Exhibit 99.1
ATLAS FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
2013 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1.
Establishment, Purpose and Types of Awards
Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc., a Cayman Islands corporation (the “
Company
”), hereby establishes the Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “
Plan
”). The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term growth and profitability of the Company by (i) providing key people with incentives to improve stockholder value and to contribute to the growth and financial success of the Company through their future services, and (ii) enabling the Company to attract, retain and reward the best-available personnel.
This Plan is a continuation, and amendment and restatement, of the Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. Stock Option Plan effective August 20, 2010 (the “
Prior Plan
”), the provisions of which shall continue to control with respect to any option awards outstanding thereunder to the extent necessary to avoid establishment of a new measurement date for financial accounting purposes and for purposes of complying with any requirements under applicable law including any rules or regulations of any national securities exchange.
The Plan permits the granting of stock options (including incentive stock options qualifying under Code section 422 and nonstatutory stock options), stock `appreciation rights, restricted or unrestricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance awards, other stock-based awards, or any combination of the foregoing.
2.
Definitions
Under this Plan, except where the context otherwise indicates, the following definitions apply:
(a)
“Administrator”
means the Board or the committee(s) or officer(s) appointed by the Board that have authority to administer the Plan as provided in Section 3 hereof.
(b)
“
Affiliate”
means any entity, whether now or hereafter existing, which controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company (including, but not limited to, joint ventures, limited liability companies, and partnerships). For this purpose, “
control
” shall mean ownership of 50% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock or interests of the entity, or the power to direct the management and policies of the entity, by contract or otherwise.
(c)
“Award”
means any stock option, stock appreciation right, stock award, restricted stock unit award, performance award, or other stock-based award.
(d)
“Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e)
“Change in Control”
means: (i) the acquisition (other than from the Company) in one or more transactions by any Person, as defined in this Section 2(e), of the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of 50% or more of (A) the then outstanding shares of the securities of the Company, or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “
Company Voting Stock
”); (ii) the closing of a sale or other conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (iii) the effective time of any merger, share exchange, consolidation, or other business combination involving the Company if immediately after such transaction persons who hold a majority of the outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving entity (or the entity owning 100% of such surviving entity) are not persons who, immediately prior to such transaction, held the Company Voting Stock;
provided
,
however
, that a Change in Control shall not include any transaction effected exclusively to change the domicile of the Company; and
provided
,
further
, that for purposes of any Award or subplan that constitutes a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan,” within the meaning of Code section 409A, the Administrator, in its discretion, may specify a different definition of Change in Control in order to comply with or cause an Award to be exempt from the provisions of Code section 409A. For purposes of this Section 2(e), a “
Person
” means 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, other than: employee benefit plans sponsored
or maintained by the Company and by entities controlled by the Company or an underwriter of the Common Stock in a registered public offering.
(f)
“Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
(g)
“Common Stock”
means shares of ordinary shares of the Company, par value of $0.001 per ordinary share.
(h)
“Fair Market Value”
means, with respect to a share of the Company’s Common Stock for any purpose on a particular date, the value determined by the Administrator in good faith. However, if the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and listed for trading on a national exchange or market,
“Fair Market Value”
means, as applicable, (i) the last sale price on the relevant date quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market; (ii)
the closing price quoted on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or the Nasdaq Global Market; (iii) the average of the high bid and low asked prices on the relevant date quoted on the Nasdaq OTC Bulletin Board Service or by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc. or a comparable service as determined in the Administrator’s discretion; or (iv) if the Common Stock is not quoted by any of the above, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on the relevant date furnished by a professional market maker for the Common Stock, or by such other source, selected by the Administrator. If no public trading of the Common Stock occurs on the relevant date but the shares are so listed, then Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the last date before the relevant date on which trading of the Common Stock did occur.
(i)
“Grant Agreement”
means a written document, including an electronic writing acceptable to the Administrator, memorializing the terms and conditions of an Award granted pursuant to the Plan and which shall incorporate the terms of the Plan.
(j)
“Performance Measures”
mean criteria established by the Administrator relating to any of the following, as it may apply to an individual, one or more business units, divisions or subsidiaries, or on a Company-wide basis, and in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or an index covering multiple companies:
(i)
Earnings or Profitability Metrics
: including, but not limited to, earnings/loss (gross, operating, net, or adjusted); earnings/loss before interest and taxes (“EBIT”); earnings/loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”); profit margins; expense levels or ratios; combined ratio (i.e., incurred loss ratio plus expense ratio divided by earned premium); in each case which may be adjusted to eliminate the effect of any one or more of the following: interest expense, asset impairments, early extinguishment of debt or stock-based compensation expense;
(ii)
Return Metrics
: including, but not limited to, return on investment, assets, equity or capital (total or invested);
(iii)
Cash Flow Metrics
: including, but not limited to, operating cash flow; cash flow sufficient to achieve financial ratios or a specified cash balance; free cash flow; cash flow return on capital; net cash provided by operating activities; cash flow per share; working capital;
(iv)
Liquidity Metrics
: including, but not limited to, capital raising; debt reduction; extension of maturity dates of outstanding debt; debt leverage (debt to capital, net debt-to-capital, debt-to-EBITDA or other liquidity ratios) or access to capital; debt ratings; total or net debt; other similar measures approved by the Administrator;
(v)
Stock Price and Equity Metrics
: including, but not limited to, return on stockholders’ equity; total stockholder return; stock price; stock price appreciation; market capitalization; earnings/loss per share (basic or diluted) (before or after taxes); price-to-earnings ratio; and
(vi)
Strategic and Operating Metrics
: including, but not limited to, geographic footprint; revenue (gross, operating or net); new business or customer wins; market share; market penetration; growth in assets; key hires; management of employment practices and employee benefits; effective
income tax rates; business expansion; acquisitions, divestitures, collaborations, licensing or joint ventures; financing; resolution of significant litigation; and legal compliance or risk reduction.
3.
Administration
(a)
Administration of the Plan.
The Plan shall be administered by the Board or by such committee or committees as may be appointed by the Board from time to time. To the extent allowed by applicable state law, the Board by resolution may authorize an officer or officers to grant Awards (other than Stock Awards) to other officers and employees of the Company and its Affiliates, and, to the extent of such authorization, such officer or officers shall be the Administrator.
(b)
Powers of the Administrator
. The Administrator shall have all the powers vested in it by the terms of the Plan, such powers to include authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to grant Awards under the Plan, prescribe Grant Agreements evidencing such Awards and establish programs for granting Awards.
The Administrator shall have full power and authority to take all other actions necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of the Plan, including, but not limited to, the authority to: (i) determine the eligible persons to whom, and the time or times at which Awards shall be granted; (ii) determine the types of Awards to be granted; (iii) determine the number of shares to be covered by or used for reference purposes for each Award; (iv) impose such terms, limitations, restrictions and conditions upon any such Award as the Administrator shall deem appropriate; (v) modify, amend, extend or renew outstanding Awards, or accept the surrender of outstanding Awards and substitute new Awards (
provided however,
that, except as provided in Section 6 or 7(d) of the Plan, any modification that would materially adversely affect any outstanding Award shall not be made without the consent of the holder and no such modification, amendment or substitution that results in repricing the Award, within the meaning of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5635(c) and IM-5635-1, or any successor provision, shall be made without prior stockholder approval); (vi) accelerate or otherwise change the time in which an Award may be exercised or becomes payable and to waive or accelerate the lapse, in whole or in part, of any restriction or condition with respect to such Award, including, but not limited to, any restriction or condition with respect to the vesting or exercisability of an Award following termination of any grantee’s employment or other relationship with the Company;
provided
,
however
,
that
no such waiver or acceleration of lapse restrictions shall be made with respect to a performance-based stock award granted to an executive officer of the Company if such waiver or acceleration is inconsistent with Code section 162(m); (vii) establish objectives and conditions, if any, for earning Awards and determining whether Awards will be paid with respect to a performance period; and (viii) for any purpose, including but not limited to, qualifying for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws or otherwise complying with the regulatory requirements of local or foreign jurisdictions, to establish, amend, modify, administer or terminate sub‑plans, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to such sub‑plans.
The Administrator shall have full power and authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to administer, construe and interpret the Plan, Grant Agreements and all other documents relevant to the Plan and Awards issued thereunder, to establish, amend, rescind and interpret such rules, regulations, agreements, guidelines and instruments for the administration of the Plan and for the conduct of its business as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable, and to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award in the manner and to the extent the Administrator shall deem it desirable to carry it into effect.
Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the Administrator shall take any action necessary (or shall refrain from taking any action) to comply with the rules and regulations of any applicable stock exchange on which the Common Stock is then then listed for trading.
(c)
Non-Uniform Determinations
. The Administrator’s determinations under the Plan (including without limitation, determinations of the persons to receive Awards, the form, amount and timing of such Awards, the terms and provisions of such Awards, and the Grant Agreements evidencing such Awards, and the ramifications of a Change in Control upon outstanding Awards) need not be uniform and may be made by the Administrator selectively among Awards or persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan, whether or not such persons are similarly situated.
(d)
Limited Liability.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, no member of the Administrator shall be liable for any action taken or decision made in good faith relating to the Plan or any Award thereunder.
(e)
Indemnification
. To the maximum extent permitted by law and by the Company’s charter and by-laws, the members of the Administrator shall be indemnified by the Company in respect of all their activities under the Plan.
(f)
Effect of Administrator’s Decision
. All actions taken and decisions and determinations made by the Administrator on all matters relating to the Plan pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be in the Administrator’s sole and absolute discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on all parties concerned, including the Company, its stockholders, any participants in the Plan and any other employee, consultant, or director of the Company, and their respective successors in interest.
4.
Shares Available for the Plan; Maximum Awards
Subject to adjustments as provided in
Section 7(d) of the Plan, upon the effective date of the Plan, the total number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to this Plan at any given point in time shall equal (i) ten percent (10%) of the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding (as that number is determined by the Company to calculate fully diluted earnings per share) at that time, reduced by (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock then subject to any outstanding Award under the Plan (including under the Prior Plan);
provided, however
, that no more than an aggregate of 800,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Plan pursuant to incentive stock options intended to qualify under Code section 422. The Company shall at all times during the term of the Plan and while any Awards are outstanding retain as authorized and unissued Common Stock, or as treasury Common Stock, at least the number of shares of Common Stock required to fulfill the Company’s obligations under such Awards, or otherwise assure itself of its ability to perform its obligations thereunder.
The Company shall reserve such number of shares for Awards under the Plan, subject to adjustments as provided in
Section 7(d) of the Plan. If any Award, or portion of an Award, under the Plan expires or terminates unexercised, becomes unexercisable, or is forfeited or otherwise terminated, surrendered or canceled as to any shares, the shares subject to such Award shall not be considered outstanding for purposes of this Section 4.
Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 7(d) of the Plan, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards of any combination that may be granted during any one fiscal year of the Company
to any one individual under this Plan shall be limited to 400,000 shares.
5.
Participation
Participation in the Plan shall be open to all employees, officers, directors of, and other individuals providing bona fide services to or for, the Company, or of any Affiliate of the Company, as may be selected by the Administrator from time to time. The Administrator may also grant Awards to individuals in connection with hiring, recruiting or otherwise, prior to the date the individual first performs services for the Company or an Affiliate, provided that such Awards shall not become vested or exercisable, and no shares shall be issued to such individual, prior to the date the individual first commences performance of such services.
6.
Awards
The Administrator, in its sole discretion, establishes the terms of all Awards granted under the Plan. Awards may be granted individually or in tandem with other types of Awards, concurrently with or with respect to outstanding Awards. All Awards are subject to the terms and conditions provided in the Grant Agreement.
(a)
Stock Options.
The Administrator may from time to time grant to eligible participants Awards of incentive stock options as that term is defined in Code section 422 or nonstatutory stock options;
provided
,
however
, that Awards of incentive stock options shall be limited to employees of the Company or of any current or hereafter existing “
parent corporation
” or “
subsidiary corporation
,” as defined in Code sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Company and any other individuals who are eligible to receive incentive stock options under the provisions of Code section 422. Options must have an exercise price at least equal to Fair Market Value as of the date of grant and may not have a term in excess of ten years’ duration. No stock option shall be an incentive stock option unless so designated by the Administrator at the time of grant or in the Grant Agreement evidencing such stock option.
(b)
Stock Appreciation Rights.
The Administrator may from time to time grant to eligible participants Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights (“
SAR
”). An SAR entitles the grantee to receive, subject to the provisions of the Plan and the Grant Agreement, a payment having an aggregate value equal to the product of (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of one share of Common Stock over (B) the base price per share specified in the Grant Agreement, times (ii) the number of shares specified by the SAR, or portion thereof, which is exercised. The base price per share specified in the Grant Agreement shall not be less than the lower of the Fair Market Value on the grant date or the exercise price of any tandem stock option Award to which the SAR is related. No SAR shall have a term longer than ten years’ duration. Payment by the Company of the amount receivable upon any exercise of an SAR may be made by the delivery of Common Stock or cash, or any combination of Common Stock and cash, as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. If upon settlement of the exercise of an SAR a grantee is to receive a portion of such payment in shares of Common Stock, the number of shares shall be determined by dividing such portion by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the exercise date. No fractional shares shall be used for such payment and the Administrator shall determine whether cash shall be given in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated.
(c)
Stock Awards.
(i)
The Administrator may from time to time grant stock awards to eligible participants in such amounts, on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, including no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by law, as it shall determine. A stock award may be denominated in Common Stock or other securities, stock-equivalent units or restricted stock units, securities or debentures convertible into Common Stock, or any combination of the foregoing and may be paid in Common Stock or other securities, in cash, or in a combination of Common Stock or other securities and cash, all as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator.
(ii)
The Administrator may grant stock awards in a manner constituting “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code section 162(m). The grant of, or lapse of restrictions with respect to, such performance-based stock awards shall be based upon one or more Performance Measures and objective performance targets to be attained relative to those Performance Measures, all as determined by the Administrator. Performance targets may include minimum, maximum, intermediate and target levels of performance, with the size of the performance-based stock award or the lapse of restrictions with respect thereto based on the level attained. A performance target may be stated as an absolute value or as a value determined relative to prior performance, one or more indices, budget, one or more peer group companies, any other standard selected by the Administrator, or any combination thereof. The Administrator shall be authorized to make adjustments in the method of calculating attainment of Performance Measures and performance targets in recognition of: (A) extraordinary or non-recurring items; (B) changes in tax laws; (C) changes in generally accepted accounting principles or changes in accounting policies; (D) charges related to restructured or discontinued operations; (E) restatement of prior period financial results; and (F) any other unusual, non-recurring gain or loss that is separately identified and quantified in the Company’s financial statements; provided that the Administrator’s decision as to whether such adjustments will be made with respect to any Covered Employee, within the meaning of Code section 162(m), is determined when the performance targets are established for the applicable performance period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may, at its sole discretion, modify the performance results upon which Awards are based under the Plan to offset any unintended results arising from events not anticipated when the Performance Measures and performance targets were established; provided, that such modifications may be made with respect to an Award granted to any Covered Employee, within the meaning of Code section 162(m), only to the extent permitted by Code section 162(m) if the Award was intended to constitute “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code section 162(m). Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Administrator is not authorized to waive or accelerate the lapse of restrictions on a performance-based stock award granted to any Covered Employee, within the meaning of Code section 162(m) except upon death, disability or a change of ownership or control of the Company. In the event that a Change in Control occurs after a performance-based stock award has been granted but before completion of the applicable performance period, a pro rata portion of such Award shall become payable (or a pro rata portion of the lapse restrictions shall lapse, as applicable) as of the date of the Change in Control to the extent otherwise earned on the basis of achievement of the pro rata portion of the Performance
Measures and performance targets relating to the portion of the performance period completed as of the date of the Change in Control.
7.
Miscellaneous
(a)
Withholding of Taxes
. Grantees and holders of Awards shall pay to the Company or its Affiliate, or make provision satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of, any taxes required to be withheld in respect of Awards under the Plan no later than the date of the event creating the tax liability. The Company or its Affiliate may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the grantee or holder of an Award. In the event that payment to the Company or its Affiliate of such tax obligations is made in shares of Common Stock, such shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the applicable date for such purposes and shall not exceed in amount the minimum statutory tax withholding obligation.
(b)
Loans
. To the extent otherwise permitted by law, the Company or its Affiliate may make or guarantee loans to grantees to assist grantees in exercising Awards and satisfying any withholding tax obligations.
(c)
Transferability
. Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, and in any event in the case of an incentive stock option or a stock appreciation right granted with respect to an incentive stock option, no Award granted under the Plan shall be transferable by a grantee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in accord with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, an Award may be exercised during the lifetime of the grantee, only by the grantee or, during the period the grantee is under a legal disability, by the grantee’s guardian or legal representative.
(d)
Adjustments for Corporate Transactions and Other Events
.
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(i)
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Stock Dividend, Stock Split and Reverse Stock Split.
In the event of a stock dividend of, or stock split or reverse stock split affecting, the Common Stock, (A) the maximum number of shares of such Common Stock as to which Awards may be granted under this Plan and the maximum number of shares with respect to which Awards may be granted during any one fiscal year of the Company to any individual, as provided in Section 4 of the Plan, and (B) the number of shares covered by and the exercise price and other terms of outstanding Awards, shall, without further action of the Board, be adjusted to reflect such event. The Administrator may make adjustments, in its discretion, to address the treatment of fractional shares and fractional cents that arise with respect to outstanding Awards as a result of the stock dividend, stock split or reverse stock split.
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(ii)
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Non-Change in Control Transactions.
Except with respect to the transactions set forth in Section 7(d)(i), in the event of any change affecting the Common Stock, the Company or its capitalization, by reason of a spin-off, split-up, dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or share exchange, other than any such change that is part of a transaction resulting in a Change in Control of the Company, the Administrator, in its discretion and without the consent of the holders of the Awards, may make (A) appropriate adjustments to the maximum number and kind of shares reserved for issuance or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan, in the aggregate and with respect to any individual during any one fiscal year of the Company, as provided in Section 4 of the Plan; and (B) any adjustments in outstanding Awards, including but not limited to modifying the number, kind and price of securities subject to Awards, as the Administrator determines to be appropriate and equitable.
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(iii)
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Change in Control Transactions.
In the event of any transaction resulting in a Change in Control of the Company, outstanding stock options and other Awards that are payable in or convertible into Common Stock under this Plan will terminate upon the effective time of such Change in Control unless provision is made in connection with the transaction for the continuation or assumption of such Awards by, or for the substitution of equivalent awards, as determined in the sole discretion of the
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Administrator, of, the surviving or successor entity or a parent thereof. In the event of such termination, (A) the outstanding stock options and other Awards that will terminate upon the effective time of the Change in Control shall become fully exercisable immediately before the effective time of the Change in Control, and (B) the holders of stock options and other Awards under the Plan will be permitted, immediately before the Change in Control, to exercise or convert all portions of such stock options or other Awards under the Plan that are then exercisable or convertible or which become exercisable or convertible upon or prior to the effective time of the Change in Control.
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(iv)
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Unusual or Nonrecurring Events.
The Administrator is authorized to make, in its discretion and without the consent of holders of Awards, adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Administrator determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan; provided that no such adjustment shall be made in contravention of Code section 409A with respect to any Award that constitutes a deferred compensation arrangement within the meaning of Code section 409A.
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(e)
Substitution of Awards in Mergers and Acquisitions.
Awards may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for awards held by employees, officers, consultants or directors of entities who become or are about to become employees, officers, consultants or directors of the Company or an Affiliate as the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing entity with the Company or an Affiliate, or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of the assets or stock of the employing entity. The terms and conditions of any substitute Awards so granted may vary from the terms and conditions set forth herein to the extent that the Administrator deems appropriate at the time of grant to conform the substitute Awards to the provisions of the awards for which they are substituted.
(f)
Termination, Amendment and Modification of the Plan
. The Board may terminate, amend or modify the Plan or any portion thereof at any time. Except as otherwise determined by the Board, termination of the Plan shall not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.
(g)
Non-Guarantee of Employment or Service
. Nothing in the Plan or in any Grant Agreement thereunder shall confer any right on an individual to continue in the service of the Company or shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate such service at any time with or without cause or notice and whether or not such termination results in (i) the failure of any Award to vest; (ii) the forfeiture of any unvested or vested portion of any Award; and/or (iii) any other adverse effect on the individual’s interests under the Plan.
(h)
Compliance with Securities Laws; Listing and Registration
. If at any time the Administrator determines that the delivery of Common Stock under the Plan is or may be unlawful under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction, or Federal, state or foreign securities laws, the right to exercise an Award or receive shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award shall be suspended until the Administrator determines that such delivery is lawful. If at any time the Administrator determines that the delivery of Common Stock under the Plan would or may violate the rules of the national exchange on which the shares are then listed for trade, the right to exercise an Award or receive shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award shall be suspended until the Administrator determines that such delivery would not violate such rules. The Company shall have no obligation to effect any registration or qualification of the Common Stock under Federal, state or foreign laws.
The Company may require that a grantee, as a condition to exercise of an Award, and as a condition to the delivery of any share certificate, make such written representations (including representations to the effect that such person will not dispose of the Common Stock so acquired in violation of Federal, state or foreign securities laws) and furnish such information as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be appropriate to permit the Company to issue the Common Stock in compliance with applicable Federal, state
or foreign securities laws. The stock certificates for any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Plan may bear a legend restricting transferability of the shares of Common Stock unless such shares are registered or an exemption from registration is available under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state or foreign securities laws.
(i)
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 and a grantee or any other person. To the extent that any grantee or other person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.
(j)
Governing Law
. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, of Grant Agreements entered into pursuant to the Plan, and of any rules, regulations, determinations or decisions made by the Administrator relating to the Plan or such Grant Agreements, and the rights of any and all persons having or claiming to have any interest therein or thereunder, shall be determined exclusively in accordance with applicable federal laws and the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
(k)
409A Savings Clause
. The Plan and all Awards granted hereunder are intended to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from, Code section 409A. The Plan and all Awards granted under the Plan shall be administered, interpreted, and construed in a manner consistent with Code section 409A to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Code section 409A(a)(1)(B). Should any provision of the Plan, any Award Agreement, or any other agreement or arrangement contemplated by the Plan be found not to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from, the provisions of Code section 409A, such provision shall be modified and given effect (retroactively if necessary), in the sole discretion of the Administrator, and without the consent of the holder of the Award, in such manner as the Administrator determines to be necessary or appropriate to comply with, or to effectuate an exemption from, Code section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, in no event shall the Administrator exercise its discretion to accelerate the payment or settlement of an Award where such payment or settlement constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Code section 409A unless, and solely to the extent that, such accelerated payment or settlement is permissible under Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-3(j)(4) or any successor provision.
(l)
Effective Date; Termination Date
. The Plan (as amended and restated) is effective as of the date on which the Plan is adopted by the Board, subject to approval of the stockholders within twelve months before or after such date. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the close of business on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the Plan, or if earlier, the tenth anniversary of the date this Plan is approved by the stockholders. Subject to other applicable provisions of the Plan, all Awards made under the Plan prior to such termination of the Plan shall remain in effect until such Awards have been satisfied or terminated in accordance with the Plan and the terms of such Awards.
Exhibit 99.3
AMENDED AND RESTATED
OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED OPTION AGREEMENT (this “
Agreement
”) is hereby entered into this the 26th day of November 2013 by and among Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. (the “
Corporation
”) and Jordan Kupinsky (hereinafter, the “
Optionee
” and, together with the Corporation , the “
Parties
”).
WHEREAS, the Optionee was granted on March 18, 2010 (the “
Grant Date
”) an option to purchase up to 321,000 shares of the common stock of JJR VI Acquisition Corporation (“
JJR VI
”) at a purchase price of Cdn$0.10 per share pursuant to the terms and conditions of that certain Option Agreement (the “
Original Option Agreement
”), by and between the Optionee and the Corporation ;
WHEREAS, on November 30, 2010 all outstanding JJR VI options were adjusted pursuant to their terms to reflect a ten to one reverse share split by JJR VI such that an Option (as defined in the Original Option Agreement) to purchase 321,000 shares of common stock at a price of Cdn$0.10 per share of JJR VI entitled the Optionee to purchase 32,100 shares of common stock of JJR VI at a purchase price of Cdn$1.00 per share;
WHEREAS, on December 30, 2010, JJR VI, in connection with a reverse merger and redomestication as a Cayman Islands company, changed its name to “Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc.” and all outstanding options converted to options to purchase ordinary shares of the Corporation (“
Shares
”);
WHEREAS, on January 29, 2013 all outstanding options of the Corporation were adjusted pursuant to their terms to reflect a three to one reverse share split such that an option to purchase 32,100 Shares at a purchase price of Cdn$1.00 per share entitled the Optionee to purchase 10,700 Shares at a purchase price of Cdn$3.00 per share;
WHEREAS, the Corporation’s Shares are no longer listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and became listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market effective in February, 2013;
WHEREAS, Section 8 of the Original Option Agreement provides that certain adjustments must be made to the number of and price payable for shares subject to the Option upon subdivision and/or consolidation of the Shares as well as the reclassification or other change affecting the Corporation ;
WHEREAS, Section 14 of the Original Option Agreement provides that the Parties may consent to the amend the Original Option Agreement upon written consent; and
WHEREAS, each of the Parties desires to amend and restate the Original Option Agreement to reflect the matters described above pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises and agreements contained herein, the Parties agree to the amendment and restatement of the Option Agreement as follows:
For good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each of the parties hereto), the Corporation and the Optionee hereby agree as follows:
1.
Grant of Option
1.
The Corporation amends the Original Option Agreement to provide the Optionee the right and option (the “
Option
”) to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of up to 10,700 Shares at a purchase price of U.S. $2.97 per Share expiring on the 10th anniversary of Grant Date and on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
2.
Exercise of Option
1.
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Option may be exercised from time to time prior to the Expiry Time (as hereinafter defined) by delivery to the Corporation at its registered office of an executed Exercise Notice (attached to the Option Agreement as
Schedule “A
”) addressed to the President of the Corporation specifying the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and accompanied by payment in full, by cash or certified cheque, of the purchase price of the Shares then being purchased. Subject to any provisions of this Agreement
to the contrary, certificates for such Shares shall be issued and delivered to the Optionee within a reasonable time following the receipt of such notice and payment.
2.
Notwithstanding any provisions contained in this Agreement, the Corporation’s obligation to issue Shares to the Optionee pursuant to the exercise of the Option shall be subject to: (i) receipt of any required shareholder approval; (ii) completion of such registration or other qualification of such Shares or obtaining approval of such governmental or regulatory authority as the Corporation shall determine to be necessary or advisable in connection with the authorization, issuance or sale thereof; (iii) the admission of such Shares to listing on any stock exchange or market on which the Shares may then be listed; and (iv) the receipt from the Optionee of such representations, warranties, agreements and undertakings as the Corporation determines to be necessary or advisable in order to safeguard against the violation of the securities laws of any jurisdictions. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to require the Corporation to apply for or obtain any such registration, qualification, approval or listing. The Optionee hereby acknowledges and agrees that he has had access to such information as is necessary to enable him to evaluate the merits and risks of acquiring Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option and that he is able to bear the economic risk of holding such Shares for an indefinite period.
3.
No Assignment
1.
The Option is personal to the Optionee and non-assignable (whether by operation of law or otherwise). Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the Option contrary to the provisions of this Agreement, or upon the levy of any attachment or similar process upon the Option, the Option shall, at the election of the Corporation, cease and terminate and be of no further force or effect whatsoever.
4.
Expiration
1.
Subject to the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement, including the termination provisions set out in Section 5 below, the Optionee shall have the right to exercise the Option with respect to all or any part of the Shares at any time or from time to time after the date hereof and prior to the close of business on the 10th year from Grant Date (the “
Expiry Time
”). On the Expiry Time, the Option shall forthwith expire and terminate and be of no further force or effect whatsoever with respect to the unexercised balance of the Shares available under the Option.
5.
Termination of Employment; Death; Bankruptcy
1.
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and this Section 5 and to any express resolution passed with respect to the Option by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “
Board
”) or by any committee of the Board established by the Board to administer option grants (the “
Committee
”), the Option and all rights to purchase Shares pursuant thereto shall immediately expire and terminate on the ninetieth (90th) day following the date the Optionee ceases to be a director or executive officer of the Corporation, provided that if the Optionee ceases to be a director or similar officer of the Corporation by reason of death, the provisions of Section 5.2, below, shall apply.
2.
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and this Section 5, if the Optionee shall die prior to the full exercise of the Option, his personal representatives, heirs or legatees may, at any time within twelve (12) months after the date of such death, exercise the Option with respect to the unexercised balance of the Shares to the extent vested, subject to the terms of the Option but only to the same extent to which the Optionee could have exercised the Option immediately before the date of such death. In no event, however, shall the Option be exercisable after the Expiry Time.
3.
In the event that the Optionee commits an act of bankruptcy or any proceeding is commenced against the Optionee under the
Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
(Canada) or other applicable bankruptcy or insolvency legislation in force at the time of such bankruptcy and such proceeding remains undismissed for a period of thirty (30) days, the Option may not be exercised following the date on which the Optionee commits such act of bankruptcy or such proceeding remains undismissed, as the case may be.
6.
Rights as a Shareholder
1.
An Optionee shall not have any rights as a shareholder of the Corporation with respect to any of the Shares subject to the Option until the date of issuance of a certificate for such Shares upon the exercise of the Option, in full or in part, and then only with respect to the Shares represented by such certificate or certificates. Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing, no adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such share certificate is issued.
7.
Inconsistency with NASDAQ Policies
1.
The parties hereto agree that in the event this Agreement is inconsistent with any applicable NASDAQ policies (the “
Policies
”), such Policies shall prevail.
8.
Certain Adjustments
1.
In the event that the Shares are at any time changed or affected as a result of the declaration of a stock dividend thereon or their subdivision or consolidation, the number of Shares reserved for the Option shall be adjusted accordingly by the Board or the Committee to such extent as they deem proper in their discretion. In such event, the number of, and the price payable for, the Shares that are then subject to the Option may also be adjusted by the Board or the Committee to such extent, if any, as they deem proper in their discretion.
2.
If at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the expiration of the term of the Option, the Shares shall be reclassified, reorganized or otherwise changed, otherwise than as specified in Section 8.1 of this Agreement
or, subject to the provisions of subsection 8.1(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation shall consolidate, merge or amalgamate with or into another corporation (the corporation resulting or continuing from such consolidation, merger or amalgamation being herein called the “
Successor Corporation
”), the Optionee shall be entitled to receive upon the subsequent exercise of the Option in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and shall accept in lieu of the number of Shares to which he was theretofore entitled upon such exercise but for the same aggregate consideration payable therefor, the aggregate number of shares of the appropriate class and/or other securities of the Corporation or the Successor Corporation (as the case may be) and/or other consideration from the Corporation or the Successor Corporation (as the case may be) that the Optionee would have been entitled to receive as a result of such reclassification, reorganization or other change or, subject to the provisions of subsection 8.1(a) of this Agreement, as a result of such consolidation, merger or amalgamation, if on the record date of such reclassification, reorganization or other change or the effective date of such consolidation, merger or amalgamation, as the case may be, he had been the registered holder of the number of Shares to which he was theretofore entitled upon such exercise.
9.
Amendments to the Option
1.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement:
(a)
in the event the Corporation proposes to amalgamate, merge or consolidate with any other corporation (other than a wholly-owned subsidiary) or to liquidate, dissolve or wind-up, or in the event an offer to purchase or repurchase the Shares or any part thereof shall be made to all or substantially all holders of the Shares, the Corporation shall have the right, upon written notice thereof to the Optionee, to permit the exercise of the Option within the twenty (20) day period next following the date of such notice and to determine that upon the expiration of such twenty (20) day period, all rights of the Optionee to the Option or to exercise same (to the extent not theretofore exercised) shall
ipso facto
terminate and cease to have further force or effect whatsoever;
(b)
in the event of the sale by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation as an entirety or substantially as an entirety so that the Corporation shall cease to operate as an active business, the Option may be exercised as to all or any part of the Shares subject to the Option in respect of which the Optionee would have been entitled to exercise the Option in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement at the date of completion of any such sale at any time up to and including, but not after the earlier of: (i) the close of business on that date which is thirty (30) days following the date of completion of such sale; and (ii) the close of business on the expiration date of the Option; but the Optionee shall not be entitled to exercise the Option with respect to any other Shares; and
(c)
subject to the rules of any relevant stock exchange or other regulatory authority, the Board may, by resolution, and with the consent of the Optionee, advance the date on which any Option may be exercised or extend the expiration date of the Option.
10.
Notice
1.
All communications and payments provided for under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be given when delivered in person or deposited in the mail, first class, certified or registered, return receipt requested, with proper postage prepaid and,
(a)
if to the Optionee, addressed to:
Jordan M. Kupinsky
5 Hazelton Avenue, Suite 300
Toronto, Ontario
M5R2E1
Phone No.: (416) 972-9993
Fax No.: (416) 972-6208
(b)
if to the Corporation, addressed to:
Scott D. Wollney
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc.
150 NW Point Boulevard
Elk Grove Village, IL
Phone No.: (847) 472-6700
11.
Time of Essence
1.
Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement and each and every part hereof.
12.
Binding Effect
1.
This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, the successors of the Corporation and the executor, administrator, heirs and personal representatives of the Optionee. This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Optionee.
13.
Headings
1.
The section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
14.
Amendment
1.
This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by each of the parties hereto.
15.
Governing Law
1.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois and the laws of the United States of America applicable therein.
16.
Duplicate Originals
1.
It is hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed in duplicate only, one original executed copy delivered to the Optionee and one delivered to the Corporation.
[Signature Page to Follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc.
Per: /s/ Scott D. Wollney
Name: Scott D. Wollney
Title: President & CEO
/s/ Jordan M. Kupinsky
Jordan M. Kupinsky
EXERCISE NOTICE
TO: ATLAS FINANCIAL
HOLDINGS, INC.
AND TO:
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THEREOF
The undersigned holder of the Options evidenced by the Option Agreement hereby subscribes for _____________________________ Shares of the Corporation pursuant to such Options exercisable at an exercise price of U.S.$__________ until the Expiry Time (or such other price as is determined pursuant to the Option Agreement) on the terms specified in such Option Agreement and enclosed herewith a certified cheque, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Corporation in payment therefor.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably directs that the said Shares be issued in the name of the undersigned and delivered
*Please check if the Share certificates are to be delivered at the office where this Exercise Notice is surrendered, failing which the certificates will be mailed.
*
Certificates will be delivered or mailed only after the transfer books of the Corporation have been opened for five business days after the due surrender of the Exercise Notice as aforesaid. as follows:
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Name(s) in Full
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Address(es)
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SIN Number
(if applicable)
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Number(s) of
Common Shares
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Taxpayer
Identification
Number (if applicable)
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____________
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____________
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____________
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_____________
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_____________
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(Please print full name in which Share certificates are to be issued. If any Shares are to be issued to a person or persons other than the holder, the holder must pay to the Corporation all exigible transfer taxes or other government charges.)
DATED this _______ day of ___________, ____.
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Signature Guaranteed
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Signature of Subscriber
Name of Subscriber
Address of Subscriber
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