participant, the Company or its Affiliates.

 

 

 
20

 

 

(d)      Designation and Change of Beneficiary . Each Participant may file with the Committee a written designation of one or more persons as the beneficiary(ies) who shall be entitled to receive the amounts payable with respect to an Award, if any, due under the Plan upon his death. A Participant may, from time to time, revoke or change his beneficiary designation without the consent of any prior beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Committee. The last such designation received by the Committee shall be controlling; provided , however , that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Committee prior to the Participant’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt. If no beneficiary designation is filed by a Participant, the beneficiary shall be deemed to be his or her spouse or, if the Participant is unmarried at the time of death, his or her estate.

 

(e)      Termination of Employment/Service . Unless determined otherwise by the Committee at any point following such event: (i) neither a temporary absence from employment or service due to illness, vacation or leave of absence nor a transfer from employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary to employment or service with an Affiliate shall be considered a termination of employment or service with the Company or such a Subsidiary; and (ii) if a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates, but such Participant continues to provide services to the Company and its Affiliates in a non-employee capacity (or vice-versa), such change in status shall not be considered a termination of employment with the Company or a Subsidiary.

 

(f)      No Rights as a Stockholder . Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan or any Award agreement, no person shall be entitled to the privileges of ownership in respect of shares of Common Stock that are subject to Awards hereunder until such shares have been issued or delivered to that person.

 

(g)      Government and Other Regulations .

 

(i)     The obligation of the Company to settle Awards in Common Stock or other consideration shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental agencies as may be required. Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of any Award to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell, and shall be prohibited from offering to sell or selling, any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award unless such shares have been properly registered for sale pursuant to the Securities Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold without such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with. The Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale under the Securities Act any of the shares of Common Stock to be offered or sold under the Plan. The Committee shall have the authority to provide that all certificates for shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, the applicable Award agreement, securities laws, or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system upon which such shares or other securities are then listed or quoted and any other applicable federal, state, local or non-U.S. laws, and, without limiting the generality of Section 9 of the Plan, the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee reserves the right to add any additional terms or provisions to any Award granted under the Plan that it in its sole discretion deems necessary or advisable in order that such Award complies with the legal requirements of any governmental entity to whose jurisdiction the Award is subject.

 

 

 
21

 

 

(ii)     The Committee may cancel an Award or any portion thereof if it determines, in its sole discretion, that legal or contractual restrictions and/or blockage and/or other market considerations would make the Company’s acquisition of shares of Common Stock from the public markets, the Company’s issuance of Common Stock to the Participant, the Participant’s acquisition of Common Stock from the Company and/or the Participant’s sale of Common Stock to the public markets, illegal, impracticable or inadvisable. If the Committee determines to cancel all or any portion of an Award in accordance with the foregoing, the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Award or portion thereof canceled (determined as of the applicable exercise date, or the date that the shares would have been vested or delivered, as applicable), over (B) the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price (in the case of an Option or SAR, respectively) or any amount payable as a condition of delivery of shares of Common Stock (in the case of any other Award). Such amount shall be delivered to the Participant as soon as practicable following the cancellation of such Award or portion thereof.

 

(h)      Payments to Persons Other Than Participants . If the Committee shall find that any person to whom any amount is payable under the Plan is unable to care for his affairs because of illness or accident, or is a minor, or has died, then any payment due to such person or his estate (unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) may, if the Committee so directs the Company, be paid to his spouse, child, relative, an institution maintaining or having custody of such person, or any other person deemed by the Committee to be a proper recipient on behalf of such person otherwise entitled to payment. Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Committee and the Company therefor.

 

(i)      Nonexclusivity of the Plan . Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

 

 

 
22

 

 

(j)      No Trust or Fund Created . Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate, on the one hand, and a Participant or other person or entity, on the other hand. No provision of the Plan or any Award shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company, except that insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of services, they shall have the same rights as other employees under general law.

 

(k)      Reliance on Reports . Each member of the Committee and each member of the Board shall be fully justified in acting or failing to act, as the case may be, and shall not be liable for having so acted or failed to act in good faith, in reliance upon any report made by the independent public accountant of the Company and its Affiliates and/or any other information furnished in connection with the Plan by any agent of the Company or the Committee or the Board, other than himself.

 

(l)      Relationship to Other Benefits . No payment under the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, profit sharing, group insurance or other benefit plan of the Company except as otherwise specifically provided in such other plan.

 

(m)     Governing Law . The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and performed wholly within the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

 

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

 

(o)      Obligations Binding on Successors . The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to substantially all of the assets and business of the Company.

 

(p)      Expenses; Gender; Titles and Headings . The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates. Masculine pronouns and other words of masculine gender shall refer to both men and women. The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings shall control.

 

 

 
23

 

 

(q)      Other Agreements . Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may require, as a condition to the grant of and/or the receipt of shares of Common Stock under an Award, that the Participant execute lock-up, stockholder or other agreements, as it may determine in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

(r)      Payments . Participants shall be required to pay, to the extent required by applicable law, any amounts required to receive shares of Common Stock under any Award made under the Plan.

 

(s)      Code Section 409A . The Plan is intended to comply with Code Section 409A to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Each Participant is solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or in respect of such Participant in connection with this Plan or any other plan maintained by the Company (including any taxes and penalties under Code Section 409A), and neither the Company nor any Affiliate shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold such Participant (or any beneficiary) harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties. With respect to any Award that is considered “deferred compensation” subject to Code Section 409A, references in the Plan to “termination of employment” or “termination of service) (and all similar phrases) shall mean “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A. For purposes of Code Section 409A, each of the payments that may be made in respect of any Award granted under the Plan is designated as separate payments. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), no payments or deliveries in respect of any Awards that are “deferred compensation” subject to Code Section 409A shall be made to such Participant prior to the date that is six months after the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined in Code Section 409A) or, if earlier, the Participant’s date of death. Following any applicable six month delay, all such delayed payments or deliveries will be paid or delivered (without interest) in a single lump sum on the earliest date permitted under Code Section 409A that is also a business day.

 

(t)      No Fractional Shares . No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan. The Committee shall determine whether cash, additional Awards or other securities or property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or whether any fractional shares should be rounded, forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

(u)      Issuance or transfer of shares of Common Stock. Where shares of Common Stock are to be issued directly to a grantee in satisfaction of any Award and no amount (or less than the par value per share of Common Stock) is to be paid by a Participant, where required by any applicable law, this may be done using such mechanism involving a third party as the Committee considers necessary or by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company paying (or procuring payment of) a bonus to the Participant in respect of the par value of each share of Common Stock and, with the Participant's agreement, using such amount to pay up par value or by capitalising reserves in accordance with the Company's articles of association.

 

 

 
24

 

 

* * *

 

As adopted by the Board of Directors, and approved by the stockholders, of VivoPower International PLC on [ ] , 2017.

 

 

 
25

 

 

 

APPENDIX TO THE VIVOPOWER INTERNATIONAL PLC 2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

(Sub-Plan for Non-Employees)

 

This Appendix constitutes the Sub Plan of the VivoPower International Plc 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The terms of the Sub-Plan shall be identical to the terms of the Plan, as amended from time to time except that consultants, advisors, non-executive officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or prospective consultants, advisors or non-executive officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries are eligible to be selected to receive an Award under the Plan by the Committee, and the Rules of the Plan shall be construed accordingly.

 

 

26

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

Contents

 

The Reports

 

Page 

 
         

Highlights

    1  

Chairman’s Letter to Shareholders

    2  

CEO’s Letter to Shareholders

    4  

Strategic Report

    6  

Directors’ Report

    13  

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

    19  

Corporate Governance Statement

    20  

Directors’ Remuneration Report

    23  

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of VivoPower International PLC

    42  
         

Group Financial Statements and Notes

       
         

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

    44  

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

    45  

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow

    46  

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

    47  

Notes to the Financial Statements

    48  
         

Parent Company Financial Statements and Notes

       
         

Company Statement of Financial Position

    77  

Company Statement of Changes in Equity

    78  

Notes to the Company Financial Statements

    79  
         

Other Information

       
         

Company Information

    82  

 

 
 

 

 

Highlights

 

 

Total revenue was $32.3 million for period ended 31 March 2017

 

 

Statutory Net I ncome was $ 5. 3 million for period ended 31 March   2017 and Adjusted Net Income* was $12. 3 million

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA* was $18.9 million for year ended 31 March 2017, exceeding previously upgraded forecast of $18.8 million and initial forecast of $18.0 million

 

 

Adjusted earnings per share * was $0.92 for period ended 31 March 2017

 

 

Total assets as at 31 March 2017 were $100. 8 million and total equity was $ 64.6 million

 

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

2017

Revenue

32,250

Gross profit

27,273

Operating expenses

9,595

EBITDA

17,678

Adjusted EBITDA*

18,923

Adjusted earnings per share *

0.92

Basic earnings per share

0.81

Diluted earnings per share

0.81

 

* Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted earnings per share are non - IFRS financial measures. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income, adjusted to exclude: depreciation and amortization, initial incorporation expenses, interest income and interest expense, the provision for income taxes and foreign currency exchange income (expense). We believe that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted earnings per share provides investors and other users of our financial information consistency and comparability with our past financial performance, facilitates period-to-period comparisons of operations and facilitates comparisons with our peer companies, many of which use a similar non-IFRS or generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) financial measure to supplement their IFRS or GAAP results, as applicable.

 

 
Page | 1

 

 

Chairman’s Letter to Shareholders

 

Dear Shareholders,

 

It has been a momentous period for VivoPower with much achieved against the odds.

 

Significant challenges manifested at the most inopportune times included the demise of SunEdison in April 2016 (which turned solar from a hot sector on NASDAQ into an unpopular sector making capital raising difficult), Brexit in June 2016 (which created significant foreign currency market volatility), Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 (which impacted the program for financial close and build of the NC-47 solar plant) and the election of Donald Trump in November 2016 (which made investors nervous about renewable companies and adversely impacted capital raising efforts in the lead up to the IPO of VivoPower).

 

However, the VivoPower team with help from executives of its major shareholder, Arowana International was able to overcome these challenges and deliver on some non-trivial achievements in FY17 including as follows:

 

Assembled a highly experience global team across 4 continents (USA, UK/Europe, Asia, Australia);

 

Redomiciled headquarters from Australia to London to reflect the strategic shift of VivoPower’s operations globally;

 

Consummated 91MW of cross border solar project BTO (build, transfer, operate) transactions involving US projects and Australian owners;

 

Exceeded profit guidance and delivered a strong adjusted Adjusted EBITDA result of US$18.9 million for the period ended 31 March 2017;

 

Built a scalable enterprise platform (across Human Resources, IT&C, Accounting, Finance and Governance); and

 

Listed on the NASDAQ stock market.

 

All this however is history and will amount to nothing if we do not keep executing with precision and pace. In this regard, the VivoPower team has not rested on its laurels since the end of the 2017 financial period and has started FY18 with several significant achievements:

 

Consummated a joint venture with Innovative Solar Systems (ISS), a US developer, for a qualified pipeline of over 1.8GW of solar projects across the United States, which is expected to generate BTO revenues (build, transfer, operate) for several years; and

 

Consummated an Alliance Agreement with an Australian Stock Exchange listed company, ReNu Energy Limited for BTO transactions for solar assets below 5MW in size (including behind the meter systems) in Australia. The sale of the first asset in this regard, the 0.6MW Amaroo School in Canberra, Australia has already been announced.

 

While the road ahead will undoubtedly come with its set of challenges, the team at VivoPower and I firmly believe that solar power will play a pivotal role in enabling the world to meet its ever-growing energy needs in both an economical and environmentally conscious way. We are in the early stages of a fundamental shift in power generation away from the centralized grid and towards a more distributed model and VivoPower is well positioned to exploit the varied opportunities that this disruption brings. Disruptive environments bring challenges like the Suniva tariff case in the United States where we and most industry participants trust that commercial sanity will prevail. However, they also bring opportunities like the one in Australia today, where escalating grid power prices for commercial and industrial customers are causing concern about power costs and even the very security of the power supply itself. At VivoPower we have assembled an experienced team with expertise in engineering, finance, project management and technology that is uniquely positioned to navigate these challenges and convert opportunities into value for our stakeholders.

 

 
Page | 2

 

 

Chairman’s Letter to Shareholders

 

With the achievements over the last 14 months, VivoPower has laid the foundation for future multi-year revenue and profit growth. It will however be important to stay resilient, agile and focused on execution.

 

On behalf of the rest of the board, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the VivoPower team, our partners, financiers, customers, suppliers and shareholders for their support and engagement during the period.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Kevin Chin

Chairman

 

28 July 2017

 

 
Page | 3

 

 

CEO’s Letter to Shareholders

 

Dear Shareholders,

 

The global power industry is rapidly moving into a new paradigm, led by the accelerating adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) power, with a high growth trajectory.

 

Several clear and disruptive trends are driving growth and opportunity in the sector. First, the cost of electricity generated by solar power is continuing to decline rapidly, such that solar is about to produce the lowest cost of electricity in the world. Second, attracted by stable, long term returns, capital availability for new solar generation is robust. Finally, spurred by the strategic and economic benefits of shifting to low carbon activities and the acceleration of technological advances, corporate and industrial users of electricity are increasingly procuring and managing their power load directly.

 

At the same time, the investment track record in this sector is decidedly mixed. Returns have been volatile, and from an investor perspective, too many players in the sector are vertically integrated or have multiple lines of business, where solar profitability is hidden in manufacturing margins and large balance sheets. There are few companies which offer investors the opportunity to participate directly in the value creation of solar power adoption.

 

Against this background, VivoPower International has been created specifically to provide investors with direct exposure to these global trends with a focused, high growth business model. We have an extremely capable management team with deep experience in the entire value chain of the industry, including manufacturing, development, engineering, operations, acquisitions and financing. Our team has a clear vision and a disciplined approach to the allocation of capital, and we are committed to creating sustainable shareholder value.

 

Less than two years ago, we launched an international expansion from our Australian roots, and have accomplished some remarkable achievements:

 

We recruited an outstanding team with global capabilities;

 

We created a platform that exceeded our revenues and EBITDA expectations;

 

We developed a meaningful pipeline for future growth and profitability; and

 

We successfully listed VivoPower on the NASDAQ stock market.

 

To address the opportunities in the sector, we have developed a strategy that we call build, transfer, operate (“BTO”), which is rooted in our deep understanding of the solar industry. It is a low risk, asset light approach to the market, with a high return, capital efficient profile. As we recycle our profits and grow a base of recurring revenues, we aspire to provide data driven energy services to our clients in the commercial, industrial and government sectors.

 

Fundamentally, the opportunity for BTO is driven by a supply/demand imbalance in the solar development space. On the project supply side, the development market for utility scale solar is highly fragmented with upwards of half of the market dominated by smaller, local developers or “wildcatters” that have excellent local or regional capabilities but often lack access to capital providers and the internal capabilities to design, structure and execute solar projects that would appeal to institutional investors. Even the most successful developers can fail to complete projects due to limited relationships with global engineering and equipment suppliers and providers of finance. This is the market from which we identify projects to acquire and build at a significantly lower cost than buying operating projects. We target the acquisition of projects at a very specific stage; after they have been developed, and are thus significantly de-risked, but before they are built. We have the ability to create value by building projects efficiently and profitably by controlling design, engineering and procurement with low risk.

 

 
Page | 4

 

 

CEO’s Letter to Shareholders

 

On the demand side of the equation, based on our industry expertise and relationships we have established over the years as well as inbound inquiries we have been receiving, we see a large and steadily growing appetite from institutional investors globally for quality solar operating projects. These investors often lack the internal resources to effectively screen the vast array of projects to find the most rewarding ones, let alone build and operate the projects themselves. Based on our relationships and expertise, we have the credibility to secure capital commitments prior to building and then to transfer projects to these investors once built. This approach allows us to lock in our BTO profit before we risk capital, as well as to generate stable recurring revenues from long term asset management agreements and residual equity interests in the projects.

 

Another revenue opportunity comes from the consumers of the electric power produced from the projects that we operate. We intend to capture valuable data related to power generation and consumption from our growing base of solar projects in order to provide energy management services and to optimize our energy clients’ needs. We will use operational information to improve the profitability of our projects and to take advantage of technological improvements to create additional revenues.

 

We clearly demonstrated the viability of our model last year, by competing BTO transactions for 91 megawatts of solar projects and delivering Adjusted EBITDA of US$18.9 million for the period ended 31 March 2017, significantly above our initial goals. We are pleased with our strong forward growth outlook, and are providing guidance for next year of 20-25% growth in our EBITDA results. This outlook is supported by two strategic initiatives that we believe have laid the foundation for revenues and profits for several years; a joint venture for over 1.8 gigawatts in the United States and an alliance agreement with ReNu Energy in Australia.

 

The joint venture in the US is at the core of our business model, as it represents a long term partnership with an excellent development company, where we have secured exclusive rights to acquire and build over 1.8 gigawatts of solar projects in a diversified portfolio of 37 projects in 12 states. We have a demonstrated track record with the developer, who was the original developer for our 91 megawatts completed last year. We have complementary skill sets and both believe that we are mutually aligned to ensure the successful execution of the joint venture.

 

The alliance agreement with ReNu Energy significantly strengthens our strategic acquisition of Aevitas which was completed in December 2016. The historical revenue profile of Aevitas has been extremely steady, representing energy services for over 300 commercial and industrial customers in Australia. Our goal with Aevitas is to maintain and grow their core business, and also leverage their customer base to generate new solar projects. The agreement with ReNu Energy provides a commitment from an investor to whom we can transfer projects that we build. This relationship should provide a highly efficient means to create BTO revenues for smaller projects originated in Australia with the Aevitas client base.

 

We see a bright future for our activities and we are focused on execution. Overall, we are committed to capturing the exciting trends in our industry and to delivering value for our shareholders. The entire industry is evolving rapidly, and we have conviction that VivoPower and our shareholders will benefit from these trends.

 

Thank you for your support and confidence in our team.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Dr. Philip Comberg

CEO

 

28 July 2017

 

 
Page | 5

 

 

Strategic Report

 

Principal Activities

 

VivoPower International PLC (“VivoPower” or the “Company”) operates a global solar power platform, with an experienced and motivated team, who deploys a build, transfer, and operate (BTO) model to establish an installed solar power asset base in a capital efficient manner. Pursuant to the BTO model, VivoPower builds solar projects which are supported by long-term power purchase contracts with creditworthy customers, transfers ownership of the projects to investors, (importantly, securing equity capital from investors prior to building), and operates the projects to enhance value over their useful life. By capturing the value of engineering, procurement and financing during the building phase, and by obtaining project capital from investors so that VivoPower’s capital outlay is modest, VivoPower has created a low-risk, capital efficient business model. VivoPower then provides ongoing power services encompassing operations, maintenance and optimization of these solar plants pursuant to long term contracts.

 

The chart below summarizes our business model and strategy:  

 

 

 

VivoPower aims to capitalize on its relationships within a highly fragmented developer market to acquire projects at a lower cost than buying operating assets. VivoPower’s team screens a vast number of opportunities to identify the most rewarding projects, which provide the opportunity to capture the value of identifying the optimal engineering, procurement and financing strategies. VivoPower’s engineering team actively manages all stages of design and construction to ensure that projects are not only built on time and on budget, but are also able to generate superior returns. At the same time, we have strong relationships and credibility with institutional investors to secure project capital prior to building projects, which allows us to lock-in profits by transferring ownership to these investors. VivoPower will operate projects over their useful life, generating long-term stable revenues, and intends to identify opportunities to create value through a technology, data oriented asset management approach. In addition to its BTO strategy, VivoPower will invest in financial and technology assets in a strategically coordinated way, leading to an increasingly optimized energy service experience for its customers.

 

 
Page | 6

 

 

Strategic Report (continued)

 

The chart below summarizes our BTO model:

 

 

   

In addition to the global BTO business model, VivoPower, through its wholly-owned Australian subsidiary Aevitas Group Limited (“Aevitas”), provides energy and power generation solutions including design, supply, installation and maintenance of power and control systems, with an increasing focus on solar, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Aevitas has a large and diverse base of longstanding commercial and industrial customers, and is considered a trusted power adviser. Aevitas is located in the Hunter Valley and Newcastle region, which is the most densely populated industrial belt in Australia, and which has amongst the most expensive power prices in the country. Since acquiring Aevitas in December 2016, VivoPower has introduced an origination strategy to identify attractive solar projects within Aevitas’ existing customer base. To further support this initiative, VivoPower entered into an Alliance Agreement with ReNu Energy Ltd., with whom VivoPower intends to execute BTO transactions for solar projects originated by Aevitas.

 

Industry Overview

 

Solar power is the world’s largest potential energy source and is the fastest-growing form of renewable energy. Between 2003 and 2014, cumulative installed solar capacity increased at an average annual growth rate of 49%, according to the International Energy Agency (“IEA”). Yet, solar energy’s contribution to global energy generation is insignificant, contributing less than 1% globally; even as panel costs have dropped more than 75% over the same time period.

 

As a result, this is a pivotal moment in the acceleration of massive energy industry change. Corporate and industrial companies worldwide have recognized the economic and strategic benefits of shifting their source of electricity to low carbon, distributed generation. At the same time, strategic and institutional investors increasingly view investments in solar power projects as providing attractive long term returns, which has increased the availability of capital for the deployment of solar power generating capacity. Enabled by strong capital availability and “smart” technology penetration, the solar industry is growing at exponential levels with VivoPower’s platform sitting at what we perceive is the sweet spot of the industry’s value chain.

 

 
Page | 7

 

 

Strategic Report (continued)

 

Long Term Outlook

 

The global energy architecture is increasingly becoming decentralized and digitized as today’s internet connected devices are able to measure, monitor and analyze energy supply and demand in real time. In the future, VivoPower will build out its capabilities in data analytics and emerging technologies that will enable it to capitalize on these trends and become a leader in energy efficiency, storage, demand management, remote energy and distributed energy grid design.

 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

 

The KPIs for the business are budgeted for and progress against such budgets is measured on a regular basis. The main measures are revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, investments, project pipeline and earnings per share.

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income, adjusted to exclude: depreciation and amortization, initial incorporation expenses, interest income and interest expense, the provision for income taxes and foreign currency exchange income (expense).

 

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides investors and other users of our financial information consistency and comparability with our past financial performance and facilitates period-to-period comparisons of operations and comparisons with our peer companies, many of which use a similar non-IFRS or generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) financial measure to supplement their IFRS or GAAP results, as applicable.

 

Investments

 

An integral part of the BTO model requires initial investment in projects. As VivoPower retains an interest in projects that it builds, the level of investment is a good barometer for the level of BTO revenue and the recurring revenue post project transfer.

 

MW completed

 

The number of megawatts (MW) built and transferred provides a progress update on VivoPower’s current activity. The number of MW built and transferred drives the BTO developer fee revenue and the subsequent level of recurring revenue.

 

MW pipeline

 

The pipeline of projects in MW is a good indicator of the near term financial prospects of VivoPower. The pipeline is a qualified pipeline, meaning that the projects are at an advanced stage of the diligence and acquisition process.

 

Earnings per share

 

VivoPower presents basic and diluted earnings per share data for ordinary shares, excluding treasury shares. Earnings per share (“EPS”) provides an accurate measure of the profitability of the Company. As at 31 March 2017, the Company has provided an Adjusted EPS number, that, whilst a non-IFRS measure, provides, we believe, investors and other users of our financial information consistency and comparability.

 

 
Page | 8

 

 

Strategic Report (continued)

 

Operating P erformance D uring Period ended 31 March 2017

 

During the period ended 31 March 2017, the group generated revenue of $32.3 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $18.9 million and Adjusted Net Income of $12.3 million. The Company at the end of the period had net assets of $64.6 million, with intangible assets, including goodwill, of $46.3 million and investments of $18.1 million.

 

The group’s current assets were $30.8 million of which $11.0 million is cash and cash equivalents. Current liabilities were $12.2 million, giving a current ratio of 2.5:1.

 

Revenue growth was supported by the completion of the group’s first solar project and the near completion of a second project, both in North Carolina, United States. Combined revenue for both projects was $24.6 million with further revenue of $0.4 million due to the power generation of the first project. Further BTO revenue in Australia from projects acquired in December 2016 generated $0.1 million. Aevitas generated revenue of $5.6 million for the 3 months to March 2017.

 

The group generated strong cash flows from operating activities of $6.3 million. At the end of the period the group had cash reserves of $11.0 million and debt of $20.0 million, giving a net debt position of $9.0 million.

 

The group financed activities until the Company became public through a related party loan from Arowana International Limited, (“Arowana”), a publicly traded company in Australia of which VivoPower was, prior to December 28, 2016, a wholly owned subsidiary. At the end of the financial period, the amounts owing to Arowana were $20.5 million, of which $19.0 million was a non-current related party loan with an initial repayment date of 1 April 2018. The remaining balance of $1.5 million was a current liability which was repaid in June 2017.

 

VivoPower’s ordinary shares commenced trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market on 29 December 2016 under the symbol VVPR. The transaction generated proceeds of $22.5 million with transaction costs of $11.5 million. Contemporaneously with the transaction, the group completed two acquisitions, VivoPower Pty Limited and Aevitas Group of Companies at a total cash consideration cost of $10.1 million.

 

The group during the period invested $18.0 million in two solar energy projects in the US. The group, as part of its long-term strategy, has retained a 14.5% and 10% equity interest in the projects which will generate recurring revenue in the future. In addition to the US solar assets, VivoPower has aggregated a 2.6MW portfolio of behind the meter Commercial, Industrial and Government (“CIG”) solar assets in Australia that are in the process of being structured for BTO transactions.

 

During the period, VivoPower has assembled a high-quality management team, with a wide breadth of experience within the solar industry, representing a complementary range of skills that will enable VivoPower to develop and expand its BTO model.

 

Directors

 

During the period, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) had one female director. Following the resignation of Victoria Guy in August 2016, the Board is composed of one male executive director and four male non-executive directors. Please see the Company’s policy on recruitment in the Corporate Responsibility section on page 19.

 

Share B uy- B acks

 

On 27 March 2017, the Company purchased 129,805 ordinary shares with a nominal value of $0.012 for a cost of $0.6 million. The Company has not purchased any additional shares since the period end. The shares are treated as treasury shares and are excluded from the calculation of EPS .

 

 
Page | 9

 

 

Strategic Report (continued)

 

Results and T ransfers to E quity


The audited financial statements and the related notes for the period ended 31 March 2017 are set out on pages 44 to 81. The profit for the period after taxation, was $5.3 million, with the directors proposing a nil dividend, the full amount of the profit was retained.

 

 

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

 

VivoPower operates a Build, Transfer and Operate (BTO) business model within the renewable energy sector and, in common with similar businesses, is exposed to a number of risks and uncertainties which could have a material impact on the group’s long-term performance and could cause actual results to differ materially from historical and expected results.

 

Market risk

 

The group’s financial performance is tied very closely to the business activity within both the renewable energy and the investment management sectors. Capital and project availability are identified as being key market risks.

 

Operational risk

 

VivoPower operates within local, and national, laws and regulations which from time to time may change.

 

Competitive risk

 

Having the ability to pay developers down-payments to secure pipeline is advantageous, but there is competition from parties pursuing similar transactions. VivoPower expects greater competition from other parties entering the sector with this capability.

 

People risk

 

Attraction and retention of key staff is essential to the continued success of the business. The Board recognises that the future success of the group will depend to a substantial extent not only on the ability and experience of its senior management, but also on individuals and teams that support the projects. Staff are remunerated appropriately and employees are encouraged to develop their skills.

 

International risk

 

As the group operates internationally, it is subject to the tax laws and regulations of several countries. In addition, conducting business on different continents presents logistical and management challenges whether related to local standards, business cultures or compliance. The group takes careful steps to comply with all applicable tax and other laws, rules and regulations.

 

Financial risk

 

It is the group’s policy to manage identifiable financial risks. The group operates globally and so has exposure to movements in exchange rates, in particular between the US Dollar, GB Pound and Australian Dollar. The group ensures that it holds sufficient cash amounts to meet all working capital requirements.

 

For further discussion on financial risk refer to note 28 to the financial statements.

 

Employees

 

People are central to our business and the contribution of talented and motivated employees is vital to the continued success of the group.

 

 
Page | 10

 

 

Strategic Report (continued)

 

The group has a policy of keeping employees informed of, and engaged in, its business strategy through regular briefings and team meetings. Employee involvement at all levels is encouraged.

 

It is a policy of the group to recruit, develop and promote people on merit and to treat everyone equally regardless of their race, ethnic origin or nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief. The group gives every consideration to applications for employment from disabled persons where the requirements of the position may be adequately covered by the abilities of the applicant concerned. In the event of members of staff becoming disabled, ways are examined to ensure that their employment with the group continues and that the appropriate training is arranged. It is the policy of the group to ensure that the training, career development and promotion of disabled employees should, as far as possible, be the same as that of other employees.

 

The table shows, as per required quoted company regulations, the number of staff of each sex employed at the Company and their level of seniority.

 

 

Female

Male

Total

Management

4

25

29

Staff

15

105

120

Total

19

130

149

 

Health and Safety

 

The health and safety of the group’s employees, customers and visitors is of primary importance. The group is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment. Health and safety audits and risk assessments, including fire risk assessments, are carried out regularly.

 

Clients

 

The group values each and every client and prides itself on developing long standing relationships. Being highly connected with our clients, learning from them, and working in partnership with them is fundamental to the continued success of the business.

 

The Environment

 

The group recognises the importance of environmental responsibility and believes that its direct activities have a positive impact on the environment as the Company facilitates greater use of renewable energy. Surplus equipment and lightly damaged solar panels used in projects, that would otherwise be bound for landfill, are being used to complete smaller projects to offset 100% of the electricity costs for 100 low-income homeowners in South Carolina, USA.

 

Details of greenhouse gas emissions are unavailable due to the fact the facilities that VivoPower uses are managed office facilities and the usage data is not provided by the lessor.

 

The Company strives to minimise its emissions on a continual basis.

 

Communities

 

VivoPower has maintained an active program of community involvement and philanthropy, including programs with low income homeowners, military veterans, church organizations and schools. During the building of the 91 MW in North Carolina, VivoPower contributed funds to rebuild a local church and towards relief related to a major hurricane. Approximately 50% of our construction workers were military veterans, and we worked with the University of North Carolina (Pembroke) to assist job training and student tours.

 

 
Page | 11

 

 

Strategic Report (continued)

 

In addition, we created an initiative for a low income community solar farm, comprising 2 MW located on 10 acres of distressed urban brown field in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The project will use slightly damaged modules from our projects, along with donations from other solar projects in the region. These modules otherwise would have been sent to local landfills, but instead will produce solar power to feed into the utility grid. Electricity revenues will be used to make the project self-sustaining on an ongoing basis, and to offset 100% of the electricity needs for 100 very low income homeowners through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity. This program was accepted into the 18-month US Department of Energy Sunshot program for low income solar.

 

By order of the Board .

 

 

Dr. Philip Comberg

Director

 

28 July 2017

 

 
Page | 12

 

 

Directors’ Report

 

The members of the board of directors present their annual report on the affairs of the group and the audited financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2017.

 

Subsidiaries

 

The subsidiary and associated undertakings principally affecting the profits and net assets of the group in the 14 months ended 31 March 2017 are listed in note 13 to the financial statements.

 

Business Review

 

A review of the Group’s business during the financial period ended 31 March 2017, and the position of the group at the end of the financial period are contained in the Strategic Report.

 

As of 31 March 2017, the group includes subsidiaries in Australia, Jersey, Singapore, United Kingdom and the United States.

 

Future Developments

 

VivoPower is well positioned to profitably grow its BTO business model on a global basis following some significant post balance sheet date events.  

 

In the United States, VivoPower completed a joint venture in April 2017 with an early-stage solar development company for a portfolio of 37 solar projects in 12 different states, representing a total electricity generating capacity of approximately 1.8 gigawatts. VivoPower anticipates that this joint venture will provide the opportunity to generate BTO revenues and profits for several years as the individual projects in the portfolio mature. Furthermore, VivoPower believes that the value of the projects in the portfolio will increase given the Company’s expectation that equipment and installation costs will continue to fall at a rapid rate, hence increasing the return profile of the projects.

 

The portfolio provides VivoPower with significant flexibility as it also presents the opportunity to realise profits on the sale of solar systems at advanced stages of development. The map below summarises the project portfolio in the joint venture from which VivoPower expects to generate BTO revenues in the future.

 

 

 

 
Page | 13

 

 

Directors’ Report (continued)

 

In Australia, VivoPower is seeing the benefits of the acquisition of Aevitas in terms of leveraging its longstanding relationships with an extensive base of commercial and industrial customers and originating behind the meter solar projects that VivoPower can then seek to convert into BTO revenues. To enhance our ability to transfer projects for which we can provide ongoing power services, VivoPower recently consummated an Alliance Agreement with ReNu Energy in Australia. Under this agreement, ReNu Energy has agreed to pay an annual alliance fee for the right to make a first offer to acquire projects originated by VivoPower that are smaller than 5 MW. This alliance agreement will enable VivoPower to generate BTO revenues in addition to the alliance fee. We anticipate that this relationship will grow profitably over many years.

 

In addition to our joint venture in the United States and the Alliance Agreement with ReNu Energy, VivoPower is exploring attractive projects that fit our BTO business strategy in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

 

We continue to pursue appropriate transactions and have established a strong global pipeline, as summarised below. If we are able to replicate the same level of BTO revenues per MW for 2018 as we achieved in 2017, we believe that we can achieve our EBITDA guidance for the year ended 30 March 2018 by converting only 125 MW, or approximately 5.4% of our qualified pipeline.

 

The table below shows the extent of the qualified pipeline:  

 

 

 

 
Page | 14

 

 

Directors’ Report (continued)

 

Dividends

 

The directors propose a nil dividend per ordinary share. There was no interim dividend declared during the financial period.

 

Capital Structure

 

Details of the issued share capital together with the details of the movements in the Company’s issued share capital, including treasury shares are shown in note 22 to the financial statements. Details of the share repurchase during the financial period are given in the Strategic Report on page 9 under “Share Buy-Backs”.

 

Going Concern

 

Having reviewed the future plans and projections for the Company’s business and its current financial position, the directors are satisfied that the Company has adequate financial resources to continue to manage the business risks successfully and to remain in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the report and accounts.

 

Suppliers

 

The group’s policy is to settle terms of payment with suppliers when agreeing the terms of each transaction, ensure that suppliers are made aware of the terms of payment and abide by the terms of payment. Trade creditors of the group at 31 March 2017 were equivalent to 45 days’ purchases, based upon the average daily amount invoiced by suppliers during the last quarter.

 

Donations

 

During the period, the group made no political contributions. Certain donations were made as described under “Communities” above.

 

Financial Management

 

The financial control of the Company is managed centrally. VivoPower aims to keep cash balances in each of its subsidiaries at a minimum and to fund the working capital requirements in time for each subsidiary to meet their financial obligations. A consolidated cash flow forecast is maintained on a weekly basis and is at the centre of our cash management strategy. The Company operates mainly in US Dollar and Australian Dollar and keeps sufficient balances in each currency to meet its working capital requirements, and does not currently see the need for any hedging arrangements. Further explanation of financial risk is contained in the Strategic Report on page 10.

 

Corporate Governance

 

While not a requirement under Nasdaq listing rules, the group has voluntarily disclosed the Company’s Corporate Governance Statement on pages 20 to 22 of the financial statements.

 

 
Page | 15

 

 

Directors’ Report (continued)

 

Directors

 

The directors who held office during the period and up until the date of this report:

 

Non-executive

Executive

KTF Chin  (appointed 27 April 2016)

P Comberg  (appointed 1 May 2016)

G Hui (appointed 21 December 2016)

PM Broomhead ( resigned 2 Nov 2016 )

EB Hyams  (appointed 2 November 2016)

P Emery  (resigned 31 July 2016)

P Sermol  (appointed 21 December 2016)

VC Guy  (resigned 8 August 2016)

 

DT Kenny  (resigned 2 November 2016)

 

LF Moore  (resigned 1 April 2016)

 

JA Reader  (resigned 1 April 2016)

 

Details of the current Board of Directors and their relevant experience is provided below.

 

Philip Comberg

 

Philip brings over twenty years of experience as CEO, board member, investor, investment banker and attorney in Europe, the US and  Asia.

 

In the past ten years, he has taken different roles in the solar industry which most recently include non-executive Chairman of Solarcentury Holdings in the UK. From 2011 to 2014 he was Chairman and CEO of Germany’s foremost solar company, Conergy, leading its restructuring and sale to Kawa Capital. Prior to that, he served on the board of the Chinese solar manufacturer Solarfun Power Holdings (now Hanwha QCells, HQCL).

 

Previously, Philip co-founded Alcosa Capital, a Frankfurt based special situation  investment and advisory firm, in 2004 focusing on investments in the German SME sector, advising companies on M&A, debt and equity transactions as well as operational issues and serving as their board member. Prior to Alcosa Capital, Philip worked as an investment banker at Deutsche Bank and as an M&A lawyer with Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer in Germany and China.

 

Philip studied law and Chinese at the University of Heidelberg and Zhong Shan University in China, subsequently completing his Master’s degree at New York University and a Doctor of Law at the University of Düsseldorf. Philip speaks English, French, Chinese and German.

 

Kevin Chin

 

Kevin has extensive experience in “hands on” strategic and operational management having served as CEO, CFO and COO of various companies across a range of industries, including solar energy, software, traffic management, education, funds management and vocational education.

 

He also has significant international experience in private equity, buyouts of public companies, mergers and acquisitions and capital raisings as well as funds management,  accounting, litigation support and valuations.

 

Kevin is the founder of Arowana & Co. (Arowana), a diversified investment group with operations across Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Arowana has listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange and NASDAQ as well as unlisted companies. Arowana International Limited, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange is the largest shareholder in VivoPower. Kevin is primarily responsible for delivering annualised returns in excess of 30% to investors across  Arowana’s investments since  its  formation  in 2007.

 

Over his twenty-year career, Kevin has held a number of strategic and operational  leadership roles and was also previously with Lowy Family Group,  J.P. Morgan, Ord Minnett, PwC and Deloitte.

 

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales where he was one of the inaugural University Co-Op Scholars with the School of Banking and Finance. He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of FINSIA, where  he was a lecturer  in the  Masters of Applied Finance programme.

 

 
Page | 16

 

 

Directors’ Report (continued)

 

Peter Sermol

 

Peter has over thirty years of experience in institutional finance.

 

Peter is the co-founder of North Star Solar Ltd, a company focused on installing UK rooftop solar PV and battery storage which developed a model to install renewable technologies with energy savings repaying capex.

 

Prior to this, with his proven track record in trading distressed debt, Peter ran the Toronto office of Amstel Securities, a Dutch regulated brokerage firm for eight years. During this period Peter expanded the office to focus on uncovering and seeding uncorrelated investment opportunities. Taking a sector agnostic view, investments ranged from Latin American NPL’s, financing Canadian property developers, Australian non-conforming loans, US viatical life insurance policies, US non-prime auto loans. During this period he also served as CEO of an online media distribution company.

 

Previously, Peter worked with specialist brokerage and advisory firms including Anca Capital Partners and Amstel as well as co-founding his own brokerage firm, Global Markets Ltd trading Asian Convertible Bonds and GDRs.

 

Peter studied marine electronics at the Merchant Naval College, Greenhithe.

 

Edward Hyams

 

Edward has over forty years of experience in Power Engineering, Renewables and in  Energy Efficiency as an Executive, Private Equity Partner and as a Non-Executive Director.


As a Partner at Englefield Capital, he co-led the Renewable Energy Fund, investing in Solar, Wind and Biomass developments in Europe. He joined Englefield having led the management team which Englefield and another PE firm backed to invest in Zephyr, the first structured financing of a portfolio of renewables assets in the UK.


Prior to Englefield, Edward held senior executive roles as CEO of BizzEnergy, Managing Director of Eastern Group PLC and Director of Engineering at Southern Electric Plc. Edward was a non-executive Director of the UK Energy Saving Trust following the electricity and gas privatisations
 in  the early 1990’s. He re-joined the Trust as Non-Executive Chairman in  2005.


Edward is a Chartered Engineer, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College, London and holds a Diploma in Accounting and Finance from the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants. He has completed executive programs in finance at Harvard Business School and in strategy and organisation
 at Stanford.

 

Gary Hui

 

Gary has over twenty years of investment experience in the Asia Pacific region.

 

He currently serves as the Chief Investment Officer for Arowana  International  Limited and  the Arowana  Australasian  Value Opportunities Fund Limited, a listed investment company that has significantly outperformed its benchmarks since inception.

 

Prior to this, he was with Indus Capital, a hedge fund founded by former Soros Fund Management Partners, where he was Managing Director and Chief Representative of Indus’ Singapore office. Prior to becoming a principal investor, Gary was an investment banker at J.P. Morgan in Australia and Hong Kong, where he advised clients across a broad range of industries.

 

Gary qualified as a Chartered Accountant and completed the Securities Institute of Australia (now FINSIA) program where he placed first nationally in Mergers & Acquisitions. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales.

 

 
Page | 17

 

 

Directors’ Report (continued)

 

The Company is governed by its Articles of Association (the “Articles”) the Companies Act 2006 and related legislation with regard to the appointment and replacement of directors. The Articles themselves may be amended by special resolution of the shareholders.

 

In accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company, directors are required to retire by rotation at the next Annual General Meeting and, if eligible, may offer themselves for re-election.

 

The Company maintains insurance cover for all directors and officers of group companies against liabilities which may be incurred by them while acting as directors or officers of group companies.

 

Details of directors’ total remuneration are contained in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on page 23 .

 

Disclosure of Information to Auditors

 

The directors who held office at the date of approval of this Directors’ Report confirm that, so far as they are each aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditors are unaware; and each director has taken all the steps that he ought to have taken as a director to make himself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditors are aware of that information. This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of s418 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

Auditors

 

PKF-Littlejohn LLP were appointed auditors during the course of the period. In accordance with s489 of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution to re-appoint them as auditors for the ensuing year will be put to the members at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

 

By order of the Board .

 

 

Dr. Philip Comberg

Director

 

28 July 2017

 

 
Page | 18

 

 

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

 

The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the group with parent company financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

 

Company law requires the directors to prepare group and parent company financial statements for the financial period. Under that law they have elected to prepare the group financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and applicable law and have elected to prepare the financial statements for Company under the same methodology.

 

Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the group and parent company and of their profit or loss for that period. In preparing each of the group and parent company financial statements, the directors are required to:

 

Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

   

Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

   

For the group financial statements, state whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRS; and

   

For the parent company financial statements, state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.

 

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the parent company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the parent company and enable them to ensure that its financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the group and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

 

This annual report and financial statements together with the Notice of Annual General Meeting and other information regarding the group may be viewed on the Company’s website at www.vivopower.com .

 

 
Page | 19

 

 

Corporate Governance Statement

 

VivoPower is committed to maintaining a high standard of corporate governance.

 

Board of Directors

 

The Company is committed to maintaining a balance of executive and non-executive directors. The Board is scheduled to meet normally no less than six times per year. In addition, meetings are also convened on an adhoc basis when there is urgent or delegated business which cannot wait until the next scheduled meeting. The following table sets out the number of meetings of the Board, excluding ad hoc meetings, and its committees during the period and the attendance of the members at those meetings:

 

 

Board

Audit

Committee

Remuneration

Committee

Nominations

Committee

Number of meetings held during the period

7

1

2

1

Kevin Chin

7/7

1

2/2

1

Philip Comberg

7/7

     

Edward Hyams

4/4

1

2/2

1

Peter Sermol

3/3

1

2/2

1

Gary Hui

3/3

     

 

The Board considers the overall strategic direction, development and control of the group and reviews trading performance, investment opportunities and other matters of significance to the group. Various decisions require Board approval, including the approval of the annual budget, larger capital expenditure proposals, acquisitions and disposals. Board papers, which are distributed to all directors in advance of each meeting, follow a set agenda although further subjects are added for discussion as the need arises.

 

The non-executive directors are members of the Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committees. Their biographies on pages 16 to 17 illustrate their relevant corporate and industry experience to bring judgement on issues of strategy, performance, resources and standards of conduct which are vital to the success of the group. Kevin Chin acts as Chairman of all three committees.

 

The Articles require directors to submit themselves for re-election at the first Annual General Meeting following appointment and every three years thereafter.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee, comprising of three non-executive directors, with Kevin Chin serving as Chairman, meets at least three times a year. The Chief Financial Officer is generally in attendance in a non-voting capacity to provide detailed reports and deal with any queries which arise. The remaining Board members are also invited but are not entitled to vote.

 

An invitation is also extended to the auditors to attend meetings of the Audit Committee in order to discuss issues relating to the audit and financial control of the group. The auditors also have direct access, should they so require, to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has responsibility within the terms of reference for, among other things, the planning and review of the group’s annual and interim financial statements, the supervision of its auditors in the review of such financial statements and the review and monitoring of their independence.

 

The Audit Committee focuses particularly on the group’s compliance with legal requirements and accounting standards, and on ensuring that effective systems for internal financial control are maintained. The ultimate responsibility for reviewing and approving the report and interim statements remains with the Board.

 

 
Page | 20

 

 

Corporate Governance Statement

(continued)

 

Remuneration Committee

 

The Remuneration Committee comprises three non-executive directors, with Kevin Chin serving as Chairman. Board members are invited to join but only Remuneration Committee members may vote. The Remuneration Committee meets at least twice a year and has the responsibility for determining, within the agreed terms of reference, the group’s policy on the remuneration of senior executives.

 

Nominations Committee

 

The Nominations Committee consists of three non-executive board members with Kevin Chin serving as Chairman. The Nominations Committee identifies, evaluates and selects candidates for Board positions, ensures appropriate succession planning and reviews annually the composition and the size of the Board. In considering the appointment of a new director, the Nominations Committee considers and defines the characteristics, qualities, skills and experience that it considers would complement the overall balance and composition of the Board.

 

Internal Control

 

The Board oversees management’s activities in relation to the systems of internal control. Management has responsibility for maintaining the group’s system of internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness. The system of internal control is designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve the group’s strategic business objectives and can only provide reasonable assurance against material misstatement or loss.

 

The key elements of the system of internal control are:

 

Control environment

There is sufficient segregation of duties and authorisation controls on approval of customer and supplier contracts, recruitment of staff, approval of purchases and payment of suppliers.

 

Financial reporting

The Senior management has regular meetings to discuss all aspects of the business and review financial performance against budget and provides a monthly summary report to the Chairman of the Board. The group has a sustainable system of financial reporting and forecasting covering profits, assets, liabilities, cash flow and capital expenditure. The systems include regular monitoring of cash, monthly reporting of financial results. Budgets and business plans are prepared annually and reviewed by the Board.

 

Capital investment

For any significant investment, a detailed proposal is first approved by the Company’s Investment Committee then by the board of directors of VivoPower International Services Limited (“Services Board”). Any major investment is always approved by the Board or the Services Board.

 

Going Concern

 

The directors have reviewed the latest budget and cash flow projections. The directors are satisfied that the group has adequate resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future. The financial statements have therefore been prepared on a going concern basis. This is supported based upon current cash balances, historical profits and positive cash flows.

 

 
Page | 21

 

 

Corporate Governance Statement

(continued)

 

Communications with Shareholders

 

The Company encourages two-way communications with shareholders. The Board endeavours to maintain good relationships with its institutional shareholders by holding regular meetings after results are published with further dialogue as requested.

 

The Company’s Annual General Meeting will be held on 5 September 2017 at the Company’s registered office. The notice of the meeting is sent to shareholders at least 21 days before the Annual General Meeting. The directors are available for questions both formally during the meeting and informally afterwards.

 

This annual report and financial statements together with the Notice of Annual General Meeting and other information regarding the group may be viewed on the Company’s website at www.vivopower.com .

 

Approved by the Board and signed on behalf of the Board on 28 July 2017.

 

 

Dr. Philip Comberg

Director

 

28 July 2017

 

 
Page | 22

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report

 

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the United Kingdom Companies Act 2006 and Schedule 8 of The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (as amended in 2013).

 

Annual Statement by the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

 

Dear Shareholders,

 

On behalf of the Remuneration Committee (the "Committee"), I am pleased to present the Remuneration Report for the 14 months ended 31 March 2017.

 

This is the Company's first Remuneration Report since its listing on the NASDAQ stock exchange on 29 December 2016.

 

This report sets out the Directors' Remuneration Policy for Executive and Non-Executive Directors (on pages 24 to 34) for which, in accordance with United Kingdom law requirements (which apply by virtue of the Company being incorporated in the United Kingdom), the Company is required to seek approval from shareholders at its meeting of Shareholders, to be held on 5 September 2017.

 

In accordance with United Kingdom law, the Company is required to seek approval for its Remuneration Policy at least every three years. This means that the Remuneration Policy set out below needs to cover all the possible scenarios which the Company may face in the future. In particular, therefore, the Remuneration Policy needs to explain what the Company's approach to compensation would be in the event that new directors, including a new CEO, were to be appointed, even though this may not occur during the life of the Remuneration Policy. In particular, therefore, the Remuneration Policy may address elements of compensation which are not currently paid by the Company to our current Executive Director.

 

After the Remuneration Policy section, pages 35 to 41 set out the Company's Annual Report on Remuneration, disclosing the compensation paid to directors in respect of the 14 months ended 31 March 2017. Again, the format of this Annual Report on Remuneration is specified in accordance with United Kingdom law. This Annual Report on Remuneration will be subject to a separate advisory vote at the Company's annual meeting of shareholders.

 

 
 

 

Kevin Chin

Chair of the Remuneration Committee

 

28 July 2017

 

 
Page | 23

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

This Remuneration Policy will apply with effect from the date on which shareholders approve the policy at the Company’s Annual General Meeting.

 

Executive Directors’ remuneration policy table

 

The Company currently has one Executive Director, Philip Comberg (our CEO). The following sets out the policy in respect of the components of compensation which the CEO currently receives. Any newly appointed Executive Director would also be eligible to receive these components of compensation.

 

 

 

Element

Purpose and

link to strategy

Operation (including maximum levels)

Recovery of

sums

(Clawback)

Salary

To provide the base level of compensation for the role.

Salaries for Executive Directors are set by the Board taking into account such factors as it determines to be necessary.

 

Salaries for existing Executive Directors shall be reviewed for increase, or decrease, annually. Annual salary increases will generally not be expected to exceed 2% per annum, although the Committee may award bigger increases if it determines that the circumstances warrant. This limit is not included as a target or an indication of the salary increases that the Committee may expect or be prepared to award.

Not applicable.

Retirement Benefits

To provide a market competitive level of retirement provision.

Any mandatory retirement provision required by law (or similar) in the jurisdiction in which the Executive Director is resident will be provided.

 

In addition, the Company's policy is that it will provide retirement-related benefits in excess of mandatory benefits, including by provision of additional benefit contributions or a cash payment in lieu of such contributions, up to a maximum of 15% of the Executive Director’s base salary.

 

The Company may elect to provide a lump sum amount in lieu of retirement-related benefits to the extent permitted by applicable law and agreed upon by the Executive Director.

Not applicable.

 

 
Page | 24

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

 

To provide a market competitive level of benefits.

Benefits to be provided to Executive Directors will be determined by the Remuneration Committee taking into account such factors as it determines to be necessary, with the aim of creating a competitive overall package. The provision of benefits would not be expected to be performance related.

 

Benefits include, but are not limited to, participation in a life assurance scheme and participation in a medical insurance scheme.

 

Benefits may also be provided to reflect the jurisdiction in which an Executive Director is recruited or to which an Executive Director is relocated for business reasons, including relocation costs, tax equalisation arrangements and arrangements to take into account exchange rates.

 

Benefits may also include participation in any broad-based equity plan operated by the Company from time to time, up to the relevant limit for participation as applies to such arrangement.

 

Benefits also include a directors’ and officers’ indemnification insurance policy.

 

The Company may elect to pay contributions to existing Executive Director private medical insurance arrangements.

Not applicable.

Annual bonus

To provide an incentive for superior work and to motivate executives toward even higher achievement and business results, to tie their goals and interests to those of the Company and its stockholders and to enable the Company to attract and retain highly qualified executives.

Annual bonuses will be determined by reference to performance, in the normal course measured over one financial period. The performance measures, weightings and targets for the annual bonus will be set by the Remuneration Committee on an annual basis.

 

Performance measures will normally include tests of both business and individual performance and may include measures or a combination of measures relating to: pipeline, profit measures (including but not limited to pre-tax profit budget, ROIC and margin), strategy concern and people targets.

 

The Remuneration Committee shall have discretion to determine the terms and level at which annual bonuses may be granted, including the minimum performance required for an annual bonus to be payable. The maximum annual bonus that may be awarded shall be determined by the Remuneration Committee in its absolute discretion. The maximum annual bonus that may be granted to executive directors other than the CEO is not currently expected to exceed 100% of salary. The CEO has a contractual entitlement to participate in an annual bonus arrangement paying up to 150% of base salary.

 

In respect of an Executive Directors' participation in annual bonus arrangements in any year, the Remuneration Committee will have power to amend performance measures and targets after they have been set if events happen that mean they are no longer a fair test of performance.

Not applicable.

 

 
Page | 25

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

Equity incentive plans

To encourage and enable executives to obtain an equity stake in the Company, which will assure a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company and its stockholders, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company’s behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company.

 

To incentivise key individuals to achieve key long term objectives.

 

To retain key individuals.

Executive Directors are eligible to participate in the Company’s Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

Under the Plan, the Company has the authority to issue stock options, stock units, stock appreciation rights or other equity incentives to Executive Directors. Awards are considered by the Remuneration Committee. Such awards may require the participant to pay a price for shares acquired or enable the participant to receive the shares for nil cost.

 

The Remuneration Committee may determine that awards should be subject to performance measures, including any of the following or a combination thereof: (i) net earnings or net income; (ii) basic or diluted earnings per share; (iii) net revenue or revenue growth; (iv) gross profit or gross profit growth; (v) operating profit; (vi) return measures; (vii) cash flow; (viii) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; (ix) gross or operating margins; (x) productivity ratios; (xi) share price; (xii) expense targets; (xiii) margins; (xiv) operating efficiency; (xv) objective measures of customer satisfaction; (xvi) working capital targets; (xvii) measures of economic value added; (xviii) inventory control; (xix) enterprise value; (xx) sales; (xxi) debt levels and net debt; (xxii) timely launch of new facilities; (xxiii) client retention; (xxiv) employee retention; (xxv) timely completion of new product rollouts; and (xxvi) objective measures of personal targets, goals, reviews or completion of projects. The Remuneration Committee considers that this choice of performance measures provides it with the flexibility to set performance targets that are relevant to the individual and take into account the position of the Company at the time of grant.

 

Any one or more of these performance measures may be used on an absolute or relative basis, as the Remuneration Committee may deem appropriate, and may be compared to the performance of a selected group of comparison companies, or an index that the Remuneration Committee deems appropriate. The Remuneration Committee may determine the minimum performance required for an award to vest.

 

The Remuneration Committee shall have discretion to determine the length of the performance period that shall apply to any performance conditions.

 

The Remuneration Committee shall have discretion to determine the maximum value of an award that may be made under the Plan. It is currently expected that the maximum value that may be awarded under the Plan will be 100% of salary.

In the event that the Company adopts new equity incentive plans, Executive Directors would be eligible to participate in such plans, subject to the terms of, and the maximum levels of participation provided in, the rules of such plans.

 

In respect of any performance-related equity awards grant to Executive Directors, performance measures, weightings and targets will be set by the Remuneration Committee. Following grant of an award, the Remuneration Committee will have power to amend performance measures and targets if events happen that mean they are no longer a fair test of performance.

The Committee may clawback awards granted under the Plan if such payments are made: (i) on account of fraud or misconduct by the Participant; (ii) following an accounting restatement; or (iii) as may be required by any other general clawback policy of the Company which may now exist or hereafter be adopted regarding repayment of incentive-based compensation.

 

 
Page | 26

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

Notes to the Executive Directors' Remuneration Policy Table

 

In considering the appropriate measures to apply to performance-based awards, the Remuneration Committee will seek to incentivise and reinforce delivery of the Company's strategic objectives of achieving a balance between delivering annual returns to shareholders and ensuring long term profitability and growth.

 

The performance targets set will be stretching and achievable, taking into account the Company's strategic priorities and the economic environment in which the Company operates.

 

Other matters

 

In addition to the above, the Company is entitled to honour any contractual entitlement to compensation or benefits, and any cash or equity incentive awards, which is held by: (i) any current or former Executive Director on the effective date of this policy; or (ii) an employee or officer of the Group on the date they are promoted to the role of Executive Director. Appropriate disclosure will be made of any compensation paid (or similar) to an Executive Director pursuant to any such arrangements.

 

The Company may reimburse all reasonable expenses incurred by an Executive Director in connection with their role. This will include expenses in attending Board or Board-committee meetings, or the Company may alternatively provide a travel allowance for such purpose. This may also include items which, for tax purposes, are treated as a taxable benefit, and in which case the Company may also pay any such tax on behalf of the Executive Director.

 

External non-executive appointments

 

Executive Directors are able to accept up to three non-executive appointments outside of the Group (as long as this does not lead to a conflict of interest or competitive issue), as such appointments can enhance their experience and add value to the Company. Any fees received are retained by the Executive Director.

 

Service contracts

 

Service Agreement contract of the CEO

 

On 4 August 2016, VivoPower International Services Ltd and Philip Comberg entered into a Service Agreement under which Philip Comberg (the “CEO”) is employed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Philip was appointed as a statutory director of the Company and VivoPower International Services Ltd on 1 May 2016. The employment under such Service Agreement commenced on 1 September 2016 and is to continue, subject to the terms of the Service Agreement, until determined by either party giving to the other not less than 12 months’ written notice.

 

The Service Agreement provides that the CEO is entitled to a salary at the rate of £540,000 per annum; the Service Agreement provides that the CEO’s salary shall be reviewed by the Remuneration Committee at least once each twelve months save after notice of termination of the Service Agreement has been served, and the Company shall not be obligated to make any increase in salary but shall not make any decrease in salary. In addition to his salary, the CEO is provided with:

 

 

a)

the entitlement to participate in such discretionary bonus scheme and other incentive arrangements, as may be operated by the Company, on such terms and at such level as the Remuneration Committee may from time to time determine, subject to the CEO's right always to participate in an annual bonus arrangement paying up to 150% of base salary for attainment of pre-agreed key performance indicators;

 

 
Page | 27

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

 

b)

participation opportunity in a separate carried interest arrangement. At present the Remuneration Committee has not implemented a carried interest arrangement; if such an arrangement is implemented, this will be disclosed in the relevant Annual Report on Remuneration;

 

c)

an annual payment of 10% of base salary in lieu of pension contributions;

 

d)

participation in the Company's (i) life assurance scheme (with coverage at four times the CEO’s salary); (ii) personal accident insurance (iii) permanent health insurance and (iv) private medical (or payment to the CEO's existing scheme to a maximum of £1,800 per month); and

 

e)

directors and officers’ liability insurance including coverage of legal expenses, for a period extending through six years after the termination date under the Service Agreement.

 

The Service Agreement additionally provides for reimbursement of expenses (including reasonable expenses in respect of personal mobile phone and computer use by the CEO in respect of his role). The Service Agreement also provides for 30 days of holiday (plus English public holidays) each fiscal year of the Company. The CEO shall also be entitled to receive his full salary and contractual benefits during any period of sickness of up to 90 days (increasing to 120 days in the Company's discretion) in any rolling period of 12 months.

 

The Company may terminate the CEO's employment summarily for gross misconduct or similar grounds or by serving twelve months' written notice on the CEO. The CEO may terminate his employment by serving 12 months' written notice on the Company.

 

In circumstances where the employment is terminated on notice, the Company may elect to put in place any of the following arrangements:

 

 

a)

The CEO may be required to actively work throughout the entirety of his notice period;

 

b)

The CEO may be required to spend some or all of his notice period on garden leave (during which time the CEO would remain entitled to receive his full salary and contractual benefits as referred to above at (c) and (d) in the service agreement section); or

 

c)

The Company may elect to make a payment in lieu of notice in respect of the whole or any unexpired proportion of the CEO's notice period. In these circumstances, the payment in lieu of notice would be calculated based on the CEO's annual base salary plus the cost to the Company of the contractual benefits described above at (c) and (d) in the service agreement section. Any such payment due shall be in two equal instalments, the first within seven days after the termination of the CEO's employment and the second no later than the date which is six months thereafter. The second instalment shall be reduced by an amount equal to any payment or benefits received by the CEO from any new alternative employment or engagement after the termination date in respect of such six-month period.

 

If the CEO is terminated (otherwise than for cause) the CEO shall also be entitled to reimbursement for his costs of relocation back to Germany on a grossed up for tax basis and shall remain eligible to receive a pro-rata proportion of any bonus calculated up to the termination date.

 

The Service Agreement contains certain non-competition and other restrictive covenant provisions that may apply for six months less any time spent on garden leave after the end of the CEO’s services with the Company. The non-competition restrictive covenant shall only apply if the CEO receives a remuneration payment (including base salary, the cost to the Company of the contractual benefits referred to at (c) and (d) above, in the service agreement section, bonus in respect of the relevant period of restriction (provided always that the CEO shall be deemed to have received a remuneration payment if the period of restriction encompasses a period in respect of which he has received a payment in lieu of notice).

 

The CEO's Service Agreement is available for inspection at the Company’s registered office during normal hours of business, and will also be available at the Company’s Annual General Meeting until the close of the meeting.

 

Internal promotions

 

In the event that an employee, or officer, of the Group is promoted to the role of Executive Director, the Company will be permitted to honour the terms of the employee's existing employment agreement.

 

 
Page | 28

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

External recruitment

 

The Company's policy is that any new agreement with a newly appointed Executive Director would comply with the following principles:

 

Notice Period

The notice period will be 12 months (in the case of notice being given by both the Company and the Executive Director) and will include a garden leave provision.

Payment in lieu of notice ("PILON")

The contract will include provision for the contract to be terminated summarily by paying a PILON comprising basic salary and pension/pension allowance for the remainder of the notice period. The Company will have discretion to pay on a phased basis, which will normally be subject to mitigation.

Retirement benefits

The service contract may include entitlement to retirements benefits, subject to the provisions and limits set out in this Policy. The entitlement to retirement benefits may continue during any notice period.

Benefits

The service contract may include entitlement to other benefits, subject to the provisions and limits set out in this Policy. The entitlement to benefits may continue during any notice period.

Cash and Equity Incentive Plans

The Executive Director will be eligible to be considered (at the Committee's discretion) to participate in the Company's annual bonus arrangements and long-term incentive arrangements (whether cash or equity based). Participation in such arrangements will be subject to the provisions and limits set out in this Policy.

 

New service contracts will also take account of any local law requirements.

 

Approach to recruitment remuneration

 

In recruiting an Executive Director, including on promotion of an employee or officer from within the Group to the role of Executive Director, the Remuneration Committee will offer the recruit a remuneration package that it believes is appropriate, taking into account the skills and experience of the individual and the need to recruit, retain and motivate individuals of the appropriate calibre.

 

The remuneration package offered may include the components of remuneration described above in the Executive Directors' Remuneration Policy Table.

 

For external hires, the Remuneration Committee may determine that it would be appropriate to buy-out any existing incentive awards held by the individual that are forfeited as a result of the individual leaving their former employer. The Remuneration Committee may also determine that it would be appropriate to grant recruitment-related awards. In the case of any buy-out of an equity based award, or the grant of any recruitment-related award, the award would normally be granted as an equity based award, subject to such vesting and/or performance conditions as the Remuneration Committee determines to be appropriate, either under a one-off arrangement or under the terms of the Company’s incentive arrangements. In determining the terms of such awards, the Remuneration Committee will take account of the vesting schedule and conditions attached to the forfeited awards (in the case of buy-out awards), but also other factors that it determines to be relevant, including the need to suitably incentivise and retain the individual during the initial years of their office.

 

The maximum level of variable remuneration (excluding any buy-out awards) that may be granted to any new Executive Director is 200% of their salary.

 

Loss of office payments

 

Contractual entitlements

 

A departing Executive Director’s rights in respect of salary, retirement benefits and contractual benefits will be determined in accordance with the policy above for service contracts for newly appointed Executive Directors. The current CEO's rights will be determined in accordance with his Service Contract (as described above).

 

 
Page | 29

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

Incentive plans

 

The terms of a departing Executive Director’s participation in any annual bonus or long term incentive plans will be governed by the terms of such arrangements. The terms regarding participation in the annual bonus plan are disclosed in the Service Agreement of the CEO summarised above.

 

Equity Incentive Plan

 

Unless otherwise provided by the Remuneration Committee in an award agreement for awards granted under the Equity Incentive Plan, the unvested portion of an award shall expire upon termination of employment or service of the participant granted the award, and the vested portion of such award shall (if relevant) remain exercisable for:

 

 

one year following termination of employment or service by reason of such participant’s death or disability (as determined by the Remuneration Committee), but not later than the expiration of the standard exercise period; or

 

 

90 days following termination of employment or service for any reason other than such participant’s death or disability, and other than such participant’s termination of employment or service for cause, but not later than the expiration of the standard exercise period.

 

Both the unvested and the vested portion of an award shall expire upon the termination of the participant’s employment or service by the Company for cause.

 

In respect of any awards made to an Executive Director under any broad-based equity plans, the same leaver conditions will apply as apply in respect of employees generally.

 

Other

 

The Company may enter into new contractual arrangements with a departing Executive Director in connection with the cessation of office or employment, including (but not limited to) in respect of settlement of claims, confidentiality, restrictive covenants and/or consultancy arrangements, where the Committee determines it necessary or appropriate to do so. The Company may pay reasonable legal fees on behalf of an Executive Director in connection with their cessation of office and employment. The Company may agree to provide other ancillary or non-material benefits, payments or similar to a departing Executive Director.

 

Corporate actions

 

The treatment of incentive awards in the event of a corporate action affecting the Company will be determined in accordance with the terms of such awards.

 

In the event of a corporate action, unless otherwise determined by the Remuneration Committee, any annual bonus granted to an Executive Director shall continue on the same terms. The Remuneration Committee maintains the discretion to adjust an annual bonus to account for the occurrence of a corporate action in any manner, including but not limited to amending performance measures and targets after they have been set if the occurrence of the corporate action means that they are no longer a fair test of performance.

 

Under the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan, upon a change of control the Remuneration Committee may make such adjustments to awards as it, in its discretion, determines are necessary or appropriate, provided that the Remuneration Committee determines that such adjustments do not have an adverse economic impact on the participant. The Remuneration Committee may, but shall not be limited to, determine that (i) all or a portion of any outstanding options and stock appreciation rights shall become fully exercisable, (ii) all or a portion of any other outstanding awards shall become vested and transferable, and all or a portion of any outstanding performance-based awards will be earned, or (iii) all or a portion of any outstanding awards may be cancelled in exchange for a payment of cash, or (iv) all or a portion of any outstanding awards may be substituted for awards that will substantially preserve the otherwise applicable terms of any affected awards.

 

The Company may agree to pay reasonable legal fees on behalf of an Executive Director in respect of the effect of any corporate action on their personal position.

 

 
Page | 30

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

Non-Executive Directors’ Remuneration Policy Table

 

Element

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation (including maximum levels)

Recovery of Sums (Clawback)

Fees

To attract and retain high-calibre Non-Executive Directors.

The Non-Executive Directors receive an annual retainer for service on the Board, with supplementary retainers payable for additional Board responsibilities.

Not applicable.

   

Annual retainer for Board membership

£48,000

 
   

Retainer for the Chairman of the Board

£165,000

 
    Additional retainers for the committee members £5,000  
   

Additional retainer for Chairman of Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committees

£30,000

 
   

 

The fee levels are reviewed on an annual basis, and may be increased by the Company taking into account factors such as the time commitment of the role and market levels in companies of comparable size and complexity. Fees may be amended before any annual review to reflect any changes to the Director’s role or Board committee memberships which occur during the period or when making a new appointment.

 

New Directors may also be eligible for a one-time fee of £6,000 or such higher amounts as the Company determines, based on market conditions, the proposed New Directors skills and experience and the Company's circumstances.

 

In addition, if a Director is required to spend substantially longer than the likely time commitment set out in their agreement, the Company may at its sole and absolute discretion make one or more specific payments to the Director to reflect this additional commitment.   There is no prescribed maximum for the additional specific payments that may be made to Directors in these circumstances, however, the payments that would be offered would be in line with the practice of other companies in our peer group with similar global operations, and would be market competitive.

 

Benefits

To attract and retain high-calibre Non-Executive Directors.

Benefits to be provided to Non-executive Directors will be determined by the Committee taking into account such factors as it determines to be necessary, with the aim of creating a competitive overall package. The provision of benefits would not be expected to be performance related.

 

Benefits include, but are not limited to, reimbursement of expenses (including for professional advice), provision of indemnification in respect of liabilities arising out of claims in respect of acts or omissions whilst in the course of acting as a Director, and provision of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. Directors are also entitled to enter into separate indemnification agreements with the Company.

Not applicable.

 

 
Page | 31

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

Equity awards

To attract and retain high-calibre Non-Executive Directors.

There is currently no equity plan in place for Non-Executive Directors. The Committee may determine to implement a plan for Non-Executive Directors. Details of such a plan would be disclosed in the relevant Annual Report on Remuneration.

Not applicable

 

 

Other matters

Other matte rs

In addition to the above, the Company is entitled to honour any contractual entitlement to compensation or benefits, and any cash or equity incentive awards, which are held by any current or former Non-Executive Director on the effective date of this policy. Appropriate disclosure will be made of any compensation paid (or similar) to a Non-Executive Director pursuant to any such arrangements.

 

The Company may reimburse all reasonable expenses incurred by a Non-Executive Director in connection with their role. This will include expenses in attending Board or Board-committee meetings, or the Company may alternatively provide a travel allowance for such purpose. This may also include items which, for tax purposes, are treated as a taxable benefit, and in which case the Company may also pay any such tax on behalf of the Non-Executive Director.

 

Terms of appointment and terms of termination of office

 

Current Non-Executive Directors

 

Subject to the provisions of the Company’s Articles of Association and to the terms relating to election, vacancy and removal in the Non-Executive Director’s Appointment Letter, and subject to continued satisfactory performance by the Non-Executive Director, the appointment is anticipated to be for an initial term of 3 years, unless otherwise terminated by and at the discretion of the Non-Executive Director or the Board upon one month’s written notice.

 

Details of the director agreements currently in place for the Non-Executive Directors are as follows:

 

 

Date of director agreement

Unexpired term at 5 September   2017

Kevin Chin

1 August 2016

Through 27 April 2019

Gary Hui

1 August 2016

Through 21 December 2019

Edward Hyams

29 July 2016

Through 2 November 2019

Peter Sermol

1 August 2016

Through 21 December 2019

 

None of the Non-Executive Director agreements contain a notice period or any provision for benefits upon a termination of service save as provided above.

 

All Non-Executive Director agreements are available for inspection at the Company’s registered office during normal hours of business, and will also be available at the Company’s Annual General Meeting until the close of the meeting.

 

New Non-Executive Directors

 

The Company's policy is that any director agreement for any newly elected Non-Executive Director will be in line with the policy above. Any such agreement may contain a one month notice period.

 

 
Page | 32

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

Approach to recruitment remuneration

 

When recruiting Non-Executive Directors, the remuneration arrangements offered will be in line with those set out in the policy above.

 

 

Application of this policy for Executive Directors in the year ending 31 March 2018

 

 

 

(1)

Minimum remuneration represents basic salary, payments in lieu of pension, benefits and the face value of awards granted under the Equity Incentive Plan that are not subject to performance. Share price appreciation has not been factored into the amount shown.

 

 

(2)

In line with expectations represents the same elements included in the "minimum" calculation shown above plus: annual bonus at target level and the face value of the proportion of awards granted under the Equity Incentive Plan that are subject to performance based vesting which would be delivered if the target level of performance is met. Share price appreciation has not been factored into the amount shown.

 

 

(3)

Maximum represents the same elements included in the "minimum" calculation shown above plus: annual bonus at maximum level and the face value of awards granted under the Equity Incentive Plan that are subject to performance based vesting which would be delivered if the maximum level of performance is met. Share price appreciation has not been factored into the amount shown.

 

Under the terms of the Service Agreement entered into with Philip Comberg, in lieu of pension contributions, the Company pays to Philip Comberg an amount equal to 10% of his annual salary in monthly instalments. This amount is then paid by Philip Comberg into his personal pension.

 

 
Page | 33

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

The table below shows the value in numerical and percentage terms of each component of remuneration including in the chart above:

   

 

Component

Minimum

remuneration

In line with

expectations

Maximum

Value

Salary

£540,000

£540,000

£540,000

Pension

£54,000

£54,000

£54,000

Benefits

£21,600

£21,600

£21,600

Total (fixed)

£615,600

£615,600

£615,600

Bonus

N/A

£540,000

£810,000

Equity

£135,000

£459,000

£540,000

Total (fixed and variable)

£750,600

£1,614,600

£1,965,600

Percentage

Salary

71.9%

33.4%

27.5%

Pension

7.2%

3.3%

2.8%

Benefits

2.9%

1.3%

1.1%

Total (fixed)

82.0%

38.1%

31.3%

Bonus

N/A

33.4%

41.2%

Equity

18.0%

28.4%

27.5%

Total (fixed and variable)

100%

100%

100%

 

 

Statement of consideration of employment conditions elsewhere in the Company

 

The Remuneration Committee considers pay and employment conditions elsewhere in the Group when determining remuneration for Executive Directors. However, the Remuneration Committee does not currently consult specifically with employees on the Executive Director Remuneration Policy. Comparison measurements measuring the remuneration of the CEO as against the remuneration of the wider employee group are not used in setting remuneration policy.

 

Statement of consideration of shareholder views

 

Given the recent listing of the Company, the Remuneration Committee has not consulted with shareholders on the development of this Remuneration Policy but is open to feedback from shareholders on the Remuneration Policy.

 

 
Page | 34

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

Annual Report on Remuneration

 

Single total figure of remuneration for each Executive Director

 

The amount earned by each of the Executive Directors for the period ended 31 March 2017 is set out in the table below:

 

Philip Comberg*

Salary

Benefits

Annual Bonus

LTIP

Retirement

benefits

Total

£315,000

£12,600

£630,000

NIL

£31,500

£989,100

 

 

* Philip Comberg was appointed CEO effective 1 September 2016 and was appointed as a statutory director on 1 May 2016.

 

In connection with his appointment as CEO, his base salary was set at £540,000 and his target annual cash incentive bonus amount was set at 150% of his base salary. The amount presented reflects the amount earned for services as CEO over the period reported on.

 

The Company was incorporated on 1 February 2016, and in accordance with section 392 of the Companies Act 2006 extended its accounting reference date to 31 March 2017. The Company therefore does not have a prior financial period for which records for remuneration can be disclosed. In future years this table will be updated to show remuneration paid in the relevant years.

 

Details of amounts included in the single total figure for the 14 months ended 31 March 2017

 

Benefits :

 

The following benefits were available to the CEO during the 14 months ended 31 March 2017:

 

 

Private Medical

 

 

Participation in a directors' and officers' indemnification insurance policy

 

In addition to the ongoing benefits referred to above, the CEO was also paid a one-off benefit payment in the 14 months ended 31 March 2017, for relocation expenses in accordance with the terms of his Service Agreement, in reimbursement for the expenses (on a grossed up for tax basis) of moving to London to take up the role of CEO.

 

Annual Bonus

 

Philip Comberg was appointed CEO effective 1 September 2016 and was also appointed as a director on 1 May 2016. In connection with his appointment as CEO, his target annual cash incentive bonus amount was set at 150% of his base salary. The value of the annual bonus awarded to the CEO, in accordance with his performance against performance targets was £630,000.

 

Long Term Incentive awards

 

No long-term incentive awards vested during the 14 months ending 31 March 2017.

 

 
Page | 35

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

Retirement benefits

 

As more fully described below, during the 14 months ending 31 March 2017 in lieu of retirement benefits the Company paid £31,500 to Philip Comberg, for payment into his personal pension plan.

 

Total pension entitlements

 

Under the terms of the Service Agreement entered into with Philip Comberg, in lieu of pension contributions, the Company pays to Philip Comberg an amount equal to 10% of his annual salary in monthly instalments. This amount is then paid by Philip Comberg into his personal pension.

 

Scheme interests awarded in the 14 months ended 31 March 2017

 

No equity interests were granted to the CEO in the 14 months ended 31 March 2017.

 

Non-Executive Directors

 

Single total figure of remuneration for each Non-Executive Director

 

The amount earned by each of the Non-Executive Directors for the 14 months ended 31 March 2017 is set out in the table below:

 

 

Base fees

Other fees

Equity awards

Total

Kevin Chin

£200,000

NIL

NIL

£200,000

Edward Hyams

£21,667

£6,000

NIL

£27,667

Peter Sermol

£13,477

£6,000

NIL

£19,477

Gary Hui

£36,000

£36,992

NIL

£72,992

 

 

T he Company was incorporated 1 February 2016, and in accordance with section 392 of the Companies Act 2006 extended its accounting reference date to 31 March 2017. The Company therefore does not have a prior financial period for which records for remuneration can be disclosed.

 

In future years this table will be updated to show remuneration paid in the relevant years.

 

Details of amounts included in the single total figure for the 14 months ended 31 March 2017

 

Kevin Chin receives £165,000 per annum for being Chairman of the Board plus a further £30,000 for being Chairman of each of the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

 

Kevin Chin was officially appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 1 August 2016. Prior to this date he acted for the benefit of the Company through his role as the Executive Chairman and CEO of Arowana International from the date of incorporation (i.e. 1 February 2016). The amount presented in the table above reflects the amount earned by Kevin Chin over the period 1 February 2016 to 31 March 2017.

 

Edward Hyams was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 29 July 2016 and commenced that role from 2 November 2016. Edward Hyams receives £48,000 per annum for being a Non-Executive Director. Edward Hyams receives an additional £5,000 per annum for being a member of the Nomination, Audit and Remuneration Committees.

 

Peter Sermol was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 1 August 2016 and commenced that role from 21 December 2016. Edward Hyams receives £48,000 per annum for being a Non-Executive Director. Peter Sermol receives an additional £5,000 per annum for being a member of the Nomination, Audit and Remuneration Committees.

 

Gary Hui was officially appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 1 August 2016. Prior to this date he acted for the benefit of the Company through his role as the CIO of Arowana International from the 1 July 2016. The amount presented in the table above reflects the amount earned by Gary Hui over the period 1 July 2016 to 31 March 2017. Gary Hui is also paid an annual salary of $360,000 through US payroll, in compensation for additional work undertaken for the benefit of the Company, including his role on the investment committee.

 

 
Page | 36

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

A portion of this salary is recharged to Arowana International Limited; the amount presented in the table above reflects the amount that is not recharged to Arowana International Limited.

 

No equity interests were awarded to Non-Executive Directors in the 14 months ending 31 March 2017.

 

Other payments to directors in the 14 months ended 31 March 2017

 

Payments to past Directors or for loss of office

 

No payments were made to any past director during the period or in connection with a director's loss of office during the period.

 

Statement of Directors’ Shareholdings and Interests

 

The CEO and his connected persons had no interests in the shares, options, and listed securities of the Company as at 31 March 2017.

 

The interests of other Directors and their connected persons (if any), in the shares, options, and listed securities of the Company as at 31 March 2017, are set out in the table below.

 

 

Interests in shares

held at 31 March 2017,

excluding outstanding

scheme interests

Outstanding scheme interests, at 31 March 2017

Total of all share

interests and

outstanding scheme

interests, at 31 March

2017

 

 

 

Unvested scheme

interests (not subject

to performance

measures)

Vested but

unexercised

scheme

interests

Total shares

subject to

outstanding

scheme interests

Kevin Chin*

1,266,531

0

0

0

1,266,531

Gary Hui**

325,045

0

0

0

325,045

Philip Comberg***

0

0

0

0

0

 

 

* Kevin Chin holds interests in VivoPower shares as the beneficiary of the Panaga Group Trust, which, as at 31 March 2017 held 1,241,531 VivoPower shares, equivalent to 9.2% of the issued share capital. Kevin Chin also holds interests in VivoPower shares through Borneo Capital, which as at 31 March 2017 held 25,000 VivoPower shares, equivalent to 0.2% of the issued share capital.

 

** Gary Hui holds interests in VivoPower shares through Beira Corp.

 

*** Philip Comberg and Kevin Chin intend to enter into a transaction whereby Philip Comberg acquires 416,100 founder and insider shares from Kevin Chin.

 

It is expected that Philip Comberg and Carl Weatherley-White (CFO) will purchase VivoPower shares at a level equivalent to 50% of the after tax proceeds from their bonuses paid in connection with the 14 months ended 31 March 2017.

 

Minimum shareholding requir e ments

 

The Company currently does not have any applicable shareholding guidelines. The Remuneration Committee reserves the right to implement shareholding guidelines. If shareholding guidelines are implemented, these will be disclosed in the relevant Annual Report on Remuneration.

 

 
Page | 37

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

Comparison to Company Performance

 

Performance graph and table and comparison to CEO pay

 

The following graph shows total shareholder return for the Company for the period from its listing on 29 December 2016 to 31 March 2017, relative to the Nasdaq Composite Index. The Nasdaq Composite Index is considered an appropriate comparator for VivoPower:

 

 

 

 

In future annual reports, the graph above will show the TSR performance of the Company over a period of up to ten years. However as the Company only became listed during the 14 months ended 31 March 2017 it is not currently possible to include information beyond that presented.

 

The following table shows details of the compensation paid to the individual(s) in the role of CEO:

 

The following table shows details of the compensation paid to the

individual(s) in the role of CEO:

2017

CEO single figure of remuneration

£989,100

Annual Bonus as a % of maximum opportunity (%)

64%

LTIP award as a % of maximum opportunity (%)*

0%

 

* No LTIP award was granted to the CEO for the 14 months ending 31 March 2017

 

In future annual reports, the table above will show details of the compensation paid to the individual(s) in the role of CEO over a period of up to ten years. However, as Philip Comberg was appointed CEO effective 1 September 2016 and the Company did not have a CEO prior to his appointment, it is currently not possible to include information beyond that presented.

 

In connection with his appointment as CEO, Philip Comberg's base salary was set at £540,000 and his target annual cash incentive bonus amount was set at 150% of his base salary. The amount presented reflects the amount earned for services as CEO over the period reported on.

 

Percentage change in remuneration of director undertaking the role of CEO

 

In future annual reports, the Company will include a table showing the percentage change in remuneration of the CEO relative to the percentage change in remuneration of other employees (but as the Company is reporting on its first financial period since incorporation it is not currently possible to include that information).

 

 
Page | 38

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

Relative importance of pay

 

The table below shows the total pay for all of the Group's global employees compared to other key financial indicators.

 

 

Current Period

Employee remuneration (USD)

7,072,309

Distributions to shareholders (USD)

NIL

 

 

Statement of implementation of remuneration policy for the year to 31 March 2018

 

Executive Directors

 

Base Salary

 

The Committee will pay the CEO's base salary in line with the remuneration policy outlined above in the year ending 31 March 2018. The Committee intends to keep the CEO's base salary under review and will consider whether the amount and terms on which his base salary are payable are appropriate given the Company's economic position and wider market conditions. Any changes to the CEO's base salary will be compliant with the remuneration policy outlined above and will be disclosed in the Remuneration Report for the relevant financial year.

 

The CEO's base salary has been set at £540,000 for the year ending 31 March 2018.

 

Benefits

 

The Committee will provide the CEO with benefits in line with the remuneration policy outlined above in the year ending 31 March 2018. The Committee intends to keep benefits under review and will consider whether the amount and terms on which benefits are payable are appropriate given the Company's economic position and wider market conditions. Any changes to benefits will be compliant with the remuneration policy outlined above and will be disclosed in the Remuneration Report for the relevant financial year.

 

Annual bonus

 

The annual bonus for the CEO will include a mixture of financial and personal metrics. The performance criteria attaching to bonuses will be disclosed retrospectively provided that commercial sensitivity is no longer an issue. It is expected that retrospective disclosure will be made in the notes to the single total figure table of the 2018 Annual Report on Remuneration. The maximum level of award that may be received by the CEO under his annual bonus for the year ending 31 March 2018 has been set at 150% of his base salary.

 

Equity incentive plan

 

The performance-based elements of the equity incentive plan award made to the CEO will include a mixture of financial metrics. The performance criteria attaching to the award will be disclosed retrospectively provided that commercial sensitivity is no longer an issue. It is expected that retrospective disclosure will be made in the notes to the single total figure table of the 2020 Annual Report on Remuneration.

 

The maximum level of award that may be received by the CEO under the Equity Incentive Plan for the award granted to him for the year ending 31 March 2018 has been set at 100% of his base salary.

 

Retirement b enefits

 

The Committee will provide the CEO with a cash sum in lieu of retirement benefits in line with the remuneration policy outlined above in the year ending 31 March 2018. The Committee intends to keep the value of the cash sum paid in lieu of retirement benefits under review and will consider whether the amount and terms on which the cash sum is payable are payable are appropriate given the Company's economic position and wider market conditions. Any changes to the cash sum will be compliant with the remuneration policy outlined above and will be disclosed in the Remuneration Report for the relevant financial year.

 

The CEO will receive cash payments equivalent to 10% of his annual base salary in lieu of retirement benefits in the year ending 31 March 2018.

 

 
Page | 39

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

Non-Executive Directors

 

Cash compensation

 

The Committee will pay annual retainers to non-executive directors in line with the remuneration policy outlined above in the year ending 31 March 2018. The Committee intends to keep the value of annual retainers under review and will consider in March of 2018 whether the amount and terms on which retainers are payable are appropriate given the Company's economic position and wider market conditions. Any changes to retainers will be compliant with the remuneration policy outlined above and will be disclosed in the Remuneration Report for the relevant financial year.

 

Annual retainers for the year ending 31 March 2018 have been set as follows:

 

 

Annual retainer for Board membership

£48,000

   

Retainer for the Chairman of the Board

£165,000

   

Additional retainers for the committee members

£5,000

   
Additional retainer for Chairman of Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committees £30,000

 

 

Equity compensation

 

There is currently no equity plan in place for Non-Executive Directors. The Committee may determine to implement a plan for Non-Executive Directors. Details of such a plan would be disclosed in the Remuneration Report for the relevant financial year.

 

Benefits

 

The Committee will provide benefits to Non-Executive directors in line with the remuneration policy outlined above in the year ending 31 March 2018. The Committee intends to keep the value of benefits under review and will consider whether the amount and terms on which benefits are provided are appropriate given the Company's economic position and wider market conditions. Any changes to benefits will be compliant with the remuneration policy outlined above and will be disclosed in the Remuneration Report for the relevant financial year.

 

Consideration of matters relating to Directors’ remuneration

 

Remuneration Committee

 

The members of the Committee during the period and their attendance at meetings of the Committee, are set out below:

 

 

Attendance

Kevin Chin

2/2

Edward Hyams

2/2

Peter Sermol

2/2

 

No Non-Executive Directors are involved in deciding their own remuneration.

 

The Committee did not retain a remuneration consultant during the period under review but has subsequently appointed Pearl Meyer to advise the Committee on various matters, including the Equity Incentive Plan. Pearl Meyer is a signatory to the Remuneration Consultants' Code of Conduct. The Committee has reviewed the operating processes in place at Pearl Meyer and is satisfied that the advice it receives is independent and objective.

 

 
Page | 40

 

 

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

 

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP and Winston & Strawn LLP provide the Company with legal advice. Advice from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP and Winston & Strawn LLP is made available to the Remuneration Committee, where it relates to matters within its remit.

 

Statement of voting at general meeting

 

This is the first financial period in respect of which the Company is required to produce a Remuneration Policy, and therefore no shareholder vote has previously been held on the Remuneration Policy. The Company will report on the votes cast by shareholders on the Company's Remuneration Policy and Annual Report on Remuneration in future annual reports.

 

The Remuneration Report was approved by a duly authorised Committee of the Board of Directors on 28 July 2017 and signed on its behalf by:

 

 

 

 

Kevin Chin

Chair of the Remuneration Committee

 

28 July 2017

 

 
Page | 41

 

 

Independent Auditor’s Report to the

Members of VivoPower International PLC

 

We have audited the financial statements of VivoPower International PLC for the 14 months ended 31 March 2017 which comprise the Group and Parent Company Statements of Financial Position, the Group Statements of Comprehensive Income, the Group Statements of Cash Flows, the Group and Parent Company Statements of Changes in Equity and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs).

 

This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone, other than the company and the company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

 

Respective responsibilities of Directors and Auditor

 

As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

 

Scope of the audit of the financial statements

 

An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the group’s and parent company’s circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by Directors; and the overall presentation of the financial statements. In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the Annual Report to identify material inconsistencies with the audited financial statements and to identify any information that is apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired by us in the course of performing the audit. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

 

Opinion on financial statements

 

In our opinion:

 

the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as at 31 March 2017 and of the group’s and the parent company’s profit for the period then ended;

the financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRS; and

the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

 

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

 

the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report for the financial period for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

 

 
Page | 42

 

 

Independent Auditor’s Report to the

Members of VivoPower International PLC

 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

 

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report.

 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

 

adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

the parent company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Alistair Roberts 1 Westferry Circus,

For and on behalf of PKF Littlejohn LLP                    

Canary Wharf,

Senior statutory auditor                              

London, UK, E14 4HD

 

28 July 2017

 

 
Page | 43

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

for the period ended 31 March 2017

(USD in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

   

Not e

   

For the 14 months

ended 31 March 2017

 
                 

Revenue

            32,250  

Cost of sales

            (4,977 )

Gross profit

            27,273  

General and administrative expenses

            (9,595 )

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

    11       (103 )

Amortisation of intangible assets

    12       (548 )

Operating profit

            17,027  

Transaction related costs

    3       (5,800 )

Finance income

    8       13  

Finance expenses

    9       (602 )

Profit before income tax

            10,638  

Income tax expenses

    10       (5,338 )

Profi t for the period

            5,300  
                 

Other comprehensive income

               

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

               

Currency translation differences recognised directly in equity

            599  

Total comprehensive income for the period

            5,899  
                 

Earnings per share

         

dollars

 

Basic

    24       0.81  

Diluted

    24       0.81  

 

All results are generated from continued operations.

 

 
Page | 44

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position  

as at 31 March 2017

(USD in thousands)

 

 

   

Note

   

As at 31 March 2017

 

ASSETS

               

Non-current assets

               

Property, plant and equipment

    11       2,163  

Intangible assets

    12       46,320  

Deferred tax assets

    10       2,312  

Other receivables

    15       1,167  

Investments

    14       18,060  

Total non-current assets

            70,022  
                 

Current assets

               

Cash and cash equivalents

    16       10,970  

Trade and other receivables

    15       19,844  

Total current assets

            30,814  

TOTAL ASSETS

            100,836  
                 

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

               

Current liabilities

               

Trade and other payables

    17       8,262  

Finance lease payable

    21       145  

Provision for income tax

    10       2,361  

Provisions

    19       1,339  

Loans and borrowings

    18       90  

Total current liabilities

            12,197  
                 

Non-current liabilities

               

Loans and borrowings

    18       19,925  

Provisions

    19       237  

Deferred tax liabilities

    10       3,776  

Finance lease payable

    21       95  

Total non - current labilities

            24,033  

Total liabilities

            36,230  
                 

Equity

               

Share capital

    22       163  

Share premium

            40,215  

Cumulative translation reserve

            599  

Other reserves

    23       18,329  

Retained earnings

            5,300  

Total Equity

            64,606  

TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

            100,836  

 

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 28 July 2017 and were signed on its behalf by Philip Comberg.

 

 

Dr. Philip Comberg

Director

 

 

28 July 2017

 

 
Page | 45

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow

for the period ended 31 March 2017

(USD in thousands)

 

   

Note

   

For the 14 months

ended 31 March 2017

 
                 

Cash generated from operating activities

    16       6,281  

Net cash generated from operating activities

            6,281  
                 

Cash flows from investing activities

               

Interest received

    8       13  

Purchase of property plant and equipment

    11       (97 )

Investment in capital projects

    14       (18,060 )

Cash received from acquisitions

    20       1,485  

Acquisitions

            (10,080 )

Net cash used in investing activities

            (26,739 )
                 

Cash flows from financing activities

               

Financing agreements

            330  

Loans from related parties

            19,944  

Funds received from issuing shares

            167  

Costs from listing

            (11,469 )

Funds received from listing

            22,456  

Net cash generated from financing activities

            31,428  
                 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

            10,970  

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

            -  

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

            10,970  

 

 
Page | 46

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity  

for the period ended 31 March 2017

(USD in thousands)

 

 

 

   

Share

Capital

   

Share

Premium

   

Other

Reserves

   

Cumulative

T ranslation

R eserve

   

Retained

Earnings

   

Total

 
                                                 

1 February 2016

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total comprehensive income for the period

    -       -       -       599       5,300       5,899  

Redenomination of share capital

    (4 )     -       -       -       -       (4 )

Issue of new shares

    167       40,215       -       -       -       40,382  

Equity instruments

    -       -       25,072       -       -       25,072  

Capital raising costs

    -       -       (9,722 )     -       -       (9,722 )

Share option reserve

    -       -       3,713       -       -       3,713  

Treasury shares

                                               

Purchase of shares

    -       -       (592 )     -       -       (592 )

Other reserves

    -       -       (142 )     -       -       (142 )

At 31 March 2017

    163       40,215       18,329       599       5,300       64,606  

 

 

For further information on “Other reserves” please see note 23.

 

 
Page | 47

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements 

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

1.

Reporting entity

 

VivoPower International PLC (“VivoPower” or the “Company”) is a company domiciled in the United Kingdom. The address of the Company’s registered office is 91 Wimpole Street, Marylebone, London, W1G 0EF. The consolidated financial statements of the Company as at and for the period ended 31 March 2017 comprise the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the ‘group’ and individually as ‘group entities’. The ultimate parent company into which these results are consolidated is Arowana International Limited.

 

2.

Accounting policies

 

Summary of significant accounting policies:

 

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all periods presented, unless otherwise stated.

 

2.1

Basis of preparation

 

VivoPower International PLC consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), IFRIC interpretations and the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The financial statements are the first to be prepared for VivoPower International PLC and are for the 14 months from the date of formation to 31 March 2017. The Company has elected to prepare its parent company financial statements in accordance with IFRS. These are presented on page 77.

 

The preparation of financial statements with adopted IFRS requires the use of critical accounting estimates. It also requires the management to exercise judgement in the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where the assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are disclosed in note 3.

 

The directors believe that the Company is well placed to manage its business risk successfully, despite some current economic and political uncertainty. The directors therefore have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, they have continued to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements.

 

All financial information presented in US Dollars has been rounded to the nearest thousand.

 

Significant accounting policies

 

2.1.1

Basis of consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include those of VivoPower International PLC and all of its subsidiary undertakings.

 

Subsidiary undertakings are those entities controlled directly or indirectly by the Company. The results of the subsidiaries acquired are included in the consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income from the date of acquisition using the same accounting policies of those of the group. All business combinations are accounted for using the purchase method.

 

Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies in line with those used by other members of the group.All intra-group balances and transactions, including any unrealised income and expense arising from intra-group transactions, are eliminated in full in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

 

 
Page | 48

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

Unrealised gains arising from transactions with equity invested investees are eliminated against the investment to the extent of the group’s interest in the investee. Unrealised losses are eliminated in the same way as unrealised gains, but only to the extent that there is no evidence of impairment.

 

2.2.2

Intangible assets

 

All intangible assets, except goodwill, are stated at fair value less accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is not amortised and is stated at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.

 

Goodwill

Goodwill arose on the effective acquisition of VivoPower Pty Limited and the Aevitas Group of companies. Goodwill is reviewed annually to test for impairment.

 

Other intangible assets

Intangible assets acquired through a business combination are initially measured at fair value and then amortised over their useful economic lives.

 

The Group has taken advantage of the provisions of IFRS 3 in accounting for the business combinations arising from the acquisitions of Aevitas O Holdings Pty Ltd and VivoPower Pty Ltd.  Accordingly, the financial statements currently recognise the Directors' best estimate of the individual allocation of goodwill and other separately identifiable assets acquired. The completion of the purchase price allocation exercise will be finalised within 12 months following the date of acquisition.

 

Amortisation is calculated on a straight-line basis to write down the assets over their useful economic lives at the following rates:

 

Customer relationships – 7 years

Trade names – 14 years

Favourable supply contracts – 5 years

Databases – 5 years

 

2.2.3

Property, plant and equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. The cost of an item of property, plant and equipment comprises its purchase price and the costs directly attributable to bringing the asset into use.

 

When parts of an item of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, they are accounted as separate items (major components) of property, plant and equipment.

 

Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis so as to write down the assets to their estimated residual value over their useful economic lives at the following rates:

 

Computer equipment – 3 years

Fixtures and fittings – 3 years

Motor vehicles – 5 years

 

2.2.4

Business combinations

 

Acquisitions of subsidiaries and businesses are accounted for using the acquisition method. The consideration transferred in a business combination is the fair value at the acquisition date of the assets transferred and the liabilities incurred by the Group and includes the fair value of any contingent consideration arrangement. Acquisition-related costs are recognised in the income statement as incurred.

 

 
Page | 49

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

2.2.5

Leases

 

Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee. All other leases are classified as operating leases.

 

Assets held under finance leases are initially recognised as property, plant and equipment at an amount equal to the fair value of the leased assets or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments at the inception of the lease, and then depreciated over their useful economic lives.

 

Lease payments are apportioned between the repayment of capital and interest. The capital element of future lease payments is included in the Statement of Financial Position as a liability. Interest is charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.

 

Rentals payable under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Operating leases incentives are recognised as a reduction in the rental expense over the lease term.

 

2.2.6

Impairment of non-financial assets

 

Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units for the purposes of impairment testing. The recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit (‘CGU’) to which the goodwill relates is tested annually for impairment or when events or changes to circumstances indicate that it might be impaired.

 

The carrying values of property, plant and equipment, investments and intangible assets other than goodwill are reviewed for impairment only when events indicate the carrying value may be impaired.

 

In an impairment test the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit or asset is estimated in order to determine the existence or extent of any impairment loss. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and the value in use to the group. An impairment loss is recognised to the extent that the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount. In determining a cash-generating unit’s or asset’s value in use, estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time-value of money and risks specific to the cash-generating unit or asset that have not already been included in the estimate of future cash flows. All impairment losses are recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

 

An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed. In the case of other assets, impairment losses recognised in prior periods are assessed at each reporting date for any indications that the loss has decreased or no longer exists. These impairment losses are reversed if there has been any change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent so that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the carrying value that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if no impairment loss had been recognised.

 

2.2.7

Financial instruments

 

Financial assets and liabilities are recognised in the group’s Statement of Financial Position when the group becomes a party to the contracted provision of the instrument. The following policies for financial instruments have been applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.

 

 
Page | 50

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value measurement is based on the presumption that the transaction to sell the asset or   transfer the liability takes place either:

 

 

in the principal market for the asset or liability; or

     
 

in the absence of a principal market, in the most advantageous market for the asset or liability.

 

The principal or the most advantageous market must be accessible by the group. The fair value of an asset or a liability is measured using the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing   the asset or   liability, assuming that market participants act in their economic best interest.

 

All assets and liabilities for which fair value is measured or disclosed in the financial statements are categorised within the fair value hierarchy, described as follows, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as   a whole:

 

 

Level 1 — quoted (unadjusted) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 

 

Level 2 — valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is directly or indirectly observable; and

 

 

Level 3 — valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is unobservable.

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

For the purpose of preparation of the Statement of Cash Flow, cash and cash equivalents includes cash at bank and in hand.

 

Bank borrowings

Interest-bearing bank loans are recorded at the proceeds received. Direct issue costs paid on the establishment of loan facilities are recognised over the term of the loan on a straight-line basis. The initial payment is taken to the Statement of Financial Position and then amortised over the full-length of the facility.

 

Trade and other receivables

Trade and other receivables are stated at amounts receivable less any allowance for the expected future issue of credit notes and for non-recoverability due to credit risk.

 

Trade payables

Trade payables are non-interest bearing and are stated at their amortised cost.

 

Share c apital

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of ordinary shares are recognised as a deduction from equity, net of any tax effects.

 

Repurchase of share capital (treasury shares)

When share capital recognised as equity is repurchased as equity by the Company the amount of the consideration paid, which includes directly attributable costs, net of any tax effects, is recognised as a deduction from equity, and excluded from the number of shares in issue when calculating earnings per share.

 

 
Page | 51

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

2.2.8

Taxation

 

Income tax expense comprises current and deferred tax.

 

Current tax is recognised based on the amounts expected to be paid or recovered under the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period.

 

Deferred tax is provided on temporary timing differences that arise between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and their corresponding tax values. Liabilities are recorded on all temporary differences except in respect of initial recognition of goodwill and in respect of investments in subsidiaries where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference is controlled by the group and it is probable that it will not reverse in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be offset. Deferred tax is measured on an undiscounted basis using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the accounting period.

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities, they relate to income taxes levied by the same tax authority and the group intends to settle current tax liabilities and assets on a net basis or their tax assets and liabilities will be realised simultaneously.

 

Current and deferred tax are recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income, except when the tax relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case it is also dealt with directly in equity.

 

2.2.9

Provisions

 

Provisions are recognised when the group has a present obligation because of a past event, it is probable that the group will be required to settle that obligation, and it can be measured reliably.

 

Provisions are measured at the directors’ best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation at the date of Statement of Financial Position.

 

Where the time value of money is material, provisions are measured at the present value of expenditures expected to be paid in settlement.

 

2.2.10

Earnings per share

 

The group presents basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) data for ordinary shares. Basic EPS is calculated by dividing the profit or loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares, excluding the shares held as treasury shares. Currently there are no diluting effects on EPS for ordinary shares, therefore, diluted EPS is the same as basic EPS.

 

2.2.11

Foreign currencies

 

The Company’s functional and presentational currency is the US Dollar. Items included in the separate financial statements of each group entity are measured in the functional currency of that entity. Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency of the entity at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the individual transactions. Foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing at the end of the reporting period.

 

 
Page | 52

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

Exchange gains and losses arising are charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income within finance income or expenses. The Statement of Comprehensive and Statement of Financial Position of foreign entities are translated into US dollars on consolidation at the average rates for the period and the rates prevailing at the end of the reporting period respectively. Exchange gains and losses arising on the translation of the group’s net investment foreign entities are recognised as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.

 

Foreign currency denominated share capital and related share premium and reserve accounts are recorded at the historical exchange rate at the time the shares were issued or the equity created.

 

2.2.12

Revenue recognition

 

Revenue comprises the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the sale of services in the ordinary course of the group’s activities. Revenue is shown net of discounts, value-added tax, other sales related taxes, and after the elimination of sales within the group.

 

Revenue comprises project developer fees, electrical manufacturing and installations, electrical servicing and maintenance and generator sales.

 

Revenue associated with longer term projects is recognised on a percentage completion basis. Revenue for smaller jobs and projects is recognised upon completion.

 

IFRS 15 is mandatory for adoption from accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2017. However, the group has elected to adopt the standard early, with effect from date of incorporation.

 

The group has a number of different revenue streams and the key components in determining the correct recognition are as follows:

 

BTO revenue, which is revenue generated from development services relating to the building and construction of solar projects, is recognised on a percentage completion basis as the value is accrued by the end user over the life of the contract. The periodic recognition is calculated through weekly project progress reports.

 

Aevitas revenue is recognised when jobs are completed. On longer term projects revenue is recognised on a percentage completion basis. The projects have defined milestones which determines the timing of the billing to the customers. The achievement of the milestones then also provides an accurate indication of how much of the project is complete.

 

2.2.13

Segment reporting

 

The group determines and presents operating segments based on the information that is provided internally to the Board of Directors, which is the group’s chief operating decision maker.

 

The group considers that it has three reportable segments, USA, UK and Australasia. The secondary segment is based upon product groups and the split is between Aevitas and the core VivoPower business.

 

An operating segment is a component of the group that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, including any revenues and expenses that relate to the transactions with any of the group’s other components. Operating segments results are reviewed regularly by the Board of Directors to assess its performance and make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment, and for which discrete financial information is available.

 

Segment results that are reported to the Board of Directors include items directly attributable to a segment as well as those that can be allocated to a segment on a reasonable basis.

 

 
Page | 53

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

2.2.14

Employee benefits

 

Pension

The employer pension contributions are associated with defined contribution schemes. The costs are therefore recognised in the month in which the contribution is incurred, which is consistent with recognition of payroll expenses.

 

S hort-term benefits

Short-term employee benefit obligations are measured on an undiscounted basis and are expensed as the related service is provided.

 

A liability is recognised for the amount expected to be paid under short-term cash bonus or profit-sharing plans if the group has a present legal or constructive obligation to pay this amount because of past service provided by the employee and the obligation can be reliably measured.

 

Short-term compensated absences

A liability for short-term compensated absences, such as holiday, is recognised for the amount the group may be required to pay because of the unused entitlement that has accumulated at the end of the reporting period.

 

2.2.15

New standards, amendments and interpretations not yet adopted

 

The IASB and IFRIC have issued the following standards and with an effective date after the date of the financial statements and have not been applied in preparing these consolidated financial statements.

 

IFRS 15 – “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” - early adoption

As this is the first period of financial reporting for the group, management took the decision to adopt IFRS 15 early as it represented a major development in the recognition of revenue under International Financial Reporting Standards.

 

Compared to IAS 18, Revenue and IAS 11, Construction Contracts and related interpretations, there was no material difference adopting IFRS 15 early.

 

The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2017, however, the group took advantage of early application.

 

IFRS 16 Leases

IFRS 16 specifies how a company will recognise, measure, present and disclose leases. The standard provides a single lessee accounting model, requiring lessees to recognise assets and liabilities for all leases unless the lease term is 12 months or less or the underlying asset has a low value. Lessors continue to classify leases as operating or finance, with IFRS 16’s approach to lessor accounting substantially unchanged from its predecessor, IAS 17. IFRS 16 will be applicable to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019.

 

Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealised Losses (Amendments to IAS 12)

Amends IAS   12 Income Taxes, which is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2017 to clarify the following aspects:

 

Unrealised losses on debt instruments measured at fair value and measured at cost for tax purposes give rise to a deductible temporary difference regardless of whether the debt instrument's holder expects to recover the carrying amount of the debt instrument by sale or by use.

 

The carrying amount of an asset does not limit the estimation of probable future taxable profits.

 

 
Page | 54

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

   

Estimates for future taxable profits exclude tax deductions resulting from the reversal of deductible temporary differences.

 

An entity assesses a deferred tax asset in combination with other deferred tax assets. Where tax law restricts the utilisation of tax losses, an entity would assess a deferred tax asset in combination with other deferred tax assets of the same type.

 

There are no other IFRS or IFRIC interpretations that are not yet effective that would be expected to have a material impact on the Group.

 

3.

Critical accounting judgements and estimates

 

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the directors are required to make judgements in applying the group’s accounting policies and in making estimates and making assumptions about the future. These estimates could have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying value of assets and liabilities in the future financial periods. The critical judgements that have been made in arriving at the amounts recognised in the consolidated financial statements are discussed below.

 

Critical accounting judgements:

 

3. 1

IFRS 10 – Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The objective of the standard is to establish principles for the presentation and preparation of consolidated financial statements when an entity controls one or more other entities. The group has assessed whether it controls project companies in which the group has an interest.

 

The group assessed control by reviewing, first, whether the group had power over the entity, secondly, had exposure, or rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the project, and finally, whether it had the ability to use its power over the investee to affect the amount of the project’s returns.

 

On assessing the three criteria, all of which must exist, the group concluded that it did not in fact have control and elected not to consolidate the project companies into the consolidated financial statements of the group.

 

3. 2

Transaction related costs

 

The transaction related costs were incurred by the business in preparation for the entry onto Nasdaq. The costs incurred were recharged costs from Arowana International Limited including legal, accounting and professional fees in relation to our operations in the United States. The costs by nature are one-off, and therefore, have no bearing on the financial performance of the business. To enable comparability in future periods the costs are disclosed separately on the face on the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

 

Critical estimates:

 

3. 3

Income taxes

 

In recognising income tax assets and liabilities, management makes estimates of the likely outcome of decisions by tax authorities on transactions and events whose treatment for tax purposes is uncertain. Where the outcome of such matters is different, or expected to be different, from previous assessments made by management, a change to the carrying value of the income tax assets and liabilities will be recorded in the period in which such determination is made. The carrying values of income tax assets and liabilities are disclosed separately in the consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

 

 
Page | 55

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

3.4

Share option reserve

 

As part of the Initial Public Offering Listing, VivoPower International issued an amended and restated unit purchase option (UPO) replacing the options issued by Arowana Inc. The options are viewed as a share-based award granted to Early Bird Capital. The cost of the award is recognized directly in equity and is applied against capital raising costs. As the option holder has the right to receive shares in VivoPower international PLC the share-based payment transaction would be equity settled. The fair value of the options were determined at the grant date, using the Black Scholes Model, and not remeasured subsequently. As the options have no vesting conditions the related expense are recognized immediately.

 

3.5

Convertible preference shares and loan notes

 

As part of the IPO listing process VivoPower International PLC acquired the Aevitas Group. The instruments previously issued by Aevitas were restructured to become convertible into VivoPower International PLC shares. The company considered IAS 32 paragraph 16 in determining the accounting treatment. The Company has determined the instruments to be treated as equity under the “fixed-for-fixed” rule meaning that both the amount of consideration received/receivable and the number of equity instruments to be issued must be fixed for the instrument to be classified as equity. Both elements are satisfied within the instruments.

 

 

 
Page | 56

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

4.

Segmental information

 

The business operates in three principal countries or regions; United Kingdom, United States and Australasia.

 

 

a)

Primary segment analysis – by geography

 

From continuing operations

 

   

United

States

   

Austral asia

   

United

Kingdom

   

Total

 
   

US$’000s

   

US$’000s

   

US$ 00 0 s

   

US$ 00 0 s

 

Revenue

    24,945       5,705       1,600       32,250  

Costs of sales

    -       (4,977 )     -       (4,977 )

Gross profit

    24,945       728       1,600       27,273  

Administrative expenses

    (4,264 )     (878 )     (4,453 )     (9,595 )

Depreciation and amortisation

    (3 )     (647 )     (1 )     (651 )

Operating Profit

    20,678       (797 )     (2,854 )     17,027  

Transaction related costs

    (5,800 )     -       -       (5,800 )

Finance income

    1       7       5       13  

Finance expense

    (172 )     (373 )     (57 )     (602 )

Profit before taxation

    14,707       (1,163 )     (2,906 )     10,638  

Income tax expense

    (6,116 )     332       446       (5,338 )

Profit for the pe r iod

    8,591       (831 )     (2,460 )     5,300  

 

 

b)

Secondary segment analysis – by product group

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000s

 

BTO revenue

    25,036  

Other revenue

    7,214  

Total

    32,250  

 

More than 10% of the revenue relates to one customer.     

 

 

c)

Segment Net Assets

 

   

United States

   

Australia

   

United

Kingdom

   

Total

 
   

US$’000s

   

US $’000s

   

US $ 000s

   

US $ 000s

 

Tangible assets

    53       2,097       13       2,163  

Goodwill

    -       30,393       -       30,393  

Other intangible assets

    -       15,927       -       15,927  

 

Goodwill and intangible assets are categorised dependent where the assets reside. The value of goodwill was generated on the acquisition of VivoPower Pty Limited and Aevitas Group Limited, two Australian entities.

 

 
Page | 57

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

5.

Operating Profit

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Operating profit is stated after charging:

       

Amortisation of intangible assets

    548  

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

    103  

Operating lease costs – land and buildings

    174  

 

6.

Auditor’s remuneration

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Audit of these financial statements

    175  

Amounts receivable by auditors and their associates in respect of:

    -  

Audit of financial statements of subsidiaries pursuant to legislation

    -  

Other services relating to taxation

    -  

All other services

    -  

Total

    175  

 

7.

Staff numbers and costs

 

The average number of employees (including directors) during the period was:

 

   

2017

 

Sales and Business Development

    4  

Central Services & Management

    11  

Production

    23  

Total

    38  

 

Their aggregate remuneration costs comprised:

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Salaries, wages and incentives

    5,707  

Social security costs

    398  

Pension contributions

    196  

Short-term compensated absences

    403  

Total

    6,704  

 

Directors’ emoluments were US$1,704,809 of which the highest paid director received US$1,297,504. Director emoluments include employer social security costs.

 

 
Page | 58

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

Key Management Personnel:

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Salaries, wages and incentives

    3,014  

Social security costs

    194  

Pension contributions

    39  

Short-term compensated absences

    101  

Total

    3,348  

 

Key management personnel are those below the Board level that have a significant impact on the global operations of the business. The number of key management personnel, including directors for the period ended 31 March 2017 was 11.

 

8.

Finance income

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Interest received

    13  

 

9.

Finance expense

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Bank interest payable

    10  

Finance lease interest payable

    -  

Related party interest payable

    571  

Foreign exchange losses

    21  

Total

    602  

 

 
Page | 59

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

10.

Income tax expenses

 

The tax charge comprises:

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Current tax

       

UK Corporation tax

    -  

Foreign tax

    2,361  

Total current tax

    2,361  
         

Deferred tax

       

Origination and reversal of timing differences

    2,977  

Current pe r iod

       

UK tax

    (451 )

Foreign tax

    3,428  

Total deferred tax

    2,977  

Total tax on profit on ordinary activities

    5,338  

 

The difference between the total tax charge and the amount calculated by applying the standard rate of UK corporation tax to the profit before tax is shown below.

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Group profit on ordinary activities before tax

    10,638  

Tax on group profit on ordinary activities at the standard corporation tax rate of 20%

    (2,131 )

Effects of:

       

Expenses that are not deductible in determining taxable profits

    (73 )

Tax rates of subsidiaries operating in other jurisdictions

    (3,108 )

Change in tax rates

    (26 )

Total tax charge for the period recognised in the Consolidated statement of Comprehensive Income

    (5,338 )

 

The UK standard corporation tax rate for the 14 months to 31 March 2017 was 20%. The rate of corporation tax will reduce to 19% with effect from 1 April 2017. A further reduction to 17% will take effect from 1 April 2020. This was substantively enacted on 6 September 2016, and therefore, all UK deferred tax assets are recognised at a rate of 17%.

 

 
Page | 60

 

 

10.1

Deferred tax

 

   

2017

 
   

US$’000s

 

Deferred tax assets

    2,312  

Deferred tax liabilities

    (3,776 )

Net deferred tax liability

    (1,464 )

 

These assets and liabilities are analysed as follows:

 

Deferred tax assets

 

Tax losses

   

Total

 
   

US$’000s

   

US$’000s

 

1 February 2016

    -       -  

Credit/(charged) to statement of comprehensive income

    739       739  

Acquisition

    1,573       1,573  

Credited to equity

    -       -  

31 March 2017

    2,312       2,312  

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

Accelerated

allowances

   

Other timing

differences

   

Total

 
                   

US$’000s

 

1 February 2016

    -       -       -  

Credit/(charged) to statement of comprehensive income

    (13 )     (3,763 )     (3,776 )

Credited to equity

    -       -       -  

31 March 2017

    (13 )     (3,763 )     (3,776 )

 

 

Deferred tax has been recognised in the current period using the tax rates applicable to each of the tax jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities.

 

 
Page | 61

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

11.

Property, plant and equipment

 

   

Computer

Equipment

   

Motor

Vehicles

   

Plant &

Equipment

   

Leasehold

improvement

   

Fixtures

and

Fittings

   

Total

 
   

US$’000s

   

US$’000s

   

US$’000s

   

US$’000s

   

US$’000s

   

US$’000s

 

Cost

                                               

At 1 February 2016

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Additions

    37       44       16       -       -       97  

Acquisition

    488       1,588       1,876       156       11       4,119  

At 31 March 2017

    525       1,632       1,892       156       11       4,216  
                                                 

Depreciation

                                               

At 1 February 2016

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Depreciation

    24       45       31       3       -       103  

Acquisition

    303       982       619       38       8       1,950  

At 31 March 2017

    327       1,027       650       41       8       2,053  
                                                 

Net book value

                                               

At 1 February 2016

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

At 31 March 2017

    198       605       1,242       115       3       2,163  

 

The group has $239,938 of assets held under finance lease. Details of the liabilities are shown in note 21.

 

Held within Plant & Equipment are $0.9 million of Solar Panel systems relating to our Australian Amaroo Project.

 

 
Page | 62

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

12.

Intangible Assets

 

   

2017

 
   

US$’000s

 

Goodwill

    30,393  

Other intangible assets

    15,927  

Carrying value at 31 March

    46,320  

 

 

 

(a)

Goodwill

 

Goodwill arose on the purchase of Aevitas O Holdings Limited and VivoPower Pty Limited on 29 December 2016.

 

   

2017

 
   

US$’000s

 

As at 1 April

    -  

Additions

    30,024  

Foreign exchange on translation

    369  

Carrying value at 31 March

    30,393  

 

The carrying amounts of goodwill by CGU are as follows:

 

   

2017

 
   

US$’000s

 

Aevitas O Holdings Limited

    9,781  

VivoPower Pty Limited

    20,243  

Foreign exchange on translation

    369  

Total

    30,393  

 

Goodwill impairment tests

 

The group conducts impairment tests on the carrying value of goodwill annually, or more frequently if there are any indications that goodwill might be impaired. The recoverable amount of the Cash Generating Units (CGUs) to which goodwill has been allocated are determined from value in use calculations. The key assumptions in the calculations are the discount rates applied, expected operating margin levels and long-term growth rates. Management estimates discount rates that reflect the current market assessments while margins and growth rates are based upon approved budgets and related projections.

 

The group prepares cash flow forecasts using the approved budgets for the coming financial period and management projections for the following two years. Cash flows are also projected for subsequent years as management believe that the investment is held for the long term. These budgets and projections reflect management’s view of the expected market conditions and the position of the CGUs products and services within those markets

 

 
Page | 63

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

   

Each CGU was assessed to have a value in excess of its respective carrying value and hence no adjustments to goodwill were considered necessary.

 

 

Key assumptions:

 

the discount rate was based on the weighted average cost of capital of 8.33% and 10.58%

     
 

no sensitivity analysis is provided as the Company expects no foreseeable changes in the assumptions that would result in impairment of the goodwill.

 

 

 

(b)

Other intangible assets

 

   

Customer

Relationships

   

Trade names

   

Favourable

supply

contracts

   

Data bases

   

Other

   

Total

 
   

US$’000s

   

US$’000s

   

US$’000s

   

US$’000s

   

US$’000s

   

US$’000s

 

Cost

                                               

At 1 February 2016

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Additions

    9,953       2,488       2,488       734       812       16,475  

At 31 March 2017

    9,953       2,488       2,488       734       812       16,475  
                                                 

At 1 February 2016

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Amortisation

    347       43       122       36       -       548  

At 31 March 2017

    347       43       122       36       -       548  
                                                 

Net book value

                                               

At 1 February 2016

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

At 31 March 2017

    9,606       2,445       2,366       698       812       15,927  

 

 
Page | 64

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

13.

Investment in subsidiaries

 

The principal operating undertakings in which the group’s interest at the period-end is more than 20%.

 

Subsidiary undertakings

 

Percentage of

ordinary

shares held

   

Registered address

VivoPower International Services Limited

    100%    

3rd Floor 37 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey,

JE2 3QA

VivoPower International Holdings Limited

    100%    

91 Wimpole Street, London, England,

United Kingdom W1G 0EF

VivoPower Pty Limited

    100%    

153 Walker St, North Sydney NSW, 

Australia 2060

Aevitas O Holdings Pty Limited

    100%    

Aevitas Group Limited

    99.9%    

Aevitas Holdings Pty Limited

    100%    

Electrical Engineering Group Pty Limited

    100%    

JA Martin Electrical Limited

    100%    

Kenshaw Electrical Pty Limited

    100%    

VivoPower WA Pty Limited

    100%    

VVP Project 1 Pty Limited

    100%    

VVP Project 2 Pty Limited

    100%    

Amaroo Solar Tco Pty Limited

    100%    

Amaroo Solar Hco Pty Limited

    100%    

Amaroo Solar Fco Pty Limited

    100%    

Amaroo Solar Pty Limited

    100%    

SC Tco Pty Limited

    100%    

SC Hco Pty Limited

    100%    

SC Fco Pty Limited

    100%    

SC Oco Pty Limited

    100%    

ACN 613885224 Pty Limited

    100%    

VivoPower USA LLC

    100%    

251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New

Castle, DE, USA 19808

VivoRex LLC

    100%    

VivoPower Singapore Pte Limited

    100%    

Level 36, UOB Plaza 1, 80 Raffles Place,

Singapore 048624

 

 

Associate undertakings

 

Associate undertakings

 

Percentage of

ordinary

shares held

   

Registered address

V.V.P. Holdings Inc.

    40%    

Unit 10A, Net Lima Building, 5th Avenue cor. 26th Street, E-Square Zone, Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila

VivoPower Philippines Inc.

    64%    

VivoPower RE Solutions Inc.

    64%    

 

 
Page | 65

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

The Philippine entities above, listed as Associates, are under the control of VivoPower Singapore Pte Limited, and therefore are consolidated into the consolidated financials of VivoPower International PLC. This is in line with IFRS 10 [7] where it satisfies all three criteria to determine whether control exists.

 

The Philippine entities are closely managed by the Director of VivoPower Singapore Pte Limited, all controls are carefully monitored to minimize risk.

 

14.

Investments

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Project investments

    18,060  

Total

    18,060  

 

The value of the investments carried as at 31 March 2017 represents the fair value of project investment. The investments relate to the two North Carolina projects, one of which was fully operational as at 31 March 2017. The group will monitor the carrying value of these investments to assess for impairment on a quarterly basis.

 

15.

Trade and other r eceivables

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Current receivables

       

Trade receivables

    5,248  

Accrued income

    13,183  

Prepayments

    563  

Other receivables

    722  

Related party receivable

    128  

Total

    19,844  
         

Non-current receivables

       

Loan due from Associate

    549  

Other receivables

    618  

Total

    1,167  

 

Analysis of trade receivables:

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Trade and other receivables

    5,250  

Less: credit note provision

    (2 )

Total

    5,248  

 

 
Page | 66

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

The maximum exposure to credit risk for trade receivables by geographic region was:

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

United Kingdom

    1,600  

Australia

    3,648  

Total

    5,248  

 

The aging of the trade receivables, net of provisions was:

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

0-90 days

    5,092  

Greater than 90 days

    156  

Total

    5,248  

 

1 6 .

Cash and cash equivalents

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Cash at bank and in hand

    10,970  

 

 

The credit ratings of the counterparties with which cash was held are detailed in the table below.

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

A-1+

    2,341  

A-1

    8,161  

A-2

    468  

Total

    10,970  

   

 
Page | 67

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

Cash flow from operating activities:

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Profit for the period

    5,300  

Adjustments for:

       

Income tax expense

    5,338  

Transaction related costs

    5,800  

Finance expenses

    600  

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

    103  

Amortisation of intangible assets

    548  

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital and provisions

    17,689  
         

Increase in trade and other receivables

    (21,007 )

Increase in trade and other payables

    8,260  

Increase in provisions

    1,339  

Cash generated from operating activities

    6,281  

 

 

1 7 .

Trade and other payables

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Trade payables

    2,158  

Accruals

    1,297  

Related party payable

    1,445  

Treasury shares

    592  

Payroll liabilities

    1,972  

Sales tax payable

    412  

Deferred income

    305  

Other creditors

    81  

Total

    8,262  

 

1 8 .

Loans and borrowings

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Current liabilities

       

Bank loan

    90  

Non-current liabilities

       

Bank loan

    933  

Related party loan

    18,992  

Total

    20,015  

 

 
Page | 68

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

The bank loan with ANZ Bank is repayable over a 11.5 year period at a monthly repayment amount of AUD 9,783 for 138 months. The related party loan is with Arowana International Limited. Repayments of the loan will commence from April 2018 and is therefore non-current in nature.

 

19 .

Provisions

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Current provisions

       

Employee entitlements

    1,339  
         

Non-current provisions

       

Employee entitlements

    237  

Total

    1,576  

 

Employee entitlements include long term leave and vacation provisions.

 

 

2 0 .

Business combinations

 

 

Aevitas Group of Companies

 

On 29 December 2016, VivoPower acquired 99.9% of Aevitas Group Limited for a consideration of $9.5 million.

 

Aevitas provides energy and power generation solutions including design, supply, installation and maintenance of power systems, control systems, with an increasing focus on solar and renewable energy and energy efficiency. Since acquiring Aevitas in December 2016, VivoPower has introduced a focused origination strategy to identify attractive solar projects across Aevitas’ existing customer base.

Aevitas operates via J.A. Martin Electrical Pty Limited (“JA Martin”) and Electrical Engineering Group Pty Limited, encompassing the operations of Kenshaw Electrical Pty Limited (“Kenshaw”).

 

JA Martin is based in Tomago (Newcastle, New South Wales), Mount Thorley (Hunter Valley, New South Wales) and Gunnedah (Liverpool Plains, New South Wales) and has been operating primarily in the Newcastle region, Hunter Valley and western New South Wales for over 40 years. JA Martin primarily provides products and services through its switchboards control rooms, electrical maintenance and service and electrical contracting projects divisions.

 

Kenshaw has been operating from its base in Cardiff (Newcastle, New South Wales) for over 20 years. Kenshaw provides power generator sales & service, electrical motors installation and service, and motor management services and non-destructive preventative maintenance testing. Customers include hospitals, data centres, and a range of government departments and industrial businesses.

 

Aevitas’ mission is to be its customers’ trusted integrated power expert. Aevitas has long standing client relationships and operates in a region that has amongst the highest cost of power across Australia and has been demonstrating increasing appetite for solar power solutions. This client base provides a natural pipeline of new solar projects which will help accelerate the growth of VivoPower’s BTO business model in Australia.

 

 
Page | 69

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

The following table provides the book values of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired and their fair value to the group.

 

   

US $’000s

 

Cash and cash equivalents

    1,292  

Current assets

    4,587  

Non-current assets

    8,034  

Investment in VivoPower Pty Limited

    4,569  

Current liabilities

    (3,427 )

Intangible assets

    604  

Goodwill

    8,702  

Non-current liabilities

    (295 )

Borrowings (1)

    (24,329 )

Total net assets

    (263 )
         

Goodwill (see note 12)

    9,781  

Total consideration

    9,518  

Satisfied by:

       

Cash consideration

    9,518  

Total consideration transferred

    9,518  
         

Net cash outflow arising on acquisition:

       

Cash consideration

    9,518  

Less: Cash and cash equivalent balances acquired

    (1,292 )

Total net consideration transferred

    8,226  

 

(1 ) Borrowings relate to convertible preference shares and loan notes that are categorised as equity within the financials of VivoPower International PLC.

 

The revenue and operating loss since the acquisition date to 31 March 2017 was $5.6 million and $0.5 million respectively.

 

 
Page | 70

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

VivoPower Pty Limited

 

On 29 December 2016, VivoPower acquired 100% of VivoPower Pty Limited for a consideration of $23.1 million.

 

VivoPower Australia is a next generation renewable energy company that is involved in the origination, financing,   construction, transfer, operation and optimisation of solar electricity generation facilities globally. VivoPower Australia operates a BTO model involving the   design, installation, transfer and maintenance of solar power plants through on site generation facilities and large scale grid feed projects. As of 31 March 2017, VivoPower Australia had 2 employees located at 2 offices.

 

The business is organized primarily into a single pillar, being the provision of solar services. Within this, there are two key target submarkets, the Commercial, Industrial and Government (CIG) sectors and Utility Scale projects.

 

The CIG sub market focuses on solar facilities which are situated behind-the-meter for CIG clients. VivoPower Australia constructs solar generation facilities on customer’s sites and feed energy directly to the client. In this fashion, VivoPower Australia disintermediates the wholesale electricity market, the electricity grid and the electricity retailer sharing in the savings with the client.

 

The Utility Scale sub market focuses on wholesale electricity generation through large or Utility Scale sized installations. These are generally situated on large tracts of land and are directly connected to the distribution (low voltage) or transmission (high voltage) grids. These large projects sell electricity directly to the spot market or to electricity retailers/traders.

 

The revenue and operating loss since the acquisition date to 31 March 2017 was $0.1 million and ($0.2 million) respectively.

 

 
Page | 71

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

 

The following table provides the book values of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired and their fair value to the group:

 

   

US $’000s

 
         

Cash and cash equivalents

    193  

Trade and other receivables

    127  

Other assets

    541  

Property plant and equipment

    920  

Deferred tax assets

    610  

Intangible assets

    1,545  

Goodwill

    31  

Trade and other payables

    (107 )

Borrowings

    (1,013 )

Deferred tax liabilities

    -  

Total net assets

    2,847  
         

Goodwill (see note 12)

    20,243  

Total consideration

    23,090  
         

Satisfied by:

       

Issue of shares in VivoPower International PLC

    17,853  

19.88% shareholding by Aevitas

    4,674  

Cash consideration

    563  

Total consideration transferred

    23,090  
         

Net cash outflow arising on acquisition:

       

Cash consideration

    563  

Less: Cash and cash equivalent balances acquired

    (193 )

Total net consideration transferred

    370  

 

 
Page | 72

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

21.

O bligations under finance leases

 

   

Minimum lease

payments

   

Present value

of minimum

lease payments

 
   

2017

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

   

US$ 000 s

 

Amounts payable under finance leases:

    -       -  

Less than one year

    165       145  

Later than one year but not more than five

    107       95  

Total

    272       240  

Future finance charges

    (32 )     -  

Total obligations under financial lease

    240       -  

 

2 2 .

Called up share capital

 

   

2017

 

Allotted, called up and fully paid

       

Ordinary shares of $0.012 each as at 31 March

  $ 162,689  
         

Number allotted

       

Ordinary shares of $0.012 each

    13,557,376  

 

   

No. of shares

 

At 1 February 2016

    -  

Issue of new shares

    13,557,376  

At 31 March 2017

    13,557,376  

 

23.

Other reserves

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Equity instruments

    25,072  

Capital raising costs

    (9,722 )

Share option reserve

    3,713  

Treasury shares (see note 25)

    (592 )

Other reserves

    (142 )

Total

    18,329  

 

Equity instruments relate to convertible preference shares and convertible loan notes that are exchangeable for shares in VivoPower International PLC. There are 2,473,367 convertible preference shares at an issue price of $3.00 per share. There are 2,473,367 convertible loan notes at an issue price of $7.00 per share. The value held in reserves represents their face value plus the accrued interest to 31 December 2016. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears at a rate of 7% on both instruments.

 

 
Page | 73

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

Share option reserve relates to share options whereby the holder can buy VivoPower International PLC shares at US$8.70 at any time before 30 April 2020. As at 31 March 2017 there were 828,000 options outstanding.

 

2 4 .

Earnings per share

 

The earnings and weighted average numbers of ordinary shares used in the calculation of earnings per share are as follows:

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Profit for the period

    5,300  
         

Weighted average number of shares in issue (‘000s)

    6,548  
         

Basic earnings per share (dollars)

    0.81  

Diluted earnings per share (dollars)

    0.81  

 

2 5 .

Treasury s hares

 

On 30 March 2017, the Company repurchased 129,805 shares at a price of $4.50 for a total sum of $591,915.80, including commission. The shares are being held as treasury shares.

 

2 6 .

Operating lease commitments

 

   

2017

 
   

Property

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Commitments under non-cancellable operating leases expiring:

       

Within one year

    15  

Later than one year and less than five years

    159  

 

The group leases several buildings and office facilities. The terms of the leases vary from location to location. The main leases are in New South Wales, Australia and run for a period for a period of 5 years and 1 year. The leases are due to expire in 2019 and 2017 respectively.

 

2 7 .

Pensions

 

The group’s principal pension plan comprises the compulsory Superannuation scheme in Australia, where the company contributes 9.5%. The pension charge for the period represents contributions payable by the group which amounted to US$196,005 in respect of the Australian scheme. New schemes will be completed for the UK and US during the forthcoming year.

 

There were no outstanding or prepaid contributions at either the beginning or end of the financial period.

 

 
Page | 74

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

2 8 .

Financial instruments

 

(a) Financial risk management

 

The group’s principal financial instruments are bank balances, cash and medium term loans. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to manage the group’s funding and liquidity requirements. The group also has other financial instruments such as trade receivables and trade payables which arise directly from its operations.

 

The group is exposed through its operations to the following financial risks:

 

 

Liquidity risk

     
 

Credit risk

     
 

Interest rate risk

     
 

Foreign currency risk

 

The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the group’s risk management framework. Policy for managing risks is set by the Chief Financial Officer and is implemented by the group’s finance department. All risks are managed centrally with a tight control of all financial matters.

 

(b) Liquidity risk

 

Liquidity risk is the risk that the group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The group considers that it has no significant liquidity risk. The group held cash resources of $10.9 million with related party loan of $19.0 million. The ratio of current assets to current liabilities is 2.5:1. The group manages its liquidity as a whole and ensures that there are sufficient available cash resources for each group company to operate effectively.

 

(c) Credit risk

 

The primary risk arises from the group’s receivables from customers. The majority of the group’s customers are long standing and have been with the subsidiary companies for many years. Losses have occurred infrequently. The group is mainly exposed to credit risks from credit sales but the group has no significant concentrations of credit risk and keeps the credit status of customers under review. Credit risks of customers of new customers are reviewed before entering into contracts. The debtor exposure is monitored by group finance and the local entities review and report their exposure on a monthly basis.

 

The group does not consider the exposure to the above risks to be significant and has therefore not presented a sensitivity analysis on the identified risks.

 

The credit quality of debtors neither past due nor impaired is good. Refer to note 15 for further analysis on trade receivables.

 

( d) Foreign currency risk

 

The group operates internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risk on sales and purchases that are denominated in currencies other than the respective functional currencies of the group entities to which they relate, primarily with respect to GBP and USD, but also between USD and AUD.

 

 
Page | 75

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

The group’s investments in overseas subsidiaries are not hedged as those currency positions are either USD denominated and/or considered to be long-term in nature.

 

The related party loans are denominated in USD, and therefore, foreign currency risk is eliminated.

 

  (e) Interest rate risk

 

As a result of the related party loan agreement the group is exposed to interest rate volatility. However, the interest rate is fixed for the medium term, therefore, the risk is largely mitigated for the near future. The group will continue to monitor the movements in the wider global economy.

 

2 9 .

Related party transactions

 

Kevin Chin is also Chief Executive of Arowana International Limited, an Australian registered company, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). During the course of the period, a number of services were provided to VivoPower International PLC and its subsidiaries from a number of Arowana companies.

 

Arowana International Limited is a majority shareholder of VivoPower International PLC and the extent of the transactions between the two groups is listed below.

 

Arowana International Limited during the course of the period Arowana has helped fund investments in renewable energy projects. Additionally, prior to VivoPower’s Nasdaq listing it was a source of working capital funding. As at 31 March 2017, there was in place a related party loan of $18,992,263. The loan interest is payable monthly in arrears and the first capital repayment on the loan is due on 1 April 2018.

 

There were additional short term balances outstanding at the period-end $1,404,919.23 which were due for repayment at the end of May 2017.

 

 

Arowana Group (Asia) Pte Ltd – provided specialist consultancy advice relating to Singapore for $97,745. The amount paid during the period was $97,745. The balance outstanding at the end of the financial period was nil.

     
 

Arowana Partners Group Pty Limited - Kevin Chin, receives a Non-Executive Director’s fee per month of £16,250. The total costs charged to VivoPower during the course of the financial period were £200,000. The balance outstanding at the end of the financial period was £200,000. Payments were made during April 2017 to clear the balance.

 

30 .

Key management personnel compensation

 

Key management personnel, which have a group management role, are included in note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

3 1 .

Ultimate controlling party

 

The ultimate controlling party and the results into which these financials are consolidated is Arowana International Limited.

 

 
Page | 76

 

 

Company Statement of Financial Position

for the period ended 31 March 2017

(USD in thousands)

 

 

    Note    

2017

US$000

 

ASSETS

             

Non-current assets

             

Investments

  3       17,853  

Intercompany loan receivable

          25,072  

Total non-current assets

          42,925  

Current assets

             

Cash and cash equivalents

          439  

Other receivables

  4       15,526  

Total current assets

          15,965  
               

TOTAL ASSETS

          58,890  
               

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

             

Current liabilities

             

Trade and other payables

          245  

Accrued expenses and other payables

  5       870  

Total current liabilities

          1,115  
               

Equity

             

Share capital

  6       163  

Share premium

          40,215  

Other reserves

  7       18,471  

Retained deficit

          (1,074 )

TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

          58,890  

 

Registered number 09978410

 

As allowed by S408 Companies Act 2006, no profit and loss account is presented in respect of the parent company. The loss for Company after taxation was $1,074,396.

 

These financials were approved by the Board on 28 July 2017 and signed on its behalf by:

 

 

Dr. Philip Comberg

Director

 

28 July 2017

 

 
Page | 77

 

 

Company Statement of Changes in Equity

for the period ended 31 March 2017

(USD in thousands)

 

 

   

Share capital

   

Share

premium

   

Other

reserves

   

Retained earnings

   

Total

 

At 1 February 2016

    -       -       -       -       -  

Total comprehensive income for the period

                            (1,074 )     (1,074 )

Issue of new shares

    167       40,215                       40,382  

Redenomination of share capital

    (4 )                             (4 )

Convertible instruments

                    25,072               25,072  

Share option reserve

                    3,713               3,713  

Repurchase of shares

                    (592 )             (592 )

Capital raising costs

                    (9,722 )             (9,722 )

As at 31 March 2017

    163       40,215       18,471       (1,074 )     57,775  

 

 
Page | 78

 

 

Notes to the Company Financial Statements

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

 

1.

Basis of preparation

 

VivoPower International PLC company financial statements were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), IFRIC interpretations and the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

 

As allowed by S408 Companies Act 2006, no profit and loss account is presented in respect of the parent company.

 

2.

Accounting policies

 

(a) Foreign exchange

 

The Company’s functional and presentational currency is the US Dollar. Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency of the entity at the rates prevailing at the dates of the individual transactions. Foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Exchange gains and losses arising are charged or credited to the profit and loss account.

 

(b) Taxation

 

Deferred taxation is provided in full for material timing differences except where recoverability of a deferred tax is considered to be remote in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax balances are not discounted unless the effects are considered to be material the Company’s results.

 

(c) Investments

 

Investments held as non-current assets are shown at cost less provision for impairment.

 

(d) Related party transactions

 

Details of the related party transactions can be found in note 29 within the consolidated financial statements.

 

3.

Investments

 

   

2017

 

Shares in group undertakings

 

US $ 000s

 

Investment in VivoPower International Services Limited

    17,853  

As at 31 March 2017

    17,853  

 

 

The details of the principal undertakings in which the group’s interest at the period-end was more than 20%, all of which are referred to in note 13 in the consolidated financial statements.

 

 
Page | 79

 

 

Notes to the Company Financial Statements

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

4.

Other receivables

 

   

2017

 
   

US $ 000s

 

Amounts owed by group undertakings

    15,127  

Prepaid expenses

    399  

Total

    15,526  

 

5.

Accrued expenses and other payables

 

   

2017

 
   

US $ 000s

 

Accrued expenses

    267  

Treasury shares

    592  

Payroll tax liabilities

    4  

Other creditors

    7  

Total

    870  

 

6.

Share capital

 

On 30 March 2017, the Company entered into a transaction to repurchase 129,805 shares at $4.50 per share. The shares are to be held as treasury shares.

 

   

2017

 

Allotted, called up and fully paid

       

Ordinary shares of $0.012 each as at 31 March

  $ 162,689  
         

Number allotted

       

Ordinary shares of $0.012 each

    13,557,376  

 

   

No. of shares

 
         

Issue of new shares

    13,557,376  

At 31 March 2017

    13,557,376  

 

The Company issued 13,557,376 ordinary shares at a nominal value of $0.012 during the period.

 

During the period the Company purchased 129,805 of its own ordinary shares at a total cost of US$591,000.

 

 
Page | 80

 

 

Notes to the Company Financial Statements

for the period ended 31 March 2017

 

7.

Other reserves

 

   

2017

 
   

US$ 000 s

 

Equity instruments

    25,072  

Capital raising costs

    (9,722 )

Share option reserve

    3,713  

Treasury shares (see note 25)

    (592 )

Total

    18,471  

 

Equity instruments relate to convertible preference shares and convertible loan notes that are exchangeable for shares in VivoPower International PLC. There are 2,473,367 convertible preference shares at an issue price of $3.00 per share. There are 2,473,367 convertible loan notes at an issue price of $7.00 per share. The value held in reserves represents their face value plus the accrued interest to 31 December 2016. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears at a rate of 7% on both instruments.

 

Share option reserve relates to share options whereby the holder can buy VivoPower International PLC shares at US$8.70 at any time before 30 April 2020. As at 31 March 2017 there were 828,000 options outstanding.

 

8.

Employees and directors

 

The company employed no members of staff during the course of the period. Contractual agreements are in place for four non-executive directors to serve on the board of VivoPower International PLC.

 

See the Directors’ Report in the consolidated financial statements for full details of the directors.

 

 
Page | 81

 

 

Company Information

 

ADVISORS

 

 

 

 

 

Company registrars

Legal Advisers

 

 

Computershare Inc. ,

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP ,

250 Royall Street,

Exchange House,

Canton, MA, USA 02021

Primrose Street,

 

London, UK EC2A 2EG

 

 

Correspondence address:

Principal Bankers

Computershare Inc., 

Barclays Bank PLC,

P.O. Box 505000,               

Level 16, 1 Churchill Place,

Louisville, KY, USA 40233

Canary Wharf,

  

London, UK E14 5HP

   
   
Independent auditors Company Secretary
   
PKF Littlejohn LLP, First Names Global Limited,
1 Westferry Circus,      4 th Floor, 45 Monmouth Street,
Canary Wharf, London, UK WC2H 9DG
London, UK E14 4HD   
   
   
   
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION  
   
   

Country of Incorporation and main                  

Number of securities in issue
c ountries of operation As of 26 July 2017, the Company’s VivoPower
International PLC is incorporated in issued share capital consists of
England & Wales. The Company operates in the 13,557,376 ordinary shares
United Kingdom, United States with a nominal value of $0.012 each.
and Australia    The Company has 129,805 treasury shares.
   

 

 

Company registration             

 

Registered office: 91 Wimpole Street, London, UK W1G 0EF

Registered in England & Wales

Company number: 09978410

 

 

FINANCIAL CALENDAR

 

 

Annual General Meeting (“AGM”)

 

The Company’s AGM will be held at 09:30 am on 5 September 2017, at the Company’s headquarters, located at 91 Wimpole Street, Marylebone, London, United Kingdom W1G 0EF.

 

 

Page | 82

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.3