UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 20, 2021
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE HOLDINGS LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Bermuda |
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001-35784 |
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98-0691007 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
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(Commission File Number) |
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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7665 Corporate Center Drive, Miami, Florida 33126
(Address of principal executive offices, and Zip Code)
(305) 436-4000
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
Ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share |
NCLH |
The New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(e) Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (the “Company”) previously adopted an amendment and restatement of the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. 2013 Performance Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan” and as amended and restated, the “Restated 2013 Plan”), subject to approval by the Company’s shareholders at the Annual Meeting (as such term is defined in Item 5.07 of this Current Report on Form 8-K). As disclosed in Item 5.07 below, the Company’s shareholders approved the Restated 2013 Plan at the Annual Meeting.
Among other things, the Restated 2013 Plan reflects amendments to:
i. | increase the number of the Company’s ordinary shares that may be delivered pursuant to all awards granted under the Restated 2013 Plan by an additional 4,910,000 shares, from 27,465,106 shares to a new maximum aggregate limit of 32,375,106 shares; |
ii. | remove certain provisions from the Restated 2013 Plan, which had been in place to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code that are no longer applicable; and |
iii. | extend the expiration date of the Restated 2013 Plan to February 15, 2031. |
The Board or one or more committees appointed by the Board administers the Restated 2013 Plan. The Board has delegated general administrative authority for the Restated 2013 Plan to the Compensation Committee of the Board. The administrator of the Restated 2013 Plan has broad authority under the plan to, among other things, select eligible participants and determine the type(s) of award(s) that they are to receive, determine the number of shares that are to be subject to awards and the terms and conditions of awards, including the price (if any) to be paid for the shares or the award.
Persons eligible to receive awards under the Restated 2013 Plan include officers or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, members of the Board, and certain consultants and advisors to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The types of awards that may be granted under the Restated 2013 Plan include, without limitation, options, share appreciation rights, share bonuses, restricted shares, performance shares, share units, phantom shares, dividend equivalents and other forms of awards, which are granted or denominated in the Company’s ordinary shares, as well as cash bonus awards.
The maximum number of the Company’s ordinary shares that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the Restated 2013 Plan is equal to 32,375,106 shares. Ordinary shares subject to outstanding awards that are settled in cash will be available for issuance under the Restated 2013 Plan, as will any ordinary shares exchanged or withheld by the Company to satisfy any purchase price and tax withholding obligations related to “full value awards” such as restricted shares or restricted share units. However, with respect to all awards of options or share appreciation rights (“SAR(s)”) that are not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement of an outstanding option or SAR, or any ordinary shares that are not issued or are tendered back to the Company as payment for any options or SARs, as well as any ordinary shares withheld or tendered to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to options or SARs, as well as any shares repurchased with the proceeds of any option exercise price, will not again be available for new grants under the Restated 2013 Plan. In addition, the gross number of ordinary shares for which a SAR award is exercised, and not the number of ordinary shares actually issued, will count against the share limits of the Restated 2013 Plan.
The foregoing summary of the Restated 2013 Plan and the amendments thereto is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Restated 2013 Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders approved an increase in the number of ordinary shares the Company is authorized to issue from 490,000,000 to 980,000,000. On May 20, 2021, the Company filed with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda a Memorandum of Increase of Share Capital to effect the increase in the Company’s authorized share capital. The Memorandum of Increase of Share Capital is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
On May 20, 2021, the Company held its annual general meeting of shareholders at the Pullman Miami, 5800 Blue Lagoon Drive, Miami, Florida 33126 (the “Annual Meeting”). At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders voted on five proposals, each of which is described in more detail in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2021 (the “Proxy Statement”). There were 207,413,459 ordinary shares present at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy, which represented 65.37% of the combined voting power of ordinary shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, and which constituted a quorum for the transaction of business. Holders of the Company’s ordinary shares were entitled to one vote for each ordinary share held as of the close of business on March 2, 2021.
The shareholders of the Company voted on the following proposals at the Annual Meeting:
1. | To elect three directors, each to serve as Class II directors until the 2024 annual general meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. |
2. | To approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement. |
3. | To approve an increase in the Company’s authorized share capital to increase the number of ordinary shares authorized for issuance from 490,000,000 to 980,000,000. |
4. | To approve an amendment to the 2013 Plan, including an increase in the number of shares available for grant under the 2013 Plan. |
5. | To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2021 and the determination of PwC’s remuneration by the Audit Committee of the Board. |
The voting results for each of these proposals are detailed below.
Each of the three nominees for director was elected to serve until the 2024 annual general meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.
2. Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation |
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For |
Against |
Abstain |
Broker Non-Votes |
19,698,597 |
99,235,417 |
1,264,651 |
87,214,794 |
The shareholders did not approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement.
3. Increase in Authorized Share Capital |
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For |
Against |
Abstain |
Broker Non-Votes |
187,797,992 |
18,069,917 |
1,545,550 |
— |
The shareholders approved an increase in the number of the Company’s ordinary shares authorized for issuance from 490,000,000 to 980,000,000.
4. Approval of Amendment to 2013 Performance Incentive Plan |
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For |
Against |
Abstain |
Broker Non-Votes |
106,682,023 |
12,763,551 |
753,091 |
87,214,794 |
The shareholders approved an amendment to the 2013 Plan, including an increase in the number of shares available for grant under such plan. The Restated 2013 Plan is described above in Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
5. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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For |
Against |
Abstain |
Broker Non-Votes |
197,508,306 |
6,534,413 |
3,370,740 |
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The shareholders ratified the appointment of PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2021 and the determination of PwC’s remuneration by the Audit Committee of the Board.
Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) |
Exhibits. |
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Exhibit
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Description |
3.1 |
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Memorandum of Increase of Share Capital of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. |
10.1 |
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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Amended and Restated 2013 Performance Incentive Plan. |
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The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Date: May 21, 2021 |
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE HOLDINGS LTD. |
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By: |
/s/Daniel S. Farkas |
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Daniel S. Farkas |
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Executive Vice President, General Counsel and |
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Assistant Secretary |
Exhibit 3.1
FORM NO. 7
BERMUDA
THE COMPANIES ACT 1981
MEMORANDUM OF INCREASE OF SHARE CAPITAL
OF
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
(Hereinafter referred to as “the Company”)
DEPOSITED in the office of the Registrar of Companies on the 20 day of May, 2021, in accordance with the provisions of section 45(3) of the Companies Act 1981.
DULY STAMPED in the amount of BD$ NIL being the stamp duty payable on the amount of increase of share capital of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Stamp Duties Act, 1976.
/s/Graham Sadler
Secretary
DATED THIS 20 day of, May 2021
NOTE: |
This memorandum must be filed in the office of the Registrar of Companies within thirty days after the date on which the resolution increasing the share capital has effect and must be accompanied by a copy of the resolution and the prescribed fee. |
Exhibit 10.1
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE HOLDINGS LTD.
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2013 PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN
(Effective May 20, 2021)
The purpose of this Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Amended and Restated 2013 Performance Incentive Plan (this “Plan”) of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Bermuda (the “Company”), is to promote the success of the Company and to increase shareholder value by providing an additional means through the grant of awards to attract, motivate, retain and reward selected employees and other eligible persons.
The Administrator (as such term is defined in Section 3.1) may grant awards under this Plan only to those persons that the Administrator determines to be Eligible Persons. An “Eligible Person” is any person who is either: (a) an officer (whether or not a director) or employee of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; (b) a director of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; or (c) an individual consultant or advisor who renders or has rendered bona fide services (other than services in connection with the offering or sale of securities of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries in a capital-raising transaction or as a market maker or promoter of securities of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries) to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and who is selected to participate in this Plan by the Administrator; provided, however, that a person who is otherwise an Eligible Person under clause (c) above may participate in this Plan only if such participation would not adversely affect either the Company’s eligibility to use Form S-8 to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the offering and sale of shares issuable under this Plan by the Company or the Company’s compliance with any other applicable laws. An Eligible Person who has been granted an award (a “participant”) may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional awards if the Administrator shall so determine. As used herein, “Subsidiary” means any Company or other entity a majority of whose outstanding voting shares or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company; and “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
3.1 | The Administrator. This Plan shall be administered by and all awards under this Plan shall be authorized by the Administrator. The “Administrator” means the Board or one or more committees appointed by the Board or another committee (within its delegated authority) to administer all or certain aspects of this Plan. Any such committee shall be comprised solely of one or more directors or such number of directors as may be required under applicable law. A committee may delegate some or all of its authority to another committee so constituted. The Board or a committee comprised solely of directors may also delegate, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to one or more officers of the Company, its powers under this Plan (a) to designate the officers and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who will receive grants of awards under this Plan, and (b) to determine the number of shares subject to, and the other terms and conditions of, such awards. The Board may delegate different levels of authority to different committees with administrative and grant authority under this Plan. Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws of the Company or the applicable charter of any Administrator: (a) a majority of the members of the acting Administrator shall constitute a quorum, and (b) the vote of a majority of the members present assuming the presence of a quorum or the unanimous written consent of the members of the Administrator shall constitute action by the acting Administrator. |
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determine eligibility and, from among those persons determined to be eligible, the particular Eligible Persons who will receive an award under this Plan; |
(b)grant awards to Eligible Persons, determine the price (if any) at which securities will be offered or awarded and the number of securities to be offered or awarded to any of such persons, determine the other specific terms and conditions of such awards consistent with the express limits of this Plan, establish the installments (if any) in which such awards shall become exercisable or shall vest (which may include, without limitation, performance and/or time-based schedules), or determine that no delayed exercisability or vesting is required, establish any applicable performance targets, determine the circumstances in which any performance-based goals (or the applicable measure of
performance) will be adjusted and the nature and impact of any such adjustment, and establish the events of termination or reversion of such awards;
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approve the forms of award agreements (which need not be identical either as to type of award or among participants); |
(d)construe and interpret this Plan and any agreements defining the rights and obligations of the Company, its Subsidiaries, and participants under this Plan, make any and all determinations under this Plan and any such agreements, further define the terms used in this Plan, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of this Plan or the awards granted under this Plan;
(e)cancel, modify, or waive the Company’s rights with respect to, or modify, discontinue, suspend, or terminate any or all outstanding awards, subject to any required consent under Section 8.6.5;
(f)accelerate, waive or extend the vesting or exercisability or extend the term of any or all such outstanding awards (in the case of options or share appreciation rights, within the maximum ten-year term of such awards) in such circumstances as the Administrator may deem appropriate (including, without limitation, in connection with a termination of employment or services or other events of a personal nature) subject to any required consent under Section 8.6.5;
(g) |
adjust the number of Ordinary Shares subject to any award, adjust the price of any or all outstanding awards or otherwise change previously imposed terms and conditions, in such circumstances as the Administrator may deem appropriate, in each case subject to Sections 4 and 8.6 (and subject to the no repricing provision below); |
(h)determine the date of grant of an award, which may be a designated date after but not before the date of the Administrator’s action (unless otherwise designated by the Administrator, the date of grant of an award shall be the date upon which the Administrator took the action granting an award);
(i)determine whether, and the extent to which, adjustments are required pursuant to Section 7 hereof and authorize the termination, conversion, substitution or succession of awards upon the occurrence of an event of the type described in Section 7;
(j)acquire or settle (subject to Sections 7 and 8.6) rights under awards in cash, shares of equivalent value, or other consideration (subject to the no repricing provision below); and
(k) |
determine the fair market value of the Ordinary Shares or awards under this Plan from time to time and/or the manner in which such value will be determined. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing and except for an adjustment pursuant to Section 7.1 or a repricing approved by shareholders, in no case may the Administrator (1) amend an outstanding option or SAR to reduce the exercise price or base price of the award, (2) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding option or SAR in exchange for cash or other awards for the purpose of repricing the award, or (3) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding option or SAR in exchange for an option or SAR with an exercise or base price that is less than the exercise or base price of the original award.
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The following limit also applies with respect to awards granted under this Plan:
(a)The maximum number of Ordinary Shares that may be delivered pursuant to options qualified as incentive stock options granted under this Plan is 32,375,106 shares.
Each of the foregoing numerical limits is subject to adjustment as contemplated by Section 4.3, Section 7.1, and Section 8.10.
4.4 | Reservation of Shares; No Fractional Shares; Minimum Issue. The Company shall at all times reserve a number of Ordinary Shares sufficient to cover the Company’s obligations and contingent obligations to deliver shares with respect to awards then outstanding under this Plan (exclusive of any dividend equivalent obligations to the extent the Company has the right to settle such rights in cash). No fractional shares shall be delivered under this Plan. The Administrator may pay cash in lieu of any fractional shares in settlements of awards under this Plan. No fewer than 100 shares may be purchased on exercise of any award (or, in the case of share appreciation or purchase rights, no fewer than 100 rights may be exercised at any one time) unless the total number purchased or exercised is the total number at the time available for purchase or exercise under the award. |
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5.1 | Type and Form of Awards. The Administrator shall determine the type or types of award(s) to be made to each selected Eligible Person. Awards may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem. Awards also may be made in combination or in tandem with, in replacement of, as alternatives to, or as the payment form for grants or rights under any other employee or compensation plan of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries. The types of awards that may be granted under this Plan are (subject, in each case, to the no repricing provisions of Section 3.2): |
5.1.5 Incentive Bonus Awards. The types of cash awards that may be granted under this Plan include the opportunity to receive a payment for the Company’s fiscal year, or any other performance period established by the Administrator, based on the achievement of specific performance goals (which may
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include subjective goals) established by the Administrator in its sole discretion. Any applicable performance goals may be based on either the performance of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or divisions on an absolute or relative basis, or on individual performance, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, any participant granted an incentive bonus award pursuant to this Section 5.1.5 must remain continuously employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries through the last day of the applicable performance period in order for the incentive bonus award to become payable. Any payments becoming payable pursuant to this Section 5.1.5 will be paid in the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable performance period ends, unless deferred in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A and Section 457A of the Code.
5.2 | [Reserved] |
5.4 | Settlements. Payment of awards may be in the form of cash, Ordinary Shares, other awards or combinations thereof as the Administrator shall determine, and with such restrictions as it may impose. |
5.5 | Consideration for Ordinary Shares or Awards. The purchase price (if any) for any award granted under this Plan or the Ordinary Shares to be delivered pursuant to an award, as applicable, may be paid by means of any lawful consideration as determined by the Administrator, including, without limitation, one or a combination of the following methods: |
● | services rendered by the recipient of such award; |
● | cash, check payable to the order of the Company, or electronic funds transfer; |
● | notice and third party payment in such manner as may be authorized by the Administrator; |
● | the delivery of previously owned Ordinary Shares; |
● | by a reduction in the number of shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the award; or |
● | subject to such procedures as the Administrator may adopt, pursuant to a “cashless exercise” with a third party who provides financing for the purposes of (or who otherwise facilitates) the purchase or exercise of awards. |
In no event shall any shares newly-issued by the Company be issued for less than the minimum lawful consideration for such shares or for consideration other than consideration permitted by applicable law. Ordinary Shares used to satisfy the exercise price of an option shall be valued at their fair market value on the date of exercise. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares unless and until it receives full payment of the exercise or purchase price therefor and any related withholding obligations under Section 8.5 and any other conditions to exercise or purchase have been satisfied. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable award agreement, the Administrator may at any time eliminate or limit a participant’s ability to pay the purchase or exercise price of any award or shares by any method other than cash payment to the Company.
5.6 | Definition of Fair Market Value. For purposes of this Plan, “fair market value” shall mean, unless otherwise determined or provided by the Administrator in the circumstances, the closing price (in regular trading) for an Ordinary Share on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) for the date in question or, if no sales of Ordinary Shares were reported on the Exchange on that date, the closing price (in regular trading) for an Ordinary Share on the Exchange for the next preceding day on which sales of Ordinary Shares were reported on the Exchange. The Administrator may, however, provide with respect to one or more awards that the fair market value shall equal the closing price (in regular trading) for an Ordinary Share |
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on the Exchange on the last trading day preceding the date in question or the average of the high and low trading prices of an Ordinary Share on the Exchange for the date in question or the most recent trading day. If the Ordinary Shares are no longer listed or are no longer actively traded on the Exchange as of the applicable date, the fair market value of the Ordinary Shares shall be the value as reasonably determined by the Administrator for purposes of the award in the circumstances. The Administrator also may adopt a different methodology for determining fair market value with respect to one or more awards if a different methodology is necessary or advisable to secure any intended favorable tax, legal or other treatment for the particular award(s) (for example, and without limitation, the Administrator may provide that fair market value for purposes of one or more awards will be based on an average of closing prices (or the average of high and low daily trading prices) for a specified period preceding the relevant date). |
(a) |
transfers to the Company (for example, in connection with the expiration or termination of the award), |
(b) |
the designation of a beneficiary to receive benefits in the event of the participant’s death or, if the participant has died, transfers to or exercise by the participant’s beneficiary, or, in the absence of a validly designated beneficiary, transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution, |
(c) |
subject to any applicable limitations on ISOs, transfers to a family member (or former family member) pursuant to a domestic relations order if approved or ratified by the Administrator, |
(d) |
if the participant has suffered a disability, permitted transfers or exercises on behalf of the participant by his or her legal representative, or |
(e)the authorization by the Administrator of “cashless exercise” procedures with third parties who provide financing for the purpose of (or who otherwise facilitate) the exercise of awards consistent with applicable laws and any limitations imposed by the Administrator.
5.8 | International Awards. One or more awards may be granted to Eligible Persons who provide services to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries outside of the United States. Any awards granted to such persons may be granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of any applicable sub-plans, if any, appended to this Plan and approved by the Administrator. |
6.1 | General. The Administrator shall establish the effect of a termination of employment or service on the rights and benefits under each award under this Plan and in so doing may make distinctions based upon, inter alia, the cause of termination and type of award. If the participant is not an employee of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and provides other services to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, the Administrator shall be the sole judge for purposes of this Plan (unless a contract or the award otherwise provides) of whether the participant continues to render services to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and the date, if any, upon which such services shall be deemed to have terminated. |
6.2 | Events Not Deemed Terminations of Service. Unless the express policy of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, or the Administrator, otherwise provides, or except as otherwise required by applicable law, the |
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employment relationship shall not be considered terminated in the case of (a) sick leave, (b) military leave, or (c) any other leave of absence authorized by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, or the Administrator; provided that, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or law or the Administrator otherwise provides, such leave is for a period of not more than three months. In the case of any employee of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries on an approved leave of absence, continued vesting of the award while on leave from the employ of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries may be suspended until the employee returns to service, unless the Administrator otherwise provides or applicable law otherwise requires. In no event shall an award be exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the applicable award agreement. |
6.3 | Effect of Change of Subsidiary Status. For purposes of this Plan and any award, if an entity ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company a termination of employment or service shall be deemed to have occurred with respect to each Eligible Person in respect of such Subsidiary who does not continue as an Eligible Person in respect of the Company or another Subsidiary that continues as such after giving effect to the transaction or other event giving rise to the change in status, unless the Subsidiary that is sold, spun off or otherwise divested (or its successor or a direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary or successor) assumes the Eligible Person’s award(s) in connection with the transaction. |
Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable award agreement, upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to) any event or transaction described in the preceding paragraph or a sale of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company as an entirety, the Administrator shall equitably and proportionately adjust the performance standards applicable to any then-outstanding performance-based awards to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by this Plan and the then-outstanding performance-based awards.
It is intended that, if possible, any adjustments contemplated by the preceding two paragraphs be made in a manner that satisfies applicable U.S. legal, tax (including, without limitation and as applicable in the circumstances, Section 424 of the Code, Section 409A and Section 457A of the Code and accounting (so as to not trigger any charge to earnings with respect to such adjustment) requirements.
Without limiting the generality of Section 3.3, any good faith determination by the Administrator as to whether an adjustment is required in the circumstances pursuant to this Section 7.1, and the extent and nature of any such adjustment, shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
7.2 | Corporate Transactions - Assumption and Termination of Awards. Upon the occurrence of any of the following: any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization in connection with which the Company does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its Ordinary Shares); any exchange of Ordinary Shares or other securities of the Company in connection with which the Company does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its Ordinary Shares); a sale of all or substantially all the business, shares or assets of the Company in connection with which the Company does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its Ordinary Shares); a dissolution of the Company; or any other event in which the Company does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its Ordinary Shares); then the Administrator may make provision for a cash payment in settlement of, or for the assumption, substitution or exchange of any or all outstanding share-based awards or the cash, securities or property deliverable to the holder of any or all outstanding share-based awards, based upon, to the extent relevant under the circumstances, the distribution or consideration payable to holders of the Ordinary Shares upon or in respect of such event. Upon the occurrence of any event described in the preceding sentence, then, unless the Administrator has made a provision for the |
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substitution, assumption, exchange or other continuation or settlement of the award or the award would otherwise continue in accordance with its terms in the circumstances: (1) unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, each then-outstanding option and SAR shall become fully vested, all restricted shares then outstanding shall fully vest free of restrictions, and each other award granted under this Plan that is then outstanding shall become payable to the holder of such award; and (2) each award shall terminate upon the related event; provided that the holder of an option or SAR shall be given reasonable advance notice of the impending termination and a reasonable opportunity to exercise his or her outstanding vested options and SARs (after giving effect to any accelerated vesting required in the circumstances) in accordance with their terms before the termination of such awards (except that in no case shall more than ten days’ notice of the impending termination be required and any acceleration of vesting and any exercise of any portion of an award that is so accelerated may be made contingent upon the actual occurrence of the event). |
Without limiting the preceding paragraph, in connection with any event referred to in the preceding paragraph or any change in control event defined in any applicable award agreement, the Administrator may, in its discretion, provide for the accelerated vesting of any award or awards as and to the extent determined by the Administrator in the circumstances.
The Administrator may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding awards as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash or property settlement and, in the case of options, SARs or similar rights, but without limitation on other methodologies, may base such settlement solely upon the excess if any of the per share amount payable upon or in respect of such event over the exercise or base price of the award.
In any of the events referred to in this Section 7.2, the Administrator may take such action contemplated by this Section 7.2 prior to such event (as opposed to on the occurrence of such event) to the extent that the Administrator deems the action necessary to permit the participant to realize the benefits intended to be conveyed with respect to the underlying shares. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator may deem an acceleration and/or termination to occur immediately prior to the applicable event and, in such circumstances, will reinstate the original terms of the award if an event giving rise to an acceleration and/or termination does not occur.
Without limiting the generality of Section 3.3, any good faith determination by the Administrator pursuant to its authority under this Section 7.2 shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
7.3 | Other Acceleration Rules. The Administrator may override the provisions of Section 7.2 by express provision in the award agreement and may accord any Eligible Person a right to refuse any acceleration, whether pursuant to the award agreement or otherwise, in such circumstances as the Administrator may approve. The portion of any ISO accelerated in connection with an event referred to in Section 7.2 (or such other circumstances as may trigger accelerated vesting of the award) shall remain exercisable as an ISO only to the extent the applicable $100,000 limitation on ISOs is not exceeded. To the extent exceeded, the accelerated portion of the option shall be exercisable as a nonqualified option under the Code. |
7.4 | Discretion to Accelerate. The Administrator shall have the discretion to accelerate the vesting of any award in circumstances it determines to be appropriate (whether in connection with a transaction, termination of employment or for any other reason). |
8.1 | Compliance with Laws. This Plan, the granting and vesting of awards under this Plan, the offer, issuance and delivery of Ordinary Shares, and/or the payment of money under this Plan or under awards are subject to compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to state and federal securities law and federal margin requirements) and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. The person acquiring any securities under this Plan will, if requested by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, provide such assurances and representations to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries as the Administrator may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal and accounting requirements. |
8.2 | No Rights to Award. No person shall have any claim or rights to be granted an award (or additional awards, as the case may be) under this Plan, subject to any express contractual rights (set forth in a document other than this Plan) to the contrary. |
8.3 | No Employment/Service Contract. Nothing contained in this Plan (or in any other documents under this Plan or in any award) shall confer upon any Eligible Person or other participant any right to continue in the |
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employ or other service of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, constitute any contract or agreement of employment or other service or affect an employee’s status as an employee at will, nor shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries to change a person’s compensation or other benefits, or to terminate his or her employment or other service, with or without cause. Nothing in this Section 8.3, however, is intended to adversely affect any express independent right of such person under a separate employment or service contract other than an award agreement. |
8.4 | Plan Not Funded. Awards payable under this Plan shall be payable in shares or from the general assets of the Company, and no special or separate reserve, fund or deposit shall be made to assure payment of such awards. No participant, beneficiary or other person shall have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset (including Ordinary Shares, except as expressly otherwise provided) of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries by reason of any award hereunder. Neither the provisions of this Plan (or of any related documents), nor the creation or adoption of this Plan, nor any action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Plan shall create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and any participant, beneficiary or other person. To the extent that a participant, beneficiary or other person acquires a right to receive payment pursuant to any award hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company. |
(a)require the participant (or the participant’s personal representative or beneficiary, as the case may be) to pay or provide for payment of any applicable amount of any taxes which the Company or one of its Subsidiaries may be required or permitted to withhold with respect to such award event or payment; or
(b)deduct from any amount otherwise payable in cash (whether related to the award or otherwise) to the participant (or the participant’s personal representative or beneficiary, as the case may be) any applicable amount of any taxes which the Company or one of its Subsidiaries may be required or permitted to withhold with respect to such award event or payment.
In any case where a tax is required to be withheld in connection with the delivery of Ordinary Shares under this Plan, the Administrator may in its sole discretion (subject to Section 8.1) require or grant (either at the time of the award or thereafter) to the participant the right to elect, pursuant to such rules and subject to such conditions as the Administrator may establish, that the Company reduce the number of shares to be delivered by (or otherwise reacquire) the appropriate number of shares, valued in a consistent manner at their fair market value or at the sales price in accordance with authorized procedures for cashless exercises, necessary to satisfy any applicable withholding obligation on exercise, vesting or payment.
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8.7 | Privileges of Share Ownership. Except as otherwise expressly authorized by the Administrator, a participant shall not be entitled to any privilege of share ownership as to any Ordinary Shares not actually delivered to and held of record by the participant. Except as expressly required by Section 7.1 or otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator, no adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights as a shareholder for which a record date is prior to such date of delivery. |
8.8.3 | Plan Construction. |
(a)Rule 16b-3. It is the intent of the Company that the awards and transactions permitted by awards be interpreted in a manner that, in the case of participants who are or may be subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, qualify, to the maximum extent compatible with the express terms of the award, for exemption from matching liability under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no liability to any participant for Section 16 consequences of awards or events under awards if an award or event does not so qualify.
8.9 | Captions. Captions and headings are given to the sections and subsections of this Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Plan or any provision thereof. |
8.10 | Share-Based Awards in Substitution for Options or Awards Granted by Other Company. Awards may be granted to Eligible Persons in substitution for or in connection with an assumption of employee options, SARs, restricted shares or other share-based awards granted by other entities to persons who are or who will become Eligible Persons in respect of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, in connection with a distribution, merger or other reorganization by or with the granting entity or an affiliated entity, or the acquisition by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, of all or a substantial part of the shares or assets of the employing entity. The awards so granted need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan, provided the awards reflect only adjustments giving effect to the assumption or substitution consistent with the conversion applicable to the Ordinary Shares in the transaction and any change in the issuer of the security. Any shares that are delivered and any awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Company, as a result of the assumption by the Company of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an acquired company (or previously granted by a predecessor employer (or direct or indirect parent thereof) in the case of persons that become employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries in connection with a business or asset acquisition or similar transaction) shall not |
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be counted against the Share Limit or other limits on the number of shares available for issuance under this Plan. |
8.11 | Non-Exclusivity of Plan. Nothing in this Plan shall limit or be deemed to limit the authority of the Board or the Administrator to grant awards or authorize any other compensation, with or without reference to Ordinary Shares, under any other plan or authority. |
8.13 | Other Company Benefit and Compensation Programs. Payments and other benefits received by a participant under an award made pursuant to this Plan shall not be deemed a part of a participant’s compensation for purposes of the determination of benefits under any other employee welfare or benefit plans or arrangements, if any, provided by the Company or any Subsidiary, except where the Administrator expressly otherwise provides or authorizes in writing. Awards under this Plan may be made in addition to, in combination with, as alternatives to or in payment of grants, awards or commitments under any other plans or arrangements of the Company or its Subsidiaries. |
8.14 | Clawback Policy. The awards granted under this Plan are subject to the terms of the Company’s recoupment, clawback or similar policy as it may be in effect from time to time, as well as any similar provisions of applicable law, any of which could in certain circumstances require repayment or forfeiture of awards or any Ordinary Shares or other cash or property received with respect to the awards (including any value received from a disposition of the shares acquired upon payment of the awards). |
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