Directors Deferred Share Unit Plan, amended as of June 8, 2023
Exhibit 10.3
DIRECTORS’ DEFERRED SHARE UNIT
PLAN EFFECTIVE AS OF APRIL 16, 2021
AMENDED AS OF JUNE 8, 2023
The purpose of the Plan is to enhance the Company’s ability to attract and retain talented individuals to serve as Directors and to promote a greater alignment of interests between Directors and the shareholders of the Company through the holding by Directors of instruments that reflect the market value of the Company.
The Plan shall be administered by the Board, which shall have sole and complete authority to interpret the Plan, to adopt, amend and rescind administrative guidelines and other rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and to make all other determinations and take all other actions necessary or advisable for the implementation and administration of the Plan. The Board may, in its discretion, delegate such of its powers, rights and duties under the Plan, in whole or in part, to the Compensation Committee or any one or more directors, officers or employees of the Company and/or its subsidiaries as the Board (or, if delegated by the Board to administer the Plan, the Compensation Committee) may determine from time to time, on terms and conditions as it may determine, except the Board and the Compensation Committee shall not, and shall not be permitted to, delegate any such powers, rights or duties to the extent such delegation is not consistent with applicable law. Where the term “Administrator” appears in this Plan, it shall be deemed to mean the Board, or the Compensation Committee or such director(s), officer(s), or employee(s) to whom the powers of the Board have been so delegated. Any decision made or action taken by the Board or any delegate arising out of or in connection with the administration or interpretation of the Plan in this context shall be final and conclusive and binding upon the Board, the Participants and all other persons.
At such times as the Administrator(s) shall determine, but not less than once annually, the Company shall furnish each Participant with a statement setting forth the details of the DDSUs credited to each Participant in his or her DDSU Account.
A person ceases to be a Participant at such time as such person ceases to be a Director for any reason.
Each grant of a DDSU shall be confirmed in writing in the form set out on Schedule A or such other form as the Administrator(s) may determine from time to time. Failure to provide a confirmation shall not invalidate the grant of any DDSUs which are reflected in a Participant’s DDSU Account.
The Company shall establish and maintain a DDSU Account for each Participant. The number of DDSUs held by a Participant at any particular time shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Article VI of this Plan or as otherwise provided herein.
When a Participant ceases to be a Director for any reason other than death, each DDSU held by the Participant that has vested in accordance with the terms of such DDSUs will be eligible for redemption for (i) a period of up to 90 days after the date such Participant ceases to be a Director or (ii) such other “reasonable” period as may be determined by the Administrator(s) at the time such DDSUs are granted, which reasonable period cannot be less than 90 days without the agreement of the Participant and cannot be later than December 1st of the calendar year following the year in which the Participant ceased to be a Director (the “Redemption Period”). During the Redemption Period, the Participant may redeem all or any part of his or her vested DDSUs on one or more occasions by providing notice in writing to the Company, which notice shall state the Redemption Date and the number of DDSUs to be redeemed. Except as provided in Section 5.2, the value of the vested DDSUs credited to a Participant’s DDSU Account shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.4 as of the Redemption Date and shall be payable, net of any applicable withholdings, in cash to the Participant as soon as practicable after the Redemption Date.
Notwithstanding the above, for U.S. Participants, the redemption notice described above will not be available, and the U.S. Participant’s vested DDSUs will be automatically redeemed, without the need for action by the U.S. Participant, and paid, net of applicable withholdings, in cash to the U.S. Participant on the Redemption Date.
When a Participant ceases to be a Director due to his or her death, the notice contemplated by Section 5.1 of this Plan may be delivered by the Beneficiary. The value of the Participant’s vested DDSUs shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.4 as of the Redemption Date and shall be payable to the Beneficiary, net of any applicable withholdings, as soon as practicable after the Redemption Date.
Notwithstanding the above, for Beneficiaries of U.S. Participants, the redemption notice described above will not be available, and the Beneficiary’s vested DDSUs will be automatically redeemed, and shall be payable, net of applicable withholdings, in cash to the Beneficiary on the Redemption Date.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, in the event of a Change of Control of the Company, for the purposes of Section 5.1, all DDSUs that have been granted shall be deemed to be vested as of the date of the Change of Control.
For purposes of determining the value of DDSUs for payment, under Sections 5.1 and 5.2, to a Participant or where the Participant has died, his or her Beneficiary, in each case, the Participant or Beneficiary shall receive a payment in cash, net of any applicable withholdings, equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share multiplied by the number of vested DDSUs (including the value of any fractional DDSUs) credited to a Participant’s DDSU Account. The Fair Market Value of a Share for such calculation will be determined for purposes of Sections 5.1 and 5.2 as of the Redemption Date.
The existence of any DDSUs shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its shareholders:
Should the Company effect a subdivision or consolidation of Shares, the number of DDSUs held by a Participant shall be automatically adjusted, as of the record date for such subdivision or consolidation, in the same proportions as the number of Shares is adjusted pursuant to such subdivision or consolidation. Should any other change be made to the Shares of the Company which, in the opinion of the Administrator(s), would warrant the replacement of or an adjustment to any existing DDSUs in order to preserve proportionately the rights and obligations of Participants, the Company shall authorize such steps to be taken as may be equitable and appropriate to that end, and upon the Company notifying a Participant of any such action by the Company, the Participant’s DDSUs shall be deemed to be adjusted accordingly.
Should the Company fix a record date for a Distribution to holders of Shares, the number of DDSUs held by a Participant holding such DDSUs as of such record date shall be automatically adjusted on the applicable payment or distribution date, as if each DDSU held by the Participant immediately prior to the record date was a Share, and as if on the payment or distribution date, the additional Shares that would have been received in the Distribution (assuming notional Dividend Reinvestment) were converted back into DDSUs, on a one for one basis.
In the event of an amalgamation, combination, merger, Change of Control (actual or, in the opinion of the Administrator(s), pending) or other reorganization involving the Company, by take-over bid, plan of arrangement, exchange of shares, sale or lease of assets, or otherwise, which in the opinion of the Administrator(s) warrants the replacement or modification of any existing DDSUs in order to adjust:
in order to preserve the rights and obligations of Participants, the Administrator(s) shall authorize such steps to be taken as may be equitable and appropriate to that end, provided that no alteration pursuant to this paragraph shall be made to the terms of the DDSUs which, in the opinion of the Company’s professional advisors, would disqualify this Plan or an entitlement hereunder from being a prescribed plan for the purposes of the definition of “salary deferral arrangement” pursuant to the Tax Act and regulations thereunder, and provided further that no such modification affecting a Participant shall be made after a Change of Control without the written consent of the affected Participant.
Except as expressly provided in this Plan, the issue by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, for money, services or property either upon direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefore, or upon conversion of obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or securities, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to:
Notwithstanding anything herein, a decision of the Administrator(s) in respect of any and all matters falling within the scope of this Article VI shall be final, binding and conclusive and without recourse on the part of any Participant and his or her heirs, legal representatives or Beneficiaries.
The Company shall not be obligated to make any payments or take any other action under the Plan if, in the opinion of the Administrator(s) exercising its discretion, such action would constitute a violation by a Participant or the Company of any provision of any applicable statutory, regulatory or policy enactment of any government or government agency, stock exchange or other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or a Participant. Each Participant agrees, as a condition to receiving DDSUs under the Plan, to comply with all such statutory and regulatory requirements and to furnish the Company with all information and undertakings as may be required to permit such compliance.
The granting of DDSUs to a Participant shall not impose upon the Company any obligation to retain the Participant in its employ in any capacity or otherwise commence, extend, continue or modify any engagement between the Company and the Participant. For greater certainty, the granting of DDSUs to a Participant shall not impose any obligation on the Company to grant any DDSUs in the future nor shall it entitle the Participant to receive future grants.
Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, the Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amount payable to a Participant, either under this Plan or otherwise, such amounts as may be necessary so as to ensure that the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada) or any other federal, provincial or local law relating to the withholding of tax or other required deductions relating to the settlement of such DDSU. It is the responsibility of the Participant to complete and file any tax returns which may be required within the periods specified in applicable laws as a result of the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company shall not be held responsible for any tax consequences to a Participant as a result of the Participant’s participation in the Plan and the Participant shall indemnify and save harmless the Company from and against any and all loss, liability, damage, penalty or expense (including legal expense), which may be asserted against the Company or which the Company may suffer or incur arising out of, resulting from, or relating in any manner whatsoever to any tax liability in connection therewith.
No Participant or Director shall have any claim or right to be granted DDSUs except in accordance with this Plan, and the granting of same shall not be construed as giving any person a right to be retained as a Director. No Participant shall have any rights as a shareholder of the Company in respect of DDSUs. Subject only to Section 6.3, under no circumstances shall DDSUs be considered Shares, nor shall DDSUs entitle any Participant to the exercise of voting rights, the receipt of dividends or the exercise of any other rights attaching to the ownership of Shares.
DDSUs granted under this Plan are non-transferable and no assignment, encumbrance or transfer thereof, whether voluntary, involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, shall vest any interest or right in such DDSUs whatsoever in any assignee or transferee, but immediately upon any purported assignment or transfer, such DDSUs shall terminate and be of no further effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, DDSUs may pass to a Beneficiary on death as provided for in Article 5.
Subject to receipt of any necessary regulatory or other approval, the Administrator(s) may, at any time or from time to time, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any provisions thereof in such respects as it, in its sole discretion, may determine appropriate; provided, however, that no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall, without the written consent of any Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary, as applicable, alter or impair any rights or obligations arising from any DDSUs held by a Participant under the Plan; and provided further that no alteration pursuant to this Section 7.6 shall be made to the terms of the DDSUs or this Plan which, in the opinion of the Company’s professional advisors, would disqualify the Plan and an entitlement to
DDSUs hereunder from being a prescribed plan for the purposes of the definition of “salary deferral arrangement” pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations thereunder.
Every Administrator (herein, an “Indemnified Person”) shall at all times be indemnified and saved harmless by the Company from and against all costs, charges and expenses whatsoever including any income tax liability arising from any such indemnification, which such Indemnified Person may sustain or incur by reason of any action, suit or proceeding, proceeded or threatened against the Indemnified Person, otherwise than by the Company, for or in respect of any act done or omitted by the Indemnified Person in good faith in respect of the Plan, such costs, charges and expenses to include any amount paid to settle such action, suit or proceeding or in satisfaction of any judgment rendered therein.
The Administrator(s) may adopt and apply rules that, in its opinion, will ensure that the Company will be able to comply with the applicable provisions of any federal, provincial or local law relating to taxes.
It is intended that DDSUs granted under the Plan to U.S. Participants shall comply with Code section 409A, and all provisions of this Plan shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes, penalties or interest under Code section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the following will apply with respect to the rights and benefits of U.S. Participants under the Plan:
This Plan shall become effective on April 16, 2021.
This Plan is created under and shall be governed, construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada as applicable therein.
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Adopted by and pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. on April 20, 2021, with effect as of April 16, 2021. Amended pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. on June 8, 2023, with effect as of June 8, 2023.
SCHEDULE A
GRANT CONFIRMATION
TO: (the “Participant”)
Pursuant to the Directors’ Deferred Share Unit Plan (the “Plan”) of Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. (the “Company”) in effect on the Grant Date below, the Company confirms that following grant of DDSUs to the Participant. All capitalized terms used in this Grant Confirmation have the meanings given to them in the Plan.
Director DSUs
Grant Date: ,
Vesting and other conditions:
The granting and redemption of the DDSUs are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. The undersigned Participant acknowledges having received (or accessed electronically) a copy of the Plan and agrees to be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
Each U.S. Participant is solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or for the account of such U.S. Participant in connection with the Plan (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A), and neither the Company nor any Affiliate shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold such U.S. Participant or beneficiary or the U.S. Participant’s estate harmless from any or all such taxes or penalties.
DATED this day of , .
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Per: |
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Authorized Signatory |
The undersigned Participant hereby acknowledges and agrees to the foregoing this this day of , .
Beneficiary Designation
In the event of my death while I am still a Participant in the Plan, I hereby designate my Beneficiary for all Director DSUs outstanding.
The effect of this designation shall be to cancel all previous designations made by me in respect of this Plan.
Witness | Participant name: |