Exhibit 10.1
BEIGENE, LTD.
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
2016 SHARE OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1.GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS
The name of the plan is the BeiGene, Ltd. Third Amended and Restated 2016 Share Option and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable the officers, employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants of BeiGene, Ltd. (the “Company”) and its Subsidiaries (together with the Company, the “Group”) upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its businesses to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. It is anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company will assure a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company and its shareholders, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company’s behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company.
The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
“Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
“Administrator” means either the Board or the compensation committee of the Board or a similar committee performing the functions of the compensation committee and which is comprised of not less than two Non-Employee Directors who are independent.
“ADSs” means American depositary shares. Each ADS represents 13 Shares.
“ASC 718” means Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation.
“Award” or “Awards,” except where referring to a particular category of grant under the Plan, shall include Non-Qualified Share Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Restricted Share Units, Restricted Share Awards, Unrestricted Share Awards and Dividend Equivalent Rights.
“Award Certificate” means a written or electronic document setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan. Each Award Certificate is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.
“Consultant” means any natural person that provides bona fide services to the Group, and such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.
“Dividend Equivalent Right” means an Award entitling the Grantee to receive credits based on cash dividends that would have been paid on the Shares specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other award to which it relates) if such Shares had been issued to and held by the Grantee.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
“Fair Market Value” of the Shares on any given date means the fair market value of the Shares determined in good faith by the Administrator; provided, however, that if the ADSs are admitted to quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”), NASDAQ Global Market or another national securities exchange, the determination shall be made by reference to market quotations. If there are no market quotations for such date, the determination shall be made by reference to the last date preceding such date for which there are market quotations.
“Grantee” is a recipient of an Award under this Plan.
“HK Listing Rules” means the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, as amended from time to time.
“Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not also an employee of the Group.
“Non-Qualified Share Option” means any Share Option that is not an incentive share option.
“Restricted Shares” means the Shares underlying a Restricted Share Award that remain subject to a risk of forfeiture or the Company’s right of repurchase.
“Restricted Share Award” means an Award of Restricted Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.
“Restricted Share Units” means an Award of share units subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.
“Sale Event” shall mean (i) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (ii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power and outstanding Shares immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power and outstanding Shares or other equity interests of the resulting or successor entity (or its ultimate parent, if applicable) immediately upon completion of such transaction, (iii) the sale of all of the Shares of the Company to an unrelated person, entity or group thereof acting in concert, or (iv) any other transaction in which the owners of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company or any successor entity immediately upon completion of the transaction other than as a result of the acquisition of securities directly from the Company.
“Sale Price” means the value as determined by the Administrator of the consideration payable, or otherwise to be received by the Company’s shareholders, per Share pursuant to a Sale Event.
“Shares” means the ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, of the Company, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 3.
“Share Appreciation Right” means an Award entitling the recipient to receive Shares having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the Share Appreciation Right multiplied by the number of Shares with respect to which the Share Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.
“Share Option” means any option to purchase Shares granted pursuant to Section 5.
“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in which the Company has at least a 50 percent interest, either directly or indirectly.
“Unrestricted Share Award” means an Award of Shares free of any restrictions.
SECTION 2.ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; ADMINISTRATOR AUTHORITY TO SELECT GRANTEES AND DETERMINE AWARDS
(a)Administration of Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator.
(b)Powers of Administrator. The Administrator shall have the power and authority to grant Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and authority:
i.to select the individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;
ii.to determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if any, of Non-Qualified Share Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Restricted Share Awards, Restricted Share Units, Unrestricted Share Awards and Dividend Equivalent Rights, or any combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more Grantees;
iii.to determine and modify from time to time and on a case-by-case basis the performance targets which may be stipulated in the terms of any Award, including the method of assessing how such targets are satisfied. The performance targets may be based on transaction milestones, business and/or financial performance results, individual performance appraisal and/or contribution to the Group, and as evaluated by the Group over a specified evaluation period, and may vary among individual Awards and Participants. Details of any such performance targets, criteria or conditions shall be set out in the Award Certificates;
iv.to determine the number of Shares to be covered by any Award;
v.to determine the amount (if any) payable on application or acceptance of an Award and the period within which any such payments must be made, which amounts (if any) and periods shall be set out in the Award Certificate;
vi.to determine and modify from time to time the terms and conditions, including restrictions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award, which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and Grantees, and to approve the forms of Award Certificates;
vii.to determine the vesting period of any Award, which shall not be less than 12 months, except that any Award granted to employees and Non-Employee Directors may be subject to a shorter vesting period, including:
(1)grants of a “make whole” Award to a new employee or a non-employee director to replace awards or options such employee or non-employee director forfeited when leaving his/her previous employer;
(2)grants of an Award to an employee or a Non-Employee Director whose employment or appointment is terminated due to death or disability or occurrence of any out of control event;
(3)initial or annual grants of an Award to a Non-Employee Director, the vesting of which shall occur at the earlier of the first anniversary of the grant date or the date of the next annual general meeting of shareholders;
(4)grants of an Award which is subject to the fulfilment of performance targets as determined in the conditions of the grant;
(5)grants of an Award, the timing of which is determined by administrative or compliance requirements not connected with the performance of the relevant employee or Non-Employee Director, in which case the vesting period may be shorter to take account of the time from which the Award would have been granted if not for such administrative or compliance requirements;
(6)grants of an Award with a mixed or accelerated vesting schedule; or
(7)grants of an Award with a total vesting and holding period of more than 12 months.
viii.to accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award in circumstances involving the Grantee’s death, disability, retirement or termination of employment, or a change in control (including a Sale Event);
ix.subject to the provisions of Section 5(c), to extend at any time the period in which Share Options may be exercised; and
x.at any time to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award (including related written instruments); to make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; to decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.
All decisions and interpretations of the Administrator shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and Grantees.
To the extent required under the rules of any securities exchange or market system on which the Shares are listed, amendments to the terms of Share Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to approval by the Company’ shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders.
(c)Delegation of Authority to Grant Awards. Subject to applicable law, the Administrator, in its discretion, may delegate to the chairman of the compensation committee of the Board all or part of the Administrator’s authority and duties with respect to the granting of Awards to individuals who are not subject to the reporting of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Subject to applicable law, the Administrator, in its discretion, may delegate to the Chief Executive Officer and/or Chief Financial Officer of the Company all or part of the Administrator’s authority and duties with respect to the granting of Awards to individuals who are not subject to the reporting of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Any such delegation by the Administrator shall include a limitation as to the number of Shares underlying Awards that may be granted during the period of the delegation and shall contain guidelines as to the determination of the exercise price and the criteria for exercisability or vesting. The Administrator may revoke or amend the terms of a delegation at any time, but such action shall not invalidate any prior actions of the Administrator’s delegate or delegates that were consistent with the terms of the Plan.
(d)Award Certificate. Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Certificates that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award which may include, without limitation, the term of an Award and the provisions applicable in the event employment or service terminates.
(e)Indemnification. Neither the Board nor the Administrator, nor any member of either or any delegate thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with the Plan, and the members of the Board and the Administrator (and any delegate thereof) shall be entitled in all cases to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under the Company’s articles of association or any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage which may be in effect from time to time and/or any indemnification agreement between such individual and the Company.
(f)Foreign Award Recipients. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Group operates or has employees or other individuals eligible for Awards, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (i) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to individuals outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws; (iv) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent the Administrator determines such actions to be necessary or advisable (and such subplans and/or modifications shall be attached to this Plan as appendices); provided, however, that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 3(a); and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that the Administrator determines to be necessary or advisable to obtain approval or comply with any local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate the Act or any other United States securities law, the Code, or any other United States governing statute or law.
SECTION 3.SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION
(a)Shares Issuable. The maximum number of Shares that are reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be 254,030,092 Shares, of which 127,313,133 Shares are reserved and remain available for issuance (representing approximately 9.36% (or less) of the issued share capital of the Company as of June 5, 2024, being the effective date of the approval of the Plan by the shareholders (the “Amended Effective Date”)). Over the lifetime of the Plan, a total of 376,143,772 ordinary shares have been authorized. For purposes of this limitation, the Shares underlying any awards granted under this Plan or the Company’s 2011 Option Plan (including any grants made prior to the Amended Effective Date) that are forfeited, canceled, held back upon exercise of a Share Option or settlement of an award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding, reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of Shares or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) shall be added back to the Shares available for issuance under the Plan, provided that (i) the Shares reserved and available for issuance under the Plan and the 2018 Employee Share Purchase Plan (as amended and restated) shall not exceed 136,064,647 Shares, being 10% of the issued share capital of the Company as of the Amended Effective Date, (ii) if the Company cancels a Share Option and issues a new Share Option to the same Grantee, the issue of such new Share Option shall be made only to the extent that Shares are reserved and available for issuance excluding the cancelled Share Option and (iii) notwithstanding the foregoing, no Shares underlying any Share Options granted under this Plan or the Company’s 2011 Option Plan (including any grants made prior to the Amended Effective Date) shall be added back to the Shares available for issuance under the Plan unless such Share Options have lapsed or otherwise been terminated in accordance with the terms of the Plan or the 2011 Option Plan. In the event the Company repurchases Shares on the open market, such Shares shall not be added to the Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Subject to such overall limitations, Shares may be issued up to such maximum number pursuant to any type or types of Award. The Shares available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares reacquired by the Company. In addition, unless otherwise approved by the Company’s shareholders in general meeting, Shares underlying Awards granted to Consultants may not exceed 1.5% of the total issued and outstanding Shares of the Company as of the Amended Effective Date, being 20,409,697 Shares.
(b)Maximum Awards to Independent, Non-Employee Directors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan and subject to the limits applicable to independent, Non-Employee Directors set out in the HK Listing Rules, the value of all Awards awarded under this Plan and all other cash compensation paid by the Company to any independent, Non-Employee Director in any calendar year shall not exceed US$1 million, provided that such limit shall not apply to the initial awards awarded under this Plan and all other cash compensation paid by the Company to any new independent, Non-Employee Director in the first calendar year of such director joining the Board. For the purpose of this limitation, the value of any Award shall be its grant date fair value, as determined in accordance with ASC 718 or successor provision but excluding the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting provisions.
(c)Maximum Individual Limit. Unless approved by the Company’s shareholders in general meeting, the total number of Shares issued and to be issued upon the exercise of Share Options or other Awards granted and to be granted under the Plan and any other plan of the Company to a Grantee within any 12-month period shall not exceed 1% of the Shares in issue at the date of any grant.
(d)Changes in Shares. Subject to Section 3(e), in the event of any capitalization issue, rights issue, subdivision of shares, share split, consolidation of shares, reverse share split, or reduction of the share capital of the Company, the Administrator shall make an appropriate or proportionate adjustment in (i) the maximum number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) the number of Shares or other securities subject to any then outstanding Awards under the Plan, (iii) the repurchase price, if any, per Share subject to each outstanding Restricted Share Award, and (iv) the exercise price for each Share subject to any then outstanding Share Options and Share Appreciation Rights under the Plan, without changing the aggregate exercise price (i.e., the exercise price multiplied by the number of Share Options and Share Appreciation Rights) as to which such Share Options and Share Appreciation Rights remain exercisable. Any such adjustment made under the Plan will be subject to applicable law and provisions of the HK Listing Rules (including but not limited to Rule 17.03 (13) of the HK Listing Rules) and, adjustment by the Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional Shares shall be issued under the Plan resulting from any such adjustment, but the Administrator in its discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of fractional Shares. With respect to Share Options held by any Grantee subject to U.S. income tax, any such adjustment shall be in compliance with Section 409A and 424 of the Code.
(e)Mergers and Other Transactions. In the case of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, the parties may cause the assumption or continuation of Awards previously granted by the successor entity, or the substitution of such Awards with new Awards of the successor entity or its parent, with appropriate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares and, if appropriate, the per share exercise prices, as such parties shall agree. To the extent the parties to such Sale Event do not provide for the assumption, continuation or substitution of Awards, upon the effective time of the Sale Event, the Plan and all outstanding Awards granted under this Plan shall terminate. In such case, except as may be otherwise provided in the relevant Award Certificate, all Share Options and Share Appreciation Rights that are not exercisable immediately prior to the effective time of the Sale Event shall become fully exercisable as of the effective time of the Sale Event, all other Awards with time-based vesting, conditions or restrictions shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable as of the effective time of the Sale Event, and all Awards with conditions and restrictions relating to the achievement of performance goals may become vested and nonforfeitable in connection with a Sale Event in the Administrator’s discretion or to the extent specified in the relevant Award Certificate. In the event of such termination, (i) the Company shall have the option (in its sole discretion) to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to the Grantees holding Share Options and Share Appreciation Rights, in exchange for the cancellation thereof, in an amount equal to the difference between (A) the Sale Price multiplied by the number of Shares subject to outstanding Share Options and Share Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable at prices not in excess of the Sale Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Share Options and Share Appreciation Rights; or (ii) each Grantee shall be permitted, within a specified period of time prior to the consummation of the Sale Event as determined by the Administrator, to exercise all outstanding Share Options and Share Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable) held by such Grantee. The Company shall also have the option (in its sole discretion) to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to the Grantees holding other Awards in an amount equal to the Sale Price multiplied by the number of vested Shares under such Awards.
SECTION 4.ELIGIBILITY
(a)General Eligibility. Grantees under the Plan will be such full- or part-time officers and other employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants of the Group as are selected from time to time by the Administrator in its sole discretion.
(b)Consultant Eligibility. To be Grantees under the Plan, Consultants must be persons who provide services to the Group on a continuing or recurring basis in its ordinary and usual course of business (including but not limited to services in research, development, manufacturing, commercial, medical affairs, business development, strategy and operations) which are in the interests of the long-term growth of the Group. For the avoidance of doubt, Consultants exclude placing agents or financial advisers providing advisory services for fundraising, mergers or acquisitions for the Group, and also exclude professional service providers such as auditors or valuers who provide assurance or are required to perform their services with impartiality and objectivity for the Group.
To determine if a Grantee is eligible to be a Consultant, the Administrator shall consider (i) the length (being the period of engagement or service), recurrences and regularity of such services; (ii) the type of services provided (such as services in research, development, manufacturing, commercial, medical affairs, business development, strategy and operations); (iii) the expertise, professional qualifications and industry experience of the Consultant; (iv) the quality of such services; (v) whether such services form part of or are directly ancillary to the businesses conducted by the Group; (vi) the remuneration packages of comparable listed peers for similar service providers based on available information in the industry; and (vii) the prevailing market fees chargeable by other services.
SECTION 5. SHARE OPTIONS
(a)Award of Share Options. The Administrator may grant Share Options under the Plan. Any Share Option granted under the Plan shall be in such form as the Administrator may from time to time approve. Share Options granted under the Plan are Non-Qualified Share Options.
Share Options granted pursuant to this Section 5 shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable. If the Administrator so determines, Share Options may be granted in lieu of cash compensation at the optionee’s election, subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may establish.
(b)Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share covered by a Share Option granted pursuant to this Section 5 shall be determined by the Administrator at the time of grant but shall not be less than the higher of: (i) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant; and (ii) the average Fair Market Value of the Shares for the five business days immediately preceding the day of grant.
(c)Option Term. The term of each Share Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Share Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date the Share Option is granted. Any Share Option granted but not exercised by the end of its option term will automatically lapse.
(d)Exercisability; Rights of a Shareholder. Share Options shall become exercisable at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Administrator at or after the grant date. The Administrators may determine at the time of grant any minimum period(s) for which a Share Option must be held and/or any minimum performance target(s) that must be achieved, before the Share Option can be exercised in whole or in part, and may include at the discretion of the Administrators such other terms either on a case by case basis or generally. The Administrator may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any Share Option. An optionee shall have the rights of a shareholder only as to Shares acquired upon the exercise of a Share Option and not as to unexercised Share Options. Accordingly, an optionee shall not have any voting rights, or rights to participate in any dividends or distributions (including those arising on a liquidation of the Company) declared or recommended or resolved to be paid to the shareholders on the register of members of the Company on a date prior to the name of such optionee being registered on such register.
(e)Method of Exercise. Share Options may be exercised in whole or in part, by giving written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased. Payment of the purchase price may be made by one or more of the following methods except to the extent otherwise provided in the option award certificate:
(i)In cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Administrator;
(ii)Through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership following such procedures as the Company may prescribe (“attestation method”)) of Shares that are not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan. Such surrendered Shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date;
(iii)By the optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company for the purchase price; provided that in the event the optionee chooses to pay the purchase price as so provided, the optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the Company shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; or
(iv)If permitted by the Administrator, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of Shares issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price.
Payment instruments will be received subject to collection. The transfer to the optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent of the Shares to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Share Option will be contingent upon receipt from the optionee (or a purchaser acting in his stead in accordance with the provisions of the Share Option) by the Company of the full purchase price for such Shares and the fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the option award certificate or applicable provisions of laws (including the satisfaction of any withholding taxes that the Company is obligated to withhold with respect to the optionee). In the event an optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned Shares through the attestation method, the number of Shares transferred to the optionee upon the exercise of the Share Option shall be net of the number of attested Shares. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the exercise of Share Options, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless exercise of Share Options may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.
SECTION 6.SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS
(a)Award of Share Appreciation Rights. The Administrator may grant Share Appreciation Rights under the Plan. A Share Appreciation Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive Shares having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the Share Appreciation Right multiplied by the number of Shares with respect to which the Share Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.
(b)Exercise Price of Share Appreciation Rights. The exercise price of a Share Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant in the case of any grant to a Grantee who is subject to U.S. income tax.
(c)Grant and Exercise of Share Appreciation Rights. Share Appreciation Rights may be granted by the Administrator independently of any Share Option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan.
(d)Terms and Conditions of Share Appreciation Rights. Share Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator at the time of the grant. Such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and Grantees. The term of a Share Appreciation Right may not exceed ten years.
SECTION 7.RESTRICTED SHARE AWARDS
(a)Nature of Restricted Share Awards. The Administrator may grant Restricted Share Awards under the Plan. A Restricted Share Award is any Award of Restricted Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. The terms and conditions of each such Award shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and Grantees.
(b)Rights as a Shareholder. Upon the grant of a Restricted Share Award and payment of the purchase price, if any, subject to the restrictions and conditions set forth in the award certificate, a Grantee shall have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to Restricted Shares, including the voting of the Restricted Shares and receipt of dividends; provided that cash dividends, shares and any other property (other than cash) distributed as a dividend or otherwise with respect to any Restricted Share Award that vests based on achievement of performance goals shall either (i) not be paid or credited or (ii) be accumulated, shall be subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Shares with respect to which such cash, shares or other property has been distributed and shall be paid at the time such restrictions and risk of forfeiture lapse. Unless the Administrator shall otherwise determine, (1) uncertificated Restricted Shares shall be accompanied by a notation on the records of the Company or the transfer agent to the effect that they are subject to forfeiture until such Restricted Shares are vested as provided in Section 7(d), and (2) certificated Restricted Shares shall remain in the possession of the Company until such Restricted Shares are vested as provided in Section 7(d), and the Grantee shall be required, as a condition of the grant, to deliver to the Company such instruments of transfer as the Administrator may prescribe.
(c)Restrictions. Restricted Shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided in the Restricted Share Award Certificate. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 15, in writing after the Award is issued, if a Grantee’s employment (or other service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason, any Restricted Shares that have not vested at the time of termination shall automatically and without any requirement of notice to such Grantee from or other action by or on behalf of, the Company be deemed to have been reacquired by the Company at its original purchase price (if any) from such Grantee or such Grantee’s legal representative simultaneously with such termination of employment (or other service relationship), and after the reacquisition shall cease to represent any ownership of the Company by the Grantee or rights of the Grantee as a shareholder. Following such deemed reacquisition of Restricted Shares that are represented by physical certificates, a Grantee shall surrender such certificates to the Company upon request without consideration.
(d)Vesting of Restricted Shares. The Administrator at the time of grant shall specify the date or dates and/or the performance goals, objectives and other conditions on which the non-transferability of the Restricted Shares and the Company’s right of repurchase or forfeiture shall lapse. Subsequent to such date or dates and/or the achievement of such performance goals, objectives and other conditions, the shares as to which the Company’s right of repurchase or forfeiture has lapsed shall no longer be Restricted Shares and shall be deemed “vested.”
SECTION 8.RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
(a)Nature of Restricted Share Units. The Administrator may grant Restricted Share Units under the Plan. A Restricted Share Unit is an Award of share units that may be settled in Shares upon the satisfaction of such restrictions and conditions at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives, subject to compliance to Section 457A of the Code (if applicable). The terms and conditions of each such Award shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and Grantees. At the end of the vesting period, the Restricted Share Units, to the extent vested, shall be settled in the form of Shares.
(b)Rights as a Shareholder. A Grantee shall have the rights as a shareholder only as to Shares acquired by the Grantee upon settlement of Restricted Share Units; provided, however, that the Grantee may be credited with Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the share units underlying his Restricted Share Units, subject to the provisions of Section 10 and such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine. Cash dividends, shares and any other property (other than cash) distributed as a dividend or otherwise with respect to any Restricted Share Unit that vests based on achievement of performance goals shall either (i) not be paid or credited or (ii) be accumulated, shall be subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Share Units with respect to which such cash, share or other property has been distributed and shall be paid at the time such restrictions and risk of forfeiture lapse.
(c)Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 15, in writing after the Award is issued, a Grantee’s right in all Restricted Share Units that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the Grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of service relationship) with the Group for any reason.
SECTION 9.UNRESTRICTED SHARE AWARDS
(a)Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Shares. The Administrator may grant (or sell at par value or such higher purchase price determined by the Administrator) an Unrestricted Share Award under the Plan. An Unrestricted Share Award is an Award pursuant to which the Grantee may receive Shares free of any restrictions under the Plan. Unrestricted Share Awards may be granted in respect of past services or other valid consideration, or in lieu of cash compensation due to such Grantee.
SECTION 10.DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS
(a)Dividend Equivalent Rights. The Administrator may grant Dividend Equivalent Rights under the Plan. A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the Grantee to receive credits based on cash dividends that would have been paid on the Shares specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other Award to which it relates) if such Shares had been issued to the Grantee. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted to any Grantee as a component of an award of Restricted Share Units or as a freestanding award. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the Award Certificate. Dividend equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right shall be paid currently. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or Shares or a combination of cash and Shares. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of an Award of Restricted Share Units shall provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall be settled only upon settlement or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other Award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other Award.
(b)Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 15, in writing after the Award is issued, a Grantee’s rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights shall automatically terminate upon the Grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.
SECTION 11.TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS
(a)Transferability. Except as provided in Section 11(b), during a Grantee’s lifetime, his or her Awards shall be exercisable only by the Grantee, or by the grantee’s legal representative or guardian in the event of the Grantee’s incapacity. No Awards shall be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by a Grantee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order. No Awards shall be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution, or levy of any kind, and any purported transfer in violation of this Section 11(a) shall be null and void.
(b)Administrator Action. Notwithstanding Section 11(a) and subject to applicable rules of Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Administrator, in its discretion, may permit either in the Award Certificate for a given Award or by subsequent written approval the Grantee to transfer Non-Qualified Share Options to the Grantee’s immediate family members, to trusts for the benefit of such family members, or to partnerships in which such family members are the only partners, provided that the transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award. In no event may an Award be transferred by a Grantee for value.
(c)Family Member. For purposes of Section 11(b), “family member” shall mean a Grantee’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the grantee’s household (other than a tenant of the Grantee), a trust in which these persons (or the Grantee) have more than 50 percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Grantee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Grantee) own more than 50 percent of the voting interests.
(d)Designation of Beneficiary. To the extent permitted by the Company, each Grantee to whom an Award has been made under the Plan may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise any Award or receive any payment under any Award payable on or after the Grantee’s death. Any such designation shall be on a form provided for that purpose by the Administrator and shall not be effective until received by the Administrator. If no beneficiary has been designated by a deceased Grantee, or if the designated beneficiaries have predeceased the Grantee, the beneficiary shall be the Grantee’s estate.
SECTION 12.TAX WITHHOLDING
(a)Payment by Grantee. Each Grantee shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award or of any Shares or cash received under the Award first becomes includable in the gross income of the Grantee for income, employment or other tax purposes, pay to the Company or a Subsidiary, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator regarding payment of, any taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld by the Company or a Subsidiary with respect to such income. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Grantee. The Company’s obligation to deliver evidence of book entry (or share certificates) to any Grantee is subject to and conditioned on tax withholding obligations being satisfied by the Grantee.
(b)Payment in Shares. Subject to approval by the Administrator, a Grantee may elect to have the Company’s or Subsidiary’s maximum required tax withholding obligation satisfied, in whole or in part, by authorizing the Company to withhold from Shares to be issued pursuant to any Award a number of Shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due. The Administrator may also require Awards to be subject to mandatory share withholding up to the required withholding amount. For purposes of share withholding, the Fair Market Value of withheld Shares shall be determined in the same manner as the value of the Shares includible in income of the Grantees.
SECTION 13.TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE, ETC.
(a)Termination of Employment. If the Grantee’s employer ceases to be a Subsidiary, the Grantee shall be deemed to have terminated employment for purposes of the Plan.
(b)For purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of employment:
(i)a transfer to the employment of the Company from a Subsidiary or from the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to another; or
(ii)an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employee’s right to re-employment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Administrator otherwise so provides in writing.
SECTION 14.AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION
Except as provided otherwise in the Plan, the Board may, at any time, amend or discontinue the Plan and the Administrator may, at any time, amend or cancel any outstanding Award for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action shall adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the holder’s consent. Except as provided in Section 3(c) or 3(d), without prior shareholder approval, in no event may the Administrator exercise its discretion to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Share Options or Share Appreciation Rights or effect repricing through cancellation and re-grants or cancellation of Share Options or Share Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash or other Awards. To the extent required under the rules of any securities exchange or market system on which the Shares are listed, Plan amendments shall be subject to approval by the Company’s shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders, including but not limited to any amendments to the Plan which are of a material nature any amendments to the provisions relating to the matters set out in Rule 17.03 of the HK Listing Rules to the advantage of Grantees. Nothing in this Section 14 shall limit the Administrator’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Section 3(d) or 3(e).
In the event that the Plan is terminated while any Share Option remains outstanding and unexercised, the provisions of this Plan shall remain in full force to the extent necessary to give effect to the exercise of any such Share Option.
SECTION 15.STATUS OF PLAN
With respect to the portion of any Award that has not been exercised and any payments in cash, Shares or other consideration not received by a Grantee, a Grantee shall have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless the Administrator shall otherwise expressly determine in connection with any Award or Awards. In its sole discretion, the Administrator may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations to deliver Shares or make payments with respect to Awards, provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the foregoing sentence.
SECTION 16.GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a)No Distribution. The Administrator may require each person acquiring Shares pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the Shares without a view to their distribution.
(b)Delivery of Share Certificates. Share certificates to Grantees under this Plan shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a share transfer agent of the Company has mailed such certificates to the Grantee at the Grantee’s last known address on file with the Company. Uncertificated Shares shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a share transfer agent of the Company shall have given to the Grantee by electronic mail (with proof of receipt) or by mail to the Grantee at the Grantee’s last known address on file with the Company, notice of issuance and recorded the issuance in its records (which may include electronic “book entry” records). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Administrator has determined, with advice of counsel (to the extent the Administrator deems such advice necessary or advisable), that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the Shares or ADSs are listed, quoted or traded. All share certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and quotation system on which the Shares or ADSs are listed, quoted or traded. The Administrator may place legends on any share certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares. In addition to the terms and conditions of this Plan, the Administrator may require that an individual make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Administrator shall have the right to require any individual to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Administrator.
(c)Shareholder Rights. Until the name of the Grantee appears in the register of members of the Company, which is prima facie evidence that the Grantee is a shareholder of the Company, no right to vote or receive dividends or distributions (including those arising on a liquidation of the Company) declared or recommended or resolved to be paid to the shareholders or any other rights of a shareholder will exist with respect to Shares to be issued in connection with an Award, notwithstanding the exercise of a Share Option or any other action by the Grantee with respect to an Award.
(d)Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, including trusts, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The adoption of this Plan and the grant of Awards do not confer upon any employee any right to continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.
(e)Trading Policy Restrictions. Option exercises and other Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s insider trading policies and procedures, as in effect from time to time.
(f)Clawback Policy. Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s clawback policy, as in effect from time to time, which may allow the Company to recover remuneration (which may include any Share Options or Awards granted) to a Grantee in the event of a material misstatement in the Company’s financial statements, related intentional misconduct or other circumstances as described in the clawback policy.
SECTION 17.EFFECTIVE DATE AND LIFE OF PLAN
The 2016 Share Option and Incentive Plan became effective immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement relating to its initial public offering in the United States, following shareholder approval in accordance with the law of the Cayman Islands and the Company’s articles of association, and this Third Amended and Restated 2016 Share Option and Incentive Plan shall become effective upon shareholder approval in accordance with the law of the Cayman Islands and the Company’s articles of association. The Third Amended and Restated 2016 Share Option and Incentive Plan shall be valid for a period commencing on the Amended Effective Date and ending on April 13, 2030, after which no grants of Share Options and other Awards may be made under this Plan.
SECTION 18.GOVERNING LAW
This Plan and all Awards and actions taken under them shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands. In relation to any proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Plan, the Company and the Grantees irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands courts.
DATE OF APPROVAL OF THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED PLAN BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: April 15, 2024
DATE OF APPROVAL OF THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED PLAN BY SHAREHOLDERS: June 5, 2024
Exhibit 10.2
BEIGENE, LTD.
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED 2018 EMPLOYEE SHARE PURCHASE PLAN
The purpose of the BeiGene, Ltd. Fourth Amended and Restated 2018 Employee Share Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide the Participants (as defined in Section 1) with opportunities to purchase Shares (either in the form of Ordinary Shares or ADSs).
The Plan includes two components: a Code Section 423 component (the “423 Component”) and a non-Code Section 423 component (the “Non-423 Component”). The 423 Component is intended to constitute an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423(b) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the 423 Component shall be interpreted in accordance with that intent. Under the Non-423 Component, which does not qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423(b) of the Code, Options may be granted pursuant to any rules, procedures, agreements, appendices or sub-plans adopted by the Administrator in offering the Plan to eligible employees participating in the Non-423 Component. Except as otherwise provided herein or by the Administrator, the Non-423 Component will operate and be administered in the same manner as the 423 Component. For avoidance of doubt, up to the maximum number of Shares reserved under the Plan may be used to satisfy purchases of Shares under the 423 Component and any remaining portion of such maximum number of Shares may be used to satisfy purchases of Shares under the Non-423 Component.
Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Plan shall have the same meaning ascribed to them in Section 1.
1.Definitions.
The term “ADSs” means American depositary shares. Each ADS represents 13 Ordinary Shares.
The term “Change in Control” means (i) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (ii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power and outstanding Shares immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power and outstanding Shares or other equity interests of the resulting or successor entity (or its ultimate parent, if applicable) immediately upon completion of such transaction, (iii) the sale of all of the Shares of the Company to an unrelated person, entity or group thereof acting in concert, or (iv) any other transaction in which the owners of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company or any successor entity immediately upon completion of the transaction other than as a result of the acquisition of securities directly from the Company.
The term “Compensation” means the amount of base pay (including overtime and commissions, to the extent determined by the Administrator), prior to salary reduction pursuant to Sections 125, 132(f) or 401(k) of the Code, but excluding incentive or bonus awards, allowances and reimbursements for expenses such as relocation allowances or travel expenses, income or gains on the exercise of Company share options, and similar items. The Administrator shall have the discretion to determine the application of this definition to Participants outside the United States.
The term “Designated Subsidiary” means any present or future Subsidiary (as defined below) that has been designated by the Administrator to participate in the Plan. The Administrator may so designate any Subsidiary, or revoke any such designation, at any time and from time to time, either before or after the Plan is approved by the shareholders and may further designate such Subsidiaries or Participants as participating in the 423 Component or Non-423 Component. The Administrator also may determine which Subsidiaries or eligible employees may be excluded from participation in the Plan, to the extent consistent with Section 423 of the Code and Section 16 below or as implemented under the Non-423 Component, and determine which Designated Subsidiary or Subsidiaries will participate in separate Offerings; provided, that unless otherwise specified by the Administrator, each Offering to the Eligible Employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary will be deemed a separate Offering for purposes of Section 423 of the Code (the terms of which Offering under the Non-423 Component need not be identical). With respect to Offerings under the 423 Component, the terms of separate Offerings need not be identical provided that all Eligible Employees granted Options in a particular Offering will have the same rights and privileges, except as otherwise may be permitted by Code Section 423; an Offering under the Non-423 Component need not satisfy such requirements. At any time, a Subsidiary that is a Designated Subsidiary under the 423 Component will not be a Designated Subsidiary under the Non-423 Component.
The term “Fair Market Value of the Shares” on any given date means the fair market value of the Shares determined in good faith by the Administrator; provided, however, that if the ADSs are admitted to quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”), NASDAQ Global Market or another national securities exchange, the determination shall be made by reference to the closing price on such date. If there is no closing price for such date, the determination shall be made by reference to the last date preceding such date for which there is a closing price.
The term “Hong Kong Listing Rules” means the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, as amended from time to time.
The term “Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, of the Company.
The term “Parent” means a “parent corporation” with respect to the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
The term “Participant” means an individual who is eligible as determined in Section 5 and who has complied with the provisions of Section 6.
The term “Shares” means the Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as the context so requires.
The term “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
2.Administration. The Plan will be administered by the person or persons (the “Administrator”) appointed by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) for such purpose. The Administrator has authority at any time to: (i) adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for the administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; (ii) interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan; (iii) make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; (iv) decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; (v) implement any procedures, steps, additional or different requirements as may be necessary to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws, regulations and procedures for jurisdictions in which the Plan is offered, including, without limitation, the laws of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) and the other countries in which the Company operates, that may be applicable to this Plan, any Options or any related documents; and (vi) otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan, in its sole and absolute discretion and taking into account any matters in its sole and absolute discretion. All interpretations and decisions of the Administrator shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and the Participants. No member of the Board or individual exercising administrative authority with respect to the Plan shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Option granted hereunder.
3.Scheme mandate limit. The maximum number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Options to be granted under the Plan shall be 5,989,678 Shares (the “Scheme Mandate Limit”), being approximately 0.44% of the issued share capital of the Company as at June 5, 2024, being the effective date of the shareholder approval of the fourth amended and restated Plan (the “Amended Effective Date”). Over the lifetime of the Plan, a total of 12,425,315 ordinary shares have been authorized.
The total number of Shares which may be issued in respect of all Options and awards to be granted under the Plan under the Scheme Mandate Limit and any other plans of the Company shall not exceed 10% of the Shares in issue as at the Amended Effective Date.
4.Offerings. The Company will make one or more offerings to eligible employees to purchase Shares under the Plan (“Offerings”). Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, an Offering will begin on the first business day occurring on or after each March 1 and September 1 and will end on the last business day occurring on or before the following February 28 (or February 29, if applicable) and August 31, respectively. The Administrator may, in its discretion, designate a different period for any Offering, provided that no Offering shall exceed 27 months in duration.
5.Eligibility. All individuals classified as employees on the payroll records of the Company and each Designated Subsidiary (the “Participants”) are eligible to participate in any one or more of the Offerings under the Plan, provided that, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, as of the first day of the applicable Offering (the “Offering Date”) they are employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary and have been employed as of the commencement of the enrollment period for such Offering. Participation shall not otherwise be subject to any minimum performance targets. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, individuals who are not classified as employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary for purposes of the Company's or applicable Designated Subsidiary's payroll system as of the Offering Date are not considered to be eligible employees of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary and shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan. In the event any such individuals are reclassified as employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary for any purpose, including, without limitation, common law or statutory employees, by any action of any third party, including, without limitation, any government agency, or as a result of any private lawsuit, action or administrative proceeding, such individuals shall, notwithstanding such reclassification, remain ineligible for participation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive means for individuals who are not classified as employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary on the Company's or Designated Subsidiary's payroll system as of the Offering Date to become eligible to participate in this Plan is through an amendment to this Plan, duly executed by the Company, which specifically renders such individuals eligible to participate herein.
6.Participation
(a)An eligible employee who is not a Participant in any prior Offering may participate in a subsequent Offering by submitting an enrollment form to the Company at least 15 business days before the Offering Date (or by such other deadline as shall be established by the Administrator for the Offering).
(b)Enrollment. The enrollment form (which may be in an electronic format or such other method as determined by the Company in accordance with the Company’s practices) will (i) state a whole percentage or the amount to be deducted from an eligible employee’s Compensation (as defined in Section 1) per pay period, (ii) authorize the purchase of Shares in each Offering in accordance with the terms of the Plan, (iii) specify the exact name or names in which Shares purchased for such individual are to be issued pursuant to Section 13, and (iv) provide such other terms as required by the Company. An employee who does not enroll in accordance with these procedures will be deemed to have waived the right to participate. Unless a Participant files a new enrollment form or withdraws from the Plan, such Participant’s deductions and purchases will continue at the same percentage or amount of Compensation for future Offerings, provided he or she remains eligible.
(c)Notwithstanding the foregoing, participation in the Plan will neither be permitted nor be denied contrary to the requirements of the Code.
7.Employee Contributions. Each eligible employee may authorize payroll deductions from his or her after-tax Compensation at a minimum of 1 percent up to a maximum of 10 percent of such employee’s Compensation for each pay period. The Company will maintain book accounts showing the amount of payroll deductions made by each Participant for each Offering. No interest will accrue or be paid on payroll deductions, except as may be required by applicable law. If payroll deductions for purposes of the Plan are prohibited or otherwise problematic under applicable law (as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion), the Administrator may require Participants to contribute to the Plan by such other means as determined by the Administrator, to the extent permitted under Section 423 of the Code with respect to the 423 Component. Any reference to “payroll deductions” in this Section 7 (or in any other sections of this Plan) will similarly cover contributions by other means made pursuant to this Section 7.
8.Deduction Changes. Except as may be determined by the Administrator in advance of an Offering, a Participant may not increase or decrease his or her payroll deduction during any Offering, but may increase or decrease his or her payroll deduction with respect to the next Offering (subject to the limitations of Section 7) by filing a new enrollment form at least 15 business days before the next Offering Date (or by such other deadline as shall be established by the Administrator for the Offering). The Administrator may, in advance of any Offering, establish rules permitting a Participant to increase, decrease or terminate his or her payroll deduction during an Offering.
9.Withdrawal. A Participant may withdraw from participation in the Plan by delivering a written notice of withdrawal to the Company. The Participant’s withdrawal will be effective as of the next business day, or as soon as practicable thereafter. Following a Participant’s withdrawal, the Company will promptly refund such individual’s entire account balance under the Plan to him or her (after payment for any Shares purchased before the effective date of withdrawal). Partial withdrawals are not permitted. Such an employee may not begin participation again during the remainder of the Offering, but may enroll in a subsequent Offering in accordance with Section 6.
10.Grant of Options. On each Offering Date, the Company will grant to each eligible employee who is then a Participant in the Plan an option (“Option”) to purchase on the last day of such Offering (the “Exercise Date”), at the Option Price hereinafter provided for, the lowest of (a) a number of Shares determined by dividing such Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions on such Exercise Date by the lower of (i) 85 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the Offering Date, or (ii) 85 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the Exercise Date, (b) a number of Shares determined by multiplying $2,083 by the number of full months in the Offering and dividing the result by the Fair Market Value on the Offering Date; or (c) such other lesser maximum number of Shares as shall have been established by the Administrator in advance of the Offering; provided, however, that such Option shall be subject to the limitations set forth below. Each Participant’s Option shall be exercisable only to the extent of such Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions on the Exercise Date. The purchase price for each Share purchased under each Option (the “Option Price”) will be 85 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the Offering Date or the Exercise Date, whichever is less.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Participant may be granted an Option hereunder if such Participant, immediately after the Option was granted, would be treated as owning Shares possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of share capital of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary (as defined in Section 1). For purposes of the preceding sentence, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply in determining the share ownership of a Participant, and all Shares which the Participant has a contractual right to purchase shall be treated as Shares owned by the Participant. In addition, no Participant may be granted an Option which permits his or her rights to purchase Shares under the Plan, and any other employee share purchase plan of the Company and its Parents and Subsidiaries, to accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of the fair market value of such Shares (determined on the option grant date or dates) for each calendar year in which the Option is outstanding at any time. The purpose of the limitation in the preceding sentence is to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and shall be applied taking Options into account in the order in which they were granted. Furthermore, unless approved by the Company’s shareholders in a general meeting, the total number of Ordinary Shares issued and to be issued upon the exercise of Options and awards granted and to be granted under the Plan and any other plan of the Company to a Participant within any 12-month period shall not exceed 1% of the Ordinary Shares of the Company in issue at the date of any grant.
11.Exercise of Option and Purchase of Shares. Each employee who continues to be a Participant in the Plan on the Exercise Date shall be deemed to have exercised his or her Option on such date and shall acquire from the Company such number of whole Shares reserved for the purpose of the Plan as his or her accumulated payroll deductions on such date will purchase at the Option Price, subject to any other limitations contained in the Plan. Any amount remaining in a Participant’s account at the end of an Offering solely by reason of the inability to purchase a fractional Share will be carried forward to the next Offering; any other balance remaining in a Participant’s account at the end of an Offering will be refunded to the Participant promptly. The Administrator may take all actions necessary to alter the method of Option exercise and the exchange and transmittal of proceeds with respect to Participants resident in the PRC not having permanent residence in a country other than the PRC in order to comply with applicable PRC foreign exchange and tax regulations, and any other applicable PRC laws and regulations.
12.Lapse of Options. Any Option granted but not exercised by the end of an Offering will automatically lapse. In the event that the Plan is terminated while any Option remains outstanding and unexercised, then any such Options shall lapse.
13.Issuance of Certificates. Certificates representing Shares purchased under the Plan may be issued only in the name of the employee, in the name of the employee and another person of legal age as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, or in the name of a broker authorized by the employee to be his, her or their, nominee for such purpose.
14.Rights on Termination or Transfer of Employment. If a Participant’s employment terminates for any reason before the Exercise Date for any Offering, no payroll deduction will be taken from any pay due and owing to the Participant and the balance in the Participant’s account will be paid to such Participant or, in the case of such Participant’s death, to his or her designated beneficiary as if such Participant had withdrawn from the Plan under Section 9. An employee will be deemed to have terminated employment, for this purpose, if the corporation that employs him or her, having been a Designated Subsidiary, ceases to be a Subsidiary, or if the employee is transferred to any corporation other than the Company or a Designated Subsidiary. If a Participant transfers from an Offering under the 423 Component to an Offering under the Non-423 Component, the exercise of the Participant’s Option will be qualified under the 423 Component only to the extent that such exercise complies with Section 423 of the Code. If a Participant transfers from an Offering under the Non-423 Component to an Offering under the 423 Component, the exercise of the Participant’s Option will remain non-qualified under the Non-423 Component. Further, an employee will not be deemed to have terminated employment for purposes of the Plan, if the employee is on an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employee’s right to reemployment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Administrator otherwise provides in writing.
15.Special Rules and Sub-Plans; Non-U.S. Employees. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrator may adopt special rules or sub-plans applicable to the employees of a particular Designated Subsidiary, whenever the Administrator determines that such rules are necessary or appropriate for the implementation of the Plan in a jurisdiction where such Designated Subsidiary has employees, regarding, without limitation, eligibility to participate in the Plan, handling and making of payroll deductions, establishment of bank or trust accounts to hold payroll deductions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, obligations to pay payroll tax, withholding procedures and handling of share issuances, any of which may vary according to applicable requirements; provided that if such special rules or sub-plans are inconsistent with the requirements of Section 423(b) of the Code, the employees subject to such special rules or sub-plans will participate in the Non-423 Component. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Plan, employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary who are citizens or residents of a non-United States jurisdiction (without regard to whether they are also citizens or resident aliens (within the meaning of Section 7701(b)(1)(A) of the Code)) may be excluded from eligibility under the Plan if (a) the grant of an Option under the Plan to a citizen or resident of the non-United States jurisdiction is prohibited under the laws of such jurisdiction or (b) compliance with the laws of the foreign jurisdiction would cause the Plan to violate the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.
16.Optionees Not Shareholders. Neither the granting of an Option to a Participant nor the deductions from his or her pay shall constitute such Participant a holder of the Shares covered by an Option under the Plan until such Shares have been purchased by and issued to him or her. Accordingly, Participants shall not have any voting rights, or rights to participate in any dividends or distributions (including those arising on a liquidation of the Company) declared or recommended or resolved to be paid to the shareholders on the register on a date prior to such Shares having been purchased by and issued to him or her.
17.Rights Not Transferable. Rights under the Plan are not transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and are exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant.
18.Application of Funds. All funds received or held by the Company under the Plan may be combined with other corporate funds and may be used for any corporate purpose.
19.Adjustment in Case of Changes Affecting Shares; Change in Control.
(a) In the event of a capitalization issue, rights issue, subdivision of shares, share split, consolidation of shares, reverse share split, or reduction of the share capital of the Company affecting the Shares, the number of Shares approved for the Plan and the share limitation set forth in Section 10 shall be equitably or proportionately adjusted to give proper effect to such event. Any such adjustment under the Plan will be made in accordance with Rule 17.03(13) of the Hong Kong Listing Rules.
(b) In the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Option will be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option, the Offering with respect to which such Option relates will be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date (the “New Exercise Date”) on which such Offering Period shall end. The New Exercise Date will occur before the date of the proposed Change in Control. The Administrator will notify each Participant in writing or electronically prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s Option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s Option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering as provided in Section 9 hereof.
20.Amendment of the Plan. The Board may at any time and from time to time amend the Plan in any respect, provided that the terms of the Plan or Options so altered must comply with the applicable rules of any stock exchange on which the Shares are listed except that without the approval of the shareholders, no amendment shall be made increasing the number of Ordinary Shares approved for the Plan or making any other change that would require shareholder approval in order for the 423 Component of the Plan, as amended, to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423(b) of the Code or any other material changes that would require shareholder approval in order to comply with the applicable rules of any stock exchange on which the Shares are listed.
21.Insufficient Shares. If the total number of Shares that would otherwise be purchased on any Exercise Date plus the number of Shares purchased under previous Offerings under the Plan exceeds the maximum number of Shares issuable under the Plan, the Shares then available shall be apportioned among Participants in proportion to
the amount of payroll deductions accumulated on behalf of each Participant that would otherwise be used to purchase Shares on such Exercise Date.
22.Termination of the Plan. The Plan may be terminated at any time by the Board. Upon termination of the Plan, all amounts in the accounts of Participants shall be promptly refunded.
23.Application of Hong Kong Listing Rules. The Plan is a discretionary employee share purchase scheme and does not constitute a share option scheme for the purposes of Chapter 17 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules.
24.Governmental Regulations. The Company’s obligation to sell and deliver Shares under the Plan is subject to obtaining all governmental approvals required in connection with the authorization, issuance, or sale of such Shares.
25.Clawback Policy. Options under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s clawback policy, as in effect from time to time, which may allow the Company to recover remuneration (which may include any Options granted) to a Participant in the event of a material misstatement in the Company’s financial statements, related intentional misconduct or other circumstances as described in the clawback policy.
26.Participants’ Compliance with Laws. Participants shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations with respect to their participation in the Plan.
27.Governing Law. This Plan and all Options and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands, applied without regard to conflict of law principles. In relation to any proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Plan, the Company and the Participants irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands courts.
28.Issuance of Shares. Shares may be issued upon exercise of an Option from authorized but unissued Shares, from Shares held in the treasury of the Company, or from any other proper source. Any such Shares shall be identical to all existing issued Shares and shall be issued subject to all the provisions of the Company’s articles of association for the time being in force and will rank pari passu with the other fully paid Shares in issue on the date the name of the Participant is registered on the register of members of the Company, subject to applicable laws.
29.Tax Withholding. Participation in the Plan is subject to any applicable U.S. and non-U.S. federal, state, or local tax withholding requirements on income the Participant realizes in connection with the Plan. Each Participant agrees, by entering the Plan, that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have the right to withhold any applicable withholding taxes by any such method as may be determined by the Company, including by withholding from a Participant’s wages, salary or other compensation. Applicable withholding taxes may include any withholding required to make available to the Company or any Subsidiary and tax deductions or benefits attributable to the sale or disposition of Common Stock by such Participant. The Company will not be required to issue any Common Stock under the Plan until all withholding obligations are satisfied.
30.Notification Upon Sale of Shares Under 423 Component. Each Participant who is or may become subject to U.S. income tax agrees, by entering the 423 Component of the Plan, to give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of Shares purchased under the Plan where such disposition occurs within two years after the date of grant of the Option pursuant to which such Shares were purchased or within one year after the date such Shares were purchased.
31.Code Section 409A; Tax Qualification.
(a)Code Section 409A. Options granted under the 423 Component are exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code and Options granted under the Non-423 Component are intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code pursuant to the “short-term deferral” exemption contained therein. In furtherance of the foregoing and notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, if the Administrator determines that an Option granted under the Plan may be subject to Section 409A of the Code or that any provision in the Plan would cause an Option to be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Administrator may amend the terms of the Plan and/or of an outstanding Option, or take such other action the Administrator determines is necessary or appropriate, in each case, without the Participant’s consent, to exempt any outstanding Option or future Option that may be granted under the Plan from or to allow any such Options to comply with Section 409A of the Code, but only to the extent any such amendments or action by the Administrator would not violate Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will have no liability to a Participant or any other party if an Option that is intended to be exempt from or compliant with Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Administrator with respect thereto. The Company makes no representation that the Options under the Plan are compliant with Section 409A of the Code.
(b)Tax Qualification. Although the Company may endeavor to (i) qualify an Option for favorable tax treatment under the laws of the United States or jurisdictions outside of the United States or (ii) avoid adverse tax treatment (e.g., under Section 409A of the Code), the Company makes no representation to that effect and expressly disavows any covenant to maintain favorable or avoid unfavorable tax treatment, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, including Section 31(a) hereof. The Company will be unconstrained in its corporate activities without regard to the potential negative tax impact on Participants under the Plan.
32.Amended Effective Date and Approval of Shareholders. The Plan shall take effect on the Amended Effective Date and shall remain in effect until December 7, 2028 unless terminated earlier by the Board in accordance with Section 22.
DATE OF APPROVAL OF FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED PLAN BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: April 15, 2024
DATE OF APPROVAL OF FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED PLAN BY SHAREHOLDERS: June 5, 2024