SurancePlus Holdings Ltd. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan
Exhibit 10.5
suranceplus holdings ltd.
2024 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose, Effective Date and Definitions.
(a) Purpose. SurancePlus Holdings Ltd. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan has two complementary purposes: (i) to attract, retain and motivate executives and other selected employees, directors, consultants and advisors and (ii) to increase shareholder value. The Plan will provide participants incentives to increase shareholder value by offering the opportunity to acquire the Company’s ordinary shares, receive monetary payments based on the value of such ordinary shares, or receive other incentive compensation, on the potentially favorable terms that this Plan provides.
(b) Effective Date. This Plan will become effective, and Awards may be granted under this Plan, on and after the date on which the Plan is approved by the Company’s shareholder (the “Effective Date”).
(c) Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in various sections of the Plan have the meanings given in Section 19.
2. Administration.
(a) Administration. In addition to the authority specifically granted to the Administrator in this Plan, the Administrator has full discretionary authority to administer this Plan, including but not limited to the authority to: (i) interpret the provisions of this Plan; (ii) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to this Plan; (iii) correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, any Award or any agreement covering an Award in the manner and to the extent it deems desirable to carry this Plan or such Award into effect; and (iv) make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan. All Administrator determinations shall be made in the sole discretion of the Administrator and are final and binding on all interested parties.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Administrator shall have the discretion to grant an Award with any vesting condition, any vesting period or any performance period if the Award is granted to a newly hired or promoted Participant, or accelerate or shorten the vesting or performance period of an Award, in connection with a Participant’s death, Disability, Retirement or termination by the Company or an Affiliate without Cause or a Change of Control.
(b) Delegation to Other Committees or Officers. To the extent applicable law permits, the Board may delegate to another committee of the Board, or the Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company, any or all of their respective authority and responsibility as an Administrator of the Plan; provided that no such delegation is permitted with respect to Share-based Awards made to Section 16 Participants at the time any such delegated authority or responsibility is exercised unless the delegation is to another committee of the Board consisting entirely of Non-Employee Directors who are also non-employee directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act. If the Board or the Committee has made such a delegation, then all references to the Administrator in this Plan include such other committee or one or more officers to the extent of such delegation.
(c) No Liability; Indemnification. No member of the Board or the Committee, and no officer or member of any other committee to whom a delegation under Section 2(b) has been made, will be liable for any act done, or determination made, by the individual in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each such individual as to any acts or omissions, or determinations made, with respect to this Plan or any Award to the maximum extent that the law and the Company’s by-laws permit.
3. Eligibility. The Administrator may designate any of the following as a Participant from time to time, to the extent of the Administrator’s authority: any officer or other employee of the Company or its Affiliates; any individual that the Company or an Affiliate has engaged to become an officer or employee; any consultant or advisor who provides services to the Company or its Affiliates; or any Director, including a Non-Employee Director. The Administrator’s granting of an Award to a Participant will not require the Administrator to grant an Award to such individual at any future time. The Administrator’s granting of a particular type of Award to a Participant will not require the Administrator to grant any other type of Award to such individual.
4. Types of Awards; Assistance to Participants.
(a) Grants of Awards. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator may grant any type of Award to any Participant it selects, but only employees of the Company or a Subsidiary (that qualifies under Code Section 422) may receive grants of incentive share options within the meaning of Code Section 422. Awards may be granted alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or (subject to the prohibition on repricing set forth in Section 15(e)) in substitution for any other Award (or any other award granted under another plan of the Company or any Affiliate, including the plan of an acquired entity).
(b) Assistance. On such terms and conditions as shall be approved by the Administrator, the Company or any Subsidiary may directly or indirectly lend money to any Participant or other person to accomplish the purposes of the Plan, including to assist such Participant or other person to acquire Shares upon the exercise of Options, provided that such lending is not permitted to the extent it would violate terms of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any other law, regulation or other requirement applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary.
5. Shares Reserved under this Plan.
(a) Plan Reserve. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 17, an aggregate of seven hundred fifty thousand (750,000) Shares are reserved for issuance under this Plan, all of which may be issued upon the exercise of incentive share options within the meaning of Code Section 422. The Shares reserved for issuance may be either authorized and unissued Shares or shares reacquired at any time and now or hereafter held in treasury. The aggregate number of Shares reserved under this Section 5(a) shall be depleted by the maximum number of Shares, if any, that may be issuable under an Award as determined at the time of grant. For purposes of determining the aggregate number of Shares reserved for issuance under this Plan, any fractional Share shall be rounded to the next highest full Share.
(b) Replenishment of Shares Under this Plan. If (i) an Award lapses, expires, terminates or is cancelled without the issuance of Shares under the Award (whether due currently or on a deferred basis), (ii) it is determined during or at the conclusion of the term of an Award that all or some portion of the Shares with respect to which the Award was granted will not be issuable, or that other compensation with respect to the Shares covered by the Award will not be payable, on the basis that the conditions for such issuance will not be satisfied, (iii) Shares are forfeited under an Award or (iv) Shares are issued under any Award and the Company subsequently reacquires them pursuant to rights reserved upon the issuance of the Shares, then such Shares shall be recredited to the Plan’s reserve and may again be used for new Awards under this Plan, but Shares recredited to the Plan’s reserve pursuant to clause (iv) may not be issued pursuant to incentive share options.
6. Options. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of each Option, including but not limited to: (a) whether the Option is an “incentive share option” which meets the requirements of Code Section 422, or a “nonqualified share option” which does not meet the requirements of Code Section 422; (b) the grant date, which may not be any day prior to the date that the Administrator approves the grant; (c) the number of Shares subject to the Option; (d) the exercise price, which may not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Option as determined on the date of grant (other than in the case of an Option that is not an incentive share option and that complies with Code Section 409A); (e) the terms and conditions of vesting and exercise; and (f) the term, except that an Option must terminate no later than ten (10) years after the date of grant. In all other respects, the terms of any incentive share option should comply with the provisions of Code Section 422 except to the extent the Administrator determines otherwise. Except to the extent the Administrator determines otherwise, a Participant may exercise an Option in whole or part after the right to exercise the Option has accrued, provided that any partial exercise must be for one hundred (100) Shares or multiples thereof. If an Option that is intended to be an incentive share option fails to meet the requirements thereof, the Option shall automatically be treated as a nonqualified share option to the extent of such failure. Unless restricted by the Administrator, and subject to such procedures as the Administrator may specify, the payment of the exercise price of Options made be made by (w) delivery of cash or other Shares or other securities of the Company (including by attestation) having a then Fair Market Value equal to the purchase price of such Shares, (x) by delivery (including by fax) to the Company or its designated agent of an executed irrevocable option exercise form together with irrevocable instructions to a broker-dealer to sell or margin a sufficient portion of the Shares and deliver the sale or margin loan proceeds directly to the Company to pay for the exercise price, (y) by surrendering the right to receive Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant upon exercise of the Award having a Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total exercise price, or (z) by any combination of (w), (x) and/or (y). Except to the extent otherwise set forth in an Award agreement, a Participant shall have no rights as a holder of Shares as a result of the grant of an Option until the Option is exercised, the exercise price and applicable withholding taxes are paid and the Shares subject to the Option are issued thereunder.
7. Share Appreciation Rights. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of each SAR, including but not limited to: (a) whether the SAR is granted independently of an Option or relates to an Option; (b) the grant date, which may not be any day prior to the date that the Administrator approves the grant; (c) the number of Shares to which the SAR relates; (d) the grant price, provided that the grant price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the SAR as determined on the date of grant (unless such SAR complies with Code Section 409A); (e) the terms and conditions of exercise or maturity, including vesting; (f) the term, provided that an SAR must terminate no later than ten (10) years after the date of grant; and (g) whether the SAR will be settled in cash, Shares or a combination thereof. If an SAR is granted in relation to an Option, then unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the SAR shall be exercisable or shall mature at the same time or times, on the same conditions and to the extent and in the proportion, that the related Option is exercisable and may be exercised or mature for all or part of the Shares subject to the related Option. Upon exercise of any number of SARs, the number of Shares subject to the related Option shall be reduced accordingly and such Option may not be exercised with respect to that number of Shares. The exercise of any number of Options that relate to an SAR shall likewise result in an equivalent reduction in the number of Shares covered by the related SAR.
8. Performance and Share Awards. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of each award of Shares, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units, including but not limited to: (a) the number of Shares and/or units to which such Award relates; (b) whether, as a condition for the Participant to realize all or a portion of the benefit provided under the Award, one or more Performance Goals must be achieved during such period as the Administrator specifies; (c) whether the restrictions imposed on Restricted Share or Restricted Share Units shall lapse, and all or a portion of the Performance Goals subject to an Award shall be deemed achieved, upon a Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement; (d) the length of the vesting and/or performance period and, if different, the date on which payment of the benefit provided under the Award will be made; (e) with respect to Performance Units, whether to measure the value of each unit in relation to a designated dollar value or the Fair Market Value of one or more Shares; and (f) with respect to Restricted Share Units and Performance Units, whether to settle such Awards in cash, in Shares (including Restricted Shares), or a combination thereof.
9. Annual Incentive Awards. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of an Annual Incentive Award, including but not limited to the Performance Goals, performance period, the potential amount payable, and the timing of payment; provided that the Administrator must require that payment of all or any portion of the amount subject to the Annual Incentive Award is contingent on the achievement of one or more Performance Goals during the period the Administrator specifies, although the Administrator may specify that all or a portion of the Performance Goals subject to an Award are deemed achieved upon a Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement, or such other circumstances as the Administrator may specify.
10. Long-Term Incentive Awards. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of a Long-Term Incentive Award, including but not limited to the Performance Goals, performance period (which must be more than one year), the potential amount payable, and the timing of payment; provided that the Administrator must require that payment of all or any portion of the amount subject to the Long-Term Incentive Award is contingent on the achievement of one or more Performance Goals during the period the Administrator specifies, although the Administrator may specify that all or a portion of the Performance Goals subject to an Award are deemed achieved upon a Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement, or such other circumstances as the Administrator may specify.
11. Dividend Equivalent Units. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of each award of Dividend Equivalent Units, including but not limited to whether: (a) such Award will be granted in tandem with another Award; (b) payment of the Award will be made concurrently with dividend payments or credited to an account for the Participant which provides for the deferral of such amounts until a stated time; (c) the Award will be settled in cash or Shares; and (d) as a condition for the Participant to realize all or a portion of the benefit provided under the Award, one or more Performance Goals must be achieved during such period as the Administrator specifies; provided that Dividend Equivalent Units may not be granted in connection with an Option, Share Appreciation Right or other “stock right” within the meaning of Code Section 409A; and provided further that no Dividend Equivalent Unit granted in tandem with another Award shall include vesting provisions more favorable to the Participant than the vesting provisions, if any, to which the tandem Award is subject.
12. Other Share-Based Awards. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Administrator may grant to Participants other types of Awards, which may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Shares, either alone or in addition to or in conjunction with other Awards, and payable in Shares or cash. Without limitation except as provided herein (and subject to the limitations of Section 15(e)), such Award may include the issuance of shares of unrestricted Shares, which may be awarded in payment of director fees, in lieu of cash compensation, in exchange for cancellation of a compensation right, as a bonus, or upon the attainment of Performance Goals or otherwise, or rights to acquire Shares from the Company. The Administrator shall determine all terms and conditions of the Award, including but not limited to, the time or times at which such Awards shall be made, and the number of Shares to be granted pursuant to such Awards or to which such Award shall relate; provided that any Award that provides for purchase rights shall be priced at 100% of Fair Market Value on the date of the Award.
13. Effect of Termination on Awards. If the Participant has in effect an employment, retention, change of control, severance or similar agreement with the Company or any Affiliate that discusses the effect of the Participant’s termination of employment or service on the Participant’s Awards, then such agreement shall control. In any other case, except as otherwise provided by the Administrator in an Award agreement (which shall control in the event it is inconsistent with the following provisions) or as otherwise determined by the Administrator prior to or at the time of termination of a Participant’s employment or service, the following provisions shall apply upon a Participant’s termination of employment or service with the Company and its Affiliates:
(a) Termination of Employment or Service. If a Participant’s service with the Company and its Affiliates as an employee or a Director ends for any reason other than (i) a termination for Cause, (ii) death, (iii) Disability or (iv) Retirement, then:
(i) Any outstanding unvested Options or SARs shall be forfeited immediately upon such termination, and any outstanding vested Options or SARs shall be exercisable until the earlier of (A) six (6) months following the Participant’s termination date and (B) the expiration date of the Option or SAR under the terms of the applicable Award agreement; provided that, if the Option was granted to a Director, then the vested Options or SARs shall be exercisable until the earlier of twelve (12) months following the Participant’s termination date and the expiration date.
(ii) All other outstanding Awards made to the Participant, to the extent not then earned, vested or paid to the Participant, shall terminate on the Participant’s last day of employment or service.
(b) Death, Disability or Retirement of Participant. If a Participant dies during employment with the Company and its Affiliates or while a Director, or if a Participant’s service terminates as a result of Disability or Retirement, then:
(i) All outstanding Options or SARs shall become fully vested and exercisable by the Participant or, in the case of death, by the Participant’s estate or the person who has acquired the right to exercise such Awards by bequest or inheritance, as follows:
(A) In the case of the Participant’s death, until the earlier of twelve (12) months following the date of the Participant’s death and the expiration date of the Option or SAR.
(B) In the case of a termination as a result of Disability, until the earlier of twelve (12) months following the date of the termination and the expiration date of the Option or SAR.
(C) In the case of a termination as a result of Retirement, until the earlier of ten (10) years following the date of the Participant’s Retirement and the expiration date of the Option or SAR.
(ii) All restrictions on all outstanding Awards of Restricted Shares or Restricted Units that are not Performance Awards, including all related Dividend Equivalent Units, shall be deemed to have lapsed, and such Awards shall become fully vested, upon the date of death or termination, as applicable.
(iii) All outstanding Awards of Performance Shares and Performance Units, including all related Dividend Equivalent Units, shall be paid in either unrestricted shares or cash, as the case may be, following the end of the performance period and based on achievement of the Performance Goals established for such Awards, as if the Participant had not died or terminated service, as applicable, but prorated based on the portion of the performance period that the Participant has completed at the time of death or termination of service.
(iv) All other outstanding Awards made to the Participant, to the extent not then earned, vested or paid to the Participant, shall terminate on the Participant’s last day of employment or service.
(c) Termination for Cause. If a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates or service as a Director is terminated for Cause, all Awards and grants of every type, whether or not then vested, shall terminate no later than the Participant’s last day of employment. The Committee shall have discretion to waive the application of this Section 13(c) in whole or in part and to determine whether the event or conduct at issue constitutes Cause for termination.
(d) Time of Termination. For purposes of this Section 13, termination of service shall be deemed to occur at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the relevant date described above, except that, if the Participant is terminated for Cause, then the termination shall occur immediately at the time of such termination.
(e) Consultants and Other Share-Based Awards. The Administrator shall have the discretion to determine, at the time an Award is made, the effect of the termination of service of a Consultant on Awards held by such individual, and the effect on other Share-based Awards of the Participant’s termination of employment or service with the Company and its Affiliates.
14. Restrictions on Transfer, Encumbrance and Disposition. No Award granted under this Plan may be sold, assigned, mortgaged, pledged, exchanged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred, or encumbered or disposed of, by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of the Participant such Awards may be exercised only by the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative or by the permitted transferee of such Participant as hereinafter provided (or by the legal representative of such permitted transferee). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant may transfer an Award if permitted by the Administrator. Subsequent transfers of transferred Awards are prohibited except transfers otherwise made in accordance with this Section 13. Any attempted transfer not permitted by this Section 13 shall be null and void and have no legal effect. The restrictions set forth in this Section 13, and any risk of forfeiture applicable to an Award, shall be enforceable against any transferee of an Award.
15. Termination and Amendment of Plan; Amendment, Modification or Cancellation of Awards.
(a) Term of Plan. Unless the Board earlier terminates this Plan pursuant to Section 15(b), this Plan will terminate on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date.
(b) Termination and Amendment. The Board or the Administrator may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate this Plan at any time, subject to the following limitations:
(i) the Board must approve any amendment of this Plan to the extent the Company determines such approval is required by: (A) prior action of the Board, (B) applicable corporate law, or (C) any other applicable law;
(ii) shareholders must approve any amendment of this Plan to the extent the Company determines such approval is required by: (A) Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (B) the Code, (C) the listing requirements of any principal securities exchange or market on which the Shares are then traded, or (D) any other applicable law; and
(iii) shareholders must approve any of the following Plan amendments: (A) an amendment to materially increase any number of Shares specified in Section 5(a)(except as permitted by Section 17), or (B) an amendment that would diminish the protections afforded by Section 15(e).
(c) Amendment, Modification, Cancellation and Disgorgement of Awards.
(i) Except as provided in Section 15(e) and subject to the requirements of this Plan, the Administrator may modify, amend or cancel any Award, or waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or the exercise of the Award; provided that, except as otherwise provided in the Plan or the Award agreement, any modification or amendment that materially diminishes the rights of the Participant, or the cancellation of the Award, shall be effective only if agreed to by the Participant or any other person(s) as may then have an interest in the Award, but the Administrator need not obtain Participant (or other interested party) consent for the modification, amendment or cancellation of an Award pursuant to the provisions of subsection (ii) or Section 17 or as follows: (A) to the extent the Administrator deems such action necessary to comply with any applicable law or the listing requirements of any principal securities exchange or market on which the Shares are then traded; (B) to the extent the Administrator deems necessary to preserve favorable accounting or tax treatment of any Award for the Company; or (C) to the extent the Administrator determines that such action does not materially and adversely affect the value of an Award or that such action is in the best interest of the affected Participant (or any other person(s) as may then have an interest in the Award). Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, any such amendment shall be made in a manner that will enable an Award intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A to continue to be so exempt, or to enable an Award intended to comply with Code Section 409A to continue to so comply.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in an Award agreement, the Administrator shall have full power and authority to terminate or cause the Participant to forfeit the Award, and require the Participant to disgorge to the Company any gains attributable to the Award, if the Participant engages in any action constituting, as determined by the Administrator in its discretion, Cause for termination, or a breach of any Award agreement or any other agreement between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate concerning noncompetition, nonsolicitation, confidentiality, trade secrets, intellectual property, nondisparagement or similar obligations.
(iii) Any Awards granted pursuant to this Plan, and any Shares issued or cash paid pursuant to an Award, shall be subject to any recoupment or clawback policy that is adopted by, or any recoupment or similar requirement otherwise made applicable by law, regulation or listing standards to, the Company from time to time.
(d) Survival of Authority and Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the authority of the Board and the Administrator under this Section 15 and to otherwise administer the Plan with respect to then-outstanding Awards will extend beyond the date of this Plan’s termination. In addition, termination of this Plan will not affect the rights of Participants with respect to Awards previously granted to them, and all unexpired Awards will continue in force and effect after termination of this Plan except as they may lapse or be terminated by their own terms and conditions.
(e) Repricing and Backdating Prohibited. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, and except for the adjustments provided for in Section 17, neither the Administrator nor any other person may (i) amend the terms of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the exercise or grant price of such outstanding Options or SARs; (ii) cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for Options or SARs with an exercise or grant price that is less than the exercise or grant price of the original Options or SARs; or (iii) cancel outstanding Options or SARs with an exercise or grant price above the current Fair Market Value of a Share in exchange for cash or other securities. In addition, the Administrator may not make a grant of an Option or SAR with a grant date that is effective prior to the date the Administrator takes action to approve such Award.
(f) Foreign Participation. To assure the viability of Awards granted to Participants employed or residing in foreign countries, the Administrator may provide for such special terms as it may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy, accounting or custom. Moreover, the Administrator may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, this Plan as it determines is necessary or appropriate for such purposes. Any such amendment, restatement or alternative versions that the Administrator approves for purposes of using this Plan in a foreign country will not affect the terms of this Plan for any other country. In addition, all such supplements, amendments, restatements or alternative versions must comply with the provisions of Section 15(b)(ii).
(g) Code Section 409A. The provisions of Code Section 409A are incorporated herein by reference to the extent necessary for any Award that is subject to Code Section 409A to comply therewith.
16. Taxes.
(a) Withholding. In the event the Company or one of its Affiliates is required to withhold any Federal, state or local taxes or other amounts in respect of any income recognized by a Participant as a result of the grant, vesting, payment or settlement of an Award or disposition of any Shares acquired under an Award, the Company or its Affiliate may deduct (or require an Affiliate to deduct) from any cash payments of any kind otherwise due the Participant, or with the consent of the Administrator, Shares otherwise deliverable or vesting under an Award, to satisfy such tax or other obligations. Alternatively, the Company or its Affiliate may require such Participant to pay to the Company or its Affiliate, in cash, promptly on demand, or make other arrangements satisfactory to the Company or its Affiliate regarding the payment to the Company or its Affiliate of the aggregate amount of any such taxes and other amounts. If Shares are deliverable upon exercise or payment of an Award, then, unless restricted by the Administrator and subject to such procedures as the Administrator may specify, a Participant may satisfy all or a portion of the Federal, state and local withholding tax obligations arising in connection with such Award by electing to (i) have the Company or its Affiliate withhold Shares otherwise issuable under the Award, (ii) tender back Shares received in connection with such Award or (iii) deliver other previously owned Shares; provided that the amount to be withheld may not exceed the total maximum statutory tax rates associated with the transaction to the extent needed for the Company and its Affiliates to avoid an accounting charge. If an election is provided, the election must be made on or before the date as of which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined and otherwise as the Administrator requires. In any case, the Company and its Affiliates may defer making payment or delivery under any Award if any such tax may be pending unless and until indemnified to its satisfaction.
(b) No Guarantee of Tax Treatment. Notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan, the Company does not guarantee to any Participant or any other Person with an interest in an Award that (i) any Award intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A shall be so exempt, (ii) any Award intended to comply with Code Section 409A or Code Section 422 shall so comply, or (iii) any Award shall otherwise receive a specific tax treatment under any other applicable tax law, nor in any such case will the Company or any Affiliate be required to indemnify, defend or hold harmless any individual with respect to the tax consequences of any Award.
17. Adjustment Provisions; Change of Control.
(a) Adjustment of Shares. If: (i) the Company shall at any time be involved in a merger or other transaction in which the Shares are changed or exchanged; (ii) the Company shall subdivide or combine the Shares or the Company shall declare a dividend payable in Shares, other securities (other than share purchase rights issued pursuant to a shareholder rights agreement) or other property; (iii) the Company shall effect a cash dividend the amount of which, on a per Share basis, exceeds ten percent (10%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share at the time the dividend is declared, or the Company shall effect any other dividend or other distribution on the Shares in the form of cash, or a repurchase of Shares, that the Board determines by resolution is special or extraordinary in nature or that is in connection with a transaction that the Company characterizes publicly as a recapitalization or reorganization involving the Shares; or (iv) any other event shall occur, which, in the case of this clause (iv), in the judgment of the Administrator necessitates an adjustment to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan, then the Administrator shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan, adjust as applicable: (A) the number and type of Shares subject to this Plan (including the number and type of Shares described in Section 5(a)) and which may after the event be made the subject of Awards; (B) the number and type of Shares subject to outstanding Awards; (C) the grant, purchase, or exercise price with respect to any Award; and (D) the Performance Goals of an Award. In any such case, the Administrator may also (or in lieu of the foregoing) make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award in exchange for the cancellation of all or a portion of the Award (without the consent of the holder of an Award) in an amount determined by the Administrator effective at such time as the Administrator specifies (which may be the time such transaction or event is effective). However, in each case, with respect to Awards of incentive share options, no such adjustment may be authorized to the extent that such authority would cause this Plan to violate Code Section 422(b). Further, the number of Shares subject to any Award payable or denominated in Shares must always be a whole number. In any event, previously granted Options or SARs are subject to only such adjustments as are necessary to maintain the relative proportionate interest the Options and SARs represented immediately prior to any such event and to preserve, without exceeding, the value of such Options or SARs.
Without limitation, in the event of any reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination or other similar corporate transaction or event, whether or not constituting a Change of Control (other than any such transaction in which the Company is the continuing corporation and in which the outstanding Shares are not being converted into or exchanged for different securities, cash or other property, or any combination thereof), the Administrator may substitute, on an equitable basis as the Administrator determines, for each Share then subject to an Award and the Shares subject to this Plan (if the Plan will continue in effect), the number and kind of shares, other securities, cash or other property to which holders of Shares are or will be entitled in respect of each Share pursuant to the transaction.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a share dividend (other than a share dividend declared in lieu of an ordinary cash dividend) or subdivision or combination of the Shares (including a reverse share split), if no action is taken by the Administrator, adjustments contemplated by this subsection that are proportionate shall nevertheless automatically be made as of the date of such share dividend or subdivision or combination of the Shares.
For the avoidance of doubt, the grant of an Award shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or any of its Affiliates to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Company’s or such Affiliate’s capital structure or business, or any merger, consolidation or business combination of the Company or such Affiliate, or any issuance or modification of any term, condition, or covenant of any bond, debenture, debt, preferred share or other instrument ahead of or affecting the Shares or the rights of the holders of Shares, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Affiliate, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business or any other Company or Affiliate action or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.
(b) Issuance or Assumption. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, and without affecting the number of Shares otherwise reserved or available under this Plan, in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or shares, or reorganization, the Administrator may authorize the issuance or assumption of awards under this Plan upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate.
(c) Change of Control. Unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award agreement or another contract, including an employment agreement, or under the terms of a transaction constituting a Change of Control, the Administrator may provide for the acceleration of the vesting or earning and, if applicable, exercisability of any outstanding Award, or portion thereof, or the lapsing of any conditions or restrictions on or the time for payment in respect of any outstanding Award, or portion thereof, upon a Change of Control or the termination of the Participant’s employment following a Change of Control. In addition, unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award agreement or another contract, including an employment agreement, or under the terms of a transaction constituting a Change of Control, without limitation of the foregoing, the Administrator may provide that any or all of the following shall occur in connection with a Change of Control: (a) the substitution for the Shares subject to any outstanding Award, or portion thereof, of shares or other securities of the surviving corporation or any successor corporation to the Company, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, in which event the aggregate purchase or exercise price, if any, of such Award, or portion thereof, shall remain the same, (b) the conversion of any outstanding Award, or portion thereof, into a right to receive cash or other property upon or following the consummation of the Change of Control in an amount equal to the value of the consideration to be received by holders of Shares in connection with such transaction for one Share, less the per share purchase or exercise price of such Award, if any, multiplied by the number of Shares subject to such Award, or a portion thereof, (c) acceleration of the vesting (and, as applicable, the exercisability) of any and/or all outstanding Awards, (d) the cancellation of any outstanding and unexercised Awards upon or following the consummation of the Change of Control (without the consent of an Award holder or any person with an interest in an Award), (e) in the case of Options or SARs, the cancellation of all outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for a cash payment equal to the excess of the Change of Control Price over the exercise price of the Shares subject to such Option or SAR upon the Change of Control (or for no cash payment if such excess is zero), and/or (f) the cancellation of any Awards in exchange for a cash payment based on the value of the Award as of the date of the Change of Control (or for no payment if the Award has no value).
For purposes of this Section 17, the “value” of a Performance Share shall be equal to, and the “value” of a Performance Unit for which the value is equal to the Fair Market Value of Shares shall be based on, the Change of Control Price. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 17(c), the terms of any Awards that are subject to Code Section 409A shall govern the treatment of such Awards upon a Change of Control, and the terms of this Section 17(c) shall not apply, to the extent required for such Awards to remain compliant with Code Section 409A, as applicable.
(d) Application of Limits on Payments.
(i) Determination of Cap or Payment. Except to the extent the Participant has in effect an employment or similar agreement with the Company or any Affiliate or is subject to a policy that provides for a more favorable result to the Participant upon a Change of Control, if any payments or benefits paid by the Company pursuant to this Plan, including any accelerated vesting or similar provisions (“Plan Payments”), would cause some or all of the Plan Payments in conjunction with any other payments made to or benefits received by a Participant in connection with a Change of Control (such payments or benefits, together with the Plan Payments, the “Total Payments”) to be subject to the tax (“Excise Tax”) imposed by Code Section 4999 but for this Section 17(d) then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Total Payments shall be delivered either (A) in full or (B) in an amount such that the value of the aggregate Total Payments that the Participant is entitled to receive shall be One Dollar ($1.00) less than the maximum amount that the Participant may receive without being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of (A) or (B) results in the receipt by the Participant of the greatest benefit on an after-tax basis (taking into account applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax).
(ii) Procedures.
(A) If a Participant or the Company believes that a payment or benefit due the Participant will result in some or all of the Total Payments being subject to the Excise Tax, then the Company, at its expense, shall obtain the opinion (which need not be unqualified) of nationally recognized tax counsel (“National Tax Counsel”) selected by the Company (which may be regular outside counsel to the Company), which opinion sets forth (1) the amount of the Base Period Income (as defined below), (2) the amount and present value of the Total Payments, (3) the amount and present value of any excess parachute payments determined without regard to any reduction of Total Payments pursuant to Section 6(a)(ii), and (4) the net after-tax proceeds to the Participant, taking into account applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax if (x) the Total Payments were delivered in accordance with Section 17(d)(i)(A) or (y) the Total Payments were delivered in accordance with Section 17(d)(i)(B). The opinion of National Tax Counsel shall be addressed to the Company and the Participant and shall be binding upon the Company and the Participant. If such National Tax Counsel opinion determines that Section 17(d)(i)(B) applies, then the Plan Payments or any other payment or benefit determined by such counsel to be includable in the Total Payments shall be reduced or eliminated so that under the bases of calculations set forth in such opinion there will be no excess parachute payment. In such event, payments or benefits included in the Total Payments shall be reduced or eliminated by applying the following principles, in order: (1) the payment or benefit with the higher ratio of the parachute payment value to present economic value (determined using reasonable actuarial assumptions) shall be reduced or eliminated before a payment or benefit with a lower ratio; (2) the payment or benefit with the later possible payment date shall be reduced or eliminated before a payment or benefit with an earlier payment date; and (3) cash payments shall be reduced prior to non-cash benefits; provided that if the foregoing order of reduction or elimination would violate Code Section 409A, then the reduction shall be made pro rata among the payments or benefits included in the Total Payments (on the basis of the relative present value of the parachute payments).
(B) For purposes of this Section 17: (1) the terms “excess parachute payment” and “parachute payments” shall have the meanings given in Code Section 280G and such “parachute payments” shall be valued as provided therein; (2) present value shall be calculated in accordance with Code Section 280G(d)(4); (3) the term “Base Period Income” means an amount equal to the Participant’s “annualized includible compensation for the base period” as defined in Code Section 280G(d)(1); (4) for purposes of the opinion of National Tax Counsel, the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Company’s independent auditors in accordance with the principles of Code Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4); and (5) the Participant shall be deemed to pay federal income tax and employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income and employment taxation, and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state or locality of the Participant’s domicile, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes that may be obtained from the deduction of such state and local taxes.
(C) If National Tax Counsel so requests in connection with the opinion required by this Section 17(d)(ii) the Company shall obtain, at the Company’s expense, and the National Tax Counsel may rely on, the advice of a firm of recognized executive compensation consultants as to the reasonableness of any item of compensation to be received by the Participant solely with respect to its status under Code Section 280G.
(D) The Company agrees to bear all costs associated with, and to indemnify and hold harmless the National Tax Counsel from, any and all claims, damages and expenses resulting from or relating to its determinations pursuant to this Section 17, except for claims, damages or expenses resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such firm.
(E) This Section 17 shall be amended to comply with any amendment or successor provision to Code Section 280G or Code Section 4999. If such provisions are repealed without successor, then this Section 17 shall be cancelled without further effect.
18. Miscellaneous.
(a) Other Terms and Conditions. The Administrator may provide in any Award agreement such other provisions (whether or not applicable to the Award granted to any other Participant) as the Administrator determines appropriate to the extent not otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Plan.
(b) Employment and Service. The issuance of an Award shall not confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continued employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate, or the right to continue as a Director. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, for purposes of the Plan and all Awards, the following rules shall apply:
(i) a Participant who transfers employment between the Company and its Affiliates, or between Affiliates, will not be considered to have terminated employment;
(ii) a Participant who ceases to be a Non-Employee Director because he or she becomes an employee of the Company or an Affiliate shall not be considered to have ceased service as a Director with respect to any Award until such Participant’s termination of employment with the Company and its Affiliates;
(iii) a Participant who ceases to be employed by the Company or an Affiliate and immediately thereafter becomes a Non-Employee Director, a non-employee director of an Affiliate, or a consultant to the Company or any Affiliate shall not be considered to have terminated employment until such Participant’s service as a director of, or consultant to, the Company and its Affiliates has ceased; and
(iv) a Participant employed by an Affiliate will be considered to have terminated employment when such entity ceases to be an Affiliate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of an Award that is subject to Code Section 409A, if a Participant’s termination of employment or service triggers the payment of compensation under such Award, then the Participant will be deemed to have terminated employment or service upon his or her “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan or an Award to the contrary, if any Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A as of the date of his or her “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, then, to the extent required by Code Section 409A, any payment made to the Participant on account of such separation from service shall not be made before a date that is six months after the date of the separation from service.
(c) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares or other securities may be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan, and the Administrator may determine whether cash, other securities or other property will be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or other securities, or whether such fractional Shares or other securities or any rights to fractional Shares or other securities will be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.
(d) Unfunded Plan; Awards Not Includable for Benefits Purposes. This Plan is unfunded and does not create, and should not be construed to create, a trust or separate fund with respect to this Plan’s benefits. This Plan does not establish any fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant or other person. To the extent any person holds any rights by virtue of an Award granted under this Plan, such rights are no greater than the rights of the Company’s general unsecured creditors. Income recognized by a Participant pursuant to an Award shall not be included in the determination of benefits under any employee pension benefit plan (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) or group insurance or other benefit plans applicable to the Participant which are maintained by the Company or any Affiliate, except as may be provided under the terms of such plans or determined by resolution of the Board.
(e) Requirements of Law and Securities Exchange. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares in connection with an Award are subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or any award agreement, the Company has no liability to deliver any Shares under this Plan or make any payment unless such delivery or payment would comply with all applicable laws and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity, and unless and until the Participant has taken all actions required by the Company in connection therewith. The Company may impose such restrictions on any Shares issued under the Plan as the Company determines necessary or desirable to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations or the requirements of any national securities exchanges.
(f) Governing Law; Venue. This Plan, and all agreements under this Plan, will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands, without reference to any conflict of law principles. Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Plan, any Award or any award agreement, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Plan, any Award or any award agreement, may only be brought and determined in (i) a court sitting in the Cayman Islands, and (ii) a “bench” trial, and any party to such action or proceeding shall agree to waive its right to a jury trial.
(g) Limitations on Actions. Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Plan, any Award or any award agreement, must be brought within one year (365 days) after the day the complaining party first knew or should have known of the events giving rise to the complaint.
(h) Construction. Whenever any words are used herein in the masculine, they shall be construed as though they were used in the feminine in all cases where they would so apply; and wherever any words are used in the singular or plural, they shall be construed as though they were used in the plural or singular, as the case may be, in all cases where they would so apply. Titles of sections are for general information only, and this Plan is not to be construed with reference to such titles.
(i) Severability. If any provision of this Plan or any award agreement or any Award (a) is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any person or Award, or (b) would disqualify this Plan, any award agreement or any Award under any law the Administrator deems applicable, then such provision should be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Administrator, materially altering the intent of this Plan, award agreement or Award, then such provision should be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award, and the remainder of this Plan, such award agreement and such Award will remain in full force and effect.
19. Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Plan or any Award agreement have the following meanings, unless the Award agreement otherwise provides:
(a) “Administrator” means the Committee; provided that, to the extent the Board has retained authority and responsibility as an Administrator of the Plan, the term “Administrator” shall also mean the Board or, to the extent the Committee has delegated authority and responsibility as an Administrator of the Plan to one or more officers of the Company as permitted by Section 2(b), the term “Administrator” shall also mean such officer or officers.
(b) “Affiliate” shall have the meaning given in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining those individuals to whom an Option or Share Appreciation Right may be granted, the term “Affiliate” means any entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by, controls, or is under common control with, the Company within the meaning of Code Sections 414(b) or (c); provided that, in applying such provisions, the phrase “at least 20 percent” shall be used in place of “at least 80 percent” each place it appears therein.
(c) “Award” means a grant of Options, Share Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Shares, an Annual Incentive Award, a Long-Term Incentive Award, Dividend Equivalent Units or any other type of award permitted under the Plan.
(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) “Cause” means any of the following as determined by the Company: (i) with respect to Participants other than Non-Employee Directors, the definition set forth in any employment or similar agreement between the Company or its Affiliates and the Participant or, if no such definition exists, (A) the failure of the Participant to perform or observe any of the material terms or provisions of any written employment agreement between the Participant and the Company or its Affiliates or, if no written agreement exists, the gross dereliction of the Participant’s duties (for reasons other than the Participant’s Disability) with respect to the Company or its Affiliates; (B) the failure of the Participant to comply fully with the lawful directives of the Board or the board of directors of an Affiliate of the Company, as applicable, or the officers or supervisory employees to whom the Participant reports; (C) the Participant’s dishonesty, misconduct, misappropriation of funds, or disloyalty or disparagement of the Company, any of its Affiliates or its management or employees; or (D) other proper cause determined in good faith by the Administrator; or (ii) with respect to Non-Employee Directors, (A) fraud or intentional misrepresentation; (B) embezzlement, misappropriation or conversion of assets or opportunities of the Company or any of its Affiliates; or (C) any other gross or willful misconduct as determined by the Committee, in its sole and conclusive discretion.
(f) “Change of Control” means the first to occur of the following with respect to the Company or any upstream holding company (which, for purposes of this definition, shall be included in references to “the Company”):
(i) Any “Person,” as that term is defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company, is or becomes the “Beneficial Owner” (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or
(ii) The Company is merged or consolidated with any other corporation or other entity, other than: (A) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (B) the Company engages in a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no “Person” (as defined above) acquires fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a merger or consolidation involving the Company shall not be considered a “Change of Control” if the Company is the surviving corporation and Shares are not converted into or exchanged for shares or securities of any other corporation, cash or any other thing of value, unless persons who beneficially owned Shares outstanding immediately prior to such transaction own beneficially less than a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately following the merger or consolidation;
(iii) The Company or any Affiliate sells, assigns or otherwise transfers assets in a transaction or series of related transactions, if the aggregate market value of the assets so sold, assigned or otherwise transferred exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the Company’s consolidated book value, determined by the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, measured at the time at which such transaction occurs or the first of such series of related transactions occurs; provided that such a transfer effected pursuant to a spin-off or split-up where shareholders of the Company retain ownership of the transferred assets proportionate to their pro rata ownership interest in the Company shall not be deemed a “Change of Control”;
(iv) The Company dissolves and liquidates substantially all of its assets; or
(v) At any time after the Effective Date when the “Continuing Directors” cease to constitute a majority of the Board. For this purpose, a “Continuing Director” shall mean: (A) the individuals who, at the Effective Date, constitute the Board; and (B) any new Directors (other than Directors designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of this definition) whose appointment to the Board or nomination for election by Company shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the then-serving Continuing Directors.
If an Award is considered deferred compensation subject to the provisions of Code Section 409A, then the Administrator may include an amended definition of “Change of Control” in the Award agreement issued with respect to such Award as necessary to comply with, or as necessary to permit a deferral under, Code Section 409A.
(g) “Change of Control Price” means the highest of the following: (i) the Fair Market Value of the Shares, as determined on the date of the Change of Control; (ii) the highest price per Share paid in the Change of Control transaction; or (iii) the Fair Market Value of the Shares, calculated on the date of surrender of the relevant Award in accordance with Section 17(c), but this clause (iii) shall not apply if in the Change of Control transaction, or pursuant to an agreement to which the Company is a party governing the Change of Control transaction, all of the Shares are purchased for and/or converted into the right to receive a current payment of cash and no other securities or other property.
(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference to a specific provision of the Code includes any successor provision and the regulations promulgated under such provision.
(i) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or such other committee of the Board that is designated by the Board with the same or similar authority. The Committee shall consist only of Non-Employee Directors (not fewer than two (2)) who also qualify as non-employee directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act to the extent necessary for the Plan to comply with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor rule.
(j) “Company” means SurancePlus Holdings Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company, or any successor thereto.
(k) “Director” means a member of the Board; “Non-Employee Director” means a Director who is not also an employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(l) “Disability” means disability as defined in the Company’s long-term disability plan covering exempt salaried employees, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator and set forth in an Award agreement. The Administrator shall make the determination of Disability and may request such evidence of disability as it reasonably determines.
(m) “Dividend Equivalent Unit” means the right to receive a payment, in cash or Shares, equal to the cash dividends or other distributions paid with respect to a Share as described in Section 11.
(n) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any reference to a specific provision of the Exchange Act includes any successor provision and the regulations and rules promulgated under such provision.
(o) “Fair Market Value” means, per Share on a particular date, the last sales price on such date on the national securities exchange on which the Shares are then traded, as reported in The Wall Street Journal, or if no sales of Shares occur on the date in question, on the last preceding date on which there was a sale on such exchange. If the Shares are not listed on a national securities exchange, but are traded in an over-the-counter market, the last sales price (or, if there is no last sales price reported, the average of the closing bid and asked prices) for the Shares on the particular date, or on the last preceding date on which there was a sale of Shares on that market, will be used. If the Shares are neither listed on a national securities exchange nor traded in an over-the-counter market, the price determined by the Administrator, in its discretion, will be used. If an actual sale of a Share occurs on the market, then the Company may consider the sale price to be the Fair Market Value of such Share.
(p) “Incentive Award” means the right to receive a cash payment to the extent Performance Goals are achieved (or other requirements are met), and shall include “Annual Incentive Awards” as described in Section 9 and “Long-Term Incentive Awards” as described in Section 10.
(q) “Option” means the right to purchase Shares at a stated price for a specified period of time.
(r) “Participant” means an individual selected by the Administrator to receive an Award.
(s) “Performance Goals” means any subjective or objectives goals the Administrator establishes, in its discretion with respect to an Award. Performance Goals may, without limitation, relate to one or more of the following with respect to the Company or any one or more of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates or other business units: gross premiums written; gross premiums earned; net premiums written; net premiums earned; modeled probable maximum loss (“PML”); PML to premium ratios; modeled average annual loss (“AAL”); AAL to premium ratios; reinsurance costs; book value; revenue; cash flow; total shareholder return; dividends; debt; net cash provided by operating activities; net cash provided by operating activities less net cash used in investing activities; ratio of debt to debt plus equity; profit before tax; gross profit; net profit; net operating profit; net operating profit after taxes; net sales; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and/or amortization (“EBITDA”); Fair Market Value of Shares; basic earnings per share; EBITDA excluding charges for share compensation, management fees, restructurings, impairments and/or other specified items (“Adjusted EBITDA”); EBITDA excluding capital expenditures; basic or diluted earnings per share or improvement in basic or diluted earnings per share; revenues (including, but not limited to, total revenues, net revenues or revenue growth); net operating profit; growth in basic or diluted book value; financial return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, investments, investment income generated by underwriting or other operations or on the float from such operations, equity, or revenue) including or excluding negative returns, and with or without compounding; cash flow measures (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity, and cash flow return on investment); productivity ratios (including but not limited to measuring liquidity, profitability or leverage); enterprise value; share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return, inclusive or exclusive of dividends); expense/cost management targets (including but not limited to improvement in or attainment of expense levels, capital expenditure levels, and/or working capital levels); margins (including, but not limited to, operating margin, underwriting margins, net income margin, cash margin, gross, net or operating profit margins, EBITDA margins, Adjusted EBITDA margins); operating efficiency; market share or market penetration; customer targets (including, but not limited to, customer growth or customer satisfaction); working capital targets or improvements; profit measures (including but not limited to gross profit, net profit, operating profit, investment profit and/or underwriting profit), including or excluding charges for share compensation, fee income, underwriting losses incurred in prior periods, changes in IBNR reserves and/or other specified items; economic value added; balance sheet metrics (including, but not limited to, inventory, inventory turns, receivables turnover, net asset turnover, debt reduction, retained earnings, year-end cash, cash conversion cycle, ratio of debt to equity or to EBITDA); workforce targets (including but not limited to diversity goals, employee engagement or satisfaction, employee retention, and workplace health and safety goals); implementation, completion or attainment of measurable objectives with respect to risk management, research and development, key products or key projects, lines of business, acquisitions and divestitures and strategic plan development and/or implementation; comparisons with various stock market indices, peer companies or industry groups or classifications with regard to one more of these criteria; or a combination of the foregoing. Except to the extent otherwise determined by the Administrator, as to each Performance Goal, the relevant measurement of performance shall be computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles to the extent applicable, but will exclude the effects of the following: (i) charges for reorganizing and restructuring; (ii) discontinued operations; (iii) asset write-downs; (iv) gains or losses on the disposition of a business; (v) changes in tax or accounting principles, regulations or laws; (vi) mergers, acquisitions, dispositions or recapitalizations; (vii) impacts on interest expense, preferred dividends and share dilution as a result of debt and capital transactions; (viii) extraordinary, unusual and/or non-recurring items of income, expense, gain or loss, that, in case of each of the foregoing, the Company identifies in its publicly filed periodic or current reports, its audited financial statements, including notes to the financial statements, or the Management’s Discussion and Analysis section of the Company’s annual report; (ix) realized capital gains and losses except for periodic settlements and accruals on non-hedge derivative instruments;(x) valuation changes on imbedded derivatives that are not hedged; (xi) after tax effect of catastrophe losses; and (xii) any settlement, award or claim paid as a result of lawsuits or other proceedings brought against the Company or any one or more of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates regarding the scope and nature of coverage provided under an insurance policy issued by such company. The Administrator may also provide for other adjustments to Performance Goals in the Award agreement or plan document evidencing any Award. In addition, the Administrator may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Performance Goal to exclude any of the following events that occurs during a performance period: (i) litigation, claims, judgments or settlements; (ii) the effects of changes in other laws or regulations affecting reported results; and (iii) accruals of any amounts for payment under this Plan or any other compensation arrangements maintained by the Company. Where applicable, the Performance Goals may be expressed, without limitation, in terms of attaining a specified level of the particular criterion or the attainment of an increase or decrease (expressed as absolute numbers, averages and/or percentages) in the particular criterion or achievement in relation to a peer group or other index. The Performance Goals may include a threshold level of performance below which no payment will be made (or no vesting will occur), levels of performance at which specified payments will be paid (or specified vesting will occur), and a maximum level of performance above which no additional payment will be made (or at which full vesting will occur). In addition, the Administrator may establish other Performance Goals and provide for other exclusions or adjustments not listed in this Plan.
(t) “Performance Shares” means the right to receive Shares to the extent Performance Goals are achieved (or other requirements are met) as described in Section 8.
(u) “Performance Unit” means the right to receive a cash payment and/or Shares valued in relation to a unit that has a designated dollar value or the value of which is equal to the Fair Market Value of one or more Shares, to the extent Performance Goals are achieved (or other requirements are met) as described in Section 8.
(v) “Person” has the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, or any group of Persons acting in concert that would be considered “persons acting as a group” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(i)(5).
(w) “Plan” means this SurancePlus Holdings 2024 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time.
(x) “Restricted Share” means a Share that is subject to a risk of forfeiture or restrictions on transfer, or both a risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer, as described in Section 8.
(y) “Restricted Share Unit” means the right to receive a cash payment and/or Shares equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share that is subject to a risk of forfeiture or restrictions on transfer, or both a risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer, as described in Section 8.
(z) “Retirement” means termination of employment or service with the Company and its Affiliates on or after the date the Participant has both attained age sixty (60) and completed ten (10) years of service with the Company and its Affiliates.
(aa) “Section 16 Participants” means Participants who are subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(bb) “Share” means an ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share.
(cc) “Share Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means the right to receive cash, and/or Shares with a Fair Market Value, equal to the appreciation of the Fair Market Value of a Share during a specified period of time.
(dd) “Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company or other limited liability entity in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities (other than the last entities in the chain) owns the shares or equity interest possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares or other equity interests in one of the other entities in the chain.
